Two years passed.
When he had left the Huang Family, the words of his cousin Huang Yuanshan still echoed in Wei Tu's mind from time to time.
Being looked down upon did not feel good.
But now was a crucial juncture in his life, a matter of life and death.
Wei Tu naturally would not let this petty dispute of pride keep him from mentioning the only patronage and backing he could rely on.
"Wei Hong..." Madam Li savored the name, lost in thought.
Though Wei Hong was a concubine of the Huang Family, because she had borne a son, her standing in the Huang Family was not low. She was unlike ordinary concubines.
Madam Li knew that well.
Though Wei Hong's status was not enough to influence the affairs of the Li Residence, detaining Wei Tu's indenture contract and making an enemy of her was not a good idea either...
The Huang Family was powerful and wealthy in Qingshan County, with fields stretching for a hundred li. It was far beyond anything the Li Family could compare to.
Of course.
The Li Family was not so fearful as to be intimidated by them.
"If Wei Tu truly had such a close relationship with his Second Aunt Wei Hong, he would not have fallen so low as to become a servant in my Li Family..." Madam Li thought of this point.
But she quickly pressed the thought down into her heart.
Wei Hong would look down on an ordinary male relative from her natal family and would not offer him help.
However, a male relative from her natal family with hopes of passing the military examination and earning official distinction was a completely different matter.
As the mistress of the household who had married into the Li Family, Madam Li understood the thinking of concubines from great households like Wei Hong.
Only with relatives from one's natal family did one have confidence, support, and protection from being looked down upon by one's husband's family.
A short while passed.
When Madam Li gently set the teacup in her hand onto the tea table beside her, everyone in the hall knew she had made up her mind.
"Your indenture contract... I cannot decide that alone. I must discuss it with the master."
Madam Li glanced at Wei Tu and continued, "The master has always been open-minded. Since your heart is set on the military examination, the Li Family should not stand in the way of your future."
In her heart, she had already agreed to let Wei Tu redeem himself. But as it involved household personnel, making the decision over Li Yaozu's head would be somewhat improper.
"Cai Xia, go invite the master here." Madam Li turned her gaze toward Cai Xia, who stood waiting at her right, and gave the order.
"Yes, First Mistress."
Cai Xia accepted the order and left the reception hall.
Shortly after.
Master Li Yaozu arrived in the reception hall from his living quarters. He sat in the other chair beside Madam Li. After sitting upright, he smoothed the lower hem of his long robe, then straightened himself and looked Wei Tu over.
"Redeeming yourself?" Li Yaozu frowned. "Have you brought enough silver?"
His words lacked Madam Li's gentleness and warmth. The moment he opened his mouth, he demanded that Wei Tu produce the full Redemption Silver.
However.
This manner of his.
Was precisely how everyone in the Li Residence understood Master Li Yaozu.
"My family resources are meager. I ask the master and First Mistress for mercy, to reduce it as you see fit." Wei Tu gave the prepared response.
Ten taels of silver was merely what he had estimated according to market prices. It was not the true amount of the Redemption Silver.
The price set by the Li Residence could be higher than ten taels, or lower than ten taels.
Of course, whatever price they named had to fall within a reasonable range, or it would be hard to convince others.
If the price were unreasonable, Wei Tu could also report the Li Family to the yamen. But... the yamen had always been a place where those with reason but no money were forbidden entry.
"Master." As Li Yaozu was about to speak, Madam Li rose and gave him a meaningful look, asking him to discuss the matter with her in the inner hall.
Time slowly slipped by...
From the moment Wei Tu entered the inner quarters until now, noon had already passed.
At last.
At the first quarter past noon.
Li Yaozu and Madam Li emerged from the inner hall one after another and took their seats.
"In business, business is business. Since you wish to leave the Li Family and redeem your indenture contract, Redemption Silver is unavoidable..."
"These years, you ate at the Li Residence, used the Li Residence's resources, and the Li Residence even taught you horse-rearing skills and paid you wages..."
"All of that was expense."
Madam Li took out an account book and calculated.
Hearing this.
Wei Tu did not argue.
Had he proposed redeeming his indenture contract several years earlier, the Li Family would never have cultivated him so carefully or helped him take a wife.
"After calculating it all, it comes to roughly eleven taels and five mace."
"Wei, can you accept this Redemption Silver?"
Madam Li asked.
"Please show mercy, First Mistress, and reduce it somewhat. In the future, Wei Tu will surely repay this kindness."
After hearing the amount of the Redemption Silver, Wei Tu was shaken. The Li Family's calculations were far greater than his own.
The extra tael and five mace was no small sum. In a year of famine, it could even buy another servant.
He suppressed the dissatisfaction in his heart, bowed deeply, and lowered his tone.
When Li Yaozu saw Wei Tu bow in salute, a trace of satisfaction appeared in his eyes.
He said, "Wei was raised in the Li Family. Though we say business is business, we must also consider old affection. The Redemption Silver can be lowered somewhat. How about eight taels and eight mace?"
"Let it be an auspicious sum!"
"Thank you, Master."
Wei Tu expressed his thanks.
After thanking him, he took out the silver he had saved over the years, counted it, and handed it to Chun Lan, who stood waiting nearby.
"First Mistress, it is eight taels and eight mace."
Chun Lan placed the loose silver on the lacquered table, leaned close to Madam Li's ear, and said.
"It seems you came prepared. Here are your indenture contract and the letter of proof."
"The master finished writing them while we were in the inner hall."
Madam Li smiled and took an unsealed envelope from her sleeve, placing it on the tea table.
Her words also explained why she and Master Li Yaozu had spent so long discussing matters in the inner hall.
—It was because they had been writing the letter certifying Wei Tu's redemption, which had delayed them.
"Wei Tu thanks the master and First Mistress."
Wei Tu bowed again in thanks.
But after offering his thanks, he took a deep breath, straightened his back, and looked Li Yaozu and Madam Li levelly in the eye.
At that moment.
He was no longer a slave of the Li Family.
Next, once he had his name removed from the slave registry at the yamen, he would be an upright commoner of Zheng State, no longer a privately owned slave raised by a great household.
Seeing this.
Li Yaozu and Madam Li inexplicably felt somewhat uncomfortable, their brows furrowing in secret.
The two of them felt that Wei Tu should at least maintain the proper respect until he had left the Li Residence. Only then would their earlier "bestowal of kindness" not have been in vain.
"Wei, go to the outer residence and pack your belongings. You may leave."
Though anger rose in Li Yaozu's heart, his face remained covered in smiles, and he did not lose his composure.
Though he had not examined Wei Tu's skill and strength as Xinghua had, he understood that a servant who dared to cast off his slave status had reasons beyond merely refusing to accept an ordinary life.
Eight or nine out of ten parts of what Wei Tu had said were likely true.
Even if Wei Tu did not pass this year's military examination, it was best not to offend a martial artist if possible.
In recent years, Qingshan County had not lacked wealthy landowners who had been slaughtered by blade-wielders.
Hearing this, Wei Tu nodded. After taking the indenture contract and letter from Chun Lan, he turned and left the inner quarters.
After Wei Tu left.
The inner quarters of the Li Family returned to their usual calm.
"Why has lunch not been brought out yet?"
"It is already past noon."
Madam Li put away the account book. Seeing the dining table completely empty, she could not help but frown in dissatisfaction.
She sighed inwardly. Had the servants and maids of this household become increasingly presumptuous because she governed the household too leniently?
"Xinghua went out to buy vegetables this morning and has not returned yet," a maid said softly.
"What? Xinghua still has not returned?" Master Li Yaozu, who had just reached the dining table, immediately went cold-faced upon hearing this. But in the next instant, as though he had thought of something, a chill ran down his spine.
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