Сhaptеr 118: Тiаn Еr’s Grаnd Scheme
А fеw days lаter, the wоund оn Zеng Yiрin’s fоrеhead hаd healed, and Zhen Niang оnсe аgain ехtеndеd a sinсеrе invitаtiоn. In the еnd, Zeng Yipin agrееd to jоin the Li Family Ink Мanor аs a mastеr сrаftsmаn.
Тhus, thе muсh-discussed Zеng Yiрin incidеnt thаt hаd stirred uр cоntrоversy sоmе time аgo finally sеttled.
After Zеng Yiрin еnterеd the Li Family Ink Маnоr, Zhen Niаng sресiаllу arrаngеd a wеlcоming banquet аt a rеstаurаnt on thе оffiсiаl street.
Aсcording to news from thе Tian familу, Tian Еr smashеd sеverаl fine Jingdezhen porcelain bowls and vented his anger by beating two workers.
However, after all, the Li and Tian families knew each other well, and Tian Er ultimately could not take charge of the Tian family. Even if he wanted to cause trouble for the Li family, it would be difficult and only end in embarrassment. Therefore, he merely sulked in the Tian Family Ink Manor for a few days before letting the matter drop.
Zeng Yipin’s arrival indeed provided significant help to the Li family.
To say nothing of other matters, through Zeng Yipin’s connections, several clients from the former Wei family were successfully poached from the Tian family. The mid-grade ink that the Li family had struggled to sell finally began to gain a foothold.
As a result, everyone in the Ink Workshop gradually accepted Zeng Yipin wholeheartedly.
The Li Family Ink Manor had not been open for long, and apart from the Liquid Ink trade, there were not many tasks at the counter. Ink itself was a product of long-term accumulation, and there was no need to rush. Zeng Yipin, with his exceptional Ink Craft and warm-hearted nature, often visited the Ink Workshop in the backyard when he saw little to do at the counter.
He helped the workers assess soot pigment and ink, and even offered insightful suggestions on Glue Boiling, earning praise from everyone in the Ink Manor. Zhen Niang was pleased to see this.
Most of the workers here were newly hired, with a few masters teaching them, but each specialized in only one skill. Zeng Yipin, however, was a versatile expert with a broader perspective. Having him oversee the workshop was beneficial for everyone’s Ink Craft.
Therefore, Zhen Niang did not interfere with Zeng Yipin’s actions. Even regarding the Liquid Ink, she did not hide anything from him. Zeng Yipin occasionally visited, observing each step of the process and marveling at how ink-making was a lifelong learning journey.
“Girl, what mischief are you up to again? This Zeng Yipin clearly has issues, yet you let him wander freely around the Ink Workshop?” Early in the morning, Chou Po was sweeping the backyard when Zhen Niang strolled over to her side. Chou Po put down her broom and glanced at Zhen Niang.
Zhen Niang had not informed anyone in the Ink Workshop about Zeng Yipin’s potential problems. Firstly, it was not entirely certain—just some speculation—and speaking about it would only cause unnecessary trouble. Secondly, she did not want to alert anyone prematurely. Thus, she had only entrusted Chou Po to keep an eye on him. As a mere sweeper, no one paid Chou Po any attention, so Zeng Yipin’s every move fell under her watchful eye.
“Yes, I’m aware. Apart from Liquid Ink, no other ink is being produced in the workshop yet, so there’s no fear of him learning anything.” Ink-making typically took place in spring and autumn. In summer, due to the heat, the ink was prone to spoilage, so summer and winter were generally reserved for storing soot pigment. The ink currently sold at the Ink Manor was transported from Huizhou, and the manor had not yet begun large-scale ink production. For now, the workers were busy burning and collecting soot pigment in preparation for autumn ink-making.Upon hearing Zhen Niang's words, Chou Po snorted coldly. This girl was trying to deceive her—she was clearly talking about Liquid Ink. If the Liquid Ink formula were truly leaked, the Li family's losses would be immense. However, since the girl was deliberately being evasive, Chou Po couldn't be bothered to press further. She waved her hand, signaling Zhen Niang to leave and not get in the way of her sweeping.
Zhen Niang turned away with a giggle.
In the blink of an eye, it was midsummer. Cicadas began their endless chirping, and the second season of raw silk procurement was nearing its end.
Recently, however, the raw silk procurement scene had been quite tumultuous. In the past, silkworm cocoons were purchased directly by silk factories, but this year, local government offices had stepped in to handle the purchases. Moreover, the price of cocoons had dropped by nearly twenty percent compared to previous years. Having once raised silkworms herself, Zhen Niang knew that with such a steep drop, the sericulturists would barely make any profit.
Furthermore, with the government offices handling the purchases, the common people had even less say. It was said that even top-grade cocoons were being bought at second-grade prices, leaving the sericulturists filled with resentment.
Still, these matters were nothing more than idle chatter for Zhen Niang over tea. As an ordinary person herself, she had no power to intervene. She could only focus on her own small corner of the Ink Industry.
As noon approached, Zheng Fuli had just shipped a batch of goods to the Ink King Pavilion in the capital. Returning to Ink Manor, he was drenched in sweat from head to toe, his summer robe soaked through at the back. He first went to the rear courtyard to change his clothes before returning to submit the delivery receipts. Zhen Niang had Xiao Ya serve him a bowl of sour plum soup, which had been chilled with water from the old well in the backyard—a refreshing treat on such a hot day.
Holding the sour plum soup, Zheng Fuli felt a sweet warmth in his heart.
"Haha, I ran into the Tian family while delivering the goods. Tian Er saw me shipping to the Ink King Pavilion and turned green with envy. He even threatened me, saying not to get too cocky and that the real show was yet to come. Hah, all he can do is make empty threats," Zheng Fuli said mockingly, downing the bowl of sour plum soup in one gulp and smacking his lips.
Hearing this, the brightness in Zhen Niang's eyes dimmed slightly. She turned to Zeng Yipin, who was leisurely sipping tea nearby, and said, "This is all thanks to Mr. Zeng."
The Ink King Pavilion had originally been a client of the Wei family but was later poached by Zeng Yipin for the Tian family. Now that Zeng Yipin had joined the Li family, he had managed to secure the Ink King Pavilion's orders for them. As a major shop in the capital, the Ink King Pavilion's partnership meant that Li family ink had finally entered the capital market.
It was worth noting that Li Mo had long been driven out of the capital market due to its tendency to crack easily in the dry northern climate.
"Miss Zhen, you're too kind. I can't take all the credit. Even without my involvement, the Ink King Pavilion would have eventually turned to the Li family. Setting aside the quality of Li Mo, Manager Jia had already inquired about this Liquid Ink with me several times. It was only a matter of time before things fell into place," Zeng Yipin said with a smile. The Manager Jia he mentioned was the third manager of the Ink King Pavilion.
Just then, Zeng Yipin's son rushed into Ink Manor with a panicked expression. "Father, Grandfather is critically ill. He sent word asking to see Mother. She's at home crying uncontrollably. Please hurry back!"
Zheng Yipin's face immediately turned anxious. He cupped his hands toward Zhen Niang, clearly asking for leave.
In such a situation, Zhen Niang naturally had no reason to refuse. She even had someone withdraw some money from the counter for Zeng Yipin to use in case of emergencies. It wasn't much, just a small gesture of goodwill.Zeng Yipin cupped his hands in thanks, then followed the young lad out of the Li Family Ink Manor, straight out of the official street. However, he did not go far, instead circling around and taking a small path to re-enter the official street from the other end. After passing through several private residences, he entered the Tian Family Ink Manor.
The so-called news of his father-in-law’s critical illness was, of course, something Zeng Yipin had instructed his own servant to spread in advance.
"Mr. Zeng, you’ve arrived," Tian Er greeted respectfully on the other side, without a trace of his usual boorishness.
The two entered the inner hall, took their seats, and had servants serve tea before closing the door. They also instructed maids to stand guard outside to prevent anyone from eavesdropping.
Only then did Zeng Yipin take out the ink formula from his person. Tian Er reached out to take it, but Zeng Yipin waved the formula in a circle before tucking it back into his own chest.
Tian Er was somewhat annoyed. "Master Zeng, what is the meaning of this?"
"Money first, goods later," Zeng Yipin said with a grin. To be honest, he had little faith in Tian Er of the Tian family. The reason he was willing to sacrifice his reputation this time was that he had also taken a liking to the Li family’s Liquid Ink. By obtaining a sum of money from the Tian family as well, he could take his family back to his hometown. With the ink formula, along with his years of savings and the money from the Tian family, he could establish a small business in his hometown, achieving a sort of triumphant return.
Therefore, at this moment, he naturally insisted on exchanging money for goods with the Tian family.
"Are you afraid I’ll cheat you?" Tian Er said irritably.
"It’s always wise to be cautious. You must understand that once this matter is exposed, my reputation will be completely ruined. I’ll need to take the money and flee," Zeng Yipin replied.
"Fine, as you wish." Since it had been agreed upon beforehand, Tian Er did not renege. He took out ten silver notes from his chest, each worth fifty taels, totaling five hundred taels. As Zeng Yipin reached for them, Tian Er mimicked Zeng Yipin’s earlier gesture, waving them in a circle in mid-air. He then counted out five notes and handed them to Zeng Yipin, saying, "I’ll pay you half first. Once the ink formula has been tested and confirmed to be correct, I’ll pay the other half."
Tian Er was not entirely unreasonable. Since arriving in Nanjing, if nothing else, he had suffered several setbacks at Zhen Niang’s hands alone, which had naturally taught him to be more cautious. His actions were now much more prudent compared to his time in Huizhou.
"Agreed," Zeng Yipin nodded, accepting the silver notes before handing the formula to Tian Er.
"Steward Fang, keep Master Zeng company here. I’ll take the workers to test this formula," Tian Er said, calling Steward Fang over to accompany Zeng Yipin. However, having Steward Fang stay with Master Zeng was less about keeping him company and more about detaining him. If there were any issues with the ink formula, Zeng Yipin would not be able to take the money and leave.
Zeng Yipin remained calm. He had tested the ink formula privately several times, and the Liquid Ink produced was identical in every detail.
Tian Er instructed the servants to bring wine, dishes, and snacks before taking the formula and leaving.
As he stepped out, he ran into Tian Ronghua, who was rushing over.
"Second Brother, where are you going?" Tian Ronghua asked anxiously upon seeing her second brother leading several workers in a hurry, unsure what was happening.
"To test an ink formula," Tian Er replied irritably, still angry with his younger sister.
Test an ink formula? Test what ink formula? Earlier, she had heard from a shop assistant that Master Zeng had returned. Could this be related to Master Zeng? Tian Ronghua wondered, quickly following after him.
"Second Brother, what ink formula? Where did it come from?" Tian Ronghua asked, lifting her skirt as she trailed closely behind."It was obtained by Master Zeng, the Li family's liquid ink formula." Tian Er said with some smugness, as this could be considered one of his proud achievements.
By now, Tian Ronghua fully understood that her second brother's recent targeting of Zeng Yipin had all been an act. She was somewhat stunned—her second brother had quietly made such a major move without a sound.
As for whether it was right or wrong, Tian Ronghua found it hard to judge. After all, such tactics had been used by her father and eldest brother back in Huizhou, which had even led to the Sun family being expelled from the ink workshop by the Li family.
However, when they first came to Nanjing, her eldest brother had said that Nanjing was unfamiliar territory, and it would be difficult for people from Huizhou to establish a foothold there. Therefore, they needed to cooperate with the Li family. Recently, because of the liquid ink matter, Tian Ronghua had been thinking of finding an opportunity to speak with Li Zhenniang.
If the Li family could cooperate with the Zhu family, why couldn’t they cooperate with her Tian family?
But she never expected her second brother to quietly pull off such a move again. How could there be any room for cooperation with the Li family now?
She had heard that the Cheng family’s third grandfather had also come to Nanjing. If the Li family were to join forces with the Cheng family, then with the Zhu, Li, and Cheng families partnering together, even if her Tian family had the reputation of producing tribute ink, they would likely find it difficult to make any headway.
"Second brother, eldest brother said it. It’s best for us to cooperate with the Li family. Nanjing isn’t Huizhou—if we act alone, we’ll become a target for everyone." Tian Ronghua said urgently.
"Stop bringing up ‘eldest brother said’ all the time. In your eyes, there’s only eldest brother—where do I, your second brother, fit in? Isn’t it just because you look down on Mother and me, your second brother? It’s a pity you were born into the wrong womb, not into the first wife’s belly." As soon as Tian Er heard Tian Ronghua mention their eldest brother, his anger flared up. Since childhood, his eldest brother had been better than him in every way, more accomplished in everything. The whole family valued the eldest brother, while he was treated like dirt in their eyes. His heart had long been filled with resentment.
After saying this, he ignored Tian Ronghua and led his men into the ink workshop.
Tian Ronghua’s eyes reddened with anger. But since the liquid ink formula had already been obtained and things had reached this point, she had no choice but to press on, hoping they wouldn’t end up losing more than they gained. So, she followed Tian Er into the ink workshop.
Her second brother didn’t understand ink-making—she still had to oversee it.
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