The Heir

Chaрtеr 92: Мееting at the River Еmbаnkment

In the еvening, Zhen Niаng disсussеd with Нuаng Shi thе matter Мadam Fang had mentionеd.

"Тhis haрpеnеd quitе sоme timе аgо, аnd I'm nоt verу clear аbоut it," Huаng Shi frowned, thinking cаrefully fоr a while bеfоrе lightlу сlарping her hаnds. "Нmm, I seеm tо rеcаll somеthing. Вack whеn уour Unсle Jingquan and Еlder Brothеr Zhеngхuan hаd their acсidеnt, sоmeоnе frоm Nаnjing sеnt аn urgent lеttеr. But аt that timе, the familу was fасing suсh a hugе сrisis—it fеlt likе the sky had fаllen. No one reаlly paid аttention tо what wаs hаpрening in Nanjing."

"So, it's likely that because of Uncle Jingquan and Elder Brother Zhengxuan's situation, Nanjing matters were overlooked?" Zhen Niang asked.

"Hmm, probably," Huang Shi nodded, though she didn't seem entirely certain. She then added, "Alright, Zhen Niang, you should set aside the matter with your Uncle Jingming for now and focus on getting Ink Manor up and running. As for this issue, I'll write a letter to your Seventh Grandmother to ask about what happened back then. We should clarify things first. After all, we're family—it's better to resolve things peacefully than let them escalate."

"Alright," Zhen Niang nodded.

Her aunt's words aligned with Zhen Niang's own thoughts. No matter what, Uncle Jingming's family had been guarding the family's assets in Nanjing for the main branch. Although their intentions weren't entirely pure, things hadn't yet reached an irreparable point.

Cultivating oneself and managing the family well were standards of judgment, whether for scholars or ordinary people.

Since Li Mo intended to develop in Nanjing, he couldn't start by targeting his own people. Doing so would inevitably appear heartless in the eyes of outsiders, which would be detrimental both to her and to Li Mo's development.

Of course, if it became absolutely necessary, drastic measures would have to be taken, even if it meant cutting off ties. But clearly, that wasn't necessary yet.

These matters could be left to her aunt to handle. What needed more attention was Ge Xunlan.

"Xiao Ya," Zhen Niang thought for a moment and called Xiao Ya over.

"What is it, Miss?" Xiao Ya put down her needlework and came over. Zhen Niang's sewing skills were rather lacking, so her personal clothing and other items were all made by Xiao Ya.

"Go find Er Gou later and have him investigate where the owners of the goods and grain businesses that moved out of our house have stored their goods instead," Zhen Niang instructed.

"Alright, Miss, I'll go right away," Xiao Ya replied and hurried off.

"What's going on? Why investigate this?" Huang Shi asked from the side.

"When I came here, Seventh Grandmother said that while we shouldn't harbor ill intentions toward others, we must remain vigilant. Ge Xunlan has been helping Uncle Jingming and his family tirelessly. Who would believe he has no ulterior motives? Ge Xunlan wants to make money by exempting those two businesses from warehouse taxes, but I intervened halfway and ruined his plans. However, since he promised those merchants, they'll hold him accountable. So, I suspect Ge Xunlan might have found them another place to store their goods. For now, I don't plan to do anything drastic—I just want to gather information first," Zhen Niang explained.

"Hmm, that makes sense," Huang Shi nodded, then looked at Zhen Niang with interest.

"What is it, Aunt?" Zhen Niang felt a bit uneasy under Huang Shi's gaze.

"You're so shrewd, girl. Your future husband will surely be completely under your thumb," Huang Shi teased.This kind of joke was far from enough to make Zhen Niang blush. At this moment, Zhen Niang blinked, thought for a moment, and then nodded very seriously: "Hmm, that's a must."

Huang Shi hadn't expected Zhen Niang to respond like this and couldn't help but be amused.

In her heart, she felt touched—this girl from the Eighth Branch was truly extraordinary. If she were in Zhen Niang's current situation, talking about a future husband would inevitably lead to either shyness or despondency. After all, Zhen Niang's reputation was already tarnished, and as a woman engaged in business, she wasn't seen as a suitable match for a good wife in the eyes of most families.

Her visit this time to support Zhen Niang was just incidental; her real purpose was to do her best to find a good match for Zhen Niang.

Hmm, Huang Shi thought, tomorrow she would accept her sister-in-law's invitation to attend a gathering of several ladies, where she could discreetly inquire about any suitable young men.

Zhen Niang, unaware of Huang Shi's thoughts, looked outside the building. The night had grown deep, so she bid farewell and returned to her room to rest.

The rain lasted all night, only stopping in the early hours before dawn. The next day, the morning fog was particularly heavy, not dissipating until the end of the Chen hour. Then, warm sunlight spread across the sky. Taking advantage of the fine weather, Zhen Niang decided to visit various Ink Manors to gather information—knowing oneself and the enemy ensures victory in every battle.

Most of Nanjing's Ink Manors were located on Guan Street and the streets along the inner side of the Qinhuai River, all clustered around Jubao Gate. Zhen Niang didn't bother hiring a carriage; instead, she brought Xiao Ya along and asked Hua'er to guide them. The three of them strolled leisurely on foot.

After casually visiting a few Ink Manors, she found that few had high-quality products. Generally, the Ink Workshops were still significantly affected by the Pine Blight. However, some of the ink brought in from Huizhou by the Four Treasures Studios still had some standout features.

Nowadays, with the rise of Huizhou ink, other inks inevitably declined—this was an inevitable outcome.

Zhen Niang was currently browsing in one of the Four Treasures Studios. The ink stocked here was quite comprehensive, featuring products from various Huizhou families.

"Young lady, looking to buy ink?" a shop assistant greeted her.

"I'm just browsing; no need to attend to me," Zhen Niang replied.

"Alright, take your time. Let me know if you need anything," the assistant responded.

Zhen Niang nodded. The assistant then left to join several other clerks in their tasks.

Just then, the sound of firecrackers erupted not far ahead. Soon after, the shop assistants began chatting among themselves.

"It's the Tian Family Ink Manor opening for business. They really have substantial capital. I heard they directly took over the Wei Family's Ink Manor from Songjiang—such a convenient move. It's only been a few days, and they're already open," said the assistant who had greeted Zhen Niang earlier, pausing his work and tucking his hands into his sleeves.

"What? Has the Wei Family from Songjiang withdrawn from the Nanjing market?" another assistant asked in surprise.

"What choice do they have? With last year's Pine Blight, the Ink Industry is already at a low point. The Wei Family has been barely holding on these past few years. Now, with the Tian Family launching an offensive with their Tribute Ink, the Wei Family is seizing the chance to withdraw from the Nanjing market to focus on preserving their share in the Songjiang market," the first assistant explained.

"That makes sense," the other assistant agreed.

"So, from now on, it'll just be the Zhu Family competing with the Tian Family?" another assistant asked."I don't think the Zhu family stands a chance either. Haven't you heard? Today, the Tian family's Ink Manor opened for business, selling all ink products at half price—half price! They're basically selling at a loss. Look around now—customers buying ink have all flocked to the Tian family's side. I heard this price will last for a while. Can the Zhu family afford such a price war? Just watch—it won't be long before the Zhu family packs up and leaves," the earlier clerk said with an air of expertise.

"Then won't the Tian family monopolize Nanjing's ink market from now on?" another clerk chimed in.

"Not necessarily. I heard Li Mo has also come to Nanjing. Last year, when I followed the boss to Huizhou to get goods, I heard the Tian family suffered a major loss at the hands of the Li family. In the end, they had to ask the Li family to step in and produce Re-blended Ink for their batch of Tribute Ink. Otherwise, the Tian family would have been in big trouble," the earlier clerk deliberately lowered his voice.

Though it was mostly for show—his voice didn't actually drop much.

"Hey, hey, do you know who the head manager of Li Mo is?" the clerk added, stirring up gossip again.

"A member of the Li family, of course," another clerk replied impatiently.

"Tsk, tsk, everyone knows it's someone from the Li family. But did you know? The head manager of the Li family is a young woman. I heard she was even jilted by the Tian family's eldest son. Now there's going to be some drama," the clerk gloated.

"Really? A woman as the head manager?" Hearing this, the people around grew curious. A woman managing a business was quite rare.

"No doubt about it. Just wait and see," the earlier clerk said smugly.

...

"Men gossiping like this," Xiao Ya muttered unhappily on the side, displeased to hear the clerk talking about her mistress.

"Let's go," Zhen Niang pulled her along. There would be plenty of idle talk like this in the future. A woman running a business was bound to attract criticism—it was impossible to stop people from talking. There was no need to mind it; just treat it as background noise.

That said, the clerk's words were mostly accurate.

As they left, the two young women couldn't help but glare at the clerks, leaving them bewildered and uneasy, wondering how they had offended the customers.

Following the sound of firecrackers, Zhen Niang arrived at the entrance of the Tian family's Ink Workshop. Sure enough, the advantage of half-price sales was obvious, and with the reputation of Tribute Ink, the shop was now packed with customers buying ink.

The Tian family's tactics had always been this aggressive. It was the same when they competed for Tribute Ink before, and it was the same now.

The Tian family was using their financial advantage to crush the other ink shops and quickly dominate the Nanjing market. This strategy was effective. Zhen Niang began pondering how Li Mo should respond.

Lost in thought, she started walking back. This was an inner street along the Huai River, lined with willow trees just like the opposite street, their long branches now lush with green leaves.

Luo Jiu was leaning casually against the riverbank on the opposite side of the street, watching the painted boats shuttle back and forth on the Huai River. The sound of music and strings filled the air, and occasionally, a few young women from the boats would wave their handkerchiefs at him, inviting him aboard.

Luo Jiu had no interest in such things. In his youthful arrogance, he might have once felt smug about such attention. But after the sudden upheaval in his family, the superficial glamour of the world had long since faded in his eyes, leaving his resolve as firm as ever.Back in the day, when he left Huizhou, he had even begged for food along the way, and at times fought with dogs for scraps. After much hardship, he finally followed a group of people beyond the Great Wall, a place vastly different from the Huizhou he once knew.

Huizhou was always picturesque, with every scene and object crafted with delicate care. Its people were reserved and courteous in their interactions. Beyond the Great Wall, however, everything was rough and rugged. Even cursing often came with shoving and hitting, and sometimes knives were drawn without hesitation. Interactions here were straightforward—yes meant yes, no meant no. Etiquette existed but was not a necessity. What truly mattered was strength.

Through all the struggles, he endured many hardships. Yet, enduring the bitterest of hardships is what makes one rise above others. Only now did he realize that back in Huizhou, he had been nothing but a weak scholar living in a honey jar. Now, he had become a true man of the northern lands.

With such a mindset, how could an ordinary young woman easily stir his emotions? The young lady on the painted boat, after several failed attempts to engage him, couldn’t help but utter a few annoyed words. Yet her tone was gentle and indirect, less like scolding and more like playful flirtation.

In contrast, flirtation beyond the Great Wall often sounded more like outright cursing.

Thinking this, Luo Jiu found it quite amusing. He then turned around, watching the bustling crowds on the street and the rows of shops, feeling a surge of ambition swell within him.

Nanjing, Nanjing—this should be the place where Luo Jiu would establish himself.

Lost in thought, he suddenly caught sight of a vaguely familiar figure not far ahead.

"Impossible, must be seeing things," Luo Jiu muttered to himself. He straightened up, squinting as he stared intently in that direction, then broke into a smile. "It really is her. I wasn’t mistaken."

With that, Luo Jiu strode across the street and stood beneath a row of willow trees.

Zhen Niang was still pondering her strategy. The price war initiated by the Tian family was something the Li family couldn’t afford either, but there might still be a way...

Xiao Ya and Hua'er followed closely behind her, but their eyes were fixed on a man ahead. Dressed in a blue robe, his dark hair casually tied with a ribbon, he stood there with an air of nonchalance, his gaze sharp and bright. In the eyes of the two maids, this man was quite handsome, though his skin appeared a bit too dark.

Of course, that wasn’t why they were staring. What truly caught their attention was that this man was blocking their path.

"What a coincidence. When did you arrive in Nanjing?" a male voice suddenly rang out nearby.

"Hmm?" Startled by the voice, Zhen Niang snapped out of her thoughts and looked up, only to see a man in a blue robe. He did look somewhat familiar.

"What? Don’t recognize me? Have I changed that much?" the man asked with a hint of self-mockery.

"Ah..." Zhen Niang pointed at him, blinking a few times before saying, "It’s Young Master Luo." Now she recognized him—this was Luo Qian, who had gone beyond the Great Wall to seek work. He had indeed changed a lot. Once a frivolous young master with an air of irresponsibility, he now carried an aura of steadiness and reliability.

He really had changed so much."She truly has changed quite a bit," Zhen Niang said honestly. Then, recalling Luo Qian's earlier question, she replied, "I haven't been in Nanjing for long either. By the way, why did you suddenly come to Nanjing, Young Master Luo?" As she asked, she suddenly remembered Luo Qian's letter and added, "Thank you for the advice in your last letter, Young Master Luo."

"I wouldn't dare call it advice. That letter was actually quite presumptuous. It was just that, being in a foreign land and suddenly hearing the familiar accent of home, I couldn't contain my emotions and wrote it. I'm glad Miss Li didn't take offense," Luo Qian replied. Then he continued, "Actually, I intended to return to Huizhou, but when I reached Nanjing, I suddenly realized there was no point in going back anymore, so I stayed here."

"Oh," Zhen Niang nodded. She naturally understood. The Luo Family no longer had many people left in Huizhou. She had heard that Luo Mo had also married into Nanjing back then, so there really was no need for Luo Qian to return to Huizhou now.

"Oh, right, I'm afraid I still can't repay the money at the moment," Luo Qian suddenly said, spreading his hands helplessly as he remembered the money Zhen Niang had lent him.

Zhen Niang took a closer look at Luo Qian. He was dressed in an ordinary blue robe, with plain black cloth shoes on his feet. Compared to the Young Master Luo from Huizhou back then, his current attire seemed rather shabby. It seemed he hadn't made any great fortune either.

So she replied, "It's fine. You can repay it when it's convenient for you."

She also refrained from mentioning the three percent interest, as that had been a joke back then. After a moment of thought, she asked, "What business are you engaged in now, Young Master Luo?"

To be honest, Luo Qian was quite skilled in the art of ink-making. Zhen Niang suddenly had an idea: it might be good to bring him into the Li Family's Ink Manor.

Moreover, historically, Luo Mo had only left behind one stick of "A Pond of Spring Green" ink, while everything else had vanished. If something more could be preserved, it would be truly wonderful.

"Well, I opened a small shop to make a living," Luo Qian said plainly.

"Oh, I see. That's good too." Since Luo Qian had his own business, Zhen Niang felt it inappropriate to try to recruit him. How could she ask him to close his shop and come work for Li Mo? That would hardly be appropriate.

After that, it seemed there was nothing more to say.

Just then, a loud thud was heard not far away, followed by a series of screams.

"Miss, someone jumped from the building and killed themselves!" Hua'er exclaimed, patting her chest with a terrified expression.