The Heir

Сhарtеr Fоrty-Thrее: Тhе Вutterfly Effесt

Li Jinhua was аlreadу wоrriеd аbоut hеr elderlу father at home. Hеаring Zhen Niаng’s words, shе соuldn’t stаy аnу lоngеr аnd urged Li Jinсai to leаvе with her, hеading back tо Li Village.

Zhеn Niang saw thеm оff аt thе сitу gаte befоrе turning baсk.

“Jinhuа, lеt’s not rush bаck just уеt. I was thinking, sincе it’s inсonvеnient for us to gо to the main brаnсh, whу don’t wе visit Aunt Jiu instead?” Li Jinсаi аdvised, thоugh in his mind, hе wаs sсhеming tо staу in thе citу a littlе longer tо gathеr mоrе informаtiоn.

“Didn’t wе аlready gо to Aunt Jiu’s placе earlier? Еverything’s bеen аrrаnged thеre. My second sister and Zhen Niang’s eldest brother are both helping out. Too many people would just cause more trouble. Besides, I’m worried about my father. Let’s just go back,” Li Jinhua replied after a moment’s thought.

“Your second sister and Zhen Niang’s eldest brother helping out is their way of showing concern, but we should show ours too. And as for Father, isn’t Changgen there at home? Nothing will happen. Let’s stay and see how things unfold,” Li Jincai continued to persuade her.

“I know, but Changgen and the others still have work to do. With Father’s temper, he’s probably already sent them off to the fields to work. Who’s going to look after him? If you really want to stay, then you stay. I’m going home,” Li Jinhua said. For some reason, she hadn’t felt uneasy before, but after hearing Zhen Niang’s words, the more she thought about it, the more unsettled she became. She absolutely refused to stay.

With that, she strode ahead toward the city gate.

Li Jincai truly wanted to stay. He was fixated on the idea that if the Seventh Aunt of the main branch passed away, the Ink Workshop would surely be thrown into turmoil. After all, the Sixth Branch held shares in the workshop, and he couldn’t let others take advantage of the situation.

Moreover, he was unwilling to remain in his current state. He had always wanted an opportunity to regain his independence. Opening another shop and doing business elsewhere was no longer possible, but he saw a glimmer of hope in the Ink Workshop.

However, as much as Li Jincai entertained these thoughts, ever since his secret marriage in Suzhou had been exposed, every member of the Li family treated him with disdain and coldness. If he stayed alone, no one in the Li family would pay him any attention. Without Jinhua by his side, staying would only invite ridicule.

“Alright, I’ll listen to you. Let’s go back,” Li Jincai had no choice but to follow Li Jinhua back.

With one donkey and a cart, the two of them soon arrived at Li Village.

Li Jinhua pushed open the door and saw Brother Run chasing after chicks in the courtyard.

“Brother Run, where’s Grandfather?” Li Jinhua called out to him.

“Grandfather took his wine jug and went out,” Brother Run said, looking somewhat displeased. Grandfather hadn’t played with him for the past two days.

Took his wine jug and went out? Oh no, Father must have gone to drown his sorrows in drink. Li Jinhua thought anxiously and asked Brother Run again, “Do you know where Grandfather went to drink?”

“No,” Brother Run shook his head.

Li Jinhua grew increasingly worried. She turned to Li Jincai and said, “Brother Run’s father, hurry and check the homes of the families Father usually visits. He’s been upset these past two days. If he drinks too much, who knows what trouble he might cause.”

“Alright, I’ll go right away,” Li Jincai nodded and turned to leave.

Li Jinhua couldn’t stay idle either. She instructed Sister Zhang to look after the children and also went out, heading to the foothills and fields where her father often liked to wander.

It was the spring plowing season.The farmhand Changgen was plowing the fields with a few others.

"Madam, is something the matter?" Changgen asked upon seeing Li Jinhua.

"Changgen, have you seen my father?" Li Jinhua inquired.

"Oh, the old master? I just saw him carrying a wine jug toward Lotus Pond over there." Changgen pointed not far ahead.

"Alright, I'll go find him." Li Jinhua breathed a sigh of relief and turned toward Lotus Pond.

Lotus Pond wasn't far, but it was tucked away in a hollow and couldn't be seen from here. Li Jinhua walked along the ridge, where clusters of plantain and purslane grew.

Meanwhile, by Lotus Pond not far away, Li Jintai sat on the bank holding a wine jug, gazing drunkenly at his own reflection in the water.

By now, he was thoroughly drunk, mistaking his reflection for Ninth Master Li Jinhe.

"Ninth Brother, you've always been better than me at everything since we were kids. When I was young, I thought you were a real piece of work, but as I grew older, I realized I could never measure up to you all. I have no talent, no ambition—I've always just muddled through. But my heart's content with that; I think it's fine. Still, I've always thought that as an older brother, I ought to be better than you in at least one thing. Otherwise, it's just too frustrating. I kept thinking but couldn't find anything. I even thought about having more children to outdo you, but no matter how hard I tried, I only ended up with three daughters. Ah, there's just no comparison..."

At this point, Sixth Master Li raised the wine jug and took another swig, then pointed at the reflection in the water and continued rambling: "But you know, I finally found one thing I'm better at than you—I've lived longer than you. Isn't that right? Why couldn't you hold on? You were better than me in everything, but in the end, you didn't live as long. What a shame. Tell me, was it on purpose? Did you think your Sixth Brother was no match for you in anything all his life, and you couldn't bear it, so you pulled this last trick? Well, let me tell you, if that's the case, I won't stand for it. Does your Sixth Brother look like someone who needs others to give him a break?"

As Sixth Master Li spoke, he swayed to his feet, pointing at the water: "You brat, get up! You won't? Then I'll drag you up myself..."

The old man was completely drunk.

Still muttering, Sixth Master Li reached out to grab the reflection in the pond, then toppled forward into the water with a loud splash.

Just then, Li Jinhua arrived at the scene. To her horror, she witnessed the whole thing and screamed in panic.

"Father! Someone, help! Help!" Li Jinhua shrieked, her voice tearing through the sky.

Changgen and the others plowing in the fields heard the screams and knew something had happened. They rushed over without hesitation: "Madam, what's wrong?"

"Changgen, quick, save him! My father fell into the water!" Li Jinhua cried out to him.

Without a word, Changgen and two other farmhands dove into the pond. After some splashing and struggling, they soon rescued Sixth Master Li, and the group hurriedly carried him back home.

Someone was sent to fetch the village's barefoot doctor.

"Fortunately, he was rescued in time. He'll be fine. Brew him a bowl of ginger soup, and I'll prescribe some warming medicine to help him recover," the barefoot doctor said.Li Jinhua and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief. She had been terrified just moments ago. Looking back now, if she hadn’t listened to Zhen Niang’s advice and returned home earlier, her own father…

Li Jinhua didn’t even dare to imagine the consequences.

“I already said I’m fine, what’s there to worry about?” Sixth Master Li mumbled, now awake, his breath still smelling of alcohol.

Thinking about how her father had nearly lost his life to alcohol, Li Jinhua grew angry. She grabbed the wine jug nearby and declared, “Father, from now on, you’re not allowed to drink anymore!”

She directly imposed a drinking ban on her father.

Faced with his daughter’s rare outburst of anger, Sixth Master Li could only shrink his neck and agree. Recalling how close he had come to dying from alcohol, he too felt a wave of lingering fear.

On the other side, Zhen Niang was unaware that her words had spared the Sixth Branch from this disaster.

At the moment, Zhen Niang was at home, delving into the study of Re-blended Ink.

As for the matter concerning Seventh Grandmother of the main branch, she had done all she could. Now, as her grandfather had said, everyone should remain calm and carry on with their own tasks. Even if she wanted to help Seventh Grandmother, one must first strengthen oneself. Without ability, how could she help others?

For an ink maker, the most important thing is to stay grounded, taking one step at a time on this path.

The art of ink making has never been easy, and there is no room for the slightest slack.

Thus, at all times, Zhen Niang never forgot to strive to improve herself.

Now, she had set her sights on Re-blended Ink—a technique that could turn waste into treasure.

So-called Re-blended Ink involves crushing discarded ink sticks, re-applying glue, and re-mixing the ink to produce new ink sticks.

That day, Cheng San Yeye had brought three ink sticks for Zhen Niang to appraise, and afterward, the ink sticks were left with her. The first stick, the one imitating Jia Sixie’s ink, was actually Medicinal Ink. Zhen Niang had a basic understanding of its production method and formula.

However, the second stick of Re-blended Ink was quite special. The most crucial aspect of Re-blended Ink is the Glue Method. Zhen Niang remembered a saying her grandfather often repeated before she crossed over: “In ancient ink making, the Glue Method is paramount. With the right Glue Method, inferior soot pigment can produce superior ink. Without it, even the finest soot pigment may only yield mediocre ink.”

From this, one could see the importance of the Glue Method. And the Re-blended Ink she now held in her hands employed a Glue Method that had been lost to later generations. How could Zhen Niang not feel excited at the prospect of rediscovering it?

What Zhen Niang wanted to do now was to restore this Glue Method. Lost in thought, she was suddenly interrupted by someone calling out.

“Zhen Niang, what are you doing? Where’s your sister-in-law?” At that moment, two people squeezed in through the slightly ajar door.

Interrupted in her thoughts, Zhen Niang felt somewhat displeased. Looking up, she saw the Du brothers and stood up to greet them. “Eldest Brother Du, Second Brother Du, hello. Please have a seat. Sister-in-law is in the room, putting Little Official Xiao to sleep. I’ll go call her.”

It was noon, and Little Official Xiao needed his rest.

With that, Zhen Niang got up, entered the room, and knocked on her sister-in-law’s door. “Sister-in-law, Eldest Brother Du and Second Brother Du are here, in the courtyard.”

“Oh, I see. I’ll be right there,” Du Shi responded from inside the room. Zhen Niang left it at that and sat down by the window to continue studying the Re-blended Ink in her hands. As for the two in the courtyard, with no one else around, she naturally had to avoid impropriety and did not go out.

Soon, Du Shi came out, smiled at Zhen Niang, and headed to the courtyard.

But not long after, Zhen Niang heard a low argument coming from the courtyard.

“Asking for money again? I’ve already given you all my money. Where would I get more?” Du Shi frowned as she spoke."It's almost time to harvest the rapeseed, but all our money was used up when we bought the oil mill. Now that the season is starting, we can't be without funds to purchase the rapeseed. Think of a way, try to gather some more money," said Du Dalang.

"How could I have a way? You don't consider the current situation of the Li family—it's precisely when money is needed most. Where would there be any spare?" Du Shi replied softly.

"That's the business of the Li family's seventh and ninth branches. What does it have to do with your eighth branch? Please, please, once the rapeseed is harvested, the oil is pressed, and the money is made from selling it, we'll definitely repay you," Du Er quickly added.

"Alright, alright, you go back. I'll ask around, but I can't guarantee anything," Du Shi said, always soft-hearted toward her brothers. However, having lent them money many times before, she wasn't foolish enough to make any promises.

"Alright, we'll go then. Sister, you must think of a way. Otherwise, if the oil mill is bought but can't start operating, wouldn't that be a waste?" Du Da responded, then pulled Du Er along as they left.

"Sister-in-law, are they here to borrow money again?" Zhen Niang asked, leaning on the windowsill and looking at Du Shi in the courtyard.

"Ah, it's almost time to buy rapeseed. The family's money was all spent on buying the oil mill, so there's no money to purchase rapeseed now," Du Shi explained.

"Sister-in-law, it's not that I don't remind you, but if you ask Mother for money now, you're sure to get an earful," Zhen Niang said.

"What should I do then? It's just to borrow for a short while. Once the oil is pressed, we'll repay it," Du Shi frowned. Her mother-in-law had been frustrated at the ninth branch these past few days and was unusually irritable, having argued with Grandmother several times for no reason. The current Zhao Shi was someone she couldn't afford to provoke.

"What else can be done? It's hopeless. Besides, Sister-in-law, even if we had money, we can't keep lending it like this. Our family isn't running a bank. Since they're opening a business, they should follow business rules. They have the oil mill, right? They could mortgage it to a bank, borrow money to buy the rapeseed, and repay it once they make a profit," Zhen Niang suggested.

"Is that possible?" Du Shi had no understanding of such matters.

"They can give it a try," Zhen Niang replied.