When Zhenniang and Xier returned home, it was already afternoon.
The Li family was still having lunch. Madam Zhao and Madam Du, the mother and daughter-in-law, had just returned from the mulberry field where they had spent the morning hoeing weeds and fertilizing. Grandmother Wu had prepared lunch and waited for their return before everyone started eating, with Old Shopkeeper Li sitting in his usual place at the head of the table.
“Grandfather, Grandmother, Mother, Sister-in-law, we’re back,” Zhenniang called out in greeting.
“You’re back. Have you eaten?” Grandmother Wu asked repeatedly.
“Yes, we have,” Zhenniang smiled.
“But after all that walking, I’m hungry again,” Xier said while patting his stomach. The glutton that he was, he would eat whenever food was available, regardless of whether his stomach had room for it.
As he spoke, Xier edged closer to the table corner.
Zhenniang shot him an exasperated look before turning to store the obtained raw lacquer in the woodshed and place the borrowed bamboo tray in the courtyard. Only then did she return to the room.
Upon entering, she saw Xier sitting at the table, contentedly munching on a rice cracker dipped in the sauce while chattering away about everything he had seen at Sixth Uncle’s house that morning. The boy, who spent his free time listening to storytellers, had picked up their narrative style and was telling the gossip with practiced rises and falls in his voice, making it quite engaging.
On the bamboo bed by the wall, little Xiaoguan was rolling around and cooing, protesting everyone’s neglect. Just as he was about to roll off onto the floor, Zhenniang quickly stepped forward and caught him in her arms.
As for Li Dalang, he worked at the oil press and never came home for lunch.
“You can ask Second Sister if you don’t believe me. She said that ink seems to have been made by some emperor and is worth a lot of money,” Xier concluded, not forgetting to cite his second sister as proof.
“I’m not entirely certain, but I’m quite sure it’s the Longxiang ink from the Tang Dynasty,” Zhenniang said while holding little Xiaoguan. She went on to describe some characteristics of the ink.
“Yes, our ancestors left many pieces of ancient ink, which were divided among the brothers. It’s not surprising that your Sixth Uncle’s family has Tang Dynasty Longxiang ink,” Old Shopkeeper Li remarked. He was privately pleased that Zhenniang could recognize it at a glance, showing that she had indeed put in serious effort over the years.
He recalled how she used to frequently visit him, asking about ink one moment and looking for books the next. At the time, he had thought she was mainly trying to get treats from him, but now it seemed he had misjudged her.
Little did Old Shopkeeper Li know that he hadn’t misjudged her at all – the earlier Zhenniang had indeed been trying to get treats, quite different from who she was now.
“We used to have some too, but your father gambled them all away,” Grandmother grumbled. Back then, Li Jingfu had taken everything of value in the house to gamble away.
Madam Zhao’s lips twitched with pain at the memory, while Madam Du clicked her tongue, thinking how nice it would have been to keep a few pieces for Xiaoguan. The literary influence might have helped him become an examination graduate, making her the mother of a distinguished scholar – quite prestigious indeed.
Of course, that was just wishful thinking.
“By the way, Zhenniang, Xier just mentioned that Uncle Jin Hua took another wife in Suzhou? What’s that about?” Madam Zhao asked curiously, as Xier’s explanation had been unclear.
“Mother, that’s just speculation, we don’t know if it’s true. By the way, isn’t Father in Suzhou? Has Uncle Huaide left yet? Have we sent Father the letter? If not, we could ask him to quietly look into this matter,” Zhenniang suggested.
“Yes, the letter is still on my desk. Later, read it to your mother, and while you’re at it, mention this matter to your father, asking him to look into it,” Old Shopkeeper Li said, his expression darkening. For a man who had married into their family to secretly take a second wife would be unacceptable – the Li family couldn’t bear such shame.
“Zhenniang, in the letter, also reminds your father to focus on making money and not get any ideas,” Madam Zhao suddenly added.
Zhenniang couldn’t help but smile, understanding her mother’s concerns. This was quite common among Hui merchants, who often spent years away from home trading, and frequently took second wives in other places.
Thinking about it, this warning was indeed necessary. Since the letter was written in Grandfather’s name, it would be appropriate for him to admonish her father.
With this in mind, Zhenniang went to her grandfather’s room and picked up the unsealed letter from his desk. Upon reading it, she found it contained the usual encouragement for her father to work diligently. Using the still-wet ink from the inkstone, she added a note about Uncle Jin Hua’s situation as a reminder to her father, knowing that Sixth Uncle must have already sent someone to investigate in Suzhou.
She then added her mother’s reminder and took the letter out, planning to read it to her mother before sending it to Uncle Huaide’s house.
However, just as she reached the courtyard, the gate creaked open. Sun Yuejuan poked her head in, holding a copper pot of oil.
Seeing Zhenniang standing in the courtyard, Sun Yuejuan grinned and pushed the gate open: “You didn’t collect the tung oil yesterday, so my father asked me to bring it to you.”
Following Sun Yuejuan was her mother, Madam Feng, whose face was beaming with joy.
“Thank you, Uncle Sun,” Zhenniang accepted the tung oil and asked, “What’s making you so happy?”
“Good news! Is your mother in? I have something to discuss with her,” Madam Feng waved dismissively and asked.
“Yes, she’s inside,” Zhenniang replied, and Madam Feng immediately strode into the house.
Zhenniang turned to Sun Yuejuan with a puzzled look.
“My father got promoted! Because of that tobacco matter, Manager Zheng was dismissed by Steward Shao today, and my father took his position,” Sun Yuejuan explained with a bright smile.
“Oh, I see.” Zhenniang nodded. This was within her expectations, though she hadn’t anticipated Sun Yuejuan’s father would be the one to take the position.
No wonder Yuejuan’s mother was so happy. Zhenniang then asked curiously, “But what does your mother want with mine?”
Sun Yuejuan just smiled mysteriously, staring at Zhenniang until she grew exasperated.
“What is it? Stop being so cryptic and tell me,” Zhenniang gave her a light swat.
“We’re going to be in-laws! My mother wants you to be my second sister-in-law,” Sun Yuejuan finally revealed with a grin.
Upon hearing this, Zhenniang’s brow furrowed slightly. She knew well Madam Feng’s previous attitude toward her – generally fine, except when it came to Sun Qian, where she had been extremely wary of Zhenniang. Why this sudden change of heart in proposing marriage?
Zhenniang wasn’t being paranoid; she was certain Madam Feng had ulterior motives. Considering recent events, it must be related to her tobacco-processing skills.
As she pondered this, Madam Feng stormed out, muttering angrily, “You still think you’re the eighth branch of the Li family of old? Those days are long gone, yet you’re still putting on airs like a noble house! I was being kind, not wanting Zhenniang to waste away, but no good deed goes unpunished. Fine, fine! Your Zhenniang is too good for my second son.”
With that, she grabbed Sun Yuejuan: “Let’s go home. From now on, visit here less often.”
“Mother…” Sun Yuejuan called out helplessly but was ultimately dragged away by Madam Feng.
Watching the swinging gate, Zhenniang understood that the marriage proposal had fallen through, as she had expected. Her mother wasn’t foolish and surely understood Madam Feng’s true intentions.
Zhenniang felt relieved, though she knew this meant her friendship with Sun Yuejuan would gradually fade. It was a pity, but such was fate, and there was no use dwelling on it.
“The Sun family has two sons,” Old Shopkeeper Li had commented. “The elder son is rash and hot-tempered, fond of fighting – not husband material. The second son is weak-willed, lacking in responsibility – even less suitable. Neither would make a good match.”
Such was Old Shopkeeper Li’s assessment of the Sun family’s sons.