I am a Late Bloomer in the Immortal World
Chapter 8: Secret Savings

However, the prerequisite for participating in the martial examination is that he must first remove his status as a servant in Qingmu County. But this process is not easy.

Firstly, one needs to have enough money to redeem oneself and buy back their servant contract from their master.

Secondly, one must take the master’s letter and the servant contract to the government office to process the release.

While the local government would not object to adding taxpayers, the real challenge is convincing the master who holds the servant contract.

“After being a stableman in the Li residence for so many years, and having learned horse-rearing skills, the market price to buy my release deed is at least ten taels of silver...” Wei Tu’s expression grew grim as he thought about this.

He had started as a mere tenant farmer and had worked his way up to being the Li residence’s stableman. He had enjoyed significant improvements in his living conditions, receiving wages and better food, and had gained status in front of his master.

Even his marriage had been arranged by the master...

If he did not redeem himself, all of this would remain good.

But to redeem himself...

All the food, drink, and comforts he had enjoyed would need to be paid back.

The identity of a stableman would also increase the value of his contract.

Furthermore, skilled workers are valuable.

If the government summoned laborers, he, as a stableman, could be sent to replace others, saving the master a considerable amount of replacement silver.

Under these conditions, even if he saved up the ten taels of silver for redemption, the Li residence would not easily let him go, especially since Master Li who was known for being a “stingy person.”

Master Li was known for his frugality, even going as far as lighting only one lamp to avoid wasting oil.

“When my father sold me, he only got five silver coins and two dou of wheat.” {1}

Wei Tu sighed inwardly.

In just six years, his worth had multiplied twentyfold, which was hard to imagine.

However, during the years of famine, life was so cheap that being sold to survive was, at that time, considered a stroke of luck.

“How much money do we still have...” That evening, when Xinghua returned to the room, Wei Tu asked about her private savings.

Although they were married, according to custom, the savings Xinghua had accumulated were still considered her dowry. As her husband, he could not use any of it without her consent.

“Why are you asking about this?” Xinghua looked at him with some suspicion.

Her private savings were her lifeline and the root for her security.

Even though Wei Tu was her husband, without a valid reason, she wouldn’t take out a single coin.

“I... intend to redeem myself and take the martial examination. I’m short on money...” Wei Tu didn’t hesitate to reveal his plan.

Now that he and Xinghua were married and close, they relied on each other.

Although using Xinghua’s dowry made him uncomfortable, redeeming himself was crucial for his future plans, so he needed to act quickly.

He would not pretend otherwise.

What he owed Xinghua today, he would repay a hundredfold or a thousandfold in the future. Marriage meant sharing both hardships and blessings.

“Redeem yourself? Wei Ge’er, what has gotten into you? Are you crazy?” Hearing Wei Tu’s words, Xinghua stood up with a start, her face full of panic. She spoke in a hushed tone, scolding him, “Where can you find such a good job after leaving the Li residence? I’ll try to probe the madam’s opinion again this autumn. Maybe we can rent land this year...”

“Once we have land to rent, our days will get better, and we can move out of this hall.”

After mumbling a few more words, Xinghua’s eyes filled with tears, and she gently wiped them with a handkerchief.

She had hoped she married a steady man, someone who would bring hope to their lives. But now, it seemed that Wei Tu was fundamentally “restless.”

Martial examinations?

Were martial examinations something a servant could take? People who came out of the martial examinations were given respect by ordinary people, who would bow and call them “Martial Scholar.”

“See for yourself.” Seeing Xinghua’s reaction, Wei Tu didn’t approach her to comfort her but went out of the hall and carried the 200-pound stone lock from the corner of the courtyard back into the room.

He demonstrated his strength in front of Xinghua.

The facts were the best evidence.

He had the capability to take the martial examination!

“Is this for real?” Xinghua, wiping away her tears, walked over to Wei Tu and tried to lift the stone lock.

Soon, she showed a look of disbelief, her eyes shining even brighter than the oil lamp in the room.

The weight of the two-hundred-pound stone lock was such that she couldn’t even lift it, but her husband had the ability to wield it.

She was not a fragile woman who couldn’t lift or carry things.

Xinghua approached and touched Wei Tu’s chest. Through his summer clothes, she could feel the solid, bulging muscles and the strong, sturdy arms.

“Wei Ge’er, do you really intend to take the martial examinations?” Xinghua began to believe Wei Tu’s words.

She was not only hoping for their future children to succeed academically but also pinning her hopes on her husband making a name for himself in this generation.

“As long as I practice archery well, passing the martial examinations to become a Martial Scholar shouldn’t be a problem.” Though Wei Tu wasn’t entirely certain himself, he assured Xinghua confidently.

With over a year left before the martial examinations in Qingfeng Prefecture, his physical condition would surely improve significantly by then.

Additionally, without the constraints of being a servant, he would be able to work more freely. Even if he couldn’t earn a lot with the modern knowledge in his mind, making a few small sums of money would be more than enough.

Now, with his superior martial skills, he could also protect his rightful property without fear of petty thieves.

“My private savings… amount to three taels of silver and seven silver coins. This includes wages from these years and daily rewards from the household.” Xinghua hesitated for a moment, then took her savings from the redwood chest in the corner of the room and laid them out on the bed, counting them.

She had been working in the Li residence for two years before Wei Tu arrived, starting as a maid, which meant she had received more rewards. Later, as the cook, she had a chance to save even more by skimping a bit here and there.

Of course, she was cautious and didn’t dare to be too greedy, only taking small savings from bargaining for ingredients and meat.

Servants are generally known to be greedy, and as long as it wasn’t excessive, the master would usually turn a blind eye.

Otherwise, with Li Tongshi’s sharpness, Xinghua wouldn’t have lasted so long as the cook.

“I have just over one tael. Adding the money my father gave me, it totals around three taels.”

“There’s still a shortage of three taels and three coins…”

Wei Tu calculated their total savings and said.

“Three taels and three coins… If I can persuade the big wife this year, we might rent three or four acres of land. After paying the rent, we could earn around five or six coins.”

“I can also borrow a bit from Chunlan and Caixia, and with our future wages, the shortfall shouldn’t be too large.”

“If it still doesn’t work…”

Xinghua gritted her teeth and considered the possibility of using her position to embezzle a larger sum.

“That’s not a good idea.” Wei Tu saw through Xinghua’s plan and promptly stopped her.

Taking a little extra from bargaining was within acceptable limits. Li Tongshi knew about it and would overlook it. But if she started playing tricks, cheating, or using false measures, Li Tongshi would not be so lenient.

If Xinghua were to be killed, the law enforcers would not pursue the matter too closely; they would simply impose a fine to resolve it

"If you don’t succeed, I’m willing to be a brothel hostess if necessary." Seeing the worried expression on Wei Tu’s face, Xinghua felt touched and swore, as if making a pledge.

“Tsk. That’s not something you should say. What do you take your husband for?”

Wei Tu frowned and scolded.

Translator notes:-

1. When the metal of the coins or taels is not written assume it to be silver. One tael of silver is 10 silver coins. So 10 taels is twenty times of 5 coins. Dou represents a volumetric measurement of wheat and is very variable. Two dou of wheat is approx. 21-25 kg