Chapter 72 — Favoritism
Bai Mingyu was fairly capable. On a trip out, through an introducer who worked as a comprador, he met two Russian merchants.
One was named Filatiev, the other Nikifin.
These two were agents in the Nerchinsk region, sourcing goods via Irkutsk and Nerchinsk castles, dealing in Chinese fabrics, silks, metalware, and medicinal materials. Now that the alcohol ban had been enforced, all other goods combined were less valuable than alcohol. Under the lure of huge profits, many were willing to take risks.
The comprador accompanying Bai Mingyu had been an elder attendant of Bai Mingyu’s elder brother, Bai Mingzhe, for over a decade. Over the years, he had accumulated extensive connections and carefully selected these two merchants.
Historically, Chinese merchants rarely conducted business directly in Russia. Usually, goods were transported from coastal villages to the border, then delivered into Russia. Across the border, many military officials and merchants would bulk purchase these items.
At present, the most sought-after commodity was Chinese Liquor.
Reselling to Russian merchants reduced profits by about twenty percent, but the volume increased significantly and sales risks were minimal. Bai Mingyu was bold; after consulting with the comprador, he agreed, accepted a deposit, and promised to send two shipments of Chinese Liquor before the New Year.
Filatiev understood a few words of Chinese. When negotiating, he smiled warmly, clearly seeing the profits involved, and entertained Bai Mingyu and his group attentively.
The Bai men were all fairly tall, and Bai Mingyu had grown in the past two years, appearing as mature as an adult. The Russian hosts did not ask his age and provided a few young White Russian women as companions.
The women were of prime age, fair-skinned, beautiful, with long straight legs, and always smiling when leaning close.
Bai Mingyu panicked, his face turning red, dodging repeatedly.
Filatiev, smoking a cigar nearby, laughed heartily upon seeing this and said, “Boss Bai, don’t be nervous. They merely admire you and want to get close.”
Bai Mingyu hid on the other side of the comprador, trying to act stern: “No need for that. My family has strict rules; I cannot act recklessly outside.”
Filatiev asked with interest: “Is that your wife’s command?”
Bai Mingyu looked grown-up but was only sixteen. At home, he had never even held a girl’s hand. Hearing a foreigner ask that, he didn’t want to appear weak; he nodded subtly, giving the impression of acquiescence.
Filatiev, knowing that Chinese married young, was unsurprised. Raising his glass, he said, “Then let’s toast to your wife. Wishing you happiness.”
Bai Mingyu could not drink much and was wary of making mistakes in an unfamiliar environment. After a few drinks, he excused himself, saying, “My wife forbids me from drinking too much. She’s strict. If I disobey, I get punished.”
Filatiev looked at him in surprise: “Your wife is that strict?”
Bai Mingyu searched his mind and quickly settled on a fierce and beautiful girl—Bai Hongqi—imagining her from memory. The words flowed more convincingly with this mental image.
He said slowly: “Very strict…” Pausing, he frowned slightly, then added: “She’s a tigress.”
Having used Bai Hongqi as a stand-in “wife” for a few days, Bai Mingyu gradually felt more at ease.
He had never seen such a flashy world. When dazzled, he immediately recalled Bai Hongqi’s half-smile and the riding crop in her hand, which sobered him instantly.
Thanks to his “wife,” Bai Mingyu’s business progressed quickly.
Filatiev handled the contract negotiations, while Nikifin focused on transporting the liquor.
Both had their own channels; otherwise, they wouldn’t have thrived on the border for so many years. About ten days later, the Chinese liquor arrived. Nikifin personally delivered one batch to a ship flying the Russian flag, guarded by many soldiers, and took another batch overland through Siberia to Russia.
Bai Mingyu didn’t care about the transport routes or other people’s business, so he asked little.
When the second shipment arrived, a familiar person accompanied it.
Seeing him, Bai Mingyu jumped up, sweating on his forehead, and respectfully said, “Supervisor Sun.”
Sun Fu, smiling, stood before him, bowed, and said, “Lord Bai Jiu asked me to greet the Second Young Master and said that your efforts have been heard. This matter is significant, and he worried you might not manage alone, so I was sent to assist.”
Bai Mingyu scratched his head, embarrassed to be caught, and leaned closer to ask quietly: “Is Lord Bai Jiu angry?”
Sun Fu replied: “Hard to say.”
Bai Mingyu, often going to the East Courtyard and familiar with Sun Fu, pressed him further, eventually learning, “Little Xie wasn’t scolded.”
Bai Mingyu relaxed. If Xie Jing, the mastermind, wasn’t scolded, he, as the helper, would be fine too.
Feeling relieved, he stood there grinning foolishly.
Sun Fu brought high-proof Liquor and temporarily built a distillery at a spot along the Amur River’s main channel bending northwest.
Originally, there were only a few summer houses there. Skilled and diligent Chinese workers quickly erected structures, creating the scale of a small village within half a month.
Filatiev visited and marveled at the work.
The houses were made of mud bricks, partially sheltered by birch trees, not extremely sturdy but sufficient for one winter.
Sun Fu brought many wine baskets and containers, and skilled workers began producing the liquor.
Bai Mingyu, having grown up in the family’s distillery, was familiar with the work. He disliked dining with the Russians and preferred helping with manual labor, working energetically. When he lifted a whole wine vat for the first time, even Sun Fu was surprised.
“Where should I put it?” Bai Mingyu asked proudly.
A master brewer pointed, and Bai Mingyu carried it step by step, wiping sweat from his brow, smelling faintly of the liquor despite not drinking.
He sniffed and said, “This batch is different from before.”
Sun Fu: “Yes, vodka is limited, but the Chinese liquor is sufficient. We’ve used stock from other distilleries.”
Bai Mingyu: “Lord Bai Jiu said to involve them?”
Sun Fu: “Merchants pursue profit; it’s their nature.”
Bai Mingyu laughed: “I bet Lord Bai Jiu didn’t give them a high price. Good. Now they can’t feast early. Later, if they want big rewards, it will be harder!”
Sun Fu smiled: “Lord Bai Jiu kept the previous price.”
Bai Mingyu widened his eyes: “Why?”
Sun Fu handed him a letter: “This is from Lord Bai Jiu. After you read it, pack up and return. He said you’ve done well these months, worked hard, and called you home for New Year.”
Bai Mingyu said, “I won’t! I just got started. Why go home when there’s money to be made?”
Sun Fu advised: “Second Young Master, this business isn’t sustainable. The stricter the ban, the shorter the timeframe. You’d better listen to Lord Bai Jiu.”
Bai Mingyu hesitated, but upon seeing the familiar handwriting on the letter, his heart warmed.
Lord Bai Jiu cared for his safety, hence summoning him back. He had limited contacts and intelligence at the border, whereas Lord Bai Jiu, across the river, had more sources.
This venture wouldn’t last long.
Though Bai Mingyu regretted leaving money, he obediently packed and returned to Heihe.
Following Lord Bai Jiu’s instructions, he converted all silver into gold bars. The Russian merchants lacked cash but were allowed to pay in goods—especially valuable horses and deer antlers—at fair prices.
The two Russian merchants were pleased. They called deer antlers “Panti.” Each set was 30 rubles; for large antlers, Bai’s caravan paid 60 rubles.
Bai Mingyu returned with two shipments, mostly leather, ointments, hides, and deer antlers; horses were in the lower deck of the cargo ship, all bulk purchases.
The cargo was a front; the real weight was in several boxes of gold bars.
Months of work yielded substantial profit.
Midway on the river, they spotted a cargo ship approaching. The captain, experienced and sharp-eyed, shouted: “Change the flag! Switch to the Russian flag!”
The crew quickly complied amid the morning mist.
The approaching ship was fast and light. Seeing the flag, it hesitated and then turned away.
Bai Mingyu didn’t fully understand but sensed tension and asked, “What happened?”
The crew replied: “That was a Japanese ship. Those people are terrible; they see our sampans and rob them. Luckily, our ship flew the Russian flag, so they thought it was Russian and dared not attack.”
Bai Mingyu: “Why does flying the Russian flag prevent trouble?”
The crew scratched their heads: “Not sure… maybe regulations. Only Chinese and Russian ships are allowed on this waterway.”
An observer from the East Courtyard added: “The Russians claim the route and fire on Japanese ships. Over time, the Japanese fear them.”
Bai Mingyu felt uneasy and brooded for several days.
Arriving at Heihe, switching to horse carts, and racing home, he finally regained some energy.
He lifted the carriage curtain; the winter wind, carrying snow like salt grains, hit his face, forcing him to squint, almost freezing his breath.
He inhaled deeply, exhaling the pent-up frustration. Seeing familiar surroundings and silver-covered land, and touching the large wooden crates, he felt relieved.
One day, their ships would sail freely, without switching flags.
At the Bai family business in Heihe, the place was unusually lively. Upon landing, Bai Mingyu’s convoy was met by several guards and escorted smoothly home.
After a brief exchange with elder brother Bai Mingzhe, he went to see Lord Bai Jiu.
Standing at the small building’s door, he inhaled nervously. Outside, he could appear composed as a big manager, but the thought of Lord Bai Jiu made him uneasy.
After a moment’s preparation, he knocked. Upon hearing “Enter,” he straightened his clothes and went in.
The small building was as before: thick carpets and underfloor heating. Lord Bai Jiu sat wrapped in a long mink robe with a heater in hand. Seeing him, he nodded slightly: “You’re back? Sit and speak.”
Bai Mingyu was about to sit but heard Xie Jing cough behind Lord Bai Jiu. He immediately stood, bowed, and said: “Master, I’ll stand while speaking; it feels better.”
Lord Bai Jiu chuckled: “Then stand and speak.”
Bai Mingyu respectfully presented a ledger, detailing accounts and exchanged goods.
“…The total gold amounts to over 700,000 silver. I followed your orders and didn’t take rubles, converting everything into gold and goods. I purchased a few fine horses, all military-grade for Cossack cavalry. I saw they were good and added a batch; the sellers agreed. The river is currently impassable; they’ll be delivered in spring.”
Speaking dryly, he didn’t dare sip tea, watching Lord Bai Jiu carefully. Seeing no expression, he signaled Xie Jing behind Lord Bai Jiu with a wink.
Xie Jing pretended not to see.
Bai Mingyu, anxious, coughed lightly.
Lord Bai Jiu looked at him, then said: “The task was done well. Any other matters to report?”
Bai Mingyu ignored Xie Jing, knelt, and kowtowed. “Master, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have listened to Xie Jing and made such a large deal. If you hadn’t sent Supervisor Sun, I almost couldn’t stop.”
Lord Bai Jiu smiled: “You listened to him?”
Bai Mingyu: “Yes, following Xie Jing’s analysis.”
Lord Bai Jiu asked: “Jing’er, anything to say?”
Xie Jing stepped forward, bowed: “Second Young Master is correct.”
Hearing this, Bai Mingyu’s heart sank. Sure enough, Lord Bai Jiu had gone stern.
“He’s just a supervisor. When could he command you, the big manager? If you want to excuse yourself, don’t use that method.”
Bai Mingyu: “Master, it really isn’t like that… I…” He turned to Xie Jing: “After you analyzed the ships and cargo, what did you say? Didn’t you say the Russian alcohol ban was rare and this was a chance for a big deal?”
Xie Jing slowly replied: “Yes, but I also advised Second Young Master to think twice; it’s a serious matter.”
Bai Mingyu: “???”
