Chapter 18: Four Silver Beans

Wei Tu didn't trouble the Dan household with his correspondence. Instead, he entrusted a seasoned cart driver who frequently traveled between the county and Sanyuan Township to deliver his letter to the Li Manor.

The cart driver's fee wasn't high—just a dozen copper coins, roughly the cost of a meal.

…

Seven or eight days later, Xinghua also entrusted the same cart driver to deliver a reply.

In her letter, Xinghua first expressed her joy upon learning that Wei Tu had been accepted as Dan Wu Ju's disciple, urging him to serve his master well and not to worry about returning home for the New Year.

She then detailed how the three mu of rented land had been harvested this year.

—First Madam Li Tongshi had been kind enough to arrange for several tenant farmers to help with the harvest without charging a single coin.

At the end of the letter, Xinghua mentioned that she had sewn a winter jacket out of cotton cloth and asked whether it fit well or needed any adjustments.

She also admitted that she had guessed his waist size, leaving him to make the final call on whether it should be altered.

After reading the letter, Wei Tu sat in contemplation for a while before unwrapping the package the cart driver had delivered.

Inside, apart from a violet woolen jacket, there were also two pairs of newly sewn soft satin shoes.

Following Xinghua's instructions, Wei Tu stood up and tried on the winter jacket and shoes.

However, as soon as he put on the jacket, he noticed that it was indeed a bit tight around the waist.

Taking a pair of scissors, he began to undo the stitching, but just as he made the first cut, he discovered a folded note tucked inside the lining—along with several small silver beans.

The note contained only a few words from Xinghua, explaining that she had hidden four silver beans inside the winter jacket, totaling just over one tael. She asked him to use the money to buy an appropriate gift for Dan Wu Ju as a formal apprentice's offering.

One by one, Wei Tu retrieved the four silver beans from the cotton padding. Clutching them in his palm, he felt their warmth and weight, as if they were slightly burning his skin.

"A woman three years older is worth a gold brick."

"Li Tongshi's words were not wrong after all."

Wei Tu sighed, feeling a fresh wave of guilt toward Xinghua.

She was three years older than him, had entered the Li household two years earlier, and had always looked after him, perhaps due to the natural maturity of women.

Even after marriage, though she respected him as her husband in major decisions, she had never truly abandoned her habit of teaching him how to handle things.

"A new bride is also a mother."

Wei Tu chuckled and shook his head. After steadying his emotions, he decided to follow Xinghua's instructions and use the silver to buy a proper gift for Dan Wu Ju.

These past days, since being formally accepted as a disciple, Dan Wu Ju had truly treated him as a student, not just a nominal apprentice.

Footwork.

Archery.

Horsemanship.

Military strategies.

Everything essential for the martial examination, Dan Wu Ju had spared no effort in teaching him. When discussing written military strategies, he had even shared insights into the personal preferences of the county's examination officials.

Wei Tu had already been thinking of presenting a formal apprenticeship gift to Dan Wu Ju.

But having just redeemed his indenture, his finances were tight, and all their spare money was with Xinghua. He hadn't been able to prepare anything substantial…

Unexpectedly, Xinghua had not only considered this issue but had acted decisively.

—Now that the master-disciple relationship was officially established, some might say that presenting a gift was unnecessary.

But in the eyes of those with limited experience, it was indeed something that shouldn't be overlooked.

Leaving the second courtyard, Wei Tu instructed Deng An, who was preparing fodder for the horses, before heading to the stables and leading out a horse.

These past few days, while Dan Wu Ju had been teaching him mounted archery, he had also made it clear that aside from his own favored yellow bay horse, any of the remaining three horses in the stable were available for Wei Tu to practice his riding skills.

Nearby, Deng An watched this scene unfold with a look of envy. As he gazed at Wei Tu's departing figure, he remained standing in place for a long time.

Just a few days ago…

They had both been long-term laborers in the west wing.

Back then, Wei Tu had still been taking orders from him.

Yet within the span of a few short days, Wei Tu had completely turned his life around, becoming someone who could ride horses, while Deng An was still cleaning latrines, sweeping courtyards, and chopping feed—just as he had for decades, with no change in sight.

Heading south, Wei Tu arrived at the bustling market town of Sanyuan Township. Leading his horse through the lively streets, he observed the storefronts on either side, contemplating what would make an appropriate gift for Dan Wu Ju.

A tailor shop.

A blacksmith's forge.

An herbal medicine store.

Wei Tu was overwhelmed by the variety.

The one tael of silver in his hand was a significant sum for a poor man—it could last several months if spent frugally. However, when it came to selecting a proper gift for his master, it suddenly felt insufficient.

He couldn't afford anything extravagant.

And if he bought something too cheap, he feared Dan Wu Ju might take it as a sign of insincerity.

"Master once said that he has children to care for him in his old age. What matters is that I have the right intention..."

Tired of deliberating, Wei Tu stopped in his tracks. His master's words echoed in his mind, resolving his hesitation.

Without further delay, he stepped into a pastry shop and purchased three boxes of popular pastries. Next, he visited a general store and bought some seasonal fruits.

Finally, he made his way to a butcher's stall and selected two catties of pork with a good mix of fat and lean meat.

"Brother Wei, why are you buying so much today?"

"Is there a special occasion?"

Upon returning to the Dan residence, several of the maids who had become familiar with him over the past few days greeted him with curiosity.

Wei Tu smiled and openly shared the contents of Xinghua's letter, including the silver beans she had hidden in his jacket.

Since he had not given a gift at the time of his formal apprenticeship, he was now making up for it.

It was only natural to offer an explanation.

Besides, he saw no reason to keep Xinghua a secret. Now that his status had risen, he wasn't about to look down on the wife who had stood by him during his lowest days.

After all, half of the money he used to redeem himself had come from Xinghua.

"Brother Wei has a good wife."

"She's thoughtful and capable…"

The servants of the Dan household praised her one after another.

Meanwhile, inside the main hall, Dan Wu Ju was seated, sipping tea and enjoying the evening breeze. Upon hearing the commotion outside, he was momentarily taken aback. But soon, a knowing smile spread across his face.

However, by the time he stepped outside and faced Wei Tu, he had regained his usual stern demeanor.

"There's no need for all this," Dan Wu Ju said gruffly, glancing at the various items in Wei Tu's hands. "What matters is the sentiment, not the gift itself."

"Master, this was my wife's idea," Wei Tu said respectfully, bowing slightly. "She insisted that I make up for the lack of an apprentice gift."

Hearing this, Dan Wu Ju no longer declined. He nodded and motioned for Madam Gao to receive the offerings from Wei Tu.

"A wise wife can influence a family for three generations. Your wife seems to be a fine woman," Dan Wu Ju remarked approvingly.

"If your shimu were here, she would certainly appreciate such sentiments."

Dan Wu Ju chuckled.

Wei Tu's eyes flickered at the mention of his master's wife.

The "shimu" Dan Wu Ju referred to was not Madam Gao, his concubine, but rather his legal wife—Madam Dan Min.

During his time in the Dan household, Wei Tu had overheard servants and maids mention Dan Min in passing, piecing together bits of her story.

Dan Wu Ju had married her before his rise to prominence. She was his first and proper wife, the woman who had stood by him when he had nothing.

Dan Wu Ju deeply respected his first wife. Though he had taken concubines in his later years, he had never mistreated or disrespected Dan Min.

However, as she grew older and frailer, she found it difficult to endure his relationship with Madam Gao. A few years ago, she had chosen to move out of the Dan residence and settle in the prefectural city, where she lived with their son.