The Shen family happily transported away their ink. The Li family had only charged processing fees for this batch, but Shen Ziyan had already learned that they’d used the Pan family’s Korean ink reprocessing method. Setting aside everything else, just this selling point alone would make scholars scramble for it.

Moreover, Pan family ink had already disappeared. Thus, this batch’s value went without saying – everyone understood.

Shen Ziyan calculated privately that there was no need to sell this batch immediately. If properly stored for twenty years until the new ink became aged ink, the profit could be ten or even a hundred times greater.

Thinking of this made him even happier. He also remembered Li Jingfu’s request to have Shen Shixing write an ink evaluation.

So he had another batch specially packaged and sent to Shen Shixing in the capital, instructing the messenger: “Deliver the ink to His Excellency and request him to write an evaluation after using it.”

This was what he had promised the Li family, and he intended to fulfill it.

…

At the Tian Family Ink Manor.

“The Li family recently helped the Shen family process a batch of ink – Korean ink reprocessing using the Pan family method. It was very successful, and Master Shen was extremely pleased. I heard he sent some ink to the capital for Shen Shixing to test and write an evaluation for the Li family…” Manager Fang reported on the Li family’s recent activities while Tian Ronghua reviewed the account books.

“Bah! What luck the Li family has! Now they’ve connected with the Shen family of Suzhou. I heard from Third Xu that Shen Shixing was the top imperial examination graduate of Jiajing’s forty-first year, with extraordinary literary talent. If they get his ink evaluation, even the Xu family can’t openly intervene in next year’s tribute ink competition.” Second Young Master Tian, who had been leisurely drinking tea, became irritated upon hearing Manager Fang’s report.

Tian Ronghua also frowned. She was anxious too – in these two years, the Li family had launched wave after wave of new ink products. Combined with this year’s internal turmoil in the Tian family and the tribute ink controversy, Li ink’s reputation in Nanjing had already surpassed Tian ink. Thus, even with the Xu family’s support, the Tian family would struggle to achieve anything in next year’s tribute ink competition.

This wasn’t the outcome Tian Ronghua wanted. Setting aside everything else, just for her future position in the Xu family, she had to win this tribute ink competition.

However, she felt helpless about the current situation. In terms of technique, the Li family’s centuries of technical accumulation couldn’t be matched by the Tian family’s few years of effort. For instance, with the Shen family’s ink, she had received news first and tried several times, but all attempts failed. She hadn’t expected Li Zhenniang to succeed in the end.

This point was truly unavoidable.

“Second Young Master, please be patient. It seems the Li family is about to drop a stone on their own feet,” Manager Fang said with an odd expression.

“What do you mean?” Hearing Manager Fang’s words, Tian Ronghua asked curiously. Could there be some trouble in this Shen family business?

“Some time ago, I was in the Corridor District and saw the Li family’s clerk Sun Wenjie coming out of the Jiang Family Medicine Hall. Curious, I made inquiries and learned that the clerk was buying ink-making medicinal materials. Industry insiders know that medicine hall sells many fake and spoiled medicines. I paid their clerk for information and learned that day, the Li family clerk bought a batch of moldy, processed medicines, which were used to make the Shen family’s ink batch.

Second Young Master, Third Miss, you know that such moldy medicines, after processing, look no different from good ones – they might even look better than regular materials. But when mixed into ink, with the frequent rain since autumn began, and since the Shen family’s new ink hasn’t completely dried, in fifteen to twenty days, that ink is likely to grow mold.” Manager Fang explained.

“Is this true?” Tian Ronghua asked excitedly. Then she added with confusion: “Doesn’t the Li family usually buy their materials from the Gong Family Medicine Hall next door?”

“Yes, that’s about right. During that period, the Gong Family Medicine Hall was out of stock,” Manager Fang nodded.

Hearing Manager Fang’s words, Tian Ronghua fell silent. Meanwhile, Second Young Master Tian laughed heartily, declaring it heaven’s help.

“Manager Fang, let’s add fuel to the fire. Have people spread rumors that the Li family uses inferior materials to make ink,” Tian Ronghua said with a stern face after some thought. Though people wouldn’t believe such rumors initially, given Li ink’s renowned quality, it didn’t matter. Once problems emerged with the Shen family’s ink, people would have to believe.

When that time came, she wanted to see how Li Zhenniang would handle it.

“Good, Third Sister’s plan is excellent,” Second Young Master Tian delighted in causing chaos.

Manager Fang nodded and went to make arrangements.

Time flew to late September, bringing continuous drizzle. The late September weather in Nanjing wasn’t cold yet but carried a desolate feeling.

During this period, news from the north grew increasingly worse. Since April or May, Anda had been repeatedly attacking the borders at Datong, Xuanfu, and other places. By September, the situation had become even more severe.

As more news arrived, Zhenniang couldn’t help worrying about Luo Wenqian. However, unlike in her previous life, without telephones or the internet, northern affairs remained obscure to people in Nanjing.

From Sister Ping’an, she learned that Yan Xilai was organizing people to gather information from the north. Thus, she had to set aside some of her worries.

Early one morning, just as the Li Family Ink Manor opened its doors, Zhenniang walked out and heard Madam Yao chatting with Madam Gong.

“Madam Gong, have you heard? Recently people on the street are saying the Li family uses inferior materials to make ink.”

“What nonsense! Do you believe that? The Li family buys their materials from my Gong family – are you saying we sell inferior materials? Whoever’s spreading this, I’ll reason with them!” Madam Gong exploded as soon as Madam Yao finished speaking.

“Exactly, that’s what I was saying. My son has always used Li family ink, and most people in their school use it too. They all say Li family ink is good – one stick can last a whole year.” Madam Yao said indignantly.

Listening from the side, Zhenniang frowned. Recently, such rumors had inexplicably appeared around Official Street. Though few believed them due to the Li family’s long-standing emphasis on quality if repeated long enough, even absurd claims could become credible.

This matter needed attention. She had to investigate who was spreading these rumors.

Just then, at the entrance to Official Street, a group of people carrying several boxes appeared, arguing loudly. Leading them were Shen Ziyan and a scholarly-looking man in his early thirties.

Shen Ziyan’s expression was poor. The reprocessed ink he had such high hopes for had completely molded in just over twenty days, making him lose face before his clan. He couldn’t swallow this anger.

The scholar beside him maintained a calm demeanor.

Such a group’s appearance immediately sparked whispers among the surrounding shops. Obviously, except for the scholar, most wore angry expressions – clearly coming with ill intent, though people didn’t know which establishment was in trouble.

Soon, the group arrived at the Li Family Ink Manor’s entrance.

Zhenniang saw Shen Ziyan and was about to step forward to greet him, but unexpectedly, he waved his hand, and his people set down the boxes, arranging them in a line at the Li Family Ink Manor’s entrance, completely blocking the doorway.

The situation indicated they had come to make trouble.

“Master Shen, what is the meaning of this?” Zhenniang’s expression also darkened. She was puzzled – their previous cooperation had been going well, so why this sudden turn?

“This is my cousin Shixing’s ink evaluation. Miss Zhen, please take a look.” Shen Ziyan pulled out a paper from his clothes and thrust it before Zhenniang.

“Gold is easy to obtain, Li ink hard to find – present inferior to past, the name no longer fits its reputation.” Zhenniang never expected Shen Shixing’s evaluation would be like this. Her mind went blank, almost unable to think, while anger also rose.

She had never imagined Shen Shixing would give the Li family such an evaluation. This wouldn’t do – she wouldn’t accept it. Thinking this, Zhenniang took a deep breath: “Master Shen, isn’t this evaluation unfair?”

“Fair or not, Miss Zhen should look for herself before speaking.” Shen Ziyan said mockingly, then waved his hand. His servants opened the boxes, revealing the previously processed ink. However, now when the boxes opened, they released waves of musty odor detectable from far away. The ink sticks were covered in distinct white spots – truly black and white in stark contrast.

“Miss, for ink like this, such an evaluation was already lenient,” the scholar beside Shen Ziyan said calmly.

Seeing this ink, Zhenniang’s heart sank, knowing this was a serious problem.

At this point, the surrounding crowd erupted in discussion. Earlier rumors about the Li family using inferior materials had been disbelieved, but now it seemed there was truth to them.

Hearing the commotion, Old Master Li and others hurriedly came out from inside. Seeing the situation, their expressions changed – such an incident was terrible for the Li family.

“Master Shen, please be patient. Come sit inside, and we’ll immediately investigate the cause. If it’s the Li family’s fault, we’ll compensate double without argument.” Old Master Li remained experienced and calm, knowing in such situations, the buyer’s emotions must be soothed first.

Meanwhile, Li Jingfu waved his hand, preparing to have people carry the moldy ink inside – having it displayed here was too unsightly.

At this point, Zhenniang noticed Tian family members and other ink shop people mixed in the surrounding crowd, along with curious onlookers packed so tightly that not even water could flow through. Recalling the recent rumors, she knew that once this problematic ink entered the manor, many things would become difficult to explain.

“Father, let the ink remain at the entrance.” Zhenniang stopped her father. Then she bowed to the crowd: “Everyone, I’m sure many here understand ink. Such an incident has never occurred since Li ink’s establishment. Now that there’s a problem, we must investigate. Not only will the Li family investigate ourselves, but we also invite all ink experts present to help us investigate. Whoever discovers the cause, the Li family will reward with silver.”

Experience from her previous life taught her that hiding problems only made them more troublesome – only by making everything public could solutions be found. At this point, Zhenniang didn’t mind spending money.

Actually, with Zhenniang’s experience, she could tell at a glance that the materials were the problem.

In retrospect, this was her oversight. Although she had emphasized the importance of good materials from the start, because the Shen family’s ink was urgent, she hadn’t carefully inspected the materials before production began. Things had been going so smoothly that she had become somewhat complacent.

Now her insistence on public investigation and offering rewards demonstrated the Li family’s attitude. With such an attitude, people would trust the Li family more.