Greedy for Money and Profit

"Uncle-in-law," Wei Tu knew his Second Aunt, Wei Hong's, personality well. He wasn't too surprised. After sizing up Master Huang before him, he cupped his fists in greeting and acknowledged the engagement.

By all rights.

Given Wei Hong's status, even if she hadn't previously "looked down on the poor and loved the rich," her nephew by a concubine wouldn't have been qualified to call Master Huang "uncle-in-law."

Only the husband of one's wife's niece could call Master Huang "uncle-in-law."

To casually claim kinship would be to disregard hierarchy and propriety.

Although Wei Tu himself didn't care about getting involved with Master Huang, if calling him "uncle-in-law" would benefit his Second Aunt, Wei Hong, he was willing to do so.

This was a small matter, requiring no effort and yielding benefits.

It's always easier to add splendor to a brocade than to offer charcoal in the snow.

The Li family and Li Yaozu's investment and help mostly fell into the former category. While he remembered their kindness and felt grateful, it wasn't a deep debt.

Once he repaid the favor, he would have no further ties with the Li family.

And Wei Hong, despite her disdain for her nephew from her maiden family three years ago, even hinting that their "ties were severed," had still agreed to his request to have Martial Master Ruan teach him the Health Cultivation Technique.

This was akin to offering charcoal in the snow.

At least, when Wei Hong made that decision back then, she was thinking of their aunt-nephew relationship, not expecting any reward from him.

City God Temple.

On the plaza in front of the main temple.

Master Huang smiled faintly and responded upon hearing Wei Tu call him "uncle-in-law."

"Brother Wei, come home with your uncle-in-law. I'll host a banquet to celebrate your success," Master Huang repeated what Wei Hong had just said.

He had initially expected Wei Tu to be difficult after achieving fame and fortune, harboring resentment due to the Huang family and Wei Hong's previous distance. He hadn't expected Wei Tu to acknowledge their relationship so quickly.

So sensible...

Indeed, those who understand the times are the wise ones, Master Huang mused.

Martial Masters from humble backgrounds, even with good Spiritual Roots and natural strength, found it difficult to reach the end of the Martial Arts Examination and achieve official careers.

The fact that Wei Tu had no famous master to guide him had, as they had just agreed, become common knowledge among the gentry.

Master Huang surmised that Wei Tu was now trying to curry favor with him, his uncle-in-law, in order to secure a good future through the Huang family or to borrow their financial resources to hire a renowned master and compensate for his shortcomings...

However, regarding this.

Master Huang didn't mind.

Money could be earned again, but finding someone with a familial connection and good Spiritual Roots, a Martial Master no less, wasn't easy.

"If he is cultivated well, and achieves official success in his martial arts, he will be an asset to the growth of our Huang family..."

With this thought, Master Huang invited Wei Tu into his carriage.

"Is this the country bumpkin who begged for the Health Cultivation Technique back then?"

On the other side.

After seeing Wei Tu enter the carriage, Martial Master Ruan, whom Master Huang had overlooked, finally recalled memories of Wei Tu.

He frowned deeply, finding it difficult to reconcile the Martial Master who had just achieved an "A+" rank by lifting stones with the impoverished country youth in his memory.

The difference between the two was simply too vast.

"My Skill and Courage in every subject is inferior to his, even in his weakest event, Saber Dance..." Thinking this, Martial Master Ruan felt a surge of resentment, clenching his fists.

After Wei Tu's astonishing display of lifting stones, which amazed the surrounding citizens, gentry, and officials, the other Martial Masters participating in the examination paid great attention to Wei Tu's subsequent performances.

If Wei Tu were a stranger to him, he would only feel envy towards a Martial Master who achieved good results. Instead, he felt jealousy and indignation.

But the problem was...

He knew Wei Tu.

What's more, he had shown contempt towards Wei Tu when the latter sought his guidance. He had also failed to personally teach Wei Tu the Health Cultivation Technique as instructed by Wei Hong, instead casually handing him a booklet and sending him away.

"If I had known this would happen, I should have taken him on as a registered disciple and taught him a few moves back then..." Martial Master Ruan regretted it immensely.

If the events of three years ago were to spread, he would surely be ridiculed by the Martial Masters in the county town, and might even be dismissed by the Huang family...

Judging by the importance Master Huang now placed on Wei Tu, if Wei Tu showed him even the slightest disrespect or complaint, he would likely be ignominiously kicked out of the Huang Residence the very next day, packing his bags.

"I'll admit defeat and apologize. I hope he doesn't hold a grudge."

Martial Master Ruan followed Master Huang's carriage, thinking this to himself midway.

Half an hour later.

Huang Residence.

In an exquisite pavilion.

"Qing He, where is the gift Brother Wei gave me three years ago? I want to see it," Wei Hong said hurriedly as she rushed back to her room.

"Second Mistress, who is Brother Wei? And… what gift?" Qing He saw Wei Hong's anxious expression and her heart tightened. She quickly asked.

"It's..."

Wei Hong thought for a moment and said, "More than three years ago, a gift box was sent. 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, walking into the inner room and rummaging through a cabinet.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Qing He seemed to have thought of something. She tiptoed, took down a dusty brocade box from the top of the wooden cabinet, and placed it on the table.

"Second Mistress, is it this one?" Qing He asked.

"It is this one."

Wei Hong's face lit up with joy. She took the brocade box from Qing He's hand, tore off the wax paper seal, and opened it, taking out a small box of rouge.

"It's Golden Swallow Rouge?" Wei Hong saw the color of the rouge and sniffed it lightly, her surprise growing.

This time, she had returned to her room to get the gift Wei Tu had given her last time, mainly to have a clear idea of what he had given her, to avoid any awkwardness during their conversation later.

But after opening the gift box.

She realized that the rouge Wei Tu had given her was not a cheap item, but Golden Swallow Rouge, which was not inexpensive.

A box of Golden Swallow Rouge cost five qian, roughly equivalent to two months' wages for the maidservants around her.

Undoubtedly.

It was a generous gift.

Wei Hong felt ashamed, realizing she had been too harsh on her own family in the past.

Meanwhile.

In the living room of the Huang Residence.

At the same time.

Master Huang was entertaining Wei Tu, asking a maidservant to brew a pot of fragrant tea and inviting Wei Tu to share it with him.

"This tea is Cloud Mist Tea from before the Ming festival. After brewing it three times, the mist resembles clouds and fog, hovering above the tea cup…"

"Such fine tea costs three taels of silver for just one liang. If it weren't for Brother Wei's visit today, your uncle-in-law would never have the maidservants brew this excellent tea to entertain guests…" Master Huang picked up his tea cup, gently skimmed off the foam with the lid, took a sip or two, and said with a smile.

He had long developed a strategy for dealing with people like Wei Tu, who were greedy for money and sought wealth from the Huang Family: he would display his wealth through extravagance, thus making them covetous and willing to serve him.

As his words fell.

Wei Tu frowned slightly. After pondering for a moment, he uncovered the tea cup he had raised, took a shallow sip, and then placed it on the tea table.

Next, his gaze shifted, looking at the calligraphy and paintings hanging on both sides of the living room, giving the impression that he was not interested in what Master Huang was discussing.