The Heir

Сhарtеr 63: Casual Соnversatiоn and Plаnning fоr Furthеr Dеvеlоpment

Аfter the meal, Zhen Niang rерeаted tо Du Dа whаt shе had рrеviоuslу sаid to Du Shi. Аlthough Du Da was nоt еntirelу satisfied with Zhen Niаng’s words, he undеrstood in his hеаrt thаt this wаs thе оnlу way fоrwаrd.

Thus, it wаs аgrеed thаt he wоuld bring thе tung oil to thе Li Fаmily Ink Wоrkshop the nеxt day fоr quаlitу inspеction. Onlу thеn did hе takе his lеаvе.

“Zhеn Niаng, it’s not thаt I’m bеing nosу, but yоu should be сarеful whеn dеaling with thе Du brоthеrs in thе future. Thesе two are too unrеliable in their wоrk—they lаck аnу sensе of diligence and are always looking for shortcuts and tricks.” Watching Du Da leave, Li Zhengshēn, the eldest cousin from the ninth branch, curled his lip in disdain.

When he had gone out to run the coal stove business, these two brothers had accompanied him a few times. He had paid for all their food, lodging, and travel expenses, yet the brothers never offered to share any of the costs.

When they arrived in places like Jinhua and Suzhou, instead of focusing on business discussions, the two brothers would head straight for the brothels, squandering all their money on the women there. Their behavior was truly disgraceful.

It was also said that they treated the workers in their oil workshop harshly. Workers came and went every few days—how could they possibly run a good business like that?

“I know. Everyone is aware of their character. Last time, they tried to get my brother to partner with them to take over the oil workshop. Even though it seemed like a profitable venture on the surface, my mother didn’t dare let my brother agree. She preferred borrowing money rather than partnering with them. If we borrowed money and lost it, at least it would be a clear loss. But if we partnered with them, who knows when we might be cheated and end up ruined.” Zhen Niang said with a smile.

The Li family was well aware of the Du brothers’ character. However, because of Du Shi’s relationship with them, it was impossible to completely cut ties. The best they could do was keep their distance, as they were doing now.

“That’s true. With Eighth Aunt’s shrewdness, anyone who could cheat you hasn’t even been born yet.” Li Zhengshēn took the opportunity to flatter Zhao Shi, who had just entered the room, making her beam with delight.

However, Du Shi, who followed behind Zhao Shi, looked displeased.

Everyone fell silent, not wanting to speak ill of the Du brothers in front of Du Shi.

Afterward, the conversation turned to the coal stove business. The Huizhou coal stoves had already gained considerable fame outside the region. However, the Li family’s foundation was still weak, and they had only been developing the business for a little over a year. Moreover, the family itself was poor, and their capital accumulation was far from sufficient.

As a result, in the competition for the coal stove market, the Li family was still at a slight disadvantage. Nowadays, coal stove workshops were springing up like mushrooms all over the place, and the Li Family Coal Stove business was barely maintaining a slim profit margin.

“If things continue like this, the coal stove business won’t be sustainable.” Li Zhengshēn expressed his concern. He had been the one to explore the external markets, and things had gone smoothly at first. However, once local workshops began imitating the coal stoves, coupled with protectionist policies from some local merchant guilds, the Li Family Coal Stoves were quickly driven out of those markets. Now, doing business outside the region was becoming increasingly difficult.

“Then perhaps we should think about doing something else. We can’t just cling to one tree, can we?” Zhao Shi pondered from the side.

“A thousand businesses, a myriad of difficulties—it’s not that easy to find something suitable.” Li Zhenliang chimed in.

“Exactly, doing business these days is truly hard. Last time, when my uncle was collecting inkstones, if Zhen Niang hadn’t seen through the deception, our family might have been ruined.” Li Zhengshēn added.

The eighth branch of the Li family had also heard about this incident and knew what had happened.

“Actually, the inkstone business really could be viable.” At this moment, Zhen Niang unexpectedly spoke up."How should we proceed?" Zhao Shi was the first to ask. When it came to business matters, she had considerable confidence in Zhen Niang. First, there was the insulated bucket, and later the coal stove. Though she didn’t know where her daughter came up with so many ingenious ideas—the insulated bucket had seemed like a mere novelty at first, but the coal stove had truly turned a profit. Although the business was challenging, thanks to the coal stove, they now had a steady surplus each month.

Compared to a year ago, their family’s circumstances had truly transformed.

Zhao Shi was already considering whether it would be better to buy a plot of land and build a house or simply purchase an existing one. The rented house near the city gate was not only gloomy but also uncomfortable to live in, especially for the elderly. The damp, oppressive atmosphere seemed to worsen illnesses. Every time she heard her father-in-law coughing himself awake in the middle of the night, Zhao Shi felt a pang of guilt, blaming it all on the gloomy environment.

"Didn’t Uncle mention before that there are many abandoned inkstone quarries in Wuyuan? Why not let the workers handle the coal stove business while Big Brother takes some time to go to Wuyuan with Cousin Zhengshen? They could ask Uncle for help and try excavating a couple of those abandoned quarries. Who knows, they might just strike inkstone blocks—wouldn’t that be a fortune?" Zhen Niang suggested.

Ink and inkstones were inseparable; anyone involved in ink-making inevitably dabbled in inkstones. In her previous life, Zhen Niang had paid considerable attention to inkstones, traveling to Wuyuan countless times in search of a fine piece.

Many of the famous inkstone quarries in later times were originally mined during the Tang and Song dynasties, abandoned during the Yuan dynasty, and only reopened in the 1980s under New China, yielding excellent results.

Wasn’t this a perfect opportunity to strike it rich?

Coincidentally, Zhao Shi’s maternal family was from Wuyuan. Though her grandfather had passed away, her two uncles still lived there. It seemed like the perfect alignment of timing, location, and connections.

Now that the topic had come up, Zhen Niang urged her brother and cousin to give it a try.

"Nonsense, it’s not that easy to excavate. If it were, your uncles wouldn’t still be making a living by hunting in the woods," Zhao Shi retorted irritably. The people of Wuyuan were all too familiar with inkstone quarries. During the Song dynasty, extensive mining had taken place, leaving behind numerous quarries that were later abandoned. Some villagers had tried digging them up—even as a child, Zhao Shi had gone with her brother and father to try their luck, only to be disappointed every time.

Moreover, these quarries were often located in mountain streams, some even submerged under rivers. Many people had lost their lives trying to mine inkstones, and over time, most had grown disheartened. As a result, She inkstones had become increasingly rare on the market, driving their prices sky-high.

"Mother, nothing is ever certain. A few days ago, a villager from Wuyuan came to Four Treasures Street to sell an inkstone. He said he found it by the Furong Stream at Longwei Mountain. I asked around, and there’s an abandoned quarry from the Song dynasty there. Who knows, there might still be inkstones inside," Zhen Niang explained. She was referring to what would later be known as the Meizi Quarry. In modern times, it had been excavated once with great success. Although no exceptional stones were found afterward, that single excavation alone had made it worthwhile.

"Oh, so everyone else is a fool? If someone found an inkstone there, why wouldn’t they go dig for more? By the time your brother and cousin get there, there won’t even be scraps left," Zhao Shi shook her head. She knew Wuyuan affairs best. Even though people had grown disheartened, if there were any real discoveries, they would surely dig with all their might."Mother, many things aren't as simple as they seem. Even if one wants to prosper, there's still the matter of fortune. As the old saying goes, 'When luck arrives, iron turns to gold; when fortune departs, gold turns to iron.' We should at least give it a try, and it would also be a good opportunity to visit Uncle and his family," Zhen Niang added.

Li Dalang and Li Zhengshēn exchanged glances. Both felt it was worth attempting.

"By the way, there's also an abandoned Song Dynasty pit on the northwest side of Longwei Mountain. We could try having someone excavate it as well," Zhen Niang continued. This pit was later known as the Golden Star Pit, where top-quality inkstones like Golden Star and Temple Front Red were sourced—a premier old pit.

"Alright, let's give it a try. Even if we come back empty-handed, it won't cost us much," Li Dalang decided firmly. With Old Shopkeeper Li's health declining and Li Jingfu now deceased, Li Dalang had become the pillar of the Li Family's Eighth Branch. The pressure had ignited a fierce determination in him.

Thus, after some casual discussion, they found tasks to keep Li Dalang of the Eighth Branch and his cousin from the Ninth Branch occupied.

Old Shopkeeper Li paid no mind to these matters. Young people should have drive—they shouldn't fear failure or making mistakes. Because they are young, there is always a chance to learn and correct themselves, which is far better than doing nothing at all.

And so, the next day, Li Dalang and Li Zhengshēn made arrangements for the coal stove workshop, packed their belongings, and set off for Wuyuan.

Meanwhile, Zhen Niang received a reply from Cheng San Yeye. An appointment was made with Mr. Dongtu, and the date for the Ink Testing Gathering was set, after which the Li Family Ink Workshop announced it publicly.

This Ink Testing Gathering was not merely about inviting someone to paint or write for an evaluation. For the ink industry, it was akin to a product launch in later times.

First, a renowned master was invited to prepare for the ink testing. Then, the date was publicly announced.

During the Ming Dynasty, literary culture flourished. Some merchants, seeking fame or profit, would flock to such events to appear cultured. Thus, on the day of the ink testing, many merchants would arrive upon hearing the news, offering gifts and requesting calligraphy or paintings. The ink tester would not only evaluate the ink but also receive gifts and gain fame—a win-win situation.

As a result, once the news spread that Mr. Dongtu would be testing Li Mo's ink, merchants from all over swarmed in. Some came seeking calligraphy or paintings, while others wanted to see the quality of this batch of Li Mo ink. After all, the Re-blended Ink was a novelty, and this was Li Zhenniang's first Ink Testing Gathering since taking over the ink workshop.

For these reasons, within just a few days, Four Treasures Street was bustling with crowds.

Tian's Ink Pavilion.

Tian Benchang stood by the window, watching the constant flow of people on Four Treasures Street. He turned to Tian Rongchang, who was sitting nearby, and asked, "Are you saying that Third Master Cheng introduced Mr. Dongtu to the Li Family for this ink testing?"

"Exactly," Tian Rongchang replied, casually crossing his legs.

"The Cheng Family may have good relations with the Li Family, but Third Master Cheng isn't one to act without benefit. He wouldn't have introduced Mr. Dongtu to the Li Family for nothing..." Tian Benchang tapped his fingers on the wooden ledge of the windowsill.

"Should I take some people and disrupt the Li Family's Ink Testing Gathering on that day?" Tian Rongchang suggested nonchalantly.

"No. If we disrupt their gathering this time, who's to say they won't sabotage ours next time? That would only lead to chaos," Tian Benchang waved his hand dismissively.

Even in business, where one might resort to unscrupulous means, there are limits. Disrupting events like this is the lowest and most shameless tactic—something even Tian Benchang would disdain.

More importantly, such methods are not only ineffective but might even end up boosting the Li Family's reputation.Once the matter blew up, gossip would spread: why would someone disrupt the Li family's Ink Testing Gathering? It was simply because some merchants feared the Li family's ink testing would affect their own business. In this way, it actually ended up helping the Li family with publicity. Tian Benchang was no fool.

"Don't worry about the Ink Testing Gathering anymore. Find someone to investigate—there must be some deal between the Cheng and Li families," Tian Benchang said to Tian Rongchang.

"Alright, then I'll go find someone to look into it," Tian Rongchang nodded.