Don't You Have Any Decency?

Ding Yanshou had a vague feeling that something was wrong. Jade Pavilion had already opened, but his own son, who had been clamoring for reforms, was nowhere to be seen day after day. He had no idea where he was running off to all the time, leaving the car covered in a layer of dust.

Ji Shenyu sensed his master's low spirits early in the morning, so he worked cautiously, afraid of drawing fire to himself. However, he still couldn't avoid it. Ding Yanshou asked, "Shenyu, what has your senior brother been busy with lately?"

Ji Shenyu said, "I'm not sure either... Master, I've almost finished carving this lychee box. Should I drill the holes?"

Ding Yanshou didn't fall for it. "Changing the subject again. Go on, keep covering for him. Since when did you two get so close?"

It was just a grumble, but Ji Shenyu's hair stood on end. He peeked cautiously at the other man, afraid there was a hidden meaning in his words. His conscience was so guilty that his hands nearly lost their precision, and he hurriedly retreated to the back hall.

The day passed like this, and Ding Hanbai never showed up. When he returned home in the evening, his car was washed clean. He had been running around everywhere. The porcelain kiln had just been established, and as the boss, he naturally had to drum up business. Having grown up arrogant, he had put on more fake smiles these past few days than in the last twenty years.

He was exhausted. Having been subservient outside, he naturally wanted to act like a young master at home. He entered the courtyard shouting about wanting to eat this and that, only to step into the living room and find Ding Yanshou sitting bolt upright in an armchair. The dining table was empty, and his mother, aiding the tyrant, handed over a feather duster.

Ding Hanbai's face paled in horror. "What are you going to do with that thing?!"

Ding Yanshou stared at him. "To loosen up your muscles and bones."

Ding Hanbai looked at Jiang Shuliu. "Mom, am I really your biological son? You're handing the executioner his blade, trying to take your own son's life!"

The Ding Family never believed that a doting mother spoils the child. Jiang Shuliu said calmly, "We've raised you all this time, given you the best of everything to eat, wear, and use. No one on the entire street is more willful and reckless than you. You quit your job to work at the shop. We're not asking you to revive the family business, just for you to be obedient and responsible. Is that too much to ask?"

Before he could answer, a sharp pain shot through Ding Hanbai's shoulder as the duster struck him. The long, wire-wrapped handle was comparable to the sea-pacifying needle, capable of shattering even steel and iron. Ding Yanshou rarely struck without asking any questions first. The force and momentum were as if he'd caught a thief red-handed, with all the evidence already set in stone.

Ding Hanbai gritted his teeth and endured it, not explaining, only playing pitiful.

On one hand, he had started the porcelain kiln; how could he not pay attention to it? On the other, he was acquiring damaged and broken pieces on a massive scale, running his feet off through all the city's antiques markets. In the future, he would have to run through nearby provinces and cities, and eventually, the entire country.

Business at Jade Pavilion was better than before, and several orders for Balin Stone had piled up, untouched. He was indeed in the wrong. Thinking of this, he felt he didn't deserve to be beaten unjustly and gradually began to ignore the pain in his body. Finally, a rush of hurried footsteps brought him back to his senses.

"Senior Brother!"

As soon as Ji Shenyu got back, he was pestered by Jiang Ting'en, who asked him all sorts of silly questions. It was dark, and he was about to go to the main gate to take a look when he entered the Front Courtyard and heard the sounds of family discipline being meted out.

He threw himself directly at Ding Hanbai. Once timid, he was now brave. "Master, stop hitting Senior Brother!"

Ding Yanshou roared at him, "You, get out of the way! This is none of your business!"

But Ji Shenyu wouldn't move, filled with a sense of righteous courage. Ding Yanshou took a step closer, pushed him aside, and swung the duster again. He lunged forward again, just in time to block a blow. The stinging, numbing pain made him cry out loudly.

Ding Hanbai immediately grew frantic, yelling at his own father, "Do you even know how to hit someone?! You can't even hit the right person!" He grabbed Ji Shenyu, pushed him out of the living room, slammed the door shut, and locked it. Then he turned and stripped off his sweater and shirt.

Bare-chested, he knelt on one knee, letting Ding Yanshou vent his anger. His chest and shoulders, his stomach and taut waist, even his arms were beaten until they looked like tattooed sleeves. Jiang Shuliu couldn't bear to watch but didn't say a word of dissuasion. It was Ji Shenyu who was causing a racket outside the door, shouting, trying to stop it, nearly breaking down the door panel.

After a long time, the commotion inside finally stopped. Ji Shenyu's palms were red and he asked in a hoarse voice, "Senior Brother, Senior Brother! How are you?"

Ding Hanbai was drenched in sweat, but he shouted provocatively, "—Feels great!"

The long handle was slightly bent. Ding Yanshou sat back down in the armchair and calmly drank a cup of tea. Since this prodigal son was born, he had lost count of the number of beatings, but this was the first time he'd stripped down to be hit on bare skin. He felt reluctant too, but he could only force himself to do it.

He wasn't stupid. He could sense what Ding Hanbai was up to. He was truly afraid this son of his would go down a completely different path, one from which he couldn't be pulled back.

"Does it hurt?" Ding Yanshou didn't want to ask, but he couldn't help it.

Ding Hanbai's words were sweet now. "My own father hit me, it wouldn't hurt even if you beat me to death." He staggered to his feet, went to the table, and refilled the teacup. "Dad, I haven't been behaving well lately, don't be angry with me. It's nothing for me to hurt my muscles and bones, but what if you ruin your health by being angry?"

Ding Yanshou snorted coldly. He had avoided the bones and tendons, not even breaking the skin. This little brat was still putting on an act after getting a beating!

Not only was he putting on an act, but the man who was over 1.8 meters tall was also trying to act like a delicate willow in the wind. Ding Hanbai put on a nasal tone to sound pitiful. "Mom... is there anything to eat? I'm starving to death."

There was no need for Jiang Shuliu to busy herself. The one outside the door, whose heart was aching for him, opened the door, rolled up his sleeves, and rushed into the kitchen. There weren't many ingredients. Yunnan ham and small cucumbers, half a cob of corn kernels, and some beaten eggs were made into a basin of fried rice.

Ding Hanbai ate with his shirt on. The two elders had left, and only Ji Shenyu was there watching over him. He asked, "Is this authentic Yangzhou fried rice?"

Ji Shenyu said, "It was cooked by someone from Yangzhou. What do you think, is it authentic or not?"

Ding Hanbai started in again. "Why didn't the person from Yangzhou make some soup? It's so dry."

Ji Shenyu cursed, "Master hit you so hard, it must have worked up your appetite!" He had a pained expression, not knowing how much pain Ding Hanbai must be in, yet the man was still acting like a scoundrel. After cursing, he obediently instructed, "The soup will take a while. Go watch TV and wait."

The pain dispersed from Ding Hanbai's mind. He carried the basin of fried rice over to the sofa. He paid no mind to what was playing, only imagining a future where he was the master of the house. Who would dare hit him then? He'd come home every day and be the lord of the manor, eating authentic Yangzhou fried rice, and after eating, he'd hold an authentic Yangzhou man for a night of spring passion.

The living room light was still on. Jiang Shuliu, unable to rest easy, gathered a few boxes of medicine and brought them over. Well now, the one who'd been beaten was leaning against the sofa, slurping down his food, while waves of fragrance drifted from the kitchen. She took a look and exclaimed, "Shenyu, you're making fish soup this late at night?"

Ji Shenyu watched the pot. "Senior Brother wanted some soup, and I saw there was only one fish left."

Jiang Shuliu asked, "If he wanted to eat the Peaches of Immortality, would you go to the Queen Mother of the West to pick them for him?"

Of course, one should have nutritious food after being injured, but Ji Shenyu was too embarrassed to argue, and even more embarrassed to state his intentions. He couldn't go to the Queen Mother of the West to pick immortal peaches, but he would definitely gather a whole basket of fuzzy peaches, nectarines, and honey peaches—every kind he could find.

Late into the night, Ding Hanbai drank the fish soup with great satisfaction. Getting into bed felt like lying on a bed of needles. He tossed and turned, flipping over and over like a large pancake on a griddle. In truth, it wasn't that painful. His move of taking off his clothes was a tactic to remove the root of the problem; he had calculated that his father wouldn't have the heart to strike him too severely.

But concern creates chaos. Ji Shenyu bustled in and out, as if Ding Yanshou was the stepfather and he was the real father.

That night, no one in the large family slept well except for Ding Hanbai. The two parents were harsh with their words but soft at heart, worrying about their son for half the night; the other apprentices felt insecure, afraid that they might one day repeat the same mistake. As for Ji Shenyu, he woke up dozens of times to check on Ding Hanbai, nearly wearing out the small rug by the door.

As if Heaven itself could read their minds, no one was in a bright mood, and after a night, the sky had turned overcast.

Ding Hanbai lay in bed watching the dark clouds, his arms held out stiffly, looking foolish. There was no helping it; on the second day, the swelling was at its worst, and the pain of bending his joints was unbearable. He heard footsteps and called out, "Zhenzhu, come here!"

Ji Shenyu appeared at the doorway, wearing a navy jacket, a white shirt, and a pair of white sneakers on his feet, brimming with youthful energy. He peeked in. "I'm rushing to the shop. What's wrong?"

Ding Hanbai said angrily, "I'm already disabled, and you're still going to the shop? Look at how Tong Peifan takes care of disabled people. Can't you learn from him?"

Ji Shenyu said, "The orders you owe could paper a wall. I'm going to work on them for you, and you don't even appreciate it." Did he want to go? He wished he could stick to the bedside and watch over this person, but that would only make his master more dissatisfied. 'Besides, in a couple, one of them has to work to support the family.' Before leaving, he said, "I'll ask Jiang Ting'en to keep you company."

Before he could call, Shang Minru's family arrived for a visit. Today was the fifteenth, and the two families always spent the Lantern Festival together. Ji Shenyu said sourly, "No need to call anyone now. Your good childhood sweetheart sister is here. Who needs anyone else to keep you company?"

Ding Hanbai argued, "You already said she's a good sister. No need to be jealous."

For the first time, Ji Shenyu pouted, gritting his teeth. "Other people might not be Ximen Qing, but I'm Wu Dalang who goes out to sell sesame cakes, and you're the heartless Pan Jinlian*! Who are you showing off for with your robe wide open? Don't you have any decency?"

*T/N: A fictional femme fatale from the Chinese novel Jin Ping Mei.

Ding Hanbai was stunned, then coaxed, "I was wrong. I should be drowned in a pig cage."

"Just stay there, you!" Ji Shenyu said resentfully and ran off.

This day was truly hard to get through. "Ding Jinlian" tightened his robe, even pulling the blanket up to his chest and clutching it tightly, determined to abide by the Confucian code of conduct. Jia Baoyu said women are made of water and men are made of mud. In his eyes, Ji Shenyu was made of old Shanxi vinegar.

The jealousy turned the pain all over his body into a tingling numbness, leaving only an itch in his heart.

That jar of vinegar-turned-spirit buried himself in hard work at Jade Pavilion. Only he came in today, so he had to manage both the front hall and the back workshop. His hands didn't stop. A green jade auspicious beast water dropper and a yellow jade dog. There were requirements for the inscriptions, and the antiquing and aging processes could not be skipped.

Ji Shenyu spent the day paying off Ding Hanbai's debts, delaying his lunch until the afternoon. A plate of stir-fried potato slivers, half a plate of small celery, and a small bowl of white rice. He had only taken a few bites when he saw the family car pull up. Ding Yanshou got out, carrying a lunch box in his left hand and clutching a tanghulu in his right. He entered with a graceful stride and a kind, amiable smile.

Ji Shenyu, holding his chopsticks, smiled along with him.

Ding Yanshou said, "Move that pile of bird food of yours aside. I brought you three dishes, a soup, and some dessert." The dishes were, of course, good ones, and the dessert was something he had never seen before. "Old Shang brought this brown sugar cake for Hanbai. It's sickeningly sweet. You try some."

The bags of Eight Treasures Candy had been a constant, and now with this cake in front of him, Ji Shenyu asked, "Master, does Senior Brother have a sweet tooth?"

Ding Yanshou thought back to more than a decade ago. There were many children with a sweet tooth, but few were as difficult as Ding Hanbai. Putting the candy jar on top of the cabinet was useless; it made you want to put it on the roof. Erhe, Keyu, Ting'en, Caiwei—every one of them had cried and tattled on him. Without exception, their candy had been snatched by Ding Hanbai.

That morning, Ji Shenyu had called the other man Pan Jinlian, but now, eating the cake, he imagined what Ding Hanbai was like as a child and smiled with charming naivety. Before closing time, he showed the two small, finished carvings to Ding Yanshou for inspection, putting in a good word for Ding Hanbai and even audaciously trying to intervene in the family's disciplinary rules.

Ding Yanshou said with amusement, "Yesterday you were so frantic over him, and now you're chattering on and on. His foul temper actually managed to attract your affection."

The word "affection" hit his ears like a torpedo hitting the water. Ji Shenyu swallowed his heart back down from his throat and said, "Senior Brother is a very good person, and his craftsmanship is even better." His face was calm, but inside he was trembling.

Fortunately, Ding Yanshou didn't say more. He turned, closed the storeroom door, and took out the smallest bronze key to open the lock, revealing several pieces of exquisite jade. Ji Shenyu held his breath and drew closer. The top-grade, creamy white jade, even uncarved, made him fall in love at first sight.

Ding Yanshou said, "The city has a new party secretary taking office. The other colleagues want to present a joint inaugural gift."

Ji Shenyu asked, "Master, what are you going to carve then?"

Ding Yanshou smiled at him. "A 'The Champion's Prize' ornament. I'll handle the front, and you'll handle the back."

Rain began to fall outside. Ding Hanbai had been lying down all day, gazing through the square window at the damp courtyard. He rarely indulged in seasonal melancholy, but at this moment, he was so bored he felt like reciting a line from "Sheng Sheng Man." "...That time of sudden warmth, then cold again, is hardest of all to bear." Just as the mood was set, a series of light, splashing footsteps came from the courtyard. Had Ji Shenyu returned?

Ji Shenyu didn't even use an umbrella. With the tips of his hair wet, he burst through the door, his eyes shining like a lamp in the dead of night. Ding Hanbai pulled the blanket tighter, making sure he was decent enough, and ventured, "Is Master off work?"

Ji Shenyu sat on the edge of the bed. "Master wants me to collaborate with him on carving a piece of exquisite jade, 'The Champion's Prize'!" He reached out, wanting to touch Ding Hanbai, but thinking of his injuries, he suppressed the urge. He moved closer and nuzzled the other's neck with his hair instead.

"Only a great master gets that privilege. Does this mean I can become a great master?" he murmured, as if talking in his sleep. "Senior Brother, I'm going to go to the street corner to burn paper offerings for Old Ji, to tell him that I get to carve exquisite jade with Master."

Ding Hanbai said, "When the weather clears up, I'll go with you." He endured the pain and raised a hand to stroke the wheedling head. "Sleep in this room tonight. It'll save you the trouble of worrying and running over several times."

The night rain fell without stopping. Even with the doors and windows closed, it was still a nuisance. After his shower, Ji Shenyu applied medicine to Ding Hanbai's body. While waiting for it to dry, he had nothing to do, so he reached out to play with the tassel on the lampshade. He glanced up and met Ding Hanbai's gaze. They were alone, and for a moment, no words were spoken. Neither of their gazes knew how to be shy as they looked at each other.

One with dark, deep pupils; the other, amber-colored, often shining with an otherworldly light.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Ji Shenyu eagerly leaned in, his mind bewitched by "Ding Jinlian." Just then, a shout came from the courtyard. It was Jiang Ting'en, calling him for a late-night snack of freshly cooked tangyuan.

He pretended not to hear. Jiang Ting'en called again, asking what kind of filling he wanted.

He was determined to kiss him first. Jiang Ting'en reached the door, asking how many he wanted.

He cupped Ding Hanbai's face in his hands. Jiang Ting'en pushed the door open, enthusiastically recommending the black sesame filling.

The door opened. Ji Shenyu sat bolt upright, having neither stolen the jade nor the kiss, but his face was red. It felt like a clandestine meeting right under someone else's nose—exciting and frightening. He left with Jiang Ting'en, ate three tangyuan, and brought four back.

While Ding Hanbai ate, Ji Shenyu once again reached out to play with the tassel.

After he finished eating, the medicine on his body had long since dried, and Ding Hanbai had had enough of waiting. He even needed help putting on his robe. As Ji Shenyu was tying the sash for him, he grabbed his hand and said, "I'm not dead yet. Playing with the tassel isn't as fun as playing with me."

The crazy words came out of nowhere. Ji Shenyu's hand was caught and moved downward. It was hot, so hot it made him tremble. His face flushed red. "You're covered in injuries, your chest, stomach, and shoulders are all swollen. How can you still be in that kind of mood..."

Ding Hanbai said, "It takes two to tango. Who was staring at me like they were possessed just now? Who was holding my face with an infatuated look? Besides, that thing isn't on my shoulder. And besides, aren't I Pan Jinlian? I'm burning with unbearable heat, consumed by lust."

Ji Shenyu curled his hand, unable to open his eyes or escape. What was he supposed to do? Actively climb on top and have fun...? He demurred in embarrassment, "I'm not even seventeen yet. Doing it twice is one thing, but we can't be this insatiably demanding..."

Ding Hanbai pulled him close. "Won't you be seventeen once spring arrives? In the past, people were fathers by seventeen." His large hand slipped into the other's pajamas, stroking and kneading. "Have I even touched you recently? I'll give you all my sons and grandsons, let you be a father too, how about it?"

One vulgar phrase followed another. Ji Shenyu was powerless to resist. With only a single lamp lit, he was lifted onto a thigh and held securely.

The rain grew heavier. The bird's nest in the tree held warmth. Two magpies huddled together, pecking, hooking their feet, shaking their wings when their feathers got wet. And the Lucky Bamboo, the roses and lilacs, were all pitifully ravaged.

Ji Shenyu rested on Ding Hanbai's shoulder, cursing him as a scoundrel and a bastard in his heart, but at the critical moment, he cried out in a low, urgent voice, "Be careful of your injuries!" He exhaled a hot breath, his eyes half-closed as he stared at the desk lamp. 'Why on earth did I have to play with the tassel?'

He glanced at the tangyuan bowl. The Lantern Festival was over, just like that...

He suddenly shuddered. School started tomorrow!

In the middle of the night, Ji Shenyu was fast asleep, while Ding Hanbai draped a robe over his shoulders and spent the whole night catching up on homework. 'You carve a yellow jade dog for me, I'll do math problems for you. What a fucking match made in heaven, a perfect union of gold and jade!'