“Why are you being like this? Stop interfering with the ink factory’s affairs. Zhen Niang is making good use of Li Jincai, and some people just don’t know what’s good for them. You’re just making trouble along with them. I’ve told you before, stay out of the ink factory’s business,” Madam Chen said to Madam Tian, her words carrying quite a warning tone.
“Sister-in-law, that’s not right. Although the old madam handed the ink factory over to Zhen Niang, it’s still the foundation of our Seventh Branch’s survival. Zhen Niang is young, and we elders should give advice when we can and help when we can. I have a business matter to discuss with Zhen Niang,” Madam Tian retorted.
“Please speak, Third Aunt,” Zhen Niang respectfully said. No matter what, she was the younger generation, and she wouldn’t neglect any courtesy.
“The Tian family has a batch of ink they want to give to our ink factory for reprocessing. What do you think? It’s a big deal, isn’t it?” Madam Tian said.
Hearing Madam Tian’s words, Zhen Niang’s mind raced. She and her grandfather had guessed that the Tian family might give that batch of waste ink to the Li ink factory for reprocessing, but they hadn’t expected Madam Tian to be the one to bring it up.
In the legitimate Seventh Branch, Madam Chen’s household was the current family matriarch, with a good disposition and the most supportive of Zhen Niang. To be honest, without her support, the ink factory might not have been so stable.
But below Madam Chen, Madam Sun, young Wenyou’s mother, had questionable intentions. Just from young Wenyou’s various guarded behaviors toward her, it was clear that Madam Sun was wary of her. This was understandable – after all, she was Wenyou’s mother, and what mother doesn’t plan for her son? Zhen Niang didn’t mind.
As for the elder Madam Huang, she had a calm disposition and was completely absorbed in her carving, usually indifferent to such matters.
But Madam Tian had many complaints about the old madam giving the ink factory to Zhen Niang. She had tried to interfere with the ink factory’s affairs several times but hadn’t had the chance. Now this batch of ink from the Tian family had given Madam Tian her opportunity.
With Madam Tian stepping forward, if the ink factory refused, it would be seen as disrespecting the legitimate Seventh Branch. After all, Zhen Niang had taken over this ink factory from the Seventh Branch – not giving face to the Seventh Branch would seem unreasonable.
Moreover, this was indeed considered a good business deal that could bring considerable profit to the ink factory.
Therefore, with Madam Tian stepping forward, not just Zhen Niang, but even Uncle Jingdong would find it difficult to refuse.
One could say that with Madam Tian’s intervention, regardless of any complications in between, this business deal would inevitably succeed.
At the same time, Madam Tian was using this opportunity to interfere with the ink factory’s affairs, and where there’s one, there will be two – human desires tend to grow ever larger.
Thinking about this, Zhen Niang’s eyes narrowed. To be honest, she wasn’t afraid of Madam Tian. After all, Madam Tian was still a daughter-in-law of the Seventh Branch – above her was Madam Chen, the family matriarch, and below her was young Wenyou, the sole heir of the Seventh Branch. No matter how much Madam Tian interfered, she would only manage to get some private money for herself, with little impact on the overall structure of the ink factory.
But just now, Madam Tian speaking up for Li Jincai clearly showed she wanted to secure a higher position for him in the ink factory, which was quite intriguing.
Thinking again of Luo Wenqian’s letter, Tian Benchang was indeed someone skilled at planning and manipulating people for his benefit. Even now, as the two families were adversaries, Zhen Niang couldn’t help but admire how brilliantly Tian Benchang had played this move. It not only achieved the goal of reprocessing the ink but also used Madam Tian to disturb the ink factory’s stability. Once the ink factory was in chaos, the Tian family could sit back and reap the benefits.
However, this was fine too. Let Madam Tian come forward – pulling up a radish brings up dirt with it. Li Jincai was being too low-key now, making it difficult for Zhen Niang to catch his mistakes.
The current situation appeared calm on the surface, but it was impossible to see the undercurrents below. The Tian family’s move to stir up trouble suited Zhen Niang’s intentions.
It’s always easier to deal with things in the open than in the shadows.
Of course, at this moment, Zhen Niang still needed to test Madam Tian and observe the situation, so she said: “Third Aunt, are you referring to the Tian family’s batch of waste ink?”
“That’s right,” Madam Tian nodded.
“It could indeed be considered a business deal, but as a junior, I can’t make this decision. I need to go back and discuss it with Manager Shao and Uncle Jingdong first,” Zhen Niang said.
“What’s there to discuss? This kind of business deal – others would beg for it but couldn’t get it,” Madam Tian said unhappily.
“Making money is important, but so is maintaining one’s dignity,” Zhen Niang smiled and said no more, bidding farewell to Madam Chen and the others before returning to the ink factory.
“What kind of attitude is that? So I bring in business, and now I’m the one without dignity?” Madam Tian grumbled, watching Zhen Niang’s retreating figure.
“What do you think? Is this business you brought in or did the Tian family come begging to you?” the elder Madam Huang said coldly from the side.
“What’s wrong with the Tian family coming to beg us? The Li and Tian families are in-laws, aren’t they?” Madam Tian said resentfully.
“If you know we’re in-laws, then why did the Tian family pressure the Li family so severely over the pine wood matter? Were we not in-laws then? Zhen Niang is right – making money is important, but so is maintaining one’s dignity.” Madam Huang’s words left Madam Tian choking with anger.
Madam Tian was furious but couldn’t find words to reply.
“Mother, Grandmother, I don’t want to study at home anymore. I want to go to the clan school,” Young Master Wenyou came over and said to Madam Chen and Madam Sun.
“Why do you suddenly want to study at the clan school?” Madam Sun asked, stroking his head.
“Uncle Xi is studying there too,” young Wenyou said.
Madam Tian laughed from the side: “Look, just look! Everyone in our Seventh Branch, both old and young, how have they all come to be led by the nose by people from the Eighth Branch…”
“Shut your mouth! Don’t think I don’t know what you’re plotting. I advise you to get rid of those improper thoughts early. As for the Tian family’s matter – if the ink factory wants to take it on, they will; if not, stay out of it. Don’t end up making trouble for yourself,” Madam Chen said sternly.
Then she turned to young Wenyou and said: “Fine, go study at the clan school. In the afternoon, set aside an hour to go to the ink factory and learn from your Aunt Zhen Niang.” With these words, Madam Chen settled the matter decisively.