Chapter 174: Extra (4)
It was Bai Jiu’s first time taking care of a child. After they met, things felt a bit awkward. He stood and greeted politely, and Xie Yuanyuan invited him to sit down.
“You’re Bai Rongjiu, right?” she asked kindly. “I’ve heard your name before in the letters. Your mother even sent me a photograph — you look older than in the picture.”
Bai Jiu replied softly, “That was taken years ago. I’ve grown a little since then.”
Xie Yuanyuan looked him up and down. At first, she smiled, but soon her eyes reddened with tears. She forced herself to hold them back and nodded. “Yes, it’s been several years now. I had thought, once Jing’er was a bit older, I’d bring him to personally thank your parents… but I didn’t expect things to turn out like this. Heaven plays tricks on us, doesn’t it? Your parents were truly wonderful people — if not for them, there wouldn’t be me and Jing’er today.”
As she spoke, she called her son over and instructed him to bow and pay his respects. Little Xie Jing obeyed, kneeling neatly to kowtow.
Bai Jiu stood quickly to stop him. “Aunt Xie, please, there’s no need for this—”
“It’s only right,” Xie Yuanyuan insisted gently.
Little Jing finished his formal bows, then turned to look at his mother. When she nodded, he stood up again. This time, perhaps sensing something, he didn’t run to cling to his new “big brother.” Instead, he stood behind his mother and tugged lightly at the corner of her robe.
Xie Yuanyuan looked down and said softly, “Go to the courtyard, let Grandma play with you for a while. Mother has some things to discuss with your Brother Bai.”
Though reluctant, Jing’er nodded and toddled away.
—
Meanwhile, Xie Siquan had been riding around the city in vain. Out of patience, he finally returned to the residence. As soon as he entered, a servant rushed up to report that someone from the Bai family had just visited. Xie Siquan shoved his riding whip into the servant’s hands and hurried inside.
When he entered the room, Xie Yuanyuan was in the outer hall, mending small clothes by candlelight. The door opened suddenly, startling her. She whispered urgently, “Quiet, he’s just fallen asleep.”
Only then did Xie Siquan’s heart settle. He glanced toward the inner room. “Jing’er’s asleep?”
“Yes, not long ago. He overate today — had two crabapple fruits. I rubbed his belly for a while before he dozed off.”
Xie Siquan nodded, then frowned. “Someone from the Bai family came today?”
“Yes.”
“What did they say?”
“They said they felt a fated connection with Jing’er and wish to keep him here for his early education. I agreed.”
Xie Siquan’s face changed instantly. “Sister, are you out of your mind? How could you—” He caught himself, forced his temper down, and lowered his voice sharply. “How could you agree! Early education lasts at least a few months, at most a few years. That’s far too long!”
Xie Yuanyuan looked at him calmly. “I discussed it with your brother-in-law. He agreed as well.”
“I’m staying here then! I won’t leave!” Xie Siquan said angrily.
His sister couldn’t help but laugh in exasperation. “And what would you stay here for? You shouldn’t have even followed us this far in the first place. Now that we’ve arrived, you ought to hurry back to Sichuan — there’s a whole family waiting for you there.”
Xie Siquan tried to argue, but Xie Yuanyuan rose and tapped his forehead with her finger, scolding lightly, “Do you think I’d abandon my own child? Your brother-in-law will be purchasing ships soon — it’ll take at least half a year. We’ll stay here together and keep Jing’er company.”
Only then did Xie Siquan’s expression soften, though his brows remained furrowed.
Xie Yuanyuan coaxed him further, “I met the Bai family’s son today — the only son of Mr. Bai. He has an excellent temperament, studied under a renowned teacher, and that teacher will soon be appointed in the capital. It’s a rare chance for enlightenment; we should be grateful he’s willing to take Jing’er under his care. I found him well-mannered and refined. Even without the Bai family connection, letting Jing’er learn from him and form a good bond would be beneficial.”
She spoke for a long while, but Xie Siquan was still unconvinced.
Halfway through her explanation, he couldn’t help thinking privately that his nephew — bright-eyed and cherubic like one of the golden boys beside the Buddha — was clearly the one bringing good fortune to them, not the other way around.
But he didn’t dare say that aloud.
—
The next day, the Xie family formally sent a calling card and went to visit the Bai residence.
The Bai patriarch himself received them and invited them to a family banquet. During the meal, the old master took a strong liking to little Jing’er and presented him with a golden collar and a long-life lock shaped like a qilin, exquisitely carved and lifelike.
As soon as they sat down, Xie Siquan spotted a familiar face — though he only raised an eyebrow and stayed silent. Not until after the banquet, when Old Lord Bai invited the guests to the rear garden to watch an opera, did Xie Siquan find a chance to approach that person.
“Bai Jiu?” he asked.
The youngest — and only — young master of the Bai family, Bai Rongjiu, nodded politely. “There’s no need for such formality, Mr. Xie. The elders in my family call me Bai Jiu.”
Xie Siquan said, “Did you already recognize me that day?”
Bai Jiu shook his head. “No. But I guessed seven or eight parts.”
Xie Siquan chuckled. “You’re clever.”
He hadn’t finished his sentence when the child in his arms wriggled and squirmed, trying to crawl toward Bai Jiu. Between their chairs was a small side table stacked high with dishes of fruits and sweets. Fearing his nephew might fall, Xie Siquan quickly scooped him up.
“What is it, Jing’er? Tell Uncle what you want. Don’t climb around—”
Bai Jiu also reached out a hand, ready to steady him.
Little Jing stretched out his hands eagerly. “Brother! Brother, hold me~”
Xie Siquan glared daggers at him.
Bai Jiu, however, didn’t meet his gaze. After a brief pause, he nodded slightly at the boy.
That tiny nod was enough. Jing’er wriggled out of his uncle’s arms and had to be passed over.
As the adults resumed chatting — conversation that meant little to him — little Jing sat comfortably on Bai Jiu’s lap. But after a while, he noticed they were too busy “talking” to pay him any attention.
So he leaned up, cupped Bai Jiu’s face in his small hands, and turned it toward himself.
Bai Jiu looked down. “Hm?”
The child’s dark eyes were round and bright. “Brother, look at me.”
Bai Jiu blinked in confusion. “What?”
“Talk to Jing’er too.”
Bai Jiu, who had hardly ever dealt with anyone this young, found himself quietly listening, as if taking the child’s words seriously.
Jing’er sniffed softly — from where he sat in Bai Jiu’s arms, he could smell him more clearly. It wasn’t the familiar scent of his mother or other adults at home. It was a faint fragrance of herbs and wood, cool and refreshing — a smell he’d never encountered before.
He tilted his head up and said in all seriousness, “Brother, you smell so nice.”
Bai Jiu, heir to the great Bai family of the northern provinces, had been praised countless times in his life — but never quite like that.
He pressed his lips together and smiled faintly.
All evening, Xie Siquan had countless reasons ready to object to leaving Jing’er in the north — but after watching that scene, not a single word came out.
His little nephew might not be good at much else, but when it came to charming people and claiming everyone’s affection — he had never once lost.
