I am about to die of old age, and I have awakened the character of longevity.

Chapter 34: Head held high
A few days ago, Li Ru felt that Xie An's request for redemption was inappropriate. He decided to leave him alone for a few days to pressure him so that Xie An would know his status as a slave.

Now that Xie An came to the pawnshop the day before it opened, Li Ru instinctively felt that Xie An was here to surrender.

Li Ru had been in business for many years and felt that he was well versed in the art of managing people, and he couldn't help feeling a little proud of himself.

"Ma'am, I told you. Just leave him alone for a few days and he'll be well behaved."

Mrs. Li sighed slightly and said nothing more.

Li Shaoyun interrupted, "Dad, I heard from Mom that you promised Old Xie 180 taels of silver as ransom?"

Li Ru said, "The original price was two hundred taels, but your mother thought it was too harsh, so she cut off twenty taels."

Li Shaoyun pondered for a moment and said, "Since I've been named the deputy deacon of Baiyu Hall, I've had more things to spend money on. Isn't one hundred and eighty taels a bit too little?"

Li Ru chewed a piece of braised pork with ease and said vaguely, "It's okay. Old Xie can't come up with 180 taels. We're just trying to get him to give up. He's been a court official in town for 30 years and has a good reputation. If he stays in the shop, he can at least boost business. He'll earn more money and give it to you to practice martial arts."

Li Shaoyun nodded in agreement, "Dad is really thoughtful."

"Chunlan, it's still snowing outside. Go get a hot water bottle for Old Xie." Mrs. Li knew that Li Ru attached great importance to family rules and would not see servants during meals, so she said this to Chunlan.

Chunlan nodded in agreement and hurried away.

The snow outside was getting heavier and heavier, and the weather was freezing cold.

"Master Xie, Madam asked me to bring you a hot water bottle. Take it. It will take a while for the master to eat." Chunlan hurried out of the yard and brought a hot water bottle to Xie An to keep him warm.

Xie An, standing in the snow, didn't feel too cold because of his health-preserving exercises. But he still thanked him and took the hand.

Chunlan gave a few instructions and left, leaving Xie An alone standing in the wind and snow waiting.

He had extraordinary senses and could smell the aroma of meat coming from the hall, and from time to time he could hear the laughter of Li Ru and Li Shaoyun.

According to Xie An's understanding of Li Ru, he usually took about 15 minutes to eat a meal, but today it took him more than 25 minutes.

Xie An felt that Li Ru was deliberately leaving him out.

As for the reason, it was nothing more than that he had asked for redemption, which offended Li Ru's authority. So Li Ru wanted to suppress him so that he would behave himself in the future, never ask for redemption again, and be Li Ru's slave from then on.

For slaves, asking for redemption would inevitably anger their masters. This was not uncommon in the Daqian Dynasty.

Such is the fate of a slave.

Everything is destined, no one can help.

The more Li Ru did this, the more determined Xie An became to take control of his own life.

Xie An stood in the snow, waiting for almost an hour before he heard footsteps approaching. He looked up and saw Chunlan approaching. "Master Xie, the master wants you to come in."

"it is good."

Xie An had no expression and followed Chunlan into the inner courtyard.

As he entered the living room, a warm feeling came over him, dispelling the coldness from Xie An's body.

Xie An remained humble and said, "Greetings, Master, Madam, and Young Master."

Li Ru sat at the head of the table, holding the steaming cup of tea in both hands, and said calmly, "Have you thought it through? Then go back and fulfill your duties as a court attendant, and your monthly salary will remain the same. Go, take good care of the shop, and prepare to open it to welcome customers later."

Xie An didn't expect Li Ru to have such a preconceived notion without even asking, so he didn't say anything. Instead, he keenly sensed the expressions of everyone in the living room.

Li Ru's resentment and arrogance; Li Shaoyun's perseverance; Mrs. Li's regret and guilt; Chunlan's sympathy.

Xie An wanted to remember this unforgettable feeling for the last time, and then... completely bid farewell to this feeling of being a slave.

Seeing that Xie An didn't reply, Li Ru blew on the tea leaves in the teacup, took a sip of tea, and said calmly: "Hmm? Did you hear what I said? If you don't have any other questions, you should go back to the shop as soon as possible and don't delay the shop's business."

call!
Xie An took a deep breath, and then... for the first time in front of the master, he slowly raised his head and looked at the master of the Li Mansion at eye level.

This subtle movement shocked Li Ru.

Since he took charge of the Li Mansion, no servant had ever dared to look at him like this.

Moreover, in his impression, Old Xie had always been low-key, humble, and timid. Today, he actually...

Moreover, Li Ru clearly noticed a resolute look in Xie An's eyes, even a hint of threat. This... was simply against Tian Gang.

Madam Li and Li Shaoyun were both surprised. Li Shaoyun frowned and said, "Master Xie, didn't you hear my father ask you to return to the shop? At your age, it's a blessing that my father still allows you to work safely as a court master."

Xie An turned a deaf ear to him, took out a cloth bag, placed it on the Eight Immortals table next to him and opened it.

A full one hundred and eighty taels of silver.

Then, Xie An straightened his back and said in a neither humble nor arrogant manner: "According to Master Li's request, I have collected 180 taels of silver."

The voice was not loud, but every word was as hard as iron.

There was no longer any trace of the servility of a servant. He also changed the way he used to call himself "little man" to "I".

Xie An now has the strength to sweep away the entire Li Mansion.

As a martial arts scholar, Li Shaoyun is still a little far away from the Bronze Skin Realm, and is not strong enough to be beaten with one punch.

If the Li family kept their word today, the matter would have been over.

If Li Ru continued to make trouble, Xie An would have no choice but to send him to his death.

Li Ru was obviously very unhappy with Xie An's attitude, but when he saw the real 180 taels of silver on the table, he swallowed back the words of reprimand that were on the tip of his tongue.

After all, he had promised it himself.

But I didn't expect Xie An to actually raise enough money. If I regretted it today, the matter would become a big deal and the reputation of the Li family would be ruined.

Although the Li family is rich, there are still some respected local elders in the town. If the Li family loses its credibility with them, it will be difficult for them to do business in the town in the future.

Although Li Ru was mean and calculating, he also knew the importance of things. Finally, he suppressed his anger and said coldly: "Old Xie, there is chaos and disorder outside now. A while ago, there were reports that bandits from Dayin Mountain came down to rob. You are already at this age, have you really thought it through?"

Realizing that Li Ru still wanted to manipulate him, Xie An simply stood with his hands behind his back, without saying anything more politely: "I've thought it through."

Even the humble term "I" is gone, just "I".

Li Ru was so angry that he jumped up and down, and was about to explode, but was stopped by Madam Li. Finally, Li Ru suppressed his anger and sneered, "Okay, okay! Old Xie has really made up his mind! Madam, go get the indenture, and you write a letter to release me."

Mrs. Li took out the indenture, wrote on it, and handed it to Xie An. She didn't want Xie An to stay and cause trouble, so she urged him to leave, "Old Xie, it's snowing hard outside, I'll see you off."

The two just walked out of the living room.

Bang.

Li Ru slammed his palm on the table, shaking the teacup so much that it overturned. "Old Xie dared to snort and glare at me. He is simply rebelling against the Heavenly Power!"

He regretted asking too little. He should have asked for one thousand taels... Let's see how Old Xie would get the money together and how he couldn't give in.

But he also knew that there were no ifs.

He didn't know that if he had done something out of the ordinary, the entire Li Mansion would be gone...

Li Shaoyun was only staring at the silver and money on the table. "Dad, calm down. He's an old man, and his life will be even worse if he leaves the Li Mansion. It won't be long before he has to beg us to take him in."

Li Ru shouted, "By then, even if he kneels down and begs me, I won't take him in."

……

Xie An left the Li Mansion. Madam Li took out a small silver ingot weighing five taels and handed it to Xie An. "Old Xie, you are old and childless. Take this five taels of silver. It will keep you safe after you leave the Li Mansion. If you encounter any difficulties in the future, please let Chunlan tell me."

Xie An wanted to refuse, but thinking that he was penniless at the moment and that Madam Li was concerned about him, he accepted the favor and said, "Thank you, Madam Li is so kind."

Madam Li said, "Old Xie, take care."

Xie An sensed the sincerity in Madam Li's words and bowed, saying, "Take care, Madam."

Then, Xie An turned around and walked into the wind and snow.

Mrs. Li stood under the eaves, watching the old man walk away, watching him walk with his head held high and his chest puffed out.

He is no longer the servile old servant he once was.

(End of this chapter)