Chapter 123 — Elder’s Tea
Xie Jing asked, “Mr. Huang who taught me before said this might have something to do with the Silver Seeking Technique. Uncle, have you ever heard of it?”
Xie Siquan replied, “Of course I have! Every year, there are people reckless enough to dive into the Min River looking for silver ingots. It’s not that easy to retrieve! Many die in vain. Jing’er, don’t believe in that. Our family has money—whatever you want, just ask your uncle!” He fiddled with the stone tiger for a while before handing it back to Xie Jing. “This has nothing to do with the Silver Seeking Technique. Keep it as a memento.”
Xie Jing accepted it carefully, showing no disdain for his uncle’s words. This was something his mother had left him, and he treasured it.
After waiting a while, Xie Siquan spoke without beating around the bush: “Jing’er, Xu Jun calls me ‘Second Master’ here, but I’ve never treated him as an outsider. In our Xie family in Sichuan, he speaks to me as an equal. Since you’re here today, present a cup of tea to the Second Master. From now on, he will care for you like your uncle.”
Xie Jing finally understood and nodded.
Xie Siquan gestured for tea to be brought. It was served on a rosewood tray lined with red velvet. The tea cups were more formal than usual.
Xie Jing offered the tea to Xu Jun, bowing properly and addressing him respectfully.
This time, he still called him “Second Master,” but the tone carried new meaning. Xie Jing knew that Xu Jun genuinely had authority in the Xie household.
Xu Jun took a sip of the tea and then pulled a red envelope from his sleeve, thick with contents.
Xie Siquan glanced over and whispered teasingly, “Jing’er, open it. See how much pocket money the Second Master gave you?”
Xie Jing, trusting the custom, carefully opened it. Xu Jun didn’t even try to stop him. Inside were thick stacks of silver bills, totaling ten thousand silvers.
Even Xie Siquan hadn’t expected so much. He laughed, “Jing’er, thank the Second Master. I didn’t know his little treasury held so much. Looks like he emptied it for you.”
Obediently, Xie Jing knelt and bowed to show respect to his elder.
Xu Jun panicked and tried to stand, but Xie Siquan held him in the chair, letting Xie Jing perform the bow. He said, “Since you’ve acknowledged him, we are family. He’s still young—if he makes mistakes, be patient and considerate. And the same goes for you, Jing’er. If I’m out and anyone dares to touch the Second Master, you deal with them just like the other day. If trouble arises, I’ll back you up!”
Xie Jing nodded: “Don’t worry, Uncle. I’ve got it all covered.”
Xu Jun was touched at first but couldn’t help glancing between the uncle and nephew, hesitating to speak.
In the end, he said nothing. Today was a day of celebration; he let it be.
After offering the tea, Xie Jing sat a while before Xie Siquan let him go.
Only the two of them remained in the hall.
Xie Siquan noticed Xu Jun still drinking the tea and laughed: “The tea’s cold now. Why are you still drinking it? I’ll get someone to replace it.”
Xu Jun shook his head: “No need.”
Xie Siquan touched his chin in disbelief: “You’re usually so frugal. How come you’re generous today?”
Xu Jun smiled lightly: “I’m happy today.”
Xie Siquan also laughed, eyes curling into arcs. His usual sharpness faded in front of others, leaving only warmth. “I told you, Jing’er won’t make things hard for you. That child is very obedient.”
Xu Jun thought for a moment and slowly said, “He’s very good.”
The more Xie Jing acted calm, the more Xu Jun felt grateful. His young nephew had caused them no embarrassment, accepting new family members as naturally as anyone else.
A few days later, the Huang family in the lower city also began distributing newspapers. They used a newspaper, but it was small and poorly written—full of archaic phrasing that left readers confused. Compared to Xie Jing’s prior choice of a major newspaper with modern articles, it was far inferior. Modern articles, written like everyday speech, were now very popular. People could read them almost as if having a conversation, even common townsfolk could understand without line-by-line explanations.
The lower city Huang family issued newspapers for a while, but the news had no effect. Not only did it fail to slander the Xie family, even the statements about the Huang family’s own salt fields were ignored.
Li Chunlin grew anxious, pacing at home.
A young servant rushed in, almost colliding with him. Li Chunlin grabbed the servant’s shoulders, asking repeatedly, “Any news today? Are people talking about the Xie family?”
The servant, breathless, shook his head: “No… nothing…”
Li Chunlin shoved him in frustration. “How can that be?! So many newspapers, distributed daily—weren’t they all taken?”
The servant, sobbing, replied: “Master Li, indeed no one is talking about the Xie family. As for the newspapers, I checked—the women at the street corners snatched them up to cut out shoe patterns…”
Li Chunlin cursed in anger but had no solution.
For nearly a month, the conflict between the upper city Xie family and lower city Huang family raged.
But because Xie Jing had already set public opinion in his favor, most citizens in Sichuan sided with the Xie family. Huang Wanxing caused a fuss, lost face and money, gained nothing, and soon stopped issuing newspapers. He slunk back to the lower city, rarely appearing.
During this period, Xie Siquan was relieved not to see Huang Wanxing’s face, but he remained cautious, having guards accompany Xie Jing whenever he went out.
One day, Xie Siquan took Xie Jing to the salt fields. Knowing his nephew might get bored, he rode alongside him.
Xie Jing was accompanied by Wang Su and a few others, riding behind Xie Siquan.
Xie Siquan led him in a circuit, allowing him to gallop freely across the plains. Xie Jing was fine; his white horse, Bai Shisi, had been in the stable for a long time and ran with unbridled speed, mane flying. Today, Xie Jing wore Sichuan-style riding attire, a thin belt around his waist, two small braids with red coral beads dangling from his hair, tied loosely at the back. The wind hit him head-on as he leaned forward on the horse, chest rising with exhilaration, laughing freely as Bai Shisi charged ahead.
Xie Siquan, a bit worried, shouted, “Slow down!”
Xie Jing called back, “Uncle—”
“What?”
“Come on! Let’s race!”
Xie Siquan raised an eyebrow, cracking his whip toward a distant hill. “First one there wins. Dare you?”
Without hesitation, Xie Jing spurred his horse and raced ahead.
Xie Siquan, skilled in horsemanship, followed without hesitation. Two teams followed behind. Bai family guards were quiet, while the Sichuan men shouted freely, relishing the wild exhilaration. Never had they felt so free and joyful.
At the hill’s base, Xie Siquan, knowing the terrain, reached ahead by a horse-length.
They let their horses graze and rested on a soft meadow.
Xie Jing, sweating, still savoring the ride, said, “Uncle, next time I’ll race you again.”
Xie Siquan laughed deeply, hands behind his head: “Alright. I’ll wait for the day you can beat me.”
“I’ll be able to when I grow a bit more,” Xie Jing said seriously. Xie Siquan laughed, thinking it childlike.
He nudged Xie Jing and whispered secretly: “Jing’er, the Second Master says there’s someone in your heart. Is that true?”
Xie Jing replied plainly: “True. At the Bai family. I want to bring him along in the future…”
Xie Siquan interrupted: “No rush. You’re still young. Take your time, choose carefully. And don’t be foolish. Even if you keep him close, it should be comfortable. If not, keep him secretly elsewhere and swap later when you find someone better.” His last words were reluctant and forced.
Xie Jing glanced at him: “You treat the Second Master the same way?”
“How could it be the same,” the Xie patriarch said proudly. “Xu Jun is one in a million, a master in every way. Have you seen anyone as capable?”
Xie Jing: “Yes.”
Xie Siquan clicked his tongue: “And how many have you seen?”
Xie Jing replied calmly: “One is enough.”
