At the Li family ink workshop.
All the workshop managers had gathered in the main hall, with a heavy atmosphere hanging over them. The only topic of discussion was the Tian family’s requisition of pine wood.
“In any case, we absolutely cannot hand over the pine wood. Otherwise, I would shame the Li family descendants,” Li Jingdong said coldly from his wheelchair, surveying everyone in the room.
On this point, he would not compromise.
“Elder Jingdong, if we don’t hand over the pine wood, what shall we do when officials come to close the workshop?” Manager Shao met Li Jingdong’s gaze. There was one thing he didn’t mention—by the time the workshop was closed, the Li family wouldn’t be able to protect the pine wood anyway.
“Then we’ll pay with lives. Haven’t enough Li family descendants already died and bled for ink-making? If someone thinks that’s not enough, what’s wrong with adding my life, Li Jingdong’s, to the count?” Li Jingdong gritted his teeth, pounding the table as he spoke coldly.
“Elder Jingdong, why torture yourself this way? As long as the mountain remains green, there will always be wood for burning,” Manager Shao advised earnestly.
“There’s nothing to discuss. This is my stance. If Manager Shao disagrees, then I’ll move this batch of pine wood away. Let the Tian family come after me—I’ll be the one to go to prison. From then on, the Li family’s ninth branch will have nothing to do with the workshop,” Li Jingdong said firmly, not hesitating to take a stance of severance.
He had never respected Manager Shao.
The master craftsmen exchanged glances, shaking their heads and sighing.
Everyone had seen the years of discord between Manager Shao and Li Jingdong, and now Elder Jingdong’s words essentially suggested starting a separate operation.
At this point, Master Qin, the workshop’s head craftsman, cleared his throat and turned to Manager Shao: “Chief Manager, Elder Jingdong, I think we should let Old Madam decide this matter.”
Manager Shao looked at Li Jingdong, who maintained his cold expression. Finally, Manager Shao had to nod: “Very well, let’s all go seek an audience with Old Madam.”
Although Old Madam Li had awakened recently, her health had been fluctuating. Truthfully, they shouldn’t disturb her unless necessary.
But now, the Li family workshop truly faced a matter of survival. They had no choice but to seek Old Madam’s decision.
So everyone rose and left the workshop, walking to the Li residence gate to request an audience with Old Madam Li.
Soon, the doorkeeper led them inside, where they were received by Chen Shi, the First Madam of the Li household.
Chen Shi’s expression was troubled, her eyes swollen and red, her appearance notably haggard.
“Managers, Old Madam can no longer make any decisions. Yesterday, some thoughtless servant girl told her about the Tian family’s pine wood requisition. Old Madam became agitated and fell ill again. She’s now unconscious. The physician says she’s had a stroke, and given her previous illness, it won’t be easily cured. Even if she recovers, she likely won’t be able to manage affairs anymore,” Chen Shi said with reddened eyes.
“How could this happen?” Chen Shi’s words startled everyone. They’d heard she was better just days ago, but unexpectedly her condition had deteriorated so severely.
“May we visit Old Madam?” Master Qin asked.
“Please follow me,” Chen Shi gestured to everyone, then led them to the main room.
The room was heavy with the smell of medicine. Old Madam lay on the bed, her mouth twisted, eyes tightly shut. The situation looked very grave.
“When will Old Madam wake up?” Li Jingdong asked the physician nearby.
“Hard to say. Could be in ten days, could be months, or she might remain like this until death,” the physician said grimly.
Seeing this situation, the workshop masters and managers all sighed and shook their heads.
“Let’s go out, we shouldn’t disturb Old Madam further,” Chen Shi said chokingly.
“Yes, First Madam,” they responded and filed out one after another.
“First Madam, forgive my presumption, but did Old Madam leave any instructions? Who will manage the workshop going forward?” Master Qin asked. As an invited master from outside, his somewhat detached position made him most suitable to ask this question.
Upon Master Qin’s question, both Manager Shao and Li Jingdong tensed noticeably. This was also their greatest concern.
“Before falling ill, Old Madam didn’t leave any instructions, but a few days ago, when she first woke up, she did write a will that includes arrangements for the workshop. Though Old Madam still lives, she clearly can’t manage affairs anymore. Perhaps we should proceed according to her will,” Chen Shi said.
“That would be appropriate. Please announce Old Madam’s wishes,” Master Qin and the others immediately said. Since Old Madam hadn’t passed away, “will” didn’t sound right, so they referred to it as Old Madam’s words.
“Oh yes, Manager Shao, please go fetch Eighth Master and Miss Zhenniang. Old Madam’s letter contains matters concerning them,” Chen Shi said to Manager Shao.
“Yes, First Madam, I’ll go right away,” Manager Shao responded and hurriedly left.
. . .
At the city gate alcove.
Outside was bright sunshine, but the gate alcove remained dim, with only a sliver of sunlight penetrating through the cracks. In the small courtyard, it formed a beam of light where thin layers of dust danced in the air like an old photograph.
Zhenniang crouched beside a small stove, fanning it as she boiled medicine.
Yesterday they had planned to visit the pine forest today to check if the rotted pine roots had formed pine resin oil, but when morning came, neither Zhenniang nor her grandfather made the trip.
The old shopkeeper’s illness always worsened in spring, and last night, Old Shopkeeper Li had coughed all night. When he woke in the morning, his complexion was very poor, making it impossible to go out.
Zhenniang had gone to the medicine hall early to get prescriptions, and now she was brewing medicine for her grandfather.
Just then, someone knocked on the door.
“Zhenniang, you finish brewing the medicine for your grandfather. I’ll get the door,” Madam Wu said to Zhenniang.
Madam Zhao had gone to wash clothes by the river, Madam Du was at the coal stove workshop, and Young Master Xi had taken little Xiaoguan off somewhere. Only Madam Wu, Old Shopkeeper Li, and Zhenniang were home.
“Mm,” Zhenniang responded, using a cloth to grip the medicine pot handle and pour the liquid into a bowl, then carried the medicine into her grandfather’s room.
Madam Wu tottered on her bound feet to open the door, only to find Manager Shao from the Li family workshop.
The saying goes that when enemies meet, their eyes turn red with anger.
Of course, this was something of an exaggeration, but Madam Wu harbored much resentment toward Manager Shao.
Years ago, when Old Shopkeeper Li was forced to leave the ink business, Manager Shao played a significant role in manipulating the situation.
Therefore, Madam Wu wouldn’t show Manager Shao any courtesy.
“Greetings to Eighth Madam,” Manager Shao bowed.
No matter how poor the Li family’s eighth branch had become, they were still the eighth branch. Though Manager Shao represented Seventh Madam in managing the workshop, he was ultimately still the seventh branch’s steward—a servant—and must pay his respects.
“I don’t deserve Manager Shao’s greeting. What brings Manager Shao here so early?” Madam Wu said with barely concealed sarcasm.
Old Shopkeeper Li had just finished his medicine and, hearing voices in the courtyard, had Zhenniang help him out. He caught Madam Wu’s words.
Hearing her grandmother’s tone, Zhenniang guessed that past events must have been quite ugly. Otherwise, given her grandmother’s temperament, she wouldn’t speak this way.
Apart from being protective and occasionally clashing with her mother, Madam Wu was usually gentle with others, at most occasionally grumbling. She wouldn’t normally make things difficult for people.
However, Zhenniang suspected Manager Shao’s early morning visit was likely related to yesterday’s pine wood requisition.
Sure enough, Manager Shao bowed and said: “Something has happened at the workshop. We’d like to request Eighth Master’s presence.”
“Hah, now you know to seek out Eighth Master when there’s trouble? What was he in your eyes back then? I’ll tell you—it’s too late. Eighth Master won’t get involved in workshop matters,” Madam Wu said angrily.
During the previous pine plague incident, when her husband went to the workshop, though Madam Wu wasn’t happy about it, she knew that once they learned of such matters, they couldn’t stand idly by. She had accepted it as inevitable, like rain falling or a daughter marrying.
But this time, though Manager Shao hadn’t specified the matter, yesterday’s news of the Tian family demanding pine wood from the Li family had spread throughout the county.
This pine wood matter involved the deceased Ninth Uncle—how could they get involved? They might invite trouble. Since the Li family’s eighth branch had already withdrawn from the workshop, why seek out such discomfort? Thus, she immediately rejected him.
“Enough, old woman. How can you leave Manager Shao standing at the door? What kind of manners are those?” Old Shopkeeper Li intervened, inviting Manager Shao inside, while Zhenniang served tea.
Both parties sat down.
“Manager Shao, I truly cannot get involved in workshop matters, so I won’t go. However, you can tell Old Madam that I have some ideas about raw materials. After I verify them in a few days, I’ll discuss them with Seventh Madam. Perhaps some matters can be delayed for a few days,” Old Shopkeeper Li said between coughs.
He said this thinking of what Zhenniang had mentioned yesterday—if all those years of rotted pine roots contained pine resin oil, then raw materials wouldn’t be scarce, and the Li family could handle matters more flexibly.
“Ah, Old Shopkeeper, you don’t know—if Old Madam were well, I wouldn’t trouble you. To be honest, Old Madam is now unconscious,” Manager Shao said with a pained expression.
Zhenniang, listening from the side, was shocked and forgot proper etiquette, quickly asking: “How can this be? Wasn’t Seventh Grandmother awake and fine?”
“It was this pine wood requisition matter that caused it. Old Madam was already ill—how could she handle such news? She became agitated and fell ill again. The physician says that even if Old Madam wakes again, she won’t be able to manage affairs. We dare not announce this publicly, fearing it would cause turmoil in the workshop. But the pine wood requisition matter can’t wait. Fortunately, First Madam says Old Madam left a will earlier. Given current circumstances, the workshop cannot go a day without leadership, so we have no choice but to announce the will. That’s why I came to invite Old Shopkeeper and Zhenniang,” Manager Shao said anxiously.
“Hmph, you’re all the same. When we’re in the way, you kick us aside; when you need us, you come running. Now,” Madam Wu muttered from the side.
“If that’s the case, I’ll go with you, but what does this have to do with Zhenniang? Why request her presence?” Old Shopkeeper Li asked.
“I don’t know either—it was First Madam’s instruction. But Old Madam had taken quite a liking to Miss Zhenniang recently, so perhaps she left some words for her,” Manager Shao said.
“That makes sense,” Old Shopkeeper Li nodded. Since last year, his seventh sister-in-law had paid special attention to Zhenniang, so leaving her some words would be reasonable.
So Zhenniang helped Old Shopkeeper Li follow Manager Shao out the door.