Chapter 143: Shuiniu Town
After Cao Yunzhao assumed office in Meishan, he naturally had to tour the area personally to inspect it. Huang Mingyou came along as well, his purpose being to observe the local customs and culture for a book he was writing.
Xie Jing stayed at the residence, accompanying Lord Bai Jiu, quietly listening as he discussed modifications to the house with the craftsmen. He spoke very little, only perked up his ears to pay close attention.
Two days later, the house plans were basically finalized. Lord Bai Jiu personally drew several blueprints; the study and bedroom layouts matched those he had in the East Courtyard.
Xie Jing studied the plans for a moment and asked, “Lord Bai Jiu, should I stay to supervise the work?” Worried he sounded too eager, he quickly added, “I mean, during winter, won’t you return to Shanghai after a while? After I deliver this batch of salt, I’ll eventually return to my uncle’s home in Sichuan. It’s not far from here, I can come by often to check.”
Lord Bai Jiu smiled: “No need, I’ve already arranged someone.”
Xie Jing looked puzzled: “Who?”
“Hong’er.”
News of Miss Hongqi coming to Sichuan spread quickly. Bai Mingyu, who had gone out to purchase a batch of stone, immediately went to find Xie Jing after hearing the news, listening to him repeat it three times before grinning foolishly.
During the day, when Xie Jing learned that Bai Hongqi would come, he was first surprised, then reassured. He guessed that since Lord Bai Jiu had even invited elders from the North, it was reasonable for Miss Hongqi to visit as well. Bai Mingyu, unaware that something important was about to happen at home, assumed Lord Bai Jiu was simply being generous, letting aunt come for a visit, counting the days excitedly.
Since learning that Miss Hongqi would spend winter in Sichuan, Bai Mingyu worked even harder, lingering near Lord Bai Jiu after finishing chores, trying to gather information.
The young master’s intentions were practically written on his face.
With no one else to show off to, he grabbed Xie Jing’s arm when they were alone and whispered: “Hey, Little Xie, do you know why Lord Bai Jiu invited aunt here?”
Xie Jing looked at him, curious to hear his new theory.
Bai Mingyu beamed: “I asked Lord Bai Jiu today, and he said it was because ‘something important is happening at home.’ You see—” He drew out his words, eyes shining. “Do you think Lord Bai Jiu has noticed we like each other and wants to play matchmaker?”
Xie Jing said “oh” and also drew out the sound, watching him.
Bai Mingyu tapped his arm, urging: “Analyze it for me! Aunt has written me three letters this month already, more than usual. If you don’t believe me, I’ll show you.”
Xie Jing: “…You still carry them with you?”
Bai Mingyu: “Of course. If you had a lover…” He cut himself off abruptly, almost biting his tongue, mumbling: “Anyway, most people aren’t like you. You haven’t received letters before; you wouldn’t understand.”
Xie Jing felt slightly annoyed—he had received letters—but didn’t bother to argue.
The three letters Bai Mingyu showed were indeed from Bai Hongqi. In them, she subtly inquired about Lord Bai Jiu’s feelings, but her words were so indirect she didn’t dare write a single explicit clue. The silly Bai Mingyu didn’t notice and simply assumed she missed him, keeping the letters close like treasures.
After flaunting the letters, Bai Mingyu proudly said: “See? I didn’t trick you. She must miss me. Little Xie, imagine when aunt and I have children—double eyelids, small mouth, really pretty, right?”
Xie Jing thought for a moment: “Probably smart.”
Miss Hongqi was clever and cautious—far more so than Bai Mingyu.
Because Bai Hongqi was coming, Lord Bai Jiu stayed in Meishan an extra half month.
Bai Mingyu was the happiest.
He watched impatiently every day, wishing he could wait at the docks. Normally, he had little interest in household news, but now he knew everything Lord Bai Jiu did. For example, the news that He Dongting had returned early to Shanghai was also brought to Xie Jing by Bai Mingyu. He sighed: “Little Xie, see? Lord Bai Jiu isn’t doing this easily. He came to Meishan, hiding from your father—all for you.”
Xie Jing: “…”
He thought, this silly Bai Mingyu is hopeless. Lord Bai Jiu was clearly waiting in Meishan for Miss Hongqi. If he wanted to tie the red thread (matchmaking), this would be the extent; everything else was up to fate.
On the ninth day of October, Bai Hongqi arrived by ship, reaching Sichuan in just a few days.
From the day she entered Sichuan, Lord Bai Jiu was troubled by Bai Mingyu buzzing around him. He had sent him to Jiangkou to receive her. Bai Mingyu, unable to wait, immediately set off when ordered.
The following days, however, brought no news.
Lord Bai Jiu was nominally Bai Mingyu’s elder, but in reality, he treated him like a nephew, and they had a very good relationship. When they lost contact for a while, he immediately sent people to look for him.
They searched all the way, and finally found a trace in Shuiniu Town. After that, it was as if it had vanished into thin air.
Upon hearing the scout’s report, Lord Bai Jiu couldn’t help but frown: “How could someone suddenly disappear?”
The scout reported, “Reporting to you, sir, when we inquired in the town, we heard that strange things happen there all the time. Some people disappear after entering the mountains, and others vanish at the abandoned dock at the river mouth. It’s not uncommon. The town of Shuiniu worships the Mountain God and the River King, and a couple of years ago, they even offered a living tribute…”
Lord Bai Jiu slammed his fist on the table, his face extremely grim: “Take men and search immediately! I want to see them alive or dead!”
Lord Bai Jiu dialed Cao Yunzhao’s number. Meishan City has three or five counties and towns, and the government offices can generally find a communications officer to contact the other party. After explaining the situation, Cao Yunzhao immediately became nervous and led his men to Shuiniu Town overnight.
Lord Bai Jiu didn’t delay at all. He set off with his caravan. As soon as they left the city gate, they heard the sound of horses’ hooves at the fork in the road ahead. Before long, a group of men from Sichuan on horseback arrived. Their clothes were relatively understated and neat, but their horses were decorated with colorful ropes. Some horses had colorful ropes tied to them, and some horses had many bells and pendants on their saddles. It was quite a grand procession.
These men, numbering about a hundred, stopped in unison by the roadside. Hu Da, the leader, dismounted and called out to Xie Jing, “Young Master!”
They shouted in unison from behind, their voices loud and clear, their eyes fixed on Xie Jing, waiting for his command.
Xie Jing rode his horse alongside Lord Bai Jiu’s carriage, bowing slightly as he said, “Master, things happened so suddenly. I was worried we wouldn’t have enough manpower, so I borrowed some men from my uncle’s side, just in case.”
Lord Bai Jiu nodded slightly: “Alright, please thank him for me.”
Xie Jing said, “We’re family, no need for further explanation.”
He rode two steps behind, leading Hu Da’s men to follow the Bai family’s caravan, traveling together.
Meishan has three county towns, the one closest to the river mouth is called Shuiniu Town.
The town was very small and the area was very poor.
The only advantage is that the scenery is quite nice, with mountains and rivers nearby. However, the section of the river nearby is either very fast-flowing or only small boats can pass during the dry season. Only a small dock was hastily built and is now half-abandoned, rarely used.
In late autumn, each autumn rain brings a chill.
Lord Bai Jiu and his party braved the rain and arrived in Shuiniu Town at night. Not many houses in the town lit lanterns. The old town was ancient, and most houses used a few rough wooden planks to block the doorway as a makeshift door. At this time, there were no pedestrians on the cobblestone streets, only the sound of horses’ hooves and wheels from the moving caravan.
Cao Yunzhao’s men came to meet them with lanterns. Besides the secretary at the front, there were several burly men carrying hunting rifles on their shoulders.
Xie Jing held up an umbrella, lifted the carriage curtain, and helped Lord Bai Jiu down. He looked across the way, his gaze falling on the few burly men. Although they were strong, it was clear that these men did not have a stable territory and were not trained fighters. They seemed more like hunters hired temporarily.
The secretary hurriedly stepped forward and led them to a two-courtyard house to settle down. He probably hadn’t expected Xie Jing to bring so many people, so it was difficult to settle them down for a while.
Hu Da grinned and said, “It’s alright, we can just find an inn to stay in.”
The secretary breathed a sigh of relief and smiled, “That’s good. They’re very xenophobic here. They wouldn’t even look at our letters of appointment and just shook their heads, refusing to receive us. We only managed to get this courtyard house through the town mayor.”
Hu Da and his group were originally from Sichuan, making it easier for them to move around compared to Cao Yunzhao and his group. He selected two people to follow Xie Jing with him, while the rest were quickly arranged to find lodgings to rest. Xie Jing soon noticed that Hu Da was following closely; he even felt Hu Da’s hand unconsciously resting on his gun at his waist several times. When no one was around, he asked in a low voice, “What’s wrong?”
Hu Da followed him around the house, lowering his voice and saying, “Something’s not right. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it doesn’t feel like anyone lives here… Young master, be careful. It’s dark, and we can’t see anything in the house.”
Xie Jing nodded.
The house was pitch black, and although many people had entered, they did not disperse, so nothing happened for the time being.
Lord Bai Jiu instructed, “Light more torches to illuminate the area.”
The Bai family’s caravan had brought a lot of tar, so they quickly made some simple torches, lit them, and hung them around the house, instantly illuminating the entire courtyard. Only after lighting them did they realize that the house was indeed just as Hu Da had imagined; it didn’t look like someone had lived there for a long time. Cobwebs hung in the corners, and fallen leaves were piled up in the yard. Only some old furniture remained in the rooms, with a few beds barely arranged there.
Lord Bai Jiu was wide awake, so Xie Jing had some rough wood lit in the fire pit and sat with him around it, warming their hands and discussing things in hushed tones.
Before long, Cao Yunzhao arrived. He was accompanied only by a few hunters carrying guns, and no one else. His face was also very pale.
Upon seeing this, Lord Bai Jiu asked, “Why are you alone? Where is Mr. Huang?”
Cao Yunzhao shook his head and said in a deep voice, “After you contacted me a few days ago, I brought Mr. Huang here with me, but we arrived two days later than you. Mr. Huang heard that there was a mural on the mountain here and that foreigners came to take pictures. He was worried that something might happen, so he rushed up the mountain. I… failed to find it.”
Xie Jing’s heart skipped a beat. “Mr. Huang is missing too?”
“Yes, it only took a day and a night.” Cao Yunzhao nodded, somewhat indignantly, “There are many mountain people here, and they are very stubborn. No matter what I said, they refused to go up the mountain to look for people, saying that they were afraid of angering the mountain god. It’s utterly absurd! I paid people to search for a day, but I only managed to borrow some manpower from neighboring counties and passing caravans.”
Lord Bai Jiu remained motionless by the fire, only slowly moving his hand after a long while, frowning as he said, “Something’s not right. If you were truly afraid, why didn’t you stop me from going up the mountain?”
Cao Yunzhao said, “I contacted the town mayor and asked him to send a guide to lead the way.”
Lord Bai Jiu, “Does what the town mayor said work?”
Cao Yunzhao, “You don’t know, in this rural area, the so-called town mayor is actually just the head of a local powerful family, and his word carries more weight than mine.”
