Chapter 141: The Proposal
The Bai family’s trading post in Sichuan City only had one location. Calling it a “trading post” was more accurate than a “shop”; inside, various southern and northern goods were casually displayed, and not many people came in.
Upstairs, space had been cleared for a reception room, neatly and tidily arranged, currently hosting a distinguished guest.
Cao Yunzhao had come to visit today. Lord Bai Jiu was sitting there, drinking tea and talking with him, though he seemed a bit distracted.
Cao Yunzhao said, “If you find tea tasteless, why don’t we switch to wine?”
Lord Bai Jiu, showing little interest, glanced at a half-open wooden window and said, “It’s not very interesting.”
Cao Yunzhao replied, “Two people indeed isn’t very lively. How about this: I can invite more people. I heard there are quite a few notable figures in Sichuan City; just a couple of days ago, someone even visited your teacher specifically. You can reserve the whole place, and we can have a lively gathering.”
Lord Bai Jiu turned his head, raising an eyebrow. “You came today to ask me for a favor—why should I reserve the place?”
Cao Yunzhao said, “Because what I’m asking for is money. I don’t have any, so naturally I need you to provide it.”
“And you?”
“I’ll accompany you.”
Lord Bai Jiu chuckled but said nothing.
Cao Yunzhao sat there, unwilling to leave, continuing to persuade his old classmate to invest in his venture. After speaking for a while and realizing the other hadn’t absorbed much, he said, “Before going abroad, I entrusted many people in the small mansion to you. I heard that within three months, they were all dismissed. Bai Jiu, since you gave them severance pay, why not give me some too? The whole family should stay together properly.”
Lord Bai Jiu: “…”
Lord Bai Jiu: “Do you have any shame at all?”
Cao Yunzhao: “None. I just want the school, a bookstore.”
If it weren’t for his upright demeanor and open expression, Lord Bai Jiu would hardly have believed he was asking for money.
Lord Bai Jiu had already planned to set up a factory in Meishan. Cao Yunzhao immediately seized the opportunity, smiling broadly: “Why not establish a vocational school, ‘learning through work’? Students learn skills, and you can recruit skilled workers at the same time. How about it?”
Lord Bai Jiu said, “Let’s first conduct some research. For the factory, I’ll send two people to Meishan with you. Recently, dyeing factory orders have increased; some machinery is hard to transport, so we need careful planning.”
Cao Yunzhao’s family background was extraordinary; hearing this, he frowned and whispered, “Why suddenly more dye? Has a fight broken out?”
Lord Bai Jiu frowned slightly, then slowly shook his head. “I don’t know either. Since it can’t be reversed, we can only make preparations in advance.”
Cao Yunzhao sighed. In Beiping, the situation had become chaotic; just replacing a position took two prime ministers’ terms. His father and brothers still mingled in officialdom but weren’t as dominant as before. Likely, the family received some information early, sending him to Sichuan to lay low. Yet, he came from afar, armed with foreign-learned skills, but couldn’t apply them. His post was impoverished, incomparable to Rongcheng or Sichuan City. Being an outsider, he could only leverage old connections and do practical work for the people.
Cao Yunzhao smiled wryly: “If I can’t attract your financial support, and the factory doesn’t materialize, I’ll still ask you to do a charitable act: opening a school is fine too.”
Lord Bai Jiu pondered for a moment and said, “In a while, several elders from the family will travel south. I’ve been looking for a place with good scenery and convenient roads for them to stay.”
Cao Yunzhao’s eyes lit up: “Then come to my place. Since you’re entering Sichuan, it’s safer than going elsewhere.”
Lord Bai Jiu nodded: “I was thinking the same. Regarding the school you mentioned, my grandfather likes children and values education as you do. I can give you funds to establish two orphanages and open an elementary school.”
Cao Yunzhao readily agreed and said, “Rest assured, I will take good care of your family.” Then he asked, “How long will the Bai elders stay here? So I can arrange accommodations.”
Lord Bai Jiu: “Uncertain. They’ll return to the north eventually; no need to go overboard.”
Lord Bai Jiu wrote him a check and also handed over several pre-prepared machines for the bookstore. Cao Yunzhao earnestly wrote an IOU, signed it, and stamped it.
Lord Bai Jiu glanced at it and reminded him: “Remember to include interest.”
Cao Yunzhao: “…You’re even greedy for this small sum?”
Lord Bai Jiu: “I’m short on cash.”
Cao Yunzhao didn’t believe it and asked, “Where did your money go? Don’t tell me you’re buying half of Sichuan City.”
Lord Bai Jiu: “In a few days, I need to pay a betrothal gift.”
“No wonder.” Cao Yunzhao nodded, then suddenly realized: “You… who is this betrothal for?”
Lord Bai Jiu lowered his head, sipping tea, and said calmly: “Who else? In all these years by my side, it’s only him.”
Cao Yunzhao clicked his tongue twice. When he looked at Bai Jiu, his gaze changed. Then he thought to ask: “Your grandfather going south isn’t just because of northern affairs?”
Lord Bai Jiu looked at him in surprise: “Of course. Since I am giving a betrothal, the family elders should be present.”
At this point, Cao Yunzhao no longer saw a mere moneyed man in front of him—he seemed radiant, almost glowing. Rubbing his hands together, he asked, “By the way, is Little Xie really He Dongting’s son?”
“Yes.”
“Ah, Bai Jiu, do you think it’s possible for Boss He to open a company in Meishan as well?”
“…”
“Why are you looking at me like that? I’m just asking casually. If you don’t know your father-in-law well, I’ll ask Little Xie when he comes.”
Cao Yunzhao, eager to develop projects, sat in the reception room, unwilling to leave.
With Bai Jiu present, as long as he stayed with him, there was no worry about waiting for Xie Jing.
Soon, Xie Jing arrived at the Bai family trading post. Upon entering, the shopkeeper greeted him with a smile: “Manager Xie, Lord Bai Jiu is upstairs. Please this way.”
Xie Jing followed him up, asking, “Are there guests today? I saw a carriage outside.”
The shopkeeper whispered: “Sharp eyes, Manager Xie. It’s Young Master Cao. He’s upstairs talking with our Lord.” Being from the East Court himself, he knew he didn’t need to hide anything from Xie Jing.
Xie Jing nodded slightly and said, “I understand. You go ahead, I’ll go upstairs myself.”
Respectfully, the shopkeeper stood aside to let him pass.
Xie Jing knocked on the door and pushed it open, just in time to hear Cao Yunzhao speaking.
Cao Yunzhao still looked surprised, words cut off halfway: “The things you did in Shanghai… how do you plan to tell… young… young Xie when he comes?” He deliberately wore a look of astonishment: “I just told Bai Jiu, today I’m hosting, it’s rare we meet, we won’t leave until we’re drunk.”
Xie Jing entered and sat beside Lord Bai Jiu, refilling tea for both him and Cao Yunzhao, expression calm as usual: “Since Young Master Cao came to Sichuan, he’s our guest. How can the guest host the event? I’ll serve you the drinks.”
Cao Yunzhao gave a thumbs-up, glancing at Bai Jiu and then Xie Jing: “You’re generous as always.”
Xie Jing, sitting near Lord Bai Jiu, was curious about the earlier remark and asked a couple of questions. Cao Yunzhao wanted to answer but, just as he opened his mouth, he heard Lord Bai Jiu cough lightly.
Cao Yunzhao felt a twinge of regret but looked at Xie Jing with affection, smiling: “In a couple of days, you’ll know. No rush.”
Xie Jing didn’t understand, and Cao Yunzhao, not one to reveal matters easily, circled around the topic—praising tea, people, Sichuan wine—but never completed the earlier sentence.
Xie Jing frowned slightly, secretly glanced at Lord Bai Jiu, but saw him carefully sipping tea, avoiding the topic.
At noon, Xie Jing selected a restaurant and took them for an authentic Sichuan meal.
Cao Yunzhao was very happy during the meal. Xie Jing, not good at drinking, watched as his old classmate drank freely and even spontaneously composed two paired poems. Listening, Xie Jing couldn’t help paying extra attention to Cao Yunzhao. Memories of the many beauties at the small mansion flashed before him—one lovesick Liu Ruyi was already enough. He worried Cao Yunzhao might attract attention in Sichuan as well, sending a house full of beauties for refuge.
Xie Jing kept watching him, and Cao Yunzhao noticed.
When leaving, Cao Yunzhao dipped his finger in wine to write a character, looked at Xie Jing with a sly smile, and secretly pointed toward Lord Bai Jiu.
Lord Bai Jiu had drunk a little more; Sichuan wine was strong. Though not obvious on the surface, he was slightly tipsy and asked them, “What’s this about?”
Xie Jing paused, using his sleeve to cover the wine stain on the table, shaking his head.
Though Xie Jing hadn’t drunk, a faint blush spread across his face, creeping to his ear tips.
On the spot covered by his sleeve, Cao Yunzhao had written a single character:
Proposal
