The Heir

Сhарter 117: Everуоne Lovеs Gossip

Тhе саrriаgе travelеd all the way into the оffiсial strеet. Zhеn Niаng hаd sеt out еаrlу in thе mоrning, and nоw it was alreаdу aftеrnoon. Thе weathеr was truly quitе hоt. А уеllоw dоg lay раnting in the shаdе оf a trеe bу thе roadsidе, whilе the сicadas in thе trees, though nоt сhirрing as inсessantly аs in midsummеr, оcсаsiоnаllу lеt out shоrt, shаrp сalls thаt made оne fееl thе oррrеssivе heat.

Thе breeze from the Qinhuаi River blew ovеr, carrуing with it a stifling, humid wаrmth, minglеd with the сloyingly sweet fragrance wafting from the brothels along the riverbank, making one feel rather drowsy.

However, some news that had just come from the Langfang area had set the gossiping women in several shops chattering excitedly.

By the time Zhen Niang’s carriage stopped at the entrance of the Medicine Hall, several pairs of eyes were already fixed on it. When Xiao Ya helped Zeng Yipin into the Medicine Hall, the previously leisurely and somewhat languid official street seemed to suddenly come to a boil.

During this period, the feud between Zeng Yipin and the Tian family was the number one piece of gossip in this part of the official street. So, as soon as Zhen Niang brought Zeng Yipin into view, everyone in the entire official street, including those from several Ink Workshops, was watching closely. Even the idlers who had been dozing under the shade of the trees perked up.

Everyone loves gossip, after all.

“Zhen Niang, I heard you got a remarkable piece of ink, called the ‘First Coal of Tianguan,’ and made a fortune? If it weren’t for Master Zeng’s help this time, it might have been snatched away by thieves. How about it? Show it to me so I can take a look.” As Zhen Niang passed by the neighboring cloth shop, Yao Niangzi stopped her to ask.

Zhen Niang couldn’t help but pause and look Yao Niangzi up and down, leaving Yao Niangzi utterly confused and bewildered.

“What’s wrong? Is there something off about me?” Yao Niangzi retorted.

“I just wanted to see whether Aunt Yao has the eyes of a thousand miles or the ears of the wind. This matter just happened over in Langfang, and I came straight here without any delay. How did the news reach Aunt Yao’s ears so quickly?” Zhen Niang asked teasingly.

“I say, Manager Li, are you mocking me? Do you think I’m meddling in other people’s business? How far is Langfang from here, anyway? The feud between Zeng Yipin and the Tian family is the top gossip in the official street. Anything related to Zeng Yipin spreads like wildfire!” Yao Niangzi said indignantly.

“I really don’t mind. I just think the news spread a bit too quickly,” Zhen Niang said with a smile. She stopped teasing Yao Niangzi and took out the tile-shaped ink from her sleeve to show her.

Yao Niangzi didn’t understand ink at all. She had only heard people talk about it in such a mystical way earlier, which piqued her curiosity. Now, seeing it was just a gray, cracked piece of broken tile, she couldn’t help but find it unbelievable. “This thing is a treasure?”

“It depends on how you look at it. In terms of practicality, aside from allowing us ink makers to study the ink-making techniques of ancient people, it’s completely useless. Even the ink ground from it now looks dull and unappealing when used for writing. It’s like your family’s foot-washing basin—if it could be preserved for a few hundred years, some might treasure it as an antique, while others would just chop it up for firewood and complain that the rotten wood doesn’t burn well,” Zhen Niang replied.Upon hearing Zhen Niang speak this way, Yao Niangzi laughed: "I see. In the hands of someone who needs it, it's a treasure; in the hands of someone who doesn't, it's just grass, right? Well, for me, this is definitely grass. I really can't see what's so precious about it." Yao Niangzi shook her head and turned back to her own cloth shop to supervise the clerks at work.

Zhen Niang, meanwhile, registered with Doctor Gong that all expenses for Zeng Yipin's injury treatment would be covered by the Li Family. She then turned to return to the shop, but before her foot could cross the threshold, she heard another booming roar.

"Girl, you're putting on quite the airs lately! Your Third Grandfather has been here for a while now, and you act as if you haven't seen me—not even a greeting or a word of respect? Watch out, or I'll go settle this with your grandfather when I get back."

Hearing this voice, Zhen Niang was startled.

Third Grandfather Cheng? That voice was unmistakably Third Grandfather Cheng's. Zhen Niang turned and looked toward the direction of the sound.

Under the parasol tree beside the Yi Hou Sheng Money Shop, there was a small table and two bamboo chairs. Luo Qian and Third Grandfather Cheng sat on either side, the old and the young deep in conversation over the table.

When did the Cheng Family come to Nanjing? Zhen Niang hurried over in a quick trot, first offering a respectful bow: "Greetings, Third Grandfather. When did you arrive in Nanjing?"

"Hmph." Third Grandfather Cheng snorted coldly before replying, "Yesterday."

Zhen Niang grinned playfully, then said with a hint of mischief, "Third Grandfather, seeing how lively things are for us in Nanjing, you came to join in the fun, didn't you?"

"Nonsense." Third Grandfather Cheng cursed, then assumed an accusatory tone: "I came to demand justice from you, girl. Tell me, now that your Li Family's Liquid Ink is selling like crazy, and I hear the Zhu Family has also benefited—what about me? Didn't I help you plenty in the past? Yet now you've forgotten our Cheng Family entirely. Tell me, girl, don't you feel ashamed?"

"Third Grandfather, you wrong me. I've only just established the rules for cooperation, and my arrangement with the Zhu Family is just a few days old. I don't believe you came all the way to Nanjing specifically to accuse me. I bet you didn't even know about my deal with the Zhu Family when you left Huizhou—you only heard about it after arriving in Nanjing, right?" Zhen Niang asked with a teasing smile.

Third Grandfather Cheng, caught by her words, glared at her in annoyance.

Beside them, Luo Qian watched with amusement as Zhen Niang bantered with Third Grandfather Cheng.

"Fine, you clever girl. Out with it—what's your plan?" Third Grandfather Cheng said petulantly. Old people could be as willful as children sometimes.

"Naturally, whatever Third Grandfather says goes." Zhen Niang replied sweetly. The Li, Cheng, and Tian families in Huizhou had a history of both cooperation and rivalry, so their dynamics were well understood. Third Grandfather Cheng's demands would likely be similar to those of the Zhu Family, and Zhen Niang was happy to be generous.

"Ha, you've got me all figured out, girl. Fine, since you put it that way, I'll drop the accusations." He then spread his hands and said, "Come on, bring out that Yu Mi Great Inkstick for a look."

Zhen Niang then took out the Yu Mi Great Inkstick again and presented it to Third Grandfather Cheng. The three present were all top figures in the Ink Industry, and in their eyes, this inkstick was far beyond what Yao Niangzi's perspective could grasp.

All three stared at it, unblinking.Third Master Cheng stroked the ink stick with a sigh. "For Han Dynasty ink to survive to this day—regardless of anything else—this alone makes it a masterpiece. Study it well, girl. Perhaps you can rediscover the ancient ink-making methods of Yumi. That would be a great boon for the ink industry." As he spoke, he handed the ink back to Zhen Niang.

Zhen Niang nodded.

"Be careful with both the Tian family and Zeng Yipin. Tian Er isn't as foolish as outsiders think, and Zeng Yipin isn't as innocent as he appears," Luo Qian suddenly remarked from the side.

"I understand," Zhen Niang replied, squinting at Luo Qian as she nodded knowingly. She realized he was referring to the matter involving Zeng Yipin. In truth, from the very beginning of today's events concerning Zeng Yipin, Zhen Niang had felt a subtle sense of unease.

Of course, if pressed to explain what exactly felt off, she couldn't quite articulate it. But everything seemed too coincidental, and news had spread too quickly, as if someone behind the scenes was deliberately orchestrating it.

Now, with Luo Jiu's reminder, she naturally had a clearer understanding.

Seeing that Zhen Niang grasped the situation, Luo Qian said nothing more and resumed playing chess with Third Master Cheng. Both were terrible players, but when two poor chess players faced off, the game became lively and spirited.

Zhen Niang glanced sideways at Luo Jiu, who was playing chess with Third Master Cheng. Ever since she had gone to explain things to Luo Qian, the Luo Qian who used to appear before her every few days had vanished. Even the occasionally mischievous Luo Jiu, who liked to watch others make fools of themselves, was nowhere to be seen. On the rare occasions they met on the street, Luo Qian's demeanor was merely polite and distant.

In truth, there wasn't much of a difference when you thought about it. But if you examined it closely, it seemed the warmth that once characterized their conversations was gone.

They say a woman's heart is as deep as the ocean, but a man's heart can be just as unpredictable and elusive. Perhaps Aunt Wang had said something that caused Luo Qian to become somewhat distant. After all, at the time, Aunt Wang had clearly taken a dislike to her.

Or perhaps Luo Jiu was still holding a grudge over her uncle-in-law selling land to the Xu family?

Though puzzled, Zhen Niang conducted herself with a clear conscience. After turning these thoughts over in her mind, she didn't dwell on them too much.

She then took her leave, as she had been out all morning and hadn't attended to matters at the workshop or the estate. There was surely a pile of tasks waiting for her. She also mentioned hosting a dinner for Third Master Cheng that evening.

"Don't worry about entertaining me. I have the Luo boy here," Third Master Cheng waved his hand at Zhen Niang, signaling her to attend to her own affairs.

Zhen Niang understood that the Cheng family hadn't come to Nanjing for leisure—they had their own business to attend to. So she took her leave without further ceremony and turned to depart.

"Luo boy, that girl is quite something—virtuous and capable. She'd be settling for you if she were paired with you. What do you say? Should I play matchmaker?" Third Master Cheng said to Luo Qian, watching Zhen Niang's retreating figure.

"Thank you, Third Grandfather, but I don't want to involve her," Luo Qian replied, his expression distant. He hadn't paid much attention to such matters before, acting on impulse. But the misunderstanding with his aunt had served as a reminder—some things were better kept at a distance until resolved. He didn't want to drag her into it.

"What? Are you still seeking revenge against the Xu family? Let me remind you, for your parents and your grandfather, your survival is more important than revenge," Third Master Cheng said, frowning."Third Grandfather, I have a clear idea in my mind and won’t act recklessly. I’m just going to take a look around," Luo Qian said.

Hearing Luo Qian’s words, Cheng San Yeye let the matter drop. After all, this was the Luo Family’s affair. He could offer a reminder, but he couldn’t interfere too much.

In the evening, the weather was somewhat sultry. Since dusk, muffled thunder had been rumbling faintly. These past few days had been like this—half sunny, half rainy.

After dinner, Zhen Niang accompanied her second aunt on the second-floor corridor to enjoy the cool breeze.

"Zhen Niang, have you really decided to invite Zeng Yipin to serve as a consultant in the shop?" Huang Shi asked with some concern. A consultant held significant authority, able to mobilize the resources of the Ink Workshop and even inspect some of its materials and formulas. After all, Zeng Yipin was not a member of the Li family, so how could Huang Shi feel at ease?

"Yes, right now we have no choice but to invite him. He was injured while helping me, and if we don’t ask him to serve as a consultant now, we’ll inevitably invite gossip. Besides, Master Zeng does have some skills. Although he may not surpass me in Ink Craft, his familiarity with the Nanjing Ink Industry is something I can’t match. Inviting him as a consultant is appropriate," Zhen Niang said, sipping her tea.

"That’s true. You handle it as you see fit. I’m just offering a reminder," Huang Shi said. She didn’t involve herself much in these matters and left the decision to Zhen Niang.

Zhen Niang nodded, understanding clearly. For her, it would be best if Zeng Yipin harbored no ulterior motives, allowing them to form a good relationship. But if he truly had other intentions, he should remember that while the mantis stalks the cicada, the oriole waits behind. The highest level of using spies is to turn them against their own side.