Chapter 15 – Being a Wealthy Young Master

Editor: mako

Proofreader: kllua

In September, the weather was as hot as usual, and heat waves were practically radiating from the concrete. All households in Yu Qing had also opened their windows for better ventilation, and no one was willing to head out to the streets at this time.

While fanning themselves, people who were neighbors conversed through their opened windows, “The weather demon must have arrived, as there is not even a trace of wind.”

“Indeed, even the vegetables that were bought back have shriveled up. I guess we can only eat cold noodles.”

Meanwhile, Ah Xiu had just returned to Yu Qing with a basket. As all the women in the streets held umbrellas, she also fished out her own. Having left gracefully, her return gave the imagery of swaying willows in the wind.

In her basket, there were two clusters of fresh grapes. It was meant to be an offering to the gods, but Bai Zhun ended up being greedy for them himself too, and told Ah Xiu to buy some back.

At this moment, Xiao Yan, who had been waiting for a long time with her head stretched out of the window, saw Ah Xiu and called out crisply, “Ah Xiu!”

Ah Xiu stopped, and her snow-white face emerged slightly from under the umbrella, revealing her cherry lips and fine nose. Such an appearance stunned Xiao Yan, and she waved to her vigorously before running down the stairs. Stopping in front of Ah Xiu, she then took out a round, creamy plum candy and said, “This is for you!”

The candy was what she received from her teacher as a reward for doing well in writing.

As this was the first time that Ah Xiu received a gift from a human, she extended her hand out cluelessly. The big round, creamy plum candy fell into her palm, and it rolled slightly.

Xiao Yan smiled. “They all say that this candy is delicious.” Wanting to give it to Ah Xiu, she had been reluctant to eat it.

Ah Xiu stared at the candy for a while before beckoning to Xiao Yan, who followed after her. When they arrived at the front door of the Bai’s house, Ah Xiu proceeded to point to Xiao Yan before pointing to the brick floor in front of the door.

Xiao Yan was a little afraid. The Bai family did not interact with any of the people in Yu Qing, and the black painted doors were always closed. No children also dared to play in front of their door and would rather go to the alleys to play rubber band skipping and kicking shuttlecocks.

However, since Ah Xiu asked her to wait, she would wait here.

Ah Xiu opened the door and went in. As soon as her bamboo basket was placed down, she hurried to Bai Zhun, who was currently lying on the rocking chair drinking soda relaxingly. Beside him was Huo ZhenYe, who was reading the newspapers to him. The content was something along the lines of the solved case involving the beauties of the world of flowers and the released results of the top three.

Bai Zhun, who was tired of listening to the news, saw Ah Xiu coming, and he immediately interrupted Huo ZhenYe, “What is the matter?”

With one hand placed behind her, Ah Xiu opened her other hand towards Bai Zhun.

Bai Zhun frowned and asked, “What is this?”

Meanwhile, Huo ZhenYe smiled. “Someone gave it to you?”

Ah Xiu nodded and pointed to the door. Huo ZhenYe slipped out and saw a little girl with a shuttlecock. It seemed that Ah Xiu had made a friend.

“What is the use of this thing?” Bai Zhun continued to frown as Ah Xiu could not eat or drink.

“Since she gave you candy, you can give her a bottle of soda. In the future, both of you can play together.”

After hearing that, Ah Xiu looked towards Bai Zhun. Huo ZhenYe, who saw Bai Zhun’s reluctance, persuaded, “Ah Xiu should also make some friends. This little girl appears clean and obedient, so she should be not bad.”

Having gained permission, Ah Xiu opened the refrigerator and picked out a bottle of orange soda. She felt that orange soda looked better than the dark plum one.

As the black painted doors opened again, Ah Xiu handed an item to Xiao Yan, causing the latter’s eyes to widen. A bottle of orange soda! This one costs a dime for a bottle!

“Is it really for me?” Xiao Yan was so happy that her face flushed.

Ah Xiu nodded.

Xiao Yan proceeded to run home with the soda bottle. Holding the sparkling orange “treasure”, she then showed it off to her mother, “Ah Xiu gave this to me!”

Xiao Yan’s mother was currently cooking dinner on the coal briquette stove. As sweat trickled down her cheeks, she turned her head to take a look. “Really?”

“Really!” Clear droplets of condensation had begun to appear on the glass bottle. As it was chilled before, it was cold in her hands. Xiao Yan held it carefully like it was a treasure, afraid of making it turn warm.

“Then have you thanked Ah Xiu?”

“I already thanked her!” Reluctant to drink it, Xiao Yan only took a sip after opening it. She then saw that her mother was suffering from the heat while cooking, so she held up the bottle and said, “Mother should also drink it.”

Xiao Yan’s mother smiled and took a sip. “I am not hot, you drink.”

As Xiao Yan refused, the mother and daughter pair took one sip after each other and shared it. They also left some for their father, who had yet to come home from work to try.

Meanwhile, Ah Xiu fiddled with her plum candy. She had a bamboo box in which she stored some of her treasures. After playing with it for a while, she then opened the bamboo box and placed the candy in it.

Throughout this whole process, she did it out in the open, so Bai Zhun and Huo ZhenYe, who were in the hall, managed to glimpse into her bamboo box. They saw a paper flower and a pair of paper shoes inside.

Huo ZhenYe asked, “Why is she hiding all this?” 

“Second Liu is already dead, and the case has been solved. Why are you not leaving?” Bai Zhun, who was lying on the bamboo rocking chair, rolled his eyes and continued, “Small animals will also hide things, so why can’t Ah Xiu do so?”

As soon as he finished his sentence, the small yellow siskin flew and landed on Huo ZhenYe’s head. When Huo ZhenYe shook his head to dislodge it, a shelled peanut flew out of his hair.

When the small yellow siskin saw that his hidden peanut was thrown out, he jumped back onto Huo ZhenYe’s head and started randomly pecking him.

Huo ZhenYe grabbed it and stroked its ruffled feathers. He had always been curious but did not dare to ask. “Is Ah Xiu your little sister?” Having come to Yu Qing quite a few times, he had come across others in the area several times, and they all said that Ah Xiu was Bai Zhun’s sister.

To that, Bai Zhun only responded in all seriousness, “She is my daughter.” 

Huo ZhenYe felt that Bai Zhun was spouting nonsense again. Ever since he discovered that Ah Xiu had an intellectual impairment, he had already thought that Ah Xiu might really be Bai Zhun’s sister.

After all, who would hire a person with intellectual impairment?

“Does Ah Xiu have the temperament of a child? You can hire a private tutor for her or send her to some of the specialized schools in the settlement.” Huo ZhenYe felt that she could not muddle through the rest of her life like this.

Bai Zhun belched and put down the glass bottle in his hand before finding fault with him. “Why? Do you also want to be her father?”

When faced with a competition of who could spew more nonsense, Huo ZhenYe was unafraid. He crossed his legs together and replied, “That is fine with me. I would be her biological father and godfather. If she wants to find a husband in the future, he would have to gain the approval of both of us.”

Bai Zhun released a “tch” sound. “That’s enough, and you should leave. If there is nothing serious, don’t come these few days.”

Huo ZhenYe, who was still holding onto a soda bottle in his hand, looked a little wronged when he was suddenly being driven out.

Bai Zhun gave a rare explanation, “I have work to do for the City God procession¹Here, I am not too sure of the specifics but the procession probably involves inviting the City God into the figure usually found in temples before it was brought around the local area with great pomp and ceremony. This was in line with the idea that City God is like a bureaucratic official who maintains the smooth running and peace of an area so such processions could be considered as “inspections” too. held on the seventh month of the Chinese Lunar Calendar.”

Regarding this, Huo ZhenYe was aware, and he knew that the local City God had three processions every year²The author used “城隍三巡会” (literally “City God’s 3 ‘inspection’ festivals”). Apparently, it differs from area to area and the processions are held in accordance with special Chinese festivals. In this story, the locals hold it three times with regards to the three major Chinese festivals for the deceased. . The first procession was during the Qingming Festival³“清明” (Qingming Festival also known as Tomb Sweeping Festival) is usually held in early April where people visit graves and burial grounds to pay their respects to their ancestors. , the second was during the Ghost Festival⁴“中元” (Ghost Festival) is on the 15th day of the 7th month in the lunar calendar, which is usually around late August. It is similar to Qingming where people pay respects to the deceased. However, unlike how Qingming was meant to pay respects to only their deceased elders, the Ghost Festival includes everyone who died. , while the third was on the first day of the tenth month in the Lunar Calendar⁵ “十月初一” (the 1st day of the 10th month in the Lunar Calendar) is also known as Winter Clothes Day. As people believe that the dead would feel cold in the netherland, they “send” clothes to the deceased by burning it on this day. It also marks the arrival of winter..

This time it was for the Ghost Festival procession.

When the City God made its rounds, people would pray for blessings and make wishes, hoping to receive aid against ferocious ghosts.

Initially, Huo ZhenYe used to regard this as one of the temples’ festivals, but now he knew better.

One could not be careless about the paper goods offered to the gods. After all, every year, it was the seventh door who provided the necessary paper items to invite the deities for the procession. In the next few days, Bai Zhun would have no time to fool around with this wealthy young master.

“You can craft your own paper stuff, and I promise not to disturb you. After all, someone still has to prepare your meals.” These few days, Huo ZhenYe has indeed been waiting on Bai Zhun well. He felt that no matter what, he could be considered more attentive than Ah Xiu.

“Are you so free that you have nothing to do?” Bai Zhun gave him a look that conveyed his thoughts of how the rich really had too much leisure time.

Huo Zhenye knew what he was thinking and replied, “Us wealthy young masters usually do whatever we want to do.”

Hearing that, Bai Zhun gave him a look. “What are you planning to do?”

Huo ZhenYe stroked his chin. However, at this point in time, he was lifted up by two paper servants again. While he was being carried out of Bai’s house, he shouted, “I didn’t even say anything yet!”

Bai Zhun snorted. His very expression was already annoying.

Since Huo ZhenYe was already driven out, he decided to come back in the evening instead. In the meantime, he could first return, get some clean clothes, and ask Mother Liu to cook some small dishes.

However, who knew that as soon as he returned home, he would receive a call from his father.

“Despite running wild in Shanghai all this time, I have to admit that the matter this time around was handled well. The Tao family is also willing to reconsider the marriage again, so make sure to have more interactions with their family.”

The words went into Huo ZhenYe’s left ear before leaving out of the right, as he did not take what his father said seriously. “It is not possible these few days. There is a big case in the precinct.”

“That is not of any great importance. It is also enough for you to demonstrate your abilities once, so you should ask your brother to find you a job in the Chamber of Commerce.”

As Mother Liu saw Huo ZhenYe’s expression getting more and more impatient, she was afraid to make any sound and only used her expression to placate him. She was afraid that Huo ZhenYe’s bad temper would rise again.

Even though Huo ZhenYe’s father was currently retired at home, he was still as decisive and resolute as before, a man of his word. In the end, it would be Young Master Huo who would suffer if he went up against him obstinately.

As soon as Huo ZhenYe hung up, he was already preparing to go out.

Seeing that, Mother Liu asked carefully, “Where are you going?”

“To do those dirty things.” Going down the stairs, he then turned back and said to Mother Liu, “I want to eat Royal Pot in the evening.”

Mother Liu waved her hand in refusal. “It is too troubling. After all, it is not as if we are treating guests to a meal.”

Huo ZhenYe rolled his eyes. “It is Miss Bai who wants to eat.”

When Mother Liu heard that it was Miss Bai, she looked at Huo Zhenye suspiciously. “Didn’t you say that she was a man?” Once she knew it was a man, Mother Liu had become unwilling.

“It is Miss Bai. I am just afraid that you would leak it to others. At that time, once my brother knows, he would want to call and ask again when we have not even gotten close to each other yet.”

As soon as Mother Liu heard that it was for “Miss Bai”, she once again went all out and told Ah Zhen to buy shrimp, beef tendons, pork tripes, and sea cucumber. The only exception was that the abalone had not been soaked enough yet.

Mother Liu was angry. “You really…stewing it for one day is not enough, as it takes at least three days for the flavor to develop.”

“Okay! If it is three days, then three days.” After saying that, Huo ZhenYe got into his car and drove to the precinct to pass some time before planning to knock on the Bai’s door in the evening.

It was empty when he entered the precinct, and Huo ZhenYe saw Da Tou sitting at the table. He patted him on the back and asked, “Da Tou? Why are you alone? Where is the rest?”

Huo ZhenYe was just a consultant in name who had not come for many days. However, when Da Tou saw him, he smiled happily. “Young Master Huo, there is a new case, so the rest are busy.”

“Then why are you left here when they are all busy?” Huo ZhenYe frowned and felt that something was wrong. They had previously gone to a scene together, and Da Tou’s train of thought in solving the case was right. He could then be considered to be at least better than half of all the policemen here. Besides, he was also literate, so why had he ended up with nowhere to go?

Da Tou scratched his head. “Brother Chen asked me to stay in the precinct to wait for news.”

“Brother Chen?”

“Chen San.”

At this moment, Huo ZhenYe recalled that Chen San was the one who tripped and rolled down the stairs because of Bai Zhun’s little paper man.

When Chen San was following Huo ZhenYe, he broke his leg and needed to recuperate. It was only when he returned that he found out that Da Tou had gained some limelight from handling the case, which should have been his.

So, as Da Tou’s senior and the team leader with the right to pick team members, he had suppressed Da Tou and did not let him participate in the case.

Huo ZhenYe, who had regarded Da Tou as part of his people, asked, “What case is it?”

“It is a missing child case.” Apparently, in just a few days, three pairs of parents have reported their child missing, and all the lost children were under the age of ten.

“So many?”

Da Tou smiled. “Young Master Huo, this is not considered much. Usually, there will be trafficking cases involving women and children, but they are mostly at the stations and piers, a place with a large number of non-locals. This case is different.”

At the stations and piers, the scene was usually chaotic, as nowadays, many people were coming to Shanghai to join their relatives. Those swindlers would then pretend that they were there to pick up people before bringing them to remote places where they robbed or abducted people.

Precisely because it was a station, no one knew anyone, and it did not attract others’ attention. So, by the time people realized that their relatives have not arrived in Shanghai, it might have been one or even two days later.

Essentially, for such cases, the success rate of solving them was very low. One or two victims might get lucky, but generally speaking, most would just end up missing like this.

Huo ZhenYe flipped through the case file. In the three cases of lost children, they all went missing near their homes.

“The neighbors along the lane would have known each other, making it too risky to abduct children there. If the ones responsible got caught, they would have been beaten badly!” Saying that, Da Tou could not figure out how the abductions of the children were carried out without any suspicion. 

Huo ZhenYe continued flipping through and frowned. The three children were little boys, but it was not surprising. After all, boys have always been more valuable than girls. Since they both had the same risk, it was obvious that people would prefer the one that was more valuable.

However, what made Huo ZhenYe surprised was that the birthdays of the little boys were all on the same day.

Huo ZhenYe pointed at the children’s birthdays. “Why is it September 9?”

Notwithstanding that, one of the abducted children was already nine years old too. Those at nine years of age would have solid memories, so would a family be willing to buy such a child?

Da Tou said, “We also thought that it was strange. However, besides their birthdays, the children’s ages and schools were different.”

In the end, there was nothing in common except for having the same birthday.

Huo ZhenYe tore a piece of paper out and copied down the family addresses of the children. “Let’s go and find clues.”

The timings of the cases were close, and the abducted children have the same birthday. Between them, there must be some connections.

Da Tou smiled brightly and stood at attention with his hands on his sides before replying loudly, “Yes!”

However, after that, his expression became crestfallen. “They all went to check the piers, stations, and brothels. With the both of us, how are we going to search? Where should we search?”

The stations and piers were checkpoints to the outside of the city, while the brothels usually had some abducted children who ended up stuck there for the rest of their lives.

“We should head to these house addresses.”

Translator’s Notes:

Updated as of 28 Aug: So sorry but updates will become temporarily sporadic due to work and school commitments. T^T If you want to get ping whenever there is an update, do head to dummynovels discord. Thanks for your understanding!

• 1
  Here, I am not too sure of the specifics but the procession probably involves inviting the City God into the figure usually found in temples before it was brought around the local area with great pomp and ceremony. This was in line with the idea that City God is like a bureaucratic official who maintains the smooth running and peace of an area so such processions could be considered as “inspections” too.
• 2
  The author used “城隍三巡会” (literally “City God’s 3 ‘inspection’ festivals”). Apparently, it differs from area to area and the processions are held in accordance with special Chinese festivals. In this story, the locals hold it three times with regards to the three major Chinese festivals for the deceased.
• 3
  “清明” (Qingming Festival also known as Tomb Sweeping Festival) is usually held in early April where people visit graves and burial grounds to pay their respects to their ancestors.
• 4
  “中元” (Ghost Festival) is on the 15th day of the 7th month in the lunar calendar, which is usually around late August. It is similar to Qingming where people pay respects to the deceased. However, unlike how Qingming was meant to pay respects to only their deceased elders, the Ghost Festival includes everyone who died.
• 5
  “十月初一” (the 1st day of the 10th month in the Lunar Calendar) is also known as Winter Clothes Day. As people believe that the dead would feel cold in the netherland, they “send” clothes to the deceased by burning it on this day. It also marks the arrival of winter.