#449 - I have no way to repay Brother Xu’s kindness!

"Who are you looking for, young master?" A freckled girl standing at the door asked, blinking her eyes.

The freckled girl looked at the young man in front of her, feeling a little familiar, but she couldn't remember who he was.

But she was sure she had seen him before.

"I am Xu Ming, greetings, miss." Xu Ming smiled and said, "I wonder if Lord Yu is at home?"

"Xu Ming... Xu Ming, oh! I remember now. No wonder you looked familiar. So you are the Xu Number One Scholar who passed the imperial examination with Brother Yu a few years ago!" The freckled girl's eyes lit up immediately. "Yes, he's here. That fellow is still sleeping. Young Master Xu, please come into the courtyard first."

[Writing this, I hope readers remember our domain name Taiwan Novel Network → 𝗍 𝗐 𝗄 𝖺 𝗇 . 𝖼 𝗈 𝗆]

As she spoke, the freckled girl led Xu Ming into the courtyard.

"Young master, please sit wherever you like and don't be polite. I'll go wake up Brother Yu. Last night, Brother Yu was compiling some literary works very late, so he's still resting now. If there's any neglect, please don't take offense," the freckled girl said.

"How could I? It is I who have come unannounced and disturbed your rest." Xu Ming shook his head, his tone very polite.

The freckled girl just smiled, poured Xu Ming a cup of hot tea, and then walked into a room in the small courtyard.

Immediately after, Xu Ming heard the girl's voice coming from inside the room: "Yu Ping'an! Wake up! The sun is already shining on your butt! Get up quickly!"

Yu Ping'an's lazy voice came out: "What's the rush? Let me sleep a little longer. It's a day off today."

"Get up quickly! Young Master Xu has come to visit." The freckled girl seemed very angry.

"Young Master Xu? Which Young Master Xu?" Yu Ping'an asked, puzzled.

Freckled girl: "Which Young Master Xu could it be? It's Xu Ming, the Xu Number One Scholar."

"Eh? Then I have to get up quickly."

Soon, Xu Ming saw Yu Ping'an wearing a blue shirt, dragging his heels, and walking out of the bedroom.

When Yu Ping'an was about to step over the threshold, he almost fell to the ground.

"Yu Ping'an pays respects to Commander Xu."

Yu Ping'an stood in front of Xu Ming and bowed.

Xu Ming smiled and returned the bow: "Brother Yu, it's been a long time."

Yu Ping'an nodded: "It has indeed been a few years since I last saw Commander Xu."

The first time the two met was during the imperial examination when they learned each other's names on the Golden List platform.

The last time they met was when attending a banquet.

Xu Ming shook his head: "You and I are from the same class. You can address me as brother. There's no need to be so formal."

"Alright, then I'll be so bold as to call you 'Brother Xu'," Yu Ping'an said with a smile.

Xu Ming also smiled: "That's how it should be."

"Brother Xu, please sit. Ping'er, go and bring out the best tea leaves from my room."

Yu Ping'an led Xu Ming to sit down in the courtyard, and then instructed the freckled girl, Chen Ping, to bring out the treasured high-quality tea leaves from the house.

Although the freckled girl was indeed very impolite to Yu Ping'an in the room just now, even calling him by his name directly.

But in front of guests, the freckled girl still gave Yu Ping'an enough face.

After Chen Ping brought out the tea leaves and brewed them, she returned to her room, not wanting to disturb the two men's conversation.

Just as Chen Ping returned to the bedroom, Yu Ping'an stood up directly and bowed deeply to Xu Ming: "I, Yu Ping'an, thank you, benefactor, for avenging my blood feud!"

"Brother Yu, you're too kind. Please rise quickly."

Xu Ming quickly stood up and helped Yu Ping'an up.

Yu Ping'an looked at Xu Ming, gratefully, "Back then, in Baihe Town, those families caused my family to be destroyed and even broke my legs. After passing the imperial examination, I originally thought that I would need to endure for a few more years, letting those guys enjoy themselves for a while longer, and only when I climbed to a higher position would I be able to take revenge.

But what I didn't expect was that Brother Xu would help me take revenge.

Brother Xu's kindness, I have no way to repay!"

"Brother Yu, please don't say that."

Xu Ming shook his head.

"Those families in Baihe County have always been doing evil, and everyone deserves to punish them. The things I did in Baihe County before were, firstly, to eliminate harm for the people, and secondly, because my third brother was going to take office in Baihe County. If I didn't remove those families, I don't know how my third brother would govern Baihe County at that time.

So, Brother Yu, I really feel ashamed to receive this kindness."

This matter has to be said from when he was in Baihe County.

At that time, Xu Pangda took office in Baihe County, and there were several stubborn family forces in Baihe County.

These families joined forces to control most of the industries in Baihe County, and most of the officials and clerks in the county government were all people from those families.

No matter which magistrate took office, they were basically a figurehead.

Either you cooperate with them and go along with them.

Or you won't be able to do anything.

To some extent, they were the magistrates of Baihe County.

And Yu Ping'an's ancestral home was in Baihe County. Yu Ping'an was also considered a small wealthy and noble family, but he was harmed by those families, his family was destroyed, and even Yu Ping'an's legs were broken.

Xu Ming at that time was indeed mainly eliminating harm for the people, and also to make Xu Pangda more comfortable when he was in power, so he directly destroyed those families.

Thus, he indirectly received Yu Ping'an's kindness.

In fact, in Xu Ming's view, with Yu Ping'an's ability, those families were destined to be destroyed sooner or later.

"Although that's what you say, no matter what, Brother Xu helped, and that's helping. Brother Xu's kindness, I will definitely remember.

Moreover, I don't know how many years it will be before I take revenge. During these years, the people of Baihe County will still be oppressed by them. I don't know how many innocent people will die tragically. Brother Xu rescued my fellow villagers.

Such kindness, I really have no way to repay!"

Yu Ping'an still said this, seemingly with a hint of stubbornness.

But it was precisely such a loyal and righteous person that made Xu Ming even more at ease.

"This really isn't anything. Forget it, let's not talk about these things." Xu Ming helped Yu Ping'an sit down, "Actually, I came to find Brother Yu today because I have a request."

"Brother Xu, just say it. As long as it's something Yu can help with, Yu will definitely help," Yu Ping'an said frankly.

Xu Ming shook his head: "Whether Brother Yu wants to accept the matter I'm talking about still needs Brother Yu's own judgment. You must not bring in other emotions."

Listening to Xu Ming say this, Yu Ping'an was stunned, as if he understood something, and said directly: "Could it be that Brother Xu, you want me to enter the Embroidered Uniform Guard?"

Xu Ming looked at the smart person in front of him and nodded: "Exactly!"