Chapter 103 — Pinching the Leg
Although reluctant, Xie Siquan didn’t want to make things awkward for his nephew in front of outsiders, so he nodded and agreed, deciding to leave first.
Xie Jing stayed behind in the East Courtyard to have dinner with Lord Bai Jiu.
At dinner, aside from the usual dishes, there was a small bowl of sweet glutinous rice balls. Xie Jing hadn’t eaten any in days, and when he reached for the small bowl, Lord Bai Jiu stopped him, “That’s for you. Eat your meal first; we’ll have it later.”
The table held only the two of them. Since Bai Mingyu wasn’t there today, Xie Jing relaxed a bit, serving Lord Bai Jiu some dishes and eating heartily himself.
Lord Bai Jiu watched him for a moment and couldn’t help but chuckle.
Xie Jing slowed down slightly, asking, “Master, my uncle came today—he didn’t say anything inappropriate, right? He’s a good person, just a little careless. If he did something wrong…”
Lord Bai Jiu shook his head and, smiling, offered him some food: “Nothing. He’s a decent man, and I had a good conversation with him.”
Xie Jing felt relieved and asked again, “Why did he come today?”
“To thank me.”
“Ah?”
“To thank me for raising you so well.”
Lord Bai Jiu knew Xie Jing’s appetite and, seeing he had eaten a lot, took one of the small glutinous rice balls from the bowl for himself. It was sweet, with a pleasant flavor, the richness of black sesame melting on the tongue—no wonder Xie Jing loved them.
In the end, Xie Jing ate four rice balls and was slightly full.
That evening, while practicing calligraphy in the study, he kept hiccupping.
Lord Bai Jiu stopped teaching him and simply lifted him onto the grand chair, gently rubbing his stomach, and laughed to himself, as if recalling something amusing.
Xie Jing felt slightly embarrassed and tried to get up.
Lord Bai Jiu coaxed him: “I’m not laughing at you; I just remembered your uncle. He’s very different from you.”
Xie Jing said, “When people saw us together outside, they said we look very similar.”
“Yes, there’s some resemblance, but the temperament is different.” Lord Bai Jiu held him close, weighing him carefully in his arms. The child was sweeter, softer, and perfectly to his liking. “Are you going back to sleep there tonight?”
“I want to stay a little longer since my uncle is rarely here,” Xie Jing replied.
Lord Bai Jiu hummed thoughtfully, then after a moment said: “He mentioned something today… about Sichuan…”
Xie Jing waited for more but heard nothing, so he asked curiously, “Sichuan? What about it?”
Lord Bai Jiu chuckled: “Nothing important. He just mentioned some interesting things about Sichuan. The scenery there is beautiful. When we have time, we’ll go on a trip with Mr. Huang. You’ve only seen his calligraphy, not his ink-and-wash landscapes. His splashed-ink landscapes are truly exquisite.”
Xie Jing nodded: “Yes, I’ll go with you later. He’ll definitely like it.”
Lord Bai Jiu, holding his hand, felt much better and asked: “Did you go to the dock this afternoon? Did you pick it up?”
At this, Xie Jing’s eyes lit up with excitement: “Yes! Master, why did you think of bringing Bai Shisi?”
Lord Bai Jiu loved his straightforward personality. He reached up and scratched Jing’s chin, half-seriously saying: “I was afraid you wouldn’t come back. Besides me, there should be something else to keep you attached here.”
Xie Jing smiled and said, “I come every day and think about the East Courtyard.”
“And what else?”
He kissed Lord Bai Jiu, looking at him with a smile: “I also think about you every day. When I open my eyes, I think of you.”
Xie Jing lingered, talking until midnight before returning. Lord Bai Jiu, worried about his safety, instructed Bai Mingyu to accompany him.
Bai Mingyu waited silently outside.
In the room, Lord Bai Jiu personally helped Xie Jing put on a coat, fastening each button carefully to shield him from the night chill. His palms were wide and dry, fingers long and strong, joints distinct, movements quick and steady. Finally, he reached out to gently stroke Xie Jing’s shoulders, his voice tinged with a subtle reluctance: “Alright, go now.”
Xie Jing hesitated: “Master, I’ll return tomorrow…”
Lord Bai Jiu interrupted: “Don’t go back tomorrow. Your uncle is rarely here, so spend time with him. If you need anything tonight, put it on my account. Later, I’ll send a carriage for you, and we’ll go to the banquet together.”
Xie Jing agreed, walked a few steps to the door, then turned back quickly to give him a quick kiss on the side of his lips before leaving.
Lord Bai Jiu smiled, touching his lips; they were soft and warm, though fleeting, like an enthusiastic little puppy.
Bai Mingyu had to work as the chauffeur that night, personally driving Xie Jing home. He dared not speak to Lord Bai Jiu, only glancing at Xie Jing repeatedly through the rearview mirror.
Xie Jing, puzzled, asked: “Why do you keep looking at me?”
Bai Mingyu replied softly: “There’s a mark on your neck… Be careful not to let anyone see it.”
Xie Jing’s ears turned red, and he pulled his collar higher: “A lot?”
Bai Mingyu glanced again, a little envious: “How would I know? I can see one, two, three… that’s all.”
Sitting in the back, Xie Jing kicked the front seat: “Focus on driving, don’t keep looking back.”
Bai Mingyu got frustrated: “If you’re mad, go yell at Lord Bai Jiu, not me! I didn’t leave the mark… Hey! Stop kicking! This is aunt’s car—take care! Little Xie, keep it up and I quit, then we’ll have to stop by the roadside and no one gets to sleep tonight!”
He threatened while accelerating but didn’t stop the car.
After dropping Xie Jing home, Bai Mingyu got out too. Xie Jing sent him away, and Bai Mingyu, feeling aggrieved, said: “I wanted to leave, but Master told me to drop you at the door. Go inside quickly; I’ll feel better once you’re safe.”
The door opened, and Xie Siquan appeared with a lantern lighting the way.
Bai Mingyu, intimidated, greeted quietly and left quickly.
Xie Siquan glanced at the departing figure, then looked at Xie Jing, eyes slightly mysterious: “Bai Family’s second young master brought you back?”
Xie Jing nodded, tucking in his collar and avoiding his gaze: “Uncle, I’m going upstairs to sleep.”
Xie Siquan followed, lighting the stairs: “Will you get up early tomorrow?”
“No, Master gave me two days off to stay with you.”
Pleased, Xie Siquan followed him upstairs.
With Grandma Kou absent, he stayed in the next room, separated by a thin wooden wall. That night, he heard the light patter of rain.
Hearing movement next door, he closed his eyes, pretending to sleep.
Soft sounds followed as Xie Jing carefully stepped over and tucked a thin blanket around him.
Xie Siquan breathed normally, waiting until Xie Jing returned to his own room and the creaking of the small bed indicated he had settled, then slowly opened his eyes.
He pinched the blanket’s corner, stroking it with a smile he couldn’t hide.
His Xie Jing… truly wonderful.
The next morning, Xie Siquan heard movement downstairs, yawning, and saw Xie Jing had already prepared breakfast. It looked homemade.
Xie Jing cooked simple noodles, which were surprisingly tasty; Xie Siquan ate two bowls.
Afterward, he took Xie Jing to Fuquan Manor, a salt business in Shanghai and an extension of the Xie family’s Sichuan operations, mainly dealing in snowflake salt.
Xie Siquan showed him around, calling the managers to acknowledge Jing: “This is Xie Jing, the young master of the Sichuan Xie family. If I’m absent, follow his instructions.”
The managers greeted him as the young master.
Xie Jing felt uneasy but stayed quiet in front of the staff. Once alone with his uncle, he frowned: “Uncle, Sichuan is your foundation. I don’t want it. I can earn my own way.”
Xie Siquan coaxed: “If you don’t want it, then who will get it?”
“When you marry…”
Xie Siquan laughed heartily before he could finish, patting his head: “Silly boy, I can’t bear to marry. If I did, who knows how many would cry? Don’t worry. This is just to get acquainted. There are few people here; later in Sichuan, there’ll be many more.”
Xie Jing decisively: “I’m not leaving.”
Xie Siquan: “Don’t throw a tantrum, Jing.”
Xie Jing: “Uncle, it’s you. I’m fine here. Even if you hadn’t recognized me before, I’d still be fine.”
Xie Siquan’s heart twinged; he felt helpless. Xie Jing’s stubbornness, once set, didn’t change easily.
Relenting, Xie Siquan coaxed him and changed the topic to dinner: “Jing, someone else is coming tonight. Have you heard of He Dongting?”
Xie Jing shook his head.
Xie Siquan explained: “It’s normal. He Dongting is the president of the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, overseeing many businesses. Tonight he’s coming. Oh, you know the Bai family in the East Courtyard wants to acquire two factories? Those are his textile factories. I’ll speak a good word for Bai—help where I can.”
Xie Jing remembered fragmented details and asked: “Huaxing Textile Bureau?”
Xie Siquan: “Yes. Have you seen it?”
Xie Jing nodded. He recalled that Lord Bai Jiu had confronted a Mr. He at an auction, sometimes winning, sometimes losing, a formidable competitor. But with war in the north, Bai left business matters to Bai Mingyu while Lord Bai Jiu directed from behind. He remembered He Dongting was a major businessman, praised by Lord Bai Jiu.
Xie Siquan asked carefully: “Have you met He Dongting?”
“No, but Lord Bai Jiu mentioned him, saying he’s righteous and respectable.”
Xie Siquan clicked his tongue, displeased: “Only somewhat. Pretentious virtue.”
Xie Jing thought: He had done many good deeds.
Xie Siquan frowned: “You saw them in the paper? Half is exaggeration, not real.”
Xie Jing recalled a building and a porridge kitchen donated by him—enough to know the man had helped.
Xie Siquan didn’t dwell and instead took Jing to visit their shops and the amusement park. If it weren’t for “Xianlesi” being closed during the day, he would’ve taken Xie Jing to see it. Xie Jing, pulling him: “Uncle, lights and wine, what’s fun about it?”
Xie Siquan, astonished: “Lights and wine aren’t fun enough? What did you do in the North?”
Xie Jing earnestly: “It’s cold there. Summer I rode horses and hunted rabbits; winter I fished through ice, made ice lanterns, and ate frozen persimmons from the yard tree after snow.”
Xie Siquan’s heart melted; he pinched Xie Jing’s face, chuckling. His Xie Jing was still a child.
Uncertain about Shanghai’s amusements, he followed Xie Jing’s suggestion and bought a new saddle.
Xie Jing excitedly said: “Uncle, Lord Bai Jiu sent Bai Shisi! Bai Shisi is my horse from the North. Very obedient. If the evening ends early, I’ll show you. You’ve never seen such a beautiful horse.”
He talked excitedly, but when Xie Siquan mentioned Sichuan horse races, Xie Jing dismissed it: “Too short, I can’t ride it.”
Xie Siquan: “…” Their Sichuan horses weren’t as tall but were strong and enduring!
That night at the restaurant, Xie Siquan hosted a private banquet, opening the second floor fully. A low table held the meal; everyone sat on the floor.
Xie Siquan sat at the head, holding a small wine cup, smiling, a touch proud. Xie Jing sat next to him, diagonally across was Lord Bai Jiu. Xie Jing first knelt, then, with legs numb, almost toppled, but Xie Siquan steadied him: “Relax, we’re all family. Treat Mr. He as an elder. Don’t be so tense.”
Xie Jing adjusted, imitating his uncle, spreading his legs slightly.
The tablecloth hung low, hiding most of the view.
Lord Bai Jiu, one hand holding a cup, the other reaching beneath the tablecloth, pinched Xie Jing’s calf. Xie Jing trembled but stayed silent. The sensation, like tiny ants biting, crawled up; he gritted his lip.
Xie Siquan didn’t notice, still speaking to Bai with some impatience: “He Dongting is late.”
Lord Bai Jiu calmly: “Perhaps busy.”
Xie Siquan scoffed: “Busy? Does he think everyone else has nothing better to do?”
A messenger hurried up: “Master Xie, my lord is on his way, busy with the Chamber of Commerce. He instructed me to notify you; he’ll arrive shortly…”
Xie Siquan slammed down his cup, face dark: “What did he promise yesterday? Always thinking of business… never changes!”
The messenger apologized nervously and left. Xie Siquan poured cold wine, drinking with a grim expression.
Xie Jing: “Ah!”
Xie Siquan turned: “What’s wrong?”
Xie Jing, blushing, struggled up: “Legs numb… I’ll go take a walk outside.”
Xie Siquan calmed: “Go. I’ll have Hu Da accompany you.”
Xie Jing agreed and left.
Only the two remained at the table. Xie Siquan remained silent, Lord Bai Jiu quietly drank.
Xie Siquan twisted his cup, muttering a curse.
Lord Bai Jiu: “Patience, Master Xie. Perhaps delayed on the road; since a messenger came, he will arrive.”
Xie Jing absent, Xie Siquan dropped pretenses, his usual recklessness showing, angered at He Dongting: “If it were anything else, fine. But this involves Jing, involves sister. How dare he be late! If he hadn’t gone to buy the boat, sister wouldn’t have gone so far, and nothing would have happened!”
Lord Bai Jiu: “It was an accident, no one expected it.”
Xie Siquan squinted at him: “I thought you and He Dongting clashed over factories and land, wouldn’t get along well!”
Lord Bai Jiu swallowed his wine thoughtfully: “Precisely because of that, I paid close attention. He Dongting is competent in management.”
Soon, He Dongting hurriedly arrived.
Lord Bai Jiu rose to greet him. Xie Siquan stayed seated, sipping his wine, unconcerned.
He Dongting, unconcerned, having just left a meeting, hair slicked back, gold-rimmed glasses, suit unbuttoned, poured wine and glanced at them, landing on Xie Siquan: “I thought today was a family gathering.”
Author’s Note – Mini Scene:
If uncle and father-in-law didn’t get along—
Xie Uncle: “The He family is too stupid, blah blah blah…”
Lord Bai Jiu: “I see.”
Lord Bai Jiu: “Oh, I just learned.”
Xie Uncle criticized He’s father directly.
Lord Bai Jiu: “Oh, I don’t know about that.”
Xie Uncle: “???”
