Chapter 106 — Childhood Name
He Dongting and the others waited outside the night market until midnight, but no one came out.
He rubbed his brow and told the driver, “Let’s go.”
He Shuwei asked, “Father, should I go in and look?”
He Dongting shook his head. “They’ve already left.”
The night market had several exits. They had only guarded the car and hadn’t considered that the others might simply leave. Waiting any longer would be pointless.
As the driver got back on the road, He Dongting quietly gave a few instructions. He Shuwei didn’t dare sit too close, but from the back seat he could vaguely hear phrases like “be sure to check tonight” and “residence.” He felt uneasy and tried to stay calm. “Father, I noticed Uncle brought someone with him today, he…”
He Dongting asked, “He, how?”
“He looks a lot like the person brought here a few years ago.” He Shuwei shrank back, coughed lightly a few times, and his face turned pale. “Father, is Uncle still angry with me? My studies aren’t good; he even lost his temper last time. It was my fault.”
In the past, He Dongting would have comforted him. He Shuwei had always been physically weak, constantly plagued by minor illnesses, and his schooling was intermittent. His grades could only stay mediocre. A few years ago, someone had arranged for two good-looking boys to be sent to the He household. Apart from being similar in age to He Shuwei, they also resembled the late Mrs. Xie Yuan.
He Dongting had taken them in for a few days to investigate, only to find they were swindlers.
After several such incidents, He Dongting gradually stopped believing in them.
He Shuwei had fallen seriously ill after these imposters were exposed, recovering only after a semester. His grades fell behind, and it was only thanks to He Dongting’s donations that he got into college.
The He family’s third young master always claimed these troublemakers were sent by Xie Siquan. In the He household, anyone causing trouble without clear origin was attributed to Xie Siquan.
But this time, when Xie Siquan actually brought someone right in front of him, He Dongting could no longer remain calm. Unlike the past, from the moment he first saw Xie Jing, a surge of indescribable emotion welled up inside him. That innate sense of closeness was undeniable. He only wanted to care for and protect the boy.
He Dongting furrowed his brow and fell into thought.
He Shuwei waited in vain for any comfort from his father. He bit his lip and said nothing further.
Elsewhere,
Boss He had only guessed half correctly. Xie Siquan did bring Lord Bai Jiu and Xie Jing out, but they didn’t return home. Instead, they went to a small tavern for another round of drinking, happily enjoying themselves.
Xie Siquan could hold his liquor well, but Xie Jing couldn’t touch alcohol. Whenever Xie Siquan tried to make him drink, Lord Bai Jiu would stop him.
“Jing’er can’t handle alcohol. I’ll drink for him,” Bai Jiu said.
Squinting, Xie Siquan took a moment to look him over. “Really? How badly?”
Bai Jiu sighed. “One sip and he’s drunk.”
Xie Siquan clapped him on the shoulder, laughing heartily. “He’s like my sister. After a drink, she’d start practicing drunken boxing—you wouldn’t know how painful she is when she hits someone…” He spoke intermittently, like he was happy yet on the verge of tears. He tilted his head back and gulped down the small jug of wine in front of him, wiping his lips with the back of his hand. “I’m too happy today. I won’t go home sober!”
Worried he might drink too much, Xie Jing stepped forward to stop him. Xie Siquan cupped his face and planted a kiss on each cheek.
Xie Jing: “!!”
Xie Siquan tried to kiss again, but Xie Jing covered his mouth. “Uncle!”
Xie Siquan laughed, his eyes shining with warmth and joy. He grabbed Xie Jing’s hand and asked, “Do you know I gave you your name?”
Xie Jing hesitated and shook his head.
“I made the agreement with your sister back then,” Xie Siquan said, his fingers flicking the wine jar as he smiled proudly. His other hand reached out and ruffled his nephew’s hair. “No matter what the child’s surname is, I’d choose the childhood name. I named you ‘Jing’er.’”
Xie Jing asked, puzzled, “Why?”
Xie Siquan just snuffled against his head, laughing without answering.
By midnight, Xie Siquan was finally satisfied.
“Master Xie, Jing’er gets carsick. This isn’t far from the rental house. Better to walk back,” Lord Bai Jiu suggested.
Xie Siquan said, “No wonder you picked this tavern. You’re thorough. Thanks.” Then he beckoned Xie Jing over, patting his head. “Jing’er, go stay with Bai at the East Courtyard for a few days. I have some matters to attend to. I’ll come find you when I’m done.”
Xie Jing nodded, then asked, “Can I help?”
Hearing this made Xie Siquan happier than eating honey. He pinched Xie Jing’s face. “No need. Just play. In a couple of days, I’ll take you horse riding. I’ll find a place for you to run with Bai’s horse. You wanted to show me Bai Shisi, right? You can take it and run a few rounds.”
“Okay.”
When Xie Jing returned to the East Courtyard, it was late at night.
Lord Bai Jiu had drunk, but only white liquor, which didn’t affect him. After washing up, he looked as usual.
Xie Jing, however, spoke less than usual and frequently glanced at Lord Bai Jiu.
Bai Jiu noticed and held his hand, leaning close to ask, “Jing’er, do you have something on your mind?”
Xie Jing hesitated, then slowly said, “Tonight at the banquet, I heard Mr. He say…”
Several thoughts crossed Bai Jiu’s mind, but he decided: if Xie Jing asked, he would tell him everything, regardless of what Xie Siquan had said before.
Xie Jing asked, “Mr. He invited master to Xianlesi?”
Lord Bai Jiu paused, then smiled. “You just wanted to ask that?”
Xie Jing looked away, trying to sound indifferent. “Not really, just curious. I actually went with Uncle before, but it was closed during the day, so we just looked outside. All flashy, not very impressive…”
Lord Bai Jiu laughed, pulling him into his arms and whispering affectionately, “He said to take the younger generation along. I refused. I won’t go, and neither can you. Got it?”
Xie Jing’s ears reddened. “Mm.”
Lord Bai Jiu kissed his earlobe and asked, “Anything else you want to ask?”
Xie Jing thought a moment. “No, nothing else.”
Lord Bai Jiu: “Not curious why Master Xie quarreled tonight? Or about the He family?”
Xie Jing: “I know about the He family.”
Lord Bai Jiu held his fingers, playing with them. “What do you know?”
Xie Jing: “I know the He family does business with you, and about the two Huaxing Textile factories you rented today. Master surely has a plan. Mr. He looks clever, probably not easy to deal with. As they say, two tigers cannot share a mountain… Master, why are you laughing?”
Lord Bai Jiu leaned on his shoulder, laughing until his shoulder shook slightly. Xie Jing didn’t know what to do. “Did I say something wrong?”
Lord Bai Jiu sighed, satisfied. “No, I’m just thinking… what should I reward you with for your sweet words?”
Xie Jing looked at a small white vase on a nearby table. “I want that vase.”
Lord Bai Jiu followed his gaze. “You like white porcelain again? Fine, it’s yours.”
Xie Jing added, “Master, there’s more in the northern private collection.”
Lord Bai Jiu chuckled. “Little money-lover. I’ll have Sun Fu bring it. Those things were supposed to come here at year-end anyway. Grandpa sent a letter; might be delayed for a couple of years.”
Xie Jing’s heart skipped. “Serious?”
After a moment, Lord Bai Jiu said, “Feng Zhenbei has rebelled.”
“Then the provincial government…”
“Still far. Heihe is near the border, hasn’t been affected,” Bai Jiu sighed. “It’s still under control. Do what we can, and leave the rest to fate.”
Xie Jing went silent. His concern for the north exceeded that for the Xie and He families.
He had only just met his uncle and was unfamiliar with Sichuan. The He family was irrelevant to him, but he had many friends in the north. He tossed and turned all night, finally sleeping only at dawn.
The East Courtyard felt slightly more somber than usual. Everyone was busy, but worry lingered. Their home was in the north; how could they not worry in times of war?
Lord Bai Jiu had only briefly shown emotion last night; during the day he was as usual, busy with tasks, including handling the Huaxing Textile lease.
He Dongting personally came to finalize the deal. He hadn’t found Xie Siquan in days, so he came to Lord Bai Jiu, hoping to see Xie Jing again.
He didn’t reduce the rent, but after signing, his tone softened: “The country needs industrial development. Even in Shanghai, skilled engineers are scarce. Mister Bai, since you are committed to industry for the nation, I should offer convenience. I have friends shipping motors; I can introduce engineers to replace the textile steam engines.”
Lord Bai Jiu bowed. “Thank you, Mr. He. I plan to start with power transmission.”
Introducing new technology required careful planning. He Dongting’s offer was a timely gift.
He Dongting toured the factories with Lord Bai Jiu. His eyes kept stealing glances at Xie Jing. The boy was silent but efficient. When they met a German engineer, he could converse. He Dongting was surprised. “He knows German?”
Lord Bai Jiu nodded. “A few simple phrases. Previously, at the Heihe distillery, some German engineers were hired. Jing’er is clever and learns fast. He picked it up while working with them, without formal lessons.”
He Dongting was amazed. “He learned English too?”
Lord Bai Jiu: “Yes, I taught him in spare time for a few years. Now he’s fluent.”
He Dongting was dazed, looking at Xie Jing and Bai Jiu. “You mean this child studied everything on his own?”
Lord Bai Jiu: “He did attend school for a few years. He and his grandmother lived in poverty, but she cared for him and provided schooling. At thirteen, he started working and almost died in an accident.”
He Dongting felt a sudden pain in his chest, but Lord Bai Jiu shook his head. “It’s past. No one is born knowing everything. He knows a lot because he suffered a lot.”
He Dongting turned pale, nodding in agreement.
Xie Jing walked over. “Master, the deal is done. They’ll provide revised blueprints soon. The factory is old; some circuits need replacement.”
Lord Bai Jiu nodded. “Safety first.”
At noon, He Dongting wanted to invite them to lunch, using business as an excuse. “Mister Bai, I plan to raise two million silver to start a new bank. Interested?”
Lord Bai Jiu: “Funds are limited.”
“No matter. Ten or twenty thousand silver for shares, tens of thousands also fine. Larger amounts get you a board seat. The world economy is competitive after the European War; our industry must develop. This is our duty to the nation.”
He Dongting knew that industrial growth meant banking growth. Investment in industry was a bank’s primary duty.
Lord Bai Jiu thought a moment. “Fine, lunch together.”
He Dongting asked, “Jing… what do you want to eat?”
Xie Jing: “Me?”
He Dongting laughed. “Of course, you’re the youngest. Pick anywhere, I’ll pay.”
Xie Jing looked at Lord Bai Jiu, who nodded slightly, then said, “Nothing special. It’s cold after the rain. Mutton hotpot… okay?”
He Dongting immediately agreed. “Of course. I’ll arrange it; a car will come shortly.”
Author’s note: Mini-scene:
Xie Uncle, frustrated at missing out on big events:
“Bai Jiu, you don’t value me, do you?! Don’t I have money too!”
