I am a Late Bloomer in the Immortal World
Chapter 12: The Master's Character has Changed

“It must be just my overthinking,” Li Yaozu muttered, rubbing his temples as he sat on the stool by the dining table.

He thought he was merely scaring himself. Since Wei Tu had been sold to the Li family, there had never been an instance where the Li family had wronged him. Wei Tu wouldn’t risk everything over a minor issue.

The matter of forcing Xing Hua to comply hadn’t happened yet. Li Yaozu had only suggested that Wei Tu become Li Xingye’s attendant on the way to the county seat.

Even with the most imaginative speculation, it was unlikely that such a connection would lead to anything dire.

“It’s probably just a coincidence,” Li Yaozu reassured himself, trying to calm his mind.

Nevertheless, he remained uneasy. He recalled the direct gaze Wei Tu had given him when he left, a gaze that did not befit a servant, nor the demeanor of someone grateful.

“I’ll go out for a bit,” Li Yaozu decided, intending to clear his mind.

After greeting Li Tongshi, he lifted his long robe and stepped out of the hall.

Following the corridor, passing through the courtyard and the moon gate, Li Yaozu arrived at the outer courtyard and stopped under the eaves, glancing at the stable.

A half-grown black horse snorted and munched on the remaining feed in the trough.

Next to the stone wall, there was a pile of chopped hay, sufficient for about ten days.

Li Yaozu approached the stable, tiptoed to inspect its cleanliness, and saw that the stable was tidy, with no sign of the black horse’s waste from the previous night. His heart settled, and he showed a hint of admiration.

“It was just my overthinking. Wei Ge’er is a good lad,” Li Yaozu thought to himself.

Returning to the inner courtyard, he passed by the kitchen and smelled the aroma of meat and vegetables wafting from the open window. He felt as though a heavy burden had been lifted and walked with a lighter step.

“Bring me some paper and ink,” Li Yaozu instructed a maid beside Li Tongshi.

“Lord, what do you need paper and ink for?” Li Tongshi asked, puzzled. Li Yaozu was not known for his spontaneous writing, especially during mealtimes.

“I have a long-time friend in Sanyuan Township who is a martial examination graduate. Since Wei Ge’er wants to take the martial examination, let’s do what we can to help him,” Li Yaozu explained.

“Master, have you lost your mind? Are you out of your wits?” Li Tongshi was astonished. 

Earlier, she had negotiated with Li Yaozu to lower Wei Tu’s redemption fee by several taels, considering it a personal favor.

Another reason for that was that if the redemption fee was set too high, wealthy ladies might gossip about the Li family being greedy at their gatherings.

At this moment, Chun Lan had returned with the paper and ink, preparing them for Li Yaozu.

“I have lost my mind?” Li Yaozu paused, a hint of displeasure crossing his face as he frowned and muttered, “You are a short-sighted woman.”

Ignoring Li Tongshi, he began writing on the blue-lined paper, his pen moving swiftly.

After finishing, he sealed the letter with his personal seal, pressing a red stamp onto it.

“If what I saw is true, this letter will create a favorable connection. If not, at least it will help ease a precarious situation.”

Li Yaozu scrutinized the letter, stroking his goat beard as his eyes gleamed with determination.

A debt of gratitude is as heavy as Mount Tai. If Wei Tu repaid kindness with enmity, he wouldn’t even get a chance to meet a swordsman as they value loyalty above all.

“Send this to Wei Ge’er,” Li Yaozu said, placing the letter into an envelope and handing it to a maid.

…….

Soon, Wei Tu, who was packing his belongings in the hall, received another letter from Master Li Yaozu.

The envelope was similar to the one containing the contract and proof letter, unsealed, allowing Wei Tu to easily read its contents.

“Sanyuan Township’s Shan Ji is a martial examination graduate. He wants me to work there and learn some martial skills from him to prepare for next year’s examination?”

After reading the letter, Wei Tu was as astonished as Li Tongshi. It was as if the sun had risen from the west.

Why has Li Yaozu changed his character?

The letter, though seemingly just a letter, carried significant goodwill, given the status of a martial examination official involved.

Goodwill is all about reciprocation.

“There’s no such thing as a free lunch without expecting something in return,” Wei Tu reflected.

“Sanyuan Township is not far from the county seat, just a day’s journey.”

“Now that I’ve redeemed myself, Li Yaozu wouldn’t intentionally deceive me about this. The offer is most likely genuine.”

After a brief moment of hesitation, Wei Tu made up his mind to follow the letter’s advice. He decided to work at the Shan family’s estate in Sanyuan Township and seek advice from the martial examination graduate on preparation for the upcoming exam.

It was only mid-summer, with over half a year remaining before the martial examination in February of the following year.

By redeeming himself earlier than planned, Wei Tu had to accept that he might not earn any money in the meantime, which could lead to a period of financial hardship.

In the Qingmu county, especially during the off-season for farming, there was no shortage of men seeking work from the countryside. Even if one did not demand a salary and only asked for food and lodging, finding such work was challenging.

Otherwise, Xing Hua wouldn’t have reacted so strongly when she heard about Wei Tu’s intention to redeem himself.

Compared to redemption, the real difficulty was that freed servants often found it hard to secure a livelihood.

“Thank you, Bodhisattva, for your blessings.”

That evening, upon seeing Li Yaozu’s handwritten letter, Xing Hua beamed with joy. She knelt in the corner and offered three heartfelt bows toward the direction of the city’s temple.

She had spent the first half of the day anxiously worrying that Wei Tu might be beaten by the angry Li Yaozu or thrown out of the Li household.

Or worse, that Wei Tu might rebel, leading to a city-wide manhunt by the officials.

However, the Bodhisattva’s protection had blessed them. 

Not only had Wei Tu successfully redeemed his bond, but he had also received a “recommendation letter” from Master Li Yaozu, which made her overjoyed.

“I’ll pack your clothes and food right away. After you finish your business at the county office tomorrow, set off early for Sanyuan Township…” Xing Hua, having finished her prayers, quickly began preparing for Wei Tu’s journey, gathering clothes and provisions.

“In just half a month, the wheat harvest will begin. How will you manage without me in the county?” Wei Tu sighed.

If he went to work at the Shan family’s place, he would be too busy during the wheat harvest to return to the county to help with the harvesting.

As a woman, Xing Hua would be occupied with cooking during the day and could not afford the risk of leaving the city at night.

“Don’t you understand the priorities? Three acres of grain left in the field can’t compare to your future.” Xing Hua’s face tightened, showing displeasure, reminiscent of a quarrelsome wife.

“Even if I can’t harvest the wheat myself, I can ask other tenants to do it, even if it means spending a little more money,” she added.

Her words completely dispelled Wei Tu’s worries. He nodded, agreeing to leave for Sanyuan Township the next day.