Original subtitles

[The Heir]

[Episode 26]

Fourth Sister-in-law.

Why did you call me here

so suddenly?

What is this?

What?

You just asked someone

to bring this hairpin to Yunniang last month.

And now you don't recognize it?

Fourth Sister-in-law.

H-How did this hairpin end up in your hands?

You have the nerve to ask me?

In front of Third Brother and Chunhua,

you pretend to be a decent person.

But behind their backs,

you went to find your mistress and child again,

even providing for them.

If I give this hairpin to Third Brother,

he will flay you alive.

Have mercy, Fourth Sister-in-law.

If this gets out,

I won't be able to survive.

It's all Li Zhen's fault.

If it weren't for her,

how could I be living

such a miserable life in the Li family?

Since you hate her so much,

I'll give you a chance.

As long as you have the guts and capability

to do something for me,

I promise to make her leave the Li family forever.

Well, I...

How would I have the guts

or the capability?

If you succeed,

I won't just find you a house in Huizhou,

bringing your mistress and child over

to reunite with you,

but I'll also give you a good opportunity

to make a name for yourself in the Li family.

No one will look down on you anymore.

If you want to achieve anything in the Li family in the future,

it won't be difficult.

Fourth Sister-in-law,

the thing you want me to do—

how confident are you about it?

In this kind of matter,

it's about who is willing to risk it all.

In this family,

only one of us

can stay.

As long as you do as I say,

this matter will never be exposed.

I'll take responsibility if it does.

However,

if you're willing to live a spineless life forever,

I'll just take it

as I misjudged you.

From Chunhua to Li Jingdong,

they guard against me like thiefs all day!

I'm a man.

If I live like this for the rest of my life,

what's the point?

As for this matter,

I agree to it.

I am at your command, Fourth Sister-in-law.

The traditional materials used for Shize Ink are different from those of Li Ink.

Especially the Isinglass.

Since it's not commonly used for Li Ink,

we didn't have much in stock before.

Now that the orders have gone up,

I was thinking we need to prepare some more.

You are right.

There's not enough time now,

and the ink workshop doesn't have enough hands.

I heard from Grandfather

that Isinglass

is also commonly used by carpenters for varnishing.

Why don't we select one or two reliable sources

and purchase some Isinglass from outside?

What do you think?

That's the safest way.

Then it's settled.

Okay.

Aunt Chunhua?

What brings you here?

Aunt,

this is Songluo tea.

Have a taste.

Aunt,

there's no need to be formal between us.

Just speak your mind.

Well...

Decai...

He wants to come back to work at Li Ink.

Zhen, please don't misunderstand.

I know your concerns,

and I didn't really forgive him.

He asked me to plead with you.

I thought about it for a long time.

I don't want to cause you more trouble.

But since the last incident,

I've been observing him,

and he has indeed become much more honest and obedient.

I figured,

rather than letting him stay at home and overthink,

it's better to give him a job at the ink workshop

to settle his mind.

Aunt, you are my elder.

Normally,

I shouldn't speak ill of others in front of you.

But regarding Uncle,

I've seen it all with my own eyes.

He lied to you like that before,

and now he's forcing us to give him a chance.

Honestly,

it makes me

feel uncomfortable.

I feel uncomfortable too.

But Decai is Run's father after all.

I can't bear for Run

to see his father trapped at home all day,

living such a pathetic life.

Run is still young now,

so it's fine that he doesn't know.

But when he grows up,

he will inevitably be mocked by others.

In that case,

let him come.

Really?

You can't get rid of him for the time being.

It's better

to put him in the ink workshop,

keeping a close eye on him.

Let him start as a low-level ink-maker,

wearing down his temper a bit.

If he truly repents in the future

and wants to make ink properly,

I will discuss with Uncle Jingdong

how to arrange a position for him.

Thank you, Zhen.

Since you are new to the ink workshop,

start with twisting lamp wicks.

Nowadays, making ink in the ink workshop

requires a large number of lamp wicks.

You won't be exposed to the smoke here,

and it doesn't take much effort either.

Zhen.

Don't you think this job is

a bit of a

waste of my talents?

How about I help with ink mixing

or manage the warehouse?

In the ink workshop,

you should call me Manager Zhen.

Since Aunt Chunhua entrusted you to my care,

once you enter the ink workshop,

you must follow my rules.

Working here requires patience.

Twisting lamp wicks

will help

calm your greedy,

restless nature.

Once you are tempered,

I will be willing to guide you through

every step of ink-making in the future.

But if I find you having the slightest disloyalty,

let alone the ink workshop,

the entire Li family

will have no place for you.

Uncle,

do you understand

what I said?

So, can you do this job

or not?

I can. Of course I can.

Manager Zhen, you're right.

If I, Li Decai, let Chunhua down again,

or show any disloyalty,

may I be struck by lightning

and die a horrible death.

I...

Uncle Jingdong.

Where is that bastard?

Don't worry, Uncle Jingdong.

I've arranged for him to twist lamp wicks for now.

Good.

I just don't believe

that Li Decai

can behave himself in the ink workshop.

To be honest,

I don't believe it either.

But rather than worrying all day,

it's better to keep him in the ink workshop

and keep a close eye on him.

Zhen,

this was originally the Sixth Branch's own family matter.

Sorry for causing you trouble again.

I'll be leaving for the pine yard in another county tomorrow.

It will take at least 10 days.

Please take good care of the family and the ink workshop.

Rest assured, Uncle Jingdong.

I will do my best.

It's tough working away from home. Take care of yourself.

Doggie.

This is the Isinglass merchant that Manager Zhen and I selected.

Go make a trip

and have them deliver the Isinglass as soon as possible.

Okay, I'll go then.

Rest assured.

My isinglass is perfectly fine.

Why...

Why are you testing it again?

Is there a problem with testing it again?

There's no problem.

Manager Zhen.

This isinglass was all

prepared according to Steward Shao's requirements.

We use fish from our own farm.

As soon as they are caught, we extract the bladders and boil them into isinglass.

Within a hundred li of Huizhou,

you can ask around,

and you won't find any better isinglass than mine.

You might not know, sir,

but when Li Ink purchases glue,

we inspect every barrel without exception.

We take turns inspecting them,

so we can be fully assured, right?

Of course.

Put it in storage.

You'll surely be satisfied.

Come on, give me the list.

Come with me to get it stamped.

Alright.

This way.

Everyone, put in a bit more effort.

This glue is actually not bad.

Fang.

The ink should be thoroughly mixed.

Put some more effort into it.

Zhen.

This ink will probably need a whole night to be mixed.

Why don't you go back, get some sleep,

and come back in the morning to inspect it?

No, I'm not at ease.

I'd better stay with you.

The rainy season came a bit early this year.

The glue goes bad easily.

Everyone!

Thanks for your hard work!

We have to work through the night!

Please put in a bit more effort!

-Okay. -Okay!

The smell here is really bad.

You're just waiting if you stay here.

Why don't you go inside?

I'll call you when it's done.

Okay, I'll go inside for a bit.

I'll take over for you in a while.

Okay.

Thanks for your hard work, Zhengshen.

Don't worry.

Why are you here?

Look.

My mother made this?

Why did she have you deliver it?

I ran into your mother on my way to the ink workshop.

She said she guessed

you'd be staying up all night here,

so she made some chicken soup for you.

So I volunteered

to be an errand boy

and bring it to you.

But...

how did you know your mother made this soup?

I could smell it.

When my mother makes soup,

she likes to add tangerine peel and astragalus.

I grew up drinking it,

so I could recognize it from the smell alone.

You have a good nose.

Of course.

In an ink-making family like ours,

we had to practice smelling and identifying ink

blindfolded from a young age.

When we were kids, Zhengshen and my brother

hated it the most.

But I was especially good at it.

I was always winning praise from my grandfather

and Seventh Grandmother.

Back then, every time I guessed right,

Seventh Grandmother would give me a piece of sugar cake.

At first, I trained my nose so hard

just for the sugar cakes.

When Seventh Grandmother wakes up,

I'll show her the Origin Ink

and Shize Ink.

Then I'll ask her for two more pieces

of sugar cake.

There used to be ancient lacquer-soot ink and Fu Jin Ink.

Now there's the Origin Ink and Shize Ink.

I believe that in the future,

you'll make even more and even better ink.

By then, Seventh Old Madam will be able to see them all.

Speaking of ink-making,

it's a coincidence.

When you first came to Huizhou,

I just started learning to make ink.

Up to now,

I have made 4 kinds of ink.

Old ink makers,

including my grandfather,

at most,

only make a few good pieces of ink in their lifetime.

All these opportunities I had

were because of you.

Then you should say

my judgment is one of a kind.

I bring luck to whoever I invest in.

Who was it that,

because of the Tribute Ink incident,

even lost his own job?

You should just stay by my side

and think about how to make a comeback.

But even if you're reinstated in the future,

we can still

do Shize Ink business together.

We'll sell Shize Ink all the way to the Capital.

If we can sell it to a Number One Scholar,

we'll make a fortune.

Alright, alright, I'll be waiting.

What's that smell?

What's wrong?

Everyone, stop!

Stop!

Stop, all of you!

Indeed.

Why has all the glue gone bad?

Zhen,

I checked it.

The cowhide glue is fine.

It's just the Isinglass—

this stuff is especially sensitive to moisture.

Could it be the rain?

This little rain is fine.

Besides, these walls were mixed

with moisture-resistant Sichuan pepper.

Even if the floor had dampness rising,

it wouldn't turn out like this overnight.

All of the glue was checked bucket by bucket

by me and Steward Shao before being stored.

How could they suddenly spoil?

And the lock is fine.

I checked it. No sign of tampering.

And last time, it was Steward Shao and I

who locked it together.

Zhengshen, Master Qi,

all the mixed ink and boiled glue tonight

must not be discarded.

Also,

have the workers who were making ink tonight

stay here for the night for now.

Until this matter is investigated clearly,

it must be kept strictly confidential.

Don't worry. Here's the key.

This is serious.

Shize Ink is waiting for our delivery.

Manager Zhen,

we must quickly figure out a way

to remedy this in time.

As for how to remedy this,

you don't need to worry about it, Uncle.

I'll figure it out.

You were the one who inspected the glue,

and you were the one who signed off on the order.

What else is there to investigate?

Are you going to investigate

who forged your handwriting

or who cast a spell on you?

I inspected the glue.

There was no problem before it went into the warehouse.

That's right.

Manager Zhen and I inspected it together.

The glue was of good quality when it arrived.

Someone must have tampered with it after it was stored.

We really need to investigate this thoroughly.

That's right. I saw it too.

Then let's investigate those who have the keys to the warehouse.

Then the truth will naturally come out.

The keys to the warehouse—

Steward Shao, Uncle Jingdong, and I

each have one.

There.

Sister-in-law,

our family has always been fair.

Now that Third Brother is not here,

you are the only one who can take charge here.

As a manager, Zhen

is clearly incompetent.

In my opinion,

we should revoke her managerial power first.

Jiangyue.

Then see how big this mess is

and how to fix it.

Fourth Aunt,

before it is thoroughly investigated,

I will not

hand over my managerial power.

Zhen.

Eldest Aunt.

The top priority right now

is to find out the truth,

replenish the raw materials,

and rush out this batch of Shize Ink.

For the sake of this ink,

I can't step down.

After the ink is delivered,

if it is indeed proven to be my negligence,

I won't need anyone to say anything.

I will ask Seventh Grandmother for punishment myself.

Zhen,

if we remake the ink,

is there still time?

If we remedy it right away, we can still make it.

Good.

Usually, in this family,

my words don't carry much weight.

But today, with Third Brother not being here,

this family needs a man

to step up and take charge,

so we can discuss this properly, right?

Stop talking about unrelated things.

Just get straight to the point.

Decai,

if you have something to say,

just say it.

I've heard these past few days

that ever since our family

used the dug-out rosin oil to make ink,

and the news spread,

people everywhere have been imitating us.

Those who do it well

number quite a few.

It just so happens that with the managers of these places,

I am somewhat acquainted.

Time is tight now.

Why don't you let me make a trip

and buy a batch of ink

similar to Shize Ink

to solve the urgent problem?

That seems like a good idea.

Uncle, you've already resigned from the merchant job.

I didn't expect you to still be

so well-informed about the news outside.

This is the only way.

Sister-in-law,

if you think

this method is feasible,

please give me some money.

By the way,

it might be inappropriate to talk to them

with my current identity.

If we want to make a deal,

please lend me the seal for a few days, Manager Zhen.

You've been in the ink workshop for less than half a month

and haven't twisted many lamp wicks.

So your mind has been all on this?

I'll lay it out here today.

The current head of the Li family is me, Li Zhen.

You won't get a single penny you want.

And don't even think about the family seal.

Shize Ink is Shize Ink.

Delivering other ink would be fraud.

If we can't deliver the ink,

I'd rather lose money

than do this self-deceiving business.

Manager Zhen!

Manager Zhen.

Mr. Zhang went to the ink workshop with the Education Official.

The Education Official?

Why did they go to the ink workshop?

They heard there was a problem with Shize Ink

and came to demand an explanation.

Heard?

Again?

Manager Zhen, you are here.

My Lord, you visited so early.

I, Li Zhen, Manager of Li Ink, failed to welcome you.

Please forgive me.

Manager Li.

The Shize Ink developed by Li Ink

[Education Official of Huizhou]

has been benefiting the poor students in Huizhou.

Shize Ink has become

the first choice for Huizhou students taking the autumn imperial examination.

This was supposed to be a great tale.

However, I heard from Mr. Zhang and the others

that there is a problem with the Shize Ink you are making.

I personally named and recommended this ink.

If something really goes wrong,

how am I supposed to explain it to the students?

Steward Shao,

is there a problem with our ink?

No.

Doggie, did you hear anything?

Well...

we don't even know about it.

Where did you

hear this rumor from?

Li Zhen,

the news came right from your ink workshop.

Our ink workshop?

So Mr. Zhang even knows someone in our ink workshop?

Who is it?

It's none of your business who I heard it from.

Just tell me if the glue you use to make the ink

has a problem.

Is all the Shize Ink

you made faulty?

If the Education Official's reputation is ruined because of this,

and the students start protesting,

can you bear the consequences?

This is absolutely untrue.

My Lord,

our Li Ink has a reputation in Huizhou

for over a hundred years.

We have never done business in bad faith.

I, Li Zhen, assure you that

when the delivery date arrives,

Li Ink will deliver the exact amount.

Since you say the ink can be delivered as promised,

then take us all to see the ink we ordered

and check if it's really fine.

Please.

My Lord.

My Lord, you might not know,

but we have a rule in ink-making.

The ink-making area is important, so no unrelated personnel are allowed inside.

What a stupid rule!

I think you are just feeling guilty.

Our Manager Zhen

hasn't let you in yet.

My Lord.

You might not know,

but the ink-making process is complex.

A slight mistake can cause it to spoil.

Besides, the delivery date hasn't arrived yet.

There's no reason to come and make things difficult for us.

If you force your way in

and the ink really spoils,

then how am I supposed to

explain it to you, My Lord?

If the students start protesting,

will they go to the Education Official,

or to you, Mr. Zhang?

Mr. Zhang.

The ink workshop has its own rules.

Let's not break them.

Thank you, My Lord.

The autumn imperial examination is not a trifling matter.

Please look out for yourselves.

Don't make things difficult for me.

I understand!

Farewell, My Lord.

Farewell, My Lord.

Can you understand everything in school?

Sister-in-law.

I have something to say to you.

What is it?

What exactly are you planning?

I heard that girl even dared to deceive the Education Official.

She managed to bluff through today,

but what if she can't deliver the goods in the future?

Are you just going to watch

the Li family be dragged down by her?

I understand what you mean,

but we should trust Zhen.

If we trust her, this family will be ruined.

Sister-in-law,

I may have made mistakes,

but I am a daughter-in-law of the Li family.

My heart is with the Li family.

Li Zhen is not.

She is someone we kicked out of the family.

No matter how good things are,

can she not hold a grudge in her heart?

After all, she's not our family.

You can be tolerant on the surface,

but you have to be on guard in your heart.

Then what do you think

we should do?

Call on the clan elders

and force Li Zhen to step down.

Time is tight now.

Why don't you let me make a trip

and buy a batch of ink

similar to Shize Ink

to solve the urgent problem?

Shize Ink is Shize Ink.

If we can't deliver the ink,

I'd rather lose money

than do this self-deceiving business.

Shize Ink has become the first choice for Huizhou students

taking the autumn imperial examination.

If something really goes wrong,

how am I supposed to explain it to the students?

Mother,

don't worry.

Even if we really have to compensate for this order,

as long as I have hands and feet,

I can be like Zhen,

starting from making lampblack for other ink workshops

and earning the Li family back bit by bit.

Good boy.

The most important thing for you now is to study hard.

You don't need to worry about anything else.

Shize Ink is different from other orders.

I actually think

what Decai said is also a way.

Even if it's not the ink of our Li family,

it's better than having nothing to deliver.

You heard what the Education Official said.

If we really can't deliver the ink

and affect the autumn imperial examination,

we will go to jail.

Eldest Aunt,

think about it.

Something has just happened in our ink workshop,

and Li Decai already had a full set of countermeasures.

First he said he would collect other ink,

then he said we needed money,

and he even asked for our family seal.

Master Qi watches

this ink workshop very closely.

It would never leak any news.

But the Education Official came in the blink of an eye.

Think about it carefully.

All of this is definitely related to Li Decai.

You mean

this is all Decai's doing?

Exactly.

How is that possible?

How could he have the guts?

Even if he couldn't do it all by himself,

behind this,

there must be someone else.

You're right.

We must investigate what needs to be investigated.

But the most important thing right now is to deliver the ink.

You understand?

The only way now

is the idea Decai came up with.

Why won't you give it a try?

Eldest Aunt,

I've told you so much.

Why don't you still understand?

If I really listen to Li Decai,

then our Li family will truly be ruined.

Zhen,

do you not believe him,

or are you afraid someone will take your manager position?

This management power was entrusted

personally to me by Seventh Grandmother.

If it is to be taken back,

she has to take it back herself.

I won't

hand Li Ink over to anyone else.

Eldest Aunt,

I have other things to do at the ink workshop.

I will get back to work.

You should think about it carefully.

Zhen!

Zhen!

Zhen!

I know what happened to the glue!

Bad news.

Eldest Aunt invited all the Li clan elders over.

Now they want you to return to the main family to be questioned.

Elder, please.

Greetings, Elders.

Seventh Old Madam is seriously ill.

There are no elders holding the fort at home,

and you actually made such a big mess.

If Sun hadn't told me,

Li Ink might have been ruined

in your hands.

For the long-term sake of Li Ink,

hand over the family seal.

I have just arrived here

and was lectured by you.

Please allow me to defend myself.

Regarding the Isinglass incident,

I have found out the truth.

Please make a clear judgment, Elders.

Doggie.

Sorry to trouble you, Fourth Aunt.

Well...

Thank you, Fourth Aunt.

Please look, Elders.

Regarding the Isinglass,

someone tampered with the glue bucket.

They replaced the bottom of the bucket

but didn't make it waterproof.

It has been raining continuously these days,

and the bottom got damp,

which caused the Isinglass to rot.

Zhen.

It seems it really was

the glue merchant's doing.

Who is this person? Have they been caught?

When I went to catch him,

this person had already run away.

Now things are clear.

The Isinglass incident

was someone deliberately trying to harm the Li family.

It's highly likely

there was an inside job.

At the ink workshop,

I have already sent people to buy new Isinglass urgently

to rush the production of Shize Ink.

Please rest assured, Elders.

We must catch the saboteur,

but the priority now is to deliver the ink.

I think

we should let Decai buy ready-made ink as soon as possible.

Ensuring on-time delivery

is the most important thing.

Yes.

Wanyi,

let's stick to our agreed plan.

Eldest Aunt.

The most important thing now

is to deliver the ink.

Zhen,

why don't you hand it over for now?

Eldest Aunt,

buying other ink is like drinking poison to quench thirst.

It will cause endless trouble.

I will absolutely not

hand the family seal over.

Just as I expected.

Li Zhen

is really stubborn and unreasonable!

Don't be angry, Elder.

Li Zhen is young.

She doesn't know the gravity of the matter.

I think she refuses to hand over the seal

because she doesn't trust Li Decai.

I do have a solution.

Why not let Li Zhen give the seal to Wanyi,

and have her and Decai buy the ink together?

It will convince everyone

and solve our urgent problem.

Exactly.

I have only learned about ink for a few days,

and I'm Li family's matrilocal son-in-law.

It's normal that Zhen

doesn't trust me.

But if Wanyi can go with me,

it will definitely be much more appropriate.

I think this plan is feasible.

Wanyi is kind-hearted.

She has been with the Seventh Old Madam the longest.

You handle this.

Decai,

you will assist her.

Yes.

Li Decai!

I've been too nice to you, haven't I?

Don't you know

why I don't trust you?

You kept a mistress

and secretly sold raw lacquer to make money without Aunt Chunhua's knowledge.

If Aunt Chunhua hadn't pleaded repeatedly,

how could I let you work at the ink workshop?

You've only been at the ink workshop for a few days,

and then the Isinglass incident happened.

How could a traitor like you

be so kind to the Li family?

Let me ask you.

Did you and those ink merchants

collude long ago,

just waiting to swindle the Li family's money?

Or rather,

in the Isinglass incident,

you were the one working from the inside?

Li Zhen!

You don't want to hand over the family seal,

so you're just accusing me falsely.

Although I'm a matrilocal husband whose words carry no weight,

I won't allow you

to wrong me for no reason!

Li Decai!

For the Li family,

I've worked my heart out

and have always been loyal.

I shouldn't have spared you for the raw lacquer incident!

How presumptuous, Li Zhen!

How dare you use force against an elder in front of the clan elders!

Zhen!

Tian Jiangyue,

you've been jumping up and down.

Don't think I don't know what you're up to.

Today, you just want to use

the clan elders and Eldest Aunt

to force me to hand over the family seal

and to leave the Li family, right?

I'm telling you.

Times have changed.

I won't fulfill your wish.

If I find out you had anything to do

with what happened behind the scenes,

I won't let you off easily!

How arrogant!

Today,

according to our ancestors' rules,

we'll draft a public resolution

and dismiss you as the head of the family!

Rules of our ancestors?

What rules of our ancestors?

You elders seem to have forgotten

that our Eighth Branch was expelled from the clan long ago.

If we really want to be particular about it,

I'm not a member of the Li family!

And you

can't control me at all!

Preposterous!

Looks like

we brought back an ungrateful wretch!

If I am an ungrateful wretch,

then you elders

must be blinded!

May I ask you elders,

when I helped the Li family recreate the ancient lacquer-soot ink

and was framed by them for stealing the ink recipe,

where were you?

When this ink workshop was destroyed,

and I was trying to win back the ink merchants

while rebuilding it,

where were you?

When the pine wilt disease was raging

and the Tian family forcibly requisitioned pine timber,

it was I, Li Zhen, who came up with the rosin oil solution

to help the Li family tide over one crisis after another!

Every single one of these things—

have you forgotten them all?

When things went wrong,

I've never seen you help the Li family even once.

But now you can't even tell right from wrong

and side with these villains.

I'm telling you!

The Li family was personally entrusted to me by Seventh Grandmother.

Unless she wakes up

and comes to take it back herself,

no one

shall take

this family seal seal from me!

This is outrageous!

Servants!

Seize this

disobedient girl!

Find

the family seal!

Who dares!

The entire Li clan

no longer recognizes this head.

What are you afraid of?

Get her!

Who says no one recognizes her anymore?

Uncle Jingdong?

You're back?

I, Li Jingdong,

pay my respects.

Elders,

please be seated.

I,

Li Jingdong, the eldest son of the Sixth Branch of the Li family,

am here to make my position clear to all the elders.

My niece, Li Zhen,

is the head of the Li family.

If anyone has a problem with that,

come to me.

Third Brother...

Have you forgotten about your leg?

Li Zhen has been expelled from the clan.

How can you stand up for her?

Yes.

She was expelled from the clan,

yet she works tirelessly for the Li family every day

and has saved the Li family from disaster several times.

But what about you?

Time and time again,

you have tripped her up

and slung mud at her!

Elders,

I can personally vouch

for my niece, Li Zhen.

Please give her 5 days.

By then,

she will definitely reveal the truth

and

provide a way to deliver the order on time.

Elders,

what do you think?

What if after 5 days

there is still no explanation?

Then I will step down voluntarily

and won't make things difficult for the clan elders.

Alright.

Let's leave it at that for today.

We'll see the result

in 5 days.

Take care, Elders.