Some problems appear simple, but without finding the key, they become incredibly difficult to solve.

Master Qin was eager to try, so he asked Zheng Fuli to prepare the materials.

Zheng Fuli acknowledged and hurried away, though not before casting a complicated glance at Zhen Niang. Miss Zhen’s understanding of ink-making principles surpassed his own, which left him somewhat discontented.

However, for a woman to achieve such mastery in ink crafting required untold hardships that outsiders couldn’t comprehend. On this point alone, Zheng Fuli had to admit his respect.

After Zheng Fuli left, the work continued. The ink mixing with glue was complete, and the next steps involved pounding and molding. These tasks no longer required Zhen Niang’s direct involvement, as the ink workshop workers would handle them. The entire process would still take about ten days, as the ink needed time to dry properly.

Now it was just a matter of waiting patiently.

Half a month passed, during which the Li Family Ink Workshop experienced several joyous developments. First, they had produced a good amount of pine resin soot, all of premium quality. As long as the subsequent mixing process went well, this batch of pine soot ink would surpass their previous products in quality.

Secondly, the remixed ink was now complete and ready for testing.

“Miss Zhen, it’s done. This is the ink color we’ve produced,” Master Qin said, dipping his brush in the inkstone and leaving strokes of varying thickness on the xuan paper.

Though they were just simple lines, one could see the ink’s lustrous black shine and smooth flow. The gradients were distinct, and even in lighter strokes, there was a sharp clarity—the ink’s character was taking shape.

“The ink color is exceptional. We should find a renowned artist to test it; that would help establish the reputation of this remixed ink,” Manager Shao excitedly suggested.

The Li Family Ink Workshop hadn’t released a new ink product in quite some time, and this remixed ink would certainly exceed everyone’s expectations.

“How about Master Dongtu?” Zhen Niang asked.

“He typically only tests ink for the Cheng family. It might not be easy to get his assistance,” Manager Shao worried.

“Well, we can try,” Zhen Niang said. After Master Dongtu had purchased the Cheng family’s Five Stone Loose Ink, he questioned them about bubbling issues during grinding. It was Zhen Niang who had identified the cause at that time. Both the Cheng family and Master Dongtu owed her some goodwill, so perhaps he might agree if asked.

Additionally, Zhen Niang remembered that Master Dongtu would pass the provincial examinations in the first year of Longqing.

She knew this not because she had paid special attention to him in her previous life, but because he was a notable figure in Xiuning, frequently mentioned in the county records. As Zhen Niang had been involved in the Huizhou ink industry in her previous life, she naturally remembered such details.

“Yes, let’s try,” Li Jingdong nodded in agreement.

Just as they decided this, Manager Shao waved over a worker to clear the table. The worker, moving hastily, accidentally knocked an ink stick to the ground with his sleeve. It shattered with a sharp crack.

The worker was startled and immediately bowed in apology.

Zhen Niang’s expression changed, not because of the broken ink, but because the hardness seemed wrong—the breaking sound was too crisp.

By then, Master Qin had also noticed the unusual sound. He picked up a piece of the broken ink and dropped it again. It shattered once more.

“Miss Zhen, there’s an issue with the ink’s hardness,” Master Qin said. They had been so focused on the ink’s color and other qualities that they had overlooked testing its hardness.

“Indeed…” Zhen Niang crouched down to examine the broken pieces. While the color, appearance, and fragrance were all excellent, the hardness was problematic.

They both began to ponder the issue.

Seeing them deep in thought, Manager Shao dismissed the worker to avoid disturbing their concentration.

They tested several more pieces of the newly made remixed ink, all showing the same problem. They considered various causes, but nothing seemed definitive.

That evening, when Zhen Niang returned home, her expression revealed her troubled state.

“What’s wrong? Did something happen at the ink workshop?” Old Master Li asked, noticing her demeanor.

“We’ve produced the remixed ink, and while the color and everything else is fine, it’s brittle and breaks easily. This clearly won’t do,” Zhen Niang anxiously explained. She had invested considerable effort in this remixed ink, only to fall short at the final hurdle, which was truly frustrating.

“Brittle and easily broken—it must be an issue with the glue,” Old Master Li pondered.

“I used the steeping method to remove all the old glue, and the newly prepared glue is of the highest quality. This shouldn’t be happening,” Zhen Niang remained perplexed.

“What do the other masters at the workshop think?” Old Master Li asked.

“They believe it might be due to degraded materials in the waste ink. If that’s true, we’ll have to discard this entire batch of waste ink,” Zhen Niang said painfully.

“Then try once more, and if it doesn’t work, we’ll have to abandon it,” Old Master Li advised.

Zhen Niang nodded, accepting this as their only option.

Just then, they heard voices and children’s laughter from the alley outside: “Candy! Candy!”

While Zhen Niang was wondering what was happening, Madam Zhao stormed in, with Madam Zheng trying to calm her.

“This is ridiculous! What does the Sun family’s engagement to the Tian family have to do with our Zhen Niang? Everyone’s looking at her like it’s some kind of joke,” Madam Zhao huffed as she sat down, clearly upset.

“Mother, what’s this about the Sun and Tian families’ engagement, and why would people laugh at me?” Zhen Niang asked, confused.

“You don’t know? The Sun family just sent people to distribute candy, announcing Sun Yuejuan’s engagement to Tian Benchangning. You know how people in the alley love to gossip. Since you and Yuejuan were once close friends, and Tian Benchangning was previously engaged to you, people are treating it like some kind of sister-swap situation. Your mother’s angry about it,” Madam Zheng explained the situation.

Zhen Niang finally understood why children were celebrating outside—the Sun family was distributing engagement candy.

She had noticed Madam Feng’s interest in Tian Benchangning before but had thought it wouldn’t work out. This development was unexpected.

“Just look at the Sun family! They moved away from the city gate years ago, but they still send people here to distribute candy for an engagement. Aren’t they trying to upset us?” Madam Zhao said, pounding the table.

“After what happened with the Sun family’s main branch, with Sun Dahai still doing hard labor at the quarry, it’s understandable if they want to spite us. We should just ignore them. Jingfu’s wife, calm down—this will blow over in a few days,” Old Master Li told Madam Zhao.

With Old Master Li speaking up, Madam Zhao had to swallow her anger.

“Yuejuan was a good girl. It’s a shame she’s marrying that wolf cub,” Madam Wu said. After the Tian family had broken off the engagement, she had taken to calling them “wolf cubs.”

“Most people probably think the Sun family is marrying above their station,” Madam Du commented.

“Enough of this idle talk. Go to bed if you have nothing better to do,” Old Master Li said, before retiring with his wife.

Madam Zhao continued complaining to Madam Zheng for a while before finally going to sleep.

Zhen Niang had trouble sleeping that night, her mind alternating between the remixed ink problem and Sun Yuejuan’s engagement to Tian Benchangning. She finally dozed off at dawn, waking up with a foggy head that only cleared after washing her face with cold water.

After breakfast, she hurried to the ink workshop, arriving early while the morning mist still lingered. Standing there with the broken ink piece, she reflected on Sun Yuejuan’s situation. While she felt the match was unsuitable, such matters were unpredictable—perhaps they were fated for each other. Beyond her surprise, she could only offer her blessings.

Her focus now returned to the remixed ink problem. Without identifying the issue, further attempts would be futile.

Ugly Po was sweeping nearby, and Zhen Niang was so lost in thought she didn’t notice the broom approaching her feet.

“Move aside, you’re in the way,” Ugly Po said gruffly.

“Oh,” Zhen Niang stepped aside, still staring at the broken ink.

“If you’re free, go to the steamed bun shop and get me some fermented dough. I need it to leave the flour later. No matter how well you knead the dough, without old dough as a starter, it won’t rise properly,” Ugly Po said expressionlessly.

“Oh, I’ll go right away,” Zhen Niang replied automatically, her mind still on the ink. But suddenly, something clicked.

“I understand now! I know what’s wrong with the ink!” Zhen Niang exclaimed joyfully. Ugly Po’s words provided crucial insight.

Just as Ugly Po had said about needing old dough as a starter, the remixed ink needed the same principle—it lacked a “starter.” This starter was the waste glue in the old ink.

Her previous mistake had been completely removing all the waste glue through steeping. She should have preserved some to serve as a “starter” for the remixed ink.

“Ugly Po, you’re a blessing!” Zhen Niang said cheerfully before running off to get the fermented dough. Now that she had identified the problem, there was no need to rush.

“This girl truly has talent,” Ugly Po muttered, watching Zhen Niang’s departing figure before resuming her sweeping.

The nearest steamed bun shop was on Sibao Street.

“Auntie, could I have some fermented dough for leavening?” Zhen Niang smiled at the shop owner’s wife. Having once set up a small stall in the area, she was familiar with all the local shop owners.

“Ah, Miss Zhen! Here you go,” the shop owner’s wife responded warmly, wrapping up some dough for her.

Zhen Niang was accepting it when firecrackers suddenly went off across the street. Paper fragments flew everywhere, and she quickly covered her ears while stepping aside.

“Who’s opening a new shop?” Zhen Niang shouted over the noise.

“It’s the Sun family—they’re opening a money exchange!” the shop owner’s wife shouted back, her voice barely audible over the firecrackers.

Is the Sun family opening a money exchange? That required substantial capital—where did they get such money?

“I heard it’s funded by a distant relative of Sun’s eldest daughter-in-law’s family. The Sun family has struck it rich,” the shop owner’s wife continued.

Is that so? Zhen Niang remembered that the eldest Sun son’s wife came from a questionable background—how did she have such wealthy relatives?