Chapter 161: Newlyweds
During the tea ceremony, Xie Siquan glanced at Bai Jiu and instinctively looked out for him, allowing him to serve only one cup of tea. The other elders merely bowed slightly, all of them passing along their cups without fuss.
Xie Siquan rubbed his temple and said, “Things were a bit rushed, that’s my fault. Last night, I was too happy and drank a few too many cups. We can skip these formalities.”
Elder Bai nodded in agreement, following his example. Even the Northern guests saw him set the tone.
Though the formalities were waived, the remaining steps were far more detailed.
Xie Siquan had two large trays prepared—one gold, one silver—each carried by two attendants. Each gift received was acknowledged with chants of auspicious words and thanks.
Among the wealthy Sichuan relatives, no one dared place anything in the silver tray. They eagerly placed their prepared gifts—gold locks, jade Buddhas, long strings of jade beads—into the gold tray one by one, anxious not to fall behind or displease the Xie family head. They lived off ancestral wealth, and most family assets were managed by Xie Siquan. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the Xie family was ruled by his word alone. Normally, these relatives tried every method to curry favor with him. Now, with sleepyheads giving pillows, there was no reason to hold back.
They gave so much that the gold tray was piled like a small mountain, with gold, jade, and jewels stacked atop silver certificates—a truly spectacular sight.
The Northern Bai family was more low-key. The elders each placed only a gift certificate in the silver tray.
The Sichuan relatives, who had been eagerly waiting to see what the Northern guests would give, were overjoyed. Northern people didn’t give lavish gifts. A simple booklet could not compare to a large display of gold and silver. Loud and generous gifts were much more satisfying.
When it was Xie Siquan’s turn, he did not give money. Instead, he presented a bunch of keys.
The lavishly dressed Sichuan guests stared at the keys. Some whispered, occasionally mentioning words like “ancestral hall” or “family courtyard.” Xie Siquan cleared his throat, and the hall quieted. He beckoned Xie Jing over, fastening the keys at his waist and saying, “According to old rules, only the Xie family head controls these. But with so much business, I cannot manage it all alone. Besides, what is mine is also Jing’er’s; we need not follow these old customs. From today onward, when the Young Master speaks, it is as if I speak. Understand?”
The Sichuan people, who had been obediently managed by Xie Siquan over the years, quickly agreed. Some clever ones even began praising the Young Master’s talent and appearance.
Xie Siquan’s lips curved slightly as he ruffled Xie Jing’s hair.
Three days later, Xie Jing moved into the mansion in the Lower City.
Outsiders only knew that the Young Master had grown, so a courtyard was prepared for him to live outside. They didn’t realize that half the household still belonged to the Bai family.
The new home had been prepared well before the wedding. The Bai family had arranged everything meticulously—tables, chairs, and furniture were all ready, so no moving of items was necessary. Xie Siquan had his men bring over items that the editors had prepared for Xie Jing. Xie Jing found it cumbersome; most of the items were things Lord Bai Jiu had bought for him, many of which he didn’t need. He said to Xie Siquan, “Uncle, leave them here. I’ll be back often anyway. Anything useful for you or the second master, just take it.”
Xie Siquan laughed, tapping his head: “Nonsense. I’m not greedy for your dowry. These are gifts sent from the North. Take them back and use them yourselves.”
Xie Jing opened his mouth to explain but thought better of it and nodded in agreement.
When Xie Siquan sent people to move the items, he also sent a few cooks, worried that Xie Jing wouldn’t adjust to living on his own.
After moving into the new residence, Xie Jing and Lord Bai Jiu hosted a matchmaking celebration, inviting Master Huang to their home for a meal.
When Huang Ming arrived, Elder Bai and Xie Siquan accompanied him. They had a table to themselves, enjoying a warm and harmonious meal.
Master Huang, arranging his first matchmaking ceremony, was pleased with the celebratory wine. Feeling inspired, he prepared to inscribe calligraphy for their new home. Spreading out the paper, he asked, “Young Xie, what should I write for this house?”
Xie Jing replied, “East Courtyard.”
Master Huang studied him for a moment, then laughed heartily: “Very good. Write this. Not only do you long for the East Courtyard, even I miss it!”
Life in Sichuan was peaceful. Lord Bai Jiu spent the entire summer in the new residence.
Except for taking Elder Bai and the others on a trip to Meishan, he stayed in Sichuan with Xie Jing.
The new house bore the East Courtyard sign, and the furnishings mirrored those from the North. Even the study was arranged the same. Xie Jing practiced calligraphy there while Lord Bai Jiu handled business, and during free time, they sat together by the window reading.
At the end of summer, Sichuan held a horse-racing festival. Xie Jing brought Lord Bai Jiu along. He rode Bai Shisi in the race. Bai Shisi was tall, strong, and a former military horse. Other riders made way for them. Xie Jing’s handsome appearance made him even more noticeable.
On the racetrack, status didn’t matter—skill spoke for itself.
Xie Jing rode Bai Shisi through the crowd of Sichuan men. As the horse galloped, he leaned down to pick up arrows from the ground, aiming at the grass targets with precision, hitting all of them perfectly.
Bai Shisi was tall and fast but slightly unaccustomed to Sichuan’s valleys. Xie Jing held back slightly to avoid injuring the horse, finishing with an upper-mid ranking.
The top hundred riders each received a prize hanging on a colored ribbon. Bai Shisi was tall, and Xie Jing easily reached the highest prize: a multi-colored beast mask with tassels. He tossed it in his hands, smiling, and looked for companions. A bold Sichuan girl ran over to speak to him. Someone offered a bouquet, hoping to exchange it for the mask. Xie Jing shook his head repeatedly on horseback: “No, I can’t trade.”
The girl placed her hands on her hips and exclaimed, “How can you be so stingy? Trade with me! I saw you from the start; you have no other girls around. I like you!”
Xie Jing: “But I already have someone I care for.”
The crowd was noisy, but the girl heard him clearly and shouted, “What—?!”
Xie Jing raised his voice: “I… am married!”
As Lord Bai Jiu approached through the crowd, he heard Xie Jing blushing and shouting, and couldn’t help but smile.
Xie Jing saw Lord Bai Jiu and quickly had Bai Shisi step back, avoiding the girls and moving toward him. One was on horseback, the other standing, but both reached out. Lord Bai Jiu felt Xie Jing’s hand, used a bit of clever force, mounted the horse behind him, drew him into his embrace, took the reins, and steered them away.
Xie Jing wanted to give Lord Bai Jiu the prize he had won. It was customary at horse races to give prizes to those one liked.
Lord Bai Jiu held his hand, placing the beast mask over Xie Jing’s face. Whispering in his ear with a smile, he said, “Just giving the mask isn’t enough; the person is mine too.”
The mask had a beast head with swirling horns, vivid colors, and sharp teeth, exuding a primitive grandeur.
Lord Bai Jiu could see Xie Jing’s flushed ears from above.
Elsewhere, Meishan
Before going to Meishan, Elder Bai and the others had purchased a house. After some renovations, it was now spacious.
Bai Mingyu accompanied the elders, but this time he spoke very little. He said a few words and couldn’t help but glance at aunt, especially whenever Old Madam Bai was around, making him increasingly nervous.
Old Madam Bai was a legendary figure of the Bai family. Without a husband or children, she established her own household, running the Nanfang business single-handedly and gaining fame as a female shopkeeper. Bai Hongqi had been adopted and raised by Old Madam Bai, always calling her grandmother, forming a deep bond. Now she held Old Madam Bai’s arm, whispering words to cheer her up.
Bai Hongqi said, “Grandmother, this courtyard was built by Bai Er. He really put a lot of effort into it!”
Bai Mingyu shook his head beside them: “It wasn’t that much…” Halfway through the sentence, he noticed aunt staring at him, so he awkwardly corrected himself: “Well… a bit of effort, I suppose?”
Old Madam Bai was in a good mood and spoke kindly to him: “I often hear Hongqi mention you. Though young, you handle things steadily.”
Bai Mingyu was so pleased he felt like he could fly. His spirits soared, and he boldly began speaking flattering words to Old Madam Bai as if they were free. Bai Hongqi was initially nervous, unsure if her grandmother would approve of Bai Mingyu’s behavior. Luckily, older people tend to favor the young, and Old Madam Bai laughed warmly at his brazen flattery, without stopping him.
