Chapter 10: Raise Your Head

Wei Tu decided that it was not wise to delay discussing the release with Li Tongshi any longer. He was worried that further delays might lead to complications.

According to Cai Xia, Master Li Yaozu intended to use the autumn harvest of the tenant fields to threaten him and his wife, pressuring them to comply.

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

If too much time passed and Li Yaozu resorted to coercion, the relationship between master and servant would become irreparable. At that point, proposing redemption would be met with strong opposition, and Li Yaozu might even go as far as framing him to eliminate what he perceived as a “troublemaker” in the Li household.

By redeeming himself in advance, even though he was still short of some money, there was a chance that Li Yaozu, seeing that their relationship hadn't yet soured and recognizing his 'strength,' might be deterred and reconsider his plans, avoiding enmity.

In the evening, Wei Tu shared his plan with Xinghua and sought her opinion.

“You are my husband. I will follow your lead,” Xinghua replied.

Knowing her position, Xinghua never disputed the major decisions with Wei Tu.

“That’s all I needed to hear,” Wei Tu nodded

He also advised Xinghua to return late from the county town after buying groceries the next day.

“If anything goes wrong, you should leave the county as quickly as possible and hide outside the city.” He instructed her.

“Wei Ge’er, are you going to…” Xinghua’s heart sank at these words, immediately fearing the worst.

Before she could finish her thought, she stopped herself, gently murmured a response, and began to pack the household belongings under the cover of night.

After the lights were out, the couple embraced and fell asleep.

“Don’t leave me behind when you go.” In the middle of the night, Xinghua nudged Wei Tu awake and whispered these words.

Wei Tu, initially groggy from sleep, was momentarily disoriented. He heard Xinghua’s words clearly but wasn’t sure how to respond.

If it came to that, he was uncertain whether he would want to carry an additional burden, risking his own life.

“I still need you to cook for me. I’m used to your food and food cooked by others just don’t taste right.” Wei Tu thought for a long while before saying something that might not be very comforting.

However, as soon as he finished speaking, Xinghua had already fallen asleep, her breaths coming out hot and quick.

…….

The next morning.

Wei Tu, as usual, rose early and went about his chores, mixing feed for the horse and chopping the dry hay that had accumulated over the past few days. He filled the bucket with clean water, leaving no space empty.

After finishing his work.

Wei Tu watched as Xinghua left the Li residence with a basket. He then sat on a stone block, waiting until the sun made his back unbearably hot before heading towards the inner residence.

As an outsider, he was prohibited from entering the inner quarters without permission from the master. Wei Tu adhered to his role, standing at the entrance of the inner residence and asking the passing maid to inform Li Tongshi.

Soon, a maid arrived with Li Tongshi’s instructions and guided Wei Tu into the parlor.

“Wei Ge’er, is there something important you need? Is there something missing at home, or are you and Xinghua having issues?” Li Tongshi asked with a frown, eyeing Wei Tu standing in the center of the room.

Li Tongshi’s voice was calm and without any trace of arrogance. However, those familiar with her knew that she was deliberately suppressing her anger and dissatisfaction.

A male servant entering the inner quarters was seen as improper. If there were issues, they should have been discussed in the outer quarters through the maid. Coming to the inner quarters to 'discuss' was considered a breach of etiquette.

Without rules, order cannot be maintained. As the matriarch, Li Tongshi was determined to crush any signs of instability that could disrupt the Li household.

Li Tongshi sipped her tea, the heat causing her lips and tongue to burn, but she maintained her composure as she coolly stared at Wei Tu, waiting for his response.

Wei Tu’s request, however, took Li Tongshi by surprise.

Wei Tu bowed and said, “Madam, I have come to discuss redeeming my contract. I intend to participate in next year’s martial examination.”

The room fell into silence as soon as Wei Tu finished speaking. The atmosphere became so tense that a pin dropping could be heard.

Li Tongshi was stunned. Even the maids standing behind Li Tongshi were equally shocked.

In a wealthy household, particularly among the servants, discussing the contract of servitude was considered taboo. It was a forbidden topic.

As long as no one mentioned the contract, the servants in both the outer and inner quarters went about their duties as if it were their inherent role, rather than something imposed on them.

“Wei Ge’er, you’ve been with the Li family for some time. The Li family has surely treated you well,” Li Tongshi’s expression remained unchanged, but her fingers, hidden in her sleeve, tightened around the fabric.

Redemption of a servant often signaled turmoil in large households. Having managed the Li household for many years, Li Tongshi did not want to have a blemish, a stain that could be used by others in the county to attack her.

“The Li family has saved my life,” Wei Tu replied, nodding.

Sitting in the hall, facing south, Li Tongshi’s expression softened slightly in the sunlight’s shadow.

“Is it a matter of insufficient wages?” Her tone was gentle.

At this moment, Li Tongshi recalled that Wei Tu’s wages had not increased for a long time, which might be why he was raising the issue of redemption.

“It’s not that, Madam,” Wei Tu shook his head firmly. “I said earlier that I intend to redeem myself to participate in next year’s martial examination.”

Wei Tu was puzzled. Although he had articulated his words clearly, why did it seem like Li Tongshi hadn’t heard the latter part of his statement?

“The martial examination?”

The term echoed in Li Tongshi’s mind again, and this time she fully grasped its meaning.

Li Tongshi looked up, scrutinizing the slightly tanned young man before her.

After a moment, she said, “Raise your head.”

From the moment he entered the parlor, Wei Tu had kept his head bowed. In fact, since the Li family had bought him, she had never seen him lift his head.

While she had always been pleased with his adherence to protocol, today she felt she had misjudged him.

The most disciplined person was actually the most restless at heart, thinking of redeeming himself, taking the martial examination, and leaving the Li household.

“Yes, Madam.” Wei Tu followed her instruction and raised his head to meet Li Tongshi’s gaze.

“Why do you want to take the martial examination? It’s not an easy path.” Li Tongshi asked gently after assessing Wei Tu’s appearance.

His face did not resemble the "imposing dragon visage" she had read about in books. On the contrary, Wei Tu’s looks were rather plain, indistinguishable from those of a rural farmer.

“Madam may not know, but I obtained a health-preserving technique from my second aunt two years ago. After practicing it for the past two years, my strength has greatly increased, meeting the requirements to participate in the martial examination…”

Wei Tu took a moment to explain his practice of the health-preserving technique in detail, also mentioning his second aunt, Wei Hong.