Shedding Slave Status

Two years passed.

When he left the Huang family, his cousin Huang Yuanshan's words still echoed in Wei Tu's mind from time to time.

Being looked down upon was not a pleasant feeling.

However, now was a critical period in his life, a matter of life and death.

Wei Tu would not let a minor dispute over pride prevent him from mentioning his only backing.

"Wei Hong..." Madam Li savored the name, lost in thought.

Although Wei Hong was a concubine in the Huang family, she held a respectable position because she had borne a son, unlike ordinary concubines.

Madam Li was aware of this.

While her status might not be enough to influence internal affairs at the Li Residence, it wouldn't be good to antagonize her by withholding Wei Tu's deed of indenture...

The Huang family was powerful and wealthy in Qingshan County, spanning a hundred miles, far beyond what the Li family could compare to.

Of course.

It wasn't to the extent that the Li family feared them.

"If Wei Tu were truly as close to his Second Aunt, Wei Hong, as he claims, he wouldn't have ended up serving my Li family..." Madam Li mused.

But she quickly suppressed the thought.

Wei Hong would likely disdain a mere male relative from her maiden family and wouldn't offer help.

However, a male relative who had the potential to achieve official career through the Martial Arts Examination was a different story entirely.

As the matriarch of the Li family, Madam Li understood the mindset of prominent family concubines like Wei Hong.

Having support from one's maiden family provided confidence, reliance, and prevented one from being looked down upon by their husband's family.

After a short while.

When Madam Li gently placed her teacup on the nearby tea table, everyone in the hall knew she had made up her mind.

"Your deed of indenture... I cannot decide this alone; I must discuss it with the master."

Madam Li glanced at Wei Tu and continued, "The master has always been open-minded. If you aspire to the Martial Arts Examination, the Li family will not stand in your way."

She had already agreed to Wei Tu's redemption in her heart, but involving the master, Li Yaozu, in household personnel matters was somewhat inappropriate.

"Cai Xia, please go invite the master here," Madam Li instructed, looking at Cai Xia who stood attending to her right.

"Yes, First Mistress."

Cai Xia acknowledged the order and left the living room.

A moment later.

Master Li Yaozu hurried from his study to the living room. He sat in another chair beside Madam Li. After sitting upright, he smoothed the lower part of his robe before turning his full attention to Wei Tu, who stood before him.

"Redemption?" Li Yaozu frowned. "Do you have enough silver?"

His tone was not as gentle as Madam Li's. As soon as he spoke, he asked Wei Tu for the full redemption silver.

However.

This demeanor.

Was precisely how everyone in the Li Residence knew Master Li Yaozu.

"My family is poor. I beg the master and the First Mistress for leniency and a reduction." Wei Tu recited the prepared plea.

Ten taels of silver was his estimate based on market prices, not the actual redemption amount.

The price quoted by the Li Residence could be higher or lower than ten taels.

Of course, the quoted price had to be within a reasonable range, otherwise, it would be difficult to convince others.

If the price was unreasonable, Wei Tu could report the Li family to the yamen, but... the yamen was always a place where one needed money to have their case heard.

"Master." Just as Li Yaozu was about to speak, Madam Li stood up and gave him a meaningful look, signaling him to follow her to the inner hall to discuss the matter.

Time slowly passed...

From the moment Wei Tu entered the inner residence until now, it was past noon.

Finally.

A quarter past noon.

Li Yaozu and Madam Li emerged from the inner hall and took their respective seats.

"Business is business. Since you wish to leave the Li family and redeem your deed of indenture, the redemption silver is unavoidable..."

"Over the years, you have eaten at the Li family's expense, used their resources, and the Li family even taught you horse-raising skills and paid you wages..."

"These are all expenses."

Madam Li took out an account book and began to calculate.

Hearing this.

Wei Tu did not retort.

If he had proposed to buy out his deed of indenture a few years earlier, the Li family would never have invested so much in cultivating him, nor helped him get married.

"After the calculation, it's about eleven taels and five qian."

"Brother Wei, can you accept this redemption silver?" Madam Li asked.

"I beg First Mistress for your leniency and a reduction. Wei Tu will surely repay you in the future."

After hearing the amount of the redemption silver, Wei Tu was shocked. The Li family's accounting was far more than his own.

The extra one tael and five qian was not a small sum; it could buy another servant in a year of famine.

He suppressed his dissatisfaction, bowed deeply, and lowered his tone.

Li Yaozu showed a hint of satisfaction in his eyes as he saw Wei Tu bow.

He said, "Brother Wei grew up in the Li family. While we are discussing business, we should also consider our relationship. The price for redemption can be lower. How about eight taels and eight qian?"

"Let's call it a good omen!"

"Thank you, Master." Wei Tu expressed his gratitude.

After thanking them, he took out the silver he had saved over the years, counted it, and handed it to Chun Lan, who was standing by.

"First Mistress, it's eight taels and eight qian." Chun Lan placed the broken silver on the lacquered desk and whispered into Madam Li's ear.

"It seems you came prepared. Here are your deed of indenture and the letter of proof."

"The Master just finished writing it in the inner hall." Madam Li smiled and placed an unsealed envelope from her sleeve on the tea table.

Her words also explained why she and Master Li Yaozu had been discussing in the inner hall for so long.

It was to write the letter proving Wei Tu's redemption that had taken time.

"Wei Tu thanks Master and First Mistress." Wei Tu bowed deeply again to express his gratitude.

However, after thanking them, he took a deep breath, straightened his body, and looked directly at Li Yaozu and Madam Li.

At this moment.

He was no longer a servant of the Li family.

Next, as long as he was removed from slave status at the Yamen, he would be a proper citizen of Zheng State, not a private slave raised by prominent families.

Seeing this.

Li Yaozu and Madam Li felt inexplicably uncomfortable and frowned.

They felt that Wei Tu should have maintained the proper respect until he left the Li Residence, to not have wasted their "kindness" just now.

"Brother Wei, go to the outer quarters to pack your belongings. You may leave."

Although Li Yaozu was angry, his face was still full of smiles, and he did not lose his composure.

Even though he had not inspected Wei Tu's skills and strength like Xinghua, he understood that a servant who dared to break free from slave status was not doing so solely because he refused to live an ordinary life.

What Wei Tu had said was likely true.

Even if he did not pass the Martial Arts Examination this year, a Martial Master was someone best not to offend if possible.

It wasn't unheard of in Qingshan County in recent years for a wealthy owner to be killed by a Swordsman.

Upon hearing this, Wei Tu nodded, took the deed of indenture and letter from Chun Lan, and turned to leave the inner quarters.

After Wei Tu left.

The inner quarters of the Li residence returned to their usual tranquility.

"Why hasn't the midday meal been served yet?"

"It's already past noon." Madam Li put away her account book and frowned with dissatisfaction as she saw the empty dining table.

She sighed, wondering if the servants and maids in the household were becoming increasingly presumptuous because she managed the household with leniency.

"Xinghua went out to buy groceries this morning and hasn't returned yet," the maid whispered.

"What? Xinghua hasn't returned?" Master Li Yaozu, who had just walked to the dining table, heard this and his expression immediately turned cold. But after a moment, he seemed to realize something, and a chill ran down his spine.