Chapter 73 — Getting Rich (Part 1)
Bai Mingyu still wanted to argue, but he couldn’t win against the one sitting there clearly taking sides.
Lord Bai Jiu didn’t want to either.
But with these two, one kneeling and speaking entirely with reason, and the other silently agreeing with everything and taking responsibility upon himself, it was impossible not to show favoritism.
After a brief lecture, Bai Mingyu was finally persuaded. Lord Bai Jiu gave him a light tap and a sweet date, saying, “No matter what, you’ve done well this time. Go home, have a good New Year, and rest.”
Bai Mingyu asked, “Master, are we stopping here?” He still felt a little regretful—the rubles were easy to earn.
Lord Bai Jiu said, “The matters after the New Year are beyond your control. Stay home and rest. By June, there will be plenty for you to do.”
Only then did Bai Mingyu relax, returning home to rest.
Xie Jing stood by Lord Bai Jiu, grinding herbs and glancing out the window.
Sure enough, Bai Mingyu was standing in the courtyard waiting for him. Xie Jing didn’t rush out, just looked once and then calmly returned to his work.
Bai Mingyu had grown more resilient after a business trip across the river. After waiting a long while without seeing Xie Jing come out—the courtyard in the Heihe winter was bitterly cold, the thick robe barely keeping out the wind—he reluctantly left.
Lord Bai Jiu, after writing for a while in his room, noticed Xie Jing staring outside and suddenly asked, “Worried about angering the Second Young Master?”
Xie Jing hesitated and nodded. “Yes.”
“The Second Young Master is easy to soothe. Tonight, come to my room, I’ll teach you.”
Lord Bai Jiu’s tone was serious. Xie Jing looked up at him, his ears tinged red.
Lord Bai Jiu tapped the account ledger just delivered and said plainly, “Bai Mingyu did well on this business trip. In my opinion, you should handle the next one.” He tapped twice on the ledger. “Do you know what your biggest mistake was this trip?”
Xie Jing hesitated a moment. “I don’t know.”
Lord Bai Jiu said, “You underestimated the merchants of Heihe. The Northern Provinces’ guilds were only just established a couple of years ago. If you want them to obey, you must command respect.” He looked at Xie Jing. “Next spring, I’ll assign a few people to help you. You’ve grown; it’s time to establish authority.”
Xie Jing bowed in acknowledgment.
From dinner until late at night, Xie Jing did not leave Lord Bai Jiu’s small building.
Lord Bai Jiu carefully taught him how to analyze the merchants of Heihe, using the account ledgers returned by Bai Mingyu as a discussion tool, breaking everything down in detail.
Xie Jing was a good student, with a sharp memory and patience—he learned quickly.
But at night, the good student lying in bed was not so obedient.
Lord Bai Jiu, wearing an inner robe, wrapped his arms around him, eyes closed, and said, “Not tired enough during the day?”
Xie Jing curled up, seeming to both avoid and nestle into Lord Bai Jiu’s embrace, murmuring softly.
Lord Bai Jiu chuckled and held him firmly. “Not allowed.”
“Master, I can…”
“You can’t either.”
Lord Bai Jiu’s voice was nasal, more magnetic than during the day, teasing at the ear: “You’re still young; this mustn’t go too far.”
After a moment of quiet, the one in his arms asked, “Master, were you like this when you first understood these things?”
Lord Bai Jiu raised his hand to cover his mouth, voice hushed: “Sleep.”
Xie Jing snuggled, eventually falling asleep, cheek pressed against Lord Bai Jiu’s palm, completely unguarded.
Lord Bai Jiu listened to the child’s breathing deepen, and only after a while did he slowly open his eyes.
What he wanted was different from Xie Jing’s.
If this continued, he could not guarantee his own self-control.
He gently kissed the soft hair of the one in his arms, making it imperceptible, and sighed in his heart.
Still too young—wait until he grows a little more.
When his little steward Xie Jing sees the vastness of the world, it won’t be too late to decide.
Bai Mingyu waited for Xie Jing all night.
He hadn’t even gone back to the room his elder brother prepared for him. Switching with another servant, he stayed outside Xie Jing’s door, ready to intervene at the slightest movement.
But after a whole night, he didn’t see Xie Jing.
The next morning, he spotted Xie Jing in the dining hall. Without a word, Bai Mingyu went straight to confront him.
He still remembered yesterday’s grievance, grabbing Xie Jing to continue arguing and deliberately shouted, “Oh, isn’t this Steward Xie? Where were you last night? Not back all night! Let me smell—what fragrance is on your clothes—?”
Xie Jing hurriedly covered his mouth, ignoring Bai Mingyu’s stammering, and dragged him to a quiet corner.
Bai Mingyu pushed him away, crossing his arms and sneering: “Speak! I’m giving you a chance—let’s see how you explain this time.”
Xie Jing had the strategy from Lord Bai Jiu. Calmly, he said: “Lord Bai Jiu said, if you are seen early this morning, Second Young Master should visit Mr. Huang. Mr. Huang has matters to discuss.”
Bai Mingyu, just back, was startled. “The Master brought Mr. Huang too?” He had been checked on by Huang Mingyou since childhood, and was a bit intimidated.
Xie Jing looked around and whispered in his ear, “Not just him—the provincial government’s Old Madam Bai is here… this business of yours is big, I don’t dare take credit.”
He stepped back without further words.
Bai Mingyu was suspicious. After a trip, he had grown a bit more discerning. Though Xie Jing’s words sounded the same as before, something felt off. He stared at him for a while, half-believing, half-doubting: “Is that so? I’ll first go see Mr. Huang. Don’t run—I’ll be back soon!”
Xie Jing smiled: “I’m part of the mansion, where could I go?”
Bai Mingyu liked that answer, adjusted his thick robe, and went to Huang Mingyou.
Huang Mingyou had recently moved to live in the trading company with Old Madam Bai. The old lady liked quiet, keeping her move discreet from the Qinghe Bai family. She stayed in a guesthouse prepared for merchants. Simple outside, but inside everything was new, the floor heated.
When Bai Mingyu pushed open the door, Huang Mingyou had already set up a Go board, looking at him expectantly.
Bai Mingyu bowed. “Sir.”
Huang Mingyou waved: “Come, I hear you’ve gained some skill recently!”
Bai Mingyu felt proud but kept his tone neutral: “Not bad, similar to before—just sharing some duties for Lord Bai Jiu.”
Huang Mingyou: “Then play a few rounds with me?”
Bai Mingyu: “Huh?”
Huang Mingyou, wrapped in a cotton robe, rubbed his hands, the table with dried fruits and hot tea: “Huh? Come, let’s play a game!”
Bai Mingyu had rehearsed many polite lines to impress Huang Mingyou, but Huang Mingyou only wanted to play Go.
The room was warm. Bai Mingyu, fiery and young, loosened his fur coat and picked up a piece, suddenly asking: “Sir, what did Xie Jing say to you?”
Huang Mingyou: “What Xie Jing? Early this morning, Lord Bai Jiu sent word to me to guide you. Sit and play a game first. Your Lord Bai Jiu is biased in your favor.”
Bai Mingyu’s doubts vanished. Smiling, he focused on the game.
They played while speaking quietly.
Though fond of literature, Huang Mingyou knew commerce enough. He had traveled with Old Master Bai, knowing more than the underlings. He subtly mentioned the latest rules at the Heihe border—a level of insight money couldn’t buy—related to General Bai and the Governor’s office. Without their backing, Bai Mingyu’s return trip wouldn’t have been so smooth.
Bai Mingyu nodded at first, listening carefully, gradually frowning while holding the chess piece.
He thought: Huang Mingyou is indeed a master. This Go skill is impressive.
Meanwhile, after breakfast, Lord Bai Jiu took Xie Jing to see Old Madam Bai.
Old Madam Bai sat in the small hall, drinking tea, dressed neatly, seemingly ready to visit friends. She was pleased to see them, inviting them to sit. Seeing Xie Jing still standing, she smiled: “Little Xie, no need to be formal. Sit, try the new tea—it’s Maojian, quite good.”
Xie Jing sat on a small stool, pouring tea for Lord Bai Jiu and himself, refilling the old lady’s cup.
He then quietly listened, saying little.
Old Madam Bai looked at him, smiling: “Little Xie is quite capable. Last time I asked, you refused. It’s a shame to keep him at your side.”
Bai Rongjiu, sipping tea, said: “Grandmother, I only drank a cup. He won’t be harmed, right?” He added that he had arranged work for Xie Jing after spring. Heihe was lively, plenty of tasks.
Old Madam Bai: “Oh? What work will he do?”
Bai Rongjiu: “Bai Er (Bai Mingyu) is back, impatient. Xie Jing is steady. I plan to let them help each other at the Eastern Province railway.”
The old lady considered, then said: “Is there enough manpower? I’ll send another person. Last time your aunt wrote about Hongqi a few times; after spring, let her go too. She knows the expatriate affairs well—you’ll feel more at ease.”
Bai Rongjiu nodded in agreement.
They chatted a while, and Bai Rongjiu showed the old lady the ledgers Bai Mingyu brought yesterday. Old Madam Bai glanced, then returned them, smiling: “I’m old; I’ve taught you these things before. Now you’re in charge—handle it as you see fit.”
Despite this, Bai Rongjiu remained respectful, reporting details meticulously.
Old Madam Bai, after listening, asked: “If you go further west, do you know the profits?”
“Prices are roughly stable. I’ve had people investigate. A barrel of liquor in Heihe costs 3 rubles; at Mohe it’s 7 rubles. Across the river, Russians sell a bottle of high-proof liquor for 20 rubles. A barrel holds several bottles. Our liquor is diluted at the distillery, similar to Russian liquor. They’re used to high-proof drinks; wherever it goes, it sells out,” Bai Rongjiu explained.
Old Madam Bai nodded. “What commission for those two Russian merchants?”
“After sales, 20%.”
“Good.”
Xie Jing, listening, tightened his fingers, eyes shining.
He had known the profit was huge but never imagined so much. If a barrel held 5 bottles sold at 20 rubles each, that’s 100 rubles per barrel. Bought at 3 rubles, minus 20% commission, profit was 77 rubles per barrel—a 25-fold gain.
He was lost in calculations when Lord Bai Jiu spoke: “Bai Er is still young. After the New Year, the stricter the ban, the higher the risk. I’ll go myself then.”
Old Madam Bai thought for a moment: “Good. Always act within your capacity. Heihe has me covered.”
“Understood.”
