Chapter Thirty-Three: Unwilling

The next morning, when Jiang Xiaodao had finished dressing and stepped out of his room, Jiang Chenghai was standing at the door, polishing his Mauser pistol with a piece of deerskin.

He polished it with such meticulous care that it felt as if a fierce battle were imminent.

The other men in the camp were busy with their own chores, some chopping wood and boiling water, others sweeping away the snow and dust.

Hearing the door open, Jiang Chenghai tucked the pistol into his sleeve, folded his hands, and said with a chuckle, "Son, come for a walk up the mountain with your old man."

"Up the mountain?"

Jiang Xiaodao looked at the snow blanketing the mountain, retreated back into the house to borrow Gong Baonan’s cotton-padded coat, wrapped it around himself, and then followed.

The father and son left the camp but did not venture far, heading instead to a small hillside nearby.

In the regions beyond the Great Wall, there is a saying: "You can club a roe deer and scoop up fish with a ladle; the pheasants fly right into your cooking pot." This speaks to the abundant natural resources of this fertile land.

Sure enough, they had barely entered the woods when they heard the calls of wild pheasants, but though they could hear the sounds, they couldn't spot a single one when they looked up.

"I heard from your Sixth Uncle that you’ve got the whole story about the Changfeng Escort Agency figured out?"

Jiang Chenghai did not pause, continuing to trudge uphill.

Jiang Xiaodao followed behind. Though the snowfall last night hadn't been heavy, he still found the going somewhat difficult.

"Oh, yeah. I kind of guessed it, half-stumbled upon it."

"Any thoughts?"

Jiang Xiaodao wiped his nose. "Nothing much. It’s a closed chapter."

Jiang Chenghai seemed satisfied with this answer. "Xiaodao, you’re quite clever, but not clever enough."

"What does it take to be clever enough?" Jiang Xiaodao asked. "Like Third Uncle?"

"Not necessarily. Knowing is clever; knowing but saying nothing—that is even cleverer."

"If I know something and don't say it, won't I burst from holding it in?"

"Bursting is better than being killed by others!" Jiang Chenghai said with earnest gravity. "Son, sometimes playing dumb is harder than playing wise! Especially when you really want to achieve something—don't even tell the dead."

"I get it. Hiding one's light and pretending to be foolish, right?"

"You don't know a thing!" Jiang Chenghai teased. "Anyone can spout these principles, but in practice? Those who learn from their mistakes are truly the most clever. Most people never learn from their beatings. Xiaodao, which kind are you?"

Jiang Xiaodao immediately retorted, "I’m the kind who remembers the beating but forgets the meal!"

"Who ever beat you?"

"My Seventh Uncle. The first time we met, he slapped me twice. I remember it; I'll pay him back sooner or later!"

Hearing such cold-blooded words, Jiang Chenghai did not reprimand him; instead, he seemed rather expectant.

"Son, when you go to slap your Seventh Uncle, make sure you call me to watch the fun. That brat is too lazy; he certainly deserves a lesson!"

"Deal!" Jiang Xiaodao agreed instantly.

The two walked on, laughing. The trip seemed to have no real purpose other than a heart-to-heart.

Jiang Xiaodao took the opportunity to ask, "Dad, what exactly is your grudge against the Changfeng Escort Agency?"

"No real grudge," Jiang Chenghai said candidly. "Didn't you hear last night? I only came here to settle things for someone else."

"Dad, I have to talk to you about this."

"Oh?"

Jiang Chenghai was momentarily distracted, stepped into a deep hole, and nearly threw out his back. "You have to talk to me? Haha, interesting. Let’s hear it. If you’re right, there’s a reward!"

Jiang Xiaodao, being the shameless sort, seized the opportunity to climb up the pole, immediately striking a pose and feigning a world-weary air.

"The pugilistic world isn't just about fighting and killing; it’s about human relationships and worldly wisdom! Anyway, I think Uncle Wang was right—the work you’re doing is narrowing your own path."

Jiang Chenghai said nothing, continuing to walk on his own.

Jiang Xiaodao hurried to catch up. "What’s wrong? Was I wrong?"

"Old Cui taught you that line, didn't he?"

Exposed, Jiang Xiaodao felt a bit awkward. "Never mind who said it—isn't it logical?"

Jiang Chenghai remained noncommittal, then suddenly remembered something and asked, "By the way, did Old Cui go back to Fengtian?"

Mentioning this, Jiang Xiaodao immediately wilted. "He was captured by the Russians. They said he’s going to Siberia to dig for gold."

Jiang Chenghai showed no surprise, nor a hint of guilt or regret; he simply acknowledged it with a grunt.

Seeing that he had nothing more to add, Jiang Xiaodao couldn't help but ask, "Dad, is there any way you can save Old Cui?"

"No."

"That's not right!" Jiang Xiaodao immediately countered. "Sixth Uncle said if I were captured by the Russians, you’d use He Lishan’s capital to ransom me. Can’t that money be used to save Old Cui?"

Hearing this, Jiang Chenghai stopped, turned, beckoned to Jiang Xiaodao, and then pulled him in close.

"Xiaodao, that money was earned by your Sixth Uncle risking his life to steal it from the Changfeng Escort Agency. You are my son; if I use that money to save you, your uncles wouldn't dare say a word. But is it right to use money that others risked their lives for to buy favors for yourself?"

"It’s not!"

Jiang Xiaodao understood the logic. "But isn't Old Cui your friend too?"

"He is a friend. But your Sixth Uncle is my brother."

"I understand that, but aren't heroes of the greenwood supposed to be chivalrous and generous with their wealth?"

Though he didn't deny it, Jiang Chenghai said, "You can be chivalrous, but you can't be generous with other people's wealth. Besides, we are currently lying low. If you really want to save Old Cui, find a way yourself."

Jiang Xiaodao thought of Zhang Zongchang.

He had the connections to save people, but the problem was the lack of money.

"Then go raise the money. Use whatever method you want, as long as you think it’s worth it," Jiang Chenghai said.

To ransom someone from the Russians, one had to pay a heavy price.

How could he raise such a huge sum?

By stealing? By robbing?

Jiang Xiaodao suddenly felt conflicted.

Using the money his Sixth Uncle risked his life for to buy a favor was wrong, but was it any more right to use stolen or robbed money to buy that same favor?

"This... is there any difference?" Jiang Xiaodao asked, puzzled.

He expected Jiang Chenghai to have some clever rebuttal to smooth things over, but to his surprise, his father replied directly, "True, if you want to be pedantic, there really isn't any difference."

What was this?

Jiang Xiaodao thought it over and over, arriving at only one conclusion:

A rogue pretending to be righteous.

To save Old Cui, he had to take the crooked path and make quick money. If he waited to earn it honestly, it would be far too late!

"Dad, I feel a bit twisted."

Jiang Chenghai laughed heartily. "It is twisted, which is why I’ll teach you one trick—don't think."

"Don't think?"

"Right, don't think! Your Third Uncle always likes to say, 'Think thrice before you act,' but just because you think a lot, does that mean you’re thinking correctly? If you think too much, you’ll become hesitant, overly cautious, and end up accomplishing nothing. So, as long as you think it’s worth it, just do it!"

Jiang Xiaodao was lost in thought, as if he had realized something, though he also felt his father was just talking nonsense.

Seeing his hesitation, Jiang Chenghai added, "Son, I let Old Cui take you in because he knows the 'beggar's craft'—it can temper your temper. Don't be so reckless, but I’m not really asking you to go beg for food. Just don't ever lose that streak of ferocity in your bones!"

"But the stuff Old Cui taught me was how to beg!"

"A craft is just a craft; how you use it is up to you. You can use it to beg for food, you can use it to demand money, or you can use it to demand respect! None of those uncles of yours are simple characters. Do you understand what I mean?"

Jiang Xiaodao nodded. He was being told to seek wisdom from his uncles.

"When is Old Cui leaving?" Jiang Chenghai asked.

"I don't know. But a friend of mine told me the Russians would finish the railway by summer, so I guess..."

"Shh!"

Jiang Chenghai cut him off and suddenly hunched down.

Jiang Xiaodao thought there were wolves and, terrified, hid behind an old tree.

He listened intently. A moment later, from the mountain hollow not far away, came the sound of two dry branches snapping.

Jiang Xiaodao was so scared he didn't dare breathe.

If it were a wolf, there would still be a chance of survival, but the most terrifying thing was a bear that had been woken up mid-hibernation. Even with a gun in hand, escape was not guaranteed.

Jiang Chenghai stared into the distance. His eyes suddenly lit up. He curled his lips and made a soft, duck-like call: "Ao-ao."

While Jiang Xiaodao was still puzzled, a flash of tawny yellow appeared in the woods. Looking closer, it was a creature that looked like a deer but wasn't; it had a short black nose, wide round ears, and a coat of similar color all over, except for a circle of white on its rump.

"Look! It’s a silly roe deer!"

Jiang Chenghai lowered his hand, signaling Jiang Xiaodao to keep quiet, then slowly stood up and remained perfectly still.

The roe deer saw Jiang Chenghai, stood there in a daze for a moment, and then, unable to resist its curiosity, lowered its head and slowly walked toward the two of them.

Jiang Chenghai reached out. The roe deer wasn't afraid; instead, it leaned in to sniff him. Finding him acceptable, it nudged against him.

Jiang Xiaodao found it amusing and was just about to ask if he could touch it when he saw Jiang Chenghai pull the Mauser from his sleeve and aim it at the deer's head.

A shot rang out!

Jiang Xiaodao didn't feel sorry for the deer; instead, he felt excited.

"Dad, I’ve never eaten roe deer meat!"

"Can you carry it?"

Jiang Xiaodao squatted down, tried to lift it, and shook his head helplessly. "Too heavy."

"Take this!" Jiang Chenghai shoved the Mauser into Jiang Xiaodao’s hand and hoisted the deer onto his shoulder. "Let's go back and eat!"

"Right!"

Jiang Xiaodao followed him happily.

"Son, do you know why I always keep the pistol in my sleeve?"

"To take the enemy by surprise?"

Jiang Chenghai, carrying the deer, puffed with heavy breaths.

"It’s cold outside the Great Wall. Don't tuck your gun into your waistband. Keep it in your sleeve or inside your coat, right against your heart to keep it warm. Otherwise, the firing chamber will freeze, and it won't fire when you need it most. That’s how you lose your life."

"Oh, I get it."

Jiang Xiaodao quickly tucked the gun into his coat.

"I heard from the foreigners that this pistol is called a Mauser. It holds ten rounds. When we met, I fired one shot, and I just fired another. There are eight bullets left. Remember that."

Jiang Xiaodao pondered this, suddenly sensing the subtext in Jiang Chenghai’s words. He asked excitedly, "Dad, is this gun mine now?"

Jiang Chenghai didn't answer and didn't look back.

"The Russian railway will be finished by summer. You weigh your options and decide what to do."