Zhen Niang had never imagined Ninth Uncle would react this way. Now, as he stood in the pine grove, he was practically wailing, his voice filled with utter desolation.
It reminded Zhen Niang of the time before her transmigration, when due to the decline of the ink industry, her grandfather had to take down the sign of the Li Family Ink Workshop. Back then, her grandfather had hidden alone in his room, his suppressed crying identical to Ninth Uncle’s current state.
Zhen Niang knew better than to disturb Ninth Uncle at this moment, so she stood silently to the side.
In her heart, she thought about how this pine plague would likely prevent Li Ink from competing for the tribute ink position this year. After all, with the pine grove affected, the raw materials would be severely depleted, and Li Ink would hardly be able to produce the required quantity of tribute ink.
“Let’s go back,” Ninth Uncle sighed heavily toward the sky. Though he had lived most of his life and experienced countless setbacks, while the pine plague was hateful, they still needed to stay strong.
“Mm,” Zhen Niang responded, helping Ninth Uncle down the mountain.
They made their way back to the city together.
“Zhen Niang, after you get home, ask your grandfather to come to the ink workshop,” Ninth Uncle said as they entered the city.
“Yes, Ninth Uncle,” Zhen Niang nodded.
At this moment, Old Shopkeeper Li was at home, anxious as an ant on a hot pan. Having finally waited for Zhen Niang to return home, he immediately asked, “How is it? Is it the pine plague?”
“Yes,” Zhen Niang nodded, then added, “Grandfather, Ninth Uncle wants you to return to the ink workshop.”
“Alright, I’ll go right now,” Old Shopkeeper Li said without hesitation and set off immediately.
Madam Wu hurriedly entered the room, took out a thick jacket, and handed it to Zhen Niang: “Zhen Niang, go with your grandfather. It’s already dusk outside, and who knows when you’ll return.”
“Alright.” Zhen Niang took the clothes, nodded firmly, and hurried after her grandfather’s footsteps out the door.
Grandfather and granddaughter walked quickly, and before long, they arrived at the Li residence.
Ninth Uncle had already arrived ahead of them.
“Eighth Brother, Li Ink has once again reached a critical moment of survival. Let’s put aside everything from the past. This time, I ask for Eighth Brother’s help in getting through this crisis,” Seventh Madam said directly upon seeing Old Shopkeeper Li enter.
“Seventh Sister-in-law is too polite. I will do everything in my power. The urgent matter now is first to keep the pine plague situation hidden. Before other ink workshops react, we need to purchase pine wood from other regions. Secondly, we must withdraw from this year’s tribute ink competition,” Old Shopkeeper Li said, with somewhat of a feeling of cutting off one’s arm to survive.
“Withdraw from the tribute ink competition? Impossible! Opportunities once lost cannot be regained. This time, with the Luo family’s downfall, it’s the perfect timing for our Li family, and with Official Yan’s help, this is a once-in-a-millennium opportunity. If we withdraw now, it will surely fall to the Cheng family. The Cheng family’s strength is now no less than our Li family’s. If they get the tribute ink opportunity, they will surely flourish. At that time, it will be nearly impossible for Li Ink to take back the tribute ink manufacturing from Cheng Ink,” Li Jinhe frowned and argued.
“No, we must give up. Firstly, whether it was the Tian family or the Cheng family operating behind the scenes, they exaggerated the matter of Zhen Niang saving Miss Yan. Historically, the Ink Supervisory Official and the Ink Affairs Official have always maintained a façade of harmony while harboring internal conflicts. This would surely provoke opposition from the Ink Affairs Officials, bringing no benefit to our Li family. Secondly, with this pine plague, the workshop can only rely on purchased pine wood to sustain itself, which will inevitably increase costs. Moreover, once news of the pine plague spreads, pine prices will surely soar, and some merchants will hoard pine materials to wait for better prices. At such a time, if we miss the delivery deadline for tribute ink, it would be disastrous,” Old Shopkeeper Li explained.
Li Jinhe fell silent, knowing his eighth brother spoke reasonably. But he gritted his teeth, unwilling to accept it.
“Good, we’ll proceed as Old Eight suggests,” Old Madam Li made the final decision. She then turned to Li Jinhe and said, “Ninth Brother, the task of purchasing pine wood falls to you.”
“Very well, Seventh Sister-in-law, rest assured,” Li Jinhe nodded. At this point, this was all they could do.
So it was decided. Seventh Old Madam would oversee the ink workshop, as once news of the pine plague spread, who knew what chaos would ensue in Huizhou’s ink-making industry.
The three elders finished their discussion inside and all breathed a sigh of relief.
Meanwhile, Zhen Niang was in the outer hall, chatting with several aunts and sisters-in-law.
“Zhen Niang, your grandfather has been inside with Seventh Grandmother and Ninth Uncle for quite a while. What are they discussing?” Third Madam Tian of the seventh branch raised her eyebrows and asked Zhen Niang.
This Madam Tian was Tian Benchang’s aunt, barely thirty years old now, and well-maintained, looking quite young, though as a widow, she wore only plain colors.
Zhen Niang remembered from the family genealogy that her final fate was to return to the Tian family, and not long after, she passed away. Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
However, with Madam Tian asking about this now, she couldn’t say much, especially since the Tian family had also entered the ink-making business. The pine plague matter shouldn’t be revealed through her, so she said, “Aunt Tian, I don’t know.”
“How could you not know? I heard you went out of the city with your Ninth Uncle this afternoon?” Madam Tian continued to probe.
Zhen Niang felt somewhat displeased; it wasn’t proper for Third Aunt to question a junior like herself about the elders’ affairs.
However, since she rarely came to the main family branch, and the Third Aunt was an elder of the main branch, she couldn’t rebuke her.
“Third Sister-in-law, what are you questioning Zhen Niang about these matters for? She’s just a junior. When Mother-in-law comes out, you can ask her directly,” Madam Huang, who had been focused on carving an ink-making tool, raised her head and said calmly.
Madam Huang was the Second Aunt of the seventh branch, of the Huang family of Huizhou, with quite impressive woodcarving skills.
Madam Huang’s words left Madam Tian speechless. She awkwardly sipped her tea and said, “I was just asking casually.”
The atmosphere in the room became somewhat awkward.
Fortunately, the three elders emerged from the study after finishing their discussion. Shortly after, Old Shopkeeper Li bid farewell and left with Zhen Niang.
It was already late, and being the beginning of the month, there were no stars or moon in the sky. Zhen Niang carried a lantern, carefully supporting her grandfather as they walked.
“Grandfather, how was the matter resolved?” Zhen Niang asked curiously.
“First, we’ll purchase pine wood from outside before news of the pine plague spreads, and we’ll withdraw from the tribute ink competition. Also, don’t mention the pine plague to anyone,” Old Shopkeeper Li instructed. Each day they could keep it secret was another day’s advantage for the Li family to purchase pine wood.
“I understand,” Zhen Niang nodded, it was roughly as she had expected. Li Ink indeed withdrew from the tribute ink competition.
Soon, grandfather and granddaughter returned home.
The night passed without incident.
The next day, Ninth Uncle took two workshop managers from the ink shop out of the city to handle the pine wood procurement.
Although the threat of the pine plague loomed, it didn’t affect Zhen Niang’s small-scale operations, as she mainly used tung oil to make smoke. Therefore, early the next morning, she still carried her wooden box to Four Treasures Street to sell her ink.
Indeed, Li Ink’s withdrawal from the tribute ink competition caused quite a stir. People couldn’t understand why, and ultimately attributed it to the impact of the recent Sun family formula theft case.
Of course, some suspected there might be other reasons.
“Miss Li, why did your Seventh Grandmother suddenly announce withdrawal from the tribute ink competition? This year was the most favorable for Li Ink,” Old Third Master Cheng strolled over while Zhen Niang was setting up her stall, casually examining her ink while asking.
“Third Grandfather, how could I, a junior, know the thoughts of my Seventh Grandmother?” Zhen Niang said with a smile.
“Don’t know?” Old Third Master Cheng stroked his beard.
“Don’t know,” Zhen Niang said, then added mysteriously, “However…”
“However what?” Old Third Master Cheng’s eyes lit up as he quickly asked.
“Isn’t it all because of what you all did, Grandfather Cheng?” Zhen Niang spoke with a knowing look.
“What did I do?” Old Third Master Cheng was puzzled.
“Currently, there are rumors that because I saved Miss Yan, Li Ink has already been predetermined to manufacture tribute ink, and all other families are just going through the motions. Grandfather Cheng, surely you know about this?” Zhen Niang countered.
“Of course I know, but what does that have to do with me?” Old Third Master Cheng asked with an innocent expression.
“Wasn’t it your Cheng family who deliberately spread and exaggerated this matter?” Zhen Niang questioned.
“There’s no such thing,” Old Third Master Cheng denied outright, though his old face couldn’t help but redden. While the Tian family had started the rumors, the Cheng family had certainly helped fan the flames.
“Tsk, tsk,” Zhen Niang clicked her tongue teasingly, angering Old Third Master Cheng so much that he stormed back to the Cheng Ink Gallery with a flick of his sleeve.
“Third Uncle, how was it? What did that Li girl say?” In the ink gallery, Young Master Cheng, Cheng Dayue, asked.
“That crafty girl! She’s too clever, and tight-lipped too. Not only did we learn nothing, but she even managed to mock me a few times,” Old Third Master Cheng said irritably. Then he asked, “Dayue, how’s the investigation I asked you to conduct going?”
“Well, there was nothing unusual with the Li family before, but the day before yesterday, Miss Li suddenly accompanied Ninth Master Li out of the city to the pine grove. After returning, that night, Eighth Master Li and Ninth Master Li both appeared at the ink workshop, discussing something unknown. Yesterday morning, Ninth Master Li took two workshop managers out of the city by boat,” Cheng Dayue reported.
“They went to the pine grove? Go find someone to inquire about what happened at the pine grove. Also, have someone follow Ninth Master Li to see what he’s doing. I have a feeling something big has happened, otherwise, the Li family wouldn’t give up this rare opportunity,” Old Third Master Cheng instructed.
“Alright, I’ll go inquire further,” Cheng Dayue nodded and hurriedly left.
…
“Your Li family has discovered the pine plague.”
Zhen Niang was sitting on her small stool, looking at the Chen family ink gallery across the street, feeling somewhat pleased about making Old Master Cheng uncomfortable. Unexpectedly, a voice from behind startled her so much that she nearly fell to the ground.
Quickly turning around, she saw Luo Wenqian sitting under the old locust tree behind her, looking disheveled, his face and forehead covered in bruises, appearing extremely down and out. Such behavior as sitting on the ground would have been unthinkable for him before, but now seemed completely natural.
Though his expression remained calm, his eyes occasionally revealed flashes of indignation, self-mockery, and unwillingness, showing that his mood wasn’t as composed as his surface appearance suggested.
“What are you saying? I don’t understand. What pine plague?” Zhen Niang took a deep breath before pretending to be puzzled.
“Heh, no need to hide it. I guessed about the pine plague a month ago,” Luo Wenqian said, squinting his eyes.
“Then why didn’t you say anything?” Zhen Niang asked angrily. If they had known a month ago, the pine plague might still have been salvageable.
“Why should I say anything?” Luo Wenqian suddenly snarled: “Your Li family, the Cheng family, and the Tian family are all the same kind. You couldn’t wait for my Luo family to fall, eager to divide our legacy. Now you’ve got your wish, but heaven has eyes! Even though our Luo family has fallen, you won’t gain any advantage from it.”
Luo Wenqian spoke through gritted teeth.
Zhen Niang wasn’t one to show weakness either and coldly snorted: “Don’t act so innocent. Over the years, hasn’t your Luo family used your court connections to suppress our Li family enough? Moreover, when our Li family’s tribute ink had problems back then, if it wasn’t your Luo family working behind the scenes, I’d give you my head.”
Back then, when the Li family’s tribute ink had issues, they naturally lost their tribute ink qualification, and the Luo family ultimately benefited. But at that time, the Pan family was also a major ink producer, and the Cheng family was an emerging force. Why did the unremarkable Luo Ink suddenly rise to prominence? Therefore, her grandfather believed the Luo Ink was most suspicious.
“When you want to condemn someone, you’ll find any excuse,” Luo Wenqian snorted coldly.
“I think some people just don’t dare to admit it,” Zhen Niang refused to back down.