Free Web NovelChapter 9: Chapter 7: Not Entering the Ancestral Hall
"The bandit Blademen killed by the Official Soldiers probably came from the neighboring Baiyang County..."
"Baiyang County was hit by a disaster this year."
The next day, after returning to his family home in the countryside, Wei Tu finally learned the origin of those Blademen during a conversation with Wei Bao.
Although he had seen the Official Soldiers killing the bandits the previous night, he didn’t dare mention it or ask anyone about it for fear of bringing trouble upon himself.
Only when he was back home did he dare to bring it up.
Six years ago, to ensure his family’s survival, Wei Bao had not only sold his eldest son, Wei Tu, but also a portion of their ancestral property.
Over the years, to support the family, he would go with acquaintances from the village to the neighboring county to work as a Wheat Harvester.
Baiyang County, located northwest of Qingmu County, mostly consisted of arid, sloped land, so its wheat ripened earlier than in Qingmu County.
As a Wheat Harvester, Wei Bao learned of the disaster in Baiyang County sooner than anyone in Qingshan County.
"But these times... I reckon the world is about to fall into chaos. During the disaster relief in Baiyang County this time, the Grain in the Charitable Granary was over seventy percent less than what the records showed," Wei Bao said.
Hearing this, Wei Tu nodded.
Although country folk were uneducated, their position at the bottom of society meant they were more attuned to drastic social changes than the great families.
It was like ants moving their nests before the sky darkens and it rains.
After discussing the previous day’s "unusual event," the father and son fell into silence, unsure of what to talk about next.
Wei Bao noticed that Wei Tu also had a dry-tobacco pipe tied to his waist. He stood up from his stool, walked to the windowsill, gathered a small bundle of sun-dried tobacco leaves, and handed it over.
"Try some. We grew it ourselves," Wei Bao said.
A short while later, the father and son took turns, puff after puff. The room quickly filled with layer upon layer of a hazy mist, like Moon Gauze.
"I’ve wronged you, son. This is some money I’ve saved up over the years. Take it. Whether you use it to set up a home for yourself out there or to buy back your deed of servitude, it should help a little."
That evening, Wei Bao called Wei Tu outside. The widower didn’t offer many warm words. Standing in the shadow of the eaves, he pulled a worn, floral-patterned cloth bag from his chest and shoved it into Wei Tu’s hands.
After a moment of silence, Wei Tu took the cloth bag.
The moment he took it, he felt its heavy weight.
Even if it were only copper coins, this bagful was worth at least five or six pieces of silver.
Besides the copper coins, Wei Tu also felt several hard, uneven lumps the size of soybeans.
He knew in his heart that this was the broken silver Wei Bao had accumulated over the years.
However, Wei Bao’s next cold words shattered the warmth that had just begun to bloom in Wei Tu’s heart.
"You sold yourself into servitude. Unless you buy back your deed, a Household Slave, by the rules, cannot enter the ancestral hall to worship the ancestors..."
"And that includes your wife..."
Wei Bao said, enunciating every word.
It was true. Country folk didn’t consider it shameful to sell oneself to a great family.
But they would never allow a Household Slave to worship the ancestors or enter the ancestral hall.
Because the Clan Leader took such matters very seriously.
Being of the same clan as a Household Slave would bring shame upon the Clan Leader’s lineage.
"I understand."
Wei Tu’s face burned as if scalded by fire. He was grateful to be hidden in the unlit country house, where no one could see the expression on his face.
He clutched the money bag tightly, his throat working a few times before he managed to say, "I’ll leave tomorrow morning. I won’t let the villagers see me."
Only then did he understand. For a Household Slave, returning with his wife was no glorious homecoming. It was a disgraceful affair that brought shame upon the clan.
No matter how one tried to look past it, being trampled on by others never felt good.
Wei Bao had given him money not only out of guilt, but also because he wanted him to keep his return to the village quiet.
Leaving Wei Family Village early was better than enduring the cold stares and public humiliation.
"Good." Wei Bao’s lips trembled for a moment. He paused for half a breath before finally uttering the word.
「In the morning.」
The mountain path was slick with morning dew.
Wei Tu and Xinghua walked with small steps.
Xinghua slipped and fell, leaning against the mountainside to rub her ankle.
"Brother Wei, does your father dislike me? I called him ’Father,’ and he didn’t even make a sound."
Tears welled up in the corners of Xinghua’s eyes.
"And... the ancestral hall..."
Her words showed she was still deeply upset about not being able to enter the Wei Family’s ancestral hall to pay respects.
Wei Tu didn’t answer. He stroked Xinghua’s head and pulled her into his arms, letting her tears soak the front of his shirt.
’That day will come,’ Wei Tu swore to himself.
When they married, he hadn’t been able to give Xinghua the traditional three letters and six rites; simplifying everything was one thing.
But on their visit home, he had caused Xinghua the humiliation of being barred from the ancestral hall, forcing them to sneak away from Wei Family Village at dawn...
There was no way he couldn’t be bothered by it.
...
「Back at the Li Mansion.」
Wei Tu resumed his quiet life.
Mrs. Li Tong never again mentioned the matter of renting land to farm, as if she had forgotten all about it.
Wei Tu guessed that the Li Mansion was deliberately giving him and Xinghua the cold shoulder. ’Alternating between kindness and severity is the way to manage subordinates.’
He continued to console Xinghua, telling her to be patient.
Half a year passed. By the time spring planting arrived, Mrs. Li Tong still hadn’t brought it up, and Xinghua finally gave up hope that Wei Tu would become a tenant farmer to earn extra money that year.
[Turtle Breath Qi Cultivation Technique (34/100): Practice nine times a day to achieve success in five years.]
A little over a year had passed since he obtained the [Turtle Breath Qi Cultivation Technique].
One day, as Wei Tu was diligently practicing the Health Cultivation Technique, he was on his thirteenth repetition when he suddenly felt a faint sound from within his body, like a river tide crashing against the shore. As he transitioned between stances, his Pile Skill seemed to take on a strange, unique quality.
A few breaths later, a warm current, much stronger than before, gushed from within him, coursing through his limbs and bones and strengthening his Physique.
’Could it be that my Health Cultivation Technique has reached Minor Success?’
Wei Tu glanced at the progress of his Health Cultivation Technique, which was engraved on his Destiny Chart.
As far as he knew, Martial Arts were divided into four basic stages: Beginner, Minor Success, Great Success, and Perfection.
His progress in the Health Cultivation Technique was now at one-third. Combined with the recent changes in his body, he deduced that he must have reached the Minor Success stage of the technique.
’I’ll try the two-hundred-jin Stone Lock.’
After the warm current in his body dissipated, Wei Tu regulated his breathing for a moment, then turned his gaze to the several Stone Locks in the corner of the courtyard.
Stone Locks were not expensive. After deciding to practice Martial Arts, he had spent a small sum to buy this set for strength training from a nearby farmer’s family.
Walking over to the Stone Locks, Wei Tu placed one hand on the two-hundred-jin lock. With a powerful heave, he easily lifted it to his chest, level with his shoulders.
"I did it!"
A look of joy appeared on Wei Tu’s face.
An average adult could lift a two-hundred-jin Stone Lock with some effort, but there was a world of difference between lifting it and lifting it with a single arm.
Being able to lift a two-hundred-jin Stone Lock with one arm meant he was now qualified to take the Military Examination.
However, qualifying was one thing; with only his strength meeting the standard, Wei Tu was not yet capable of earning a title in the Military Examination.
Besides lifting stones, the Military Examination also tested Sword Dance, drawing a heavy bow, Horse Stance Archery, and Military Strategy.
’While I practice my archery, I need to save up silver coins and figure out a way to get rid of my slave status first...’
’A slave can’t take the Military Examination.’
Wei Tu set down the Stone Lock and began to ponder the next step in his life.
Right now, given his current circumstances, the fastest and best shortcut to crossing class boundaries was to participate in the Zheng Country’s Military Examination, held once every three years.
Although a title from the Military Examination wasn’t as prestigious as one from the Literary Examination, for a commoner, it was still a huge leap in social class.
