Zhao Wujiu had lived for twenty-six years, accustomed to the imposing aura of the royal family as something ordinary, and considered himself well-versed in life and death. However, upon meeting Bai Shiqi, he realized that in this world, there are always many unpredictable people and events waiting ahead.
The children of influential families in the capital grew up within constructed frameworks. Their eyes beheld splendid jade towers and embroidered pavilions, while their elders held dazzling power and wealth. Young ladies from noble households followed strict rules, learning the survival codes of deep mansions and courtyards—obeying fathers at home and husbands after marriage, never breaking free from this mold throughout their lives. Their postures and manners bore many similarities; seeing too many of them led to a sort of facial blindness, making it hard to distinguish one from another.
Occasionally, there were slightly unconventional young men and women, but they largely remained within this framework, always pulled back by family elders to be molded into ideal forms. Once polished and dressed up for social engagements, they became presentable young gentlemen or maidens.
Bai Shiqi, however, was like a mischievous spirit emerging from the depths of the Canal River, both exasperating and utterly disarming. Or perhaps like a wild, vigorous weed in the open fields, growing freely under the vast sky and earth, completely unrestrained. After infuriating Chief Bai, she nonchalantly carried Fourth Miss Song into the main courtyard's side room and onto the bed, as if the earlier major commotion hadn't been stirred up by her.
The physician was summoned. Fourth Miss Song was still "unconscious," with Zhen'er inside accompanying the doctor during the examination. Bai Shiqi automatically stopped in the outer room, sitting idly outside with Zhao Wujiu, drinking tea.
For some reason, the more familiar Zhao Wujiu became with her, the more he couldn't help but wonder what other stories she might stir up. At this moment, he couldn't resist saying, "Shiqi, you've angered Chief Bai. Shouldn't you go apologize?" He hadn't forgotten Chief Bai's words, "I'll settle accounts with you later." Extinguishing embers before flames reignite was a principle he always adhered to in life.
Having witnessed the dynamics between the Bai "father and son" once, Zhao Wujiu gained a new understanding of the enraged Chief Bai and the fire-stoking Bai Shiqi. Her words on the canal boat still echoed in his ears. For a moment, even the decisive Prince of Zhou didn't know which side to take. All he could do was advise Bai Shiqi to apologize and reconcile with Chief Bai, lest she be chased around the courtyard with a big stick again.
This time, Fourth Miss Song took a blow for her, but next time she might not be so lucky.
Bai Shiqi had her own set of twisted logic for this: "Cousin, have you not heard the saying: 'With the first drumroll, morale is high; with the second, it wanes; with the third, it exhausts'? Beating a child is like going to war—it relies entirely on a surge of courage and anger. The initial rage might be ten parts; after one outburst, six or seven parts dissipate. Gathering enough anger to act again lacks staying power. After repeating this, even if one strongly disapproves of their child's behavior, they eventually acquiesce."
Having commanded troops for years, Zhao Wujiu was actually defeated by this theory of hers. He chuckled wryly, "It sounds like you've studied this quite thoroughly?"
"Of course!" Bai Shiqi said proudly, imparting her wisdom: "All matters in this world, whether between father and son, mother and daughter, or husband and wife, cannot escape the principle of 'advance or retreat.' Children, arranged by their parents and elders since childhood, if persistently obedient, even after reaching adulthood, become accustomed to following parental opinions, turning indecisive. Their lives merely replay the template of their parents' generation—where's the fun in that?" With her back to the door, she spoke eloquently: "But someone like me, who has challenged Chief Bai's authority since childhood—if he hits me ten times, I resist eleven—though he still gets angry at my disobedience and defiance, when matters arise, he has no choice but to consider my opinion."
Zhao Wujiu sat facing her. His gaze swept past the doorway, only to discover that Chief Bai, who had left, had returned and was standing in the courtyard with a cold face. His expression stiffened, and he tried desperately to salvage the awkward situation: "Shiqi—"
Bai Shiqi was all too familiar with his schoolmaster tone, knowing a long sermon of persuasion would follow. She immediately cut him off alertly: "Cousin, don't worry too much. Don't just see my Chief Bai as thunderously irritable. Given his physical condition, at most he can only beat me for another decade or so before he has to obediently admit defeat..."
Zhao Wujiu lowered his head, the corners of his mouth twitching upward as he struggled to suppress the urge to burst out laughing, thinking: Shiqi, I tried my best!
Shu Changfeng, who had been standing guard at the door, facial muscles contorted, turned around to assume a posture of facing the wall in penitence, pretending he wasn't present, while internally his guts were nearly tied in knots from laughter.
Sure enough, Chief Bai's roar immediately came from outside: "Bai Shiqi, you little brat, get out here!"
Bai Shiqi sprang up in a flash, turning back in panic, wishing she could slap herself twice: Serves your mouth right for being so glib!
Chief Bai's face was as dark as water, completely defying Bai Shiqi's theory of "first drumroll, second wane, third exhaust." His rage was like a great river surging forth, unstoppable.
No matter how mischievous and naughty Bai Shiqi was, spinning out absurd reasoning off the cuff and talking nonsense with a straight face, upon seeing Chief Bai truly furious, stomping around in circles, she feared she might explode her old father's lungs. She shuffled out step by step, even turning back to cast a pitiful look at Zhao Wujiu, pleading for rescue.
"..."
Zhao Wujiu hardened his heart, pretending not to understand, and turned to study the Four Gentlemen scroll hanging on the wall. From the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of Bai Shiqi shuffling over, only to be grabbed by the back of her collar like a chick and hauled away by Chief Bai.
“...‘At most he can only beat me for another decade or so before he has to obediently admit defeat’?”
"Dad! Dad, I was wrong! I'm really wrong this time!"
"No! You're my dad!" Chief Bai, driven to distraction by this offspring, blurted out: "'If he hits me ten times, I resist eleven,' is that it?"
"Dad! Dad, I was boasting! I was just boasting! If I were your dad, then what about grandpa?"
Zhao Wujiu took a sip of tea. Catching Bai Shiqi's witty remark, he sprayed the tea out directly.
Half an hour later, Bai Shiqi changed her clothes and returned limping. Seeing Zhao Wujiu sitting as straight as a pine tree, she complained, "Cousin, you're really not considerate enough. You clearly saw my dad coming but refused to remind me."
Zhao Wujiu was quite helpless: "I did remind you, but you interrupted me, didn't you?" He asked with concern, "Are you alright?"
Bai Shiqi wore an expression of utter despair: "My leg's almost broken! From now on, I won't even be able to find a wife. I might end up a bachelor!"
Zhao Wujiu originally felt great sympathy for her beating, but upon hearing this, he wanted to laugh again—just how obsessed are you with finding a wife?
The old physician had been waiting outside. He bowed to her: "Young Chief, the young lady inside is not seriously harmed. She likely only suffered some superficial injuries. I'll prescribe a decoction and some external wound medicine. She'll recover soon."
Bai Shiqi blinked her eyes: "Not seriously injured, needing careful recuperation? If not recuperated properly, she might be bedridden from now on, her life hanging by a thread, right?"
The old physician, who had been traveling among various households in Huai'an City for many years, was well-versed in the art of speech. Sure enough, he changed his tune: "What the Young Chief says is also true. External injuries can be treated, but internal injuries require careful bed rest and observation for a few days to see if there are any signs of coughing blood. We must not take it lightly. This old man will prescribe the medicine now."
Bai Shiqi was satisfied. She personally ground ink for the doctor, her face full of earnestness as she chatted with him. "My father is very concerned about the injured lady and insists on using the best medicine for her slow recovery. If he asks about her condition, you won't hide anything from him, will you, doctor?"
A silver ingot was pushed over.
The old doctor accepted her silver and, in his own mind, concocted a full drama of inner-household strife. The beautiful young lady in question was likely the riverboat gang leader's new favorite. As the son, the young gang leader Bai Shiqi didn't want his own mother to be neglected, hence he was trying every means to delay this woman's recovery, giving Madame Bai time to think of a countermeasure. He immediately agreed wholeheartedly. "This old one understands." With a flourish of his brush, he added many sedative herbs to the prescription. After drinking the medicinal broth, one would feel drowsy and muddled, with only a handful of clear-headed moments in a day, thus buying more time for Madame Bai to respond.
Bai Shiqi, limping, saw the doctor out, sincerely thanking him for his supporting role. The old doctor, thoroughly satisfied with the consultation fee, gave his full cooperation. Along the way, he issued many serious-sounding instructions and precautions. Passing gang members caught snippets of the conversation, which eventually reached Bai Zhenting's ears, leading him to believe that Fourth Miss Song was indeed extremely delicate and frail, and had truly suffered internal injuries from his blow.
Zhao Ziheng only learned about the farce in the main courtyard later. After sleeping until the sun was high, he got up and, seeing Bai Shiqi's strange walking posture, couldn't help but ask. Upon hearing that Bai Shiqi had been beaten, he felt nothing but sympathy for his good friend and unprincipledly sided with Bai Shiqi. "Does it hurt a lot? Your father's temper is too fiery. Even a vicious tiger doesn't eat its own cubs. A good scare would have been enough, did he really have to go through with it?"
Zhao Wujiu thought to himself: Gang Leader Bai is indeed swift and decisive, teaching his child without any pretense. It's a pity Bai Shiqi is born rebellious. As she herself said, even ten beatings might not be effective.
Bai Shiqi's chair was padded with a thick cushion, and she was still sitting gingerly, barely perched on the edge, leaning to one side. She responded to her good friend's unconditional alliance with immense enthusiasm. "Ziheng, you're truly a brother!" She patted Zhao Ziheng's shoulder and promised him, "Don't worry, my skin is thick and my flesh is rough. I'll recover after a few days of rest. It won't delay our search for Jiang Xiaoxian." Then, with a touch of grievance, she shot a glance in Zhao Wujiu's direction. "You're not like some people, with hearts of stone, who clearly saw my father coming but didn't bother to give me a heads-up."
Zhao Wujiu could only resent his own inability to lower himself and protest—he had intended to warn her, but was clearly interrupted.
Whose fault was that, really?
Zhao Ziheng was most concerned about the outcome of the beating. "After you took this thrashing, is your father still going to send Fourth Miss Song away?"
Bai Shiqi crossed her legs, reverting to her usual rakish demeanor, and boasted, "How could that be? My father injured Fourth Miss Song and then beat me severely. His heart softened, and he agreed to let her stay."
Of course, Old Gang Leader Bai's original words were not like that. He had said, "...How can you keep a woman of unknown origins by your side? However, since she was injured because of me, she may stay at the manor temporarily to recuperate. Once her wounds are healed, she is to be sent away immediately!"
But Bai Shiqi hadn't originally planned to have Fourth Miss Song stay at the Bai residence long-term anyway, so she readily agreed, making the beating not entirely in vain.
Zhao Wujiu shook his head with a faint smile. "Seventeen, you don't look the least bit like someone seriously injured."
Bai Shiqi, unhappy with him spoiling her act, said huffily, "A true man sheds blood, not tears. How can I lie in bed due to injury and worry my old father? I just realized today, cousin, that you are not very considerate!"
Zhao Ziheng also stood by her side, joining in to chastise Zhao Wujiu. "Cousin, it's bad enough that Seventeen got beaten. Saying that is just too hurtful!"
Faced with these two unreasonable youngsters, Zhao Wujiu cast aside his usual rigid principles and, for the first time, readily admitted his fault. "It was this cousin's mistake. My apologies to Seventeen!"
Bai Shiqi was pleased. "That's more like it." She grinned, revealing a kind of indescribable, lively brightness that seemed to suddenly open a door in one's heart, letting in a ray of light, making one's mood brighten along with her smile.
The three of them were chatting and laughing in the flower hall. Zhen'er, who had originally come looking for Bai Shiqi, overheard this conversation. Her heart pounded uncontrollably, and she turned and ran back towards the guest quarters. Upon seeing Fourth Miss Song, she immediately curtsied. "Congratulations, Miss!"
Fourth Miss Song was drowsy, her eyes heavy and mouth dry. "Where did you learn such nonsense?"
In all her life, she had only been congratulated once before, by her foster mother when Wen Tao redeemed her. She had been told that once she stepped through the Wen family gates, she would enjoy endless wealth and luxury. Even now, the memory made her heart race with lingering fear.
"Could it be... Gang Leader Bai wants to send me away?" Her drowsiness vanished instantly. She pushed herself up, about to get out of bed. "Where is Master?"
Bai Shiqi had ended up being beaten by the Gang Leader after all. Although she hadn't seen it herself, Zhen'er said he was walking with a limp, clearly beaten quite severely. Just for the thought behind it, she was moved beyond words.
Zhen'er hurriedly stopped her. "Don't worry, Miss! I went to find Master just now and overheard him talking with Young Master Zhao. Although Gang Leader Bai beat Master, he also agreed to let you stay."
Tears welled up in Fourth Miss Song's eyes. She gave Zhen'er a light slap. "You silly girl, telling only half the story! You really scared me to death!" Her eyes filled with longing. "From now on, we can finally have a home!"
