At the Xu residence.
Late in the evening, Second Master Xu returned home in a drunken stupor, his face dark with displeasure.
Second Madam Xu quickly ordered servants to prepare sobering tea and help him change clothes. “What’s been going on these past few days? You keep coming home drunk like this.”
“Big Brother came and had me accompany him to entertain several eunuchs from the Maritime Trade Office. These people only care about silver and wine. What else could we do—take them to the pleasure quarters?” Second Master Xu replied irritably.
“Big Brother is being unreasonable. He guards the Maritime Trade Office matters so tightly that we can’t even get involved. Since that’s the case, why drag you along to drink?” Second Madam Xu glared.
“He’s my elder brother—how could I refuse? Besides, with the new emperor’s ascension this year, all expenditures are being simplified. The palace has reduced its quota for all supplies. The profits won’t be as good as before. Even the silk industry will be difficult this year. Several officials from the Imperial Textile Manufacturing Office have been reassigned to idle positions lately. I suspect something is going on there. So the silk business is untouchable this year. Calculating it all, we’re looking at significantly reduced income. I was hoping to find new revenue streams through the Maritime Trade Office. Big Brother mentioned there’s a new managing eunuch surnamed Yan who has an adopted daughter from his clan. She’s supposedly quite presentable and around the same age as our Third Son. I thought we could look into it… But unexpectedly, this Yan fellow turned out to be completely inflexible, even having the audacity to say he wants his daughter to marry someone who would join their family instead…” Second Master Xu’s eyes flashed with anger at the eunuch’s failure to recognize the honor being offered.
“Forget it. We don’t care for a eunuch’s daughter anyway. Besides, I think Big Brother has ulterior motives. You know how Father despises these tax supervisors. It’s better not to marry her—if we did and it displeased Father, wouldn’t that be losing the watermelon while picking up sesame seeds?” Second Madam Xu consoled her husband, though privately she truly looked down on the idea of a eunuch’s daughter.
However, speaking of their Third Son reminded her of what Madam Xuan had said today. “Let Big Brother handle the Maritime Trade Office matters. I don’t believe he won’t share any of his profits with us when the time comes. As for Third Son, I have a good candidate in mind, which could also open up a promising business opportunity.”
“Oh? What candidate? What opportunity?” Second Master Xu asked curiously. He had been at a loss, yet his wife who stayed at home all day had found an opportunity.
Second Madam Xu then shared all the gossip about Li Zhenniang that Madam Xuan had told her today.
“Is this Li Zhenniang the one who serves the Princess’s household, the same one who helped make the Empress Dowager’s birthday ink recently?” Second Master Xu sought confirmation. He usually didn’t pay attention to matters in women’s circles.
However, he had heard about the competition over the birthday ink, and Li Ink’s reputation in the capital had been rising because of Empress Dowager’s birthday ink.
“That’s right. Mother-in-law even received a reward from the Empress Dowager,” Second Madam Xu said, her tone turning bitter at the mention of the birthday ink.
A few days ago when she returned to Songjiang, her sister-in-law had shown her two ink sticks, saying they were from their mother-in-law for her Fifth Son who was preparing for the provincial examinations this year. What nonsense—it was just to show off how their in-laws favored her Fifth Son. Upset by this, she had returned to Nanjing the next day.
Listening to his wife, Second Master Xu analyzed Li Ink’s prospects. Although tribute ink was currently dominated by Tian Ink, everyone knew that Tian Ink merely inherited Luo Ink’s methods and might not maintain its position long-term. Li Ink, on the other hand, had risen quietly but steadily.
“Hmm, Li Ink’s prospects are indeed promising. However, Huizhou’s businesses are very closed off and family-oriented—outsiders can hardly get involved. Even when Big Brother tried to get into Luo Ink back then, it came to nothing. This won’t be easy.”
“Not necessarily. I heard from Madam Han-Li that Li Zhenniang owns a ten percent share in Li Ink, given to her as dowry by the Li family matriarch. When she first arrived last year, Madam Han-Li and I took her out socializing, hoping to find her a good match. If someone could marry her, wouldn’t that give us our way in?”
“You want Third Son to marry this Li Zhenniang? That’s not a bad idea. You handle it then.” Second Master Xu’s head was spinning, and he couldn’t be bothered with such matters—these things were usually left to Second Madam Xu anyway.
“I understand. Madam Han-Li has grown somewhat distant from me this past year, so I’m not very clear about the situation with the Li family. We need to investigate first and spread some rumors to get the Li family to approach us. That way we’ll be in a better position to make demands.” Second Madam Xu had no doubts about whether the Li family would agree to the match—for Li Zhenniang to catch the eye of the Xu family would be like burning incense in her previous life.
“Mm, very well.” Second Master Xu lounged on the couch. Smelling the alcohol on him, Second Madam Xu beckoned servants to help him prepare for bed.
Her mind, however, was busy calculating matters concerning the Li family.
[…]
By late April, the weather had grown quite hot. After the lifting of the maritime trade ban stirred things up, the air seemed even more stifling, with everyone appearing somewhat irritable.
In the afternoon, the workers at the ink workshop took their midday rest. Li Ink Workshop was nearing the end of its spring production season, and some workers had begun taking turns having days off. Of course, the smoke workshop continued operating to store soot for autumn ink production.
In the workshop, Hua’er and several apprentices were idly swatting flies—in such hot weather, no one came to buy ink.
The three members of the Li family sat in the back courtyard enjoying the cool air and chatting. Of course, their hands weren’t idle—Zhenniang was learning from her father how to twist lamp wicks. Summer lamp wicks required special attention: while regular lamp wicks used twelve strands of grass twisted together, summer ones only needed ten.
“I don’t see how lifting the maritime ban has done any good. Prices are soaring—even rice and flour have gone up. Even clothing has increased. I went to the neighboring Yao family today to buy some fabric for your father’s summer clothes, and it cost over ten percent more than usual,” Madam Zhao said while helping father and daughter select grass strands of equal thickness.
“Mother, don’t complain when we’re benefiting! Our family has earned quite a bit from the lifting of the ban. Not just my side—when Big Brother comes, you can ask him yourself. You’ll be overjoyed at his answer,” Zhenniang teased her mother. Big Brother would be delivering tung oil soon.
However, the price increases caused by lifting the maritime ban were real. This was just the beginning—as the ban remained lifted longer and large amounts of silver flowed into China, it would have an even greater impact on prices and silver currency value. Unfortunately, Zhenniang wasn’t an economist and couldn’t manage such matters. All she could do was raise the wages of workers in their ink workshop, which had earned much praise.
“What do you mean overjoyed? Do you think your mother is so ignorant?” Madam Zhao gave Zhenniang a light swat.
As they were talking, they heard Hua’er’s sweet voice greeting someone from the shop: “First Aunt is here…”
The “First Aunt” she referred to was naturally Madam Han-Li. Madam Zhao and Zhenniang hurried out to welcome her.
“Greetings, First Aunt,” Zhenniang said.
“Hello. I need to discuss something with your mother.” Madam Han-Li’s expression showed excitement but also seemed somewhat strange.
She then pulled Madam Zhao into a room, and the two closed the door for a private discussion.
Zhenniang found it curious but didn’t think much of it, returning to twisting lamp wicks.
“What did you say? The Xu family has taken an interest in Zhenniang?” Inside the room, Madam Zhao sprang up from her chair, crying out in disbelief. She had always been proud of her capable daughter, but the Xu residence was a minister’s household! How could a merchant family like theirs aspire to such a match?
Though everyone harbored ambitions to marry up, when the status gap was too great, it became unrealistic. Sometimes good fortune falling from the sky wasn’t necessarily a blessing.
“I was surprised too, but it’s true. Yesterday, Second Master Xu’s eldest daughter-in-law asked my eldest daughter-in-law about Zhenniang. From what she implied, they’re interested. However, they must still be in the inquiry stage, otherwise Second Madam Xu would have approached me directly about this,” Madam Han-Li explained. The Xu family hadn’t made a final decision yet.
“That’s good then. Given Zhenniang’s circumstances, the Xu family surely won’t seriously consider her.” Hearing this, Madam Zhao felt relieved. Though she was a hunter’s daughter, she knew her place. Someone like Zhenniang would never be considered suitable by the Xu family. Like, should marry like—the Xu family was beyond their reach.
“But what if they do choose her? Whether to accept or refuse, you should be prepared,” Madam Han-Li said. Originally, she would have thought Zhenniang marrying into the Xu family would be wonderful, but after what happened last time, she had seen the Xu family more clearly and thus felt uncertain.
“The Old Madam said early on that she would decide Zhenniang’s marriage,” Madam Zhao replied. She had agreed to let the Old Madam make this decision, so she couldn’t decide alone now.
“Then you should quickly write to the Old Madam so she can prepare,” Madam Han-Li suggested.
“Yes.” Madam Zhao nodded, feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the situation.
Logically speaking, a family like the Xu’s was impossible to find even with a lantern. When Zhenniang had her engagement with the Tian family canceled before, many people in Huizhou laughed at them. If Zhenniang married into the Xu family now, it would be like slapping the Tian family’s face several times. That would be quite satisfying.
But marriage wasn’t about settling scores. Vaguely, Madam Zhao felt the Xu family wasn’t right. If nothing else, just considering what happened with First Aunt last time—if Zhenniang hadn’t stepped in, First Aunt’s family might have lost everything. From this perspective, she felt the Xu family wouldn’t make a good match.