By the time Old Proprietor Li, Madam Zhao, and Li Zhenniang’s group arrived in Huizhou, it was already the end of the eleventh month. Luo Wenqian, having gone to Shizhou, had accumulated quite a bit of business at the money house that needed attention, so he would return later. As such, Li Jingfu also stayed longer in Nanjing, planning to return to Huizhou together with Luo Wenqian.
Accompanying Zhenniang’s group back were Luo Ping’an and his wife. The couple had returned early to notify the Luo family’s Third Grand Uncle and help prepare New Year’s gifts for Luo Wenqian so that when he arrived, they could properly deliver the gifts to the Li family according to custom.
These New Year’s gifts were typically given by the son-in-law to the bride’s family, starting from the engagement. Usually, it was just a simple ceremonial custom, nothing special. However, since the Li and Luo families’ engagement took place in Nanjing, and some matters required expedient handling at the time, the proceedings had been rather simple.
Huizhou traditionally placed great emphasis on ceremony, and such simplicity might make people think the Luo family was showing disrespect to the Li family. Therefore, while in Nanjing, Luo Wenqian had agreed with Li Jingfu to make the New Year’s gifts more substantial and the ceremony grander. The Luo family’s Third Grand Uncle would make an appearance, and all of the Li family’s relatives would be invited, essentially redoing the formal proceedings.
The Li family naturally wouldn’t refuse Luo Wenqian’s suggestion, as it would benefit Zhenniang. Setting aside her reputation for being unlucky in marriage, she had after all been previously engaged to another. The earlier engagement proceedings had been too simple, and it was the Li family’s Seventh Grandmother who had actively gone to Nanjing. This inevitably led to gossip, and when Zhenniang would eventually marry into the Luo family, she might be looked down upon. Therefore, Luo Wenqian’s suggestion perfectly aligned with the Li family’s wishes.
And so it was decided.
Now, as the Li family group disembarked at Yuliang Dock, snow began to fall in small flakes.
“Sister-in-law Ping’an, it’s snowing. Why don’t you stay in the city today until the snow stops before heading back to the village?” Zhenniang stood at the dock, looking at the grey sky, sensing that heavy snow was coming.
“No need. I can see it’s going to snow heavily, but it’s only seven or eight li from here to our Luo Village. Let’s hire a cart while the snow is still light. We’ll be there in no time,” Luo Ping’an said from the side.
“Yes, that’s true. I also think heavy snow is coming. Better to head back early, lest the roads become blocked. However, it won’t be easy to hire a cart in this weather. How about this – our ink workshop’s cart is coming to pick us up. You can ride with us to the city gate, and then we’ll have Daniu take you to Luo Village,” Old Proprietor Li suggested.
Daniu was the carter sent by the Li family’s ink workshop to pick them up.
“Alright, that works. We’ll do as you say, Old Master,” Sister-in-law Ping’an, being quite familiar with the Li family, agreed without ceremony.
So everyone boarded the cart. Luo Ping’an sat at the front with Daniu as they headed toward the city gate.
When they passed by the chastity memorial arch of Luo Mengzhen from the Luo family, Zhenniang noticed that the dilapidated arch she had seen when leaving for Nanjing had now collapsed. Several large stones had disappeared, evidently taken by someone to use as foundation stones. The arch’s disappearance was perhaps heaven’s will.
Regarding Ugly Woman, after drinking that day, the Li family naturally told Luo Wenqian about her. While Luo Wenqian was quite moved to recognize her, Ugly Woman was accustomed to living with the Li family. Moreover, although her situation wasn’t exactly a grave deception of the emperor, there was no need to publicize it widely – some discretion was still necessary.
Therefore, Ugly Woman ultimately stayed with the Li family. Privately, Madam Zhao told Zhenniang that when she married Luo Wenqian, Ugly Woman would naturally return to the Luo family with her.
Sure enough, by the time the cart reached the city gate, the snow was falling thick and fast, eventually becoming as dense as goose feathers.
“Wow, this snow is coming down!” Sister-in-law Ping’an, sitting near the cart door, exclaimed. Such heavy snow was rare in Huizhou.
“Auspicious snow foretells a prosperous year!” Old Proprietor Li said excitedly. Then the Li family members got down from the cart.
“With snow this heavy, let’s hire another cart. It’s still quite a distance from the city gate to the Li family mansion,” Luo Ping’an suggested.
“In snow this heavy, where can we find a cart? Even if we did, they probably wouldn’t want to make the trip, fearing they couldn’t return,” Old Proprietor Li said, then added, “No matter, we can walk through the city gate tunnel alley. There aren’t many exposed areas in the alley, and once we’re through, it’s not far to go.”
Old Proprietor Li then instructed carter Daniu: “When you reach Luo Village, if the snow is still heavy, stay there until it stops and the roads are passable before returning.”
“Yes, I understand,” Daniu responded.
Hearing Old Proprietor Li’s words, Luo Ping’an said no more. He waved goodbye to the Li family from the cart, then sat with Daniu, offering to take turns driving.
The Li family, along with several workers and their luggage, entered the city gate tunnel alley.
“Old Proprietor Li is back?” The alley was full of familiar faces, all greeting the Li family group.
“Yes, we’re back. New Year’s is coming after all,” Old Proprietor Li responded with a smile.
They exchanged greetings all along the way.
Soon they reached Uncle Water’s Tiger Stove. As always, the entrance was shrouded in mist from the steam, especially on this snowy day, with the stove keeping hot water going all day while people gathered around for warmth.
Uncle Water was still bent over, adding hot water for everyone. Seeing the Li family group approach, he greeted them: “Old Proprietor, Jingfu’s wife, Zhenniang… home for New Year’s? Why isn’t Jingfu with you?”
“Hello, Uncle Water, are you still keeping strong? There were still some matters in Nanjing, so my father will return after us,” Zhenniang stepped forward and said, then took out some gifts she had brought – pine nut cakes and other supplements – and pressed them into Uncle Water’s hands, also distributing some candy and melon seeds to others sitting there.
“These must be wedding candies, right? Zhenniang, we heard you got engaged to Luo Wenqian of the Luo family in Nanjing. We’ve all heard the rumors but didn’t know if they were true. Now, when Miss Tian got engaged to the Xu family, that was quite a grand affair – even the County Magistrate attended. The Tian family even painted their main gate bright red,” Madam Ma said from the side.
Her tone wasn’t particularly sincere, seeming more like she was watching a show.
Madam Zhao was about to glare at her – she had quarreled with this Madam Ma several times when living in this area, and now naturally understood that Madam Ma was mocking how modest her daughter’s engagement had been.
Knowing her mother’s explosive temper, Zhenniang quickly smiled and said, “Madam Ma, how can you say that? Who can compare with Miss Tian? The Xu family is from the Minister’s household, not an ordinary family – it’s normal for their ceremony to be grand. If ordinary families like us put on such grand displays, wouldn’t people say we’re wasteful and don’t know how to live properly?”
Old Proprietor Li, listening to Zhenniang’s words, nodded approvingly. The girl had indeed grown sophisticated – not just in business, but even in handling such domestic matters, she could now speak diplomatically, leaving no room for criticism.
“That’s right! Just yesterday, you were criticizing the family at the street entrance for using a four-bearer sedan chair for their new bride, saying they were showing off and didn’t know how to manage money,” Sister Huaide said to Madam Ma.
Madam Ma’s comments having been exposed by Sister Huaide, looked rather disgruntled.
“The snow’s getting heavier. Uncle Water, Madam Ma, Sister Huaide, we should head home now. Do come visit us when you have time,” Zhenniang said, looking at the strip of sky visible ahead, where snow was still falling heavily. The sky, which had brightened somewhat due to the snow, now appeared oppressively dark again.
“Alright, take care. Do come visit!” Uncle Water nodded with a smile. Then the Li family group walked away.
After they left, Uncle Water’s Tiger Stove became even livelier.
“I heard the Xu family was interested in Zhenniang first, but the Li family refused, so Miss Tian got the benefit instead,” Da Min’s wife came forward to get hot water and said.
“Impossible. If the Xu family wanted someone from the Li family, how could the Li family refuse? I think Zhenniang just didn’t want to lose face and spread such rumors,” Madam Ma said with a sneer.
“Sister Ma, I don’t agree with what you’re saying. Zhenniang is a very honest girl, she’s not the type to spread such talk,” Uncle Water glared at Madam Ma, displeased.
“Alright, Brother Water doesn’t like it, so I’ll stop. Just because Zhenniang brings you nice things every time she returns, you’ve been bought over?” Madam Ma snorted.
“I’m telling the truth. Ask anyone – yes, Zhenniang used to be a bit greedy for food, but after that incident, everyone has seen how she conducts herself. We all know in our hearts,” Uncle Water persisted.
“Oh, forget about all this. Miss Tian is engaged to the Xu family, and Zhenniang is engaged to Luo Wenqian, there’s nothing more to argue about. What’s more interesting is next year’s tribute ink competition. I heard the Cheng family has withdrawn from the competition, so it’ll be a confrontation between the Li family and the Tian family – likely to be a fight to the death,” a man warming himself by the fire waved his hand and said. He didn’t care for domestic gossip, but the tribute ink competition was a major event.
“What is there to compete about? Sure, the Tian family just lost the tribute ink competition, but look what happened to the Cheng family – they didn’t fare well either, otherwise why would they withdraw from next year’s competition? With the Xu family backing them, I bet the Tian family will win the tribute ink competition next year,” Madam Ma said.
Hui ink had become part of every Huizhou person’s soul, so each tribute ink competition was a major event in Huizhou. From prefecture and county officials down to peddlers and laborers, everyone had their own opinions.
“That’s not necessarily true. Zhenniang is still an Imperial Princess’s Palace supplier. The Princess’s Palace against the Minister’s mansion – they cancel each other out. In the end, it comes down to skill, and I don’t think the Tian family’s skills can match the Li family’s. Forget about the Li family – if it weren’t for that ‘divine ink judgment’ back then, the tribute ink would have gone to the Cheng family long ago, how could it have fallen to the Tian family?” Sister Huaide said.
“What does being an Imperial Princess’s Palace supplier matter? Zhenniang is just an ink maker at the Princess’s Palace after all. Now Tian Ronghua, is going to be the Xu family’s daughter-in-law. Can the Princess’s Palace put in as much effort as the Xu family? Just wait and see,” Madam Ma said with an air of absolute certainty.
“This tribute ink business is all about ink-making skill – what do people’s positions have to do with it? Besides, in the end, it’s not up to the Ink Affairs Bureau or the Xu family to decide who wins, but the ink testing masters who will be invited,” Uncle Water said impatiently. There was no point in arguing about these baseless matters.
Just then, there was a loud crash – someone’s firewood shed had collapsed.
Uncle Water looked at the sky again, still dark with heavy snow, and grew tired of all these people crowding his place with idle gossip. He waved his hand: “What heavy snow! Stop chattering here and go home to check – with snow this heavy, who knows if your firewood sheds or whatever might collapse.”
So everyone dispersed.