Chapter 30: Chapter 28: Greedy for Wealth and Profit
"Uncle." Wei Tu knew the temperament of his second aunt, Wei Hong, so he wasn’t surprised. He sized up Master Huang, then cupped his fist in a salute, acknowledging the family connection.
Normally, given Wei Hong’s status as a Concubine, a nephew like him would have no right to call Master Huang "Uncle"—even if she hadn’t been one to scorn the poor and curry favor with the rich.
Only the nephews of his primary wife had the right to call Master Huang "Uncle."
To do so would be to flout social hierarchy and propriety by claiming a connection that wasn’t his.
’While Wei Tu himself didn’t care about forming a connection with Master Huang, he was willing to call him "Uncle" if it would benefit his second aunt, Wei Hong.’
’It was a small matter that cost him nothing but offered a benefit.’
’It was always easy for people to pile on when you were successful, but rare for them to help when you were in need.’
’The Li Family’s and Li Yaozu’s "investment" and help fell mostly into the first category. While he acknowledged the gesture and felt a measure of gratitude, it wasn’t a deep-seated feeling.’
’Once he repaid the favor, he would have nothing more to do with the Li Family.’
’On the other hand, there was Wei Hong. Three years ago, she had been quite disdainful of him, a nephew from her maiden family. She had even hinted that their obligation to each other was over. And yet, she had still agreed to his request to have Martial Artist Ruan teach him the Health Cultivation Technique.’
’That gesture was no different from being sent charcoal in a snowstorm.’
’—At least, when Wei Hong made that decision, she had done so out of consideration for their bond as aunt and nephew, not because she expected to get anything in return from him.’
...
「Chenghuang Temple.」
On the plaza in front of the main temple.
A faint smile touched Master Huang’s lips when he heard Wei Tu call him "Uncle," and he grunted in acknowledgment.
"Brother Wei, come home with your uncle. I’ll host a banquet to celebrate your success." Master Huang repeated what Wei Hong had said earlier.
’He had originally thought Wei Tu would be difficult to deal with after his newfound success. He’d expected the young man to hold a grudge over how the Huang Family and Wei Hong had distanced themselves from him. He never imagined Wei Tu would change his tune and acknowledge their kinship so quickly.’
’So tactful... ’
’Then again, a wise man adapts to the times,’ Master Huang thought to himself.
’A Martial Artist from a humble background, even one with a good constitution and innate Herculean strength, would find it very difficult to go all the way in the Military Examination and obtain an official title.’
’Just a moment ago, it had become the consensus among the gentry that Wei Tu had no famous master to guide him.’
’By Master Huang’s estimation, Wei Tu was trying to curry favor with him now to secure a promising future through the Huang Family, or perhaps to borrow their financial resources to hire a famous master and compensate for his own shortcomings...’
However, regarding this,
Master Huang didn’t mind.
’Money could always be earned again, but it wasn’t every day one came across a Martial Artist who was not only a relative but also had excellent aptitude.’
’If I nurture his talent properly, once he masters his martial arts and earns an official title, he’ll be a great asset in strengthening the Huang Family...’
With these thoughts in mind, Master Huang invited Wei Tu into his carriage.
’Is that the country fellow who came asking for the Health Cultivation Technique all those years ago?’
On the other side,
After seeing Wei Tu get into the carriage, Martial Artist Ruan, who had been ignored by Master Huang, finally dredged up his memory of Wei Tu.
His brows furrowed tightly. He found it hard to reconcile the Martial Artist who had just earned an A+ in the stone-lifting event with the poor, shabby country youth from his memory.
The difference between the two was simply too vast.
’My... my scores in every single category of the skills test were worse than his, even in his weakest event, the Sword Dance...’ At this thought, Martial Artist Ruan was overcome with frustration and resentment, and his fists clenched involuntarily.
After Wei Tu had astounded the onlooking commoners, gentry, and officials with his stone-lifting performance, all the other Martial Artists participating in the Military Examination had started paying extremely close attention to his scores in every subsequent event.
’If Wei Tu had been a complete stranger, he would have only felt envy for a Martial Artist who achieved such great results, not this bitter jealousy.’
’But as fate would have it...’
’He knew Wei Tu.’
’And not only that, he had shown contempt when Wei Tu came to him for guidance. He hadn’t followed Wei Hong’s instructions to personally teach him the Health Cultivation Technique; instead, he had just casually tossed him a manual and sent him away.’
’If I’d known then what I know now, I should have accepted him as a Registered Disciple and taught him a few things...’ Martial Artist Ruan was filled with regret.
’If word of what happened three years ago were to get out, he would surely be ridiculed by the other Martial Artists in the County Town. Worse, he might even be dismissed by the Huang Family...’
’Judging by the importance Master Huang was placing on Wei Tu, if Wei Tu said even a single bad word or complaint about him, he’d probably be leaving the Huang Mansion in disgrace tomorrow, forced to pack his bags and go.’
’I’ll just have to eat humble pie and apologize. I hope he isn’t the type to hold a grudge.’
Martial Artist Ruan followed the Huang Mansion’s carriage, thinking to himself along the way.
...
「One hour later.」
「Huang Mansion.」
Inside an exquisite chamber.
"Qinghe, where is the gift Brother Wei sent me three years ago? I want to see it." Wei Hong rushed back to her room and ordered.
"Second Mistress, who is Brother Wei? And... what gift?" Seeing Wei Hong’s anxious expression, Qinghe’s heart tightened, and she quickly pressed for details.
"It’s..."
Wei Hong thought for a moment before saying, "A gift box, from more than three years ago. It should be a brocade box from that rouge shop in the west of the city."
"The rouge shop in the west of the city?" Qinghe mumbled, then walked into the inner chamber and started rummaging through a cabinet.
A short while later,
Qinghe seemed to remember something. She stood on her tiptoes, retrieved a dust-covered brocade box from the top of the wooden cabinet, and placed it on the table.
"Second Mistress, is this it?" Qinghe asked.
"This is it."
A look of delight crossed Wei Hong’s face. She took the brocade box from Qinghe, tore open the wax paper seal, opened it, and took out a small box of rouge from inside.
"It’s actually Golden Mink rouge?" Wei Hong saw the rouge’s color and luster, sniffed it lightly, and was instantly stunned.
She had come back to her room to get the gift Wei Tu had given her mainly to refresh her memory of what it was, hoping to avoid any awkwardness during their conversation later.
But after opening the gift box,
she discovered that the rouge Wei Tu had given her wasn’t some cheap trinket, but the rather expensive Golden Mink rouge.
A box of Golden Mink rouge cost five maces, roughly equivalent to two months’ wages for her personal maid.
Undoubtedly,
this was a significant gift.
Wei Hong felt a flush of shame, realizing she had been far too harsh on her own family in the past.
Meanwhile,
in the reception hall of the Huang Mansion.
At the same time,
Master Huang was entertaining Wei Tu. He had a maid brew a pot of fragrant tea and invited Wei Tu to savor it with him.
"This tea is a pre-Qingming Cloud Mist Tea. After it’s been steeped three times, the steam lingers over the cup like a real cloud..."
"A fine tea like this costs three taels of silver for just one tael of leaves. If it weren’t for your visit today, Brother Wei, I would never have my maids brew such a fine tea for a guest..."
Master Huang lifted his teacup, used the lid to gently skim the froth from the surface, and took a small sip before speaking with a smile.
When dealing with people like Wei Tu—money-lovers who wanted to leech wealth and fortune from the Huang Family—Master Huang had a well-practiced strategy: display his immense wealth and extravagance to tempt them into pledging their loyalty.
As his words faded,
Wei Tu’s brow furrowed slightly. He considered for a moment, then lifted the lid of his cup, took a single shallow sip, and set it back down on the table.
Then, his gaze drifted away, landing on the calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls, a clear look of disinterest on his face regarding Master Huang’s topic of conversation.
