The Sharp Spring Breeze

Next.

Wei Hong made some more small talk, asking about Wei Tu's living situation, his daily meals, and how he was getting along with the Li family.

Regarding these matters.

Wei Tu had nothing significant to hide, but he paused for a moment to consider his words before answering.

For example, he chose to conceal the fact that Li Yaozu had once coveted Xinghua.

"Second Aunt still has some private savings. I can lend them to you for now, to be used as Xinghua's redemption money, or Second Aunt could go in person..."

"It's not right for Xinghua to remain a maidservant in the Li Residence forever."

"As for lodging, there are plenty of guest rooms in the Huang Residence. I'll make the decision and pick out a room for you two lovebirds."

Having said that, Wei Hong raised an eyebrow, fiddled with her handkerchief, and her face suddenly took on a sharper, more spirited expression. She snorted and spoke quickly:

"Li Yaozu is a shrewd one. You shouldn't have had to pay that much silver to redeem yourself back then. How could he have the nerve to ask for eleven taels and five qian?"

"Even if it were eight taels and eight qian, he would still be profiting from it, and he wanted to use this opportunity to make you owe him a favor."

As a merchant's wife, Wei Hong had picked up a lot over the years in the Huang Residence and was extremely sensitive to the market price of servants. She immediately saw through the "craftiness" of Li Yaozu and his wife.

"Master Li and the First Mistress Li agreed to my redemption without any trouble, and even recommended me to Master Dan afterward..."

"This small profit isn't worth dwelling on too much."

Wei Tu shook his head, unwilling to let Wei Hong investigate further into this matter.

Three years ago, he estimated his redemption silver to be around ten taels, possibly a bit more or a bit less.

He couldn't accurately gauge the exact amount because it entirely depended on the Li family's conscience.

Unlike buying goods at a shop, he had no room to negotiate the price of his redemption; he could only let Li Yaozu and his wife set the price.

"Alright, Brother Wei, let's not talk about this anymore. Regarding Xinghua's redemption, what do you think?" Wei Hong asked with a smile.

"This matter doesn't require Second Aunt's concern."

Wei Tu shook his head and said, "If your nephew wanted to borrow money to redeem Xinghua's deed of indenture, I would have asked Master Dan for it when I was at the Dan Family."

The Green Dappled Horse was worth a hundred taels, and Martial Graduate Dan was willing to lend it to him. The money to redeem Xinghua probably wouldn't even reach ten taels of silver... Wei Tu believed that if he asked, Martial Graduate Dan would definitely lend it to him.

Not only Martial Graduate Dan, but even Dan Fang, who had "fallen out" with him, would be overjoyed to lend him the money if they knew about it.

To redeem his wife...

That would be a tremendous favor!

"It was Second Aunt's rashness," Wei Hong said, her smile freezing slightly as the spiritedness drained from her demeanor upon hearing Wei Tu's words.

—She could sense a distance in Wei Tu's words.

He would rather borrow from Martial Graduate Dan than from her, which clearly indicated that in Wei Tu's heart, his Second Aunt was far inferior to Martial Graduate Dan.

"Chasing geese all day, only to be pecked in the eye by a goose in the end," Wei Hong sighed inwardly.

At the end of the Martial Arts Examination today, she had thought that Wei Tu's willingness to acknowledge her as family was an attempt to leverage the Huang family's wealth...

However, this thought vanished instantly from her mind upon learning that Wei Tu's master was Martial Graduate Dan.

The resources of a Martial Graduate were, even if not as good as the Huang family's, not far behind.

The connections on the official path were even less comparable to the Huang family's.

As a Martial Examination Disciple, Wei Tu had no need or desire to shamelessly curry favor with the Huang family.

Wei Tu's willingness to acknowledge her as family was probably because she hadn't gone too far back then.

"Brother Wei, the kitchen has finished preparing the dishes. Come with Second Aunt, this is a celebratory banquet specially prepared for you," Wei Hong said, skillfully masking her awkwardness and using the impending celebratory banquet as a reason to end the conversation.

—No matter how distant her nephew from her maternal family might be, as long as he acknowledged her and gained status, her own status in the Huang family would also benefit, rising with the tide.

After the celebratory banquet.

Wei Tu didn't linger in the Huang Residence for long. Citing the need to prepare for his exams, he took his leave from Master Huang.

Master Huang found no suitable reason to ask Wei Tu to stay and had his steward arrange a carriage to send Wei Tu back to the Li Residence.

Regarding this.

Wei Tu pondered for a moment before accepting.

—Li Yaozu was stingy. He considered letting him stay overnight a great act of kindness. Being sent back by a Huang family carriage would help dispel any presumptuous notions Li Yaozu might have.

For a wealthy household to host a poor person is an act of kindness.

But hosting someone of equal status is merely social interaction and etiquette, not an act of kindness.

"Martial Master Wei, please wait."

Outside the gates of the Huang Residence, just as Wei Tu was getting into the carriage to leave, a gruff voice called out from beyond the curtain.

The voice, clearly belonging to a martial artist, was full of energy.

"Martial Master Ruan?" Wei Tu lifted the carriage curtain, glanced outside, and quickly recognized the identity of the person who had spoken.

Although he had only met Martial Master Ruan once, the Health Cultivation Technique Martial Master Ruan had given him was too important. Therefore, three years later, he still remembered Martial Master Ruan's appearance clearly in his mind.

"Back then, I, Ruan, was quite dismissive of the aspiring Martial Master Wei..."

"Afterward, I often blamed myself."

"It was I... who failed to recognize your greatness. I hope Martial Master Wei will not hold my petty offenses against me..."

Martial Master Ruan's face turned red. After a moment of awkwardness, he cupped his fists and bowed deeply to Wei Tu, apologizing loudly.

Martial Artists were known for their valor and ferocity.

Given the humiliation he had inflicted upon Wei Tu three years ago, he found it hard to imagine... what kind of heavy blows Wei Tu might land on him if they were to meet during the third round, the "Sparring Match."

At that point, not only would his reputation be ruined, but he might also be severely injured by Wei Tu, leaving him paralyzed for life.

The thought of this.

Made Martial Master Ruan tremble with fear.

Therefore, for the sake of his reputation and his life, he stopped the carriage at this moment and shamelessly apologized to Wei Tu.

Meanwhile.

Upon seeing Martial Master Ruan perform such a grand gesture, Wei Tu was first stunned. After recovering his senses, he finally spoke, "I, Wei, do not mind this matter. Please, Martial Master Ruan, rise. There is no need for such formality..."

Back then.

He hadn't taken the humiliation from Martial Master Ruan to heart, as they were complete strangers.

What he truly cared about were the words of his cousin, Huang Yuanshan, who had looked down on him, his cousin.

The feeling of being despised was not pleasant.

However, forgiveness was forgiveness.

Wei Tu was not so magnanimous as to dismount the carriage to personally help up Martial Master Ruan's bowing body and offer words of comfort.

He was not a sage or a gentleman, nor did he harbor ambitions of conquest. There was no need for him to show deference to worthy individuals.

After speaking, Wei Tu lowered the curtain, signaling the coachman to proceed and not linger.

"The things I cared about back then."

"Even now... I don't dwell on them so much anymore..."

After the carriage had traveled some distance, Wei Tu lifted the curtain.

The night was as cool as water.

The chill was palpable.

Wei Tu spread his right hand, fingers splayed, and felt the biting spring wind rushing past the carriage. He then brought his hand to his cheek.

His cheek felt slightly cool.

It no longer felt like the burning sensation of three years ago.