Head Held High

A few days ago, Li Ru felt it wasn't appropriate for Xie An to request manumission. He'd decided to keep Xie An waiting for a few days to put him in his place, to remind Xie An of his status as a servant.

Now, with Xie An showing up the day before the pawnshop was set to open, Li Ru instinctively felt Xie An was coming to concede.

Having been in business for many years, Li Ru considered himself well-versed in managing people and couldn't help but feel a bit smug.

"Madam, didn't I tell you? Just make him wait a few days, and he'll be obedient."

Madam Li sighed softly, saying nothing more.

However, Li Shaoyun chimed in, "Father, I heard Mother say you promised Old Man Xie 180 taels for his freedom?"

Li Ru replied, "It was originally set at 200 taels, but your mother felt that was too harsh, so she waived 20 taels."

Li Shaoyun pondered for a moment, then said, "After I'm officially appointed as the Deputy Steward of White Feather Hall, I'll have many expenses. Isn't 180 taels a bit too little?"

Li Ru leisurely chewed a piece of braised pork, replying vaguely, "It's fine. Old Man Xie can't come up with 180 taels anyway. It's just to make him realize the futility of his request. He's been an Appraiser in town for thirty years, with a good reputation. Keeping him in the shop can help drive some business. The more silver we earn, the more you can use for your martial arts training."

Li Shaoyun nodded in agreement, "Father's considerations are indeed thorough."

"Chunlan, it's still snowing outside. Go fetch Old Man Xie a hot water bottle," Madam Li said, knowing Li Ru didn't like servants to be present during meals, so she addressed Chunlan this way.

Chunlan nodded in agreement and hurried off.

Outside, the snow was falling harder, and the weather was bitterly cold.

"Master Xie, Madam sent me to bring you a hot water bottle. Hold it tight. Master will be a while with his meal," Chunlan said, quickly exiting the courtyard and handing Xie An the hot water bottle for warmth.

Standing in the snow, Xie An, due to practicing the Health Cultivation Technique, didn't feel too cold. Still, he thanked her and took it.

After a couple of instructions, Chunlan left, leaving Xie An alone in the wind and snow, waiting.

With his superior senses, he could smell the aroma of meat wafting from the hall, and occasionally hear the laughter of Li Ru and Li Shaoyun.

Based on Xie An's understanding of Li Ru, his usual meal took about fifteen minutes. Today, however, it had already gone on for more than twenty.

Xie An felt Li Ru was deliberately making him wait.

The reason, he surmised, was that his request for manumission had offended Li Ru's authority. Therefore, Li Ru wanted to put him in his place, so that Xie An would be more disciplined and obedient in the future, never bringing up manumission again, and remaining Li Ru's servant forever.

For any servant to request manumission would inevitably anger the master. This was not uncommon in the Great Qian Dynasty.

This was the fate of a servant.

Everything is fate, nothing is up to oneself.

The more Li Ru acted this way, the more it solidified Xie An's determination to control his own life.

Xie An stood in the snow, waiting for nearly an hour before hearing approaching footsteps. He looked up to see Chunlan walking towards him, "Master Xie, Master wants you to come in."

"Alright."

Xie An, showing no expression, followed Chunlan into the inner courtyard.

Upon entering the living room, a wave of warmth washed over him, dispelling the chill from Xie An's body.

Xie An maintained his usual humble posture, head bowed, "Greetings, Master, Madam, Eldest Young Master."

Li Ru sat at the head of the table, holding a steaming teacup in both hands, and spoke indifferently, "Have you thought it through? Then go back and do your duty as an Appraiser Master. Your monthly pay remains the same. You may go, manage the shop well, and prepare for its opening."

Xie An hadn't expected Li Ru to be so presumptuous without even asking. He remained silent for a moment, instead keenly observing the expressions of everyone in the room.

Li Ru's resentment and haughtiness; Li Shaoyun's disdain; Madam Li's regret and guilt; Chunlan's sympathy.

Xie An wanted to engrave this bone-chilling feeling in his memory one last time, and then... completely bid farewell to this feeling of servitude.

Seeing Xie An didn't reply, Li Ru blew on the tea leaves in his cup, took a sip, his expression calm, "Hmm? Are you not listening to me? If you have no other questions, you should return to the shop early. Don't delay the shop's business."

Hoo!

Xie An took a deep breath, and then... for the first time in front of his masters, he slowly raised his head, meeting the gaze of the Master of the Li Manor.

This subtle action greatly shocked Li Ru.

Since he had taken charge of the Li Manor, no servant or subordinate had ever dared to meet his gaze like this.

Moreover, in his impression, Old Man Xie had always been low-key, humble, timid, and fearful. Today...

Furthermore, Li Ru distinctly sensed a look of resolve in Xie An's eyes, even carrying a hint of threat.

This... was utterly against the natural order.

Madam Li and Li Shaoyun were both startled. Li Shaoyun frowned, "Master Xie, my father told you to return to the shop. Didn't you hear him? At your age, it's already a blessing that my father allows you to continue as a stable Appraiser Master."

Xie An paid no attention. He took out a cloth bag and placed it on the nearby eight immortals table, then opened it.

It contained a full 180 taels of silver.

Then, Xie An straightened his back and said, neither subservient nor overbearing, "As per Master Li's requirements, I have gathered 180 taels of silver."

His voice was not loud, but each word was like iron.

There was no trace of a servant's subservient bowing and scraping. He had also unconsciously changed his usual self-reference from "this humble one" to "I."

Xie An now possessed the strength to push through the entire Li Manor.

Li Shaoyun, as a Martial Scholar, was still a considerable distance from the Bronze Skin Realm; he wasn't even worth a single punch from Xie An.

If the Li Manor had upheld its credibility today, the matter would have passed.

If Li Ru continued to cause trouble, Xie An would have no choice but to send him on his way.

Li Ru was clearly displeased with Xie An's attitude, but seeing the one hundred and eighty taels of silver on the table, he swallowed the reprimands that were about to leave his mouth.

After all, he had personally promised it.

He just hadn't expected Xie An to actually gather the silver. If he went back on his word today and the matter blew up, the Li Manor's reputation would be ruined.

Although the Li Manor was wealthy, there were still respected local elders in town. If the Li Manor lost its credibility with them, its business in town would suffer in the future.

Li Ru, despite his sharp tongue and calculative nature, knew the gravity of the situation. He finally suppressed his anger and said coldly, "Old Xie, the country is in chaos now, and there were rumors not long ago about bandits from Great Yin Mountain coming down to raid. You're already this old, have you really thought this through?"

Sensing that Li Ru still wanted to control him, Xie An simply stood with his hands behind his back, no longer bothering with any formalities, "I've made up my mind."

He even dropped the humble self-address of "this humble one" and directly used "I."

Li Ru was so angry he was jumping up and down, about to lash out, but Madam Li stopped him firmly. Li Ru finally suppressed his rage with great effort and sneered coldly, "Good, very good! Old Xie has really become something! Madam, go get the indenture. You write a letter of release for me."

Madam Li brought the indenture and the letter of release, handing both to Xie An. She didn't want Xie An to stay and stir up conflict, so she urged Xie An to leave, "Old Xie, it's snowing heavily outside, I'll see you out."

The two had just walked out of the living room.

Bang.

Li Ru slammed his palm onto the table, causing the teacups to overturn. "Old Xie dares to glare at me? It's utter chaos!"

He regretted not asking for more back then. He should have asked for a thousand taels... then he'd see how Old Xie would gather it and how he wouldn't have to bow his head.

But he also knew there were no 'what ifs' now.

What he didn't know was that if he had done anything out of line just now, the entire Li Manor would have been gone...

Li Shaoyun, however, was only staring at the money on the table. "Father, please calm your anger. He's just an old man. He'll only live a harder life outside the Li Manor. It's possible that before long, he'll be begging us to take him back."

Li Ru roared, "At that time, even if he kneels and begs me, I won't take him back."

Xie An walked out of the main gate of the Li Manor. Madam Li took out a small silver ingot worth five taels and handed it to Xie An. "Old Xie, you're old and have no children. Take these five taels of silver. It'll ensure you don't have nowhere to go after leaving the Li Manor. If you encounter difficulties in the future, feel free to let Chunlan tell me."

Xie An initially wanted to refuse, but thinking that he was penniless at the moment and that Madam Li was showing genuine concern, he accepted her kindness. "Thank you, Madam Li. You are kind."

Madam Li said, "Old Xie, take care."

Xie An felt the sincerity in Madam Li's words and bowed, "Madam, you too."

Then, Xie An turned and walked into the wind and snow.

Madam Li stood under the eaves, watching the old man gradually walk away. She watched him walk with his head held high, his chest out.

He was no longer the subservient, stooped old servant from before.