The Heir

Сhaptеr 82: Рlаnt Sооt

Life is full of uneхрectеd encоuntеrs—this wаs Zhеn Niаng’s sigh аs she steрped into the cabin.

То her surрrise, uроn еntеring, she оnсе аgаin ran intо members of thе Тian fаmily: Tian Rоngchang аnd his sister, Tiаn Rоnghuа.

Zhеn Niаng hаd intеnded to simрlу pаss bу, but Тian Rоnghua sроke first: “Miss Li.”

Тhоugh she grеeted her, Тian Ronghua’s ехрressiоn was far from friеndlу, сleаrlу still hаrbоring rеsеntment оvеr the fеud betwеen the Li аnd Tiаn fаmiliеs. Aftеr аll, thе Li fаmily had just sent Мadam Tian baсk to her maidеn home—hоw cоuld thе Tiаn family not be angry?

For Zhen Niang, passing by without a word would have been best. Exchanging greetings when there was nothing to say only made things more awkward. However, since Tian Ronghua had spoken first, it would have been impolite not to respond. Zhen Niang nodded and replied, “Miss Tian.”

Zhen Niang couldn’t help but feel a bit curious about this Tian Ronghua. Ever since the Luo Family’s downfall, her engagement to Luo Wenqian seemed to have quietly dissolved. In a small town like theirs, gossip was inevitable. The most common rumor was that the Tian family, seeing the Luo Family’s misfortune, had abandoned Luo Wenqian—a classic case of kicking someone when they’re down.

Of course, there were also whispers that the Tian family had secretly orchestrated the Luo Family’s troubles, and that the two families were now sworn enemies, making the marriage impossible.

Zhen Niang recalled the last time she had seen Luo Wenqian on Four Treasures Street. During his confrontation with the Tian brothers, their words had led her to believe that the latter speculation might be closer to the truth.

“Miss Li, your Li family has treated my aunt too harshly. What did she do wrong? Why was she sent back to her maiden home?” Tian Ronghua continued.

So this was a confrontation. Zhen Niang smiled and replied, “What do you mean, Miss Tian? Wasn’t it your Tian family who brought your aunt back to accompany your grandmother for a while? What does that have to do with our Li family?”

This was the truth, as everyone in Huizhou knew. As for the negotiations between Seventh Grandmother and the Tian family, Zhen Niang was unaware and preferred to play ignorant. Her words left Tian Ronghua speechless.

“Well, well, well, who do we have here? Li Zhenniang? Where are you off to? Could it be that you can’t stay in Huizhou anymore? Of course, a young woman like you, always showing her face in public—her reputation is already ruined. I doubt anyone would want you, not just in Huizhou, but anywhere under the sun. You might as well go find some mountain man in a remote corner of the world to marry into your family,” Tian Rongchang sneered upon seeing Li Zhenniang.

“Second Young Master, I doubt even a man willing to marry into her family would dare. There’s a lesson to be learned from the past,” said Madam Su, standing behind Tian Rongchang, glaring at Zhen Niang with hatred.

Zhen Niang paid no mind to her resentment.

“Exactly, I almost forgot about that. The Sixth Branch of the Li family had a perfectly good son-in-law, but you people broke his leg and dragged him into a lawsuit, ending up exiled to Qiongzhou. The Li family, a family of benevolence and righteousness? What a joke! I think they’re nothing but a den of thieves and hypocrites. Good thing we brought my aunt home early, or who knows what other crimes your Li family would have pinned on her,” Tian Rongchang added.

“Second Brother…” Tian Ronghua frowned slightly and tugged at Tian Rongchang’s sleeve.

Though she held no goodwill toward the Li family, her brother’s words had gone too far. Moreover, even though her aunt had been sent back to the Tian family, it was only to care for their mother and fulfill her filial duties. In name, she was still a daughter-in-law of the Li family. Some discretion was still necessary."What nonsense are you spouting?!" Hearing Tian Rongchang curse the Li family as thieves and whores—an extremely vicious insult in this era—several people from the Li family shouted in unison. Er Gou and Brother Ma stepped forward, using their bodies to squeeze Tian Rongchang until he couldn’t move.

Seeing Tian Rongchang’s smug face shoved right in front of her, Zhen Niang frowned and, without hesitation, delivered a heavy slap. Since he had delivered himself to her doorstep, why wouldn’t she strike?

"Li Zhenniang, how dare you hit me?" Tian Rongchang was furious. Sure enough, she was the daughter of that shrew Zhao Shi, just as ill-tempered.

With a flushed face, he tried to lunge forward, but he was pinned on both sides by Brother Ma and Er Gou, unable to budge. Besides Madam Su, he had only brought two servants with him.

But these two servants were only useful for visiting brothels and flirting; in a real fight, they were utterly useless, unable to withstand even one of Brother Ma’s arms.

It was no joke—those who worked in the pounding and grinding stage of the ink industry were all strongmen.

So now, the two servants who rushed forward were easily held back by Brother Ma with just one arm.

"Is there no law anymore? Let go of the Second Young Master!" Madam Su shrieked from the side.

"Miss Li, my second brother spoke rashly. I, Ronghua, apologize on his behalf. Please ask your people to release him." Tian Ronghua, seeing they were outnumbered and clearly no match for the Li family in a real confrontation, decided to swallow her pride and stepped forward to apologize to Zhen Niang.

"Miss Tian, some words should never be spoken rashly," Zhen Niang replied calmly, then waved to Brother Ma and Er Gou, who finally released Tian Rongchang.

As soon as he was freed, Tian Rongchang howled and tried to charge forward again.

"Second Brother, Eldest Brother said that on this trip to Nanjing, you are to listen to me. If you continue like this, you can go back," Tian Ronghua glared at Tian Rongchang.

Hearing this, Tian Rongchang restrained his murderous impulse, though he still glared hatefully at Zhen Niang. As the dignified Second Young Master of the Tian family, when had he ever suffered such humiliation? It was infuriating. In any case, the grudge was now firmly set.

The feud between the Tian and Li families had long been established, so Zhen Niang ignored him. She led her people to move their luggage toward the cabin the Li family had booked in advance—located in the middle section of the ship.

After walking a few steps, Zhen Niang suddenly remembered that Tian Ronghua had mentioned they were also heading to Nanjing. She paused, turned around, and asked Tian Ronghua, "Miss Tian, what are you going to Nanjing for?" She had a feeling that the Tian and Li families were about to clash again.

"What Miss Li is going for, we are naturally going for as well," Tian Ronghua replied evasively, as expected.

"Oh..." Zhen Niang feigned sudden understanding. So the Tian family was also going to Nanjing to open an ink manor. Clearly, this Nanjing venture was entrusted to Tian Rongchang—Old Master Tian likely wanted to train this second son.

Although the Tian family opening an ink manor in Nanjing was not good news for the Li family—after all, the Tian family held the title of Tribute Ink, giving them an edge over the Li family—Old Master Tian sending Tian Rongchang to Nanjing was, in a way, good news for her.

Compared to Tian Benchang, Tian Rongchang would be much easier to deal with.

Now, it was just a matter of waiting and seeing. The excitement in Nanjing was growing. Zhen Niang suddenly felt a sense of anticipation.

"Where did this lowlife come from, stepping on my foot? Beat him up!" At that moment, Tian Rongchang’s angry roar echoed again."This young master, I'm sorry, the boat is truly too crowded, and you were standing right in the passageway. I accidentally stepped on you. Please be magnanimous, young master." At that moment, a simple, honest-looking man crouched down and used his sleeve to wipe Tian Rongchang's shoe.

"Get lost..." Tian Rongchang said, delivering a heavy kick to the man's stomach. He had been nearly driven mad with rage by that slap from Zhen Niang earlier, and now all that pent-up anger found an outlet in this simple, honest man.

The man hadn't expected Tian Rongchang to do such a thing and was completely unprepared. With a cry of pain, he was sent tumbling several times. If not for the people nearby holding him back, he would have nearly rolled right into the river.

"Husband, husband! Are you alright?" A woman holding a child rushed over in panic, throwing herself onto the man. The child in her arms also started wailing in fright.

"You are utterly unreasonable!" The honest man, helped up by the woman, sat up and glared at Tian Rongchang with indignation.

Tian Rongchang's face remained twisted in a sneer. Hearing the man's words, he laughed coldly. "You say I'm unreasonable, do you? Then I'll show you just how unreasonable I can be." With that, Tian Rongchang waved at two male servants. "Beat him up."

"What are you trying to do? This is too much!" The woman, hearing Tian Rongchang's words, turned pale with fear. Holding her child with one arm, she shielded her husband with the other, glaring hatefully.

"Miss Zhen..." Er Gou couldn't hold back any longer.

Zhen Niang nodded at him, giving him permission to step in and help at the appropriate moment.

It wasn't that Zhen Niang was being overly saintly. After all, her Li family was already at odds with the Tian family. When injustice was done, someone had to step forward. Moreover, for them, this was merely a small effort. Why not do it?

"Second Brother... what are you causing trouble for again? Eldest Brother told you not to stir up any trouble along the way." Tian Ronghua, who had been about to return to the cabin, hadn't expected his second brother to cause another scene in the blink of an eye. His face flushed red with anger as he shouted.

Tian Rongchang was ultimately afraid of Tian Benchang. Reluctantly, he waved off the two servants. "Forget it. They're lucky this time. Let's go back to the cabin." Then, with a dark expression, he turned to Tian Ronghua and said, "Don't use Eldest Brother to pressure me in the future."

He then led the two servants and Madam Su back to the cabin, while Tian Ronghua had no choice but to follow with the maidservant.

Seeing that the matter was settled, Zhen Niang also led her people back to the middle cabin. After tidying up and resting for a while, the boat had already been sailing for nearly half an hour. Green mountains lined both banks, and from time to time, the cries of monkeys could be heard. The scenery along the way was truly refreshing and uplifting.

Just then, another commotion erupted outside the cabin.

"What's going on?" Zhen Niang wondered. This journey seemed rather eventful. Thinking this, she brought Xiao Ya with her, opened the door to the cabin's partition, and walked out to the passageway.

There, she saw the man who had been kicked by Tian Rongchang earlier now lying on the deck, continuously coughing up blood. The woman was crying, and the child was wailing.

"Boatman, I beg you, turn the boat back! My husband is in a bad way. We need to find a doctor!" the woman pleaded.

"Madam, the boat has already been sailing for over half an hour. How can we turn back now? Please hold on until the next stop to find a doctor," the boat captain said helplessly. The boat was already halfway there, and turning back was clearly impossible."Everyone, everyone, is there any gentleman here who understands medicine? Please come and take a look." At this moment, the boat captain called out to the onlookers again.

"Let me see." A middle-aged scholar then squeezed out from the crowd.

"Alright, thank you, doctor. I beg you, doctor, please cure my husband. If anything happens to him, I and Bao'er probably won't be able to live either." The woman expressed her gratitude and pleaded.

"I am not a doctor, I just know a little about medicine. Madam, there's no need for such formalities. Let me take a look first." The middle-aged scholar said.

"Yes, yes, yes." The woman hurriedly agreed and stepped aside.

"There is internal injury. As long as the bleeding can be stopped, it should be fine. But there is no medicine on this boat, and I don't know the acupuncture method to stop bleeding. This is difficult." The scholar checked the pulse, his expression grave.

"What should we do then?" Upon hearing this, the woman's face turned ashen.

"Madam, sir, I have a piece of Medicinal Ink here. Perhaps you could see if it can be used." Zhen Niang then took out a piece of Medicinal Ink and handed it over. This Medicinal Ink was called Hundred Herbs Frost, known for its effects of stopping bleeding, promoting coagulation, and treating internal bleeding.