Chapter 12: Has the Master Changed?

"I must be overthinking this."

Master Li Yaozu rubbed his temples and sat down on the stool by the dining table.

He told himself he was scaring himself unnecessarily.

Since the day Wei Tu was sold into the Li family, the household had never mistreated him. There was no way Wei Tu would take such drastic measures over something so trivial.

—The matter of forcing Xinghua into submission hadn't even happened yet. All he had done on the way to the prefecture city was casually mention making Wei Tu his son Li Xingye's attendant.

Even with all the speculation in the world, he wouldn't have arrived at that conclusion.

"It must just be a coincidence."

Once again, Li Yaozu reassured himself with those same words.

But his heart refused to settle. He recalled how Wei Tu had straightened his back as he left, looking him straight in the eyes. That gaze was not one a servant should have—not the demeanor of someone who truly felt gratitude.

"I'll go out for a bit." Li Yaozu decided to take a walk to clear his mind.

After informing First Madam Li Tongshi, he lifted the hem of his robe and stepped out of the hall.

Following the corridor, passing through the courtyard and the moon gate, he arrived at the outer quarters, where he stopped beneath the eaves, his eyes drifting toward the stables.

The young black horse snorted, chewing on the last inch of hay in the trough.

Near the stone wall, by the blue-green rocks, there was a neatly stacked pile of finely chopped hay—enough to last at least ten days.

Li Yaozu stepped closer to the stable, standing on tiptoe to glance inside. The area was tidy; there was no sign of manure or urine from the night before.

His unsettled heart finally eased, and a trace of admiration flashed in his eyes.

"I really was overthinking. Wei Ge'er is a good lad."

With that thought, he turned back toward the inner residence.

As he passed by the kitchen, the scent of simmering meat and vegetables wafted through the open window.

A weight lifted off his shoulders, and his steps grew noticeably lighter.

"Fetch paper and ink."

Back in the hall, Li Yaozu resumed his seat and gave his order to the maidservants beside First Madam Li Tongshi.

"Master, why do you need writing materials? What are you planning to write?"

Li Tongshi was puzzled. Her husband was not the type to write poetry on a whim—especially not during mealtime.

"I have an old friend in Sanyuan Township who once passed the martial examination. Since Wei Ge'er is determined to take the exam, let's see this good deed through and lend him a hand."

Li Yaozu explained casually.

"Master, have you gone mad? Are you out of your mind?"

Li Tongshi was stunned.

During their earlier discussion in the inner hall about the ransom price, she had been the one to fight for a discount, sparing Wei Tu from paying a few extra taels.

—If they had demanded too high a ransom, the wealthy wives in the county would mock the Li family for being petty and greedy.

By now, Chunlan had already brought the writing materials from the inner hall and was diligently grinding ink for him.

"Madness?"

Li Yaozu's hand paused, his expression darkening slightly as he furrowed his brows and scoffed, "Short-sighted woman."

Ignoring her further, he let his brush glide across the blue-lined vertical paper, carefully composing the letter.

Once finished, he took out his personal seal and stamped a red imprint on the document.

"If my judgment is correct, this letter will forge a valuable connection. If I'm mistaken and he's a scheming man, then it will still avert a future calamity."

Li Yaozu studied the letter, stroking his goatee, a glint of calculation flashing in his eyes.

A favor like this was as heavy as a mountain. If Wei Tu proved ungrateful, he wouldn't even have the chance to survive as a blade-wielding outlaw.

After all, the world of knife-wielding men valued loyalty above all else.

"Take this to Wei Ge'er," Li Yaozu said, placing the letter in an envelope and handing it to the maidservant.

Before long, while Wei Tu was in the hall packing his belongings, he received another letter from Master Li Yaozu.

This letter was just like the previous one containing his deed of sale and proof of release—it was left unsealed, allowing Wei Tu to read its contents with ease.

"A recommendation to Scholar Ji Dan in Sanyuan Township? Asking me to work as a laborer while also learning some martial arts under him to prepare for next year's martial examination?"

After reading the letter, Wei Tu's reaction was much the same as First Madam Li Tongshi's—he felt as if the sun had risen in the west.

Had Master Li Yaozu really changed?

This was no ordinary letter; it was a personal recommendation to a titled martial scholar. That was no small favor.

In this world, every favor demanded reciprocation. No one would offer help without expecting something in return.

"Sanyuan Township isn't far from the county, just a day's journey on foot."

"Now that I've secured my release, Master Li Yaozu has no reason to deceive me in this matter. There's a high chance this is genuine."

Wei Tu hesitated briefly before making up his mind. He decided to follow the letter's instructions and head to Scholar Ji Dan's household in Sanyuan Township. He would take up work as a laborer while also seeking guidance from the experienced martial scholar.

It was only mid-summer, and there were still more than six months before the martial examination in February of next year.

By deviating from his original plan and securing his release early, the coming half-year would likely mean no income at all—merely eating away at his savings.

In the county, during the slack farming season, there was never a shortage of strong farmhands looking for work.

Even if a man was willing to work just for food and lodging, finding employment was no easy task.

Otherwise, Xinghua wouldn't have reacted so strongly upon hearing that Wei Tu wanted to purchase his freedom.

Securing one's release was easy; surviving afterward was the real challenge.

"Thank the Bodhisattva… Thank the Bodhisattva…"

That night, when Xinghua read Li Yaozu's personally written recommendation, she beamed with joy, knelt in the corner of the room, and bowed three times in the direction of the City God Temple.

For the entire first half of the day, she had been on edge, fearing that Li Yaozu, enraged, would have Wei Tu beaten and thrown out of the Li household.

Or worse, that Wei Tu would be declared a fugitive, forcing the county constables to conduct a citywide search for an escaped slave.

However—

The Bodhisattva had indeed protected them.

By the end of the day, not only had her husband successfully secured his deed of freedom, but he had also received a formal recommendation from Master Li Yaozu himself.

How could she not be overjoyed?

"I'll prepare your clothes and some provisions now. After you finish your business at the county office tomorrow, you should set off for Sanyuan Township as soon as possible."

After finishing her prayers to all the gods in heaven, Xinghua immediately got to work, packing Wei Tu's traveling clothes and food for the journey.

"In less than half a month, it'll be wheat harvest time… Without me in the county…" Wei Tu sighed.

If he went to Scholar Ji Dan's household for work, he certainly wouldn't be able to return in time for the wheat harvest.

Xinghua, being a woman, already had her hands full managing the household and cooking for the Li family. Even if she had time at night, it was too dangerous to leave the city alone.

"How can you not see the bigger picture? Even if those three acres of wheat rot in the fields, your future is far more important!" Xinghua scolded, her expression tight with frustration, looking every bit like a nagging wife.

"If I can't harvest the wheat myself, I can always hire other tenant farmers to do it. It'll just cost a bit more."

Her words finally dispelled Wei Tu's concerns.

He nodded and agreed to set off for Sanyuan Township the next morning.