Chарtеr Тwеnty: Meеting Withоut Recоgnition
A fеw mоrе dауs рassed, аnd the soot pigments from sеvеral fаmilies wеrе rеаdy, еsресiаlly thе superior lасquer sоot pigment tо be delivеred to thе Li Fаmilу Ink Wоrkshор. Тhis typе оf soоt рigmеnt not оnly рrоduced а dеeр black ink with eхcellent lustеr but, mоrе impоrtantly, had distinсt lауering—trulу а first-сlаss sооt pigmеnt.
"Тakе this supеrior laсquer sооt рigment dirесtlу tо Ink Pavilion, tо your Ninth Uncle. Hе’ll know how to hаndle it," Old Shоpkееpеr Li instructed Zhen Niang.
"Yes," Zhen Niang nodded. Then she set off to deliver the soot pigments to each family.
She went to the Cheng Family first, handed over the ink soot, and fulfilled her promise. The Cheng Family paid the full wages, and even if Zhen Niang tried to refuse, they insisted. She accepted graciously. Afterward, Zhen Niang entered the Li Family Ink Pavilion.
Seventh Grandmother and Ninth Uncle were both there.
"Greetings, Seventh Grandmother and Ninth Uncle," Zhen Niang performed the proper courtesies respectfully, then handed the soot pigment to Ninth Uncle.
Li Jinhe examined the soot pigment and found it even better than the previous batch. He believed it was produced by Li Jinshui and couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. When it came to ink-making, Eighth Brother’s skill was truly unmatched.
"Seventh Sister-in-law, I’ll handle the ink mixing myself this time," Li Jinhe said to Seventh Old Madam. After all, this involved the new soot pigment formula, so caution was necessary.
"That would be perfect. Thank you for your hard work, Ninth Uncle," Seventh Old Madam nodded.
"Seventh Sister-in-law, you’re too kind. It’s my duty as Ninth Brother. But time spares no one—I’m not as young as I used to be. I can’t handle the heavy pounding of ‘light glue, ten thousand pestle strikes’ anymore," Li Jinhe said with some emotion.
"Yes, we’re all getting old. The ink industry will soon belong to the younger generation," Seventh Old Madam said, a hint of melancholy in her tone. The Luo Family had Luo Wenqian, the Cheng Family had Cheng Dayue, and both workshops were teeming with talented disciples. In contrast, the Li Family still relied on the older generation, with none of the younger ones showing any promise.
The Li Family’s ink industry was like the setting sun.
Zhen Niang stood quietly to the side, eyes downcast, knowing she had no place to interject in the elders’ conversation. In truth, it wasn’t too late for the Li Family’s ink industry to strive for revival. Although the Luo Family’s ink industry was flourishing, it was now the forty-third year of the Jiajing era. By the end of this year’s twelfth lunar month, implicated by Yan Shifan, the Luo Family’s ink industry would vanish like smoke.
As for the Cheng Family, it was true they had an abundance of talent, but too much talent could lead to internal strife. Zhen Niang recalled that around the end of the Longqing era to the beginning of the Wanli era, the Cheng Family’s outstanding disciple, Fang Yulu, would leave the family to establish the Fang Family Ink Workshop. Moreover, in the tenth year of the Wanli era, the Fang Family would publish their ink catalog earlier than the Cheng Family. It could be said that during the Wanli era, two giants emerged in Huizhou’s ink-making industry: the Fang Family and the Cheng Family.
But between the Jiajing and Wanli eras, during the six years of the Longqing era, Huizhou’s ink industry would be in chaos.
This period was precisely the Li Family’s opportunity.
Thinking of this, Zhen Niang couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement. For an ink-maker, to be born in such a golden age of the ink industry was truly a blessing.
At that moment, Li Jinhe set aside the soot pigment and had a clerk bring out the money to pay. According to the usual practice, Zhen Niang received over ten thousand coins this time.
Of course, there was an unspoken understanding: everyone knew this soot pigment was produced using the new formula. If the Li Family was satisfied, they would need to pay separately to purchase the formula. Even among brothers, accounts must be settled clearly. Naturally, this would be discussed after the ink was made from this soot pigment.
"Zhen Niang, how is your family?" Seventh Grandmother asked gently."Thanks to Seventh Grandmother's blessings, everyone is well. Father is now in Suzhou, able to endure hardship and work diligently—one could say he's turned over a new leaf. Grandfather and Grandmother often stroll by the city gate, getting along quite well with the neighbors. Mother has a bad temper and often quarrels with people, but each time she does, Grandmother scolds her severely, so she’s learned to keep her composure now. My brother and sister-in-law are busy working for the family’s livelihood, but they live harmoniously. My younger brother can now help with household tasks, but he’s obsessed with money—if there’s no pay, he slacks off and often gets beaten for it. Little Official Xiao has started talking now, and the first person he learned to call was me, his aunt..."
Zhen Niang cheerfully recounted everything about her family.
Seventh Grandmother was amused by Zhen Niang’s lively account and turned to Li Jinhe, saying, "Ninth Brother, it seems Eighth Brother has been living quite carefree all these years."
Li Jinhe snorted coldly. If Eighth Brother could truly live carefree, he wouldn’t be pushing his own granddaughter forward now.
Eighth Brother was someone who treated ink-making as his life. All these years, without ink, he’d likely have lost half his life already.
Zhen Niang pretended not to notice Ninth Uncle’s expression. Glancing at the sky outside, she remembered she still had to deliver soot pigment to the Luo Family’s Ink Pavilion, so she smiled and took her leave.
"Perhaps among the Li family’s third generation, only this girl has some talent for ink-making," Seventh Old Madam remarked with a sigh as she watched Zhen Niang’s retreating figure.
"Whether it’s true or not remains to be seen," Ninth Uncle replied with his usual sternness, convinced that Li Jinshui was behind Zhen Niang’s rise.
After leaving, Zhen Niang headed straight for the Luo Family’s Ink Pavilion.
Luo Wenqian, the young master of the Luo Family, was chatting with a man around twenty years old. He took the soot pigment Zhen Niang delivered, examined it, then looked her over and teased, "Miss Zhen, you’re quite skilled at burning soot pigment. Would you be interested in working at our Luo Family Ink Workshop? I could put you in charge of the oil-soot workshop."
Zhen Niang glanced at Luo Wenqian. The man was undeniably handsome, with the kind of looks that would attract attention from women in the pleasure quarters. However, his early success had left him with a somewhat frivolous air, which Zhen Niang didn’t care for. But thinking of the Luo Family’s rise and fall, she lost interest in arguing with him. Instead, she raised an eyebrow and replied, "Are you trying to sabotage your own business, Young Master Luo? If I became the workshop head, the workers would probably tear the place down."
"Haha, you’re too modest, Miss Zhen," Luo Wenqian laughed heartily, then instructed the shopkeeper to pay her. Zhen Niang unceremoniously accepted the payment and promptly took her leave.
As she was leaving, she couldn’t help but frown. The man who had been speaking with Luo Wenqian had been staring at her since she entered, his expression tinged with resentment, which puzzled her greatly.
"Zhen Niang, do you really resent me so much? You didn’t even greet me when we met," the man suddenly spoke up.
Zhen Niang stopped in her tracks and turned to look at him. He did seem somewhat familiar, but she couldn’t recall where she’d seen him before. Noticing the scars on his face and hands, it suddenly dawned on her. Her mind flashed—could this be the fortunate Tian Benchang?
After all, Zhen Niang had transmigrated here and had never met Tian Benchang. The sense of familiarity likely came from her predecessor’s memories.
"Young Master Tian, we’ve already broken off our engagement. To avoid further complications, it’s best we keep our distance," Zhen Niang said with a slight nod before quickly walking away.
Tian Benchang’s face darkened with gloom."Tsk tsk, when a woman turns heartless, she does so decisively, without any hesitation." On the side, Luo Wenqian clicked his tongue, watching Zhen Niang's retreating figure.
"Shut up." Tian Benchang said somewhat irritably.
"What are you getting annoyed about? I've heard that Eunuch Yan's daughter is not one to tolerate any nonsense. Don't be greedy for more after getting what you already have. Since you've broken off the engagement, you should cut ties completely, so as not to drag that girl down." Luo Wenqian said.
The Eunuch Yan he mentioned was precisely the supervising official overseeing the production of Tribute Ink. The Tian family had recently established connections with him and were planning to use marriage as a means to strengthen the relationship.
As for the rumors circulating outside that Tian Benchang was going to become engaged to a daughter of the Luo Family, that was actually misinformation. The Tian family did intend to form a marriage alliance with the Luo Family, but it wasn't Tian Benchang marrying a Luo daughter—it was Luo Wenqian and Tian Ronghua.
"You're not getting attached to her, are you? Let me tell you, don't you dare mistreat my Ronghua." Tian Benchang narrowed his eyes slightly. He felt even more displeased, though he couldn't quite pinpoint where this displeasure came from.
"Don't let your imagination run wild. What interest could I possibly have in her? However, I am interested in the soot pigment formula she holds." Luo Wenqian said.
There are no walls without cracks. As soon as Zhen Niang's new soot pigment was produced, news of the formula had already reached the ears of those who were paying attention.
As the sun set in the west, Zhen Niang left Four Treasures Street. Having received her wages, she bought Lu's soy sauce duck, two measures of wine, and several packets of medicine, then hurried home.
As soon as she entered the house, she saw a coal stove placed in the courtyard, with several family members gathered around it, staring as if it were some exotic spectacle.
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