Changing Martial Status

Did he pass this year's Dao Examination and the Martial Arts Examination?

A second-class Martial Scholar?

When these simple words reached the ears of the masters of the Li Residence, Li Yaozu and his wife, as well as Li Xingye, unconsciously held their breath…

A Martial Scholar was different from a civilian scholar; they could be appointed to local positions and become military officials.

Even if it was just a minor official.

But it was still an official!

This made a significant difference and distinction in status compared to their Li family, who were commoners.

Li Yaozu and his wife hadn't expected that even when Li Xingye was insulting and pressuring Wei Tu so much, Wei Tu had still maintained his composure and hadn't revealed that he had passed the Martial Arts Examination.

"How could he have passed this year's exam?" Li Xingye was indignant and resentful.

The resentment he had vented earlier now accumulated in his chest again, growing more intense.

He had studied diligently for over a decade.

And in the end, He wasn't even as good as Wei Tu, a household slave who had only cultivated martial arts for a few years.

How could he easily let this matter go?

"After achieving success, remain humble and not arrogant; face insults with a calm expression…"

"This person…"

Li Yaozu shook his head.

He made up his mind that he would strictly discipline Li Xingye in the future and absolutely not offend Wei Tu again. Otherwise, this "favor" would eventually be depleted.

At that time, it would be difficult to predict what would happen to the Li family.

After walking out of the inner quarters of the Li Residence.

Wei Tu waited for Xinghua and Cai Xia outside for a while. Once the two women had packed their luggage, he then took them away from the Li Residence.

"Thank you, Brother Wei, for standing up for me this time. If not for that…" Cai Xia found an opportunity on the road and thanked Wei Tu.

Going against their former "benefactor."

This was no small pressure for Wei Tu.

Cai Xia understood this.

"We help each other. You helped me before too," Wei Tu replied with a smile.

His reputation was something he needed to consider, but if he saw Cai Xia being bullied and did nothing, he wouldn't be able to live with himself.

Secondly.

He had already defied Prefect He.

Li Yaozu was not someone he needed to fear.

Hearing this, Cai Xia put aside her worries and followed behind Wei Tu and his wife, carrying her bundle.

The three of them arrived at a nearby inn.

They booked two lower rooms.

In the evening, Xinghua asked Cai Xia about her future plans, "Like you, Brother Wei, you were both forced to be sold to the Li Residence because your families couldn't support you. Now you are free, you can return home."

Selling children to survive during a famine was different from selling children for money during peaceful times.

Xinghua herself, for example, was sold to the Li family by her parents for money.

Therefore, after entering the Li family, Xinghua gradually cut off contact with her maternal family.

"However, times have changed. Your father has sons, and his family is poor. If you return home, not only might you not get that three taels of silver… it might not even be guaranteed… you yourself might be sold again…"

Xinghua analyzed.

Maidservants like them, who were sold into wealthy households, were not like the pampered young ladies of noble families. They were often very pragmatic when it came to money.

If Wei Tu hadn't proven himself back then, Xinghua wouldn't have given her private savings to Wei Tu, letting him squander it.

"Sister Xinghua, I plan to follow you… Brother Wei will be an official soon, and he should know some decent men. When the time comes, I want to get married and start a family…"

Cai Xia pondered for a moment, considered her situation, and stated her plan.

"You owe me a favor, so I'm willing to have you by my side. It will be nice to have someone to keep me company," Xinghua agreed with a nod.

Unmarried civilian women could not establish households on their own.

A maidservant who had redeemed her deed of indenture and become a civilian would have to return to her original household registration if there were no other options.

Cai Xia's intention at this moment was to follow the couple and have her civilian status registered under Wei Tu's household.

The next day.

Wei Tu brought Xinghua and Cai Xia to the County Yamen and handed their deeds of indenture and letters of introduction to a clerk in the Household Registry Office.

"That's strange," the clerk from the Household Registry Office muttered in surprise upon seeing this. He took out the civilian registry book and added the two women's names, writing them below "Wei Tu."

Having worked as a clerk in the County Yamen's Household Registry Office for so long, Wei Tu was the first enslaved person to redeem himself. And today, the two maidservants he was redeeming were both related to him… This was truly a rare occurrence in his experience.

"I wonder if the official document for this year's Martial Scholar from the prefecture has arrived at the County Yamen?" After the two women's status was changed, Wei Tu didn't rush off. He cupped his hands towards the clerk and asked.

"Martial Scholar document?"

Hearing this, the clerk was surprised for a moment. He glanced at Wei Tu. "You passed the Dao Examination this year?"

He knew that Wei Tu had won the top spot in the County Examination's Martial Arts Examination.

But he was also one of the few in the County Yamen who knew that Wei Tu's victory as top scholar was questionable.

Therefore, he didn't have high hopes for Wei Tu passing the Dao Examination this year.

The Dao Examination was difficult, far exceeding the County Examination.

"I passed."

Wei Tu nodded in response.

"Brother Wei, then we'll be colleagues from now on…" Upon hearing this, the clerk immediately showed a smile and took the initiative to greet Wei Tu.

His attitude was completely opposite to before.

No longer cold.

At the same time, he also introduced himself to Wei Tu.

"My name is Jian Liang. My family has been clerks for generations, and I work in the Household Registry Office."

"Brother Jian." Wei Tu cupped his hands towards Jian Liang as a form of greeting.

He didn't introduce himself to Jian Liang.

Jian Liang, as a clerk in the Qingshan County Household Registry Office, knew his identity and family background even better than he did.

"The Martial Scholar document from the prefecture was issued two days ago."

"I'll change your civilian status to martial status now…" Jian Liang said proactively.

He knew what Wei Tu meant when he mentioned the "Martial Scholar document." This document was proof of a Martial Scholar's identity.

It was usually kept by the County Yamen.

"Thank you, Brother Jian."

After Jian Liang finished changing the registration, Wei Tu thanked him and then left the Household Registry Office with Xinghua and Cai Xia.

However.

He had only taken a few steps.

When he saw Wei Fei walking towards him from the direction of Jie Shi Square.

Wei Tu guessed that Wei Fei was also coming to the Household Registry Office to have his status changed by Jian Liang.

After these Martial Scholars had their status changed, they could calmly await their martial official appointments from the County Yamen.

Therefore, it was better to do this sooner rather than later.

"Second Brother."

"Third Brother."

The two greeted each other.

"This is my wife, and this is my sister," Wei Tu introduced Xinghua and Cai Xia to Wei Fei.

"Sister-in-law, Sister Cai Xia." Wei Fei greeted them somewhat stiffly. When he saw Xinghua and Cai Xia, he had mistakenly thought they were Wei Tu's maidservants.

He never expected that one of them would be Wei Tu's wife.

But after his surprise, Wei Fei secretly admired Wei Tu. Even after achieving success, he hadn't forgotten his wife from humble beginnings. Such a third brother was rare in this world.

"I came in a hurry and didn't bring anything good with me. I'll make it up to Sister-in-law and Sister Cai Xia with a meeting gift another day."

Wei Fei said with a smile.

After speaking, Wei Tu and Wei Fei parted ways. Wei Tu took the two women and left the County Yamen, heading to a real estate agency to find a new residence.

Led by the agent, Wei Tu quickly found a small courtyard and bought it for over five taels of silver.

"I'm borrowing your money. Once the military official's salary is issued in some time, I'll pay you back…"

Wei Tu promised Cai Xia.

Because he was short on cash and didn't have much money left, more than half of the five taels came from Cai Xia.

Cai Xia lowered her head and hummed in response, not refusing. After all, this money was almost all her savings.

"I just don't know when the appointment from the County Yamen will arrive. I hope I won't be suppressed or targeted by Prefect He…"

Wei Tu worried inwardly.

Time slowly passed.

Instead of receiving the appointment document from the County Yamen, Wei Tu received a letter from Fu Zhizhou.

In the letter, Fu Zhizhou mentioned that shortly after he left Qing Feng Prefecture, an elder from Wu Yun Tower had approached him, wanting to invite him to join Wu Yun Tower. However, he had flatly refused.

At the end of the letter—Fu Zhizhou warned Wei Tu to resist temptation and not to join Wu Yun Tower just because of the benefits they offered.