Chapter 493: Rescuing

“You seem to have it all figured out. She did say that she really likes you,” Yuan Xu teased Pan Ming.

Pan Ming grimaced and said, “She doesn’t like me. She only likes the money I earn.”

“Good to know that your well aware.” Yuan Xu thought Pan Ming was unaware of these things, but now it seemed he wasn’t that naive.

Pan Ming’s mouth twitched. It sounded as if he was being portrayed as foolish.

“By the way, Yuan Xu, can I trouble you with something?” Pan Ming asked, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“What is it?”

“The other day, my brother and I received our wages. When you and the Madam return, could you help us send the money back? We can’t leave at the moment,” Pan Ming explained. They probably wouldn’t be able to return for the next month or two.

“Why not just take it back when you return?” Yuan Xu asked. “Why make it so complicated?”

“My grandfather is unwell and needs medication. It costs quite a bit every time we buy medicine,” Pan Ming explained. He was well aware of the situation at home.

As for why he didn’t go to the Liu family to retrieve the money Liu had taken, the main reason was that he didn’t want to have any further involvement with the Liu family.

Liu’s scheming had made Pan Ming lose all trust in her, and now he just wanted to focus on working hard with his two brothers to earn more money and provide a good life for them in the future.

“Okay, I’ll help you send it back,” Yuan Xu agreed.

“Thank you, Yuan Xu,” the three brothers expressed their gratitude. They took out the money, which amounted to about five taels of silver, a significant amount for them.

When Qi Shu had arrived, he mentioned that their performance this month would determine whether their wages would increase to five taels of silver per month next month.

“No need to thank me. I’ll go find the Madam,” Yuan Xu said before leaving.

After seeing off Yuan Xu, Pan Ming and his brothers continued to work diligently. They never even considered the possibility of Yuan Xu embezzling their money. During the month they spent at Wang Jinhe’s home, they had witnessed Yuan Xu’s capabilities and knew that his monthly wages were much higher than theirs. There was no reason for him to covet their meager earnings.

As Yuan Xu went to the magistrate’s yamen, he coincidentally met Wang Jinhe and her party as they were leaving.

“Madam, where are you headed?” Yuan Xu inquired.

“We’re going to inspect the location the magistrate has prepared for us, suitable for building workshops and schools. How about your end?” Wang Jinhe asked.

“I’ve already informed Pan Ming,” Yuan Xu replied.

“Okay,” Wang Jinhe acknowledged with a nod and didn’t continue the conversation.

The magistrate led Wang Jinhe to inspect the location, which was quite spacious and not suitable for farming. It was perfect for building workshops and schools.

“Madam, what do you think of this place?” the magistrate asked Wang Jinhe.

“It’s indeed quite good,” she replied. The most important thing was that the area was spacious enough. They could build a warehouse in the middle, a workshop on the left, and a school on the right. The school would be slightly farther from the warehouse to avoid disrupting the students’ learning.

“Madam, do you plan to build the school here as well?” Yuan Xu asked curiously.

“I am considering it. What do you think?” she inquired.

“This location is a bit far from both the county and the town, making it inconvenient for commuting. Moreover, if it’s too far, it may discourage girls from attending the school, as people generally prefer to keep boys and girls separate. Even though you mentioned that the boys’ and girls’ schools would be separate, to outsiders, it’s just one school. Even if they can learn skills, we wouldn’t want to risk tarnishing their reputation,” Yuan Xu explained.

Upon hearing Yuan Xu’s input, Wang Jinhe agreed, “You’re right. In that case, we’ll look for another location in the town, so we won’t have to worry about it.”

“Let’s use this place to build the workshop,” the magistrate suggested.

“Agreed.” They knew Yuan Xu’s considerations from his subtle hints.

Satisfied with the location, Wang Jinhe returned with Yuan Xu. After their return, they planned to discuss the matter with the craftsmen.

After returning home, Yuan Xu remembered Pan Ming and their instructions. “Madam, I need to make a trip to Pan Ming’s house. They asked me to help deliver some money.”

“Alright, you can go. I won’t be going out today,” Wang Jinhe replied. There were still many people at home, so even if she went out, she wouldn’t be alone.

After getting the address from Lin Zixun, Yuan Xu rode his horse to the Pan family’s village.

When he arrived, there was no one at Pan Ming’s house. He dismounted and walked to the door, knocking lightly. The door opened as soon as he touched it. Frowning, Yuan Xu walked in and heard sobbing as he entered.

Yuan Xu walked over following the sound. When he saw this scene in the room, Yuan Xu walked in and kicked the man away.

He found Pan Minjun in the room, her face swollen and red from crying. It was evident that she had been beaten.

“Are you okay?” Yuan Xu asked, realizing that it was a redundant question given her condition.

Pan Minjun wiped her tears and looked at the person who had saved her, choking out a thank you. “Thank you for saving me.”

“What are you going to do about this person?” Yuan Xu inquired.

“If he dares to come back, he won’t get away with it,” she replied, unsure of what to do in her current state.

“Go change your clothes and wash your face,” Yuan Xu instructed, handing her some ointment he carried with him. “This is a medicinal ointment that promotes blood circulation and reduces swelling and pain. It should help. Thank you,” Pan Minjun expressed her gratitude.

Yuan Xu grabbed the collar of the man on the floor and escorted him out, giving Pan Minjun the space to compose herself.

After tidying up, Pan Minjun opened the ointment and applied it to her face, feeling a cooling sensation and relief from the pain.

As she walked out, she spotted Liu Bao, lying on the ground in silence, unable to speak.

Pan Minjun’s eyes darkened, and she walked over and kicked him.

Observing the location of the kick, Yuan Xu cleared his throat. This young woman was quite fierce.

Liu Bao let out a miserable cry.

Hearing his cries, Yuan Xu knew how much pain he was in.

“Serves you right,” Pan Minjun said, kicking him again to vent her frustration.

After releasing her anger, Pan Minjun remembered that there was another person at home and felt a bit embarrassed when she saw Yuan Xu sitting there.

“I…,” she began.

“It’s only right to kick someone like him a few times,” he said. If it could dispel the shadow in her heart, kicking him to death wouldn’t be excessive.

“Thank you, sir. If it weren’t for you, I…” Pan Minjun’s face turned pale as she thought about what might have happened to her.

“Why is there only you at home?” Yuan Xu inquired.

“My father took my grandfather to see a doctor, and my mother and grandmother went to my aunt’s house,” Liu Bao explained. If she hadn’t been feeling unwell today, she would have gone to her aunt’s house as well.

Little did she know that not going almost led to her ruin.

“Are you here to see someone?” Pan Minjun, curious, asked Yuan Xu, whom she had never met before.

Yuan Xu confirmed, “Yes, are you Pan Ming’s sister?”

Pan Minjun hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “I am.”

“Your three brothers asked me to help them send money back, and they also wanted me to let you know that they won’t be able to return for the next month or two,” Yuan Xu explained, handing the money to Pan Minjun and clarifying why he was there.