Chapter 43: Changing Martial Status (Please add to favorites and keep reading)

Passed the Provincial Martial Examination this session?

A second-class Martial Xiucai?

As these simple words fell upon the ears of the main household of the Li residence, Li Yaozu, his wife, and Li Xingye all subconsciously held their breath...

A Martial Xiucai was different from a Civil Xiucai; they could hold local posts and become local military officers.

Even if it was only a minor official position.

It was still an official post!

This created a massive difference in status compared to the Li family, who were merely commoners.

Li Yaozu and his wife had not expected that, despite Li Xingye's insults and coercion toward Wei Tu, Wei Tu would remain so calm and refrain from mentioning his success in the martial examination.

"How could he have passed this session?" Li Xingye felt indignant and resentful.

The resentment he had just vented was now accumulating in his chest once more, growing even more intense.

He had studied hard by the window for over ten years.

In the end,

He couldn't even compare to a domestic servant like Wei Tu, who had only practiced martial arts for a few years.

How could he let this go easily?

"To remain unperturbed after achieving success, and to maintain a calm expression in the face of humiliation..."

"This man..."

Li Yaozu shook his head.

He made up his mind to strictly discipline Li Xingye in the future. He could not allow him to continue offending Wei Tu, otherwise, this "favor" would eventually be exhausted.

By then, the fate of the Li family would be unpredictable.

...

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

Wei Tu waited in the outer courtyard for Xinghua and Caixia for a while. Once the two women had finished packing their luggage, he led them away from the Li residence.

"This time, thank you, Brother Wei, for standing up for me. If it weren't for that..." On the journey, Caixia found an opportunity to thank Wei Tu.

To oppose a former "master" was a significant source of pressure for Wei Tu as well.

Caixia understood this.

"We help each other; you helped me once before," Wei Tu replied with a smile.

Reputation was something he needed to consider, but if he saw Caixia being bullied and chose to stand by and do nothing, his conscience would not allow it.

Furthermore.

He had already defied Prefect He.

A single Li Yaozu was not worth his apprehension.

Hearing this, Caixia set aside her worries and followed behind Wei Tu and his wife, clutching her bundle in silence.

The three of them arrived at a nearby inn.

They opened two small rooms.

In the evening, Xinghua asked about Caixia's future plans. "Just like Brother Wei, you were sold to the Li residence because your family couldn't make a living. Now that you are free, you can return home."

Selling children during years of famine to ensure their survival was fundamentally different from selling them during peaceful years for profit.

Take Xinghua herself, for example; she had been sold to the Li family because her family wanted money.

Consequently, after entering the Li household, Xinghua had gradually cut ties with her natal family.

"However, times are different now. Your father has a son to carry on the line, and your family is poor. If you return home, not only will those three taels of silver... be unsafe... but you yourself might be sold again..."

Xinghua analyzed.

Maids like them, sold into wealthy households, were not like the daughters of great families raised in secluded boudoirs; they were often extremely pragmatic regarding money.

If Wei Tu had not proven himself back then, Xinghua would never have given her private savings to him to be used so freely.

"Sister Xinghua, I plan to follow you for now... Once Brother Wei takes up his official post, he should meet some decent men. When the time comes, I want to marry and start a family..."

Caixia thought for a moment and, considering her situation, stated her intention.

"You have been kind to me. I am naturally willing to have you stay by my side; it will be good to have your company," Xinghua nodded and agreed.

Unmarried commoner women could not form independent households.

Maids who had redeemed their indentures, upon regaining commoner status, could only return to their original place of registration if there were no other means.

Caixia's intention now was to follow the couple and register her household under Wei Tu.

...

The next day.

Wei Tu brought Xinghua and Caixia to the county magistrate's office and handed the women's indentures and letters of certification to the clerks in the household department.

"How strange." The clerk in the household department clicked his tongue in surprise at the sight. He took out the "Civil Registry" and added the two women's names, writing them beneath the name "Wei Tu."

Having served as a clerk in the county's household department for so long, Wei Tu was the first servant he had seen redeem himself, and today, the two maids being redeemed were also related to him... this was a rare occurrence in his experience.

"I wonder if the official documents for this session's Martial Xiucai issued by the Prefecture have arrived at the county office?" After the women's registration was changed, Wei Tu did not leave immediately. He cupped his hands and inquired of the clerk.

"Martial Xiucai documents?"

Hearing this, the clerk was startled for a moment. He glanced at Wei Tu. "You passed the Provincial Martial Examination this session?"

He knew that Wei Tu had taken the top spot in the county's martial examination.

However, he was also one of the few in the county office who knew that Wei Tu's achievement as the martial top scorer was somewhat inflated.

Therefore, he was not optimistic about Wei Tu passing the Provincial Examination.

The provincial exam was difficult, far exceeding the county exam.

"I passed," Wei Tu nodded in response.

"Brother Wei, then you and I shall be colleagues in the future..." Upon hearing this, the clerk immediately beamed and proactively greeted Wei Tu.

His attitude was the complete opposite of before.

He was no longer cold.

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

"My name is Jian Liang. My family has been clerks for generations, and I work in the household department."

"Brother Jian," Wei Tu cupped his hands in greeting.

He did not introduce himself to Jian Liang.

As a clerk in the Qingshan County household department, Jian Liang likely knew more about his identity and family background than he did.

"The Martial Xiucai documents were issued by the Prefectural office two days ago."

"I will change your registration to military status immediately..." Jian Liang offered proactively.

He understood that when Wei Tu mentioned the "Martial Xiucai documents," he was referring to the credential that proved a Martial Xiucai's identity.

These were generally kept by the county office.

"Thank you, Brother Jian."

Once Jian Liang finished the registration change, Wei Tu thanked him and led Xinghua and Caixia out of the household department.

However.

After walking just a few steps.

He saw Wei Fei walking toward him from the Jieshi Archway.

Wei Tu guessed that Wei Fei had also come to the household department to have Jian Liang change his registration.

Once they, as Martial Xiucais, finished their registration changes, they could then wait in peace for the county office's official military appointments.

Thus, such matters should be handled as soon as possible.

"Second Brother."

"Third Brother."

The two exchanged greetings.

"This is my wife, and my sister," Wei Tu introduced Xinghua and Caixia to Wei Fei.

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

He had not expected that one of them would be Wei Tu's wife.

But after his initial surprise, Wei Fei felt a secret admiration for Wei Tu. To not forget his wife of many years after achieving success—such a third brother was rare in this world.

"I came in a hurry and haven't brought any fine gifts. I will make up for it with a meeting gift for you and Sister Caixia the next day," Wei Fei said with a smile.

With that, Wei Tu bid farewell to Wei Fei. He led the two women away from the county office and headed to a real estate agency to find a new residence.

Under the guidance of the agent, Wei Tu quickly selected a small courtyard and purchased it for just over five taels of silver.

"I am borrowing your money. Once the military official's salary is issued in a while, I will pay you back..."

Wei Tu promised Caixia.

Because his funds were tight and he had little money left, more than half of these five taels had come from Caixia.

Caixia lowered her head and gave a soft "Mhm" without refusing; after all, this money was nearly her entire life savings.

"I just don't know when the county office's appointment will arrive. I hope it won't be suppressed or targeted by Prefect He..."

Wei Tu felt a secret sense of anxiety.

...

Time passed slowly.

Wei Tu did not wait for the official appointment from the county office, but instead received a letter from Fu Zhizhou.

In the letter, Fu Zhizhou mentioned that just as he was leaving Qingfeng Prefecture, the elders of the Wuyun Pavilion had approached him, inviting him to join, but he had flatly refused.

At the end of the letter—Fu Zhizhou warned Wei Tu to resist temptation at all costs and not to join them simply because of the benefits promised by the Wuyun Pavilion.

(End of Chapter)