Chapter 69 — Honest Folks
After staying on the mountain for just one night, Lord Bai Jiu returned to the mansion.
At the same time, everyone from Jingshui Alley was summoned to the East Courtyard of the Bai residence. The little house they had lived in had been sealed, and all their belongings were moved out and piled in the courtyard.
The East Courtyard had no intention of letting them settle down; they were told to stand and wait.
The group looked slightly uneasy. Most of them were like greenhouse flowers, unaccustomed to hardships. Even those who had gradually risen by clinging to Cao Yunzhao were used to a life of comfort. Being thrown into the courtyard along with their luggage left them feeling even more anxious.
It wasn’t until near noon that two guards arrived with a few others. They were not tied up, but were strictly watched on all sides.
At the front walked a young woman—none other than Liu Ruyi.
Several people in the courtyard glared at her, though some looked concerned and wanted to approach her.
The East Courtyard guards blocked them, face stern, saying, “Silence!”
Only then did the crowd quiet down, keeping their eyes on Liu Ruyi.
She wore a plain cheongsam with a white wool shawl. Her brows and eyes carried exhaustion, and her makeup and hair looked dull. She no longer had the sickly beauty of before but appeared truly weakened from illness, her lips pale.
The small hall’s doors opened, and Lord Bai Jiu came out.
All voices in the courtyard fell silent. Everyone knew who must not be offended and lowered their eyes to their shoes.
Liu Ruyi alone stood facing him eye to eye.
Bai Rongjiu had changed into new clothes, still in a long robe. His collar buttoned high, half-covering his Adam’s apple. His expression was indifferent as he scanned the crowd, finally resting on Liu Ruyi. He said, “Cao Yunzhao entrusted me to look after you. For both reason and sentiment, I will not restrain you. But he left instructions before leaving: if anyone does not wish to stay, they may take a sum of money and leave freely.”
The crowd murmured in surprise, clearly never hearing such terms. Panic stirred among them.
Sun Fu, the steward, frowned and stepped forward, shouting, “Quiet!”
Liu Ruyi was the calmest of them all. After Lord Bai Jiu finished speaking, she unexpectedly bowed and took her leave: “During these days, I have benefited from Lord Bai Jiu’s care. Ruyi requests permission to leave the residence.”
Her words silenced everyone.
Among those sent from Cao Mansion, if anyone had stayed the longest and had the deepest feelings for Cao Yunzhao, it was likely Liu Ruyi.
Liu Ruyi came from a pleasure district. At the time, Cao Yunzhao was in Beiping with his father and brother, handling customs affairs. Liu Ruyi was sent as a gift to him. Along with her came gold and silver, which Cao Yunzhao refused to accept. But Liu Ruyi knelt outside all night, pleading for him to take her in. Cao Yunzhao relented, paying her ransom himself.
Because of this, rumors spread, and Cao Yunzhao lost his first posting.
His father sent him back to the provincial capital to reflect.
But Cao Yunzhao was content, immersing himself fully in the arts he loved. Liu Ruyi followed him to Beiping, revering him as her benefactor and loving him as a husband.
Cao Yunzhao had never touched her, but in her heart, he was the only man.
The people in Cao Mansion all had petty schemes. Once Cao Yunzhao left, it would not be long before they scattered. Yet no one expected Liu Ruyi to be the first to declare her departure.
Bai Rongjiu asked, “Have you thought this through?”
Liu Ruyi nodded. Her neck wound had not yet healed. In a hoarse voice, she said, “I have thought it through.” She paused, her lips trembling as if trying to smile, and added, “Lord Bai Jiu, do not worry. I have called Cao Mansion. I leave of my own volition. From now on, my life and death are my own, unrelated to anyone else.”
She set the precedent. Once spoken, the rest of the courtyard began to waver.
One by one, others stepped forward, declaring they also wished to leave.
Lord Bai Jiu had money distributed—each person who wished to leave received a bag of silver and departed.
Those who did not wish to leave shifted their gaze uneasily. Sun Fu snorted coldly, raising his voice: “The master has spoken. All unrelated parties cannot stay in the residence. From today, those from Cao Mansion will be sent to the Nawen League. Each person receives three silver coins per month, with food provided by the residence, for a term of three years. If no one comes to collect them after three years, the treatment continues for up to ten years. Afterward, life and death are unrelated to Bai Residence!”
The cunning ones froze in place. The Nawen League was nearly 800 li from the provincial capital, a desolate place. Bai Rongjiu was basically tossing them into the wilderness, slightly better than leaving them to fend for themselves.
Accustomed to luxury, young and beautiful, they reluctantly accepted the silver and left.
In the end, only three remained in the courtyard.
Two appeared honest and straightforward. When Lord Bai Jiu asked, they bowed and said, “We are musicians. Master Cao praised our skill, saying when he returns after a few years, he will have us play for him.” They looked at Lord Bai Jiu cautiously and whispered, “We don’t want to leave. We only ask for a place to shelter us until Master Cao returns.”
Lord Bai Jiu nodded and had Sun Fu arrange transportation to a remote house in Tianjin City.
They were satisfied, relieved to have shelter, and thanked Lord Bai Jiu before leaving.
The last one remaining was He Lianchun, dressed in a student’s hairstyle and uniform.
Lord Bai Jiu glanced at her, noticing the new-style clothing, frowned slightly, and told Sun Fu, “Send her away as well.”
Sun Fu bowed and obeyed, then stood upright to ask He Lianchun, “Do you have any requests?”
Clutching her sketchbook, He Lianchun looked anxious and timid. “Can I stay here…” she asked.
Sun Fu frowned. “Do you think Bai Residence takes in anyone who asks?”
He Lianchun’s eyes reddened. She murmured a few words.
Sun Fu snapped, “Speak louder!” He disliked such timid girls. Unlike the East Courtyard staff who spoke clearly about their desires, these outsiders wasted effort just speaking.
She raised her head, pleading, “I haven’t started school yet! The term has long begun. I want to stay and study painting here. It won’t trouble you; just send me to Beiping at year’s end. Master Cao said I have talent and can study at the Beiping Art College.”
Sun Fu said, “What Master Cao promised you has nothing to do with Bai Residence.”
He Lianchun panicked. “But Master Cao clearly said he would take care of me for my brother!”
“Miss, to do what you are entrusted is loyal work. But we are only helping. Too much cannot be forced.” Sun Fu paused. “I’ll tell you again: This is Bai Residence. Since you’ve benefited from it, you must follow its rules. If you do not wish to go to the Nawen League, take a bag of silver and leave. Whether you go to Beiping to study or find your brother is up to you.”
He Lianchun began to cry, never having felt so helpless. She stammered, “I want to find my brother.”
Sun Fu asked, “Do you have his address?”
“My brother wrote me a letter earlier this year, an address in the East Ocean…”
“Easy,” Sun Fu said. “If there’s an address, that’s enough. Master Cao is generous; the money is enough for a boat ticket. I will send you to the pier. In three days, you’ll reach the East Ocean to find your family.”
Sun Fu had long served in the East Courtyard, always loyal to Lord Bai Jiu. He had been cautious with the girls from Jingshui Alley, aware of their mischief. Now, having dispatched them all, he was satisfied.
Within one day, everyone from Jingshui Alley was gone.
Lord Bai Jiu sent someone to check on their whereabouts for two days and wrote a letter informing Cao Yunzhao.
Cao Yunzhao had been sent abroad by his family. Travel to the Western Ocean took three months by ship. Early provisions included vegetables and fruits, but later mostly potato mash—extremely harsh. By the time the letter reached him, the ship would be nearing shore.
Once the ship left, the courtyard emptied.
After handling this, Lord Bai Jiu still felt restless.
Initially, reading made him think of what had happened on the mountain. Later, during business discussions with the trade guild, he became distracted, needing several calls to regain focus.
Sun Fu brought soup, gently advising, “Lord, are you tired? Rest for a couple of days. There’s no need to finish all the work at once.”
Lord Bai Jiu lowered his head to sip the soup, paused, and Sun Fu asked, “Is the beef bone soup not right? With the cold weather, we prepared hot soup…”
Lord Bai Jiu shook his head, finished the small bowl, set it on the table, and asked, “Has Jing’er returned?”
“Not yet, but a message came from Heihe. Second Young Master handled two shipments there, leaving Little Xie to assist,” Sun Fu replied. Having known that Xie Jing saved their master, he had always been especially kind to him. He reminisced, “This morning in the kitchen, they mentioned him. When cooking beef bone soup, they thought of Little Xie—he loves roasted bone marrow and soup. The chefs accidentally made an extra bowl, forgetting Little Xie was away, but still made his usual bowl as well.”
Lord Bai Jiu wiped his lips with a handkerchief, saying lightly, “He has been away too long.”
Sun Fu asked, “Shall I write a letter urging him back?”
Lord Bai Jiu nodded. Sun Fu went to prepare it.
Before dinner, Lord Bai Jiu changed his mind, calling Sun Fu back: “Prepare the carriage. Tomorrow I will go personally to Heihe. Mingyu is too reckless; two shipments are no small matter. I must check myself.”
Sun Fu immediately obeyed and began preparations.
At dawn, the East Courtyard’s carriage departed.
Lord Bai Jiu first went to the main courtyard to bid farewell to the elderly Lady Bai. She was not in, so he left without delay.
The Bai family was now under Lord Bai Jiu’s control. The elderly lady remained in the provincial capital only to oversee, not to interfere.
The carriage moved swiftly, not much slower than horseback. Dust flew as they went.
Zhang Huwei and others split into two groups: one scouting ahead, one guarding behind. The horses were strong, their hooves thudding heavily on the ground as they headed north.
*
Heihe.
Xie Jing sat in a teahouse, sipping tea while observing the street outside.
This was the busiest season for merchants in Heihe. After September, snow would begin, and in two months, heavy snow would block the mountains, halting river traffic.
Pedestrians passed by in various attire. Besides local merchants, many foreigners mingled—Russians making up about thirty percent, and some Eastern Oceaners as well—discussing business in various accents.
After a while, a group entered the teahouse. Leading was an elderly man in a long jacket and padded vest, wearing a leather hat adorned with green stone buttons, a typical northern merchant’s attire. Behind him were three tall, burly bodyguards in black jackets, disciplined but sharp-eyed.
Xie Jing stiffened but forced himself to look down, pretending to focus on his tea.
Business in the teahouse was busy. The elderly man, finding no empty table, was guided to sit at Xie Jing’s table. He bowed with a smile: “Young sir, may I join you for a cup of tea and rest my feet?”
Xie Jing forced himself to nod stiffly, “Yes.”
Once the man sat, Xie Jing didn’t dare look at the tea cup, staring straight at the street, pretending to observe passersby.
The elder’s hair was grey but he looked healthy and pleasant, striking up conversation: “Young sir, where are you from?”
Xie Jing quickly picked a reply: “From the provincial capital.”
The elder ordered tea and snacks, pushing a plate of pastries toward him: “Oh? What a coincidence. I am too. I run a general store. May I ask what brings you to Heihe?”
Sweat dampened Xie Jing’s back. He forced out two words: “Visiting family.”
The elder laughed, “Coincidentally, I am visiting family too.”
Suddenly, a man burst in at the door, around fifty, short and slightly plump, with a pair of mouse-tail-like mustaches. His eyes widened as he saw Xie Jing and the elder.
Xie Jing immediately recognized Huang Mingyou. He stood up hastily, barely worrying about the chair, and bowed deeply: “Greetings, Mr. Huang!”
Huang Mingyou, dressed as a traveling merchant, recognized the young man despite his disguise. Smiling, he said, “What a coincidence! I’ll introduce—this is Xie Jing, the youngest steward of the East Courtyard, close to Bai Rongjiu. Though young, he is capable, skilled in both civil and martial arts, trained in firearms by Zhang Huwei. In the provincial capital, besides Zhang Huwei, he’s the only one who can use dual pistols.”
He then gestured to Xie Jing to bow to the elder.
Xie Jing immediately kowtowed: “Greetings, Elder Lady Bai.”
The elder was momentarily surprised, then laughed, helping him up: “Silly boy, no need to bow so deeply outside. Sit down.”
Huang Mingyou explained: “Little Xie is just honest. Look, he’s already bowed—perhaps you could reward him a little.”
Elder Lady Bai nodded and handed Xie Jing a gold-chain pocket watch.
Xie Jing hesitated, but Huang Mingyou nudged him a few times, and he respectfully accepted, saying, “Thank you, Elder Lady Bai.”
The elder smiled: “No need to be so formal here. Sit.”
Xie Jing sat aside and respectfully poured tea for the elder.
