Chapter 28: Greed for Wealth and Benefits |
“Uncle.” Wei Tu, knowing the nature of his second aunt Wei Hong, was not too surprised. After taking a moment to assess Lord Huang, he clasped his fists in salute and acknowledged the relationship.
In principle, given Wei Hong's status, even though she was not materialistic, Wei Tu, as a concubine’s nephew, had no right to address Lord Huang as ‘uncle.’ Only her direct nephews could do so. Calling Lord Huang ‘uncle’ out of the blue would be inappropriate, disregarding the hierarchical norms and propriety.
Although Wei Tu himself did not care about being associated with Lord Huang, he was willing to address him as ‘uncle’ if it would benefit his second aunt Wei Hong. It was a small gesture that cost him nothing.
Historically, it is easier to add flowers to a brocade than to provide timely help in the snow. The Li family’s investment and assistance to him were more like the former; while he appreciated it and harbored a sense of gratitude, it was not substantial.
Once he had repaid the favor, he would have no further ties with the Li family. In contrast, even though Wei Hong had shown disdain for him three years ago and hinted that their familial bond was exhausted, she still agreed to his request for Master Ruan to teach him health cultivation techniques. This act of kindness was akin to offering help in the snow.At least, when Wei Hong made that decision, it was out of familial affection rather than seeking something in return.
…….
In the City God Temple’s front square, after hearing Wei Tu address him as ‘uncle,’ Lord Huang responded with a faint smile.
“Wei Ge’er, come home with me. I will host a banquet to celebrate your achievements,” Lord Huang reiterated what Wei Hong had just said.
He had expected Wei Tu, now successful, to be difficult and hold a grudge due to the previous estrangement between the Huang family and Wei Hong. However, he was surprised at how quickly and smoothly Wei Tu accepted the kinship.
A martial artist from a humble background, even with good physical strength, rarely reached the pinnacle of the martial examinations and achieved fame. It had already become a consensus among the gentry that Wei Tu’s accomplishments were due to the guidance of an unknown teacher.
Mr. Huang speculated that Wei Tu’s attempt to curry favor with him might be aimed at securing a promising future with the Huang family or seeking funding to hire renowned teachers to fill his gaps.
Nevertheless, Lord Huang did not mind. Money could be earned again, but finding a talented martial artist with a familial connection was rare.
'I’ll help him well. If he achieves success in martial arts and gains fame, it will be a great asset to our Huang family,' Lord Huang thought as he invited Wei Tu into his carriage.
"Is this the rural man who once sought health-preserving techniques?" On the other side, after seeing Wei Tu enter the carriage and realizing he had been overlooked by Mr. Huang, Master Ruan finally recalled who Wei Tu was.
He frowned, struggling to reconcile the martial artist who had recently performed well in the competition with the impoverished youth he remembered. The disparity was too great.
'I was subpar…my performance in every category was inferior to his, even in his weakest swordsmanship.' Master Ruan thought with frustration, his fists clenching tighter.
After the spectators—commoners, gentry, and officials—were impressed by Wei Tu’s strength, the participating martial artists, including Master Ruan, had become very interested in his subsequent performance.
If Wei Tu had been a stranger, Master Ruan would have merely felt envy rather than resentment. But since he knew Wei Tu, and had shown disdain towards him and neglected to personally teach him, only giving him a manual instead, he now deeply regretted his actions.
'If I had known this would happen, I should have taken him as my named disciple and taught him properly,' Master Ruan lamented.
If this incident from three years ago were to spread, he would surely be ridiculed by the county's martial artists and might even face dismissal from the Huang family.
Given Lord Huang’s current high regard for Wei Tu, any slight disrespect or complaint from Wei Tu might lead to Master Ruan being dismissed from the Huang residence in disgrace.
'I hope he won’t hold grudges and will forgive my mistakes,' Master Ruan thought, following the Huang family’s carriage, hoping for the best.
…….
Half an hour later, in the Huang residence.
In a finely decorated attic.
“Qinghe, where is the gift Wei Tu sent me three years ago? I need to see it,” Wei Hong hurriedly instructed as she entered the room.
“Second Mistress, who is Wei Tu? And…what gift?” Qinghe asked, noticing Wei Hong's anxious expression and feeling a bit tense.
Wei Hong thought for a moment and said, “It was a gift box from the rouge shop on the west side of the city, more than three years ago.”
“The rouge shop on the west side?” Qinghe murmured as she entered the inner room and began searching through the cupboard.
After a while, Qinghe seemed to remember something. She tiptoed, retrieved a dusty brocade box from the top of the wooden cupboard, and placed it on the table.
“Second Madam, is this it?” Qinghe asked.
“Yes, that’s it.” Wei Hong’s face lit up with joy as she took the box from Qing He’s hands. She peeled away the wax seal and opened it, revealing a small box of rouge inside.
“It’s actually the Golden Swallow Rouge?” Wei Hong was astonished as she observed the color of the rouge and took a light sniff.
She had retrieved the gift from Wei Tu mainly to avoid any awkwardness in their upcoming conversation by knowing what it was. However, upon opening the box, she found that the rouge was not a cheap item but rather the more expensive Golden Swallow Rouge.
A box of Golden Swallow Rouge cost five taels, roughly equivalent to two months’ wages for her maid. Undoubtedly, this was a generous gift. Wei Hong felt embarrassed and realized that she had been somewhat harsh towards her family in the past.
Meanwhile, in the Huang residence’s living room.
Lord Huang was entertaining Wei Tu, having a maid brew a pot of fragrant tea and inviting Wei Tu to enjoy it.
“This tea is pre-Qingming Cloud Mist Tea. After being brewed three times, the tea mist remains suspended like clouds above the cup…”
“A tea of this quality would cost two or three silver pieces per tael. If it weren’t for you, Wei Ge’er, visiting today, I wouldn’t have let the maid use such fine tea to entertain.”
Lord Huang picked up his tea cup, lightly skimmed off the foam with the lid, took a few sips, and said with a smile.
Lord Huang had long developed a strategy for dealing with people like Wei Tu, who were keen on wealth and seeking favor from the Huang family. His approach was to showcase his wealth through opulence, thereby enticing them to serve him.
As Lord Huang spoke, Wei Tu’s brows furrowed slightly. After a moment’s thought, he uncovered his tea cup, took a small sip, and then set it back on the tea table.
He then let his gaze wander, looking at the paintings and calligraphy hanging on the walls of the reception hall, clearly showing his lack of interest in Lord Huang’s conversation.
TL note: I'm dropping this work for the time being. Kindly do rate this novel on NovelUpdates.
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