Chapter 104 — The Meeting
Instead of answering, Xie Siquan asked back, holding his wine cup, “‘One official seal from the Zheng Institute isn’t worth a letter from He Dongting’…” He scoffed, then looked at him. “I used to think it was just rumors circulating outside, but now it seems Boss He really is busy. Such prestige, huh?”
He Dongting, a man who never sought to show off, always calm and indifferent, replied lightly, “Indeed, I am late. Three cups as self-punishment.”
He reached to pour the wine, but Xie Siquan blocked the cup with his hand. The Xie family head called the restaurant owner, who brought small cups of fresh wine, about the size of little bowls.
“Punishment should show some sincerity, don’t you agree?” Xie Siquan said.
He Dongting didn’t comment. Xie Siquan poured the wine for him, and he drank it.
Xie Siquan, draped in his coat, sat across with arms folded, nodding: “Good. What do you want to ask?”
He Dongting glanced at Lord Bai Jiu.
Bai Jiu sat quietly, holding a small cup, sipping slowly, eyes lowered.
Xie Siquan looked at him briefly: “No outsiders here. Just speak freely.”
He Dongting said, “Brother Bai, you seem unfamiliar.”
Xie Siquan replied, “He’s helped me a great deal. There’s nothing here he can’t hear.” Lord Bai Jiu had cared for Xie Jing for years in the northern lands; their bond was special. Nothing needed hiding. Whatever He Dongting discovered, it wasn’t much different from what Xie Siquan knew. In truth, in his nephew’s heart, he probably couldn’t compare to this Lord Bai Jiu.
He Dongting said nothing further. After a moment, he asked, “The letter you mentioned earlier… can you trace who sent it?”
Xie Siquan poured three more small cups of wine and placed them in front of He Dongting. “Drink first, then we’ll talk.”
He Dongting drank without hesitation, showing the empty bottom of the cup.
“It was Bao Bao’s own handwriting,” Xie Siquan said.
He Dongting frowned. “You don’t actually believe that, do you? Aunt Kou can’t read.”
Xie Siquan retorted: “How do you know she hasn’t learned to read or write over all these years?”
He Dongting shook his head slightly, dismissing the notion. Back when the chaos first struck and Aunt Kou was fleeing for her life, hiding at every turn—even before the incident, when she was learning to read, the matriarch never taught her a single character. How could she have suddenly learned to write after all these years?
Xie Siquan sneered: “This is exactly what makes you so exasperating—stubborn, willfully blind! You’ve been unyielding for over a decade, not a hint of change. The things you think unchangeable… can’t they change at all?”
He Dongting frowned: “I never said that.”
“Ha? You never said that?” Xie Siquan tilted back and drank his wine, slamming the cup down with a bang. Leaning forward, he whispered harshly:
“Then why, when I doubted the child, did you pretend not to see? All these years I’ve been searching for my sister’s child—what about you? You just stop me, won’t let me ask clearly…”
“I just thought the child is grown. If you ask like that, it would hurt him,” He Dongting said, slightly frustrated. “You haven’t been looking for a lost child, you’ve been making a wall for him. This isn’t the first time—every couple of years a fuss, Shuwei has grown up surrounded by suspicion, his temperament darkened. You should’ve had enough of this.”
Xie Siquan pressed: “What if he’s not real?”
He Dongting pursed his lips: “Even if he isn’t, I’ve raised him for over ten years…”
Before he could finish, footsteps sounded behind him. Turning slightly, he froze.
With a clang, a small wine cup fell, spilling half its contents onto the floor.
He Dongting watched the boy pass by, reaching out but powerless—he could barely lift his fingers. All he could do was stare at the figure, his ears ringing as if a tram roared past, everything else indistinct. The boy sat next to Bai Jiu. The closer he got, the more clearly He Dongting saw him. The boy’s features were almost identical to Yuan Yuan’s, and in the slow-motion of the moment, he saw him tilt his head and call out: “Uncle!”
He Dongting’s heart felt crushed. Painful, suffocating. The world spun; he almost couldn’t stay seated. Gritting his teeth, he tried to stay conscious, to see, to hear.
Xie Siquan reached over, ruffling Xie Jing’s hair with a smile, “Jing’er is back. Let me introduce: this is Boss He, an old friend of mine and your recent collaborator, Mister Bai.”
Xie Jing greeted him politely.
He Dongting’s fingers trembled. He couldn’t speak, only stared. So familiar. So familiar it was uncanny. He resembled both Yuan Yuan and himself from years ago—the eyes, the shape, everything.
He rose, attempting to reach out, but Xie Siquan blocked him. He staggered, the alcohol from earlier hitting him, almost losing balance. The normally composed, self-disciplined businessman was completely shaken, muttering a name.
Xie Siquan coldly interrupted, “Boss He, look clearly—this is not your child.”
He Dongting stared, took deep breaths, finally finding his voice, fingers trembling on the table, “Who… who is he?”
Xie Siquan smiled inwardly: “His name is Xie Jing.”
He Dongting, shocked: “He… his surname is Xie?”
“Of course,” Xie Siquan replied. “He’s part of my Xie family of Sichuan. What’s wrong with that?” His expression softened, but his words remained cutting, “Look carefully, Boss He. Jing’er resembles both me and my sister—like he was cast from the same mold. If you say we’re not family, then you must be blind.”
Xie Siquan’s words cut deep.
Xie Jing, unfamiliar with He Dongting, was seeing him for the first time. He looked carefully at his uncle, then at the seated businessman, puzzled by the tension. But with the adults speaking, he stayed silent.
Lord Bai Jiu shifted slightly, shielding half of him, quietly asking if he wanted anything. Xie Jing shook his head, but accepted a small bowl of sweet soup from Lord Bai Jiu and drank it.
He Dongting couldn’t take his eyes off Xie Jing. His mind was in turmoil, unable to respond to Xie Siquan’s barbs. He only wanted to know who the boy was. Just as he opened his mouth, Xie Jing hiccuped while drinking the soup—He Dongting instantly fell silent.
Xie Siquan reached out as if to touch his nephew’s forehead, but Xie Jing dodged. Xie Siquan withdrew, laughing softly, “No touch, No touch. You just worked up a sweat; don’t catch a cold. Use the handkerchief yourself.” After Jing’er wiped, he added: “Ran a long way, huh? Eat slowly; cold wind makes hiccups.”
Lord Bai Jiu gently wiped Jing’er’s lips, “Slowly, there’s still a little left.”
Under all these eyes, Xie Jing could barely eat, finishing only a small bowl.
He Dongting cleared his throat, asking softly, “You’re Xie Jing, right? May I ask about your past—”
Xie Siquan cut him off, “Boss He, isn’t this too much? This is your first time meeting my nephew. Don’t pry into private matters.” He tapped the table impatiently, then looked at Bai Jiu: “Mister Bai, you mentioned two textile factories you wanted to discuss with Boss He? Perfect—today everyone’s here; we can talk together.”
He Dongting closed his eyes, his mind not on business, only on Xie Jing. But Xie Siquan blocked every attempt, thwarting him at every turn.
Lord Bai Jiu picked up the topic, speaking casually. Normally, He Dongting could handle this easily, but now he only felt anxious. The boy sat just a step away, yet all he could do was watch.
Author’s Note: Mini Scenes
Q: How does it feel to eat with three big shots?
Xie Jing: Nervous, can’t eat a thing.
Q: First meal with the whole family, how does it feel?
Xie Siquan: Awesome!
He Dongting (emotionally conflicted): …
Lord Bai Jiu (smiling): Jing’er is so cute. If there weren’t so many people, I’d want to feed him.
