The Heir

Сhарtеr 193: Ink Testing in thе Rаin

Аlthоugh thе Ink Testing Gathеring hаd little to dо with whether it rаinеd оr nоt, rаinу weathеr made travel inconvеniеnt, so fеwer реорle wоuld аttеnd thе Li fаmily’s gаthering. As a rеsult, thе effеctiveness оf the gathеring would be grеаtlу diminishеd.

Аt thаt mоment, Li Dalаng еnterеd frоm оutside, drеnchеd frоm the rain. Не handеd his bamboo hаt and raincоаt tо Du Shi, who stоod nearbу, аnd аs soоn аs hе stеррed insidе, hе addrеssed еveryоne: “I just wеnt tо thе cоuntу оffiсe to ask thе astrologer. Thе rain will continuе like this tomоrrow аnd thе daу after.”

Upon hearing this, the Li family members looked disappointed.

“Then perhaps we should postpone it for a few days,” Steward Shao suggested from the side.

“That won’t do. The Tribute Ink Selection is just around the corner. There’s still much to prepare, and delaying things could cause trouble,” Li Jingdong interjected.

Zhen Niang gazed at the drizzling rain outside. Rain wasn’t entirely a bad thing, she thought, blinking her eyes. “Why don’t we hold an ink testing in the rain instead?”

In truth, the rain in the Jiangnan region was rarely the kind of torrential downpour that hindered travel. Most of the time, it was like this gentle drizzle. If one really needed to go out, carrying an oil-paper umbrella wasn’t much of a hassle.

However, the format of ink testing gatherings had become rather stale: renting a teahouse, inviting a few notable figures, testing the ink, and auctioning off calligraphy and paintings. People were growing tired of this routine.

Moreover, apart from inviting Ding Yunpeng, the Li family hadn’t managed to secure any other remarkable guests. They also lacked the backing of a powerful family like the Tians, who had the Xu family as their support. Naturally, on such a day, many people were indifferent about whether to attend or not.

In essence, it was time for the ink testing gatherings to adopt a fresh approach. The old ways no longer sparked people’s interest.

Zhen Niang knew there was an opportunity here. The rivalry between the Tian and Li families for the tribute ink was already a hot topic in Huizhou. What the Li family needed to do now was to use a new format for the ink testing gathering to boost public interest and attention. So what if it rained?

Of course, testing ink in the rain placed extremely high demands on the ink’s quality. But this time, the Li family’s Six Harmonies Three Talents Ink could meet that requirement.

Everyone was well aware of the quality of this batch of ink. The question was, how would ink testing in the rain be carried out?

Seventh Grandmother glanced at Zhen Niang, signaling her to continue.

Zhen Niang then shared her plan, which was essentially a promotional tactic from later generations.

“Hmm, I think it could work,” Seventh Grandmother said, exchanging a look with Old Shopkeeper Li. Steward Shao, Li Jingdong, and the others nodded in agreement.

That very afternoon, news spread through the streets and alleys that the Li family would be testing ink in the rain. Moreover, before the ink testing, there would be a grand opera performance. The location was set in the open space in front of the Li Family Ink Workshop.

Some idlers even went to check it out in person and saw the Li family setting up a stage in the rain. Instantly, the news spread like wildfire.

The rivalry between the Li and Tian families for the tribute ink was already a major topic of discussion. Now, with the Li family creating this new buzz and the added attraction of an opera performance—something everyone loved—the Li family’s ink testing gathering became the talk of the town in just one afternoon.

The next day was the scheduled date for the Li family’s ink testing. As predicted by the county office’s astrologer, the rain continued to fall.In front of the Li Family Ink Workshop, two platforms were set up—one was a stage, and the other was a viewing stand. Both were covered entirely with waterproof oilcloth. Although it was not yet the official time for the Ink Testing Gathering, most of the invited guests had already arrived.

And quite a few who had not been invited seemed to have come uninvited.

As the saying goes, "Courtesy demands reciprocity." Since the Tian family had invited the Li family, the Li family naturally could not omit inviting the Tian family to this Ink Testing Gathering.

"Let’s see what tricks the Li family is playing this time," Tian Er muttered, crossing his legs and humming to himself. Beside him, Tian Ronghua wore a wide-brimmed hat, making his expression unreadable.

At this moment, it was not yet time for the ink testing, so everyone was seated on the viewing stand, watching the opera. The Li family had hired the Jiahe Troupe at great expense, and the troupe had sent two renowned performers.

The opera was titled The Misguided Fate.

The Misguided Fate was a story of a talented scholar and a beautiful woman, hastily written by Zhen Niang. The plot was clichéd, the characters few, and the storyline pitifully simple, with a touch of sentimentality so saccharine it could make one’s teeth ache. In modern terms, it might be considered overly melodramatic, but in this era, it was still quite popular.

The general plot went like this: a courtesan encountered a poor scholar, and the two fell in love at first sight. Unfortunately, the scholar lacked the money to redeem the courtesan, so they met in secret. The courtesan devoted all her resources to supporting the scholar’s studies. When the scholar passed the imperial examination and became a provincial graduate, the courtesan decided to buy her own freedom to reunite with him.

Regrettably, the brothel madam refused and mocked her, saying that the scholar was now a respected official, while the courtesan had long lost her former glory. She advised the courtesan not to indulge in foolish fantasies. Unconvinced, the courtesan wrote a letter that night, asking someone to deliver it to the scholar. If he still cherished their past affection, they were to meet at Luoyan Bridge.

The letter was sent, but the courtesan waited in vain at Luoyan Bridge. Believing the scholar had betrayed her, she grew despondent and threw herself into the river.

The next morning, however, the scholar arrived with a hefty sum to redeem the courtesan, only to find that fate had already played its cruel trick. Heartbroken, he renounced the world and became a monk.

If the scholar had not changed his heart, why did he not come to Luoyan Bridge?

In the end, the letter was unfolded, revealing it was entirely smeared with ink. It turned out that heavy rain the previous night had soaked the letter, turning it into an illegible mess. The scholar had never known about the meeting at Luoyan Bridge.

Thus, it became a tale of misguided fate.

Although the opera itself was mediocre, the two renowned performers brought the courtesan and the poor scholar to life so vividly that they moved the audience to tears.

Seizing this moment, the highlight of the Li family’s Ink Testing Gathering began.

A long table was placed in the rain, covered with silk cloth. Dressed in white, Ding Yunpeng stood in the rain, while a young attendant in black ground ink beside him. The drizzle added to the scene, turning it into a painting in itself.

After a moment of contemplation, Ding Yunpeng began to paint. His strokes were graceful and unrestrained. At just twenty years old, he already had a considerable reputation, and his handsome appearance immediately captivated the young women and married ladies in the audience, their eyes sparkling with admiration.

Even the older women looked at Ding Yunpeng as if he were a prospective son-in-law. After all, he was still unmarried, his fame was growing, and his paintings seemed to fetch a good price. With daughters of marriageable age at home, such a man was certainly worth considering.

But we shall not dwell on the matchmaking schemes of these aunts and matrons.In the time it took for Ding Yunpeng to wield his brush and splash ink, two paintings were completed. One depicted the meeting at Luoyan Bridge, with the courtesan looking desolate and sorrowful, while the other showed the impoverished scholar shaving his head to become a monk, accompanied by the morning bells and evening drums. Both paintings were finished in a single, fluid motion.

At that moment, a servant led Ding Yunpeng away to freshen up, as the March rain still carried a distinct chill.

Afterward, two ink-stained boys from the Ink Workshop held up the paintings, displaying them one by one before the crowd.

“Ah, this Li Mo ink is truly remarkable. Even painted in the rain, the brushstrokes show no smudging at all. If the scholar in the play had used this ink, how could he have ended up with such a tragic fate?” remarked a lady, clearly still immersed in the drama. She stamped her feet repeatedly, filled with regret.

Those knowledgeable about ink were even more astonished. Although ancient texts claimed that the finest ink would not dissolve even in rain, truth be told, almost no one had truly achieved this until now. Yet, Li Mo had accomplished it.

Next came the auction of the two paintings. No one expected that the fiercest bidders would be the ladies, and the prices soared to unprecedented heights. In the end, the two paintings fetched an astonishing eight hundred taels of silver.

It was evident that women’s shopping was always driven by emotion and frenzy. Likely, more than half of the price was due to the characters from the play.

“Young lady, this Ink Testing Gathering was truly well-organized,” said the Cheng Family’s Third Grandfather to Zhen Niang. At the same time, Luo Wenqian, holding an oil-paper umbrella nearby, gave her a thumbs-up.

Zhen Niang smiled somewhat bashfully, then turned to Luo Wenqian with a dazed expression. This man always seemed to appear and disappear mysteriously, yet a hint of joy flickered in her eyes. “When did you return?”

“Just got off the boat. I received a letter saying the old master had fallen ill, and your father couldn’t sit still. I’ve settled my affairs over there, and with Shopkeeper Yan in charge, there’s nothing else to worry about, so I came back with him,” Luo Wenqian replied cheerfully, then lazily added, “The Tian family’s faces have turned green.”

While others were watching the play on stage, he was clearly observing the drama offstage.

Zhen Niang glanced toward Tian Er and Tian Ronghua. Tian Er wore a sour expression, as if everyone owed him a thousand taels, while Tian Ronghua’s face remained hidden beneath her veil. However, perhaps sensing their gaze, Tian Ronghua lifted the edge of her veil. Upon seeing Luo Wenqian, she actually nodded to him.

As for Li Zhenniang standing nearby, Tian Ronghua simply pretended not to see her.

Zhen Niang felt inexplicably displeased and couldn’t help but shoot Luo Wenqian a sidelong glance. “Her face is hidden under the veil. How could you possibly see it turning green?”

Her rare display of pettiness momentarily dazzled Luo Wenqian. He grinned and said, “No need to see it. I can imagine it well enough.”

Zhen Niang smiled without another word. Just then, Ding Yunpeng approached, and Zhen Niang quickly instructed Xiao Ya to bring ginger soup. She also fetched some ready-made medicine for dispelling cold from the Medicine Hall, advising Ding Yunpeng to take it home and have a servant brew two doses for him to drink.Originally, when considering testing the ink in the rain, Zhen Niang had thought about switching people. After all, getting drenched could lead to a cold or fever, and this was ancient times—such illnesses could easily turn serious. However, after Ding Yunpeng learned about testing the ink in the rain, his interest only grew stronger. Zhen Niang had forgotten that although the Ming Dynasty was an era of propriety, it was also a time of unrestrained passion. Scholars and literati often sought to express their individuality, and wielding the brush and splashing ink in the rain was truly a joyous affair.

How could Ding Yunpeng possibly agree to switch?

At this moment, Ding Yunpeng naturally bowed in gratitude and reached out to take the cold-dispelling medicine. Luo Wenqian, standing to the side, watched the two of them and felt his teeth itch with irritation.

He had also been drenched quite a bit along the way, so why hadn’t anyone prepared any cold-dispelling medicine for him?

This fellow was completely unreasonable—who could have known he would arrive at this time?

“Come on, let’s go, Brother Ding. Let’s have a drink. What’s a little rain to a man? Don’t act like an old man. A few cups of wine will drive away any chill.” At this moment, Luo Wenqian suddenly reached over, clapped Ding Yunpeng on the shoulder, and pulled him away.

His large hand slapped vigorously. Although he had once been a dashing young master, whether it was making ink or panning for gold, both were labor-intensive tasks. Ding Yunpeng winced from the slaps, his shoulders shaking.

Zhen Niang couldn’t help but glare. Luo Wenqian was clearly stirring up trouble, yet her eyes were filled with amusement.

By now, the two had already walked far away.