Chapter 173: Extra (3)
Xie Siquan said, “Your family seems to have quite a few rules. I suppose there are many people in your household too.”
“It’s acceptable,” the young man replied calmly.
After chatting for a bit, Xie Siquan noticed that although this youth wasn’t very old, he carried himself with remarkable composure. Unless spoken to directly, he never said a word more than necessary. Xie Siquan had met all kinds of people, but none with this kind of steady temperament. He couldn’t help but look at him a few times more, increasingly impressed.
They repackaged the mountain goods into gift boxes at the shop, and when it came time to pay, the shopkeeper refused to take the money, merely bowing respectfully toward the young man accompanying Xie Siquan.
The youth explained, “This is my family’s shop.”
Xie Siquan didn’t argue further. He simply pocketed the money again, taking it as a friendly gesture.
When they stepped outside, the sedan chair had already been replaced by a horse-drawn carriage. The guards stood at both sides, each holding the reins of their horses. Lifting his head, Xie Siquan caught sight of a line of white horses—tall, strong, and perfectly groomed, even their manes brushed smooth. His gaze swept over them before landing on the lead horse, which bore an exquisite saddle. Looking up admiringly, he said, “Now that’s a fine horse!” Then he turned to the young man and asked, “What’s its name?”
The young man replied, “I’m the ninth in my family. If Brother Xie doesn’t mind, just call me Bai Jiu.”
“Bai Jiu,” Xie Siquan repeated, his eyes still fixed on the white horse. “And what about its name?”
Bai Jiu paused. “…Bai Shisi.”
All the Bai family horses bore marks—their numbers served as their names. Xie Siquan kept praising the horse, eager to step closer for a look, but Bai Jiu cautioned, “Be careful. This is a warhorse—much fiercer than ordinary ones. Best not to get too close.”
Even so, Xie Siquan stood there, eyes gleaming with unconcealed admiration.
Bai Jiu said softly, “If Brother Xie truly likes it, I could—”
But Xie Siquan waved his hand, interrupting him. “No need. I already bought one horse, and that’s enough. To be honest with you, it’s for my little one to see. Our Sichuan horses are built for the mountains—thicker legs and tougher frames. This kind wouldn’t do well back home.”
Bai Jiu said, “Bai Shisi can run through forests as well.”
Xie Siquan burst into laughter and patted his shoulder. “Our mountains aren’t like your northern ones. But thank you, little brother—your kindness is appreciated!”
He clasped his hands in farewell, mounted his horse, and rode off.
He was fast on horseback, but someone else was faster. When he reached a side gate, a man was already waiting. Seeing Xie Siquan approach, he ran forward shouting, and Xie Siquan pulled the reins to stop. “Who’s there?”
The man bowed first before raising his head—it was the waiter from the inn earlier that day. His face broke into a grin. “Master Xie, the eldest young master of the Bai family has returned today! He’s here in Bincheng!”
Xie Siquan’s eyes lit up. “Really? Take me to him, quick!”
The man just chuckled meaningfully. Xie Siquan immediately understood, fished out a few silver dollars from his pouch, and tossed them over. The man caught them deftly, held one up to his ear to hear the ring, then smiled widely and led the way. “This way, Master Xie—shortcut, much faster. The Bai family’s young master only returned today, I hear he came for urgent business. Not a word leaked beforehand! I only heard it from a few brothers down at the docks…”
Not long after they left, a carriage rolled up slowly and stopped neatly before the residence gate.
A guard stepped forward, lifted the curtain, and held out his hand to assist a young man down.
The youth’s face was as refined as jade, his eyes dark and clear like ink washed with snow. His expression was calm and distant, carrying a natural chill—it was none other than Bai Jiu, who had parted ways with Xie Siquan not long ago at the gift shop.
The guard tried to steady him, but the youth shook his head. “No need, I can walk.”
He limped forward and knocked on the courtyard gate.
Inside the residence.
He Dongting had gone out and hadn’t returned yet. Xie Yuanyuan was feeding little Xie Jing a crabapple fruit. She sliced the small red fruit into several pieces, while the boy stood on tiptoe, leaning on the table, watching eagerly like a hungry fledgling waiting to be fed.
A moment later, the servant at the door ran in with a calling card, shouting, “The Bai family of the North requests an audience with Master He—!”
Xie Yuanyuan was startled but delighted. She quickly stood up and instructed, “Quickly—invite him in! Let the guest rest a moment in the small hall; I’ll be right there!”
Just as she was about to leave, little Xie Jing called, “Mother!”
Looking down, she smacked her forehead with a laugh. “Look at me, almost went out still holding the knife! Come, Jing’er, let’s go change clothes—an important guest is coming.”
But Xie Jing’s mind was still on the crabapple. He had never eaten them back in Sichuan and had taken quite a liking to them. Even as he was being dressed in fresh clothes, he kept squirming impatiently.
After she set him down on a cushioned stool, Xie Yuanyuan warned, “Don’t dirty your clothes, understand?”
Xie Jing nodded solemnly. “Mother, Jing’er wants to eat fruit.”
“In a bit—let’s have some in the small hall, all right?”
She picked out a more formal outfit, speaking to him through the screen as she got ready. Xie Jing waited and waited. When his mother still hadn’t come out, he quietly climbed off the stool and toddled toward the outer room.
But the fruit plate was gone.
He bit his finger, glanced at the doorway, and finally couldn’t resist—he ran out with his little short legs.
In the small hall.
Bai Jiu was standing and examining the calligraphy on the wall when he suddenly heard a patter of small footsteps. Before he could turn, something grabbed onto his leg.
A three- or four-year-old child was hugging his leg happily, exclaiming, “Unc—” But when he looked up, he froze at the sight of a stranger.
Both of them were stunned. Bai Jiu stood stiffly, now burdened with a tiny “attachment” on his leg—unable to move forward or back.
A servant who was setting tea nearby hurried over, but didn’t dare get too close. Bowing, he said, “Young Lord Bai Jiu, this is our little young master.”
Bai Jiu had already guessed who it was. He lowered his gaze to look.
Xie Jing tilted his head back, stared for a moment, then released him, stepping back two paces. “You’re not Jing’er’s uncle.”
Bai Jiu crouched down to his level, meeting his eyes. “No, I’m not. My surname is Bai. You can call me Brother Jiu.”
Little Xie Jing couldn’t quite pronounce it properly. After trying a few times, he gave up and simply called him “Brother.”
Bai Jiu, though cold by nature, was patient. He also felt a spark of curiosity toward this bright-eyed little boy he’d just met and couldn’t help studying him more closely.
Xie Jing, on the other hand, had a simple goal—he grabbed Bai Jiu’s hand and pulled. “Brother, sit down.”
Bai Jiu sat.
The next moment, the little boy braced his hands on Bai Jiu’s knees and started climbing up. The chairs in the hall were tall—too high for such a small child—but once he’d climbed onto Bai Jiu’s lap, he was perfectly comfortable. Tilting his head up with a big smile, he chirped, “Brother! Jing’er wants fruit~”
Bai Jiu picked one for him, but the child didn’t take it. Instead, he opened his mouth wide, like a baby bird waiting to be fed.
Bai Jiu: “…”
Xie Jing waited, then tugged at Bai Jiu’s arm, pulling it toward himself. Finally, he managed to take a big bite of the crabapple. The fruit was crisp, tart, and sweet, with tiny tooth marks left on it. Though he hadn’t eaten much of it, he chewed with great satisfaction.
Bai Jiu had accomplished many things in his life—academically and otherwise—but this was the first time he’d ever fed a child.
After being fed one fruit, Xie Jing’s fondness for him grew even more. Holding Bai Jiu’s hand, he looked up and said, “Brother, Jing’er wants more fruit!”
Bai Jiu studied him for a moment, then nodded slightly.
Little Xie Jing’s eyes lit up. He followed Bai Jiu’s hand eagerly—wherever Bai Jiu’s fingers pointed on the plate, his little head turned in the same direction. Though he was bursting with impatience, he still waited obediently for Bai Jiu to feed him again.
When Bai Jiu picked one up for him, the child didn’t even think of taking it himself—he just stared in confusion.
He had been spoiled since birth. Everyone around him always fed him by hand, and only since the start of the year had he even begun holding his own bowl at meals. As for fruits and pastries—he’d never once lifted them himself. All he had to do was open his mouth to be full.
Now, sitting contentedly in Bai Jiu’s lap, the little boy glanced from the fruit to the man’s face, eyes shining with anticipation.
After a moment’s hesitation, Bai Jiu sighed quietly and fed him once again.
When Xie Yuanyuan arrived, she was greeted by the sight of her son perched on Bai Jiu’s knee, happily munching on crabapples—so content that she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
