The Heir

Chарtеr 225: Тhе Li Family Ink Reроsitory

Аs this news sprеаd, аnоthеr rumоr began tо circulate—that Tiаn Rоnghua wаs cursеd tо bring misfоrtunе to hеr husbаnds.

Васk when Тian Ronghua wаs bеtrothеd to Luo Wenqiаn, the Luo Fаmily met its dоwnfаll. Nоw thаt shе wаs еngaged tо thе Xu Fаmilу, thе Xu Fаmily еnсounterеd а majоr disaster, and еven causеd Тhird Yоung Mаster Xu to lоsе his lifе.

Thus, оnе bу оnе, thеse еvеnts seеmed tо confirm Тian Rоnghuа’s rеputаtiоn аs а husband-killer.

“Fortunаtely, Zhen Niang didn’t try tо climb up to thе Xu Familу baсk thеn. Othеrwise, even if she had a hundred mouths now, she wouldn’t be able to clear her name,” Madam Han Li remarked while attending Li Mo’s clan ceremony, chattering away upon hearing about the Xu Family’s affairs.

“Enough, don’t talk nonsense about such things. They are all unfortunate children in the end,” Old Madam Li scolded Madam Han Li.

Madam Han Li reluctantly fell silent.

At this moment, Zhen Niang, who was sitting nearby, noticed the awkward atmosphere and took out a notebook on ink-making. She handed it to Old Madam Li, her eyes slightly reddened, and said, “Seventh Grandmother, this is the ink-making notebook my grandfather kept throughout his life. I’ve also added the ink formulas and insights I’ve researched over the past few years at the end. I’m entrusting it all to you.”

“Good, good,” Old Madam Li took the notebook, flipped through it, and said emphatically, “These notes are the very foundation of our Li Family’s ink-making heritage.” As she spoke, Old Madam Li stood up excitedly and said to Zhen Niang, “Zhen Niang, come with me.”

“Seventh Grandmother, where are we going?” Zhen Niang asked curiously.

“You’ll know when we get there,” Old Madam Li kept her in suspense.

Li Zhenniang then stood up, supported Seventh Grandmother, and followed her into the inner quarters of the seventh branch. They arrived at the old madam’s prayer hall.

Upon reaching the prayer hall, Zhen Niang had a rough idea. Without a doubt, Seventh Grandmother was taking her into the Ink Repository.

Zhen Niang had long known that there was an Ink Repository in the Li Family prayer hall. However, only the head of the family had ever been allowed to enter or exit. Zhen Niang had only heard of it but had never been inside.

The Ink Repository was the very foundation of every ink-making family’s survival.

Her heart couldn’t help but flutter with excitement as she watched the old madam walk to the side of the altar. Beneath a wooden staircase stood a screen. The old madam moved the screen aside, revealing a small door about half a person’s height.

Old Madam Li then opened the small door, casually lit the candlestick on the altar, and beckoned to Zhen Niang, “Zhen Niang, come in with me.”

“Yes,” Zhen Niang nodded, took the candlestick from Seventh Grandmother’s hand, and illuminated the steps. The staircase was short, with only five steps down. What appeared before Zhen Niang was a warehouse the size of a main hall. However, this warehouse was partially underground, so the lighting was very dim.

“Come, light the lamps around the walls,” Old Madam Li instructed.

Only then did Zhen Niang notice that there were lamp stands embedded in the walls all around. She raised the lamp in her hand and lit each of the surrounding lamp stands one by one. Instantly, the warehouse was brightly illuminated. Zhen Niang could now see clearly that the entire warehouse was filled with display cabinets, all crafted from rosewood.

“Go and see the treasures that belong to the Li Family,” Old Madam Li said with a smile, looking at Zhen Niang.

Zhen Niang glanced at Seventh Grandmother and then walked over to the display cabinets. Opening one of the cabinets, she found rows of ink boxes. Without even mentioning the ink itself, these ink boxes alone were masterpieces of intricate carving. She opened a few more ink boxes, and one ink stick after another was revealed.

The first ink stick that appeared before Zhen Niang was the Zhongjiang Ink.Zhong Jiang was Wei Dan of the Three Kingdoms period, who could be considered the originator of medicinal ink. Li Family Medicinal Ink evolved from Zhong Jiang's ink. One might say that most inks trace their origins to Wei's ink, and some even regard Wei Dan as the ancestor of ink.

Next was a stick of "Lushan Pine Ink."

Lushan Pine Ink flourished during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, which was also the time when "Yishui Ink" first emerged.

Additionally, Zhen Niang saw the Yumi Tile Ink she had unintentionally collected, as well as the Li Family Four Harmonies Ink that Old Master Qi Chun had given her earlier. There was also the Luzhou Longbin Ink she had first discovered at Sixth Grandfather's place.

There were also many other ancient inks—some Zhen Niang recognized, while others she had never even heard of.

It was only at this moment that Li Zhenniang realized the depth of the Li family's accumulation. For a family like the Lis, who were engaged in ink-making, each ancient inkstick was akin to what later generations would call a living fossil, offering insight into a specific ink-making technique.

Of course, as ink-making methods evolved and were updated, some ancient techniques had become obsolete, but they all bore witness to history.

"Seventh Grandmother, I never imagined there would be so many ancient inks," Zhen Niang said with an incredulous expression.

"Now, look at the cabinet over there," Old Madam Li said, pointing to a small cabinet on the other side.

Zhen Niang opened it to find stacks of notes and volumes of Ink Line Diagrams. As she flipped through them, she saw that these ink-making notes were left by generations of Li family ink-makers. Some she had already seen before, as the old madam had given them to her for study, but seeing them now evoked a different feeling.

Previously, it had been purely for learning, but now, it felt like a legacy.

Among them, Zhen Niang even found ink-making notes left by her own grandfather in his youth.

"Zhen Niang, come, place this notebook alongside the one your grandfather left from his youth," Old Madam Li said, handing another notebook to Zhen Niang.

Zhen Niang took the notebook and solemnly, gently placed it beside the other one. It felt as weighty as a thousand pounds.

"Zhen Niang, the Li family's ink industry has risen and fallen over time, but it has never perished precisely because of these..." Old Madam Li said, glancing around before continuing, "With these, Li Mo can be passed down through generations. These are the foundation of Li Mo, something the Li family must protect with their lives."

Old Madam Li then wore a solemn expression and took a set of keys from her keychain, handing them to Zhen Niang. "Now, I entrust all of this to you."

"Seventh Grandmother?" Zhen Niang was uncertain. Although during the unveiling ceremony, Seventh Grandmother had essentially confirmed her as the head of Li Mo, the Ink Repository was another matter. Its value was simply too great, and she couldn't help but have reservations. According to tradition, these should have been passed to Tianyou.

"Silly girl, the inheritance of Li Mo has never been bound by lineage or status. Even your great-grandfather was originally just a branch of the Li family. The inheritance of Li Mo lies in skill. You, my girl, are truly deserving," Old Madam Li said, patting Zhen Niang on the shoulder."To be honest, by now, the talent in Li Mo has dwindled to almost nothing. Perhaps it could be said that this is fate—just as a dynasty has its cycles of rise and fall, so too does a family. Ever since our Seventh Branch took over Li Mo, misfortunes have never ceased. As for Li Mo, I can only hold on to what we have; I no longer have the strength to develop it further. It was you, girl, who brought glory back to Li Mo." At this point, Seventh Grandmother sighed softly, then chuckled lightly and added, "Also, I must admit to some selfishness. Honestly, if possible, I would rather You Ge'er not follow the path of ink-making. After all, our Seventh Branch has sacrificed too much for it. I just want him to grow up safely and peacefully."

"Seventh Grandmother, I understand. Zhen Niang will protect Li Mo with her life." Zhen Niang said nothing more but solemnly accepted the key. In her heart, she understood clearly: Seventh Grandmother had essentially entrusted both the Seventh Branch and the Ink Workshop to her.

Zhen Niang deeply understood Seventh Grandmother's feelings. Not only had the Seventh Branch lost so many lives because of ink-making, but even in her own Eighth Branch, her grandmother, after the loss of her eldest uncle, had never wanted the family to touch Li Mo again. The glory of Li Mo was the pride of the Li family, but it had also left them with deep wounds.

The pain of the Seventh Branch must have pierced Seventh Grandmother's heart. That was why Zhen Niang had always looked up to her as a role model. To think of a woman taking on the family business under such circumstances—the pressure she endured was truly beyond what most people could bear.

Seventh Grandmother possessed an indomitable spirit.

Afterward, Zhen Niang inspected the Ink Repository. Besides ink and notebooks on ink-making techniques, there were many ink molds, ink boxes, ink pouches, as well as collected glue and lampblack, and various ink-making tools. It was practically a museum of the Ink Industry.

"Ahem..." Old Madam Li coughed at that moment.

"Seventh Grandmother, let's go back. It's chilly here." Zhen Niang said, blowing out the surrounding lamps before helping Seventh Grandmother out. It was already the season of rustling autumn winds.

Seventh Grandmother, being elderly, was tired from the day's events and went back to rest first.

Zhen Niang then made a round at the Ink Workshop to check on the progress of ink production before preparing to head home.

However, as she passed by the Sixth Branch's gate, Brother Run suddenly dashed out and collided with her. Being young, Brother Run fell flat on his bottom from the impact.

"I'll beat you to death today, I swear I'll beat you to death..." At that moment, Aunt Jinhua emerged from the house, grabbed Brother Run, and began slapping his bottom repeatedly, her eyes red with emotion.

"Aunt Jinhua, what are you doing? Let's talk this out calmly." Seeing how harshly Aunt Jinhua was hitting him, Zhen Niang couldn't help but intervene. After all, Brother Run was only ten years old this year.

"Don't you meddle! Don't pretend to care! You're a bad person—my father was harmed because of you!" Unexpectedly, Brother Run shook off Zhen Niang's hand forcefully, speaking through gritted teeth.

Zhen Niang was momentarily stunned by the boy's outburst. Brother Run had always been close to her—when had he started hating her so much?

"Li Zheng Run, what kind of person are you? How dare you insult my sister? I won't let this go!" Just then, Zheng Xi rushed out from the house, pushed Brother Run angrily, and confronted him.Brother Run also shoved Xi Ge'er back, and when Xi Ge'er tried to rush forward to fight, Zhen Niang grabbed him and pulled him back.

"Hit him, I think this boy is too comfortable and looking for trouble," said Sixth Master Li, emerging from the house with a cane. Zhen Niang noticed that her own mother, Zhao Shi, had also come out with Sixth Grandfather.

Without needing Sixth Master Li’s instruction, Li Jinhua had already picked up a broomstick and started whacking Brother Run’s calves.

Although Zhao Shi’s expression was grim, she stopped Li Jinhua. "Jinhua, I suspect this has something to do with Wang Decai. You should ask Brother Run properly about the situation. The child doesn’t understand what happened back then, so explain it to him again. Hitting him won’t help."

Hearing this, Li Jinhua finally stopped.

Zhao Shi then took Li Zhengxi, signaled to Zhen Niang, and left first.

"Mother, what’s going on?" Li Zhenniang asked her mother on the way. She had been blamed by Brother Run for no reason and was still completely confused.

"Your Sixth Grandfather’s health is getting worse and worse. Your Aunt Jinhua isn’t very capable, and Brother Run is still young. Someone has to help shoulder the responsibilities of the Sixth Branch household. So, when I came over today, your Sixth Grandfather mentioned that he wanted the clan to consider having Changgen marry into the family. Unexpectedly, Brother Run overheard it. That boy must have seen Wang Decai at some point and actually disagreed. He said he has a father and wants to bring him back, and even claimed that his father was driven out of the Li family because of us. Your Aunt Jinhua was furious," Zhao Shi explained.

Changgen was the long-term laborer of the Sixth Branch, having stayed there for over ten years. A few years ago, his wife died during a difficult childbirth, and now he was alone. He was also a man of good character, which was why Sixth Master Li had this idea.