Original subtitles

[The Heir]

[Episode 8]

[Li Ink]

Please take another look.

This is medium-grade quality.

Cut the crap.

One catty and 6 taels.

Next.

I'm here to collect tools

and raw materials.

Your family

has been expelled from the clan,

and your grandfather

swore never to make ink again.

What,

the old man

got the itch to do it again

but was too ashamed to show his face,

so he sent you to sneak in and muddle through?

Don't you dare slander my grandfather.

I've been studying ink-making for 3 years.

What's so hard about making some lampblack?

You study ink-making?

She says she studies ink-making.

Since ancient times,

I've never heard of a female ink-maker.

Drive her out.

She's just wasting my time.

Young lady, please go home.

Go on. Go on.

Who says women can't make ink or lampblack?

Which rule says so?

If you can show it to me,

I'll leave immediately.

But if you can't,

then I'll go ask the Seventh Old Madam myself.

Alright then.

Hold on.

We don't accept defective goods.

The price for low-grade ink is 200 wen,

and each grade above that

adds another 200 wen.

I'll take 20 lamps.

I'm not finished yet.

The rule of Li Ink

is that no matter the quality,

we only buy

starting from 1 catty.

One catty?

So, are you taking it or not?

If you are, sign here.

If not,

then hurry up and leave.

Burning 20 lamps of oil

to make 1 catty of lampblack?

Young lady,

aren't you talking big?

For a grown man, you sure ask a lot of questions.

It's just 1 catty of lampblack, isn't it?

For 20 lamps,

if I burn them for 6 days,

I'll finish it eventually.

Six days?

Stop wasting words with her.

Hurry up and sign.

People are waiting.

I know.

[Contracting Party: Li Zhen]

Delivery within 4 days.

Do not delay the schedule.

Within 4 days?

I-It doesn't say that anywhere on here!

Collecting lamps and making lampblack

[Seventh Grandmother's grandniece, Wang Hua'er]

has always been a 4-day cycle.

You've studied ink-making for 3 years,

yet you seem to know absolutely nothing.

Sun Baiyi!

Hold on.

Let me do the math for you.

In 1 day,

you can burn 20 lamps.

In 4 days,

excluding all the wastage,

that only makes 8 taels of lampblack,

right?

No matter how you calculate it,

you won't be able to deliver enough.

That's right.

Can you make it?

Can you guys?

-We can't. -We can't.

But since you already signed,

there's no way you're getting your deposit back.

You won't make enough anyway,

so why don't you just go home

and cry to your grandfather?

Who says I can't?

At worst,

I'll just add 10 more lamps.

Ten more lamps?

Back in the day, even Eighth Master Li

only managed 35 lamps at most in the workshop.

And you want 10 more?

Come on.

Exactly.

Even the master ink makers in the workshop

wouldn't dare guarantee

they could tend to 30 lamps at once.

You better think this through.

If you fail to deliver 1 catty of usable lampblack by then,

you won't see a penny of the deposit for those 30 lamps.

Even if the Old Madam herself comes,

you won't have a leg to stand on.

Cut the chatter.

Hurry up.

Here you are.

Go collect the tools and raw materials.

Any later

and you won't make it at all.

What an eye-opener today!

A bunch of shameless scumbags bullying someone—

it's honestly pathetic!

Hua'er?

Hua'er.

Where have you been all these years?

At first,

I planned to set sail from Yuegang in Zhangzhou

and head back to Europa, my mother's ancestral homeland.

But the maritime ban was too strict,

and we couldn't get out at all.

But you know

my dad—

he's the type who can never sit still.

Trading goods all the way from north to south,

he took us to many places.

I'm telling you, they were absolutely beautiful.

And you've picked up

quite a lot of vulgar talk too.

But Zhen,

why do you need so many tools and raw materials?

Don't even get me started.

It's all because of that Sun Baiyi— he totally set a trap for me.

I just lost my head for a second.

It's okay.

Things will work out somehow.

Well, ladies,

this is way too much

[Doggie, Ink-Maker, Li Ink]

for you to carry.

Let me deliver it for you.

Thanks a lot.

Done.

Let me.

Alright then,

let's go.

Okay.

Be careful.

Okay.

Thanks a lot.

Master.

Please come inside.

Watch your step.

Greetings, Master Tian.

Everyone.

Greetings, Master Tian.

Greetings, Master Tian.

Welcome. Welcome.

Your ink is really good.

Thank you. Thank you.

Alright.

Master.

Our business is flourishing.

It truly is.

For salaries

and miscellaneous expenses,

it comes to 1,345 taels.

Mr. Xu,

please come here for a moment.

Master, I'll go there for a bit.

My Lady.

Take a look here.

This entry is wrong.

Let me have a look.

It should be this number.

I really did make a mistake.

You're truly good at calculating, My Lady.

Ronghua.

Ronghua?

My dear sister,

hurry and advance me 50 taels of silver.

Put it on my tab.

I'm definitely going to meet

the "Lady Scholar" by Xin'an River tonight.

Advance?

Advance my foot!

Father, you're here.

Don't give him a single penny.

All you do every day

is squander money on wine and women.

Can't you show some ambition for once?

Learn from Benchang

and make some contribution to our Tian Ink.

Father.

But I don't know anything about ink.

If you really make me help,

aren't you worried I'll just make things worse?

Just look at how useless you are.

Father.

Guess who I just saw.

Who?

Zhen from the Li family.

She studied ink-making under Li Jinshui for a few years, you know.

Now she's full of herself,

thinking she's become one of the Five Ink-making Grandmasters.

She actually went to Li's Ink Workshop, from which she was expelled,

to collect lamps for lampblack making.

Are you serious?

I saw it with my own eyes.

Benchang still cares so much about her.

Could it be you still have feelings for her?

Listen up, everyone.

First of all,

Li Zhen

can't possibly make any good lampblack.

Secondly,

to think that the great leader of the Five Ink-making Grandmasters

actually has to resort to using his own granddaughter as a front—

it's utterly ridiculous.

That Sun Baiyi,

just because he's Sister-in-law's brother in the clan,

he actually thinks he's some royal brother-in-law to the Emperor.

Look at him bullying Zhen like that.

Not only did he trick her into collecting 30 lamps,

but he's also demanding a full catty of lampblack within 4 days.

Father.

Why don't you give Zhen some pointers?

She's been sitting there frozen all afternoon

without even lighting a single lamp.

I'm afraid

the pressure is just too much for her.

Besides ink-making,

what else have I taught you?

You said,

"One must hone oneself through practical affairs

to stand firm.

Only then can one remain composed

both in stillness and in motion."

These are the words

of the Earl of Xinjian,

and I, too, hold them to be true.

Although you've achieved some minor success now,

in the end,

you remain unhardened by trials

and are unable to precisely control the quality of the lampblack.

You should guard against arrogance and rashness, and focus entirely on refining your craft.

Why, then, have you grown complacent

and taken such a reckless risk?

Grandfather.

I know I was wrong.

Father.

Zhen knows she was wrong.

Moreover,

it's not entirely her fault.

Just give her some pointers.

She has already completed her apprenticeship.

Since she has such confidence,

let her clean up

her own mess.

It'll be a good lesson for her.

Father.

Mother.

I can manage this on my own.

I won't trouble Grandfather.

Did Zhen

really come to the smoke shed to collect lamps?

Seventh Grandmother.

That Sun Baiyi really bullied her terribly.

You must help Zhen give him a piece of her mind

and teach him a lesson.

I'd actually like

to see how Zhen

handles this matter.

Seventh Grandmother.

You used to care about Zhen the most.

But now,

why do you stand by and do nothing?

Hua'er.

I

will eventually grow old one day,

and you younger generation

will eventually

have to stand on your own.

My standing by now

is to help you guys grow.

What's wrong with me?

I was clearly able to make supreme-grade lampblack before,

but why can't I even make the fine-grade now?

Your mind is not at peace,

so of course you can't make it.

Zhen,

come here.

Mother made some vegetable cakes for you.

How come you haven't touched the ones from this morning?

I have no appetite.

Come on,

eat them while they're still warm.

Zhengliang,

can a peaceful mind truly allow one to light 30 lamps at the same time?

Even more than that.

A peaceful mind

means

the ultimate truth is found in absolute simplicity.

With zero distractions,

there's nothing else in this universe

except the lamps and yourself.

In such a state of supreme focus,

even lighting 35 lamps would be effortless.

These words definitely aren't yours.

You went to ask Grandfather, didn't you?

Well, I saw you were really distressed.

But you know,

Grandfather is a man with a sharp tongue but a soft heart.

Seeing that I couldn't remember it,

he purposely repeated it several times,

just waiting for me to come and tell you.

Grandfather is right.

I was too obsessed with the time limit,

filled with anxiety, and acting like a coward.

How could I possibly make good lampblack with a mind like that?

It's better to

discard all of this completely,

and start anew from scratch.

Come on, eat up.

Hold on.

Open it and let me see.

There's something wrong with your lampblack.

How dare you fake it?

Save your malicious slander.

Use those eyes of yours to look closely,

rub it between your fingers, and you'll see.

Sure. I'll rub it.

Everyone else's lampblack

is pitch-black,

but yours—

look—

why does it have a grayish tint?

You're young,

yet you already act like a slippery old fox.

Too bad your craftsmanship is lacking.

Trying to play mind games with me?

No way.

Weigh it.

One catty and 2 taels.

One catty and 2 taels?

How much fake material did you mix into this?

I'll say it one more time:

I didn't fake it.

You two, take a look.

See if I'm right.

Manager Sun is right.

There's indeed something wrong here.

Looks like it's been spiked with pine lampblack.

Did you hear that?

I, Sun Baiyi,

have been working here for 6 to 7 years.

Everyone knows I've got eagle eyes.

Trying to fool me with such cheap tricks?

You're way too green for that.

I really didn't expect this.

To think that the grand Li Ink

would employ such ignorant people like you.

Nonsense.

Manager Sun is the most knowledgeable expert among us.

If you had a better attitude,

seeing how pitiful you look,

I might accept it

as low-grade lampblack

to be used for cheap, coarse ink.

And should I

kneel and thank you for that?

Then I'll proceed strictly by the book

and confiscate your deposit.

Since you're a young lady,

I won't pursue

any other charges.

Everyone,

wouldn't you say I'm being fair?

Fair.

Is Manager Sun fair or not?

Absolutely fair.

He's the fairest.

-Fair. -Fair.

What an eye-opener today.

I just won't believe

that in all of Huizhou,

there isn't a single person who can recognize quality!

Please.

Next.

Master.

Nowadays, even if the Chen, Li, and Pan families joined forces,

they still wouldn't be enough to rival the Tian family.

The current Hui Ink workshops

care only about fighting each other for profit,

with absolutely no interest in reforming their craft.

The prosperity of a decade ago,

when master craftsmen emerged one after another, is long gone.

If the Tian family didn't have the influence it has today,

then my return this time

would seem rather pointless.

Let's head into the city.

Everyone!

The Huizhou ink industry has been passed down for a century

and is renowned throughout all of Huaxia.

Behind this glory lies

generations of Hui Ink makers,

racking their brains

to research recipes

and working day and night

to perfect their craft,

and that is what created today's prosperity.

However, what makes Hui Ink truly exceptional today,

besides its exquisite production methods,

is the meticulous selection of ingredients.

To guarantee supreme quality...

Is Miss Li Zhen...

Musk is added...

Putting on a street performance or something?

To the ink.

Who performs with a jar in their arms?

What, is she doing magic tricks?

And even...

This girl

-is full of crafty little schemes. -The lampblack

is incredibly demanding.

As it happens,

today I have a jar

of lampblack here

of exceptionally fine quality.

Though this lampblack was obtained

by burning lamp oil from

Li Ink's lamp allotment,

the smoke shed manager,

Sun Baiyi,

was blind to its worth.

He insisted that my lampblack

was of poor quality,

confiscated my deposit,

and refused to accept my lampblack!

Since Li Ink won't accept it,

fine then—

I'll auction it off right here on the street.

Whoever recognizes its value

and offers the highest price can have it!

A street auction?

It's been a long time

since we've had this kind of excitement here in Huizhou, right?

-Yes. -That's right.

If this jar of lampblack

is truly of premium quality,

then Li Ink

is in for trouble!

Come on, let's head back to Li Ink.

Hua'er,

hurry and show everyone our premium lampblack.

Alright.

Come on, everyone.

Come take a look.

Come on.

Come and take a look, everyone.

Our lampblack is of premium quality.

This stuff doesn't look that great.

It looks a bit grayish.

Exactly.

No wonder Li Ink wouldn't accept it.

You two might not know this:

the finer the lampblack,

the lighter the color.

If you can't tell,

you can reach in

and rub it with your fingers.

Give it a try.

Check it out. Come on.

Try it. Try it.

Look at it against the light.

Doesn't the color look different?

It's quite fine indeed.

How is it?

The color is different now, isn't it?

That's what it's supposed to be like.

Come on, let's continue.

Come on.

Come on, let me show you.

Ink iridescence?

Isn't that a phenomenon found only in the most premium finished ink?

You might be surprised to hear this,

but it's not ink iridescence.

It's simply that the lampblack is extremely fine,

and combined with the gloss of tung oil,

it gives off this kind of lively luster.

So according to what you're saying,

-this is supreme-grade lampblack? -Supreme-grade lampblack?

Supreme-grade lampblack?

Yes! This is indeed supreme-grade lampblack!

Come on!

Everyone, take a look.

Come and take a look.

Let me see.

Come on.

Take a look.

It really is.

Take a look, everyone.

You actually managed to make supreme-grade lampblack?

Could it be that your grandfather helped you?

Mr. Ma.

This lampblack was indeed made by me.

It has nothing to do with my grandfather.

Li Ink refused to accept my lampblack,

so I'm auctioning it here on the street,

fair and square.

If any of you still have doubts,

you are more than welcome to go

and verify the facts with me

and that Sun Baiyi one by one.

Alright!

The starting price is 1 tael!

The highest bidder wins!

The highest bidder wins!

The starting price is 1 tael?

So what if it's of supreme-grade quality?

It's just a jar of lampblack after all.

Exactly.

The starting price is too high.

Who would buy it?

Me. Me!

I bid 1 tael and 5 mace!

Alright, now the price is 1 tael and 5 mace!

One tael and 5 mace!

One tael and 8 mace!

Alright, one tael and 8 mace from this gentleman!

Two taels!

I bid 2 taels!

I bid 2 taels and 3 mace!

I bid 2 taels and 8 mace!

Two taels and 8 mace!

I bid 3 taels!

Three taels. Three taels.

Three taels!

Four taels!

Four taels?

Four taels!

Any more bids?

Four taels.

Four taels of silver!

Six taels!

Six taels?

Who is this guy?

He looks a bit unfamiliar.

Anyone else want to bid against my master?

Six taels. Six taels, right?

If not,

then this jar of lampblack

goes to my master.

This young gentleman truly knows his stuff.

Is there anyone else here

who would like to raise the bid?

Me! Me!

I... I...

I bid 6 taels and

1 mace.

Seven taels.

Eight taels.

Nine taels.

Nine taels?

Nine taels?

Li family!

Ten taels from the Li family!

Ten taels from the Li family?

Why is the Li family here?

Alright.

Ten taels from Li Ink.

Any higher bids?

Fifteen taels!

In all of Huizhou,

there has never been lampblack sold for 15 taels.

Father.

Father.

Let's not lose our heads along with them.

This lampblack

is not worth 15 taels.

Let them have it.

[Sun Dahe, Master Ink Maker of Li Ink]

I'm sorry, everyone.

It was my foolish son who lacked the eye for quality

and made things difficult for you, young lady,

forcing you to resort to

selling it on the street.

Since the raw materials used to make this lampblack

were collected from Li Ink,

it is only right that Li Ink buys it back.

Young lady.

Just now, this gentleman bid 15 taels.

Would it be acceptable if Li Ink repurchases this jar of lampblack

for 15 taels?

Father! Father!

F-Fifteen taels?

Stop arguing!

Stop arguing!

Father,

15 taels? Have you lost your mind?

Her?

For this?

She... She...

She's able to make supreme-grade lampblack?

Impossible!

Absolutely impossible!

Anyway,

I don't believe it.

There's no way she can make it.

You bastard!

Still talking nonsense here!

I...

See how I deal with you when we get back to the ink workshop.

Now,

apologize to the lady immediately.

I won't!

Why should I apologize to her?

Look at this lampblack...

Shut up!

Interesting.

Interesting.

Just apologize already.

Apologize! Apologize! Apologize!

Apologize! Apologize! Apologize!

Apologize! Apologize! Apologize!

See? He apologized.

Everyone, everyone.

Since Li Ink has apologized to me,

then this lampblack...

Hold on.

This buddy apologized very reluctantly.

It doesn't matter.

You don't believe it,

but I do.

Also, you all might have misunderstood just now.

When I said 15 taels,

I didn't mean silver,

but 15 taels of gold.

15 taels of gold?

15 taels of gold?

So much money.

Who is this exactly?

No matter how rich the Li family is,

they wouldn't do something like

spending 15 taels of gold on a jar of lampblack.

This gentleman here truly has an eye for quality.

However,

today's auction

is hereby cancelled.

-Cancelled? -Cancelled?

Why?

Since when does anyone turn down money?

Just as

Master Sun just said,

the raw materials and tools I used

to produce this lampblack

all came from Li Ink,

so this lampblack

should rightfully

belong to Li Ink as well.

I only held this street auction

because Sun Baiyi

deliberately humiliated me

earlier,

and I wanted to seek justice

and preserve my dignity.

But now that

Li Ink

has publicly apologized to me,

I won't

pursue this matter any further!

Great!

Besides, sir,

the 15 taels of gold you offered

far exceeds the true value of

my lampblack.

I cannot go against my conscience

and do business with you at that price.

How about this?

Later,

I'll make a new pot of lampblack

for you for free

as an apology.

What do you think?

No need.

It seems this young lady

is not someone who covets small gains.

I'm impressed.

I also wish this young lady

prosperous business in the days ahead!

Great!

Thank you, sir.

Great! Wonderful!

Congratulations! Congratulations!

Thank you, everyone.

Thank you, everyone.

The tools and raw materials are all here,

caught red-handed!

As expected, the supreme-grade lampblack was made by Li Jinshui.

Eighth Master Li,

you treat an oath like a child's play.

That's not very decent of you.

President Hu.

Eighth Master Li.

Li Zhen's auctioning of the supreme-grade lampblack

that originally belonged to the Li family openly on the street

has already violated the industry taboo.

And now,

some people are convinced

that the lampblack

wasn't made by Li Zhen,

but by you.

Eighth Master Li,

you'll have to explain this

clearly to the Literary Association.

President Hu.

Jinshui.

Jinshui?

Hurry up

and explain it clearly to everyone.

Jinhe.

This lampblack

was made by our Zhen herself, working day and night without rest.

Why...

Why do you have to make things difficult for us?

What's going on? What are you doing?

What do you want?

Why are you giving my grandfather a hard time?

You've only studied ink-making for 3 years,

yet you managed to keep 30 lamps burning at once

and produce 1 catty and 2 taels of superb-grade lampblack?

Although I don't know how to make ink,

I'd like to ask the experts here—

could you

manage to do that

after studying ink-making for 3 years?

I wouldn't dare to boast like that.

Li Zhen,

you claim you can make supreme-grade lampblack.

Do you have any proof?

Why is it you again?

I just don't understand.

You've spent decades

toiling away

without being able to make fine lampblack,

so you insist that no one else can either?

How ridiculous.

Besides,

it's understandable

that the others don't know,

but Sixth Grandfather

and Uncle Jingdong,

don't you guys really not know?

When my grandfather first started studying ink-making,

he could easily make supreme-grade lampblack.

Later,

he was even able to keep 35 lamps burning at the same time.

I'm his own granddaughter,

personally taught by him.

So why shouldn't I be able to

inherit his craftsmanship?

Wouldn't you agree,

Sixth Grandfather?

If you really can do it,

then make some right here and let us see.

Who do you think you are?

Tian Bensheng,

do you know how to make ink?

You don't even know

what lampblack-making is, do you?

I...

Why should I prove anything to you?

President Hu.

If you don't believe me,

I can prove it to you.

It's just that for now,

I've already used up all the materials in my smoke shed.

Once I buy new ones,

you're free to inspect it however you like.

What's so hard about that?

Our Tian family has plenty of materials.

Master Zeng.

Send someone back to Tian's Ink Workshop

and bring over the finest fresh materials.

Okay.

I wouldn't dare!

I wouldn't dare use your Tian family's things.

Who knows if your Tian family is trying

to plot something again.

You...

Making all kinds of excuses!

You clearly just don't dare to make lampblack in public.

Why wouldn't I dare?

I just don't want to show you how I make it.

Why should I show you?

I won't watch.

I just want President Hu to watch it.

Then what does that have to do with you?

-Go home! -You guys!

All of you grown men

ganging up on a young lady—

do you think it's appropriate?

Seventh Grandmother.

Why are you here?

Zhen.

I brought you the raw materials.

You can make lampblack right here for them to see.

I can demonstrate it for you,

but as for them...

Dear.

You've studied ink-making for 3 years,

yet I've never

truly seen

your real skills.

President Hu.

Master Tian.

If Zhen

manage to make

supreme-grade lampblack on the spot,

will you be convinced?

Of course we'll be convinced.

Seeing is believing, you know.

Zhen.

I originally didn't want to bother with you guys,

but since my Seventh Grandmother

has come in person today,

I'd like to

take this opportunity

to let you see

whether my ink-making skills

have improved over the years.

Doggie.

Unload the cargo.

Yes.

There's no rush.

The quality of lampblack-making

also involves an element of luck.

If she only lights 1 or 2 lamps,

what if she gets lucky

and happens to produce something good?

Since we're witnessing it on the spot,

she should,

as Master Li said,

light 30 lamps

at once.

If she can't make enough supreme-grade lampblack,

then it shouldn't count.

Isn't that going too far?

If she can do it, go ahead.

If she can't, then...

I can.

Isn't it just 30 lamps?

Seventh Grandmother.

I, Zhen,

can manage.

Eighth Master Li.

To avoid arousing suspicion,

it's not appropriate for you to stay inside, is it?

My grandfather is just helping me set things up.

Grandfather.

Don't worry.

I can do this on my own.

Even sitting here isn't appropriate.

You should step outside.

Let's get started then.

Lighting 1 lamp.

Lighting 2 lamps.

Three lamps.

Four lamps.

Five lamps.

Losing your grip already?

Master Li,

upright and honorable, remember?

Lighting

30 lamps.

Master Jingdong of the Li family,

if she really manages to make supreme-grade lampblack in front of us,

your Li family will suffer a huge loss.

Not as much as the Tian family, alright?

Get lost.

Who couldn't light

30 lamps?

But making supreme-grade lampblack... Humph.

A peaceful mind

means

the ultimate truth is found in absolute simplicity.

With zero distractions,

there's nothing else in this universe

except the lamps and yourself.

Do you have any translucent strips of cloth?

Translucent strips of cloth?

Yes.

Zhen,

will this work?

It will.

Let me help you.

Is she going to

make lampblack blindfolded?

Father.

You light so many lamps every day.

Isn't it boring?

Not at all.

I find it quite boring.

Father,

why don't you find it boring?

What do you see above the flame?

Nothing at all.

Open your eyes wide

and look closely.

There's a lot of smoke.

Look closely.

Doesn't it look like

the butterfly I caught for you?

It does.

Look, it changed again.

Does this look like the kite Zhengliang made for you?

And over there.

That plume looks like a snake.

You're right.

This plume looks like a fly.

There's more. There's more.

This plume looks like New Year Cake.

Look at you.

You can even see food in the smoke.

Little glutton.

Close your eyes.

What sound can you hear?

I can hear you speaking.

I meant the sound of the smoke.

Can you hear the distant sound

of firecrackers?

Yes.

Now,

don't look

and don't listen—

be like the little dog in the courtyard.

Use only your nose.

What can you smell?

A smell of greasy smoke.

When you unify

sight,

hearing,

and smelling

like this

and open your mind's eye,

even though this is just a small room,

it contains 32 peaks,

cliffs and springs, birds and beasts,

mist and clouds—

towering and majestic,

4,000 fathoms high.

This is supreme-grade.

It is indeed supreme-grade.

It doesn't look like supreme-grade, does it?

Eighth Master Li.

Your granddaughter

is truly impressive.