Chapter 107 — Protecting the Shortcomings
He Dongting had arranged a hotpot restaurant, specializing in Sichuan-style cuisine. When the red chili oil soup was served, Xie Jing sneezed from the spicy fumes.
He Dongting felt a bit awkward, looking between the red-hot pot and Xie Jing, then asked hesitantly, “You don’t eat spicy food?”
Xie Jing shook his head. “I’ve never eaten this before.”
He Dongting made a small “ah” sound, sitting there for a long while unsure what to say, and forced a smile. “My mistake… should we switch to something else?”
Xie Jing considered it, since Lord Bai Jiu usually preferred lighter dishes.
But Lord Bai Jiu lifted his chopsticks. “It’s fine. Let’s try it.”
Hearing this, Xie Jing nodded in agreement.
Fortunately, it was a “Yin-Yang” hotpot, with two types of broth. Xie Jing started with the non-spicy side, then gradually tried the red chili soup. Eventually, he got used to it, eating until the tip of his nose was sweating.
Among the three at the table, it was actually He Dongting and Lord Bai Jiu who struggled with the spice. Lord Bai Jiu was used to bland dishes, so he stuck to the clear soup, while He Dongting truly couldn’t handle chili. His forehead kept sweating as he ate, wiping it constantly, but he didn’t put down his chopsticks. Every time Xie Jing took a bite, He Dongting’s smile grew a little wider.
He Dongting ate slowly and asked Xie Jing, “Is it to your liking?”
Lord Bai Jiu chimed in, “Not bad. The place Mr. He chose is good. You usually take an interest in food?”
He Dongting paused, then replied, “Not exactly research… I don’t eat hotpot often.”
Lord Bai Jiu said, “It’s cold in the north, so we eat this kind of food regularly.”
He Dongting realized this meal was meant to discuss business with Lord Bai Jiu and felt slightly embarrassed. He forced a smile and discussed a few points about banking cooperation, though his attention kept drifting toward Xie Jing. He slipped in a few questions about Xie Jing’s personal preferences.
Xie Jing didn’t care much. When asked too many questions, he simply said, “I’m not picky.”
He Dongting asked again, “Do you usually like sweet or savory food?” Offering a thin slice of mutton from the hotpot, he continued, “And clothing… the last time I saw you, you were wearing this outfit. Do you like this style?”
Xie Jing replied, “The residence provides meals and clothing.”
“This is issued by the household?”
“Yes.”
He Dongting’s heart twitched painfully, filled with a pang of pity. “Then… shall I have the restaurant chef make something for you to take home? I know you like mutton hotpot, I can have him specially prepare it for you.”
Xie Jing glanced at him. He Dongting looked at him too, hesitated, and finally just gave a gentle smile.
After a moment, Xie Jing shook his head. “Thank you, Mr. He, but I stay in the East Courtyard, and the head chef there cooks well enough.”
He Dongting, sensing he had been overly eager, sheepishly stopped.
Lord Bai Jiu cleared his throat. “Jing’er, go help me get some cough medicine. It should be in the car.”
Xie Jing agreed and immediately left the table.
As soon as he was gone, He Dongting felt uneasy and looked at Lord Bai Jiu. “He hasn’t eaten enough, yet you have him running errands. Isn’t that too much?”
Lord Bai Jiu said, “Jing’er is used to it.”
He Dongting frowned and recalled what he had heard before. “He started working in the Bai household at thirteen?”
Lord Bai Jiu wiped his lips with a handkerchief and calmly said, “He Dongting, you may have misunderstood. He’s not a pampered young master. Doing errands and odd jobs is already a good lot.”
He Dongting sighed and set down his chopsticks. Straightening his expression, he said, “Lord Bai Jiu, we’ve met a few times, so I hope we’re familiar. I suppose Xie Siquan has already told you about my family’s situation?”
Lord Bai Jiu shook his head. “No.”
He Dongting’s next words caught in his throat, unsure how to continue. He wanted to take Xie Jing back, but saying it outright was too rash. After hesitation, he carefully said, “My family had a misfortune years ago. My youngest son was taken away. Over the years, I’ve gathered some information and checked many places. That grandmother you mentioned this morning… is her surname Kou?”
Lord Bai Jiu nodded.
He Dongting continued, “May I meet her? If she is truly the same person, she may be related to a senior in my family. I should call her Aunt Kou.”
Lord Bai Jiu didn’t answer but asked back, “Why do you want to see her?”
“To clarify Jing’er’s origins… to understand what happened back then.”
Lord Bai Jiu asked, “He Dongting, are you saying Jing’er is your son?”
He Dongting looked at him and slowly nodded. “Yes. I’ve wanted to ask Xie Siquan, but couldn’t find him. I can already guess some of the truth, but I hope Lord Bai Jiu allows me to see the grandmother and ask a few questions in person.”
Lord Bai Jiu: “And then?”
He Dongting: “Naturally, I would take Jing’er back. He’s suffered much outside, and I should compensate him. If the grandmother is not in Shanghai, that’s fine too. Perhaps today Jing’er can come with me. There are many things I want to ask him. By the way, you might not know… Jing’er looks so much like my late wife…”
Lord Bai Jiu calmly sipped his tea. “As far as I know, there is already a young master in your household. I saw him at the last auction. A fine boy.”
He Dongting rubbed his forehead, exhaling deeply. “As for Shuwei, Lord Bai Jiu, don’t worry. I’ll arrange everything.”
Lord Bai Jiu didn’t respond.
He Dongting frowned. “I don’t know what Xie Siquan told you, but I can assure you with my integrity—I am not the frivolous man he described. What he said at the banquet about the singer was nonsense.”
Lord Bai Jiu said, “I know Mr. He is not reckless.”
He Dongting relaxed slightly. Lord Bai Jiu continued, “It’s just that the head of the Xie family lost his loved ones and vented. Compared to the north, people there are more fiery. If this happened in our place, guns would have been out already.” He took a slow sip. “I cannot just hand over Jing’er to you. You’ve already lost a son; how can you take two?”
He Dongting felt troubled and thought for a moment. “There’s something strange about Shuwei. I still need to investigate. He’s been back in our family for over ten years. Many people are involved. It’ll take some time to verify.”
Lord Bai Jiu sighed. “In that case, I definitely cannot give him to you.”
“Why?”
“You have doubts but no certainty. Until everything is verified, I cannot trust you. Investigate first. Once it’s clear, come back.”
He Dongting wanted to say more, but Lord Bai Jiu gestured with his cup, calmly saying, “There’s no reason to take both. I’ll wait for your update.”
He Dongting stared at his cup, momentarily stunned.
After a while, Xie Jing returned with the medicine. He noticed the conversation between the two adults had slowed.
Lord Bai Jiu looked normal, but He Dongting appeared distracted. Several times he accidentally picked up spicy chili from the pot and coughed.
Xie Jing felt the atmosphere tense. While giving Lord Bai Jiu a few small peppermint pills, he whispered, “Master?”
Lord Bai Jiu took the pills with his hand, speaking softly, “It’s fine. They’re just discussing business numbers. He Dongting is thinking.”
He Dongting coughed a few times, but with no medicine, only water helped. After a large glass, he felt slightly relieved. Determined, he looked at Xie Jing and then at Lord Bai Jiu. “No more than half a month, not longer.”
Lord Bai Jiu nodded. “The head of the Xie family left me a message for you. He said… this is the last chance.”
He Dongting nodded with a sigh.
Lord Bai Jiu was polite. He Dongting, wanting to show respect, personally escorted them downstairs. He said, “Lord Bai Jiu, you seem slightly weak. I have a doctor at home, skilled in medicine. I could have him examine you sometime.”
Lord Bai Jiu: “…”
Lord Bai Jiu: “I’m fine. Just not used to the southern climate.”
He Dongting: “Still, be careful. Don’t overwork yourself; health comes first.”
Lord Bai Jiu thought, then nodded. “Fine. Have your doctor examine Jing’er too. His body is weak. The grandmother said he was premature and never properly cared for.”
Xie Jing looked up, intending to speak, but Lord Bai Jiu lightly pinched his finger to continue. “Have He Dongting’s doctor come along. Prescribe some supplements. He’s young, there’s still a chance to make up for it.”
He Dongting felt guilty, nodding repeatedly.
On the ride back, Xie Jing frowned silently.
Lord Bai Jiu reached for him. Xie Jing didn’t pull away, just tilted his head to look out the window.
Outside, the streets were bustling. Families hurried past, young and old.
Xie Jing asked suddenly, “Master… is it him?”
Without context, yet Lord Bai Jiu understood. After a moment, he said, “I had someone check He’s family, as well as Sichuan. It should be him.”
Xie Jing said, “He Dongting has a son. I saw him last time.”
Lord Bai Jiu held his hand. “Yes. At three, he was brought by a wet nurse, recognized by the He family, and added to the genealogy. What do you want to do? I’ll help you.”
Xie Jing frowned. “If grandmother were here, she’d want me to acknowledge him.”
Lord Bai Jiu asked, “And you?”
“I don’t care… anyway, I’ll… eventually…” Xie Jing hooked his finger with Lord Bai Jiu’s, voice trailing, “Eventually have my own family.”
Lord Bai Jiu squeezed his hand, a smile uncontrollable on his lips. He had thought of many ways to help Xie Jing reclaim everything, but never imagined Jing’er wanted something else entirely—only them together could be complete.
Xie Siquan was gone, but had left Hu Da and others to serve Xie Jing, constantly trying to please the young master.
Xie Jing was usually busy—either with Lord Bai Jiu or training at the guard. The tricks they brought to entertain him were completely uninteresting.
Hu Da realized the situation. If the master returned, there’d be a scolding. So he and his men went to the guards, all skilled fighters from Sichuan, excellent with both martial arts and firearms.
Xie Jing, used to his teachers’ large-scale moves, found these unorthodox styles interesting and called a few men over to spar.
Hu Da knew Xie Jing’s skills. At first, he didn’t warn his men. They cautiously sparred with the young master but quickly got caught by the soft whip, struggling in hand and throat. All the while, Xie Jing laughed gleefully.
Hu Da remembered how dangerous it was in the north, almost losing lives. He marveled at their fearlessness.
Several Sichuan men shouted, frustrated. “Don’t use this! Use the guns! Dare to use the guns!”
Xie Jing shook his wrist. “Okay, what shall we shoot at?”
They pointed at Hu Da. “Shoot him!”
Hu Da: “!!”
Hu Da was pulled under a loquat tree, eyes closed, arms spread, holding a teacup in each hand and one on his head.
Two expert Sichuan marksmen aimed at him. They moved swiftly, gun handling practiced, firing without pause. Three shots rang out—bam, bam, bam!—and Hu Da’s cups shattered! The first was fine. The second shot was too fast, and a fragment barely missed his hand, burning his palm slightly.
Hu Da cursed in Sichuan dialect. The men laughed heartily, accustomed to this.
Hu Da grabbed more cups, resigned, closing his eyes.
Xie Jing aimed and fired. Hu Da felt his heart tremble at the three gunshots. He had seen the whip, but not gunfire!
The cups exploded. Hu Da instinctively recoiled, relieved. But the cup on his head remained. Just as he puzzled, a few ripe loquats fell from the tree onto the top cup, almost tipping it. Hu Da quickly steadied it.
Xie Jing laughed aloud. “My third shot missed. You win. I’ll treat you to loquats!”
The proud Sichuan men hesitated, embarrassed. Some picked loquats for Hu Da, while a few lifted Xie Jing into the air. He was startled but laughed along with their excited shouts.
The guards from the East Courtyard had never seen such wild men. One asked, “Shall we join?”
Another whispered, “Upstairs is Master’s study. He’s watching. Go if you want. I’m not.”
Hearing this, the others stayed put.
It was May, loquat season—perfectly ripe.
The courtyard buzzed. Hu Da and the others picked plenty of loquats, giving the best to Xie Jing and the guards. They ate the rest themselves. “These are small here. When we go to Sichuan, I’ll take you up the mountain. The loquats there are big and sweet!”
The guards, having bonded with them, forgot past disputes. Curious, they asked, “You have a mountain?”
Hu Da raised his eyebrows. “Yes! A huge one, all belonging to our Upper City Xie family!”
“Upper City ? Do you also have a Lower City Xie family?”
“Never heard of it? Just because there’s a Bai family in the north doesn’t mean there can’t be a Hei family!”
“Oh, we do have a Heihe.” One guard added proudly, “Half the docks, ships, and breweries there belong to us. When you go to the north, we’ll treat you to drinks!”
They chattered merrily. Xie Jing pocketed some loquats, ran upstairs to the study, and gave them to Lord Bai Jiu.
As expected, he was by the window. Seeing Xie Jing, he waved. “Did the shooting hurt?”
“No, just playing,” Xie Jing said, forehead sweaty, smiling. “Master, try the loquats. I picked them!”
Lord Bai Jiu lightly touched his forehead, smiling. “Not only that—I saw you climbing the tree.”
He wiped Xie Jing’s hands with a napkin and shared the loquats. Xie Jing peeled one, offering it to Lord Bai Jiu, who bit it. “Sweet?”
“Yes.”
Xie Jing peeled another from the same branch, bit it, puckered at the sourness, unable to swallow immediately.
Lord Bai Jiu chuckled softly, pinching his chin, took a bite of the loquat, and even licked it despite Xie Jing’s flushed ear. “Very sweet.”
