Look Up

To discuss buying his freedom with Madam Li, Wei Tu, after careful consideration, decided not to delay too long.

He worried that any further delay might lead to complications.

According to Cai Xia, Master Li Yaozu intended to use the autumn harvest from the leased land to threaten him and his wife, forcing him and Xinghua to comply.

The wheat harvest in Qingshan County was only about ten days away.

If things dragged on and Li Yaozu resorted to coercion… then there would be no loyalty left between master and servant.

If he brought up buying his freedom then, Li Yaozu would definitely find ways to obstruct him, even going so far as to frame him, just to get rid of this "troublemaker" in the Li Residence.

However, buying his freedom in advance…

Even though he was still a bit short on silver.

But now that the master-servant relationship hadn't completely broken down, Li Yaozu would be wary of him, seeing him as "strong and healthy." There was a high probability he would abandon his original plan and avoid making an enemy of him.

That evening.

Wei Tu explained his plan to Xinghua and asked for her opinion.

"You're my man, I'll listen to you," Xinghua replied.

Xinghua knew she lacked foresight, so she never argued with Wei Tu on major decisions.

"Your words are enough for me," Wei Tu nodded and instructed Xinghua to return a little later from buying groceries in town tomorrow.

"If anything goes wrong, you need to leave the county town as soon as possible and hide outside the city…"

He instructed.

"Brother Wei, are you planning to…" Xinghua's heart jolted upon hearing this, and she immediately thought of something terrible.

However, before she could finish speaking, she stopped herself, let out a soft hum, pulled her legs out from under the quilt, and began packing their meager belongings under the cover of night.

"Don't leave me behind when you go."

After the lamp was extinguished, the couple slept in each other's arms. In the middle of the night, Xinghua pried Wei Tu's eyes open and whispered this sentence.

Wei Tu, who was sleeping lightly, was awakened and was groggy for a moment.

In his daze, he clearly heard Xinghua's words but didn't know how to respond.

If it really came to that, in a panic, he couldn't guarantee he wouldn't bring a burden along, potentially leading to his own death.

"I still want you to cook for me. I'm used to your cooking, and others' doesn't taste right…" Wei Tu thought for a long time before saying something that wasn't entirely comforting.

However.

As soon as he finished speaking.

Xinghua had already fallen asleep, her breathing quickening and carrying a hint of warmth.

The next morning.

Wei Tu woke up as early as usual. He went about his work, feeding the horses and chopping the dried grass he had accumulated over the past few days.

He even filled the water bucket to the brim, leaving no space empty.

After finishing his chores.

Wei Tu watched Xinghua leave the front gate of the Li Residence with her basket. He then sat on a stone stool and waited for a while. Only when the sun became unbearable on his back did he get up and head towards the inner residence.

Outside male servants were forbidden from entering the inner residence without the master's permission.

Wei Tu remembered his "place" and stood at the entrance of the inner residence, asking passing maids to go in and announce his arrival to Madam Li.

Soon.

A maid, carrying Madam Li's instructions, led Wei Tu into the living room.

"Brother Wei, what urgent matter brings you here? Is something lacking in the household? Or are you and Xinghua not getting along?" Madam Li frowned, glancing at Wei Tu, who stood in the center of the hall.

Madam Li's voice was calm, without any hint of condescension, but those familiar with her knew she was deliberately suppressing her anger and dissatisfaction.

If a male servant had to enter the inner residence, any matter could be stated directly outside, conveyed through a maid, and there would be no need to enter the inner residence for "discussion."

In Madam Li's view, Wei Tu entering the inner residence today was a breach of etiquette.

Without rules, there can be no order.

As the mistress of the house, Madam Li had to suppress and crush any "bud" that could potentially cause unrest in the Li Residence.

Madam Li took a sip of tea. The scalding liquid stung her lips and tongue, but she maintained her composure as the mistress of the house, coldly watching Wei Tu and awaiting his reply.

However, Wei Tu's opening words caught Madam Li completely off guard.

Wei Tu bowed and said, "First Mistress, I have come to the inner residence to request the purchase of my deed of indenture. I plan to participate in the Martial Arts Examination next year."

As his words fell, the hall fell silent, the atmosphere freezing to an icy point where one could hear a pin drop.

Madam Li was stunned.

Even the maids standing behind Madam Li, serving her, were all astonished.

In a household, or rather, in prominent families, the most taboo thing for servants to mention was their deed of indenture.

This is a taboo.

No one mentioned the deed of indenture for self-purchase, and the servants in the outer and inner quarters could each attend to their duties, as if it were natural, not imposed.

"Brother Wei, you've been with the Li family for some years now. The Li family should have treated you well." Madam Li's expression remained unchanged, but the fingers hidden in her sleeves tightened their grip on the fabric.

Servants buying their freedom often appeared in prominent families with unstable households. She, having managed the Li Residence's internal affairs for so many years, did not want any blemishes, any blemishes that other women in the county could use to attack her.

"The Li Residence saved my life."

Wei Tu nodded and replied.

The hall faced south, and in the shadow of the sunlight, Madam Li's expression softened slightly.

"Is it that the wages aren't enough?"

Her tone was gentle.

It was only then that Madam Li remembered that Wei Tu's wages hadn't increased in a long time. It must be due to wage issues that Wei Tu reminded her about buying his freedom.

"No, First Mistress." Wei Tu shook his head firmly. "First Mistress, as I just said, I intend to buy my freedom and participate in next year's Martial Arts Examination."

Wei Tu was confused. He had clearly enunciated his words just now, so why hadn't Madam Li heard the latter half of his sentence?

"Martial Arts Examination?"

These four words reappeared in Madam Li's mind. After this second hearing, Madam Li finally understood the meaning behind these four words.

Madam Li raised her eyes and seriously examined the slightly dark-skinned young man before her. After a long moment, she said, "Lift your head."

Since entering the living room, she had seen Wei Tu's head constantly bowed, never raised.

Or rather, since the Li Residence bought Wei Tu as a servant, she had never seen him raise his head.

All this time, she had been very satisfied with Wei Tu's adherence to the rules, but today, she felt she had miscalculated.

The most well-behaved person, it turned out, was the most restless at heart, actually thinking of buying his freedom, taking the Martial Arts Examination, and leaving the Li family.

"Yes, First Mistress." Wei Tu followed her command and raised his head, meeting the gaze of the Li Residence's matriarch.

"Why do you want to take the Martial Arts Examination? It's not easy..." Seeing Wei Tu's appearance, Madam Li's heart settled, and she asked gently.

Wei Tu's features were not the "prominent nose and dragon-like face" of auspicious signs she had read about in books. On the contrary, Wei Tu's appearance was somewhat unremarkable, indistinguishable from a rural farmer.

"First Mistress may not know, but two years ago, Wei Tu obtained a Health Cultivation Technique from my Second Aunt. After practicing for two years, my strength has greatly increased, reaching the requirements for participating in the Martial Arts Examination..."

Wei Tu pondered for a moment and recounted his practice of the Health Cultivation Technique, also mentioning his Second Aunt, Wei Hong.

Thanks to woshileilei for the reward of 100 Qidian coins.