Just as Elder Tian was giving instructions to Tian Ronghua…
It was still evening, with the last rays of the setting sun in the west falling obliquely across the horse-head walls, making the fresh leaves of the climbing vines appear even more emerald green, creating a scene full of vitality.
At this moment, Old Madam Li stood beneath the entrance tower of the Li Ink Shop, holding the golden signboard declaring their tribute ink status.
The Li Ink Shop now has over a hundred years of history. Its entrance tower, built from rosewood, had weathered to a deeper shade than its original dark red, bearing the marks of wind and rain.
Yet this weathered appearance conveyed a sense of timelessness and permanence, bearing witness to the ebb and flow of human affairs, and the rise and fall of family fortunes.
Old Madam Li held the tribute ink signboard, her heart overflowing with emotion.
“Madam, Master, quick, hang up the tribute ink sign!” the shop workers called out excitedly. News of the Li family obtaining tribute ink rights had spread, filling the entire shop with jubilation.
Old Madam Li looked at the gathered workers and raised the signboard: “Over these years, Li Ink has weathered many storms, and experienced ups and downs. My greatest gratitude goes to all of you who remained faithful to Li Ink during difficult times, and during periods of decline, steadfastly supporting Li Ink with your dedication. Today’s victory belongs to everyone. I thank you all.”
With these words, Old Madam Li bowed to everyone while holding the tribute ink sign.
“Madam is too kind. We don’t deserve such thanks. Which of our families hasn’t received the Li family’s kindness? We all depend on the Li family for our livelihood. We’re all part of Li Ink – we’re just doing what we should,” several senior workers immediately responded with repeated bows.
“Very well. I won’t say more, but this sign cannot be hung today. If it’s to be hung, it must wait until after the ink competition ends,” Old Madam Li added.
Hearing this, everyone’s excitement diminished somewhat, replaced by traces of worry.
Obtaining tribute ink rights should have been a cause for celebration, but that imperial edict had landed the Li family with the task of competing against the Japanese.
Though no one believed Li Ink would lose to the Japanese, there was an old saying about fearing that one-in-ten-thousand chance. If something went wrong, the imperial family’s thoughts were impossible to predict.
Ah, even with tribute ink status, the Li family couldn’t find peace.
As the crowd dispersed, Zhenniang supported her grandfather while Seventh Grandmother entered the shop together. Manager Shao had already set up the incense altar and lit the incense, then placed the tribute ink sign and imperial edict as offerings.
Everyone then took their seats.
The various managers congratulated the family on obtaining tribute ink rights and then began discussing the upcoming ink competition.
Zhenniang produced a stack of documents about Nanjing’s Lian Jiying’s ink competitions with others, including many ink masters’ analyses of Japanese ink characteristics.
First, it was very light in texture, indicating fine soot and light glue. Second, it had a fragrant aroma, and when grinding produced no sound, with the ink liquid being exceptionally clear – all characteristics of superior ink. In writing, the ink’s luster was particularly striking, remaining stable even in humid conditions. Most remarkably, the writing remained legible at night without lamplight.
“Could it contain luminous pearl powder?” Upon hearing Zhenniang describe how the Japanese ink was visible at night, Seventh Grandmother asked.
“Grandmother, according to the documents, Nanjing’s Ink Affairs Bureau, along with our family’s, the Tian family’s, and the Cheng family’s ink masters in Nanjing jointly studied it. They found no luminous pearl powder in the ink. The night visibility likely comes from the thousand-year pine,” Zhenniang explained. The soot from thousand-year pine contained heavy oils. Combined with years of settling, it possessed an internal luminescence that emerged at night, naturally outlining the writing.
“But where can we find thousand-year pine?” Manager Shao asked anxiously.
“I’ve sent Zhengyan with two ink masters to search Huangshan. I refuse to believe there’s not a single thousand-year pine on that entire mountain,” Uncle Jingdong said with a stern face.
Hearing this, everyone frowned. Huangshan’s peaks were layered upon peaks, hiding countless ancient pines and strange rocks. Surely there were thousand-year pines, but the mountain was shrouded in rolling clouds, full of cliffs, and had tigers roaming about. Several uncles from the Li family’s seventh branch had died on Huangshan searching for rare pines.
Would this tragedy repeat itself?
“Let’s not rush. We still have two jars of five-hundred-year pine soot. We can try that first, and also announce rewards. There are many ink shops in Huizhou. Though some small shops aren’t well-known, they all have some history and each has its shop’s treasures. Let’s ask around first. If needed, the Li family will spare no expense, even if it means spending everything we have,” Old Madam Li said.
Hearing this, everyone nodded. Talk of searching Huangshan was just a consolation – the Li family had little time, and the mountain was vast. Who knew where to find thousand-year pines? Such things were more about luck than searching.
Zhenniang thought of the famous Welcome Pine of Huangshan from her future knowledge, which had a thousand years of history – though perhaps not yet at this time. But it must be at least seven or eight hundred years old. With such aged wood and her smoke-collection techniques, creating ink with thousand-year pine qualities wouldn’t be a problem. She had climbed Huangshan several times in her previous life and roughly knew the Welcome Pine’s location, making it much easier to find.
However, in the future, the Welcome Pine would become Huangshan’s symbol. If she were to harm it, wouldn’t she become Huangshan’s sinner? Honestly, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
She would need to consider this carefully over the next few days. Better to wait and see.
Just then, a worker came to report: “Elder Cheng Three has arrived.”
“Oh, quickly invite him in,” Old Madam Li said, and everyone went out to welcome him.
Elder Cheng Three hadn’t come alone but brought two workers pulling a cart carrying a stone mortar and pestle.
The mortar and pestle’s stone patterns matched perfectly, clearly cut from the same piece of stone.
“Brother Cheng, this is…?” Seeing the mortar and pestle, Manager Li felt a surge of excitement.
There were legends in Huizhou about this set of mortar and pestle.
It was said the Cheng family’s ancestors had obtained it from Mount Tai’s stone guardian, had it blessed by a high monk, and then fashioned it into this mortar and pestle. This led to the Cheng family’s famous Mysterious Prime Spirit Ink, said to ward off evil and protect homes when made with this mortar and pestle. The name “Mysterious Prime Spirit” came from this very quality.
Though the legend seemed mystical, the set’s status as a Cheng family heirloom was undisputed.
“They say a craftsman must first sharpen his tools. This set is indeed our family treasure. Ink ground with this mortar and pestle becomes more lustrous, producing ink that’s darker and brighter. I’m lending it to you for now. Consider it the Cheng family’s small contribution.” Elder Cheng Three said, then glared teasingly at Li Zhenniang: “Girl, don’t get any ideas about keeping your Elder Cheng’s treasure – you must return it after use.”
“Thank you, Elder Three. I promise to return it and won’t covet it,” Zhenniang understood Elder Cheng Three was joking and promised with a smile and raised hands.
In such circumstances, the Li family didn’t stand on ceremony, simply accepting it graciously.
“Ah, speaking of treasures, I once saw a glue-cooking pot in the Luo family, made from meteoric iron. The glue it produced was exceptionally clear, making ink like aged ink. Unfortunately, when the Luo family declined and the Tian family took over their shop, the pot was nowhere to be found. Its disappearance is truly regrettable,” Elder Cheng Three shook his head as he spoke.
“Elder Three, the pot has arrived.” Just then, a cheerful voice came from outside the shop – who else but Luo Wenqian?
Luo Wenqian and Luo Ping’an entered the Li shop, each holding one handle of a pot.
Seeing Luo Wenqian bringing in the pot, Elder Cheng Three’s eyes lit up. He hurried over, circling the pot while clicking his tongue: “Excellent, excellent! This is indeed the pot. You rascal, I asked you about this for so long, and you played deaf and dumb, didn’t you?”
“Elder Cheng Three, you wrong me. I truly didn’t know before. My Third Grand Uncle found it in the Luo family ancestral hall while managing the place,” Luo Wenqian protested with a smile.
“Hmph, hmph,” Elder Cheng Three snorted disapprovingly, becoming more childish with age.
Luo Wenqian maintained his relaxed smile. Whether he had not known before or was making excuses, no one cared.
Seeing the Cheng family and Luo Wenqian like this, Elder Cheng felt deeply moved. At this point, there was no need for polite words – he simply had people accept the items, feeling even more confident about the upcoming ink competition.
In short, the Li family wasn’t fighting alone.
Elder Li and Elder Cheng Three agreed to share a drink after the ink competition ended.
After Elder Cheng Three took his leave and Zhenniang saw him out, she returned to hear her grandfather saying to Luo Wenqian: “Wenqian, when you have time, ask Third Grand Uncle and Aunt from Luo Village to come by.”
“Yes, we agreed before that we’d set your wedding date after the tribute ink selection. We’re thinking of holding your wedding before the ink competition,” Old Madam Li added.
Standing outside, Zhenniang’s heart began racing at her grandfather’s words, feeling joy rise within her. She had expected this somewhat – they had agreed at the engagement to set the wedding date after the tribute ink matter was settled, so inviting Luo’s Third Grand Uncle and Aunt made sense.
But Seventh Grandmother’s words surprised her – marriage before the ink competition? That was too rushed, especially when she needed to prepare for the competition.
The doctor had forbidden her grandfather from handling ink, and after him, she was the most skilled in ink-making in the Li family. How could she marry at such a time? Surely it should wait until after the competition.
However, thinking carefully, Zhenniang understood her grandmother and grandfather’s intentions. Though they were confident about winning the ink competition, there was still that saying about fearing the one-in-ten-thousand chance. Grandfather and grandmother wanted her married before the competition so that if something went wrong, as a Luo family wife, she would be protected from any consequences.
Considering this, Zhenniang felt mixed emotions. She wanted to enter the room but knew that once the two elders had decided, she would have little say. She would need to discuss it with Wenqian.
With this thought, Zhenniang left the ink shop and stood under the locust tree not far from the entrance. Wenqian would pass by shortly, and she could ask his advice then – he was always full of clever ideas.
By now, the last rays of sunset had faded, leaving the sky a grayish white.
In the distance, Zhenniang saw Tian Ronghua approaching, carrying something.