Chapter 41 – Bai Shisi
Fang Jiwu stayed home for a night and returned to the clan school early the next morning. Before leaving, he carried a bag of provisions—mostly sorghum, mixed with other grains.
Fang Jiwu’s mother felt a bit embarrassed while preparing it. She bit her lip, wanting to scoop in another ladle of fine grains, but Fang Jiwu tied the bag neatly, looping the rope a few times to secure it.
“Jiwu, why not take more provisions? This won’t be enough to eat.”
“Mother, I can eat enough at lunch. This half-bag is only for morning and evening; it will last me half a month.”
“Ah…”
Although she verbally agreed, Fang Jiwu’s mother still secretly put seven or eight small steamed buns into the bag for him to eat at school. She felt concerned seeing her eldest son barely gaining weight.
Fang Jiwu carried the bag to the clan school.
The clan school allowed two short holidays per month. He was always the last to leave and the first to arrive.
After carrying a half-day’s worth of books, when he reached into the small bag for a bun, he felt a piece of shortbread. He opened it and saw that it was indeed the small number of pastries his mother had secretly added, afraid he would notice if she didn’t, but she hadn’t said a word.
Soon, Wang Jingqiu arrived at the school as well. He had changed into new clothes, cut his hair, and looked much more energetic. He walked straight to sit beside Fang Jiwu. Wang Jingqiu carried an air of pride combined with the aloofness typical of a scholar. At the school, except for the teachers and Mr. Huang Mingyou, he barely paid attention to anyone else, didn’t socialize, and immersed himself in books.
The only person he could speak to was Fang Jiwu.
The two had shared a desk for three years.
Wang Jingqiu sat down and chatted a few words, asking, “What are you eating?”
Fang Jiwu openly showed him the small bag and handed over the shortbread: “My mother packed it. Want to try?”
The shortbread had broken into pieces during the journey. Wang Jingqiu didn’t mind and quickly ate two pieces. After finishing, he opened his own lunchbox, taking out roasted duck and braised meat to share with Fang Jiwu: “You can have some of mine too.”
Fang Jiwu took a piece of roasted duck, but Wang Jingqiu picked the biggest duck leg for him. Only then did they both begin eating.
Fang Jiwu sighed: “Your home is close to the clan school; you don’t need to come early every day.”
“I came to study,” Wang Jingqiu said vaguely. “I didn’t do well this time. My father didn’t say anything, but I know he’s disappointed. I need to catch up.”
Fang Jiwu chuckled lightly and didn’t comment further, focusing on finishing the duck leg.
Wang Jingqiu always ate some of what Fang Jiwu brought first, as if it allowed him to share without excuse. From the first day they met, he had always done this. He was awkward socially, even being “good” was stiff, yet in study, he invested all patience and attention.
After a while, they were surprised to see Bai Mingyu arrive with others to recite lessons.
Bai Mingyu, naturally, didn’t study himself; he was supervising. Those being supervised were a few Bai family children whose grades had recently improved rapidly. They were gathered temporarily, grimacing while memorizing texts.
Each side kept to itself, and they all focused on their own studies.
Wang Jingqiu progressed quickly, gradually catching up in English.
Fang Jiwu, after school, would pack his bag and go to the East Suburb to help Dr. Lin. Occasionally, errands would take him to Xie Jing’s home.
Xie Jing had just returned home from horseback riding. A boy with crutches reached for his bag, while nearby, Lin’s twin daughters assisted—the older steadying the boy on crutches, the younger supporting Grandma Kou, chattering sweetly, making the old lady laugh.
Fang Jiwu carried his medical box in, smiling: “Xie Jing, so you live here, quite close to the school. Why only half-day lessons every day?”
Xie Jing dismounted: “I’m just running errands. There’s much to do. Half a day of classes is already good. Are you here for something?”
“Dr. Lin asked me to change the dressing for someone named Li Yuan.”
Li Yuan was almost healed. Fang Jiwu carefully followed Dr. Lin’s instructions, changing the dressing with caution. “The wound is healing well, just keep it dry. If possible, rest lying down—it will heal faster.”
Xie Jing asked, “You know medicine?”
Fang Jiwu felt embarrassed: “Just learning from Dr. Lin. I only know a bit.”
“Do you want to study medicine in the future?” Xie Jing asked.
This time Fang Jiwu nodded earnestly.
Xie Jing asked for a piece of sulfonamide powder to crush, and Fang Jiwu said: “Anyone injured or infected? I can help check.”
Xie Jing: “Shisi is hurt, a saddle grazed him.”
Following Xie Jing, Fang Jiwu realized he meant a horse in the yard. He reluctantly helped treat the wound.
The white horse was tall and gentle. On its back, near the hips, was a small mark reading “Bai Shisi (Fourteen).” The saddle had grazed the area, leaving redness. While cleaning and applying medicine, the horse’s back muscles twitched slightly, but all four hooves remained steady.
Fang Jiwu looked at it: “Is this a mare?”
“Yes.”
“First time I’ve seen such a docile horse, really obedient.”
Xie Jing patted the horse’s broad nose, smiling: “Horses understand humans. Shisi is different from others. It saved my life.” When he and Lord Bai Jiu survived in Qinghe, Shisi’s help was crucial. Without it, even surviving a snowy night, they couldn’t have reached the village. Lord Bai Jiu gave Shisi to Xie Jing, who cared for the horse. Shisi grew attached, and being so gentle, might have silently tolerated discomfort if Xie Jing hadn’t checked the saddle.
Fang Jiwu finished treating the wound. Because of the heat, he didn’t re-bandage, only leaving some sulfonamide for Xie Jing. “Don’t use the saddle for a couple of days. Tomorrow I’ll help apply medicine again. If busy at school, crush and apply it in the evening as today. No big problem—it will heal in a few days.”
Xie Jing thanked him, accepted the medicine, and fed the horse a piece of sorghum candy. The horse nudged Xie Jing’s palm, extremely tame and affectionate.
Fang Jiwu didn’t linger, quickly heading to Dr. Lin again.
Xie Jing went home to pick up a couple of changes of clothes. In a few days, Lord Bai Jiu would travel, and he would accompany him. Today counted as a half-day off.
After bathing and changing, Grandma Kou had prepared a full meal.
Xie Jing looked around: “Just the three of us?”
“Yes. Zhifei and Zhiyi went home. The two kids helped me steam buns all afternoon. I also brought them a small basket. Only these two at home, not sure when Dr. Lin returns from the East Suburb,” Grandma Kou said.
Li Yuan set bowls and chopsticks: “Once Dr. Lin leaves for the provincial capital, they can attend school.”
“Dr. Lin is leaving?” Xie Jing asked while taking a bun. “To the provincial capital too?”
“Yes. Zhifei said it’s at the end of this month. A medical school is opening, and they invited Dr. Lin to teach.”
Li Yuan, eating quietly and gracefully, was quick despite his delicate appearance. As he talked about Dr. Lin, he finished a third bun. The buns were large, about the size of Zhang Huwei’s fists. Seeing him take another, Xie Jing looked up. Li Yuan misunderstood: “I don’t want to study. Other subjects give me a headache. I only know some arithmetic. Xie Jing, let me stay here and manage the accounts for Grandma.”
Xie Jing said: “Medical school requires exams; they won’t accept anyone easily.”
Grandma Kou: “Yes, a few days ago Dr. Lin said the same. He even offered to recommend another school. He praised Li Yuan’s arithmetic, but Li Yuan didn’t want to go.”
Xie Jing told Li Yuan: “Don’t worry about what I said before. If there’s a good opportunity, studying is fine too. More paths will open.”
Li Yuan shyly smiled: “I just want to stay home. Home is the most comfortable.”
Xie Jing didn’t push him. He nodded: “Your choice.”
Xie Jing had no grand ambitions. Of many paths, he only chose the one beside Lord Bai Jiu, preferring to be a minor steward. He had no reason to force others into so-called correct choices.
Correct or not is a matter of preference.
If possible, he would serve Lord Bai Jiu his whole life.
After his break, Xie Jing led the horse to the East Courtyard.
He handed Bai Shisi to the stable, then brought some fresh fruit from the market to the small kitchen. The kitchen staff were familiar with him from previous recipes. Seeing the fruit, they quickly washed and plated it.
The chef commented: “Coincidentally, today Lord Bai Jiu wanted to eat crabapple cakes. I thought the market hasn’t started yet, and you brought a basket.”
Among the fruit, besides peaches, Xie Jing loved crabapples most, especially early-season tart-sweet ones. He could eat a whole basket before stopping.
The North produces crisp peaches; soft ones are rare. That’s why Xie Jing focused on crabapples early.
He left half for the small kitchen to make cakes and brought the rest to the study for Lord Bai Jiu.
In the study, Lord Bai Jiu was talking with Bai Mingzhe. Lord Bai Jiu looked as usual, but Bai Mingzhe was a bit anxious, speaking quickly.
“…It’s not just one family. I heard several long-established distilleries in Heihe have been visited by Japanese merchants, some during the day with gifts, some at night. What they said is unknown, but contracts were surely signed—Master Sun of Changshan Distillery has partnered with a Japanese man. They added three sets of equipment, and many are waiting to see the results, likely scheming.”
Lord Bai Jiu frowned: “Installed machines inside the Changshan Distillery?”
“Yes. I heard they have three distillation setups.”
Lord Bai Jiu thought for a moment but felt something was off: “Doesn’t make sense. Only three sets? What are they trying to do?”
Bai Mingzhe guessed: “Maybe selling machines? I heard the Japanese merchant has a cargo ship and channels to import distilling equipment.”
Lord Bai Jiu shook his head: “Impossible. They can’t get my machines.”
