Original subtitles

[The Heir]

[Episode 19]

In the next couple of days,

I will go into the mountains to find pine wood.

I would like to ask you to return to the ink workshop as the manager.

Sixth Grandfather,

I have little experience and lack seniority.

I cannot take on this responsibility.

Please return.

Although you are young,

you managed to open your own ink workshop all by yourself.

With this kind of capability,

I trust you.

Sixth Grandfather,

it's not about whether you trust me or not.

It's just that now,

I cannot trust the Li family

or Li Ink.

About the ancient lacquer-soot ink,

you were the ones who kicked me out of the Li family.

Now that the Li family is in trouble,

you want me to go back and help.

Don't you think

it's ironic?

I know

that over the years, in the main family and the ink workshop,

you have suffered a great deal of injustice.

How about this?

I apologize to you.

Sixth Grandfather, what are you doing?

Let's stick to the facts.

If you do this,

it's too much for me to accept.

After Li Ink lost the right to provide Tribute Ink,

it has been unable to recover for over a decade.

Now it finally

has a chance to compete for Tribute Ink again,

but we ran into the pine wilt disease.

It is now a matter of life and death.

The ink workshop needs someone

who can convince everyone,

who can manage things,

and who can be trusted

in order to stabilize the situation.

Only then can I

go into the mountains in peace to find pine wood.

Otherwise,

the century-old foundation of the Li family

will be destroyed in our generation.

Isn't that a sin?

I know in your heart,

your resentment toward the main family

cannot be resolved overnight.

When I return from finding pine wood,

please, Zhen, give the main family and me

a chance to make amends.

Alright?

And those ink-makers—

ever since you left Li Ink,

they have all come to realize it.

They truly recognize your skill in making ink.

Look,

this is a petition they wrote.

They all hope you can go back.

Zhen,

I, an old man, am begging you like this.

Can you help me?

Sixth Grandfather,

regarding today's matter,

I cannot say yes to you.

Please go back.

Zhen.

Take care, Sixth Grandfather.

Sorry to bother you.

Sorry to bother you.

Seventh Old Madam.

Our stored pine is only enough to fulfill our orders.

We really don't have any extra.

I'm sorry.

It's fine.

Sorry for the intrusion.

Please go back.

Please go back.

No need to see me out.

No need to see me out, Manager Pan.

Seventh Old Madam.

I am really sorry.

I understand.

I understand.

Go back.

Go back.

I am sorry, Seventh Old Madam.

We really have no more pine wood.

It's fine.

Mother!

Mother!

I've been looking everywhere for you.

I'm fine.

I'm fine.

Let's go home.

Okay.

It's just...

It's just this cough.

Why didn't you call me when you came out?

I just wanted to look for it myself.

I couldn't find you.

Do you know how worried I was?

Zhen! Zhen!

Ms. Zhen is in the backyard.

Zhen.

Zhen, bad news.

What's wrong, Hua'er?

What's wrong?

Seventh Grandmother couldn't buy pine wood anywhere

and fell ill after returning home.

-Zhen. -Seventh Grandmother.

Why are you here?

Help me up.

Hurry, help me up.

Take it easy.

Seventh Grandmother, just lie down.

Why are you here, Zhen?

I heard you were sick,

so I came to see you.

That's better.

Zhen,

it's nothing serious.

It's just a minor illness. I'm fine.

Seventh Grandmother.

I actually saw you on Sibao Street yesterday.

I saw everything.

Although the pine wilt disease is urgent,

you shouldn't

neglect your health like this.

You could have just

let others handle buying pine wood.

Why did you have to

go begging from door to door yourself?

Now, with the pine wilt disease, pine wood is hard to find.

You know that

our Li family depends on

pine soot ink as the foundation of our livelihood.

Why does our Li family

have to face such a disaster?

I couldn't just stand by and watch.

Fortunately, I discussed this with your grandfather

and your Sixth Grandfather the day before yesterday.

Regarding the pine wood,

we have found a solution.

So, Zhen,

don't worry about it anymore.

You should now focus on

protecting your New Li Ink Workshop.

That is the top priority.

Come, let me see you.

You've lost weight.

You really have.

You must be

exhausted from running the ink workshop.

You don't eat or sleep well.

It breaks my heart.

Here's what you're gonna do.

After you go back,

ask your mother to make you some good food

to nourish your body.

To make our little Zhen

strong

and energetic.

If you don't have enough money,

I can give you some.

What's wrong?

Don't cry.

Why are you crying? Don't cry.

The money is enough.

The money you gave me

is more than enough to spend.

Ever since

the year you broke off your engagement,

I've been quietly setting aside

some private money for you every year.

No one knows about this money.

You can't even say a word

to Hua'er.

Understood?

My little Zhen

is like a little sapling.

Now,

you have already grown up.

Whatever you want to do now,

just do it.

My wish is

for you to do what you like.

As long as you are happy,

I...

can rest easy.

My Zhen.

Sixth Grandfather,

stop wandering around in front of my ink workshop.

People who don't know might think you're here to collect a debt.

Zhen.

About what you asked me before,

I accept.

But there are a few things I must say first.

I'm only returning to Li Ink to help manage it temporarily.

Once you return from finding pine

and resolving the pine wilt disease,

I will still go back to my New Li Ink Workshop.

Also,

I hope everyone at Li Ink can work together

to overcome the current difficulties.

If I find

anyone engaging in

internal scheming,

I will follow the workshop's rules

and punish them severely.

Don't blame me for being ruthless then.

Alright.

We'll do as you say.

Then I will entrust the workshop...

and the Sixth Branch

to you.

Thank you, my good granddaughter.

Then I...

Miss.

Are you worried about your marriage?

I can read your fate with a single divination.

I hope you find a good match soon.

Zhengshen.

Miss.

Grandfather?

What brings you here?

I missed you.

How's your business?

I...

I haven't met anyone destined yet today.

Aren't you an immortal?

Didn't you do a divination

to see whether it's a good time

to do business today?

Grandfather.

It's one thing for others to make fun of me,

but why are you doing it too?

I was young and ignorant before.

Now I'm just doing a little business.

I have to make money to support myself.

Alright, let me be your first customer today.

How about that?

Really?

Grandfather, take your pick.

I'll take

all of these things.

Here,

take this.

Grandfather,

did you come specifically looking for me today?

I'm going away for a few days.

Before I come back,

I want you to help take care of the family.

But I don't know how to make ink.

You know that.

Everyone in the family says I'm irresponsible.

How can I help?

Did I say I want you to make ink?

As for the ink workshop affairs,

I've already entrusted them to Zhen.

Right, then what else is there?

There is.

Family matters, and your father's affairs.

You know your father's temper.

I'm worried that after Zhen arrives,

he won't give her peace.

That's why I want you to watch him.

Don't let him cause trouble.

Let him help out if he can.

If he can't, just don't do things

that hurt others without benefiting himself.

That would only disappoint Zhen.

Understand?

Grandfather,

can I ask you a question?

Go ahead.

Why did you come to me?

In the Li family, besides you,

who else can I find?

Grandfather.

I thought you finally realized

that I'm the kind of person who can

step up in critical moments.

What a good grandson.

Come, let me show you some love.

So many people are here.

So many people are here.

Alright, pack up your things.

I will treat you to something good.

Let's go.

Okay. Wait for me.

Seventh Grandmother.

Sixth Grandfather.

Zhen,

it seems your Sixth Grandfather is the only one

who could persuade you to come back.

I felt better as soon as I heard you were coming back.

Come.

Seventh Grandmother.

You came just in time.

Master Qi is very thoughtful.

He's been helping your Sixth Grandfather prepare to go into the mountains.

You see,

he also took the trouble to find these hunters.

They know the roads of Mount Huang best.

They can act as guides and help carry things.

They will follow instructions along the way.

And that Mr. Xiao.

He is very skilled in martial arts

in the military.

Master Qi has sent his most capable man

to help your Sixth Grandfather go into the mountains.

If they encounter any wild animals,

he can show off his skills.

Master Qi is indeed a shareholder of Li Ink.

He takes responsibility for everything.

Old Madam.

The truly thoughtful one is Miss Li Zhen.

She came to my door to ask me to lend her some men.

Zhen is indeed thoughtful.

Zhen, you...

Seventh Grandmother,

the one who really helped is Master Qi.

We should thank him.

Thank you again, Master Qi.

Thank you for your trouble, Master Qi.

Old Madam, Sixth Master Li,

please don't be so polite.

[Li Ink]

Everyone.

I have been entrusted by Sixth Grandfather to help the ink workshop.

I'm sure you all know by now.

I was here a while ago,

but at that time,

I was an ink maker hired by Li Ink.

This time it's different.

Sixth Grandfather has gone into the mountain to find pine wood.

We must live up to his efforts.

As for the current situation of Li Ink,

you must have known about it.

First, the pine wilt disease has broken out.

Second, the Tribute Ink selection is imminent.

Two things are happening at the same time,

which makes it quite difficult.

If we want to get through this,

we will rely on the cooperation of the whole ink workshop,

that is, the support and solidarity of all the brothers here.

As the saying goes,

"Troops have no fixed strategy, just as water has no constant shape."

We must be flexible where we need to be.

So today I will offer my humble thoughts

and share two of my ideas.

First,

the Li family must win the Tribute Ink rights.

Uncle Jingdong has poured his heart and soul into developing new ink,

so everything he needs

must be prepared in full.

Manager Shao has checked the roster.

The personnel and materials listed must be used exclusively for this task

and must not be diverted.

Second, the pine wilt disease has broken out.

Pine wood has become a rarity.

Our warehouse stock is limited,

and we still have to handle the signed orders

for the coming months.

We need to increase income and reduce expenditure.

From now on, when making lampblack,

every piece of pine wood must be handled with great care.

This is your lampblack-making record for this month.

I've looked at it and found something interesting.

Who is Qi Donghai?

Who is Qi Donghai?

I...

I am.

On average, 8 out of every 10 portions of pine soot lampblack you made

are of good quality.

That far exceeds the other ink-makers.

It shows you've put in a lot of effort.

You are a third-class ink-maker.

Today, I promote you to a second-class ink-maker.

Your pay is doubled.

Thank you, Miss Li Zhen.

Second-class?

Why?

Keep up the good work.

Miss Li Zhen, I'm afraid this is inappropriate.

According to the rules of the ink workshop,

a third-class ink-maker needs at least 2 years

to be promoted to second-class after passing the assessment.

Qi Donghai has only been making lampblack

in the workshop for just a year.

Well...

Manager Shao,

rules exist for a reason.

But if we stick rigidly to the rules,

they become a shackle.

Now that the pine wilt disease has broken out,

if everyone wastes one less bowl of lampblack,

we can save one more piece of pine wood.

Our shipments will be guaranteed,

and everyone's jobs will be secure!

That makes sense.

That sounds reasonable.

I hereby announce

that starting today, our ink workshop

will adopt a flexible approach to staffing.

No matter who you are or which stage of production you work in,

as long as you can achieve an 80% pass rate

like Qi Donghai,

you will be promoted one level,

regardless of seniority,

and receive the wages you deserve.

I hope everyone will put in more effort and research

so that we can overcome the current difficulties of Li Ink together.

Really?

Then we can make more money!

This is a good thing!

Miss Li Zhen,

I misunderstood you before.

I apologize to you here.

Yes, Miss Li Zhen.

I was blind and failed to see the truth.

I've long wanted

to apologize as well.

From now on, whatever you instruct,

I will obey without question.

Yes, we'll all listen to you.

Miss Li Zhen,

what can I do for you?

Manager Shao, no need for formalities.

I asked you here to discuss two things.

Miss Li Zhen,

you are now the acting manager of the ink workshop.

Please feel free to give any instructions.

I noticed that we previously

had a large backlog of orders for pine soot ink.

Although the new rules

have improved the pass rate,

it is not a long-term solution.

So I was thinking—

could you reach out to some of our

long-standing ink merchants

and persuade them

to switch part of their pine soot ink orders

to lacquer-soot ink instead?

That's actually a good idea.

Leave this to me.

Furthermore, I checked the accounts recently

and found the raw lacquer supply has been declining

over the past two months.

Has the Sixth Branch reduced its raw lacquer production recently?

I haven't heard

Miss Chunhua send anyone to report a drop in production.

If the raw lacquer supply can't keep up,

these orders

risk falling through on both ends.

We might end up losing everything

and doing more harm than good.

We would even face a massive penalty.

Well,

should I send someone to investigate thoroughly?

We shouldn't let this get out.

If those ink merchants

find out we are short on raw materials,

they will inevitably lose trust in Li Ink.

Then what should we do about the raw lacquer?

Manager Shao, please keep an eye on the ink workshop's production.

I'll handle the raw lacquer issue.

Then I'll leave it to you, Miss Li Zhen.

Thank you, Manager Shao.

Wait for me, Uncle Jingdong.

Uncle Jingdong,

I have something to discuss with you.

Go ahead.

Here is the thing.

For the ink workshop's revenue,

I have converted some pine soot ink orders

into lacquer-soot ink orders at a discount.

Li Zhen,

since my father entrusted the ink workshop to you,

you can make the decisions yourself.

No need to tell me.

The Sixth Branch has always

been responsible for supplying raw lacquer.

Since the future demand for raw lacquer will only increase,

I would like to ask for your help to coordinate

and increase its supply

to support Li Ink through this difficulty.

What do you mean?

Are you afraid I'll reduce your raw lacquer supply

and deliberately make things difficult for you?

Li Zhen.

This is a very good year,

and the yield of raw lacquer is abundant.

I might as well make it clearer.

Li Zhen.

No matter how dissatisfied I am with your Eighth Branch,

I will not ruin Li Ink's business.

So don't assume

the worst of me.

It seems he doesn't know the reason.

Aunt Chunhua.

Zhen, you're here.

Run.

Zhen!

Play horseback riding with me.

Father hasn't been home for a long time.

No one plays with me.

Okay, I'll play with you in a bit, alright?

Okay.

Aunt, for the opening of the New Li Ink Workshop,

someone brought us a spotted pig as a gift.

My mother made some cured pork ribs.

She asked me to bring some over for you and Run

to try.

Come, Zhen.

Sit here.

Thank you, Aunt.

Aunt,

is Uncle not here?

Decai said he was going to Suzhou to deliver goods.

He won't be back for half a month.

I see.

How have things been at the ink workshop these days?

My brother has always been very rigid.

If he said anything unpleasant,

please don't take it to heart.

No, everything is fine.

Don't worry, Aunt.

I actually came here this time

for the raw lacquer.

I checked the registration ledger

and found that the intake of raw lacquer over the past 6 months

has decreased.

And Uncle Jingdong is busy developing Tribute Ink,

so he has no time to manage this.

I had no choice but to come to you for help.

Zhen.

Don't worry about the raw lacquer.

I will definitely cooperate in every way.

It's just that...

To tell you the truth,

there are indeed some special circumstances regarding this matter.

Previously, our Li Ink Workshop

mostly produced pine soot ink.

The usage of raw lacquer was actually not large.

There was some surplus every month.

In order to bring more income to the family,

six months ago, I took it upon myself

to sell some to outside merchants.

Aunt, which merchants did you sell it to?

Can I have a look?

Okay.

Zhen, sit down first.

Take a look.

I've registered every single transaction in here.

Aunt,

the ink workshop is in urgent need of a large amount of raw lacquer recently.

Could you think of a way

to speak with some of the merchants here

and ask them to return some of it?

Right now, we'll take however much we can scrape together.

Business values integrity the most.

I'm afraid this won't work.

Yes.

I know.

But this is for the livelihood of Li Ink.

Aunt.

If it's inconvenient for you to come forward,

let me be the bad guy.

How about I go talk to them?

The ink workshop has a lot of affairs.

You are already so busy.

Let me handle this matter.

Zhen, don't worry.

These raw lacquer merchants are all regular customers.

We can always call in some favors.

Then I'll leave it to you, Aunt.

I won't disturb you anymore. I'll take my leave.

Okay.

Please go back inside, Aunt.

Take care.

Here are last month's accounts.

Find someone to send them to my sister

for her to review.

Okay, Master. Don't worry.

Miss Li Zhen.

Miss Li Zhen,

the Master is inside.

Thank you.

Please.

Master Qi.

Zhen?

What brings you here?

I was passing by, so I dropped in to see you

and ask for a cup of tea.

Also, I wanted to ask

if you know any raw lacquer merchants

that you could introduce to me.

No problem.

Please have a seat.

Mr. He.

Brew some of the newly arrived tea.

Right away.

Zhen.

I do know a few

raw lacquer merchants.

Would you like to meet them at a teahouse

or a restaurant?

I just returned to Li...

Sir,

please see how much this hairpin can be pawned for.

Okay.

What's wrong?

Thirty taels for pawning.

Sixty taels for selling.

Do you want to pawn it or sell it outright?

Sell it outright.

One gold hairpin!

Sold outright for 60 taels!

Here is the money.

Keep it.

Thank you.

Take care.

Take care.

Mr. He.

Let me see the item

that lady just pawned.

It's okay.

Here you go.

Sir.

Sir.

Do you have raw lacquer left?

It was sold out long ago.

In order to bring more income to the family,

6 months ago, I took it upon myself

to sell some to outside merchants.

I've registered

every single transaction in here.

Aunt,

is Uncle not here?

Decai said he was going to Suzhou to deliver goods.

He won't be back for half a month.

Zhengshen,

how did you pop up out of nowhere?

You look so worried. What's the matter?

Tell me.

Let me help you.

I wouldn't dare trouble a real immortal like you.

Zhen,

you're making fun of me.

I know.

No one in this family believes me.

They think I just seek immortality all day

and neglect my proper duties.

But everything I do

is to keep the Li family safe.

Grandfather, for the sake of the family,

risked his life going into the mountains.

And Father

has been developing Tribute Ink day and night.

I should also contribute to this family

by taking off my Taoist robe and entering the secular world to help.

If you ever need my help in the future,

just let me know.

Just look at it as helping me out.

Killing two birds with one stone— wouldn't that be perfect?

Zhengshen, I happen to have something right now

that I need your help with.

What is it?

I would like to trouble you

to make a trip to Suzhou for me.

Suzhou?

Zhen, you are truly a living immortal.

Those merchants Aunt gave us are all fake.

They don't even exist.

And I also found out

that my uncle, Li Decai,

who said he went to deliver goods to Suzhou,

is actually privately selling at a low price

our Li family's raw lacquer.

The buyer said

without the connection to Mrs. Su,

ordinary people wouldn't be able to buy it.

Mrs. Su?

Who is Mrs. Su?

She's the mistress Li Decai keeps in Suzhou.

They even have a child.

He also owes a lot of money outside.

Zhengshen,

are you sure you got all this right?

Absolutely sure.

If you hadn't repeatedly warned me

not to act rashly,

I would have tied him up and brought him back.

No, I have to tell my father about this

and let him uphold justice.

Come back!

Don't you know your father's temper?

Why do you think I asked you to go to Suzhou and not someone else?

This matter shouldn't be made public.

Then what do you think we should do?

Give me some time to think of a way.

Remember,

this is strictly between you and me.

Don't tell anyone else.

Also,

over in Suzhou,

did you arrange for someone to keep an eye on him?

Don't worry. It's all arranged.

That ungrateful thing!

Run.

Zhen.

Zhen.

Run, why aren't you riding a horse today?

Father isn't here. It's not fun.

Mother, come out!

-Zhen. -Zhen is here.

Aunt.

Are you looking for me?

It's really a bad time.

It's Run's birthday today.

His father is not around.

I was just about to take him to pick persimmons.

Come on, Run.

It's your birthday today?

That's perfect.

How about I pick persimmons with you?

Alright!

Come, hold my hand.

Let's go, Aunt.

Mother, I want to do it myself.

Does Father like softer persimmons,

or harder ones?

Father hasn't been home for a long time.

When exactly is he coming back?

He promised to come back to celebrate my birthday with me.

Once we finish picking these persimmons,

your father will be almost home.

Run,

How about I help you pick them?

Okay.

If I hold you and push like this,

it counts as you picking the persimmon yourself, okay?

Okay.

Come on.

Look, it fell down.

Run is so great.

Zhen, you're so amazing.

Do you believe me?

In a couple of days, your father will definitely be back.

Pick some soft ones first.

Run likes them.

These hard ones

will be ripe just in time for Decai's return.

Aunt, do you still remember

what kind of persimmons you like to eat?

A while ago,

I asked Zhengshen to go to Suzhou.

He found out some things.

Some things

you can hide from for a while,

but not forever.

If it comes to light,

you will displease both sides,

and you will be the one to suffer in the end.

Aunt,

based on what I know about you,

you wouldn't do anything to harm the Li family.

But can you tell me

why you've been helping Li Decai cook the books?

Aunt,

do you know

that he has a mistress outside?

Today is Run's birthday.

As his father,

he is wrapped up in the arms of another woman,

without a care for you and your son,

yet you are still thinking of him.

Run looks up to

his father.

I can't let him lose his father at such a young age.

I knew he had a mistress a long time ago.

But for Run's sake,

this family cannot fall apart.

As long as I don't bring it up,

at least he will come back to Run,

and I can pretend nothing ever happened.

Zhen,

I am begging you,

don't make a big deal out of this.

Please indulge my selfishness just this once.

Every family has its own problems.

In this matter,

I really have no right to say these things to you.

But the Li family's disaster is imminent,

and I must give the Li family an explanation.

I can choose not to blow this out of proportion,

but you must also agree to a few conditions.

First,

no more selling raw lacquer on the sly.

If it happens again, I won't tolerate it.

Second,

you can no longer help him cook the books.

Even for Run's sake,

you must not get yourself involved.

Do you understand, Aunt?

Thank you, Zhen.

[Wang Residence, Suzhou]

Zhen,

it's right here.

Wang Residence?

What a Wang Residence.

You guys go to the back door

and open the door for me.

Yes.

-Who are you? -Who are you?

Come out!

Master!

How dare you break into a private house? Is there any law?

Mr. Wang,

look how high and mighty you are.

[Su Yunniang, Li Decai's mistress]

Zhen?