141. The State of Intoxication (Third Update)

To become the president of the Ink Merchants' Association of a prefecture, one must first ensure the incumbent resigns. Furthermore, the approval of more than half of the association's ink envoys is required, along with a letter of recommendation from an existing envoy and, fundamentally, mastery of the craft of ink-making.

When Wang Huayuan became president years ago, he naturally used his own methods to become an exception to the rules governing the Great Yin Dynasty's ink merchants' associations. Because he possessed a modicum of tact, rarely interfered with the association’s decisions, and occasionally contributed his own silver to its coffers, the Yizhou association tolerated him, even though he was an outsider to the craft.

When Gu Fei arrived at Songbai Manor holding Feng Puyu’s letter of recommendation and invited the five ink envoys to witness the resignation letter personally signed and stamped by Wang Huayuan, the room fell into a deathly silence for a long while.

Then, everyone began to turn the matter over in their own minds.

Gu Fei swept her gaze across the room with a cold, mocking glint in her eyes. She sat at the very end of the flower hall, clutching a teacup. Beside her sat Feng Puyu, followed by "Fatty" Wei of the Wei family. On the other side was Luo Song, an ink-maker for the Xiao-Mo family, and the mysterious Young Master Mingyue, who wore a faint smile. Finally, arriving fashionably late, was the cold and rigid Dong Shi.

After a long silence, Fatty Wei chuckled and broke the ice. "Elder Feng, having such a granddaughter makes me quite envious. I wonder when I shall have the good fortune to find a granddaughter with such exceptional ink-making skills."

If anyone else had said this, it would have sounded like sarcasm, but coming from Fatty Wei—and directed at Feng Puyu—it was clearly a jocular remark between old friends.

Elder Feng cast a sidelong glance at Gu Fei and frowned. "It is but a trivial skill; hardly worth calling 'exceptional.' You, you old fatty, with so many talented young people in the Wei family, are you still not satisfied?"

Fatty Wei compared the two and realized it was true. His Wei family descendants were as numerous as a towering tree, while the Feng lineage, with only one successor, was like a solitary blade of grass. They could not be compared. He smiled, cast a profound look at the demure Gu Fei, and said no more.

As for the other three, Mo Yuhua had already formed a secret alliance with Gu Fei. Luo Song had heard whispers from his master before arriving, so while he didn't show overt warmth toward Gu Fei, he didn't look hostile either. Dong Shi, among the five, was the one who most respected Feng Puyu. Furthermore, Gu Fei had previously sent him an ink pellet; from that, he knew her skills were genuine. Despite his stubborn and cold nature, he cupped his hands toward Feng Puyu and said, "Congratulations, Elder Feng."

Feng Puyu stroked his beard and returned the gesture.

Only Young Master Mingyue remained silent. He smiled and glanced at Gu Fei, remarking ambiguously, "I heard that Miss Gu’s ink-making skills were already impressive, and now, under Elder Feng’s tutelage, she has surely reached even greater heights. It is truly admirable."

From his words alone, it was impossible to discern his true intent.

"You are too kind, Young Master. I am unworthy of such praise," Gu Fei replied, not even lifting her eyelids, her polite retort ready on her tongue.

Elder Feng stroked his beard, his eyes narrowed, hiding his true thoughts. He decided to be blunt. "You have all seen President Wang’s resignation letter, and I have written my letter of recommendation. What are your intentions?"

Once the matter was laid bare, the usually active Fatty Wei grew quiet. His expression darkened as he looked at the others. Luo Song, hiding behind the rest, remained equally observant and inconspicuous.

Elder Feng’s expression did not change. He continued to stroke his silver beard, a smile still on his face, showing no signs of urgency.

After some deliberation, Dong Shi was the first to speak up. "Elder Feng, I trust your recommendation is based on Miss Gu’s capability. However, to my eyes, Miss Gu is still young, and I fear she may be unable to shoulder such a great responsibility. If possible, she should perhaps spend a few years gaining experience within the association first."

Dong Shi’s words were spoken entirely out of concern for the association, devoid of any personal bias. Feng Puyu understood this well and showed no displeasure.

With someone taking the lead, Fatty Wei followed suit, patting his generous belly. "He is right. While our Yizhou Ink Merchants' Association may not compare to the one in the capital, it is still a prefectural association with many affairs to manage. There has never been a president as young as this girl, and it is rare enough for a woman to hold such a position."

Luo Song and Mingyue remained silent.

To become president, the approval of at least half of the ink envoys was required. By the sound of Dong Shi and Fatty Wei, they were already in opposition.

Elder Feng was not annoyed. A profound smile played beneath his silver beard. He stood with one hand behind his back and said, "I have written the letter of recommendation, but I will not interfere in the rest. My stance is clear..."

He turned to look at Gu Fei. "If you truly wish to be president, do it by your own merits. I will not intervene further."

Fatty Wei was delighted by this. His fair, fleshy cheeks bunched up as he smiled. "Didn't the young lady want to be an ink envoy before? Why not start as an envoy for a while? If there are any issues, we elders can support you."

Gu Fei curled her lips. She had anticipated this scene before coming, so she was not the least bit surprised.

She nodded to the group to express her gratitude. "I thank you all for your consideration. Please forgive me for any shortcomings."

She looked first at Dong Shi. "Elder Dong, you have already seen the ink pellet I sent, have you not? May I ask what you think of it?"

At the mention of the ink pellet, Dong Shi laughed. He was usually expressionless, so the smile appeared stiff and unnatural. "Excellent ink. A masterpiece of the highest quality, truly rare and worthy of being a collector's item."

Gu Fei smiled faintly. "To receive such praise from Elder Dong, my ink pellets must indeed be of high quality."

"However," she added softly, dropping the stone that would ripple into a great wave, "did you know that that ink pellet came from the Xuanzhu Workshop?"

The expressions of those present shifted instantly. Even Elder Feng looked at her with renewed surprise.

"The Xuanzhu Workshop? The one that only accepts orders if paid in advance?" Young Master Mingyue interjected.

Gu Fei swept her gaze over him and admitted generously, "Indeed. It is merely a plaything I manage in my spare time."

Everyone knew that the Xuanzhu Workshop was the most discussed topic among the scholars and nobles of Yizhou. To not possess a piece from the Xuanzhu Workshop was considered a sign of poor taste. Yet, Gu Fei described it as a "plaything."

It felt arrogant, yet no one felt it was an empty boast; after all, the reputation of the Xuanzhu Workshop was well-established, and it was no exaggeration to say they earned a fortune every day.

"Now, Elder Dong, do you believe I am qualified to hold the position of president?" Gu Fei asked, addressing Dong Shi directly and ignoring the others.

Dong Shi was stunned for a moment before snapping back to reality. He reflexively looked toward Elder Feng, but seeing him with his eyes closed in meditation, he burst into a hearty laugh. "Truly, a hero is born in youth, and a woman is no less capable than a man. I am convinced; you are fit for this position."

Hearing this, Gu Fei’s eyes sparkled with joy. She calmly cupped her hands in the masculine style and thanked him. "In the future, I hope you will provide me with your guidance, Elder Dong."

Dong Shi was not one to mince words. "Of course. If you prove incompetent, I shall be the first to show no mercy."

Gu Fei smiled, her almond eyes crinkling. She knew Dong Shi’s nature—stubborn, cold, and rigid—like a stone in a latrine, as the saying went, both foul and hard. Yet, she felt such a person was the easiest to win over.

That was why she had targeted him first.

With Dong Shi and Elder Feng, she already had two votes. She needed only one more to secure the position of president of the Yizhou Ink Merchants' Association.

The remaining candidates were Fatty Wei, Luo Song, and the mysterious Young Master Mingyue.

Gu Fei thought for a moment. Luo Song had the connection through Mo Yuhua, so he would not be an issue. However, she did not want to reveal her alliance with Mo Yuhua before it was necessary. Fatty Wei, backed by the Wei family—one of the most prominent families in Yizhou—was undoubtedly the hardest to win over.

Finally, Gu Fei focused her gaze on the mysterious Young Master Mingyue.

Young Master Mingyue was as his name suggested: handsome, with a face as clear as the moon. He was always smiling at everyone, never seemed to hold a grudge, and was never seen making ink himself. Yet, such a man held a seat in the association.

Before coming, Gu Fei had asked Elder Feng about his background. To her surprise, Elder Feng shook his head, saying only that a year ago, Mingyue had arrived in Yizhou with a letter of recommendation from the Capital Ink Merchants' Association and had become an envoy. Elder Feng had inspected the letter, and it was perfectly legitimate.

As Gu Fei pondered, Young Master Mingyue noticed her gaze. He chuckled and twisted a lock of hair on his chest. "I believe that if Miss Gu can manage the Xuanzhu Workshop to become the most profitable shop in Yizhou, then an association should be no challenge at all. Perhaps next year, I might even receive a share of the profits from the association."

The implication was clear: he, too, was on her side.

Gu Fei was suspicious; she couldn't fathom what Young Master Mingyue was planning. It seemed he had sided with her quite easily on several occasions.

However, now was not the time to overthink. She suppressed her doubts and smiled. "Thank you all for your trust. I will not let you down."

She produced the letter of recommendation and Wang Huayuan’s resignation letter. A servant stepped forward to store the documents in a designated box.

Fatty Wei’s expression was sour, while Luo Song remained expressionless, having not uttered a word from the beginning. Fatty Wei glanced at him, forced a smile, and stepped forward to offer his congratulations. "The young lady is truly capable. Elder Feng, let us make a deal—why not let me have this granddaughter of yours?"

Elder Feng’s eyebrows and beard twitched. He glared at him and turned his head away.

What followed was the logical discussion of the presidential succession ceremony and the auditing of the association's accounts. Gu Fei considered these to be minor matters. As she sat in the president’s chair, she felt no sense of relief; rather, a greater sense of urgency took hold. She had gained a foothold, but the challenge would be whether she could stand firm in the future.