After another audience with the Princess, Zhen Niang became the ink supplier to the Princess’s mansion, and Li Mo took charge of producing the birthday ink.
Though Zhen Niang was now the Princess’s supplier, she didn’t need to live in the mansion. Her duties involved managing all ink-related matters, such as the mansion’s daily ink needs and holiday gift inks that Princess Ning’an would give as presents. She only needed to design the ink patterns according to the Princess’s wishes and have them produced at the Li family workshop.
The position offered considerable freedom, similar to a modern-day professional consultant.
After completing the necessary formalities, Zhen Niang bid farewell and returned to the Li family ink workshop, where celebrations were in full swing. Along her way, everyone she passed, whether acquainted or not, offered their congratulations.
“Congratulations,” said Luo Wenqian, standing by the Yihou Sheng Money House entrance in his cyan robe and square headcloth, his eyes twinkling with joy.
Beside him stood a boy about twelve or thirteen, whose features showed both stubbornness and shyness, mimicking Luo Wenqian’s congratulatory gesture.
“Thank you, and share in the joy,” Zhen Niang replied with a smile. She had long wondered why people in this era often responded to congratulations with “share in the joy.” After much contemplation, she understood it wasn’t necessarily about the other person having something to celebrate, but rather about sharing one’s joy and good fortune with others – in modern terms, simply a way of spreading good wishes.
Then she asked Luo Wenqian, “And who might this be?”
The boy pressed his lips together silently until Luo Wenqian patted his head and explained, “My third uncle’s son. Their family has fallen on hard times. Hearing I was in Nanjing, they sent him to me. I’m keeping him by my side to learn.”
“Ah,” Zhen Niang nodded, remembering that while Luo Wenqian’s direct elders had disappeared, the Luo clan had many members. When the Luo family fell into trouble, the clan members were also affected. Now that Luo Wenqian had achieved some status, it was only right for him to help some clan members.
After some casual conversation, Zhen Niang returned to the workshop. As soon as she entered, Hua’er came bouncing over with a flint in hand, saying, “Second Madam said you must light the firecrackers.”
Sure enough, as Hua’er finished speaking, Zheng Fuli and the workshop apprentices brought over several strings of “hundred-sons-thousand-grandsons” firecrackers, hanging them on a bamboo pole.
They waited for Zhen Niang to light them.
In her previous life, Zhen Niang had lit the New Year’s Eve firecrackers since her grandfather was too old, so she was quite skilled. She squinted carefully as she struck the flint, lit the fuse, and quickly jumped aside, covering her ears. Hua’er darted behind her, covering his ears and grinning mischievously. Immediately, the firecrackers began their loud popping.
The celebrations continued until evening when Madam Ma led several workers’ wives in preparing a feast. They didn’t invite outsiders, just the workshop workers, their wives, and children gathering together for a joyous meal to celebrate and also to remind everyone that they needed to stay focused and complete the birthday ink task well.
The feast served as both a celebration and mobilization.
The next day, First Aunt’s family received the news, and Uncle and Aunt came with Elder Sister-in-law Chen to offer congratulations.
“My goodness, who would have thought! At the beginning of the year, your Seventh Grandmother told me that Li Mo’s situation wouldn’t improve quickly and that it would take two or three years to see any real change. But just when the path seemed blocked by mountains and waters, a village appeared through the willows! In the blink of an eye, Zhen Niang became the Princess’s ink supplier and secured the birthday ink contract. I’d like to see who in Nanjing would dare look down on Li Mo now!” First Aunt said proudly.
“First Aunt, you praise me too much. Grandfather Qi yielded to me this time. Otherwise, how could I have won against him?” Zhen Niang replied sincerely.
“That may be true, but Qi Sili was as renowned as your grandfather. Competing with you would have diminished his standing even if he won,” First Aunt countered.
Zhen Niang shook her head and said no more. Her First Aunt had always been like this. As long as she remembered Grandfather Qi’s kindness, that was enough.
After spending several days with First Aunt, Zhen Niang went down to the ink workshop. In just the two days since Li Mo won the birthday ink contract and Zhen Niang became the Princess’s supplier, the Li family workshop had received several ink orders. With autumn arriving – the prime season for ink making – Zhen Niang would be extremely busy in the coming days.
Watching Zhen Niang leave, Madam Li Han said to Madam Huang, “People judge by appearances. Zhen Niang has been in Nanjing for over half a year, and at ladies’ gatherings, people would praise her capability, but none of those ladies showed any real interest in her. Now that word has spread about her becoming the Princess’s ink supplier, people are already approaching me with proposals.”
“Which family?” Madam Huang frowned.
“Madam Wang, wife of the Yingtian Prefecture clerk. She spoke of her younger brother from the Wang family in Huai’an.”
“You’d better turn away such people. Zhen Niang has told me privately that the Princess is considerate. With the Emperor in poor health and court troubles brewing, the Princess brought her consort to Nanjing to avoid complications. These people want to use Zhen Niang to get close to the Princess – our Li family can’t afford such connections. Zhen Niang told me her relationship with the Princess’s mansion is purely about ink. We should reject anyone with ulterior motives,” Madam Huang said indignantly.
Though from Huai’an, the Wang family had settled in Nanjing years ago, making their fortune in the salt trade. Through her social connections with Hui merchant ladies, Madam Huang knew the Wang family had a reputation for frivolity. Their sons were known as big spenders in Qinhuai’s brothels, constantly showing off their wealth and fighting over women. The salt trade was closely tied to officialdom, and the Wang family’s timing made their intentions clear – they were attracted by Zhen Niang’s new position as the Princess’s supplier, their schemes as transparent as day.
The Li family wanted nothing to do with such people. When Mother-in-law returned to Huizhou, she had specifically instructed that since Zhen Niang, as a young woman, was working in public for the family business, they must not wrong her, especially regarding marriage. At minimum, the prospective husband must genuinely care for Zhen Niang, without looking down on her, and treat her well.
Madam Li Han nodded, “I agree. However, we should arrange Zhen Niang’s marriage soon, or there will be even more suitors with ulterior motives.”
“Indeed, but we’re busy now until the twelfth month when we’ll return to Huizhou for the New Year. Then I’ll discuss it properly with Zhen Niang’s mother and grandparents.”
Madam Li Han nodded.
Just as Zhen Niang entered the workshop, A’Tang came to announce that Mr. Hu from the Huizhou Merchants’ Association had arrived.
This Mr. Hu was Hu Zonglin. Zhen Niang hurried out to welcome him. Hu Zonglin was no longer the association’s chairman and lived more leisurely now, his complexion notably better than before.
However, with his extensive connections, the association still relied on him for many matters.
“Zhen Niang, well done! You’ve brought honor to us Hui merchants,” Hu Zonglin offered his congratulations.
“It’s all thanks to the support of my fellow Hui merchants,” Zhen Niang replied with a smile.
Then Hu Zonglin explained his visit’s purpose – he was mediating for the Tian family. First, regarding liquid ink, Tian Benchang hoped to obtain production rights like the Cheng family, with the same payment terms. Second, he proposed that the Tian, Li, and Cheng families join forces to dominate Nanjing’s ink market and surrounding areas.
“As members of the same association, we should value harmony. Fighting among ourselves only benefits outsiders and hinders our development. I hope the three families – Tian, Li, and Cheng – can cooperate, compete fairly, and jointly establish the reputation of Hui ink,” Hu Zonglin said, adding after a pause, “Young Master Tian shows sincerity this time by asking me to mediate and witness. If the Tian family ever resorts to underhanded competition again, not only will your Li family and the Cheng family not tolerate it, but the Huizhou Merchants’ Association won’t either.”
Hu Zonglin’s face darkened as he spoke of intolerance. His mediation wasn’t for the Tian family’s sake but for the development of Hui merchants. The Hui merchants were just starting to rise, still far behind the Jin merchants, though showing promising momentum. The Jin merchants had noticed this and had been increasing their suppression lately.
In such critical times, Hu Zonglin didn’t want Hui merchant families fighting to the death, which would only benefit outsiders and make them a laughingstock.
That’s why he mediated for the Tian family. Since the Tian family had started the trouble initially, now that he had stepped in, if they caused problems again, not only would the Li family oppose them, but he, Hu Zonglin, would not tolerate it either.
Zhen Niang understood that this was Hu Zonglin’s guarantee to her family.
Regarding cooperation and development, Tian Benchang had mentioned this when he first arrived, and Zhen Niang had said she would judge by actions rather than words. Although the Tian family had used some tactics in the tribute ink competition by having the Ink Affairs Bureau and Official Liu send out Old Master Qi, this was an open strategy. Since Tian Benchang himself wasn’t an ink-making expert and their Huizhou masters couldn’t arrive in time, requesting an expert was understandable. Besides this, the Tian family hadn’t used any other underhanded methods, showing that Tian Benchang had been truthful before.
As competitors, business rivalry was inevitable – even the Li and Cheng families occasionally plotted against each other, which was natural. As long as the competition avoided deceitful tactics, it was simply a contest of ability.
Now with Hu Zonglin’s guarantee, Zhen Niang naturally wouldn’t refuse him face. She replied, “Yes, we can provide the liquid ink formula to the Tian family. Once they sign the contract like the Cheng and Zhu families, they can pay the formula usage fee over ten years.” Zhen Niang had never intended to monopolize the liquid ink formula. The Cheng and Zhu families were already producing it, and adding the Tian family would bring another stream of income. Given the Tian family’s sales volume, the Li family would earn more from them than from the Cheng and Zhu families combined – why not earn such profits?
“As for competition, as long as the Tian family doesn’t initiate trouble, our Li family has always believed in harmonious business and fair competition,” Zhen Niang added. After all, internal fighting among Hui ink makers only benefited outsiders. If the three families cooperated to expand the market, it would benefit them all.
“Excellent! Let’s find a time to gather the three families for a thorough discussion,” Hu Zonglin laughed heartily.
Zhen Niang nodded. Whether it was the Li family’s birthday ink, the Tian family’s tribute ink, or the Cheng family’s development, they all needed a period of stability. The ability to cooperate and focus on production was indeed good news.
With that, Hu Zonglin took his leave.