Zhenniang was fuming as she carried the ceramic jar out of the Li family ink workshop, but she didn’t go far. Outside the workshop was the famous Four Treasures Street.
The “Four Treasures” referred to brush, ink, paper, and inkstone – the four treasures of the scholar’s studio.
The entire street was lined with shops selling these scholarly supplies, and every major ink workshop in Huizhou had its ink shop here to display and showcase its products.
The Li family ink shop was the fourth storefront on the east side, managed by the family’s Ninth Uncle.
Zhenniang sat down on the long stone steps under the eaves outside the Li family shop. She placed the jar of soot down and, dipping her finger in it, wrote large characters on the stone ground: “Supreme Grade Tung Oil Soot – Highest Bidder Takes It!!!!”
Though this seemed like an act of defiance against the Li family workshop, it was born of necessity.
Manager Zheng had publicly accused her of adulterating the soot and had even implied her family’s poor character. If this wasn’t cleared up, it would tarnish her grandfather’s reputation.
Of course, she could have appealed to Seventh Grandmother for justice.
But the main branch’s situation was complicated. Seventh Grandmother relied on Manager Shao and others to control the workshop. Zhenniang had heard from Yue Juan that the managers and master craftsmen ate better than even Seventh Grandmother’s household – this was true.
Asking Seventh Grandmother to intervene would not only put her in a difficult position but even if she vouched for Zhenniang, what good would it do? After all, she was also a Li family member, and people might suspect she was just doing a favor for the family, helping Zhenniang cover-up.
To outsiders, Manager Zheng was unbiased. The Li family would naturally protect their own.
Sacrificing an outsider to protect family members would seem reasonable.
Then the question of whether she had adulterated the soot would become even more muddled.
So Zhenniang decided to set up shop on Four Treasures Street, advertising supreme grade soot. With so many ink makers passing through, surely someone would recognize quality.
If this created a stir, it would also give Seventh Grandmother a reason to discipline the workshop managers. Currently, the masters were stronger than their nominal superiors, and family records showed this was precisely why the main branch’s workshop had declined.
After Seventh Grandmother’s passing, the main family had no one who could control these managers and master craftsmen, allowing the branch families to take over, leading to the main workshop’s dissolution.
This incident could allow Seventh Grandmother to assert some control.
Of course, this was just Zhenniang’s thinking – how the main branch would handle things was beyond her control.
“Supreme grade tung oil soot? That’s quite a claim.” Just then, a well-dressed gentleman in his fifties strolled by and stopped upon seeing Zhenniang’s writing.
Zhenniang recognized him. Chengmen Dong was the main route for all trades to transport goods into the city, and she had seen this gentleman bringing in goods before. If she wasn’t mistaken, this was Third Master Cheng of the Cheng family ink business.
The Luo, Cheng, and Li families, along with Huizhou Ink, were the top three in the industry.
Seeing Third Master Cheng, Zhenniang quickly stood and gave a slight bow, calmly saying, “Third Uncle, one shouldn’t speak without investigation. How can you judge my claim without examining my soot?”
“Oh? The young lady is quite confident. Let me see.” Third Master Cheng squatted down and first looked at the color, then chuckled: “Girl, isn’t this color a bit off? It’s somewhat grayish – you haven’t mixed in pine soot, have you?”
“First look at the color, then feel the soot. Why don’t you try touching it, Third Uncle?” Zhenniang smiled.
“Hmm.” Third Master Cheng nodded and pinched some soot between his fingers. His expression changed immediately. Usually, soot had a slightly granular texture, though barely noticeable, but experienced hands could detect it. This girl’s soot, however, felt incredibly smooth.
He then rubbed the soot between his fingers – the color spread with a lustrous black sheen. Whether it was truly supreme grade was still uncertain, but it was premium quality.
“Third Uncle, what good soot are you examining? Let your nephew learn something too.” Just then, a group emerged from a teahouse across the street. Their leader was a young man in flowing robes and a scholar’s headband, carrying himself with scholarly elegance. Beside him stood a woman Zhenniang recognized as Tian Ronghua of the Tian family.
“Bah! Young Master Luo, go enjoy your entertainment with your lady friend elsewhere, don’t disturb Third Uncle.” Third Master Cheng clutched the ceramic jar protectively, as if afraid the young man would try to snatch it.
Young Master Luo? Could he be the young master of the Luo family ink business? Zhenniang thought this situation might become even more interesting.
“Third Uncle, how improper of you to tease!” Tian Ronghua blushed and complained.
Young Master Luo, however, seemed unconcerned.
“Third Uncle, those who see should share. Good things should be shared, especially since this young lady clearly stated ‘highest bidder takes it.'” Young Master Luo had already squatted down and pinched some soot, holding it up to the light before laughing heartily. “Excellent soot! Worthy of being called supreme grade. I’ll take it.”
“No, I was here first!” Third Master Cheng panicked, protecting the jar while saying to Zhenniang: “Young lady, I’ll offer ten thousand qian for this soot.”
“Third Uncle, such soot is rare indeed. How can you offer just ten thousand qian? Young lady, I bid twenty thousand,” Young Master Luo said generously.
Zhenniang was stunned by these prices. She hadn’t expected this at all – after all, it was just raw material. She didn’t know that this was the year for tribute ink selection, when court officials would come to select and recommend ink for the palace, causing fierce competition among the workshops.
The ink-making industry had reached a point where everyone’s basic skills were similar. Success or failure now depended on details, making raw material quality crucial.
Thus, when such exceptional soot appeared, its price skyrocketed.
“The Li family bids thirty thousand qian.” A hoarse voice suddenly spoke – it was the Li family’s Ninth Uncle, with Manager Zheng behind him. Manager Zheng’s face was pale as he silently cursed his luck. He had been so dismissive earlier because he hadn’t believed Zhenniang could produce such quality soot. He had misjudged.
“Thirty-five thousand qian,” Third Master Cheng continued.
“Forty thousand qian,” Young Master Luo countered.
By now, a crowd had gathered, astonished at the escalating prices. They could hardly believe soot could be worth so much.
“Fifty thousand qian,” Ninth Uncle continued. As the price rose, Manager Zheng’s face grew increasingly ashen. One thing was certain – he would lose his position as manager.
Zhenniang finally came to her senses. The situation had achieved her purpose, but she couldn’t let it continue. Letting it go further would only embarrass the Li family.
So when she saw Third Master Cheng and Young Master Luo about to bid higher, she stepped forward and curtsied: “I’m honored by Third Uncle and Young Master Luo’s interest, but this soot was made using the Li family workshop’s tung oil. I only acted impulsively earlier due to a misunderstanding with the examining master. Please forgive me. After this matter is settled, I’ll help both Third Uncle and Young Master Luo produce soot free of charge as compensation. Please be understanding.”
Hearing Zhenniang’s words and seeing Manager Zheng’s pale face behind Ninth Uncle, both Third Master Cheng and Young Master Luo understood the situation.
“Very well, girl. Remember your promise to make me some of this soot – I’ll pay you fairly for your work,” Third Master Cheng said before leisurely departing.
“I look forward to it,” Young Master Luo bowed and left with Tian Ronghua.
“Ninth Uncle,” Zhenniang turned to face him.
“Manager Zheng, go to the counter and fetch fifty thousand qian,” Ninth Uncle gave Zhenniang a calm look before addressing Manager Zheng.
Manager Zheng returned to the shop with a pale face and brought out fifty thousand qian – fifty notes of one thousand each – and handed them to Zhenniang.
After receiving the money, Zhenniang counted out her rightful share and returned the excess. She then bowed to Ninth Uncle and, without further words, headed home.
Ninth Uncle watched her leave with newfound appreciation in his eyes.
When Zhenniang reached home, the lamps were just being lit in Chengmen Dong.