Wei Tu did not trouble the Shan family with this family letter. Instead, he entrusted a carter who frequently traveled between the county town and Sanyuan Township to deliver it to the Li residence. The carter's fee was quite reasonable—just a few copper coins, roughly equivalent to the cost of a al.
.......
After sending the letter, about seven or eight days later, Xinghua replied through the sa carter.
In the letter, Xinghua expressed her happiness at Wei Tu being accepted as Shan Wuju's disciple and advised him to serve his master well. She assured him not to worry about returning ho for the New Year.
Then, Xinghua detailed the rental fee of the three acres of land for wheat harvesting this year. The eldest lady, Li Tongshi, had arranged for so tenants to do the harvesting without any charge.
At the end of the letter, Xinghua ntioned that she had sewn a winter coat from cotton fabric and asked Wei Tu if it fit well and if any adjustnts were needed. She noted that she was unsure about the waist asurent and asked Wei Tu to judge for himself.
Upon reading the letter, Wei Tu pondered for a mont before opening the package sent by the carter.
Inside the package, besides the purple woolen coat, were two pairs of newly sewn soft satin shoes. Following Xinghua’s instructions, Wei Tu tried on the winter coat and the shoes.
However, as soon as he put on the coat, he realized that it did not fit well and was a bit tight around the waist.
Wei Tu fetched a pair of scissors to cut the seams, and as he did, he discovered a folded note and a few silver beans hidden inside the coat.
The note, written by Xinghua, briefly explained that she had sewn four silver beans into the coat, totaling just over one tael of silver, and asked Wei Tu to use this money to purchase a gift to present to Shan Wuju as a token of respect. Wei Tu found the four silver beans in the cotton of the coat and felt them in his hand, slightly ward by the touch.
“The saying ‘A woman three years older is like holding a brick of gold’ is indeed true.”
Wei Tu sighed, feeling a renewed sense of indebtedness towards Xinghua.
Xinghua was three years older than him and had entered the Li household two years earlier. Due to the earlier maturity of won, she had always looked after him. Even after marriage, while Xinghua complied with him in major matters, she had not entirely discarded her tendency to instruct him in practical matters.
“A wife is indeed like a mother.” Wei Tu shook his head with a smile. After regaining his composure, he decided to use the silver to buy a gift for Shan Wuju, as Xinghua had suggested.
Since becoming a disciple, Shan Wuju had indeed treated him as a true student rather than rely granting him a nominal title.
In training, archery, equestrian skills, and military strategy—areas tested in the examination—Shan Wuju had imparted all his knowledge to Wei Tu, even sharing insights about the county examiners’ preferences.
Wei Tu had been contemplating presenting a gift to Shan Wuju but had not done so due to financial constraints after recently redeeming his servitude. All his remaining money was with Xinghua.
It was unexpected that Xinghua had also considered this matter and made the decision much more promptly than he could have.
After all, once the disciple-master relationship was established, failing to offer a gift might seem insignificant to those with limited understanding.
Leaving the second courtyard, Wei Tu briefly instructed the long-term worker Deng An, who was preparing feed for the horses, and then took one of the horses from the stable and left the Shan residence.
Recently, Shan Wuju had inford him that apart from his usual yellow horse, the other three horses in the stable were available for practice.
Deng An, watching from the side, looked on enviously at Wei Tu’s departing figure, lost in thought for a long ti.
Just a few days ago, he and Wei Tu were both long-term workers in the west room. Wei Tu had still been under his command.
But in that short ti, Wei Tu had transford into soone who rode horses, while Deng An continued with his exhausting tasks of cleaning toilets, sweeping courtyards, and feeding the animals, unchanged for decades.
…….
Heading south, Wei Tu arrived at the town of Sanyuan Township. Leading his horse through the bustling streets, he glanced at the shops and pondered what would make an appropriate gift for Shan Wuju.
There was a tailor’s shop, a blacksmith’s shop, and an herb shop. The choices overwheld him.
The one tael of silver he had was quite a bit for a poor person, enough to last several months with frugality, but it seed sowhat insufficient for selecting a suitable gift for his master. He couldn’t afford sothing expensive and he worried that a cheaper gift might seem insincere to Shan Wuju, potentially giving the impression that he was rely fulfilling a formality.
"Yes, Master ntioned that raising children to support one in old age is what matters. I just need to show this filial piety." Feeling exhausted from his indecision, Wei Tu paused and recalled Shan Wuju’s words.
With this in mind, Wei Tu no longer hesitated. He walked into a pastry shop and bought three boxes of popular pastries. Next, he went to a general store and purchased so seasonal fruits. Finally, he visited the butcher and bought two pounds of fatty at.
“Young Master Wei, why did you buy so much today? Is there so special occasion?” As Wei Tu returned to the Shan residence, the maidservants who had beco familiar with him over the past few days greeted him with their questions.
Wei Tu then explained that he was supplenting the gift for Shan Wuju with the four silver beans from Xinghua, as he had not presented a gift initially. He also ntioned that he did not want to seem dismissive of his wife, who had contributed half of his redemption money.
“It’s good to have a thoughtful wife. She’s quite considerate.” The staff at the Shan residence praised Wei Tu’s wife.
anwhile, Shan Wuju, who was in the hall sipping tea and relaxing, was montarily taken aback by the commotion outside. He then smiled as he approached Wei Tu.
However, when Shan Wuju arrived, he maintained a stern expression, insisting that the gifts were unnecessary and that the thought was what mattered.
"Master, this is my wife’s wish, to present this gift as a token of respect." Wei Tu perford a respectful bow and said.
Upon hearing this, Shan Wuju no longer insisted. He nodded and allowed Shan Gao to accept the gifts from Wei Tu.
“Marrying a virtuous wife can influence three generations of a family. Your wife is quite admirable,” Shan Wuju comnted, acknowledging Xinghua’s virtue. “If my wife were here and heard your words, she would surely be pleased with you.”
This remark made Wei Tu thoughtful.
The “wife” word Shan Wuju used, referred to not Shan Gaoshi, the third wife, but rather his legally married spouse, Shan Min.
During his ti in the Shan household, Wei Tu had learned so details about Shan Wuju’s first wife, Shan Min, from conversations among the servants and maids.
Before becoming wealthy, Shan Wuju had married Shan Min, who was his original wife, a partner through hardship. Shan Wuju had always shown great respect to his first wife, rarely arguing or scolding her.
However, as Shan Min aged and her health declined, and unable to tolerate Shan Wuju’s frequent relations with San Gao, she had moved out of the Shan residence a few years ago. She now lived in the city with their son.
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