35. Turning the Tables and Standing Tall

The next day was the seventh day of the Lunar New Year. By early morning, the snow had ceased.

Xie An rose early and called for Han Li and He Chunli to tidy up the pawnshop in preparation for business the following day. After seven days of recuperation, He Chunli was finally able to walk with the aid of a crutch. Though he could not perform heavy labor, he was still able to assist Han Li.

Seeing his two apprentices working diligently, Xie An found an excuse to head out. He first visited Chen He at the Chen Family Martial Arts Hall to borrow a horse, then rode directly toward the county seat.

Although Li Ru had returned his original contract of indenture and provided a signed letter of manumission, this did not technically make Xie An a free man yet. According to the manumission procedures of the Great Qian Dynasty, a servant must first apply to their master for release and obtain a written statement of voluntary discharge. Then, after paying the redemption fee, one must take that document to the household registration office at the county yamen for verification.

Once verified, the office would issue the corresponding legal documents certifying the individual as a free citizen. Finally, the individual would have their household registration updated, removing them from the slave registry and transitioning them to that of a commoner. Only after completing this entire process would Xie An be considered a law-abiding citizen of Great Qian, entitled to the rights and obligations of a commoner. Even though the matter was largely settled, Xie An could not breathe easy until his status was officially registered.

By early morning, Xie An arrived at the county yamen’s household registration office and joined the queue. There were quite a few people waiting, perhaps a dozen or so ahead of him. Xie An, positioned at the end of the line, waited patiently.

Although Qingwu County was situated in a remote area, it was vast in scale, governing a population of half a million. Furthermore, the household registration office handled a heavy daily workload. Beyond managing registration and transfers, they were responsible for collecting taxes and grain from the entire county, converting the imperial grain into silver, melting it into various denominations of ingots, and remitting it to the national treasury. Additionally, the office oversaw the land and population ledgers, managed disaster relief, and handled the distribution of grain during crises.

It was only just after nine in the morning, and there were still two hours before the office’s midday break. Xie An felt confident he would be served in time. However, the clerk in the office suddenly announced he needed to use the latrine. Upon returning, he glanced at the sky and addressed the crowd, "It is getting late; everyone please come back this afternoon."

Xie An was speechless. No wonder the times were so chaotic; one could gauge the state of the world from the work ethic of this clerk. The people in line grumbled a few complaints before dispersing. Xie An, however, did not complain. He had seen plenty of slackers in his past life and was long used to it. Instead of leaving with the crowd, he waited until everyone had departed, then stepped up to the office door.

The clerk said listlessly, "Didn't I say to come back this afternoon? Oh, fine, I’ll handle your matter then."

Before the clerk could finish, Xie An slipped him a piece of broken silver, and the clerk changed his tune. Although Xie An possessed a status token for a deacon of the Tiger-Wolf Sect, and could have easily used it to force the clerk's hand, he chose not to. If the Tiger-Wolf Sect learned he was using his token to abuse his authority and throw his weight around, it would leave a poor impression and hinder his prospects. While many in the sect might behave this way, Xie An, having just joined, did not want to leave such a trail. Every opportunity was hard-won, and he believed in treating his position with respect.

With the clerk’s approval, Xie An presented his original contract and the letter from the Li family, explaining his intent. The original contract detailed his background, origin, and age, while the letter confirmed the Li family’s voluntary release. Together, they made the registration process simple.

The clerk glanced at the documents and looked surprised. "Thirty-one years ago, you were twenty, a refugee fleeing to Qingwu County with no known history. By that calculation, you are fifty-one years old now... It is difficult to make a living after leaving your master at your age. Are you sure you want to go through with this?" The clerk, having taken the money, offered a word of concern. He had handled many redemptions, but it was the first time he had seen someone seeking freedom at fifty.

"I am sure," Xie An replied firmly.

The clerk said no more and immediately processed the paperwork. Finally, Xie An watched with his own eyes as his status was updated to that of a commoner, granting him the obligations of tax-paying and the rights to report crimes and participate in imperial examinations. He thanked the clerk and took his leave.

Stepping out of the yamen, Xie An let out a long, relieved sigh. He looked up at the sun in the sky, feeling that the sunlight was exceptionally bright. The gentle breeze carried a touch of warmth, and he felt as if he were bathed in the soft air of spring.

"A slave for thirty years, and I have finally turned the tables," Xie An chuckled. He was not usually a man to wear his emotions on his face, but this day was far too significant. The stifling weight that had pressed upon his heart for three decades suddenly washed away. It was a true joy. From this day forward, he was a man of dignity. He could marry, have children, and walk with his head held high.

"How did that poem by the great Li Bai go? 'I am no mere weed of the field; I shall laugh toward the sky as I depart...'" Ignoring the curious glances of the guards, Xie An walked away, hands clasped behind his back, smiling.

"One should seize every joy when life is at its peak..."

Xie An, feeling his stomach rumble, found a modest eatery nearby. He ordered a bowl of braised mutton, spicy sheep’s head, a side of peanuts, and a pot of warm wine, and began to feast. To eat meat and drink wine in large gulps was a wonderful feeling. The only thing missing was a confidant with whom to share his joy. To drink and sing with a friend while life was at its best—that would be a true pleasure. Well, if that friend were a woman and beautiful, it would be even more perfect.

Since there was no one by his side, Xie An drank alone, occasionally raising his glass to the sun. If time could be reversed, he would have loved to share a drink with the great Li Bai.

During his meal, Xie An overheard the patrons at the next table talking. "Have you heard? The Tang Family Fortress has opened its doors, recruiting youths with talent for internal energy cultivation."

"Anyone who passes the trial gets five taels of silver a month, and there’s a chance to be chosen as a successor to the Tang Family Fortress."

"Good heavens! If one were chosen as a successor to the Tang Family Fortress, they’d be set for life. That’s one of the top noble families in Qingwu County."

"Perhaps Old Master Tang’s health is failing. The Fortress must be worried about their secret techniques being lost, so they are desperate to spend money to recruit talent."

"I wonder which family’s youth will have such good fortune..."

Xie An’s heart skipped a beat. Months ago, when he came to the county with Chen He, he had heard people discussing the Tang Family Fortress. Now, upon his return, it was the same. He looked around and saw that most people in the eatery were engaged in heated discussion about the matter, which showed the true extent of the Fortress's influence.

"Should I try my luck? After all, their health-cultivation techniques suit me..."

The thought stirred in his mind, but he immediately realized that everyone was talking about recruiting youths, and he was a man of fifty. Wouldn't he be a laughingstock if he showed up?

"No matter. I shall go under the guise of buying gifts to visit Master Tang Qingfeng, to thank him for his past teachings. That would be perfectly reasonable."