Chapter 19: Redemption

"You..."

Zhu Ping stood up abruptly, looking at Li Rui in disbelief.

He never imagined that Li Rui would choose to redeem his freedom.

If this got out, it would undoubtedly be a huge blow to the Zhu household's reputation. It would surely spread that the Zhu household mistreated its servants; how would they manage them then? Who would be willing to sell themselves to the Zhu household?

When a family grows large, what it values most is a good reputation.

Zhu Ping decided to erase this source of chaos.

Even though his son Zhu Yue had said Li Rui had some skills, it was not worth mentioning compared to the stability of the Zhu household. He absolutely would not allow such a disadvantageous thing to happen to the Zhu household.

"Old Li, has the Zhu household ever mistreated you?"

"Never."

Li Rui shook his head: "If not for the old master taking me in, I would have died in the famine back then."

Hearing this, Zhu Ping's expression softened slightly.

Since it wasn't the Zhu household's problem, things were much simpler.

"Old Li, if your allowance is not enough, I can allow you an increase of thirty percent."

In Zhu Ping's view, there was nothing that couldn't be solved with money, especially for these servants; it worked every time, and he had never failed.

He didn't have to worry about causing protests from other servants by doing this.

Whoever lives to seventy gets an increase!

Li Rui shook his head again: "In my early years, I fled to Qinghe with my parents; they died on the road, and I didn't have time to bury them. Later, I entered the residence and didn't have time to observe mourning. Now, I wish to observe mourning for three years with my remaining body, which can be considered fulfilling my filial duty."

Once these words were spoken, both Zhu Ping and Registrar Ma were moved.

The Yu Kingdom was founded on martial arts.

But chivalry disrupts the law with martial arts; controlling these martial artists who are brave and fearless is not easy.

Martial artists can choose not to marry or have children.

But it is impossible for them not to have parents.

Therefore, under the promotion of a certain great Confucian, the idea of governing the world with filial piety in the Yu Kingdom gradually became deeply rooted, with filial piety second only to the way of the sovereign.

Registrar Ma, as an official in charge of rituals and laws, quickly grasped the keyword.

Filial piety.

Political achievement, it was political achievement again!

He had even thought about how to write the memorial to the imperial court; such a good topic was hard to find even with a lantern.

Registrar Ma suddenly felt that his trip was too worthwhile!

Zhu Ping recovered his previous smile.

"Old Li, you are truly a lucky star for my Zhu household. Since that is the case, I will not hold you back. Your deed of sale will naturally be retrieved by someone. Considering your filial heart, I will send you thirty taels as filial support."

"Thank you, Master."

Li Rui was overjoyed.

Not only did he redeem his freedom, but he also got thirty taels of silver for nothing!

The Master of the Zhu household was not a man of generous nature; not only was he strict in managing his family, but he was also a penny-pincher who wouldn't part with a single cent. According to his requirements, the candles in the Zhu household had to be extinguished as soon as the Hour of the Dog (7:00 PM – 9:00 PM) passed, all to save on the cost of candle wax.

Because of this, incidents of "drilling through walls to steal light" happened often.

Causing constant complaints from neighbors.

The reason he was so generous today was simply because he hoped the Zhu household would have more space and a better image in Registrar Ma's memorial to the imperial court.

Registrar Ma was also very satisfied.

Under his governance, fathers are kind and sons are filial, masters are good and servants are loyal.

What a scene of a prosperous age.

"Ha, ha, ha~"

Registrar Ma stroked his beard and laughed: "I will order the matter of removing the register. You go ahead later; no one will dare to make things difficult for you."

"Thank you, Official."

Li Rui bowed again.

Today was full of good news.

He was on the lowly register filed with the government, so besides getting back the deed of sale, he also had to go to the county government to register and remove the lowly status.

But "the King of Hell is easy to avoid, but the little ghosts are hard to deal with."

To remove the register, even with the deed of sale, one needed at least five taels of silver to grease the wheels; otherwise, one would inevitably be made difficult by the clerks in the household department.

The corruption of the Yu Kingdom's government was evident.

"Master, you've redeemed your freedom?"

Wang Zhao heard the news Li Rui told him and didn't know whether to be happy or sad for a moment.

If Li Rui left, he would become the next coachman.

Not only would his allowance double, but he would also be respected; otherwise, Ma Yang wouldn't have fallen out with Li Rui over the coachman position.

But he had long been accustomed to being with Li Rui day and night over these years.

Master leaving suddenly, his mood was mixed.

Li Rui sighed, patted Wang Zhao's shoulder: "Raise the horses well; if anything happens, you can go find your Uncle Yang."

"Mm."

Wang Zhao nodded with tears in his eyes.

After Li Rui finished instructing Wang Zhao, he went to see Yang Yong.

Yang Yong was just as surprised as Wang Zhao when he heard Li Rui chose to redeem his freedom.

"Old Li, are you for real?"

Li Rui smiled slightly: "Your saber."

He returned the saber he had borrowed from Yang Yong earlier; it was the Zhu household's property. Borrowing was fine, but if he took it away, Yang Yong would definitely be in trouble.

Yang Yong took the saber, sighing with emotion: "Forget it, once you find a place to stay, I'll come find you to drink."

"Good!"

Li Rui laughed.

Returned to the room.

After packing up, he found that he had lived in the Zhu household for decades, but the things he could take away were pitifully few.

A quilt and three sets of clothes, that was all.

Soon, he finished packing.

He waited until Steward Zhu appeared.

"Old Li, this is your deed of sale, and the thirty taels of silver the master bestowed upon you."

Steward Zhu looked at Li Rui with envy.

Although he had climbed to the position of steward by working hard, it was just surface glory.

A lowly register is a lowly register after all.

And Li Rui could not only remove his register but also got thirty taels of silver; how could he not be envious?

The Wei hour (1-3 PM).

Li Rui walked on the street toward the county government with his luggage on his back.

Even though Master Zhu tried to persuade him to stay until after the New Year, he refused.

After the New Year, the county government wouldn't open until the eighth day.

Staying for eight or nine days, there were too many variables; such a thing as removing the register could not be delayed.

Because of the New Year, there were fewer pedestrians on the street, and most were at home preparing the New Year's Eve meal.

Li Rui arrived in front of the county government.

It was very deserted.

He followed the route in his memory to the household department, where only a young clerk remained, his right hand supporting his head, drooping and then lifting.

"This young official."

Hearing Li Rui's words, the young clerk woke up and said impatiently: "Old man, what is it?"

Li Rui took out the deed of sale from his bosom: "I am here to remove my register."

Hearing that Li Rui wanted to remove his register, the young clerk became interested.

Although there were few people removing their registers in Qinghe, it wasn't unheard of; there were a dozen or so every year, but this was the first time he had seen one as old as this old man.

"Zhu household?"

Seeing the Zhu household, the clerk remembered that Registrar Ma had specifically come to the household department in the morning.

He said someone from the Zhu household would come to remove their register today and not to make things difficult.

So it was him!

The young clerk couldn't help but look him over a few more times.

Since there was an order from Registrar Ma, he naturally didn't dare to make things difficult. He took out the household register, crossed out the column with Li Rui's name in red ink, and then added Li Rui's name to the white register.

It took less than a quarter of an hour.

But if Registrar Ma hadn't given instructions in advance, it would have taken at least ten days or half a month.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 20 =====