Chapter Ninety-Three: The Fated Divergence

Chapter Ninety-Three: The Fated Wrong Path

After Wang Rouhua emptied all the gifts from the carriage, she went home satisfied, completely at ease leaving her son behind to play with children his own age.

The failure of their plan left Tie Xinyuan and Xiao Qiao without any festive spirit for the New Year. Shui Zhuer could happily spend the entire day holding a large rattle, and Little Fu and the others, clutching bags of assorted nuts, could cheerfully endure the holiday.

But the two of them could not find such simple joy. Despite having many gifts, the rare feeling of happiness was absent.

This was, in truth, one of the most tragic circumstances. Tie Xinyuan could be excused; everything in the mortal world was merely a review for him. But Xiao Qiao, so young, had prematurely lost the innocence of childhood.

Many regard precociousness as a virtue in a child, unaware that such a virtue comes at the cost of the joys of youth.

Habitually straddling the bench, the wine bottle rarely left Xiao Qiao’s hand. In the past, he drank only fruit wine, but now, he had begun to drink proper liquor.

The bottle was exquisite, and the aroma of the wine inside lingered thickly in the warm room.

Tie Xinyuan took the bottle and sipped, saying, “You’re just starting to drink. Is it wise to keep drinking Jade Freeze Spring and Pear Blossom White?”

Xiao Qiao raised an eyebrow, “Are you referring to the price or the strength of the wine?”

After swallowing, Tie Xinyuan exhaled deeply, “You know me—I’m practical. When I say that, I mean the value, not the potency.”

Xiao Qiao nodded, “That’s what I think too. Neither Jade Freeze Spring nor Pear Blossom White is affordable for us right now.

But…”

Tie Xinyuan was taken aback. “I thought I was just joking last time. You actually did it?”

Xiao Qiao smiled, “Sun Yangzheng’s wine cellar is right beneath their shop. Who knows whose idea it was to set the store under Shui Dongzi. When I first entered the cellar through Shui Dongzi, I was genuinely shocked.

No wonder it’s renowned throughout Dongjing—mountains of wine stacked in the cellar. Yet they claim Pear Blossom White is rare and only supply a small amount daily, making it hard to come by. So I brought back two full carts. When we head back, I’ll bring one cart to Auntie, as a token of our respect.”

Tie Xinyuan ignored Xiao Qiao’s gift plan and asked sternly, “Since you went to Sun Yangzheng’s, you didn’t spare De Yi Tower either, did you?”

Xiao Qiao shook his head, “De Yi Tower’s treasury is built with bluestone and is said to be impregnable. I tried to get in; it’s no easy feat.

Also, the Kaifeng Prefecture’s office is hard to get into. Some tunnels have collapsed and are dangerous, so I gave up on the idea of checking it out.”

Tie Xinyuan snapped, “Why didn’t you tell me? Getting wine from Sun Yangzheng’s and gold from De Yi Tower isn’t too bad, but how could you dare go to the Kaifeng Prefecture?

No matter what you take there, countless people will come after you. The officials’ reputation cannot be compromised—you should understand that.”

Xiao Qiao smiled, “You didn’t tell me when you were dealing with that dangerous building alone, yet you succeeded.”

“Plans are important,” Tie Xinyuan said. “I don’t oppose you doing what you like, but before doing anything risky, you must make a plan—from the initial action to the escape plan, even contingencies for unforeseen events.

Xiao Qiao, believe me: if you keep acting recklessly like this, you will regret it one day. Our lives are precious and must not be wasted on trivial matters.

Stealing wine alone is impossible. Tell me, was it Xiao Ling’er or Fu’er who helped you? Or were both involved?”

Xiao Qiao, embarrassed, replied, “Both of them. Brother Yuan, you don’t need to worry so much. We went to Sun Yangzheng’s twice…”

“Smack!”

Xiao Qiao covered his cheek in disbelief, looking at Tie Xinyuan’s dark face. After a long pause, he said, “You hit me…”

Tie Xinyuan held his breath, chest rising and falling unevenly before calming down. Then he slapped himself, “If I were cruel enough, if we weren’t brothers, if you were just a temporary partner… I would have killed you just now.”

Xiao Qiao looked down, knees drawn up, and muttered after a long silence, “You mean I really messed up this time?”

Tie Xinyuan looked up sharply, “A thief must be cunning, smarter than a gentleman.”

Xiao Qiao set down the bottle and widened his eyes, “What does that mean?”

Tie Xinyuan sniffled, “It means if you want to be a thief, you must be smart. Without exceptional intelligence, you can’t be a good thief.

Kaifeng County’s prison is full of such thieves. I don’t want the day to come when I have to visit you there with wine and meat, nor to see you, disheveled, boasting of your past thievery while awaiting execution.”

Xiao Qiao’s face flushed with shame and he sulked, “I only took some wine…”

Tie Xinyuan sighed, “You’re already a thief. Ordinary families can’t afford two carts of Pear Blossom White and Jade Freeze Spring even after a lifetime of farming.”

“Only you know that…”

“Of course, I won’t tell anyone. Neither will Ling’er or Fu’er. The problem is you now realize you are a thief.

Once a thief, always a thief—that’s a truth I’ve long known.”

Tie Xinyuan’s tone grew somber. He stood, patted Xiao Qiao’s hand, and continued, “Since you want to be a thief, you must be a thief smarter than a gentleman.”

Xiao Qiao laughed, “Don’t worry, I won’t get caught by those stupid constables.”

Tie Xinyuan glared, “You really plan to keep stealing? After everything I said, can’t you tell I don’t want you to?”

“I do, but I think being a thief is good. Since my parents died, haven’t I been a thief every day?

Do you think the brothers and sisters I’ve taken in live this well by themselves? Do you think Auntie would give us meat if I hadn’t reached out?

Stealing Pear Blossom White and Jade Freeze Spring isn’t my first time. I’ve stolen from rice shops, tailors, pharmacies, and brothels. I’ve even slipped my hand into someone’s pouch to steal copper coins and crawled under pig troughs to steal pig feed.

I not only stole but also robbed. Damn, I even snatched half a leftover cake from someone’s child... It was only after my leg was injured that I stopped stealing.”

Xiao Qiao grew more animated as he spoke, tears streaming uncontrollably. No matter how he wiped, they wouldn’t stop. Frustrated and ashamed, he pressed his fists against Tie Xinyuan’s back, drumming like a drum.

Just as it looked like he might beat Tie Xinyuan to death, he finally let go and clung to him, sobbing loudly.

Tie Xinyuan caught his breath, pushed Xiao Qiao away, glanced at the line of small heads pressed against the window, and whispered, “Stop crying. You’re scaring them.”

Xiao Qiao retrieved the wine bottle and drank it dry in one gulp, blushing as he let out a long burp before plunging into the sawdust pile.

Xiao Ling’er cautiously opened the door, silent, pointing at Xiao Qiao and then at Tie Xinyuan, wanting to ask why they had fought.

“He’s drunk...” Tie Xinyuan explained simply, then pointed at the bottle on the ground, “Break this and bury it. This must never appear in the house again.

Now, tell me, where is the rest of the wine?”

Xiao Ling’er glanced left and right, then lifted a large pile of sawdust at the back to reveal over sixty large wine jars, each labeled Pear Blossom White and Jade Freeze Spring.

Tie Xinyuan covered the jars with sawdust again, thought for a moment, then pointed to a cellar beneath the house. “Call Fu’er inside and start digging a pit here—make it as deep as possible. Then bury all these jars. No more drinking for Xiao Qiao until I’ve cleaned up this mess.

Remember, you’ve already been to Sun Yangzheng’s twice. The staff must know the wine was stolen. They haven’t said anything because they’re waiting for you to come again.

If you get caught red-handed with such valuable items, you’ll at least be exiled. That’s the lightest punishment.

Do you know what kind of place Sun Yangzheng’s is?

It’s likely a tavern run by Liao nobility. Pear Blossom White isn’t a drink for ordinary people even in Liao. There must be several Khitan warriors guarding the place. I don’t believe otherwise.

They’re probably investigating quietly now, so keep your mouths shut. Don’t say a word, not even in your dreams.”

Xiao Ling’er was terrified, immediately covering her mouth and shaking her head—signaling she wouldn’t say a thing.

Tie Xinyuan and Xiao Ling’er laid the drunken Xiao Qiao on his bed.

Xiao Ling’er and Little Fu took hoes and went into the woodworking room. Tie Xinyuan crouched under the eaves, smiling warmly to comfort the little ones and girls, but his mind raced lightning-fast, hoping to find a viable way out of their crisis.

Yang Huaiyu was dressed handsomely today in a pale blue robe, his tall figure standing beside the graceful Su Mei. Anyone seeing them would think them a perfect match.

Seeing Yang Huaiyu and Su Mei, Tie Xinyuan’s previously furrowed brows immediately relaxed into a broad smile. Cheerfully, he stepped forward to wish them a Happy New Year.

(To be continued.)