“Zhenniang, who were you just talking to?” Madam Zhao emerged from the room at that moment. While combing her hair, she questioned Zhenniang, who was tending to the coal stove. She had heard voices from inside but couldn’t make out what was being said.
“It was sister-in-law’s mother who came by,” Zhenniang replied while fanning the stove, coughing a few times from the smoke.
“Madam Shen came? When did she arrive? It’s so early, and she left without even saying hello?” Upon hearing it was Madam Shen, Zhao stopped combing her hair and raised her voice.
“Yes, she was here when I woke up. She said she had matters to attend to at home, so she left,” Zhenniang answered.
“Hmph, no matter how urgent the matter, she could at least have said goodbye properly.” Madam Zhao’s face showed displeasure, but then she asked with curiosity, “Do you know why she came?”
“I heard that the oil press where Elder Brother used to work is being sold. Shen’s family’s two brothers want to take it over, but they don’t have enough money. Sister-in-law’s mother came to raise funds from sister-in-law, hoping Elder Brother would partner with her brothers to acquire the oil press,” Zhenniang shared what she had heard while talking with her mother.
“Partner in the oil press? Not a chance! Those two Shen brothers are cunning scoundrels. Your elder brother is too honest – he might end up counting money for those who cheat him. This absolutely cannot happen. I won’t agree,” Madam Zhao declared, as she was now the decision-maker in the family.
Zhenniang smiled, knowing her mother understood the situation perfectly.
“That’s true, but what if sister-in-law makes the request? What will Mother do then?” Zhenniang questioned. Her sister-in-law had shared both good times and bad with the Li family over the years. Even if she hadn’t contributed greatly, she had endured hardships with them. They couldn’t completely dismiss her face, and besides, Elder Brother was the one earning money now. If the sister-in-law made the request, the Mother would find it difficult to refuse outright.
“In that case, we might as well just lend money to the Shen family directly. We’ll put it under your sister-in-law’s name, and they can repay her later. Come to think of it, we gave such a modest bride price for your sister-in-law back then, only because your father had gambled away our fortune and we had no money. This can serve as some compensation for her. That’s better than getting tangled up with the Shen brothers in business.” Madam Zhao suggested after some thought.
This idea aligned perfectly with Zhenniang’s thoughts.
“Yes, Mother, do as you see fit.” Zhenniang nodded. The coal stove was now burning well, so she filled a copper kettle with water and placed it on the stove to boil.
“Hey, who are you looking for?” Just then, Madam Du’s voice came from outside the courtyard. Having just seen Madam Shen, she returned to find someone standing at the Li family’s gate.
Hearing voices outside, Zhenniang and Madam Zhao walked out together.
“Excuse me, is this Li Zhenniang’s home?” Outside stood a man in his forties, dressed like a steward from a wealthy household.
The three Li family members were puzzled to hear him asking specifically for Li Zhenniang, as she was just a young maiden. What business could he have with her?
“Yes, it is. I am Zhenniang’s mother. What business do you have with her?” Madam Zhao quickly responded.
“I am the steward from Eunuch Yan’s residence. My master would like to request Miss Li’s presence on a matter,” the steward replied quite courteously, showing none of the arrogance Zhenniang had expected from a eunuch’s household steward.
Then again, considering Eunuch Yan’s current circumstances, even the most arrogant person would know to be humble now.
“May I ask what business Eunuch Yan has with my daughter?” Hearing that Eunuch Yan wanted to see Zhenniang, Madam Zhao grew anxious and stood in front of her daughter.
Last night, Madam Zhao had heard from Madam Zheng about Eunuch Yan’s situation and knew he was in a precarious position. Now that he was requesting to see Zhenniang, she wouldn’t dare let her daughter go without knowing the reason.
“Please don’t worry, Madam Li. It’s regarding some medicinal ink matters that my master wishes to discuss with Miss Li. Originally, the eunuch wanted to come in person, but as he finds it inconvenient to go out these days, he sent me to extend the invitation,” the steward explained.
Hearing this, Zhenniang recalled what her aunt had told her mother last night about Miss Yan having some undisclosed ailment. Could this inquiry about medicinal ink be related to that? Her slight apprehension eased at this thought.
“Mother, since it’s about medicinal ink, I should go with Uncle Manager,” Zhenniang said to Madam Zhao. Although Eunuch Yan’s position was precarious, nothing had been decided yet. Even if he had been stripped of power, he would still have some loyal followers, so they couldn’t be discourteous in this situation.
Moreover, as an Ink Supervision Official, inquiring about medicinal ink was within his duties, and the Li family had no grounds for refusal.
Additionally, Zhenniang had her thoughts: Eunuch Yan’s fate wasn’t sealed yet, and if she could help a bit now, it could be considered a friendship formed in adversity. After all, they were both in the ink-making business, and it would be good to maintain some connection. Helping others might bring convenience to oneself in the future.
“Very well then.” Madam Zhao could only nod, unable to refuse. She then called to Madam Du, “Go to the workshop and get Dalang to accompany Zhenniang.”
Madam Zhao wasn’t comfortable letting Zhenniang go alone.
“No need, I’ll accompany Zhenniang,” Old Master Li stepped out at this moment.
“Father, your health?” While Madam Zhao was pleased to have her father-in-law step in, as he was certainly worldly-wise, she worried about his poor health.
“It’s fine, I’m not going to make ink – just accompanying Zhenniang for a visit and perhaps some tea,” Old Master Li said, then turned to the steward, “Would it be alright if I come along? I’ve been in the ink-making business for over twenty years, and I might know more about medicinal ink than Zhenniang.”
“That would be excellent! We wanted to invite Old Master Li, but hearing that you had sworn never to touch ink again in this lifetime, we didn’t want to pressure you,” the steward replied happily, knowing his master would be even more pleased to receive Old Master Li.
“Madam Li, please don’t worry. I brought a carriage, so it won’t tire the Old Master,” the steward added, addressing Madam Zhao.
“Very well then, thank you for your trouble, sir,” Madam Zhao replied. Then she instructed Zhenniang, “Take good care of your grandfather on the journey.”
“Yes,” Zhenniang nodded, then helped her grandfather into the waiting carriage, and they departed with the steward for the Yan residence.
The Yan residence was located by the river, next to Taibai Tower.
“Hearing of Jinhua Ferry, connecting east to Five Hundred Rapids,
One day I shall take your hand, and row into Xin’an.”
This was reportedly a poem left by Li Bai when he traveled from Jinhua along the Xin’an River into Huizhou, and Taibai Tower was named after him.
The carriage soon arrived at the Yan residence. Zhenniang helped her grandfather down, and they followed the steward inside.
Eunuch Yan appeared to be in his fifties, with a pale, beardless face and a somewhat gloomy expression – understandable, given his current circumstances.
“Old Master Li, Miss Li, I apologize for summoning you so abruptly. I wanted to inquire about the face sores that Miss Li treated for Zheng Sanniang recently. To be frank, my daughter has developed back sores. I purchased some medicinal ink from Li Family Ink Workshop some days ago, but it hasn’t been effective. Thus, I’ve invited you both here to ask if there might be any specialized medicinal ink for treating back sores?” After everyone was seated, Eunuch Yan got straight to the point, his eyes fixed intently on the Li family’s grandfather and granddaughter.
Zhenniang exchanged glances with her grandfather. Old Master Li frowned slightly, knowing he had no solution – Zhenniang’s improved medicinal ink formula was already the Li family’s best. Of course, Zhenniang knew that the Eight-Treasure Five-Gallbladder medicinal ink would be best for treating back sores.
However, those ingredients were too expensive for the Li family, though not beyond Eunuch Yan’s means.
“Well… what do Miss Yan’s back sores look like?” Zhenniang asked, not daring to make assumptions without seeing the condition.
“Qian Ma, please take Miss Li to see the young miss and examine her condition,” Eunuch Yan instructed an attending elderly maid.
“Yes,” Qian Ma responded, then turned to Zhenniang, “This way, Miss Li.”
After Zhenniang curtsied, she followed Qian Ma out of the room.