As the performance ended and the crowd dispersed, the Li family’s grand spectacle had truly given the people along Official Street their fill of entertainment. It had also quietly convinced many merchants of their integrity.
Quality issues—no merchant could guarantee 100% perfection, and accidents always happened. What mattered was handling them with honesty, and today’s events had truly proven Li Ink’s quality assurance.
If nothing else, all merchants couldn’t help but ask themselves: would they dare to publicly display all their materials at a moment’s notice? Truth be told, most weren’t confident, but the Li family dared—that showed real backbone.
Moreover, that batch of moldy ink worth thousands of taels of silver—they’d destroyed it without hesitation. The Li family’s boldness truly commanded respect.
Overall, after today’s events, everyone had more confidence in Li ink. Several ink pavilion owners privately thought that now that the Tian family’s tribute ink status had been canceled, without the prestige of tribute ink, Tian ink was no better than Li ink. Especially over the past year or more, Li ink had truly shined, with several major ink types rising to fame. Furthermore, Li ink was also supplied to the Princess’s mansion—it seemed they should increase their stock of Li ink.
…
By evening, work ended, and the Li family workers returned to their homes.
However, because of today’s events, quality control is now etched in every worker’s heart, especially with the Warning Ink standing there as a constant reminder.
Li Zhen Niang called several managers for a meeting to discuss punishments. No matter what, today’s incident required some form of discipline. Reward for merit, punishment for mistakes—that was how to manage workers properly.
“Everyone who handled the Cortex Fraxini, including ourselves, will have one month’s wages deducted, spread over three months,” Zheng Fuli said. This was what the managers had decided. The reason for spreading it over three months was consideration for workers without savings who relied entirely on wages to live—if deducted all at once, they couldn’t survive that month.
“Mm, fine,” Zhen Niang nodded.
“Also, regarding Sun Wenjie… should we dismiss him?” Zheng Fuli continued.
“Hmm, I’ll discuss Sun Wenjie’s case with my grandfather and the others,” Zhen Niang said after some thought. In this incident, Sun Wenjie was at fault, but placing all blame on him alone would be excessive.
Moreover, Sun Wenjie was from the Sun family, and this involved the face of the main family line. Furthermore, the main line was currently weak while her Eighth Branch was strong, making the relationship quite delicate. Therefore, handling Sun Wenjie’s case required careful consideration to avoid arousing suspicion from the Sun family’s side.
A family’s development ultimately requires everyone’s united effort. Otherwise, look at the Tian family this time—if they hadn’t been torn apart by internal strife, how could they have ended up like this?
Although everything had its rules, within those rules there was also a matter of degree. While the consequences of Sun Wenjie’s mistake were serious, the mistake itself left room for debate about dismissal.
Of course, this also depended on whether Sun Wenjie was truly beyond help. If he was hopeless, then dismissal it would be, and Zhen Niang wouldn’t care what the main family line thought.
“Mm.” Hearing Zhen Niang’s words, Zheng Fuli said no more, understanding the sensitive aspects of the situation.
Seeing that it was dark, everyone dispersed.
“Wenjie, are you leaving?” In the row of dormitories beside the ink workshop where Sun Wenjie, Li Gao, and Li Sheng lived, under the dim lamplight, Li Gao and Li Sheng watched Sun Wenjie packing and couldn’t help but ask.
“What else can I do, wait to be driven out?” Sun Wenjie took a deep breath. After making such a serious mistake today, he couldn’t stay.
Hearing this, Li Gao and Li Sheng had nothing to say. Indeed, the managers had discussed it earlier—today’s incident had cost the workshop nearly a thousand taels of silver, and Sun Wenjie truly couldn’t stay.
“But why such a rush? It’s already dark. Leave tomorrow morning, we can see you off then,” Li Sheng said, looking at the dark sky outside.
“No, not tomorrow. I don’t want everyone to see me skulking away—too shameful,” Sun Wenjie took another deep breath, then shouldered his bundle and walked out.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he stepped out, he almost ran into someone. In the light from the room, he realized it was Li Zhen Niang.
They were about the same age, but Zhen Niang had her previous life’s maturity as a foundation, plus she managed the entire ink workshop, giving her natural authority. Thus, Sun Wenjie seemed like a junior before her.
Actually, in terms of generation, he truly was junior—after all, Sun Wenjie was only little Wenyou’s cousin.
Now, seeing Li Zhen Niang’s clear, dark eyes, Sun Wenjie somewhat timidly greeted her: “Master Manager.”
“What’s this? Planning to leave just like that?” Zhen Niang asked, raising an eyebrow.
“I admit what I did. I can’t compensate for the workshop’s losses right now, I’ll have to wait and see if I’m destined for future wealth,” Sun Wenjie said sullenly.
“Going back like this, what will you tell your family?” Zhen Niang asked again.
“Don’t worry, I’ll admit my mistake. I won’t speak ill of you,” Sun Wenjie snorted.
“I don’t care if you speak ill of me, but think about how your mother went to great lengths to get you into the Li family ink workshop. Now you’re skulking back home—never mind your face, but where does that leave your mother’s face?” Zhen Niang countered.
“That’s none of your business,” Sun Wenjie said weakly after a pause.
“I don’t care to meddle, but if it were me, I wouldn’t give up so easily. Where you fall is where you should get back up,” Zhen Niang said.
“What do you mean?” Sun Wenjie suddenly raised his head to ask.
“Simple. I’ll give you three months to stay in the workshop. Your task is to thoroughly learn and understand all the materials, and distinguish their various grades. If you pass the managers’ examination then, you can return to the workshop properly. At that time, you’ll be in charge of quality control for workshop materials,” here, Zhen Niang paused before continuing: “Of course, if you fail then, you’ll have no choice but to pack up and go home. Well, do you dare accept?”
After hearing Zhen Niang’s words, Sun Wenjie stared at her steadily. After a while, he gritted his teeth: “There’s nothing I don’t dare accept. Fine, where I fall is where I’ll get back up. I don’t need three months—one month is enough.” Sun Wenjie clenched his fist firmly.
“Good, I look forward to it,” Zhen Niang nodded, then turned away. Hua’er was holding a lantern to the side, and the two returned to the main house together.
Over the next few days, Sun Wenjie truly threw himself into studying the workshop’s various materials. Seeing his determination, Zhen Niang nodded privately—this young man was indeed worth supporting, making her efforts worthwhile.
During these days, however, the news from Shanxi grew increasingly worse.
“Zhen Niang, still no news from Wenqian?” During dinner one evening, Madam Zhao asked worriedly. Recently, news from Lu Ji suggested that the Tatars had caused chaos in Shanxi, with many deaths.
“No, Earlier, Yihuo Sheng’s people went there to inquire, but it’s too soon for them to return,” Zhen Niang pursed her lips. She was truly quite worried herself.
Just then, Li Zhengsheng and Zhao Susu arrived. Their inkstone shop was doing well—in just two short months, it had gained some reputation. This was mainly because Li Zhengsheng had previously hoarded many good inkstone materials, which caused quite a stir when released, and with the added attraction of stone gambling, they’d risen quickly.
However, when they entered, their expressions weren’t good.
“Zhen Niang, did Wenqian go to Shizhou?” Li Zhengsheng asked.
“Yes, what’s wrong?” Zhen Niang suddenly had a bad feeling.
“I just got the news that in Shanxi, Altan Khan massacred Shizhou in mid-month. They say blood flowed like rivers,” Li Zhengsheng said hatefully, clenching his fists.
Hearing this, Zhen Niang’s head buzzed, while Madam Zhao cried out in alarm. Even Old Master Li and Li Jingfu’s expressions changed—when leaving, Luo Wenqian had specifically said he was going to Shizhou.
“Mother, I’ll go ask Sister-in-law Ping’an,” Zhen Niang jumped up at this point. Without waiting for Madam Zhao’s response, she ran out.
Soon she reached Yihuo Sheng’s side door and knocked. Wu Zi opened it.
“Wu Zi, where’s your mother?” Zhen Niang asked immediately.
“Mother’s inside,” Wu Zi’s voice was nasal.
Zhen Niang followed Wu Zi inside, asking along the way: “Any news from your Uncle Luo Nine?”
“Not yet, but we just got news yesterday that in mid-month, Uncle Luo Nine and the others were in Shizhou. Then Altan Khan massacred Shizhou—they say even the prefect was killed. We don’t know how Uncle Luo Nine and my father are,” Wu Zi said chokingly.
Wu Zi’s father, Luo Ping’an, had also gone with Luo Wenqian. Zhen Niang fell silent.
At this point, Wu Zi sniffled, then continued: “Mother was afraid of worrying you, so she didn’t tell you. She wanted to wait for definite news.”
“Mm, I understand,” Zhen Niang nodded. Then she entered the room to see Sister-in-law Ping’an sitting there with red-rimmed eyes, looking dazed.
“Sister-in-law Ping’an,” Zhen Niang called softly.
“Zhen Niang, this is killing me with worry. I want to go to Shizhou to find Wu Zi’s father,” Sister-in-law Ping’an came to her senses, and upon seeing Zhen Niang, said chokingly.
“Sister-in-law Ping’an, don’t lose your composure. Brother Luo’s group all had military experience—even if something went wrong, it couldn’t have happened to everyone. Let’s wait patiently,” Zhen Niang said.
Sister-in-law Ping’an’s talk of going to Shizhou was just outcry—how could anyone find anyone there at this time? Hearing Zhen Niang’s words, she took a deep breath and calmed somewhat.
Zhen Niang chatted with Sister-in-law Ping’an for a while longer, and seeing there was no definite news here, although still anxious, she felt more settled than when she first heard from her cousin Zhengsheng.
So Zhen Niang took her leave, with Sister-in-law Ping’an seeing her to the door. At the entrance, they saw Manager Yan instructing Wu Zi to prepare a carriage. Wu Zi ran off, and Manager Yan, seeing Zhen Niang, bowed from a distance.
“Manager Yan, the money shop should keep more cash on hand these days,” Zhen Niang looked at the money shop’s hall and reminded him. Although at this time, individual savings were still rare, merchant deposits were substantial. If news of Luo Nine’s possible misfortune spread, the money shop might face a bank run, hence the reminder.
Hearing Zhen Niang’s reminder, Manager Yan first froze. Then he slapped his forehead heavily: “I’ve been so busy I’m confused. I’ll go prepare right away.” Manager Yan spoke, and without bothering with pleasantries with Zhen Niang, called Wu Zi, got in the carriage, and left the courtyard.
He had been extremely busy lately. Originally he only managed the money shop, with Xiao Seven handling the warehouse. But when the Shanxi situation developed, Xiao Seven led people to Shanxi to gather information.
Therefore, he had to manage the warehouse affairs and monitor incoming news, spinning like a top with business. He had completely forgotten about this aspect.
Having managed money shops in the northern regions for many years, he naturally understood bank runs.