Although Zhen Niang knew her First Aunt was about to jump into a deep pit, at least she hadn’t jumped yet.
While Zhen Niang wanted to offer advice, considering First Aunt’s attitude toward the Eighth Branch yesterday, it was unlikely she would listen. There was no point in inviting unnecessary trouble.
Besides, some people in this world were particularly lucky. What might be a pitfall for others when dealing with the Xu family could turn out to be an opportunity for her. So there was little point in worrying too much about something that wouldn’t happen for several years.
The best approach was to observe and prepare for changes, rather than seeing dangers where none existed.
That evening, Zhen Niang thought she wouldn’t be able to sleep, but surprisingly, she fell into a deep slumber as soon as she lay down. Since taking over the ink workshop, although she had managed things successfully, the pressure had been considerable.
Now that Seventh Grandmother was well and back in charge of the ink workshop, along with Grandfather’s return, they would handle the major decisions. She only needed to focus on making ink and earning money.
It was true that having no worries made one lighter – she slept soundly through the night. When Zhen Niang woke up the next morning, the sky was already bright outside.
“Surely I haven’t slept until noon?” Zhen Niang muttered as she got up. Xi’er was nowhere to be seen in the outer room, but she could still hear Uncle Shui’s wooden clapper.
“The hot water clapper? Isn’t it rather early for that?” she wondered, noticing how bright it was.
Stepping outside, Zhen Niang discovered a thick layer of snow covering everything. The brightness came from the snow’s reflection.
Madam Du was tending to a brazier in the courtyard, while Xi’er helped fan the flames – without fanning, the smoke would be suffocating. After washing up, Zhen Niang jumped a few times to warm up, then walked into the snowy courtyard. Near the wall, she first brushed away a layer of loose snow, then grabbed a handful from beneath, rolled it into a ball, and began eating it like summer ice.
“Second Sister, you’re eating snow!” Xi’er exclaimed in surprise. He had done this before and received a slap from Madam Zhao for it.
“It’s fine, this is winter snow. It kills the worms in your stomach,” Zhen Niang explained. Of course, what she meant was killing bacteria, but as for scientific evidence – hadn’t they always said auspicious snow brings a prosperous year? Snow had antiseptic and pest-control properties for the soil, so it probably worked similarly for people. This was actually a belief from her grandfather in her previous life, who would eat a handful of snow every winter.
Now as Zhen Niang did the same, she found herself missing her grandfather from her past life. Looking up at the sky – Grandfather, don’t worry, this time the Li family’s ink making tradition will be passed down intact.
“Zhen Niang, what’s wrong?” Madam Du noticed her unusual expression and asked.
“Nothing, just got some dust in my eye,” Zhen Niang smiled, turning aside and picking up a broom to sweep the snow.
Hearing Zhen Niang’s words, Xi’er also grabbed a handful of snow and stuffed it in his mouth. Just then, Madam Zhao came over and gave him another slap on the back of his head: “Are you a starving ghost?”
“Second Sister ate some too,” Xi’er complained unfairly.
“Where? I didn’t see that. Stop using your Second Sister as an excuse,” Madam Zhao glared at Xi’er while watching Zhen Niang sweep the snow.
Xi’er wore a pitiful expression – he had been wrongly accused.
Madam Du smiled with pressed lips. As the tung oil incident gradually concluded, her small matter was considered past as well. A family couldn’t live in constant discord.
After breakfast, Zhen Niang helped her grandfather to the ink workshop.
Today, Old Master Li wore a new cotton robe, his hair neatly combed, wearing a fur cap. He carried a sandalwood walking stick that Zhen Niang had bought for him recently.
Returning to the ink workshop was an extraordinary day for Old Master Li as well.
His entire outfit made him look spirited and energetic.
Soon, the grandfather and granddaughter entered the workshop.
Some of the old workers in the workshop were quite moved to see Old Master Li, as many had been trained by him in the past.
Therefore, everyone greeted Old Master Li as they passed by.
Then, Madam Chen recorded the previous loan from Huiyuan Money House into the workshop’s accounts, thus dispelling the recent rumors.
Afterward, several managers were called in, and Seventh Grandmother announced the return of the Eighth Branch’s original shares. She then recorded Zhen Niang’s portion under the Eighth Branch’s name. Thus, the Eighth Branch now held a thirty percent share, and Old Master Li once again became the workshop’s head manager.
Everything was now in order.
Three days later, the Li family’s Eighth Branch moved house. People from Chengmen Dong helped with the move.
The Eighth Branch’s house in the ancestral residence was located between the Seventh and Ninth Branches, with its door facing a side street off Sibao Street called Clear Water Lane, named for an old well whose water remained clear regardless of how heavy the rain was.
The residence was typical of Huizhou architecture, with horse-head walls and carved brick above the entrance reading “Emerald Embankment.”
Entering through the main gate led to a hall with east and west wing rooms. Through the hall’s side doors was a courtyard, across from which was an open hall furnished with an Eight Immortals table and master chairs, with ancestral portraits hanging on the opposite wall.
Behind the hall were the rear hall, main room, and study.
The rear hall had wooden stairs leading to upper chambers. Usually, unmarried daughters lived in these upper chambers, which were commonly referred to as boudoirs.
The back yard connected with those of the Seventh and Ninth Branches through connecting gates, forming one continuous space.
This residence was much more spacious to live in.
Once everything was settled, Old Master Li, in high spirits, personally wrote several sets of couplets to hang on the doors, marking their housewarming.
Zhen Niang joined in the fun by writing a pair: “Spring sends flower fragrance, red covers the ground; Rain nourishes spring trees, green connects to sky.”
This was actually a reversible couplet that could be read both forward and backward. Zhen Niang had a bit of mischievous pleasure in borrowing from her past life. Unfortunately, with no serious scholars in the family, no one noticed, leaving Zhen Niang feeling somewhat deflated as she prepared to enter the rear hall.
At this moment, the doorkeeper Li Liujin brought in First Aunt Li of the Li family.
Li Liujin was originally a servant of the Seventh Branch. When the Eighth Branch moved in, the Seventh Branch assigned Li Liujin and his wife to help with guarding the door and receiving guests.
“First Aunt is here, please sit. I’ll go call my mother,” Zhen Niang hurried forward while pondering First Aunt’s intentions. As the saying goes, no one visits the temple without a reason. First Aunt had always looked down on their Eighth Branch.
“No need, no need, Zhen Niang. Don’t call your mother, I just want to discuss something with you,” Han Li quickly stopped Zhen Niang who was about to head to the rear hall.
“Then First Aunt, what’s the matter?” Hearing it was for her, Zhen Niang became suspicious. First Aunt’s biggest purpose in returning home this time was to borrow money, and she had been eyeing that cargo payment. Now suddenly seeking her out – could it be that First Aunt failed to borrow money from Seventh Grandmother and came to try her luck here?
After all, that business deal was completed by her, and she did have some say in the matter. Could First Aunt want her to help put in a good word? Zhen Niang speculated.
Though not entirely correct, she wasn’t far off.
Hearing Zhen Niang’s question, Han Li lowered her voice: “Zhen Niang, First Aunt wants to discuss something with you. Could you lend some money from the ink workshop’s payment to First Aunt? I’ll return it after next year’s silk business. What do you think?”
Hearing her First Aunt’s words – not asking her to speak to Seventh Grandmother but directly requesting a loan – Zhen Niang couldn’t help but laugh: “First Aunt, you think too highly of me. Previously I was in charge of the ink workshop, but now that Seventh Grandmother is well, naturally she’s in charge. Moreover, for such a large sum, how could I make that decision? First Aunt must be joking.”
“Girl, do you think First Aunt would come rushing over early in the morning as a joke? I’ve heard that after the New Year, your Seventh Grandmother plans to send you to Nanjing, that sum is meant for you to open an ink shop there. You do have authority over it. I think, since opening a shop won’t happen immediately, why not lend it to me first? I’ll definitely return it by then.”
Zhen Niang was stunned by these words – Seventh Grandmother planned to send her to Nanjing to open an ink shop?
Although Zhen Niang knew that for the Li family to develop, they must expand, and opening a shop in Nanjing was inevitable, she hadn’t expected Seventh Grandmother would entrust this task to her.
“How can this be? Why would Seventh Sister-in-law send Zhen Niang to Nanjing? Zhen Niang is a young woman, it’s already causing talk that she’s running a business so prominently in Huizhou, and now going to Nanjing? Does she still want to get married?” Madam Zhao came out from the rear hall and started shouting upon hearing Han Li’s words.
“Why are you yelling at me? I’m not the one sending Zhen Niang to Nanjing,” Han Li glared back. She actually hoped Zhen Niang wouldn’t go to Nanjing – if that money remained idle, her mother would have no excuse not to lend it.
Now her mother used the plan to open an ink shop in Nanjing to shut down her request immediately.
“Enough, what’s all this shouting about? This matter, Seventh Sister-in-law has discussed it with me and Zhen Niang’s grandfather, and we’ve agreed,” Madam Wu came out and said to Madam Zhao.
“Mother-in-law, how can this work? Nanjing is such a distant place, I can’t feel at ease with Zhen Niang going there alone,” Madam Zhao said anxiously.
“Opening an ink shop certainly won’t involve Zhen Niang going alone. The workshop here will select people to go with her, and besides, isn’t Jingming’s branch still there? How could there be no one to look after her?”
Madam Wu continued earnestly: “Zhen Niang’s situation is different from other girls. She still carries the label of being unlucky for her husband, and was rejected by the Tian family. People in our Huizhou place too much emphasis on reputation. Even if some household heads admire Zhen Niang’s capabilities, ultimately no one can speak for her marriage. Look, it’s been two years, and apart from the Tian family incident, has any matchmaker visited? If we keep Zhen Niang in Huizhou, I fear her marriage prospects will only diminish. But in Nanjing, such a grand place – I refuse to believe there won’t be any household head who can appreciate our Zhen Niang.”
Zhen Niang found it quite strange listening to these words – it seemed they were eager for her to marry.
Then Madam Wu continued: “Moreover, whether she marries or not, for Zhen Niang, with her ink-making skills and business acumen, it would be a waste to bury her talents. Better let her venture out and build her own career. Our children and grandchildren have their own fortune; let’s open up the world for her.” Madam Wu sighed – these were Old Master Li’s thoughts.
“Curse that Tian family,” hearing Madam Wu’s words, Madam Zhao couldn’t help but curse the Tian family again. However, she tacitly accepted the matter of Zhen Niang going to Nanjing.
“Zhen Niang, your Seventh Grandmother discussed this with your grandfather and grandmother, planning to ask your opinion in a few days. Now that it’s been brought up, tell us what you think,” Old Master Li came out from the room at this point.
“I’ll naturally follow Grandfather and Seventh Grandmother’s arrangements,” Zhen Niang replied straightforwardly. For her, this path was quite good.
“Zhen Niang, what about the matter I mentioned?” Han Li, seeing the Eighth Branch discussing their own affairs, interjected.
“First Aunt, I think you should be cautious about buying land. Land is the foundation of the country, and land issues have always been most sensitive. The Xu family has strong backing and can weather problems, but we’re merchant families. To put it bluntly, if the court decides to crack down, we’re just meat on the chopping block. This matter really requires caution,” Zhen Niang finally offered some advice.
“You just don’t want to lend the money and are making excuses,” Han Li’s face fell upon hearing Zhen Niang’s words. Without another word, she turned and left angrily.
Zhen Niang shrugged – take the advice or leave it.