"Uncle-in-law." Wei Tu knew his Second Aunt Wei Hong's temperament well, so he was not too surprised. After sizing up Master Huang before him, he cupped his fists in salute and acknowledged this kinship.
By all reason.
Given Wei Hong's status, even if she had not previously been "snobbish toward the poor and fawning over the rich," he, the nephew of a concubine, had no right to call Master Huang uncle-in-law.
Only his wife's maternal nephew could call Master Huang uncle-in-law.
Randomly claiming kinship violated rank, propriety, and ritual law.
Wei Tu did not care whether he could forge ties with Master Huang, but if calling him "uncle-in-law" could benefit his Second Aunt Wei Hong, he was willing to do it.
It was merely a small favor that cost him nothing.
Since ancient times, adding flowers to brocade had been easy; delivering charcoal in snow had been hard.
The Li Family's and Li Yaozu's investments in and help toward him mostly belonged to the former. Though he remembered their kindness and held gratitude in his heart, it was not much.
Once he had repaid those favors in the future, he would have nothing more to do with the Li Family.
Although Wei Hong had greatly disliked him, her nephew from her maiden family, three years ago, even hinting that "all affection and righteousness had run dry," she had still agreed to his request and had Martial Master Ruan teach him the Health Cultivation Technique.
That was no different from delivering charcoal in snow.
—At the very least, when Wei Hong made that decision back then, she had considered the bond between aunt and nephew, rather than seeking anything in return from him.
City God Temple.
On the plaza before the main hall.
Upon hearing Wei Tu call him "uncle-in-law," Master Huang revealed a faint smile and answered him.
"Wei, come to my home with your uncle-in-law. I'll hold a feast to celebrate your success." Master Huang repeated what Wei Hong had just said.
He had originally thought that Wei Tu, now that he had achieved success and fame, would be difficult to deal with, harboring resentment over the Huang Family's and Wei Hong's earlier estrangement from him. He had not expected Wei Tu to change his address and acknowledge their kinship so quickly.
So sensible...
Indeed, those who understood the times were heroes, Master Huang thought.
A martial master born in humble circumstances, even with good bones and natural divine strength, would find it difficult to reach the end of the martial examination and obtain fame.
Wei Tu having no famous master to guide him had already become the consensus among these gentry.
By Master Huang's reckoning, Wei Tu was currying favor with him, this uncle-in-law, in order to secure a promising future from the Huang Family, or to use the Huang Family's wealth to hire a famous master and make up for his shortcomings...
Yet Master Huang did not mind.
Money could be earned again, but encountering a martial master who was related to him and possessed decent Spiritual Roots was no easy matter.
"Train him well. When his martial studies succeed and he earns fame, he will become support for the Huang Family's growth..."
With such thoughts in mind, Master Huang invited Wei Tu onto his carriage.
"Is this that country bumpkin who came begging for the Health Cultivation Technique back then?"
Nearby.
After seeing Wei Tu enter the carriage, Martial Master Ruan, whom Master Huang had ignored, finally recalled his memories of Wei Tu.
His brows furrowed tightly. He found it hard to connect the martial master who had just earned a grade a result in Stone Lock Lifting with the impoverished country youth in his memories.
The difference between the two was truly too great.
"My... results in every category of skill and courage are worse than his, even in saber dance, his weakest category..." At this thought, Martial Master Ruan was suddenly filled with bitterness and rage, his fists tightening involuntarily.
After Wei Tu had amazed the watching commoners, gentry, and officials with his Stone Lock Lifting, the martial masters participating in the martial examination had also begun paying close attention to each of his subsequent results.
If Wei Tu had been a complete stranger to him, he would only have felt envy toward this martial master with such excellent results, not jealous resentment.
But unfortunately...
He knew Wei Tu.
Moreover, he had shown contempt toward Wei Tu when Wei Tu came to seek his guidance. He had not personally taught Wei Tu the Health Cultivation Technique as Wei Hong had instructed, instead casually handing him a Health Cultivation Technique booklet and sending him away.
"If I had known this day would come, I should have accepted him as a registered disciple and taught him a few moves..." Martial Master Ruan regretted it bitterly.
If what had happened three years ago spread outside, he would certainly be mocked by the martial masters of the county town. He might even be dismissed by the Huang Family...
Judging only from Master Huang's current regard for Wei Tu, if Wei Tu offered even the slightest rude remark or complaint about him, he would likely slink out of Huang Residence tomorrow, roll up his bedding, and leave.
"Take the loss, admit my mistake, and hope he does not haggle over every ounce."
Martial Master Ruan followed Huang Residence's carriage, thinking secretly midway through the journey.
Half an hour later.
Huang Residence.
Inside an exquisite pavilion.
"Qing He, where is the gift Wei gave me three years ago? I want to see it." Wei Hong hurried back to her room and gave the order.
"Second Madam, who is Wei? And... what gift?" Seeing Wei Hong's anxious expression, Qing He's heart tightened, and she hurriedly asked.
"It was..."
Wei Hong thought for a moment, then said, "A gift box from more than three years ago. It should be a brocade box from that Rouge Shop in the west of the city."
"The Rouge Shop in the west of the city?" Qing He murmured to herself, then entered the inner room and rummaged through the cabinets.
The time it took to drink a cup of tea later.
Qing He seemed to remember something. Rising onto her tiptoes, she took down a dust-covered brocade box from atop a wooden cabinet and set it on the table.
"Second Mistress, is it this one?" Qing He asked.
"This is it."
Wei Hong's face lit up with delight. She took the brocade box from Qing He, tore open the wax-paper seal, opened it, and took out a small box of rouge inside.
"Golden Swallow Rouge?" Seeing the rouge's color and giving it a light sniff, Wei Hong was immediately astonished.
This time, she had returned to her room to retrieve the gift Wei Tu had given her previously mainly so she would know what he had given her and avoid any awkwardness during their conversation later.
But after opening the gift box.
She discovered that the rouge Wei Tu had given her was not some cheap trinket, but Golden Swallow Rouge, which was not so inexpensive.
A box of Golden Swallow Rouge cost five qian, roughly equal to two months' wages for the maid by her side.
Without question.
It was a heavy gift.
Wei Hong flushed with shame, feeling that she had been far too harsh toward her maiden family in the past.
On the other side.
Huang Residence's reception hall.
At the same time.
Master Huang was entertaining Wei Tu. He had a maid brew a pot of fragrant tea and invited Wei Tu to taste it with him.
"This tea is Cloud Mist Tea picked before the Qingming Festival. After it is brewed three times, the steam rises like clouds and mist, lingering above the tea cup..."
"Such fine tea costs three taels of silver for just one tael. If you hadn't come today, Wei, your uncle-in-law would never have had a maid brew such good tea to entertain a guest..."
Master Huang lifted his tea cup, gently skimmed away the floating foam with its lid, took a sip or two, and said with a smile.
Master Huang had long possessed a set of methods for dealing with people like Wei Tu, who loved wealth and wished to seek riches and honor from the Huang Family. He would display extravagance to show his financial strength, thereby stirring the other party's desire and making them pledge allegiance to him.
As his words fell.
Wei Tu's brows faintly furrowed. After thinking for a moment, he lifted the lid of the tea cup in his hands, took a shallow taste, then set it on the tea table.
Next, his gaze wandered toward the calligraphy and paintings hanging on either side of the reception hall, wearing an expression of utter disinterest in what Master Huang was discussing.
Before you continue