Chapter 182: Extra (12)
As soon as Xie Jing returned home, he ran into Xie Siquan, who was sitting in the small hall.
Seeing his uncle under the lamplight, he was startled and quickly removed the pearl Buddha bracelet from his clothes, saying, “Uncle, you could at least make a sound—I nearly jumped out of my skin!”
Xie Siquan, displeased, replied, “Where did you go today?”
“I went out to play. Why aren’t you home yet?” Xie Jing asked.
“…”
The Xie family had two residences in Sichuan. The old house, a sprawling estate, was where the head of the family lived. Next to it was a new house, where Xie Yuanyuan and her husband resided. Although neighboring, each had its own red-lacquered main gate, and a shared courtyard lay between them, separated only by bamboo, making it feel almost like a single home.
Since Xie Siquan was the family head, he normally stayed at the old house. Though he visited his sister frequently, he rarely spent the night at the new residence, because if he stayed late, someone from the old house might come looking for him.
Xie Jing yawned and urged him, “Uncle, it’s late. You should go back before the Second Master comes carrying a lantern looking for you.”
Xie Siquan didn’t answer but instead asked, “Where did you go? Did you go see that Bai Jiu again? I’ve told you countless times—don’t get too close to him. He’s scheming; you might end up sold out without even realizing it!”
Before he could continue, Xie Jing, annoyed, interrupted: “Uncle, don’t say that about him. Brother Bai Jiu has never said anything bad about you.”
“What reason would I give him to?”
“Uncle, you hid a letter from me, didn’t you?”
“…When? I can’t remember. There are so many letters coming and going in the house; I can’t remember them all!”
Xie Jing gave him a look. “Oh?”
Xie Siquan said, “Even if you were missing a letter, you can’t blame me alone. Your things were delivered by your father. He had them brought to the house. If you don’t believe me, go ask him!”
“Fine, I’ll ask tomorrow. Brother Bai Jiu counted; this year, one letter is definitely missing.”
Xie Siquan was furious. How petty could the Bai family be, counting letters like that! Seeing Xie Jing running around these past few days had already made him anxious; now his chest felt tighter and sourer, as if his nephew were less close to him and had even started “sharing pants” with an outsider. Sitting there, he could only vent, not uttering a single kind word, blaming Bai Jiu for “spoiling” Xie Jing.
Xie Jing retorted, “Uncle, he’s different from you.”
“Tch, all of them are in business. What difference could there be? He can still turn tricks, can’t he?”
“He’s different. Bai Jiu has the world in his heart.”
“…??”
Xie Siquan was almost infuriated by his young nephew. If Bai Jiu hadn’t been raised personally by him, he might have jumped up and given him a beating.
Xie Jing nudged him to leave. Step by step, Xie Siquan was pushed to the door, and finally relented: “Fine, fine, I’ll go. Will you come to my place tomorrow? It’s been a while. I’ve invited your favorite opera troupe—they’ll put on a lively show. We can watch together. The persimmons in the courtyard are ripe; I haven’t had anyone pick the best ones. I’ve saved them all for you.”
Xie Jing nodded but quickly said, “Tomorrow won’t work. Some things… let’s go the day after tomorrow.”
Seeing him agree, Xie Siquan finally left, pleased.
That night, Xie Jing kept tossing and turning. He got up to prepare his riding clothes for the next day, laid out several sets, compared them carefully, and finally selected a light-colored, plain brocade outfit to set aside, satisfied. Bai Jiu usually wore light-colored clothes—he would certainly like this.
The next morning, Xie Jing woke at dawn.
He changed into his favorite clothes, went to the stables, and picked a blue-gray horse to ride to find Bai Jiu.
Sure enough, Bai Jiu was wearing a light-colored outer garment. At first glance, it resembled Xie Jing’s outfit in some ways. Bai Jiu had also picked a horse and brought a few attendants along. They rode to Xie Jing’s favorite meadow.
Bai Jiu’s horse was a military horse named Bai Shisi. Even the gentlest horse in Shu differed from this one. Standing still, it made the other horses whinny and nervously pace backward.
Xie Jing watched with curiosity.
Bai Jiu chuckled lightly. “You might not remember, but you rode this horse when you were a child.”
Xie Jing reached out to touch it. Bai Shisi nudged his hand with its nose—very gentle.
Xie Jing giggled at the ticklish contact, growing more fond of the horse. Looking up, his eyes sparkled. “How’s its stamina? Can it run fast?”
Bai Jiu nodded slightly, extending a hand. “Want to try?”
Xie Jing grabbed his hand for leverage and swung up onto the horse. Holding Bai Jiu from behind, it looked as if he were hugging him tightly. He didn’t care. Taking the reins at Bai Jiu’s side, he gave a sharp tug and a shout, spurring the horse forward.
Xie Jing loved horses; his family kept many. Bai Shisi wasn’t slow. Whether due to its temperament or because Northern horses were like this, the larger and stronger it was, the more it conserved strength, as if protecting the two riders on its back.
The horse seemed to be looking after Xie Jing while adjusting to the new terrain, careful not to go too fast.
Author’s Note:
“Tea Tension”
Bai Jiu: “Uncle, have some tea.”
Xie Siquan: “…I, Xie Siquan, am dying of thirst today, but I won’t drink a single drop of your tea!”
