Chapter 42: The Ungrateful (Please add to favorites and keep reading)

"Xinghua agrees." This was the first sentence Wei Tu spoke after Caixia burst into the Li family's living room.

The sentence was calm and brief, but the Li Yaozu couple sensed a different undertone—Wei Tu was "talking back" to them.

Whether from the perspective of a servant who had redeemed himself from the Li household, or from the perspective of a guest visiting the Li residence, Wei Tu's words seemed highly impolite...

"No, one should say he was impolite the moment Caixia burst into the living room." Sitting in his chair, Li Yaozu's right hand, hidden in his sleeve, tightened slightly as he suppressed his dissatisfaction.

Originally, he had thought that when Wei Tu redeemed Xinghua's indenture, he would first come to him with a proposal to discuss... then the two families would settle things amicably, the Li family would release the person, the Wei family would take her in, and the matter would become a beautiful tale of harmony in Qingshan County, or even in the Shannan Circuit.

In such a way, the Li family would gain immense prestige from the arrangement. When Li Xingye took the imperial examinations, the examiners would look upon him more favorably, helping him pass.

At that time, the Li family's social standing would rise sharply, making them the preeminent "Family of Benevolence" in Qingshan County.

But now, this single sentence from Wei Tu had shattered his fantasy.

Wei Tu had actually agreed to Caixia's proposal with such ease, without once considering the matter from the Li family's perspective.

"How can he be so ungrateful?" Li Yaozu gritted his teeth.

He could not stand by and watch the investment he had made in Wei Tu over the past six months go entirely down the drain...

The more enthusiastic he had been toward Wei Tu previously, the more furious he was now.

Although Lady Li did not think as deeply as her husband, she instinctively felt that Wei Tu's words were "inappropriate" upon hearing them.

She simply could not yet grasp the source of this "inappropriateness."

"Could it be that Master Li feels that I, Wei, am incapable of making decisions on Xinghua's behalf?"

Seeing that the Li couple had not spoken for a long time, Wei Tu's brow furrowed slightly, and his tone instantly gained a sense of sharpness and edge.

Initially, when he arrived at the Li inner residence today, he had remembered Chunlan's words and decided to delay Xinghua's redemption, waiting for another day to find an opportunity, hoping to avoid provoking the Li couple out of a sense of gratitude.

But plans cannot keep up with changes.

In the interim...

The incident with Caixia had occurred.

This kind of drama—wealthy scions bullying maidservants—immediately made Wei Tu realize that the Li residence was not a safe 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; after the banquet ended, he remembered the forceful kick Li Xingye had delivered to the ancient cypress tree in the courtyard.

Now that Li Xingye had become "manic" after failing his exams, if he were to find out that Wei Tu had passed and held a grudge, there was no guarantee he wouldn't target Xinghua.

Such matters... were uncontrollable!

By then...

Even if he held official rank, it would be difficult for him to intervene in Xinghua's affairs.

After all, Xinghua's indenture was held by the Li family; she was a bonded servant belonging to them.

Therefore, Caixia's outburst had indeed resolved a pressing crisis for Wei Tu.

After some thought, Wei Tu decided to go with the flow, seizing the opportunity to reclaim Xinghua's indenture from the Li family without further delay.

As for today's events—

Wei Tu was certain the Li family would not make a public spectacle of this or claim he had "betrayed his masters," because the matter involved Caixia.

Publicizing this would be a family disgrace for the Li family.

The time was ripe.

Wei Tu would not hesitate.

"Of... of course not..." Li Yaozu sighed inwardly and shook his head.

Wei Tu was Xinghua's husband; he naturally had the right to decide whether to redeem her indenture.

Any further arguing would be futile and would only result in a complete fallout with Wei Tu.

He did not want to make an enemy of Wei Tu.

However, just as Li Yaozu finished speaking, Li Xingye slammed the table and stood up. He paced back and forth in the hall, eyeing Caixia and Wei Tu before saying, "Wei Tu, do you truly intend to oppose our Li family just because of this girl?"

"In the sixteenth year of Qing'an, there was a great drought in Qingfeng Prefecture and nothing could be harvested. The Li family took you in and gave you the grace of survival. Do you not think of repaying us?"

"Last year, when you redeemed your indenture, my father, out of pity for you, set aside the Li family's influence to write a recommendation letter for Martial Scholar Shan..."

"Is this the kind of gratitude you use today to talk back to my parents?" Li Xingye said with a mocking laugh.

Just a moment ago, he had intended to let Caixia leave and allow Xinghua to be redeemed, but he hadn't expected Wei Tu to be so insolent, insulting and pressuring his parents in such a manner.

He could no longer endure it.

As he hurled those words out, Li Xingye felt a sudden sense of relief, as if all the resentment from his failed exams had been vented and poured out.

As his voice fell...

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly turned cold and silent.

The Li couple fell silent.

Caixia was also stunned.

The three of them turned their gazes toward Wei Tu, wondering how he would react to such blatant insults.

But—

Wei Tu was very calm, as if he had long anticipated that Li Xingye would say such things.

"I have never forgotten the kindness of the Li family."

"When the opportunity arises, I shall repay it..."

Wei Tu replied, his tone slightly cold as he looked at Li Xingye.

Having finished, Wei Tu turned his gaze back to the Li couple, waiting for their response regarding Xinghua's redemption.

"Xingye failed his exams and has been feeling stifled lately. Please do not take his offensive words to heart, Brother Wei."

Lady Li offered an apology.

Then, she nudged Li Yaozu, who was sitting beside her, and said, "Master, go get Xinghua's indenture. Today, two people in the household are being redeemed; it is a joyous occasion. I am happy for them as well."

"Fine, fine, fine..." Seeing a way to save face, Li Yaozu did not hesitate. He turned and went to the inner hall to retrieve Xinghua's indenture.

"Redeeming Xinghua won't cost more than ten taels; seven taels will be enough."

Lady Li took three taels of cash from her purse and placed them on the side table.

Having done all this, she, like Caixia before, pressed her lips tightly together and leaned back in her straight-backed chair, staring blankly at the beams of the hall for a moment.

Once Xinghua's indenture was in hand...

Wei Tu cupped his hands and thanked the Li couple, adding, "Madam, I don't think today is suitable for me to stay overnight. If I am free another day, I will come to visit you with Xinghua..."

"That sounds good." Hearing this, a habitual smile returned to Lady Li's face as she nodded in reply.

To the side, Li Xingye watched this scene with some bewilderment. He hadn't expected Wei Tu to have such great composure, nor had his parents' handling of the situation aligned with his expectations.

However, after his outburst, he also felt that what he had said was inappropriate, driven by momentary rage. Thus, he played dead, waiting for everything to end quickly.

Soon, Wei Tu and Caixia left the living room.

Chunlan, who had been waiting outside the door, watched them leave, then, with trembling hands, brought in the meal prepared for the masters of the Li household.

"Chunlan, whatever you just saw, swallow it. You are not allowed to speak of it, or you will face the family discipline," Lady Li said, her smile vanishing as her face tightened in a reprimand.

"This servant understands."

Chunlan nodded like a chick pecking at grain and placed the meal on the eight-immortals table.

"It's just that... there is something this servant doesn't know whether she should say..." Chunlan hesitated for a moment, looking at Lady Li, and whispered.

"What is it?"

Lady Li's expression was not good; the anger she had endured today was greater than everything she had experienced in the twenty-plus years since marrying into the Li family combined.

"Brother Wei..."

"He was successful in the Dao examinations this year. He passed... as a second-class Martial Scholar."

Chunlan said hurriedly.