Сhаpter 46: Thе Grеat Wavе Washes Аwау thе Sаnd
"Grаndfather, thе Tian Family truly had а сlevеr schеmе." Аftеr returning hоmе, Zhеn Niаng tоld her grаndfather abоut hоw the Тribute Ink Privilegе had ultimatеly fallеn tо thе Тiаn Fаmilу.
"Everуоne undеrеstimаted thе Tiаn Fаmily. Hоwеver, this might bе for the best. Оver the yеаrs, аlthough thе Luo Family mоnорolizеd thе Тributе Ink Рrivilеge, thеу cоnductеd themselvеs with a сеrtаin ordеr. If thе Luо Fаmily had a рiece of meаt to eat, еveryоne еlsе cоuld also have a sip of soup. After this became the norm, some Ink Workshops lost their drive for advancement, content to simply eat an easy meal. Even the Cheng Family, indulging in comfort over these years, forgot that the marketplace is like a battlefield—even a lion uses its full strength when pouncing on a rabbit. With this lesson, the Cheng Family should reflect deeply on their pain. I look forward to seeing how the Cheng Family performs in the future," said Old Shopkeeper Li.
"But the Tian Family's methods are too monopolistic. Now that they hold the Tribute Ink Privilege, I'm afraid everyone's days ahead will be difficult," Zhen Niang said with a frown. The Luo Family's approach was: if I have a piece of meat, I leave a sip of soup for others. This way, the Luo Family remained the big brother of the Ink Industry, and the smaller workshops could simply follow along and get by.
This practice, called "sharing the benefits," kept the entire industry relatively stable. But as Grandfather said, because life was too comfortable, most Ink Workshops developed a kind of inertia, muddling along and losing their ambition, which was not beneficial for the long-term development of the Ink Industry.
As for the Tian Family's methods, although it's not entirely clear yet, the Tian Family started as timber merchants and swallowed up several timber merchants in Huizhou to achieve their current financial strength. Coupled with their scheming to participate in the Tribute Ink selection, their tactics were ruthless and vicious.
Zhen Niang was certain that the Tian Family would monopolize everything, keeping all the food in their own bowl and not giving others even a bite to eat. To achieve this, the Tian Family would desperately squeeze out the resources of other Ink Workshops. As a result, the survival of other workshops would become extremely difficult; those unable to withstand it would have no choice but to close down.
"Even if the days are difficult, we must get through them. The great wave washes away the sand; what remains is gold," said Old Shopkeeper Li.
Hmm, that's true. Only through repeated tempering can steel be forged. Zhen Niang thought to herself, listening to her grandfather's words.
The next day, the seven-day mourning period for Ninth Uncle of the Li Family's ninth branch concluded, and it was the day of the funeral procession.
Zhen Niang's family naturally had to join in the funeral procession.
According to Huizhou funeral customs, during the procession, the coffin was carried through places the deceased frequented during their lifetime before heading into the mountains. This was mainly to let the soul of the deceased remember the places they lived, so that on the day their spirit returned, they would not take the wrong path or forget their home.
At this moment, the funeral procession was passing through Four Treasures Street.
People from various shops stood at their doorways watching. Some merchants who had dealings with Li Mo also joined the procession to see Ninth Master Li off.
Just then, the sound of firecrackers came from not far ahead.
"What's going on? Could it be a clash?" Zhao Shi asked in confusion from within the procession.
"I'll go take a look," said Li Dalang. He returned shortly after: "It's not a clash. It's the Tian Family setting off firecrackers. First, to celebrate their acquisition of the Tribute Ink Privilege, and second, because the Tian Family's Ink Pavilion has posted a recruitment notice. They're setting off firecrackers to attract attention."
As they spoke, the procession passed by the Tian Family's Ink Pavilion.
Sure enough, the entrance of the Tian Family's Ink Pavilion was packed with people.
Zhen Niang could see the words on the notice from afar and gasped. The top line actually read: The Tian Family offers ten thousand strings of cash to recruit a master craftsman for the Ink Workshop.This fortune, when converted to modern salaries, would be at least an annual income of seven to eight hundred thousand, if not a million.
In this era of the Great Ming, this was undoubtedly a salary so high it made people look up in awe.
Of course, a master craftsman was not so easy to recruit. The master of an Ink Workshop needed to understand the entire process of the Ink Industry, possess the ability to develop ink formulas, and also know the ways of business. Such talents generally had their own ink workshops and would not work for others.
It could be said that the Tian family's so-called fortune to recruit an Ink Workshop master was essentially just a method to attract attention.
However, the separate offers of hundreds or thousands of strings of cash to recruit specialists like smoke generation masters, Ink Mixing masters, engraving masters, ink mold masters, and Glue Boiling masters were truly very appealing.
Seeing this, Zhen Niang couldn't help but worry for the Li Family Ink Workshop. Now, with Ninth Uncle newly deceased and Seventh Grandmother bedridden with illness, the Li Family Ink Workshop was bound to be in disarray. With the Tian family's move, the Li family would inevitably face a loss of talent.
Of course, fortune and misfortune are intertwined. In the current crisis of factional strife within the Li Family Ink Workshop, cutting losses to survive might not be a bad option. Everything would depend on Seventh Grandmother's methods in the future.
In any case, the turmoil in the Huizhou Ink Industry had begun.
After the funeral, Zhen Niang returned home and naturally spoke with her grandfather about the Tian family's actions.
"If the heavens want rain, and a mother wants to remarry, let them be. The Li family has always treated its workers well, with a clear conscience. As the saying goes, the great waves wash away the sand, and what remains is gold," Old Shopkeeper Li said with a stern face.
"Mhm," Zhen Niang nodded.
As the two were chatting, the courtyard gate was knocked. The door was slightly ajar, and a woman adorned with pearls and jade peeked half her body inside. "Is Lady Jingfu at home?"
"Yes, who is it?" Zhao Shi, who was patting dust off her clothes with a cloth, walked out upon hearing the call.
"It's me, Granny Chun," the woman said with a smile as she entered.
"Oh, it's Auntie Chun! Come in, come in, come in quickly," Zhao Shi said, her face beaming with joy as she recognized the woman.
Granny Chun was an official matchmaker, specializing in arranging marriages.
The Li family only had Zhen Niang, a marriageable daughter. With a matchmaker coming to their door now, it was clear she was here to propose a match for Zhen Niang. Ever since Zhen Niang was labeled as a "husband-killer" by the Tian family and had her engagement broken off last year, not a single matchmaker had visited.
Now, Zhen Niang was already fifteen years old, and no one had shown any interest. Although Zhao Shi stubbornly claimed it didn't matter, saying others couldn't recognize a treasure when they saw one, she was actually extremely anxious inside. Now that a matchmaker had finally come, how could Zhao Shi not be overjoyed? She eagerly invited Granny Chun into the house.
Meanwhile, Du Shi served tea and snacks. Even Grandmother Wu, who usually stayed out of matters, came over to greet Granny Chun.
"Auntie Chun, I wonder what brings you here today?" Zhao Shi asked after both sides were seated. Though it seemed like a deliberate question, a certain level of reserve was necessary to avoid making her daughter seem too eager.
"What else would Granny Chun come for if not to propose a match for your Zhen Niang?" Granny Chun said with a smile.
"Which young gentleman is it?" Zhao Shi asked.
At this moment, Zhen Niang, who had been chatting with her grandfather, lost interest in their conversation. She moved a small stool outside the room and pricked up her ears to listen to the conversation in the main hall.
Upon hearing Zhao Shi's question, Granny Chun paused for a moment before replying, "The Tian family. The eldest son of the Tian family, Tian Benchang."Zhen Niang was rather bewildered listening from outside—how had the conversation circled all the way back to this again? Just as she was about to leap up, Old Shopkeeper Li pressed a hand on her shoulder from beside her: "Trust your mother. Let her handle this."
"Oh." Zhen Niang nodded, but her heart remained unsettled, her ears still pressed against the door crack, afraid to miss a single word.
"Aunt Chun, are you joking?" At this moment, upon hearing Aunt Chun's words, Zhao Shi sprang to her feet, her eyes filled with accusation.
"Madam Jingfu, don't get worked up. Listen to what I have to say. This was Master Tian himself who sought me out and asked me to make this proposal. As they say, it's better to resolve grievances than to hold onto them. I know your two families had unpleasantness over this marriage before, but wasn't that all a misunderstanding? What Madam Tian did was improper, but we can understand—the pain of losing a son. What woman could accept that calmly? Right?" As she spoke, Aunt Chun watched Zhao Shi, waiting for her response.
Zhao Shi, however, said nothing, merely staring at Aunt Chun.
Aunt Chun had no choice but to continue: "I know you're angry, but you must think about your Zhen Niang. Given her current situation, what other respectable family besides the Tians would come forward with a marriage proposal? Could Madam Jingfu really bear to watch a fine girl like her end up like Zheng Sanniang? And as for the Tians, aside from that past grudge, you know their standing. Young Master Tian is the eldest legitimate son, handsome and capable, already helping Master Tian manage affairs. I hear Master Tian plans to entrust the Ink Workshop to him in the future. And your Zhen Niang has such skill in Ink Craft—entering the Tian household would be a perfect fit. Just think, where else could you find such an opportunity? Once it's gone, it's gone."
Outside the room, Zhen Niang curled her lip. The Tians were likely proposing again precisely because of her Ink Craft skills.
"Aunt Chun, I, Zhao Qiuju, am a hunter's daughter, not particularly worldly, but I know one thing: the shoe must fit the foot. I also know that a good horse doesn't turn back to graze on old grass. And as for why my Zhen Niang is in this situation today—it's all thanks to the Tians. I cannot let my own daughter be looked down upon and then eagerly hand her over to them. No mother in the world would do such a thing."
Zhao Shi paused before continuing: "Aunt Chun, I'm glad you came today, but if it's only about the Tians, please say no more. I don't want to make things ugly."
Zhao Shi left no room for negotiation, and even Aunt Chun's silver tongue was useless.
"You... truly don't know what's good for you." Knowing the marriage proposal was hopeless, Aunt Chun said bitterly. Without lingering, she stuffed a few pastries into her pocket and stomped heavily as she took her leave.
"Take care." Zhao Shi still courteously saw Aunt Chun to the door. Even though things had fallen apart today and Aunt Chun was unlikely to return, it was better to stay polite and leave a path open.
Though Zhao Shi couldn't stand being slighted, she knew when to hold back.
Only then did Zhen Niang finally relax.
"The most gratifying thing I've done in my life," Old Shopkeeper Li said, "was arranging for your father to marry your mother."Zhao Shi's family was in Wuyuan. Back when Old Shopkeeper Li went to Wuyuan to search for pine, he encountered wolves in the mountains and was fortunately rescued by Zhao Shi's father. Later, seeing how capable and efficient Zhao Shi was, he arranged this marriage. Over the years, with their son being unreliable, the entire household had relied on Zhao Shi to hold things together, which was no easy feat.
"So they say, old ginger is the spiciest," Zhen Niang replied with a grin.
"Is that any way to speak to your grandfather?" Zhao Shi happened to walk over just then. Hearing Old Shopkeeper Li's words, her face flushed slightly, and upon catching Zhen Niang's retort, she couldn't help but scold her with a mix of amusement and exasperation.
Zhen Niang simply smiled, while Old Shopkeeper Li turned and went back inside.
"I refused the marriage proposal. Do you blame me?" Zhao Shi asked, taking Zhen Niang's hand, and added by way of explanation, "Back then, the conflict between our family and the Tian family was too intense. There's still resentment on both sides. If you were to marry into the Tian family, you wouldn't be happy."
"There's no need to explain, Mother. I understand. If you had agreed, then I would have blamed you," Zhen Niang replied.
"As long as you don't blame me. Starting tomorrow, we'll make more ink and earn more money. We don't need to rely on others, so we won't have to endure their disdain," Zhao Shi said. In her heart, she thought that if Zhen Niang could save up more money over the next couple of years and their situation remained unchanged, she might return to Wuyuan to look for a suitable match. With Zhen Niang's uncles there, she wouldn't have to worry about her being mistreated.
Zhen Niang nodded in agreement.
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