Chapter 139: Wolf Cub
It was still Xu Jun who brought a bowl of “medicine,” but in reality, it was just clear water with a spoonful of honey. He placed the bowl on the table, cleared his throat, and said, “I haven’t been back for some days. Looking at the salt fields accounts, they’ve piled up quite a bit. I’ll handle some business tonight in the side room. Jing’er, since your uncle is ill, stay and take care of him for the night. You haven’t seen him for a while; have a proper chat.”
Xie Jing took the bowl and sat by his uncle, feeding him.
A bowl of honey water somehow tasted sour to Xie Siquan. “Have you ever fed someone medicine before? You’re so skilled. Were you… at the Bai family before?”
Xie Jing said, “I was sick twice before. At that time, uncle wasn’t around, so Lord Bai Jiu fed me himself. That’s why I remember.”
Xie Siquan felt as if his heart was being cut. He was normally ruthless and never gave face to anyone, but before Xie Jing, he had never raised his voice. He muttered a curse at himself through reddened eyes.
Xie Jing sighed, looking at him. “Uncle, you don’t have to—”
“You and Bai Jiu… are really together?”
“Yes.”
“How long ago?”
“Two years, back in Nanfang.”
Xie Siquan’s heart ached for his nephew; his eyes reddened. “He took advantage of the fact that no elder was around for you. If I had been there… if I could have protected you, this wouldn’t have happened!”
Xie Jing cooled the spoon and brought it to his uncle’s lips. “Uncle, have some ‘medicine’ first. In a few days, when you’ve calmed down, I’ll talk to you about this.”
Xie Siquan swallowed, asking, “Why wait a few days?”
“If I say it now, you won’t listen.”
“Jing’er, you’re still young. You don’t understand the stakes. The Bai family isn’t like ours. Such a powerful family, such a huge legacy… and Bai Jiu is the only heir. Even if he wants to, could his elders agree?” Xie Siquan urged. “Don’t fall too deep, or if something goes wrong later…”
Xie Jing returned the spoon to the bowl. “Nothing will go wrong.”
“You can only control yourself. How can you control him?”
“Uncle, you don’t understand.”
Xie Siquan was about to speak further when Xie Jing suddenly grabbed his wrist, pressing him onto the bed with one hand. His arm crossed Xie Siquan’s chest, just short of the throat. Looking down, he spoke softly: “Uncle, you don’t know anything, so how could you make decisions for me? You don’t know… my life is his, and his life is mine.”
Xie Siquan struggled slightly but could not break free. He realized that the nephew he had always treated like a child had grown claws and teeth.
Ordinarily, the claws stayed retracted, lazy and uncompetitive. Only when the bottom line was touched did they appear.
Xie Jing quickly let go, stood up, picked up the medicine bowl, and drank the honey water in one gulp. Calmly, he said, “Uncle drank too slowly. I’ll try the medicine for you.”
Xie Siquan opened his mouth but couldn’t get a word out, lying back and staring at the canopy above the bed, thoughtful.
Xie Jing didn’t go back. He had promised the Second Master and stayed to take care of his uncle.
On the bed lay a “sick” person, and on a bamboo cot nearby sat the caretaker—truly keeping watch as they slept.
Xie Siquan’s voice was hoarse as he deliberately asked, “Why didn’t you go back?”
In the dark, his young nephew replied, “I’m sleeping with uncle.” He paused briefly, then added, “Just like in Shanghai, when I first met you.”
Recalling their first meeting, Xie Siquan’s heart softened. He turned and looked, though he couldn’t see clearly, yet felt closer. He quietly asked about the wound on Xie Jing’s arm.
Xie Jing chuckled lightly. “Uncle doesn’t blame me for moving earlier?”
Xie Siquan said, “Why would I? If you’d been in Sichuan all along, I would’ve wrestled with you from childhood till now.” He sighed. “But looking at you now, you’ve grown stronger in the North, learned martial arts?”
Xie Jing nodded. “Yes. Lord Bai Jiu specially arranged teachers for me—spear techniques, soft whip, and all.”
They talked about the North. Xie Jing described the snow, the mountains and forests, and the deer antler and blood wine from the Heihe brewery. Life hadn’t been easy at first, but gradually improved. He spoke lightly, recounting only the interesting memories, never the dangers.
Xie Siquan listened quietly.
He knew very well how harsh life in the North could be.
But in Xie Jing’s words, there was no sense of inferiority. Even speaking of Bai Jiu, there was admiration and fondness, no fear at all.
The Bai family treated Xie Jing well; Bai Jiu treated him very well.
Xie Siquan listened, pondering.
After a while, Xie Jing grew quiet.
Xie Siquan asked, “Finished?”
“Yes.”
“Tell me more about you and Bai Jiu. Earlier you spoke of Nanfang, but what happened after he reclaimed the land? How about the winery? How did the East Courtyard people accept you?”
Xie Jing smiled. “That… I can’t tell uncle.”
Xie Siquan scoffed. “Selfish.”
Xie Jing covered his arm. No nightmares had occurred these past two days, but previous ones were vivid; the pain of having his arm sliced for medicine still surfaced now and then. Feeling his intact arm brought relief—not for the arm, but for the one who no longer had to drink medicine day and night.
Few could understand his bond with Lord Bai Jiu. He had to watch over him personally to feel at ease.
Late at night, the room was quiet except for soft breathing.
In the adjoining side room, Xu Jun, fully dressed, leafed through accounts, one hand holding the book, the other a pen, occasionally distracted to listen. When the neighboring room was still, he breathed a sigh of relief. That night, he hadn’t dared approach the “battle zone”—neither the elder nor the younger could be offended.
Xie Siquan had thought a lot last night and hadn’t slept well. He woke late, yawned, sat dazed, suddenly remembered something, and hurriedly put on shoes to leave.
Xu Jun came in and bumped into him, quickly steadying him. “What’s wrong?”
Xie Siquan asked, “Jing’er… where did he go?”
Xu Jun said, “Aren’t you ‘sick’? That child is filial. Early this morning, he started making porridge and side dishes, even steamed the egg custard you like, to serve to you soon.”
Hearing this, Xie Siquan didn’t show it, washed up, and waited.
Xu Jun sat with him, chatting lightly. Mentioning Bai Jiu, he hesitated slightly. “This morning, I visited. Bai Jiu wants to take Jing’er to Shanghai. The Bai family ordered a large batch of salt, need the fleet to transport it, and Jing’er will also get familiar with the route. The two families plan frequent exchanges.”
Xie Siquan coldly said, “It’s not the salt he wants. I think he wants the person!”
Xu Jun sighed. “Well, he does need to deliver it, so let him go.”
At the door, Xie Jing carried a wooden tray with two bowls of porridge and a few side dishes. He arrived just as Xie Siquan muttered, “Ungrateful people from the Central Plains.”
Xie Jing asked cautiously, “Uncle, who are you scolding?”
Xie Siquan: “…”
“…I’m scolding your father!”
After the night, there was no real gap between them. Though Xie Siquan remained uneasy, it was now a concern for himself rather than Bai Jiu. Before, he worried about Bai Jiu; now, he worries about himself—if his nephew were bullied in the future, he wouldn’t be able to hit the Bai family’s courtyard.
After breakfast, Xie Siquan still wanted to pretend to be weak, but waiting and waiting, he saw no sign of Xie Jing. Asking around, he learned Jing’er had eaten and gone—likely already to the salt fields.
A subordinate bowed: “Young Master took Lord Bai Jiu and others to the salt fields. They received a new order, going to inspect the salt.”
Xie Siquan stood, thought, then sat back down.
Xu Jun asked, “Not going to see?”
Xie Siquan crossed his legs. “Send word to Boss He, and send a carriage for him to the salt fields.”
Xu Jun twitched at the corner of his mouth. Xie Siquan looked up and raised an eyebrow. “Why stare at me? I can’t be the only one responsible for the child. He, He Dongting, should do his duty too.”
—
Salt Fields
Xie Jing took Lord Bai Jiu and the group to the salt fields. Mr. Huang and Bai Mingyu accompanied them. Mr. Huang was writing a book on geological features. Seeing the crane, he clicked his tongue in amazement, as if seeing it for the first time, constantly craning to look.
Bai Mingyu worked three days at the salt fields and learned many rules, helping select the quality of the salt and finalize the order.
Author’s Note – Small Scene:
Xie Uncle (gloating): “Come on, Old He, your turn!”
He Dongting: “Ah?”
