Chapter 10: Lift Your Head Up (Please add to favorites and follow for updates)

After carefully considering the matter of discussing his manumission with Li Tong-shi, Wei Tu decided that it would be unwise to delay any longer.

He feared that a delay would lead to complications.

According to Caixia, the master, Li Yaozu, intended to use the autumn harvest of the tenanted fields to threaten him and his wife, forcing both him and Xinghua to submit.

The wheat harvest in Qingshan County was only ten days or so away.

If too much time passed and he were to face Li Yaozu’s coercion, there would be no room left for any sense of loyalty between master and servant.

If he were to bring up manumission then, Li Yaozu would certainly find ways to obstruct him, even going so far as to frame him for a crime just to remove him—a "nuisance" in the Li household.

But by seeking manumission early...

Although he was still short on the silver required, the master-servant relationship had not yet soured. Seeing that he was "strong and sturdy," Li Yaozu would likely feel a sense of wariness and, in all probability, abandon his original plan rather than make an enemy of him.

That night.

Wei Tu explained his plan to Xinghua and asked for her opinion.

"You are my man; I will listen to whatever you say," Xinghua replied.

Xinghua knew her own lack of foresight, so she never argued with Wei Tu on matters of direction.

"Having your word is enough." Wei Tu nodded and instructed Xinghua to return to the Li residence later than usual when she went to the county town to buy groceries the next day.

"If anything changes, leave the county town as quickly as you can and hide outside the walls..."

He cautioned her.

"Wei-ge, are you planning to..." Hearing this, Xinghua’s heart skipped a beat, and she immediately thought of the worst.

However, the words died in her throat. She gave a soft "mm," pulled her legs out from under the quilt, and began to pack their meager belongings under the cover of darkness.

"When you leave, don't leave me behind."

After the lamp was extinguished, the couple lay in each other's arms. In the middle of the night, Xinghua pried open Wei Tu’s eyes and whispered these words.

Wei Tu had been sleeping soundly; once woken, he remained dazed for a short while.

In his groggy state, he heard Xinghua clearly, but he did not know how to answer her.

If it truly came to that moment, he could not guarantee that in the panic, he would still be willing to carry a burden that might cost him his own life.

"I still need you to cook for me. I’ve grown used to your cooking; eating anyone else’s just doesn't taste right..." Wei Tu thought for a long time before saying something that didn't quite hit the mark.

However.

By the time the words left his lips.

Xinghua had already fallen asleep, her breath coming in short, warm bursts.

...

The next morning.

Wei Tu rose early as usual. He went about his chores, mixing feed for the horses and chopping up the hay he had accumulated over the past few days.

He even filled the water buckets to the brim, leaving no space for more.

After finishing his work, Wei Tu watched as Xinghua walked out of the front gate of the Li residence with her basket. He sat on a stone stool for a while, and only when the sun began to scorch his back did he stand up and head toward the inner courtyard.

Male servants were forbidden from entering the inner courtyard without the master's orders.

Mindful of his "place," Wei Tu stood at the entrance of the inner courtyard and asked a passing maid to go inside and announce him to Li Tong-shi.

Soon, the maid returned with Li Tong-shi’s command and led Wei Tu into the parlor.

"Wei-ge, what urgent matter do you have for me? Is something missing at home? Or are you and Xinghua not getting along?" Li Tong-shi frowned, glancing at Wei Tu, who stood in the center of the hall.

Li Tong-shi’s voice was calm, without a hint of condescension, but those familiar with her knew this was her way of suppressing her inner anger and dissatisfaction.

If a male servant had business, he should speak directly at the outer courtyard or convey it through a maid; there was no need to enter the inner courtyard to "discuss" it.

In Li Tong-shi’s eyes, Wei Tu’s entry into the inner courtyard today was a breach of protocol.

Without rules, there is no order.

As the mistress of the house, Li Tong-shi intended to crush and extinguish any "sprout" that might cause unrest in the Li residence.

Li Tong-shi sipped her tea. The scalding liquid stung her lips and tongue, but she maintained the poise of a mistress, watching Wei Tu coldly as she waited for his answer.

However, Wei Tu’s opening words caught her completely off guard.

Wei Tu bowed and said, "Grand Mistress, I have come to the inner courtyard today because I wish to redeem my indenture. I intend to participate in next year’s military examinations."

As his words fell, the hall went deathly silent. The atmosphere froze to the point where one could hear a pin drop.

Li Tong-shi was stunned.

Even the maids standing behind her were shocked.

Within the household—or rather, within any wealthy family—the one thing servants must never mention is their indenture.

It was a taboo.

As long as no one mentioned the contract of sale, the servants in the outer and inner courtyards could perform their duties as if it were their natural state, rather than something imposed upon them.

"Wei-ge, you have been with the Li family for some years now. The Li family has treated you well." Li Tong-shi’s expression remained unchanged, but her fingers, hidden in her sleeves, tightened against the fabric.

Servants seeking manumission usually only happened in households that were already in turmoil. Having managed the internal affairs of the Li residence for so many years, she did not want a stain on her record—a stain that other ladies in the county could use to attack her.

"The Li residence saved my life."

Wei Tu nodded and replied.

The hall faced south, and in the shadow of the daylight, Li Tong-shi’s expression softened slightly.

"Is your pay not enough?"

Her tone was gentle.

Only then did Li Tong-shi recall that Wei Tu’s wages had not been raised in a long time. She assumed it must be a matter of money that led him to use the topic of manumission to get her attention.

"No, Grand Mistress." Wei Tu shook his head firmly. "Grand Mistress, as I said, I intend to redeem my indenture to participate in next year’s military examinations."

Wei Tu was puzzled; he had spoken clearly, so why hadn't Li Tong-shi heard the second half of his sentence?

"Military examinations?"

The four words echoed in Li Tong-shi’s mind. After this repetition, she finally understood what they meant.

Li Tong-shi raised her eyes, carefully scrutinizing the young man with the slightly dark complexion before her. After a long moment, she said, "Look up."

Since he had entered the parlor, she had noticed his head was bowed, never once raised.

Or rather, ever since the Li family had bought him, she had never seen Wei Tu look up.

She had always been satisfied with his adherence to the rules, but today, she felt she had miscalculated.

The person who had always been the most disciplined was, at his core, the most restless—actually thinking of redeeming his indenture, taking the military exams, and leaving the Li family.

"Yes, Grand Mistress." Wei Tu followed the order, lifting his head to look the mistress of the Li residence in the eye.

"Why do you want to take the military exams? They are not easy..." Seeing Wei Tu’s features, Li Tong-shi felt a momentary sense of relief and asked in a gentle tone.

Wei Tu’s face did not possess the "noble features" she had read about in books. On the contrary, he was rather plain-looking, indistinguishable from any village farmer.

"Grand Mistress may not know, but two years ago, I obtained a manual on health cultivation from my second aunt. After practicing for these two years, my strength has increased significantly, and I have reached the requirements to participate in the military examinations..."

Wei Tu pondered for a moment, then told her everything about his practice of the health cultivation manual, mentioning his second aunt, Wei Hong, in passing.