The Issue of Offspring

"Let's go to Cuiyun Tower for a drink first," Wei Tu broke the silence.

He glanced at Wei Fei and said, "I still owe you a meal, second brother. I haven't had time to make it up, and today is my day off. I just got paid a while ago..."

Wei Tu wouldn't lie and say he didn't care whether Fu Zhizhou chose to honor their alliance. Having another helper in the Shannan Dao bureaucracy was better than fighting alone.

However, compared to Wei Fei, Wei Tu was confident he could stand out in the next Provincial Examination and become a Martial Graduate.

At that time, even without Fu Zhizhou's help, he could escape the suppression from Prefect He's faction in Qing Feng Prefecture and make a name for himself.

Without the help of Fu Zhizhou, his most promising "fourth brother," he still had Wei Fei, a friend from the same county. They would face hardships together.

"Alright, third brother," Wei Fei said, his disappointment lessening by half upon hearing Wei Tu's words.

He smiled, dressed in simple clothes, and walked with Wei Tu towards Cuiyun Tower.

During the two months they served as officials in the garrison troops, Wei Tu, as the Commander responsible for "rewarding merit and punishing faults," didn't interact much with the soldiers, and their bond wasn't deep.

But it was different for Wei Fei. As the garrison's Battalion Instructor, he was responsible for drills and exercises, spending all day with the soldiers. There were few people in Qingshan County who didn't know Wei Fei.

They arrived at Cuiyun Tower.

Wei Tu spared no expense, spending seven qian of silver on a lavish banquet to thank Wei Fei for his generosity in accompanying him to deliver gifts to the Jian family last time.

The banquet featured an abundance of meat dishes, including braised sea cucumber with scallions, braised pork knuckle, four-happiness meatballs, and stir-fried kidney flowers.

There were also seasonal cold dishes and fresh fruits.

Additionally, Wei Tu spent another two qian of silver to have the Cuiyun Tower manager fetch a pot of the finest Peach Blossom Brew.

Seeing Wei Tu's generosity, Wei Fei's evaluation of him immediately rose a notch, feeling he had chosen the right person to become sworn brothers with.

After a few rounds of drinks and dishes, Wei Fei, his face flushed and his tongue slurred, said, "Eldest brother Kou Liang and fourth brother Fu Zhizhou... even if I disown them, I will still recognize you, third brother..."

With that, he slung his arm around Wei Tu's shoulder and fell asleep soundly on the dining table.

Hearing this, Wei Tu shook his head. After removing Wei Fei's arm from his shoulder, he too, unable to hold his liquor, fell asleep beside Wei Fei.

He understood that Fu Zhizhou's success had ironically strengthened the bond between him and Wei Fei. Facing hardship together made it easier to find comfort in each other.

Time passed.

In the blink of an eye.

It was the year 25 of Qing'an.

On New Year's Day that year, Wei Tu took Xinghua to visit Martial Graduate Dan's home for the New Year's greetings, instead of returning to Wei Family Village in Changming Township.

During the more than half a year Wei Tu had served as an official, the clan leader of Wei Family Village had repeatedly sent young men from the village to find Wei Tu, wanting him to acknowledge his ancestors and return to Changming Township for ancestral rites.

But Wei Tu refused them all.

A few years ago, when he left Wei Family Village, Wei Tu still felt resentful that he and Xinghua couldn't be formally recognized by the ancestral shrine. But after all this time, he had long since come to terms with it.

However.

While he had come to terms with it.

Wei Tu was not a fool. He clearly understood the reason behind the Wei Family Village clan leader's desire for him to acknowledge his ancestors: they were coveting his status as a military official and wanted the clansmen of Wei Family Village to benefit from his influence.

Of course, Wei Tu had not been heartless towards his father, Wei Bao. He had written to Wei Bao, intending to have him move in with him and live out his remaining years in comfort.

The poor commoners of this era didn't have many choices.

Wei Tu understood this.

He didn't resent Wei Bao for selling him to the Li Family back then, nor for urging him to leave quickly when he returned home for a visit...

The former was for his survival during a time of famine, and the latter was to prevent him from being humiliated in Wei Family Village.

If not for the more than one liang of silver his father, Wei Bao, had secretly pressed into his hand during his visit home, the matter of his redemption might have dragged on for quite some time.

And that... more than one liang of silver was almost all Wei Bao possessed.

However, what Wei Tu hadn't anticipated was that his father, Wei Bao, had made the opposite decision to the Wei Family Village clan leader—

Not only did he not try to cling to his "powerful" son, but he actively drew a line between himself and his eldest son.

Wei Bao sent word that he had other sons and didn't need Wei Tu to support him. He asked Wei Tu to live well with Xinghua and send gifts annually.

Seeing this.

Wei Tu had no choice but to comply.

He chose to respect Wei Bao's wishes, sending him gifts, clothes, and provisions each year.

—After becoming Commander, his finances were relatively comfortable, but he still had to repay Cai Xia... The Redemption Silver for Xinghua and the money to buy the small courtyard added up to a considerable sum.

With his financial situation, supporting one Wei Bao was manageable, but supporting two more younger brothers would be a strain.

A growing boy starves his father.

Therefore.

Since he couldn't return to Wei Family Village for ancestral rites, Wei Tu had no choice but to take Xinghua to visit Martial Graduate Dan's home for the New Year's greetings.

Master, you are like a father to me.

When I left Changming Township last year, Martial Graduate Dan said he was lending Wei Tu that Green Dappled Horse worth a hundred taels, but there was little difference between that and a gift.

Even after Wei Tu finished his Provincial Examination, Martial Graduate Dan never asked for it back.

"The youngest daughter didn't come this time, she's probably still upset about last year..."

Madam Shan Min sat in the living room, looking at Dan Yangong, Wei Tu, and Xinghua before her, and sighed inwardly.

Although she was slightly disgusted by Dan Fang's "greed," she felt something was missing without Dan Fang chattering and making noise in her ear.

Furthermore, since Dan Fang didn't come, she naturally didn't bring their only grandson, Dan Yi Wu.

"Yangong, if you can't have a son, you should take a concubine. Your wife hasn't given birth, and this can't go on..."

Madam Shan Min looked at Dan Yangong, who stood respectfully at her side, frowned, and said.

When they were in the Prefectural City, she couldn't say much out of consideration for Dan Yangong's wife, but now that they were in Sanyuan Township, there was no need to hold back.

"Mother, this matter..." Dan Yangong hesitated.

"Listen to your mother. In a few days, I'll find a suitable family for you in Sanyuan Township and arrange a marriage." Madam Shan Min said decisively.

Hearing this, Dan Yangong sighed and couldn't argue further, silently accepting it.

Not having an heir was also why he couldn't hold his head up in front of Dan Fang.

"Brother Wei, we must have a son too..." Xinghua, seeing this, had a thought, pinched Wei Tu's wrist beside her, and asked in a low voice.

Wei Tu raised an eyebrow at her words, "Let's talk about this in a few more years. We're not in a hurry."

In the past six months, he had spoken with Martial Graduate Dan about Innate Realm Martial Masters and heard more about their wondrous abilities.

Innate Realm Martial Masters could not only use mental secret techniques to interrogate people but could also help unborn fetuses with "cleanses marrow and transforms muscles."

Fetuses "conditioned" by an Innate Realm Martial Master would be born with far superior Spiritual Roots for the Martial Way, allowing them to cultivate at an astonishing speed.

If it was feasible, Wei Tu planned to consider having children after he reached the Innate Realm Martial Master stage.

—He couldn't have the elder burying the younger.