Zong Lin perfectly embodied the term “scholarly merchant.”

“Greetings, Master Zong,” Zhen Niang performed the customary greeting to Hu Zong Lin.

At this moment, Han Yigui took the opportunity to introduce her: “Brother Zong, this is my niece, Li Zhen Niang. She’s currently managing Li Mo’s business and has come to Nanjing to open an ink shop. Brother Zong, please lend her a hand if she encounters any difficulties.”

“Ah, so this is Li Zhen Niang, who turned around Li Mo’s declining fortunes with the Reharmonized Ink. This truly is a case of the student surpassing the master. No wonder you could produce such remarkable Baicao Shuang ink. From what I understand, this Baicao Shuang ink is different from the ordinary variety. The medicinal effects are more pronounced.” Master Zong said with a smile. Having some medical knowledge, he had noticed the ink’s effects were notably better than what he had used before.

He then raised his hand, gesturing for Miss Zhen not to be too formal.

“Yes, I should inform Master Zong that the Li family’s Baicao Shuang ink contains several additional herbs that help clear the mind, reduce dryness, and provide astringent properties,” Zhen Niang explained. As for what specific herbs were added, naturally, she didn’t need to reveal that—it was a family secret.

Regarding Hu Zong Lin’s comments about her reputation and surpassing expectations, Zhen Niang understood the reality behind such praise. In Huizhou, people criticized the Li family for letting women take charge.

For over ten years, Seventh Grandmother had been managing the family business, and now, although Seventh Grandmother still headed the household, it was Li Zhen Niang who was expanding Li Mo’s business operations outside. In the eyes of conventional society, this was somewhat unorthodox.

Of course, Master Zong, with his scholarly demeanor, wouldn’t share such common prejudices, which was why he spoke of the student surpassing the master.

Zhen Niang understood his meaning perfectly.

“Yes, that’s exactly how it should be,” Master Zong nodded.

“Song’s wife, you may go about your business. Let Zhen Niang stay and help us warm the wine,” Han Yigui said to Madam Han Chen at his side.

“Yes, I’ll take my leave then,” Madam Han Chen completed her greetings to Han Yigui and Master Zong, then nodded to Zhen Niang. Zhen Niang smiled back reassuringly, and Madam Han Chen withdrew.

Zhen Niang sat down at one side. The so-called wine-warming didn’t require her involvement, as servants were attending to it. She merely sat beside them, helping her uncle and Master Zong refill their cups.

She understood that her uncle keeping her here served multiple purposes. First, it was an introduction to Master Zong. After all, merchants from Huizhou couldn’t operate without the support of the Huizhou Merchants’ Association. Especially for Zhen Niang, as a woman, the Association’s support was crucial for establishing herself in Nanjing’s business circles.

Furthermore, her uncle’s conversation with Master Zong would inevitably touch upon matters of Nanjing’s commercial world. Having just arrived in Nanjing, Zhen Niang was completely unfamiliar with the local business landscape, and her previous understanding barely scratched the surface. This was an opportunity to learn more about Nanjing’s commercial affairs.

“By the way, I heard there’s an interesting incident at the pawnshop recently?” Han Yigui asked with a smile.

“Ha, so you’ve heard about that too.” Master Zong gave a wry smile while rubbing his nose. His Hu family ran the pawnshop, so he knew the whole story.

“I don’t know the details, just heard something about a lady wanting to pawn a painting, which somehow led to a dispute?” Han Yigui said. Being in the silk and fabric trade, he wasn’t very familiar with the pawnbroking business and wasn’t usually one for gossip, only occasionally hearing such things.

“Yes, a lady came to various pawnshops trying to pawn a hand-painted scroll of ‘Han Xizai’s Night Banquet,'” Master Zong explained.

“Oh, ‘Han Xizai’s Night Banquet’? That’s quite something! The pawnshops must have been like cats smelling fish. Brother Zong, you must have been tempted too?” Han Yigui asked in surprise.

“If it were the genuine ‘Han Xizai’s Night Banquet,’ I certainly would have been interested. However, I examined the painting myself, and it’s fake. Everyone knows Gu Minzhong painted ‘Han Xizai’s Night Banquet.’ Gu’s brushwork is round and forceful, with rich colors. Yet this supposed ‘Han Xizai’s Night Banquet’ shows lean, vigorous strokes and uses no vermillion or white powder, making it quite understated. Even as a replica, it’s far from the original. The painting does have its unique characteristics.

That’s why I initially considered buying it for a modest sum. But the lady insisted it was the authentic ‘Han Xizai’s Night Banquet’ and demanded an exorbitant price, which led to other pawnshop owners mocking her for being money-crazy. Finally, she became angry and set up a stall in the street, declaring she would give the painting to anyone who could identify it and explain its origins. This attracted quite a crowd of curiosity seekers.” Master Zong’s expression showed both amusement and exasperation.

The lady’s actions were essentially challenging the pawnshops’ expertise, suggesting they couldn’t recognize true value.

However, given Master Zong’s dignified character, he wouldn’t stop arguing with her.

“Perhaps it’s not necessarily fake,” Zhen Niang suddenly spoke from the side.

In her previous life, “Han Xizai’s Night Banquet” was indeed famous, with one version preserved in the Beijing Palace Museum. Li Zhen had once dreamed of recreating the painting in ink form, so she had researched it extensively. She knew there were actually two versions of “Han Xizai’s Night Banquet”—one in the Beijing Palace Museum by Gu Minzhong, and another by Zhou Wenju, whose style was characterized by lean, natural brushwork without using vermillion or white powder.

“Oh? Why do you say that?” Master Zong asked curiously.

Han Yigui frowned slightly. He had kept Zhen Niang here mainly to listen and learn, and her sudden interruption, especially contradicting an expert, was somewhat impolite.

“While researching ink traditions, I came across an ancient text that recorded the origins of ‘Han Xizai’s Night Banquet.’ During the Later Tang Dynasty, Han Xizai’s high position and achievements made him a target of the Later Lord Li’s suspicion. To allay these suspicions, Han Xizai deliberately immersed himself in pleasure and entertainment. Later Lord Li, wanting to verify this, sent both Gu Minzhong and Zhou Wenju to observe him. Therefore, there should be two versions of ‘Han Xizai’s Night Banquet,’ and the one this lady possesses might be Zhou Wenju’s version.” Zhen Niang explained earnestly. She had spoken impulsively at first and only realized afterward that it might have been inappropriate, but since she couldn’t take back her words, she could only explain as clearly as possible.

In her previous life, Zhou Wenju’s version of “Han Xizai’s Night Banquet” had been lost to history.

Upon hearing Zhen Niang’s explanation, even the usually composed and refined Master Zong couldn’t help but change expression.

Han Yigui, having risen from a small merchant background, didn’t understand such matters, but seeing Master Zong’s changed expression, he wondered if his niece might be correct.

“Bang!” Master Zong suddenly slapped the table. “I’ll be right back.” Without concern for propriety, he hurriedly left.

Zhen Niang understood his state of mind. If someone else proved the painting’s authenticity, the pawnshops, including Master Zong’s, would lose face. They couldn’t blame anyone else—it was their failure to recognize such a treasure.

Watching Master Zong’s hasty departure, Han Yigui looked at Zhen Niang: “It seems you might be right.”

“We’ll have to wait and see,” Zhen Niang said with a smile.

Han Yigui then had the servants replace the wine with tea. He asked Zhen Niang about affairs in Huizhou, and she told him everything, including the matter of Wang Jincai.

“That ungrateful wretch. Poor Run’er was wronged, but perhaps it’s for the best. Your Seventh Grandmother handled it well,” Han Yigui said. When he first heard that the Li family’s sixth branch was accepting Wang Jincai as a son-in-law, he had disapproved. Having met Wang Jincai, he felt the man was too calculating to be a good match, but he couldn’t interfere in such matters, so he kept quiet.

“Uncle, about Aunt’s recent attempt to borrow money—it was partly because the ink shop needed capital, and partly because land trading is quite risky, which is why I couldn’t agree,” Zhen Niang explained, thinking of her aunt’s earlier attitude.

Some things needed to be clarified promptly, or they would become harder to explain over time.

Han Yigui was startled: “What borrowing? Wasn’t your aunt visiting your Seventh Grandmother who was ill?”

“Ah, Uncle didn’t know?” Zhen Niang was surprised, suddenly wondering if she shouldn’t have brought up the topic.

“Tell me exactly what happened,” Han Yigui insisted, not letting Zhen Niang evade the question.

Zhen Niang then explained about her aunt trying to borrow money to buy land.

“Your aunt is good in many ways, but sometimes she’s too ambitious. You were right not to lend her the money. I must have a word with her about this,” Han Yigui said with stern eyes. He had already told her not to get involved in such matters, yet she remained fixated on it.

“Please don’t scold Aunt, Uncle. I’ve already offended her by not lending her the money. If you scold her too, I’m afraid I won’t be able to visit anymore,” Zhen Niang said with a playful bow.

“Now you’re worried about your aunt! Alright, I won’t blame her, but I still need to warn her about this land business. Otherwise, knowing your aunt’s personality, she’ll find ways to make it happen no matter what.” Han Yigui said.

“Yes, yes,” Zhen Niang nodded.

They continued talking over tea.

After a while, Master Zong returned, but his expression wasn’t pleasant.

“What happened? Was it still fake?” Han Yigui asked, inviting him to sit.

“Ah, Miss Zhen was right. That scroll was indeed Zhou Wenju’s version of ‘Han Xizai’s Night Banquet.’ Unfortunately, I arrived too late—someone else had already identified it. Now all our pawnshops have lost face. Such a precious piece, and not one of us recognized it,” Hu Zong Lin shook his head.

“Who recognized it?” Han Yigui asked curiously.

Indeed, the appraisers at these pawnshops had decades of experience and sharp eyes. Their oversight this time was due to a lack of information and preconceptions—they didn’t know there were two versions of “Han Xizai’s Night Banquet,” which led to this embarrassment.

“Someone called Luo Jiu,” Hu Zong Lin said with another wry smile.

This Luo Jiu had only recently appeared in Nanjing. Reportedly, he had made his fortune mining gold beyond the Great Wall—a mere nouveau riche. He had been trying to establish a money-lending business recently, making rounds of various establishments. Since Nanjing already had plenty of pawnshops and money lenders, naturally, no one wanted another competitor to take a share of the market, so they had given him considerable trouble.

He had been quiet these past few days, and they thought he had given up and left. Unexpectedly, this incident had allowed him to thoroughly embarrass them all.

It was indeed a tragic situation.