“Grandfather, the Tian family schemed well,” Zhen Niang said after returning home, telling her grandfather about how the tribute ink rights ultimately fell to the Tian family.
“Everyone underestimated the Tian family. But this might be for the best. Over these years, though the Luo family monopolized the tribute ink rights, they conducted business with principles. When they had meat to eat, they left soup for others. After this became customary, some ink workshops lost their drive for improvement, content with just getting by. Even the Cheng family has been indulging in comfort these years, forgetting that the marketplace is like a battlefield and that even a lion uses all its strength to catch a rabbit. This lesson should make the Cheng family reflect deeply. I look forward to seeing how they perform in the future,” Old Master Li said.
“But the Tian family acts too exclusively. Now that they control the tribute ink rights, I fear everyone else’s days ahead will be difficult,” Zhen Niang frowned. The Luo family’s approach was to keep meat for themselves while leaving soup for others, thus maintaining their position as the elder brother of the ink industry, with smaller workshops following along comfortably.
This approach of sharing benefits kept the entire industry stable, but as Grandfather said, because life was too comfortable, most ink workshops developed a kind of laziness, just getting by without ambition, which wasn’t good for the industry’s long-term development.
As for the Tian family’s approach, though not entirely clear yet, they had started as timber merchants, swallowing up several Huizhou timber merchants to build their current wealth. Combined with their scheming in this tribute ink competition, their methods were both ruthless and poisonous.
Zhen Niang was certain the Tian family would eat alone, surely keeping all the food in their bowl without leaving a bite for others. To achieve this, the Tian family would inevitably squeeze other ink workshops’ resources desperately, making survival extremely difficult for other workshops. Those who couldn’t endure would have no choice but to close down.
“Difficult days must still be lived through. Great waves sift the sand, leaving only gold behind,” Old Master Li said.
Yes, that’s right, steel is tempered through hundreds of refinements, Zhen Niang thought, hearing her grandfather’s words.
The next day marked the funeral procession for the Ninth Uncle of the Li family’s ninth branch, after seven days of mourning.
Zhen Niang’s family naturally had to join the funeral procession.
According to Huizhou funeral customs, during the procession, the coffin must be carried around places the deceased frequently visited before heading to the mountains. This was to help the deceased’s soul remember where they had lived, so they wouldn’t lose their way home when returning.
At this time, the funeral procession was passing through Four Treasures Street.
Shop owners stood at their doors watching, and some merchants who had relationships with Li Ink joined the procession to accompany Ninth Master Li on his final journey.
Just then, the sound of firecrackers came from not far ahead.
“What’s happening? Is there a conflict?” Madam Zhao asked dubiously from within the procession.
“I’ll go check,” Li Dalang said, returning shortly: “It’s not a conflict. The Tian family is setting off firecrackers, partly to celebrate getting the tribute ink rights, and partly to draw attention to their recruitment notice at Tian Ink Pavilion.”
As they spoke, the procession passed by Tian Ink Pavilion.
Indeed, there was now a huge crowd at the entrance of Tian Ink Pavilion.
Zhen Niang could see the characters on the notice from afar and drew in a sharp breath. The top line read: Tian family offers ten thousand in silver to recruit ink workshop master craftsmen.
Converting this wealth to modern-day salary, if not a million per year, it would be at least seven or eight hundred thousand.
In this Ming Dynasty era, this was a salary that made people look up in awe.
Of course, master craftsmen weren’t so easy to recruit. An ink workshop master craftsman needed to understand the entire ink-making process, have the ability to develop ink formulas and understand business operations. Such talented individuals generally had their ink workshops and wouldn’t work for others.
One could say that the Tian family’s so-called ten thousand in silver for master craftsmen was just a way to attract attention.
But the offers below of hundreds or thousands in silver for smoke masters, ink masters, carving masters, ink mold masters, and glue brewing masters were very attractive.
Looking at this, Zhen Niang couldn’t help but worry about Li’s family’s ink workshop. Now, with Ninth Uncle newly deceased and Seventh Grandmother ill in bed, the Li family workshop would surely face scattered morale. With the Tian family’s move, the Li family would inevitably face talent loss.
Of course, fortune lies within misfortune, and misfortune lurks within fortune. While the Li family workshop faced the crisis of proliferating factions, cutting off an arm to survive might not be impossible. Everything would depend on Seventh Grandmother’s methods going forward.
In any case, the chaos in Huizhou’s ink industry had begun.
After the funeral, Zhen Niang returned home and told her grandfather about the Tian family’s moves.
“When it rains, it pours, and when a woman wants to marry, let them be. The Li family has always treated workers well, with nothing to be ashamed of. As I said before, great waves sift the sand, leaving only gold behind,” Old Master Li said with a stern face.
“Yes,” Zhen Niang nodded.
As they were talking, someone knocked on the courtyard gate, which was slightly ajar. A woman adorned with pearls and kingfisher feathers leaned half her body in: “Is Miss Jingfu home?”
“Yes, who is it?” Madam Zhao was dusting off her clothes when she heard the knock and walked out to respond.
“It’s me, Auntie Spring,” the woman entered with a smile.
“Oh, it’s Auntie Spring! Quick, quick, come inside,” Madam Zhao’s face lit up with a bright smile when she saw the woman’s face.
Auntie Spring was an official matchmaker, specializing in arranging marriages.
The Li family only had Zhen Niang of marriageable age, so when a matchmaker came at this time, it was certainly for Zhen Niang. Since last year, after the Tian family had branded Zhen Niang as bringing misfortune to husbands and broke off the engagement, no matchmaker had come to their door.
Now Zhen Niang was already fifteen, without anyone showing interest. Though Madam Zhao put on a tough face saying it didn’t matter, that others couldn’t recognize jade set in gold, she was actually extremely anxious inside. Now that a matchmaker had finally come, how could Madam Zhao not be delighted? She hurriedly and warmly invited Auntie Spring inside.
Madam Du served tea and snacks, and even Grandmother Wu, who usually didn’t involve herself in affairs, came over to greet Auntie Spring.
“Auntie Spring, what brings you here today?” After everyone was seated, Madam Zhao asked. Though it was a pretense, maintaining proper reserve was necessary. They couldn’t let others look down on their daughter.
“What else would bring me to your door? Naturally, I’m here to arrange a match for your Zhen Niang,” Auntie Spring said with a smile.
“Which family’s young man might it be?” Madam Zhao asked.
At this point, Zhen Niang, who had been chatting with her grandfather, lost interest in their conversation. She brought a small stool to sit outside the room, pricking up her ears to listen to the voices from the main hall.
Hearing Madam Zhao’s question, Auntie Spring pondered for a moment before saying: “The Tian family, their eldest young master Tian Benchang.”
Listening outside, Zhen Niang felt somewhat dazed—how had things come full circle back to this? She was about to jump up, but Old Master Li held her shoulder: “Trust your mother, let her handle it.”
“Oh,” Zhen Niang nodded, but her heart was still suspended, and her ears pressed closer to the door crack, afraid to miss a single word.
“Auntie Spring, are you joking?” At this point, hearing Auntie Spring’s words, Madam Zhao stood up abruptly, her eyes full of questioning.
“Miss Jingfu, don’t be agitated. Listen to this old woman. The Tian family master personally sought me out for this. As they say, it’s better to resolve grudges than maintain them. I know your two families had unpleasantness over this marriage before, but wasn’t that just a misunderstanding? The Tian madam acted improperly, but we can understand—what woman could calmly accept the pain of losing a child? Right?” Auntie Spring spoke, then looked at Madam Zhao, wanting to see her response.
Madam Zhao said nothing at this point, just staring at Auntie Spring.
Auntie Spring had to continue: “I know you’re angry, but you must think of your Zhen Niang. In your Zhen Niang’s current situation, besides the Tian family, what good family would come to propose marriage? Does Miss Jingfu want to watch her fine daughter age into someone like Zheng San Niang? As for the Tian family, aside from that previous grudge, you know their foundation. Young Master Tian is the eldest legitimate son, distinguished in appearance, and is already helping Master Tian manage affairs. I hear Master Tian plans to hand over the ink workshop’s management to Young Master Tian in the future. Your Zhen Niang has excellent ink-making skills, so entering the Tian family would be perfect. Look, where else could you find such a good opportunity? Once this chance passes, it won’t come again.”
Outside the room, Zhen Niang pursed her lips. The reason the Tian family came to propose marriage again was probably precisely for her ink-making skills.
“Auntie Spring, I, Zhao Qiuju, am a hunter’s daughter without much worldly knowledge, but I know that different feet need different shoes, and I know a good horse won’t eat old grass. As for my Zhen Niang’s current situation, everything is thanks to the Tian family. I can’t possibly let my daughter be belittled and still eagerly send her into their hands. There are no mothers in this world who would do such a thing.”
Zhao paused, then continued: “Auntie Spring, I’m very happy you could come today, but if it’s just the Tian family, please don’t speak further. I don’t want to make things ugly by tearing off faces.”
Madam Zhao’s words left no room for negotiation; even Auntie Spring’s silver tongue had no use here.
“You don’t know what’s good for you,” Auntie Spring said hatefully, knowing this marriage arrangement couldn’t be made. She didn’t stay long, stuffing a few pieces of snacks into her pocket before taking her leave with heavy steps.
“Take care,” Madam Zhao still courteously saw Auntie Spring to the door. Though today’s talk had fallen through and Auntie Spring was unlikely to return, maintaining a good attitude meant keeping a path open.
Though Madam Zhao couldn’t bear to be slighted, she had to endure what needed to be endured.
Only then did Zhen Niang feel relieved.
“The most gratifying thing your grandfather has done in this life was arranging your father’s marriage to your mother,” Old Master Li said.
Madam Zhao’s natal family was in Wuyuan. Years ago, when Old Master Li went to Wuyuan looking for pine trees, he encountered wolves in the mountains and was saved by Zhao’s father. Later, seeing how efficiently Zhao handled matters, he arranged this marriage. Over these years, with his son being unremarkable, the whole family had relied on Zhao to support them—no easy task.
“That’s why they say ginger gets spicier with age,” Zhen Niang replied with a grin.
“Is that how you talk to your grandfather?” Madam Zhao had just come over and heard Old Master Li’s words, her face slightly reddening. Then hearing Zhen Niang’s response, she scolded with mock anger.
Zhen Niang just smiled, while Old Master Li turned and went back to his room.
“I refused this marriage proposal. Do you blame mother?” Madam Zhao asked, holding Zhen Niang’s hand, then explained: “That day, our conflict with the Tian family was too great. Both families harbor barriers in their hearts. If you entered the Tian family, you wouldn’t be happy.”
“Mother doesn’t need to explain. I understand. If Mother had agreed, then I would blame you,” Zhen Niang said.
“That’s good then. From tomorrow on, make more ink and earn more money. If we don’t rely on others, we won’t need to care about their looks,” Madam Zhao said. In her heart, she thought about letting Zhen Niang earn more money these two years. If the situation remained the same after that, she could go back to Wuyuan to look around—finding a good family there might not be impossible. With Zhen Niang’s several uncles in Wuyuan, they wouldn’t need to worry about her being bullied.
Zhen Niang naturally nodded.