Chapter 56 — Wine Tasting
Lord Bai Jiu waited outside for a while. Xie Jing came out wearing a thin new shirt, buttoning it up as he jogged slightly. Lord Bai Jiu waved him over, straightened his collar, and said, “Today I’ll take you to order two custom outfits. Cao Yunzhao recommended a good place.”
Whatever Lord Bai Jiu said, Xie Jing nodded and agreed, following him out.
Cao Yunzhao was a very modern-minded person, always with new ideas. This time he had recommended a tailor shop that specialized in Western-style clothing, particularly handmade shirts. Many foreigners reportedly ordered from here as well, but the tailors had limited capacity, so all custom orders were strictly limited.
Today, Lord Bai Jiu had booked the entire store. He sat there drinking tea while watching Xie Jing try on clothes.
At this age, Xie Jing was full of youthful energy; anything he wore looked bright and lively. Lord Bai Jiu didn’t care about style—he only asked whether the clothes felt comfortable.
When Xie Jing said they were comfortable, Lord Bai Jiu bought them all. The rest, no matter how novel the style, were set aside.
Two or three store assistants were helping adjust collars. Xie Jing tilted his head slightly, looking a bit awkward. Lord Bai Jiu saw him, beckoned him over, smoothed the collar himself, and called out: “Hands up.”
Xie Jing raised both hands. Lord Bai Jiu chuckled and fastened the buttons on his wrists: “One at a time.” After tidying him up, he had Xie Jing turn around to check in the mirror, patted his side, and praised him: “Not bad. Now try on another set.”
Xie Jing paused and asked, “Master, will this take long?”
Lord Bai Jiu replied, “Hmm, three or five days, hard to say.”
Since Lord Bai Jiu said so, Xie Jing obediently ordered several more outfits. Normally, people following Lord Bai Jiu would also get new clothes, but usually they were given money to buy them themselves. Xie Jing was the only one brought along personally to try them on.
Outside, a car was parked, and the driver waited at the door. Cars were rare in the provincial government area. The few that existed were numbered, so just by looking, one could tell which household owned the vehicle.
Soon, the shop door opened. The small bell jingled crisply.
The shop apprentices immediately hurried over, about to explain that the store had been booked for the day. But before they could speak, a girl pushing the door open laughed, walking straight toward Lord Bai Jiu. From afar, she greeted warmly: “Uncle Jiu, I saw your car parked outside from far away and guessed it was you. I came without invitation, please forgive me.”
The girl was only eighteen or nineteen, with fashionable curls tied back with a red ribbon, the rest falling over her shoulders. She looked lively and pretty, with an oval face and fair skin, smiling even before speaking, exuding warmth. She clasped her hands in front of her in greeting and said, “Uncle Jiu, you’re in such a good mood buying so many new clothes—why not give me a chance to offer my respects? Let today’s clothes be mine.”
Lord Bai Jiu glanced at her but stayed seated, asking only: “Why did you come?”
“I have a holiday from school today. Don’t worry, Uncle Jiu, I didn’t skip class.”
Only then did Lord Bai Jiu nod and let her sit, casually chatting: “How’s your family?”
The girl smiled brightly: “All good. Grandmother often talks about you and misses you! Every time we make Eight-Treasure Sauce Duck, she reminds me that you love this dish. If it weren’t so far, she’d want to send some over, but it might get cold. She also told me to bring the head chef next time I visit you…”
As she spoke, she suddenly noticed someone coming out of the fitting room. Lord Bai Jiu’s gaze followed, and her curiosity led her to glance as well.
She froze at the sight.
Coming out of the fitting room was a boy of about fifteen or sixteen. His face was almost impossibly handsome, with black hair, bright black eyes, a high nose bridge, and sharply defined lips. Though young, he had a commanding presence. He wore a shirt and Western-style trousers, which added a civilized air, the contrast making him captivating.
Xie Jing saw the person sitting beside Lord Bai Jiu but only glanced briefly.
Lord Bai Jiu beckoned him over, observed for a moment, and said, “Roll up your sleeves and try. Tomorrow you’ll ride a horse; see if it’s comfortable.”
Xie Jing followed the commands obediently, rolling up one sleeve at a time, looking very well-behaved.
The girl watched and asked, “Uncle Jiu, who is this?”
Lord Bai Jiu replied, “This is Xie Jing. Just call him Little Xie. I’ve been in Heihe these past two years and haven’t brought him back. It’s normal you don’t know him.” Then he turned to Xie Jing: “This is Bai Hongqi. Call me Uncle Jiu—family.”
Few were allowed to call him family. The Bai family of the provincial government branch was small. Old Master Bai had only one son and one daughter. The son and his wife had died in an accident, leaving the daughter alone, self-reliant, with no husband or children.
Bai Hongqi was an abandoned child adopted by this aunt. The aunt, strong-willed, changed the character for “abandoned” to “Qi,” giving the little girl a name that reflected hope. The girl was smart, diligent, and filial. The aunt treated her like a granddaughter, so she took the Bai surname. Because the aunt favored Bai Rongjiu, the only nephew, Bai Hongqi respected her young “Uncle Jiu” greatly, always standing properly behind him and expressing her stance first in any situation.
Though small, the Bai family branch never fought internally.
After Xie Jing tried on the clothes, Lord Bai Jiu bought everything stacked nearby, plus a few more shirts Xie Jing had deemed comfortable, having the tailors make slightly larger ones for personal use. Only then did they leave.
Bai Hongqi had already had the payment handled and cheerfully sent Lord Bai Jiu out: “Uncle Jiu, I also took the Cao Mansion’s post. Tomorrow I’ll come to your table for a drink. Don’t laugh at me.”
Lord Bai Jiu nodded: “You come, I’ll help.”
They exchanged cryptic words. Xie Jing didn’t fully understand but felt complex emotions toward Bai Hongqi and remained mostly silent.
On the way, Lord Bai Jiu asked, “Car sick?”
Xie Jing hesitated briefly but nodded slightly: “A bit uncomfortable.”
Lord Bai Jiu ruffled his hair, coaxing: “Almost there. Next time we won’t take a car.”
Xie Jing wasn’t really car-sick—he was uneasy in his heart. He remembered Bai Hongqi.
Lord Bai Jiu had few trusted family members, and the Bai family wasn’t entirely united. In the past, Xie Jing had suspected someone close to Lord Bai Jiu had tampered with things—he even suspected Bai Hongqi, and Bai Mingyu. But after ten years, only these two showed genuine hearts.
Those years, Bai Mingyu had been ferocious and reckless, while Bai Hongqi endured silently, slowly consolidating the stores Lord Bai Jiu had left behind, taking calculated revenge. She had been avenging Lord Bai Jiu.
Xie Jing had even gone to the northwest to investigate, uncovering only a few hints amidst turbulent times. Many became refugees, fleeing war; he could only protect Lord Bai Jiu’s memorial plaque while traveling across much of China.
“Still uncomfortable?” Lord Bai Jiu felt his forehead and frowned.
Xie Jing pursed his lips, then lay down, hugging Lord Bai Jiu’s knees, muttering something.
Lord Bai Jiu leaned down: “What?”
This time he heard clearly: a faint “It hurts.”
Lord Bai Jiu chuckled: “Why so clingy today? Lie down a bit, I’ll ask the driver to go slower; we’ll be there soon.” He massaged Xie Jing’s temples: “Better now?”
Xie Jing nodded but remained lying.
Lord Bai Jiu rarely saw him like this. Normally energetic and capable in horse riding or shooting, he looked fragile now. After raising him hand-in-hand for over two years, it made Lord Bai Jiu feel a little tender-hearted.
Xie Jing stayed laid down all the way. After getting out of the car, he felt much better.
That night, on watch duty, Lord Bai Jiu didn’t let him wander. He called him in and gave him a bowl of sweet glutinous rice balls. Xie Jing ate a few bites but didn’t seem very hungry.
Lord Bai Jiu said: “Tomorrow we’ll have Zhang Huwei prepare the carriage.”
Xie Jing shook his head: “Master, I’m fine. A few more rides will help.”
“No matter. Cao Yunzhao changed the location—to Lingquan Mountain.”
The mountain road was rough, unpaved. Carriages could pass; cars barely. Xie Jing nodded in agreement.
That night, Xie Jing stayed in his room. After washing, he quickly went to bed. Lord Bai Jiu returned later, surprised to see him already on the bed.
Summer heat—Lord Bai Jiu felt it comfortable, but Xie Jing disliked the heat. He usually slept in the outer room or on the bamboo mat, sometimes even on the floor. Today, he had voluntarily come to bed—rare indeed.
Lord Bai Jiu lay down, used to the presence, and soon fell asleep.
The next morning, Lord Bai Jiu felt warm. Looking down, he found someone in his embrace.
Xie Jing was sleeping on his side, pressed close. Lord Bai Jiu could feel the boy’s heartbeat thumping strongly in his palm. He held him a little longer, then quietly got up, letting Xie Jing sleep.
Hearing footsteps fade, Xie Jing slowly opened his eyes, looking down at the embroidered pillow, fingers fiddling, silent.
Cao Yunzhao had hosted a banquet, and despite the sudden location change, many still came.
After Lord Bai Jiu arrived, Cao Yunzhao personally led him to a private room on the second floor. Many stood and greeted him warmly.
Cao Yunzhao put an arm around him: “You see, I planned a big meal and theater, but this Bai Rongjiu—completely unreasonable. Wants a quiet place—so we ended up on a mountain. Bai Rongjiu, where is it quiet here?”
Lord Bai Jiu calmly replied: “As long as it’s peaceful.”
Cao Yunzhao: “Why come here this year when you never did before?”
Lord Bai Jiu: “It’s hot this year.”
Indeed, summer heat was intense; even on the mountain, cicadas chirped, though shade offered relief.
Bai Mingyu, unnoticed, rolled up his sleeves and climbed a sturdy tree to enjoy the cool breeze. But he found someone already seated there.
Xie Jing sat calmly, nodding: “Second Young Master Bai.”
Bai Mingyu climbed awkwardly but joined him: “Thought it’d be cooler up here.”
Xie Jing: “Yes, a bit cooler.”
They sat silently for a while. Bai Mingyu, curious, asked: “What are you looking at?”
Xie Jing: “People.”
Bai Mingyu: “Who?”
Xie Jing: “Drinking.”
Following Xie Jing’s gaze, Bai Mingyu saw people in a second-floor room of the Cao family wooden building, glasses clinking, toasts echoing.
Bai Mingyu scoffed: “Just empty chatter. No fun. Nothing like doing real business in Heihe.”
Xie Jing watched quietly. Bai Mingyu chatted idly beside him: “Hey, Little Xie, see that person? Looks like Uncle Jiu, but different clothes. Can you see clearly? Sitting by the red and black wine jars…”
Before he finished, Xie Jing nimbly slid down the tree and ran off. Bai Mingyu shouted: “Xie Jing! Are you okay? Why did you jump?”
“I have business. Leaving first!” Xie Jing ran away.
Inside the room, Cao Yunzhao, tipsy, insisted on adding his wine to the table: “I can’t beat you. You grew up around wine, ran a wine business—I can’t. You drink white, I’ll drink red. Or we can both drink red; I won’t touch white wine.”
Someone tried to intervene. Cao Yunzhao waved them off: “This is between us. Get out!” He poured two glasses of red wine. Lord Bai Jiu glanced but didn’t take any.
Someone knocked at the door. Bai Hongqi entered, wearing riding attire, hair tied up, looking spirited. She greeted: “Hello, Master Cao. Join us and Uncle Jiu in wine tasting?”
Cao Yunzhao liked beauty but not familiar little girls—too familiar spoiled romance. Seeing the person behind her, his eyes lit up: “Little Xie is here too?” He turned to Lord Bai Jiu: “You said you sent him to school in Beiping and months would pass!”
Lord Bai Jiu: “When did I say that?”
Cao Yunzhao: “Last time we drank!”
Lord Bai Jiu: “Oh, maybe drunk talk.”
Xie Jing entered, greeted politely. Cao Yunzhao was extremely enthusiastic: “I wanted to see you these days. Thought I’d need to go to Beiping. Since you’re here, perfect. I’ve arranged a new play; want to watch?”
Xie Jing shook his head.
Cao Yunzhao couldn’t persuade him, nudged Lord Bai Jiu to join, and some guests misunderstood their relationship, eyes flicking constantly between the three. Someone asked: “Who is this Little Xie?”
Lord Bai Jiu replied calmly: “He’s mine.”
