Wei Tu agreed on Xinghua's behalf. This was the first thing he said after Cai Xia burst into the Li Residence's reception hall.
The words were calm and brief, yet Li Yaozu and his wife heard something different in them—Wei Tu was "talking back" to them.
Whether from the perspective of a servant who had redeemed himself from the Li Residence, or that of a guest visiting the Li Residence, Wei Tu's words seemed highly disrespectful...
"No, it should be said that he was already disrespectful the moment Cai Xia barged into the reception hall." Seated in his chair, Li Yaozu clenched his right hand tighter within his sleeve, suppressing his dissatisfaction.
Originally, he had thought that Wei Tu would first come to him with the proposal of redeeming Xinghua's indenture contract, discuss it with him... Then the two families would part amicably: the Li Residence would release her, the Wei Residence would take her in, and it would become a fine tale in Qingshan County, even throughout Shannan Dao.
That way, the Li Family would gain immense prestige from it. When Li Xingye took the Imperial Examinations, the examiners would also look upon him more favorably, allowing him to pass.
Then, the Li Family's standing would rise step by step, becoming Qingshan County Town's foremost "kind and charitable household."
But now, Wei Tu's single sentence had shattered his fantasy.
Wei Tu had actually agreed to Cai Xia's proposal so readily, without giving any thought to the Li Family's position.
"How could he be so ignorant of gratitude and righteousness?" Li Yaozu gritted his teeth.
He could not stand by and watch the investment he had made in Wei Tu over the past half year go completely down the drain...
The warmer he had been toward Wei Tu before, the greater his anger was now.
Madam Li had not thought as much as Li Yaozu, but upon hearing Wei Tu's words, she instinctively felt that there was something "inappropriate" about them.
She simply had not yet figured out where that "inappropriateness" came from.
"Could it be that Master Li believes Wei cannot make decisions on Xinghua's behalf?"
Seeing that Li Yaozu and his wife had remained silent for a long while, Wei Tu's brows furrowed slightly. His words instantly gained a trace of sharpness, an edge like an unsheathed blade.
At first, when he entered the Li Family's inner quarters today, he had remembered Chun Lan's words and decided to postpone Xinghua's redemption for another day, choosing a suitable opportunity to bring it up. He had intended not to provoke Li Yaozu and his wife today, out of regard for their past kindness.
But plans could not keep pace with change.
Then—
Cai Xia's incident had occurred.
This sort of wealthy young master's routine of bullying a maid immediately made Wei Tu feel that the Li Residence was no good place for Xinghua, and that she needed to leave as soon as possible.
He had not forgotten the day he met Li Xingye in February, when Li Xingye had fiercely kicked the ancient cypress in the residence after the banquet ended.
Now that Li Xingye had gone "mad" after failing the examinations, if he learned that Wei Tu had passed and bore a grudge, there was no guarantee he would not turn on Xinghua.
Such a matter... was beyond control!
By then—
Even if Wei Tu had earned scholarly status, he would find it difficult to intervene in Xinghua's affairs.
After all, Xinghua's indenture contract was in the Li Residence. She was a purchased servant belonging to the Li Residence.
Therefore, Cai Xia's words just now had indeed resolved Wei Tu's pressing crisis.
After considering it, Wei Tu decided to go with the current and seize the opportunity to retrieve Xinghua's indenture contract from the Li Residence, delaying no longer.
As for what had happened today—
Wei Tu was certain that the Li Family would not publicize it afterward by claiming that he had "betrayed his master," because the matter involved Cai Xia.
Publicizing it would be a family disgrace for the Li Family.
The moment had arrived.
Naturally, Wei Tu would not hesitate any longer.
"Of... of course not..." Li Yaozu sighed inwardly and shook his head.
Wei Tu was Xinghua's husband. Of course he had the right to decide whether to redeem Xinghua's indenture contract.
No matter how much Li Yaozu tried to quibble, it would be of no use. On the contrary, it would only tear apart his relationship with Wei Tu.
He still did not want the Li Family to become enemies with Wei Tu.
But just as Li Yaozu finished speaking, Li Xingye beside him slapped the table and rose. He paced back and forth through the hall several times, sizing up Cai Xia and Wei Tu before him, then said, "Wei Tu, are you truly going to oppose our Li Family over this maid?"
"In the sixteenth year of the Qing'an Era, Qing Feng Prefecture suffered a severe drought, and not a single grain was harvested. The Li Family took you in and gave you the kindness of saving your life. Could it be that you do not think to repay it?"
"Last year, when you redeemed your indenture contract, my father pitied you and gave up the Li Family's favor to write Martial Graduate Dan a letter of recommendation..."
"Was all this kindness meant for you to use today to defy my parents?"
Li Xingye gave several mocking laughs as he spoke.
Just moments ago, he had already intended to let Cai Xia leave and allow Xinghua to redeem herself, but he had not expected Wei Tu to speak so brazenly, humiliating and forcing his parents like this.
At last, he could endure no more.
After hurling out those few sentences, Li Xingye immediately felt refreshed, as though all the resentment from failing the examinations had been vented and poured out.
Once his words fell—
The atmosphere in the reception hall suddenly turned cold and silent.
Li Yaozu and Madam Li fell quiet.
Cai Xia was stunned as well.
The three of them looked toward Wei Tu before them, not knowing how he would react when faced with these truly insulting words.
But—
Wei Tu was very calm, as though he had long expected Li Xingye to say such things.
"Wei has never forgotten the Li Family's kindness."
"When the opportunity arises, Wei will repay it..."
Wei Tu looked at Li Xingye and answered in a slightly icy tone.
After speaking, Wei Tu turned his gaze to Li Yaozu and his wife again, awaiting their response regarding Xinghua's redemption.
"Xingye failed the examinations, and recently his pent-up gloom has gone to his head. Some of his words were offensive. I hope Brother Wei will not take them to heart."
Madam Li offered an apology.
Then she gave Li Yaozu, seated beside her, a push and said, "Master, go fetch Xinghua's indenture contract. Today, two people in the residence have redeemed themselves. It is a joyous occasion. I am happy for them too."
"Fine, fine, fine..." Seeing that he had been given a way out, Li Yaozu did not hesitate. He turned and headed into the inner hall to fetch Xinghua's indenture contract.
"To redeem Xinghua, ten taels of silver will not be necessary. Seven taels will be enough."
Madam Li took out three taels from her money pouch and placed them on the small table beside her.
After doing all this, just as Cai Xia had earlier, she pressed her lips tightly together and leaned back in her straight-backed chair. Her gaze drifted over the beams and pillars of the hall as she stared blankly for a short while.
Xinghua's indenture contract was in hand.
Wei Tu clasped his hands and thanked Li Yaozu and his wife. He then said, "First Mistress, I do not think today is suitable for staying the night either. Another day, when I have time, Xinghua and I will come together to visit you at the Li Family..."
"That is fine." Hearing this, Madam Li habitually put a smile on her face and nodded in reply.
At the side—
Li Xingye, witnessing this scene, was somewhat stunned. He had not expected Wei Tu's self-restraint to be so good, nor had he expected his parents to handle matters somewhat differently from what he had imagined.
Yet after cursing him out, he too felt that what he had said just now had been inappropriate. His anger had clouded his head, so he played dead and waited for everything to end quickly.
Soon—
Wei Tu and Cai Xia left the reception hall.
Chun Lan, who had been waiting outside, watched the two depart. Then, trembling, she carried in the evening meal for the Li Residence's masters.
"Chun Lan, swallow what you saw just now into your belly. You are not allowed to speak of it outside, or Family Law will deal with you." Madam Li's smile vanished bit by bit. With a taut expression, she rebuked her.
"This servant understands."
Chun Lan nodded like a chick pecking at grain and placed the food in her hands on the eight immortals table.
"However, this servant has something to say, though I do not know whether I should say it..." Chun Lan hesitated for a moment, glanced at Madam Li, and spoke softly.
"What is it?"
Madam Li's expression was rather unpleasant. The anger she had suffered today was greater than all the anger she had endured in the more than twenty years since marrying into the Li Residence combined.
"Brother Wei..."
"He made the list in this year's provincial examination. He passed... He is a Second-class Martial Scholar."
Chun Lan hurriedly said.
Before you continue