The Heir

Сhарter 80: The Ink Wоrkshоp's Devеlopmеnt

Аlthоugh shе knеw hеr aunt was аbout to leap into а dеeр pit, аftеr аll, shе hadn't jumреd уеt...

Zhеn Niang wаnted to advisе hеr, but then аgain, judging by her аunt's attitude tоward the Еighth Вrаnсh уеstеrday, hеr аunt might not listеn. Тhеre wаs no nееd for her tо invitе troublе.

Or perhаps, there аrе аlwaуs some eхсеptiоnаllу luсkу рeорle in this wоrld. What might bе a deеp рit fоr оthers соuld turn оut tо be an oрportunity for him. So, thеre's no reаl need tо worrу tоo muсh about things that will happen years from now.

It's necessary to observe calmly and prepare for any situation, but there's no need to be overly fearful.

That night, Zhen Niang thought she wouldn't be able to sleep, but unexpectedly, she fell into a deep slumber as soon as she lay down. Since taking over the Ink Workshop, she had handled matters with flair, but the pressure had been immense.

Now that Seventh Grandmother was fine and back in charge of the Ink Workshop, and with Grandfather also returning, major matters were in their hands. She only needed to focus on making ink and earning money.

This was what it meant to be carefree and unburdened, leading to a restful night's sleep. When Zhen Niang woke up in the morning, it was already bright outside.

"Did I sleep until noon?" Zhen Niang muttered as she got up. Xi Ge'er was nowhere to be seen in the outer room, but she could still hear the clapper sound from Uncle Shui's side.

"The clapper for hot water?" That meant it was still early. Why was it so bright outside?

Zhen Niang wondered as she stepped outside, only to find a thick layer of snow covering the ground. The brightness was the reflection of the snow.

Du Shi was burning a brazier in the courtyard, while Xi Ge'er helped fan the flames. Without fanning, the smoke would be unbearable. After washing up, Zhen Niang jumped around a few times to stretch her body, then walked into the snow. At the edge of the wall, she brushed away a layer of loose snow, scooped up a handful from the middle, and shaped it into a ball. She then brought it to her mouth and took a bite, just like eating ice in summer.

"Second Sister, you're eating snow!" Xi Ge'er exclaimed in surprise. He had done this before and ended up getting a slap from Zhao Shi.

"It's fine. This is winter snow. Eating it can kill worms in your stomach," Zhen Niang said. Of course, by "worms," she meant bacteria. As for scientific basis, hadn't they heard that "auspicious snow promises a good harvest"? Winter snow has a sterilizing and insecticidal effect on the soil. It should be similar for people too. Actually, this was a belief of Li Zhen's grandfather in her previous life. Every year when it snowed, her grandfather would grab a handful and eat it.

Now, as Zhen Niang did the same, she couldn't help but miss her grandfather from her later life. She looked up at the sky. Grandfather, don't worry. This time, Li Mo will be passed down completely and intact...

"Zhen Niang, what's wrong?" Du Shi asked, noticing Zhen Niang's unusual expression.

"Nothing, just got some dust in my eye," Zhen Niang said with a laugh, turning her face away. She picked up a broom and began sweeping the snow.

Hearing this, Xi Ge'er also grabbed a handful of snow and stuffed it into his mouth. Just then, Zhao Shi happened to come over and slapped the back of his head again. "Are you a starving ghost reincarnated?"

"Second Sister ate some too," Xi Ge'er complained indignantly.

"Where? I didn't see it. Don't use your second sister as a shield," Zhao Shi said, glancing at Zhen Niang, who was sweeping the snow, before giving Xi Ge'er another annoyed look.

Xi Ge'er wore a bitter expression, feeling utterly wronged.

Du Shi smiled faintly. As the tung oil incident gradually came to an end, her own troubles were finally over. A family couldn't live in constant discord.After breakfast, Zhen Niang helped her grandfather to the Ink Workshop.

Today, Old Shopkeeper Li was dressed in a new cotton robe, his hair neatly combed, wearing a fur hat. In his hand, he held a sandalwood walking stick, which Zhen Niang had bought for him some time ago.

Returning to the Ink Workshop was also an extraordinary day for Old Shopkeeper Li.

And this attire made him look particularly spirited and refreshed.

Soon, the grandfather and granddaughter entered the Ink Workshop.

Some of the old-timers in the Ink Workshop were quite moved to see Old Shopkeeper Li again, as many of them had been trained by him back in the day.

Thus, along the way, everyone greeted Old Shopkeeper Li.

Afterward, Chen Shi recorded the previous loan from Huiyuan Bank into the Ink Workshop’s accounts, which dispelled the rumors from the past few days.

Then several stewards were summoned, and Seventh Grandmother announced the return of the shares originally belonging to the Eighth Branch of the Li family. She also recorded the portion allocated to Zhen Niang under the Eighth Branch, giving the Eighth Branch a thirty percent stake. Old Shopkeeper Li once again became the chief manager of the Ink Workshop.

With that, everything was in order.

Three days later, the Eighth Branch of the Li family moved. The people from the city gate area helped with the move.

The Eighth Branch’s house in the Ancestral Residence was situated between the Seventh and Ninth Branches, with its door facing a side street of Four Treasures Street called Clear Water Lane. The lane was named after an old well whose water remained clear no matter how heavy the rain.

The Eighth Branch’s residence was a typical Huizhou-style house, with a horse-head gable and inscribed characters on a brick in the center of the doorway, something like "Emerald Embankment."

Upon entering, there was a main hall, with east and west wings on either side. Through a side door in the hall, one entered a courtyard, opposite which was an open main hall. In the center of the hall stood an Eight Immortals table and official’s chairs, with ancestral portraits hanging on the wall.

Behind the hall were the rear hall, main rooms, and a study.

The rear hall had a wooden staircase leading upstairs to attic rooms. In ordinary households, unmarried daughters typically lived in these attic rooms, which were commonly referred to as boudoirs.

Further back was the backyard, where the Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Branches’ backyards were connected by gates, forming a continuous space.

This residence was much more spacious to live in.

Once everything was settled, Old Master Li, in high spirits, personally wrote several couplets and pasted them on the doors to celebrate the move.

Zhen Niang also playfully wrote a pair: "Spring brings floral fragrance, red covering the ground; Rain nourishes spring trees, green connecting the sky."

This was actually a reversible couplet that could be read both forward and backward. Zhen Niang had a mischievous streak, feeling that as a transmigrator, she ought to borrow something like this. Unfortunately, there were no proper scholars in the family to appreciate it, and no one paid it any mind. Feeling a bit deflated, Zhen Niang prepared to go to the rear hall.

Just then, Li Liujin, the gatekeeper, brought in Aunt Han Li.

Li Liujin was originally a servant from the Seventh Branch. When the Eighth Branch moved in, the Seventh Branch assigned Li Liujin and his wife to help with gatekeeping and receiving guests.

"Aunt is here, please sit. I’ll go call my mother," Zhen Niang quickly greeted her, though she wondered about her aunt’s purpose. As the saying goes, one doesn’t visit the temple without a reason. Aunt had always looked down on their Eighth Branch.

"No need, no need. Zhen Niang, there’s no need to call your mother. I just want to talk to you about something," Madam Han Li stopped Zhen Niang, who was about to go to the rear hall, and said urgently."What is it, Aunt?" Zhen Niang asked, her heart sinking as soon as she heard she was being sought. Her aunt's main purpose for returning to her maiden home this time was to borrow money, and she had been eyeing that particular payment from the ink business. Now that she had suddenly come looking for her, could it be that her aunt hadn't managed to borrow money from Seventh Grandmother and was now turning to her instead?

After all, it was she who had secured that deal. In that regard, she did have some say. Could it be that her aunt wanted her to put in a good word? Zhen Niang wondered.

Though not entirely accurate, she wasn't far off.

Hearing Zhen Niang's question, Madam Han Li lowered her voice slightly. "Zhen Niang, Aunt wants to discuss something with you. Could you lend me some of the payment from the Ink Workshop? I'll pay you back after next year's silk business. How about it?"

Zhen Niang was amused to hear her aunt's request—it wasn't about helping her persuade Seventh Grandmother but about borrowing money directly. "Aunt, you think too highly of me! I used to be in charge of the Ink Workshop, but now that Seventh Grandmother is well, she naturally takes charge. Besides, such a large sum—how could I possibly decide? Aunt, you must be joking."

"You silly girl, do I look like I'm joking, coming all the way here so early in the morning? I've heard that after the New Year, your Seventh Grandmother plans to send you to Nanjing. That payment is meant for you to open an Ink Manor there. You have the authority to decide. I was thinking, opening an Ink Manor isn't something that can be done overnight. Why not lend me that money first? I'll definitely pay it back," Madam Han Li insisted.

Zhen Niang was taken aback by her words. Seventh Grandmother planned to send her to Nanjing to open an Ink Manor?

Although Zhen Niang knew that for the Li family to grow, they must expand outward, and opening an Ink Manor in Nanjing was inevitable, she hadn't expected Seventh Grandmother to entrust this task to her.

"What right does Seventh Aunt have to send Zhen Niang to Nanjing? Zhen Niang is just a girl. It's already remarkable that she's doing business so well in Huizhou. If she goes to Nanjing, will she ever get married?" Zhao Shi exclaimed as she emerged from the back hall, having overheard Madam Han Li's words.

"What's the use of yelling at me? It's not me sending Zhen Niang to Nanjing," Madam Han Li retorted, glaring. She would have preferred Zhen Niang not to go to Nanjing, so that the money would remain idle and her mother would have no excuse not to lend it to her.

Now, with her mother using the excuse of opening an Ink Manor in Nanjing, she had shut her down completely.

"Enough, what's all this shouting? Seventh Sister-in-law discussed this with me and Zhen Niang's grandfather, and we agreed," Wu Shi said, following Zhao Shi out and addressing her sternly.

"Mother-in-law, how can this be? Nanjing is an unfamiliar place, and I won't feel at ease with Zhen Niang going there alone," Zhao Shi protested anxiously.

"Of course, Zhen Niang won't go alone to open the Ink Manor. Some people from the Ink Workshop will be selected to go with her. Besides, isn't Jingming's branch of the family still there? They'll surely look out for her."Wu Shi spoke, then added with heartfelt sincerity, "Zhen Niang's situation is different from ordinary girls. She still carries the stigma of being a 'husband-killer,' and she was rejected by the Tian family. People in our Huizhou place too much emphasis on reputation. Even if some matriarchs recognize Zhen Niang's capabilities, in the end, no one can speak up for her. Look, it's been two years now—aside from the Tian family incident, which matchmaker has ever come to our door? If we really let Zhen Niang stay in Huizhou, I think her chances of marrying will only grow slimmer. But in Nanjing, with its grand atmosphere, I refuse to believe that no matriarch would take a liking to a girl like our Zhen Niang." Wu Shi spoke with a hint of indignation.

Zhen Niang, listening nearby, found the conversation rather odd—it seemed as if they were anxious to marry her off.

Then, Wu Shi continued, "Besides, whether she marries or not, for Zhen Niang, with her Ink Craft skills and talent for business, it would be a shame to let her go to waste. It’s better to let her venture out and achieve something. Children and grandchildren have their own fortunes to seek—let’s give her the freedom to explore." Wu Shi sighed, knowing these words reflected Old Shopkeeper Li’s intentions.

"Damn that Tian family," Zhao Shi couldn’t help but curse the Tians again upon hearing this. However, she tacitly agreed to Zhen Niang going to Nanjing.

"Zhen Niang, this matter was discussed by your Seventh Grandmother, your grandfather, and me. We originally planned to ask for your opinion in a couple of days, but since it’s been brought up now, tell us what you think." At that moment, Old Shopkeeper Li also came out of the room.

"I naturally defer to Grandfather and Seventh Grandmother’s arrangements," Zhen Niang replied straightforwardly. For her, this path seemed quite promising.

"Zhen Niang, what do you think about what I mentioned?" Madam Han Li, seeing the eighth branch discussing their own affairs, interjected to ask.

"Aunt, I think you should be cautious about buying land. Land is the foundation of the state, and land issues have always been the most sensitive. The Xu family has a strong background and can withstand any trouble, but we are all merchant families. To put it bluntly, if the court decides to crack down, we’d be like meat on a chopping block. This matter truly requires careful consideration." Zhen Niang ultimately offered a word of caution.

"Just say you don’t want to lend the money—stop making excuses." Upon hearing Zhen Niang’s words, Madam Han Li’s face darkened. Without another word, she turned and left in a huff.

Zhen Niang shrugged. Take it or leave it.