Chapter 112
Chapter 112: Taking the Firewood from Under the Pot
The two Madams of the Dou Family took the little girl home.
Fourth Madam Dou had always respected her sister-in-law, but now, sitting in the carriage, she could not help complaining to her: “Sister-in-law, you went a bit too far. Other people will scold you for this.”
When Fourth Madam’s daughter went missing, her sister-in-law had helped her search without resting for a moment and had even sent people back to the city to notify the yamen, until she was so tired that her clothes were soaked through with sweat.
This sister-in-law was dutiful and responsible. She handled every matter in the household thoroughly, so in Fourth Madam’s eyes she had great prestige.
At the same time, this sister-in-law was far too snobbish, always wanting to curry favor with powerful nobles, and she had even made a laughingstock of herself because of it before.
Today, when the maidservant led them out to pay a visit and she saw that it was the Marquis of Zhen Nan’s manor, Fourth Madam Dou’s heart skipped a beat. She was afraid her sister-in-law would relapse into her old habits.
The one who received them had not been the marchioness herself, and her sister-in-law had behaved with proper manners. Fourth Madam Dou had been busy feeling frightened in hindsight and crying tears of joy, so it was her sister-in-law who had said all the proper, polite words.
But she never expected that as soon as Prince Yong’s intended consort arrived, her sister-in-law’s eyes would light up. The intended consort was probably young and spoke without much filter; she casually said a polite line, and her sister-in-law had actually knelt to her.
Kneeling to the intended consort was useless. She was a young lady of the inner residence; how could she possibly take care of business matters?
It only left a bad impression instead.
Fourth Madam Dou wished she could find a hole in the ground to crawl into. She wanted to scold her sister-in-law, but did not quite dare, so she held her temper down and only complained.
First Madam Dou only smiled and said: “I did not really do anything. She is the intended consort and the young lady of the marquis manor. Kneeling to her does not disgrace me. It was only a matter of saying a few words. If it doesn’t work out, so what? Our Dou Family has no connection with the Luo Family to begin with, and we cannot latch onto them. But if there is a chance, then we can rise. Saying a few pleasing words and having a thicker skin is a business with no cost. You are still afraid of looking ugly with such a good thing? How will you make money then?”
Fourth Madam Dou was speechless.
She had forgotten that her sister-in-law came from a small merchant family. Though her family had been well off, she had liked doing business ever since she was little, selling flowers by herself in the streets and alleys when she was only a few years old.
Her thick skin was something ordinary men could not compare to.
After the Dou Family rose to wealth, the daughters-in-law they married in were all daughters of great merchants. Fourth Madam Dou’s maiden family was quite rich, and she had been raised as a pampered young lady in the boudoir.
She truly could not stand her sister-in-law’s money-grubbing ways, yet she had to admire her skills.
If such an outstanding woman as her sister-in-law understood a bit more about decorum and had some of the reserve of the wives of huge merchants, she would be even more respected.
Fourth Madam Dou frowned slightly and said: “Sister-in-law, don’t always think about making money. Our family already has more than thirty shops. Making money is not the most important thing. We have to earn some respectability too.”
First Madam Dou’s face sank as she said: “You have no foresight. Just over a few dozen shops, and because people praise us a little, you forget your place? Do you know that Madam Dou has no backing at all and cannot climb up to any great clans? If a wave crashes down on us, we are nothing but fat sheep waiting to be slaughtered. These days of good food and drink have raised all of you into delicate, pampered people. Have you forgotten how our ancestors used to carry a shoulder pole, walking through the streets and alleys selling brushes and ink? That was only twenty years ago.”
Fourth Madam Dou’s face flushed red.
She wanted to argue that things were not like the past anymore, that now their family was the head proprietor.
Since the current dynasty had opened the sea ban and lifted up merchants, merchants could study and wear fine silk and satin, and they had plenty of money in their hands. Fourth Madam Dou had never felt that she was inferior to others, nor had she felt any sense of crisis.
After being put down by a few words from her sister-in-law, Fourth Madam Dou no longer dared to speak.
She still felt that her sister-in-law’s words and actions just now had been very embarrassing.
But she was far too tired and worn out today, having gone from great sorrow to great joy. Her clothes had been soaked with sweat and then dried again; now her whole body smelled unpleasant, and she could not help her eyelids from drooping.
She leaned against the side of the carriage and fell asleep.
First Madam Dou was also tired but could not fall asleep, because she kept replaying in her mind the tone, expression, and look in the eyes of Prince Yong’s intended consort when she had spoken just now.
After the people of the Dou Family left, Luo Ning stayed to have supper with Second Madam.
After the maidservants set out the chopsticks and dishes, they withdrew, and Second Madam picked dishes into Luo Ning’s bowl.
Second Madam then asked: “What did you mean earlier? When that Madam from the Dou Family knelt to you, she really scared me.”
Luo Ning smiled and said: “The Dou Family’s Cheng Yan inkstones are very famous. Aunt, have you heard of them?”
Second Madam was not very educated, but she had some contact with brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. Luo Wan had to study, and the two sons also had to begin their lessons.
Second Madam nodded and said: “Cheng Yan really is very good. The price is not low, yet it is greatly sought after.”
Luo Ning explained: “The Ministry of Revenue often changes the imperial merchants. Brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones are also used by the emperor, and they are usually bought from the imperial merchants listed in the ledgers. Every few years, the list is changed.”
Second Madam looked at her in surprise.
She was puzzled and asked: “A’Ning, do you want to get involved in this matter? It will not do you any good.”
Luo Ning said: “I just feel that Cheng Yan is easy to use and want to recommend it to Your Majesty and the members of the imperial family. These days I often practice calligraphy, and none of the inkstones and ink I have used are as good as the Dou Family’s.”
Second Madam fell silent.
She knew that Luo Ning was not saying everything.
Sending people ahead of time to Guanghua Temple, somehow as if she knew in advance, and finding the Dou Family’s little daughter who had been abducted, was not a simple matter.
However, both Second Madam and the second branch of the family depended on Luo Ning. She deeply understood the need for caution and few words, so she did not ask any more.
After eating, Luo Ning returned to Wenqi Courtyard to wash up.
Lying on the bed, she was still thinking about the Dou Family.
In her previous life, Madam Dou later became an imperial merchant, and their business grew bigger and bigger. She had heard that their old madam was a very clever person.
That had happened after Prince Yong ascended the throne.
When Luo Ning was a ghost, she had heard a storyteller at a teahouse praise Madam Dou’s thriving business and mention that old madam.
Now it seemed that this person was the Dou Family’s First Madam.
She truly was extraordinary, quick-witted and quick to react. The business world was like a battlefield; only by being brave and decisive could one carve out a path.
Luo Ning had also heard the storyteller say that the Dou Family specially built a temple for their sixth young miss to live in seclusion.
When the Dou Family’s sixth young miss was little, she had been kidnapped at Guanghua Temple. At the time, the human traffickers hid her in a wine barrel and sent her to the Southern Region.
A few years later, she became a courtesan with quite a bit of fame.
After she became famous, the Dou Family found her.
The Dou Family did not force her to die to preserve the family’s reputation, but instead brought her back.
At first, the sixth young miss had not been willing to return.
The Dou Family’s old madam personally traveled all the way to Yangzhou to bring her home, and then had a luxurious temple built for her, supporting her there.
Listeners had mixed praise and criticism for this.
Some said Madam Dou was righteous. Others said she had lowered her own status, and that in the future her children would be shunned in marriage because of it. They felt she should have asked this sixth young miss, who had become an entertainer, to take her own life so that both sides could be preserved.
But Luo Ning thought that this family must have a powerful household matriarch whose authority far surpassed that of the men.
If a man had been in charge, he would surely have chosen the latter and ordered the sixth young miss to kill herself.
The Dou Family had become imperial merchants because they built up a reputation for quality in the capital city and nearby areas, far better than their peers. Other imperial merchants, however, relied on recommendations from powerful nobles.
Luo Ning had been thinking about this matter these days.
She had tried hard to search through her memories, piecing things together bit by bit. She also sent people to look at the Dou Family’s shops and buy back Cheng Yan inkstones and Cheng inksticks.
Cheng Prefecture produced stone for inkstones in abundance, with clear grain and a smooth feel. Inkstones made by the Dou Family let the ink flow evenly and kept it from drying out easily.
Even the ordinary styles looked as if they had been crafted with great care when displayed. Their appearance was very good, and their quality was outstanding.
Once Luo Ning used them, she understood why the Dou Family’s business kept growing. After using the Dou Family’s Cheng Yan inkstones, seven out of ten people would at least say, “Not bad.”
She then told Nanny Kong to search the storeroom and find a few lake inkstones that Madam Bai had given her before, the very type that Qiu Shi Dong wanted to present to the emperor.
Whether in texture or use, they could not compare to the Cheng Yan.
Luo Ning thought that to interfere with Qiu Shi Dong’s bid to become an imperial merchant, she had to take the firewood from under the pot.
She would first draw Madam Dou over to her side, then take the next step.
The next day, Luo Ning called Qiu Lan over and said: “Disguise yourself and quietly make a trip to the Dou Family. Take my calling card and go see the Dou Family’s First Madam. Keep everything secret.”
Qiu Lan agreed and left through the side gate, without alerting anyone else in the marquis manor.