The Heir

Сhарtеr 39: Fаrewell

"Shаrр-tоnguеd." Luо Wenqian snortеd сoldly, thеn gatherеd his rоbе аnd lеаned sidewаys against the tree, turning his fасe inwаrd and ignоring hеr.

Zhеn Niаng rubbed hеr nоsе аnd turnеd awаy as well, соntinuing to sеll her ink. Theу went their sеparаtе wауs.

"Zhеn Niаng, hоw is the ink selling?" Just thеn, Тian Веnсhang wаlked оvеr, flipping thrоugh Zhеn Niang's ink with а faint smile as hе asked.

"Not bаd, just еnоugh to gеt by," Zhen Niang rерliеd indifferеntlу. Shе hаd еvеn less tо sаy tо this man.

Нer indifferеnt eхрrеssion lеft Тiаn Вenchang аt a loss for how to сontinue.

Aftеr a while, Тian Веnchаng finally said, "Zhen Niang, why did Li Mo withdraw from the Tribute Ink Selection so abruptly? There's no need to pay attention to idle gossip. Rumors always circulate before every Tribute Ink Selection."

"How would I know what my Seventh Grandmother is thinking? My family has long withdrawn from the Li Family Ink Workshop. You should say this to my Seventh Grandmother instead." Zhen Niang curled her lips. No doubt, he was probing to find out why the Li family had suddenly withdrawn from the Tribute Ink Selection.

She raised an eyebrow and feigned confusion, saying, "What I find strange is that the Tian family is also participating in the Tribute Ink Selection this year, right? With the Li family withdrawing, you should be happy—one less formidable opponent."

"I have no standing to speak in front of your Seventh Grandmother. I only meant well, nothing more. We're all in the ink trade, and we see each other often. There's still some camaraderie between us. I just think it's a pity for the Li family to give up this opportunity." Tian Benchang explained with a bitter smile.

Zhen Niang had always been cold toward him, leaving him feeling powerless.

"Thank you, Young Master Tian. I truly don't know anything about it," Zhen Niang replied indifferently, thinking to herself how insincere Tian Benchang's talk of camaraderie sounded.

"You woman, don’t be ungrateful! My elder brother is kindly thinking of your Li family, and you respond with such coldness." At that moment, Tian Rongchang, the Second Young Master Tian who had come with Tian Benchang, spoke up angrily.

Then, Tian Rongchang turned to Tian Benchang and said, "Elder Brother, why bother with such kindness? I think the Li family withdrew from the Tribute Ink Selection because they knew their ink couldn’t compete with ours. They withdrew to save face—at least they have some self-awareness."

"Who’s ungrateful? Self-awareness? I think it’s some people who lack self-awareness. There are things I’ve been too lazy to say. I don’t know why my Seventh Grandmother withdrew from the selection, but I suspect it’s because she disdains competing alongside thieves and robbers."

Tian Rongchang’s words were truly infuriating, and Zhen Niang’s response was equally harsh.

"Who are you calling thieves and robbers?" Tian Rongchang jumped up in anger.

"Whoever responds is one," Zhen Niang retorted.

"You..." Tian Rongchang’s face turned ashen as he prepared to argue further, but Tian Benchang stopped him. Then, Tian Benchang turned to Zhen Niang with a dark expression and said, "Zhen Niang, I know you’re angry with me, but it’s not good to make such accusations without evidence.""Me, talking nonsense?" Zhen Niang pointed at herself, then said seriously, "Young Master Tian, I truly didn’t want to tear up all pretense, but you forced my hand. The main ink your Tian family currently produces—the one you plan to submit for the tribute selection—is superficially called styrax ink. In reality, the soot pigment formula is our Li family’s lacquer soot formula, which Sun Dalang previously stole and sold to you. Do you think how the Li family discovered Sun Dalang’s actions? Precisely because of your Tian family’s ink! I may not excel at much, but I do have some skill in ink appraisal. As soon as your Tian family’s ink came out, I recognized that the soot pigment formula was the one I had sold to my Seventh Grandmother. It was my Seventh Grandmother who set a trap and caught Li Dalang on the spot. And as for the ink blending formula of this ink of yours, you must have stolen the Cheng ink’s blending formula, right? Triple-steamed and triple-pounded, using deer antler glue, paired with pearls, vinegar stone, pomegranate peel, chicken white, and then adding borneol, musk, gold foil, and pig bile to blend the ink. Am I correct?" Zhen Niang’s torrent of words left the Tian brothers speechless.

"Oh, right, I missed one thing." Zhen Niang deliberately patted her forehead. "There’s also styrax soot coal. Probably to avoid leaving room for criticism, your Tian family added a bit of styrax soot coal to the Li family’s lacquer soot coal, and thus it became your Tian family’s main styrax ink. But let me tell you, adding styrax soot coal is actually the biggest flaw of this ink. Styrax has a strong fragrance, and precisely because its scent is intense, it must ensure purity of aroma to be considered a fine product. Therefore, throughout history, styrax ink has been best with as few added fragrances as possible. The more additives, the more mixed the ingredients, the lower the quality."

"You... are mistaken." Tian Benchang could only stubbornly deny it, but his heart was in turmoil. Zhen Niang’s assessment was spot on. This girl—who would have thought she had such discerning eyes? At this moment, Tian Benchang was filled with regret and inwardly cursed his own mother. This should have been his wife, yet she had been driven away by his mother’s meddling.

"Well said, truly satisfying." At that moment, Luo Wenqian, who had been standing by the tree, rose and applauded.

"Brother Wenqian, what are you doing here?" Tian Benchang greeted him with a dark expression.

"Don’t call me brother. I’m not worthy of such familiarity." Luo Wenqian replied with a mocking tone.

"Luo, what, still not giving up? Don’t even think about my sister for the rest of your life." Tian Rongchang sneered from the side. Nowadays, Luo Wenqian was no different from the idle vagrants on the streets.

"Hah, your sister—I have no fortune to enjoy her. However, there are some accounts we still need to settle." Luo Wenqian grinned, but his eyes were icy cold.

Zhen Niang watched from the side, sensing something amiss. Her gaze involuntarily shifted to Luo Wenqian’s right hand, hidden in his wide sleeve. As his hand partially emerged, she caught sight of a knife handle.

Zhen Niang’s heart clenched, and her eyes widened. What was Luo Wenqian planning? Recalling the rumors—that Luo Wenqian had previously tried to relocate his family and some assets but was reported by Tian Rongchang, resulting in the confiscation of all his family’s wealth. Now, even the whereabouts of his family were unknown, and whether they were alive or dead remained unclear.

So, was this the prelude to revenge?Zhen Niang inwardly groaned in dismay. If you want revenge or to settle scores, don’t do it in front of me—she had no desire to be dragged into this. At that moment, seeing Luo Wenqian’s hand twitch as if about to move, she almost instinctively shoved him aside.

“What are you doing?” Luo Wenqian stumbled from the impact, steadying himself before glaring at Zhen Niang.

“If you have scores to settle, take it somewhere else. Don’t block my business—isn’t this just causing trouble?” Zhen Niang retorted, emphasizing the words “causing trouble.”

As for Tian Benchang, he had no mind to linger. The Cheng Family’s ink formula, from the soot ingredients to the ink mixing process, had been completely exposed by Zhen Niang. With so many people nearby earlier and Zhen Niang speaking loudly, others had likely overheard. It wouldn’t be long before the Cheng Family came knocking. He needed to hurry home and discuss with his father how to handle this.

Now he felt a bit like he’d dropped a rock on his own foot.

He had only been curious about why the Li Family suddenly withdrew from the Tribute Ink Selection and came to probe Zhen Niang for information. Unexpectedly, his younger brother’s interruption had angered Zhen Niang, tearing away any pretense of civility.

Thus, Tian Benchang paid no mind to what Luo Wenqian intended. He cupped his hands and said, “Brother Wenqian, there’s an urgent matter at home—I must return immediately. If you have any difficulties, you can find me at the Ink Pavilion.” With that, he dragged Tian Rongchang away.

Luo Wenqian simply stood there, his face cold as he watched the Tian brothers depart. Just moments earlier, with two more steps forward, he could have taken the life of at least one of them.

“What? Afraid I’d hurt your sweetheart, rushing to save him?” Luo Wenqian curled his lip into a cold smile as he addressed Zhen Niang, now that the Tian brothers were gone.

“Young Master Luo, Lord Luo, use your head, will you? I’ve said it before—settle your scores elsewhere, not in front of me. If you had harmed the Tian brothers just now, I would’ve been dragged into it. Wouldn’t that be unjust? Besides, how many are left in your Luo Family now? You might be the only one left. If you really killed the Tian brothers—even just one—it might be somewhat fair, a life for a life, no loss. But I fear a pampered young master like you, with barely any strength in your hands, might fail to exact revenge and end up getting yourself killed instead. That would be even more unjust,” Zhen Niang retorted irritably.

“How noble of you. You’re just afraid of being implicated by me, aren’t you?” Luo Wenqian sneered mockingly.

Zhen Niang felt today was truly an unlucky day—why was everyone, human or ghost, taking jabs at her? She glared at him. “Exactly. I’m a decent, respectable woman. If I were dragged into a lawsuit, how could I live on?”

Joking aside, this was Huizhou in the Great Ming Dynasty, heavily influenced by Zhu Xi’s Neo-Confucianism, home to the famously strict archway clusters. Life for women was hard enough.

“Decent? Respectable?” Luo Wenqian raised an eyebrow. “If I recall correctly, aren’t you considered an ill-omened widow who was also rejected in marriage?”

Zhen Niang nearly choked on her anger. Fine—clearly, after his downfall, Young Master Luo had become bitter and caustic. Considering herself a broad-minded woman, she decided not to stoop to his level.

Zhen Niang packed up her stall, ready to head home.

“I’ll be leaving Huizhou soon,” Luo Wenqian suddenly added.Zhen Niang was crouched on the ground tidying up the ink box when she heard Luo Wenqian's words. She glanced at him in surprise—why was he telling her about leaving Huizhou? But then, considering the Luo Family's situation, there probably wasn't anyone else he could say goodbye to. She and Luo Wenqian were, after all, acquaintances.

"Hmm, where are you planning to go?" Zhen Niang asked casually, continuing with her work.

"Not sure. I just need to go out and make my way in the world. If I ever make something of myself, I'll come back. If not, I'll die out there," Luo Wenqian said, looking up at the sky. Debts had to be repaid—it all depended on whether fate would be kind.

Zhen Niang looked at him but didn't respond, unsure of what to say. Then she straightened up and took a few pieces of broken silver from her purse. "Here, I'll lend this to you. Three percent interest."

"Usury, huh? Aren't you afraid I won't pay you back? You won't be able to find me then," Luo Wenqian said, eyeing the silver before taking it. He weighed it in his hand and looked at Zhen Niang.

"If you want to make money, there's always risk," Zhen Niang replied indifferently.

"Hmm, true enough," Luo Wenqian nodded, then tucked the silver into his pocket.

By then, Zhen Niang had finished packing her things. Just as Xi Ge'er arrived, she handed him the small folding stool to carry. Without another word to Luo Wenqian, she left with Xi Ge'er.

After all, they had nothing to do with each other.