"Lord Nie, I have long heard that after you cleared your name, although you were only a minor county magistrate of the seventh rank, you did a lot of practical things for the local people. You led them to reclaim wasteland, dig ditches to divert water, and build waterwheels to bring water up the mountain to irrigate the fields. The people saw hope and were full of energy."
Lord Nie's rapid rise in rank was not due to any underhanded means, but rather earned through your own merit.
However, the court has arranged for you to come here this time. Most officials would be unwilling to come, fearing that the people here would be difficult to manage, and even more so, the dangers of this place.
"Could it be that you offended your boss and got into trouble, which is why you ended up here?" Hong Xiaoduo asked again.
Nie Qing was surprised that Hong Xiaoduo knew about her actions after becoming an official, and her worries immediately vanished.
He told Hong Xiaoduo that he had just arrived in the capital to meet the emperor and learned about the border war, which not only resulted in a great victory but also in the counterattack and capture of the enemy's city.
In the imperial court, the emperor asked his ministers to recommend officials who had come to the court. He stepped forward and recommended himself, and the emperor agreed.
The reason he was afraid she would misunderstand him as a corrupt official who only knew how to climb the ranks by any means and did not care about the well-being of the people was entirely because Hong Xiaoduo was his benefactor.
Hong Xiaoduo didn't want to think that she had saved someone who shouldn't have been saved and wasn't worth saving.
Hong Xiaoduo's kindness to him wasn't just a simple act of standing up for him when they met. They were complete strangers, but he was worried about his mother and sister at home, so he asked her for help to go and check on them. She believed him and went to his house without hesitation.
Not only did he help his sister avoid falling into the old master's trap, but he also suggested that his mother and sister go to the capital to file a complaint, helped introduce Minister Wei, cleared his name, and punished the evildoers.
Afterwards, I rushed to Dawuguan to tell him and put his mind at ease.
Before she went to Dawuguan, she asked someone she knew in the military camp to take care of him.
He doesn't care what others think of him or whether they misunderstand him; as long as he has a clear conscience, that's enough.
Regarding the kindness shown to him by Hong Xiaoduo, he felt that the only thing he could do was to be a good official who wholeheartedly served the people, so as to repay her kindness.
"Lord Nie, you are truly courageous. With Lord Nie governing this place, it will prosper and flourish. With General Wu protecting the people, the people of Baishi and Hongliu will be able to live a peaceful and prosperous life." Hong Xiaoduo said with feeling.
"I, Nie, will certainly live up to Miss Hong's trust and high expectations," Nie Qing said solemnly, clasping his hands in a fist salute to Hong Xiaoduo.
"By the way, where are your mother and Xue'er now? Are they doing well? Are they still in their hometown?" Hong Xiaoduo was not used to this serious atmosphere, so she quickly changed the subject.
"Thank you for your concern, Miss Hong. My mother and younger sister are both well. I arranged for someone to pick them up before I left the capital, and they should be on their way now."
"My mother often talks about you, Hong Xiaoduo. She would be overjoyed to see you here." Nie Qing really wanted to ask Hong Xiaoduo whether she lived here or had traveled here.
Upon hearing this, Gong Wei realized that even his family had been brought here, which was enough to show that Prefect Nie was determined to do a good job here.
Instead of using this place as a stepping stone to achieve some success, they will try to transfer away.
Only after being paired with such a civil official did Gong Wei truly feel relieved.
The main thing is that the people Hong Xiaoduo helps must be of good character.
"I probably won't see you then, because I'll be leaving in a few days. But if fate allows, we'll meet again. I just heard that an important person is coming to take up a post, so I thought I'd come and see. I didn't expect it to be an acquaintance, hahaha. Well, now that I've seen you, I won't keep you from discussing business any longer. I'll take my leave." Hong Xiaoduo said with a smile, nodded to Dou Suyi and her husband, and turned to leave.
When Hong Xiaoduo saw that it was Nie Qing, she really wanted to say, "Since we're not outsiders, let's have dinner together at the mansion."
Anyway, Tianxuan's cooking skills are better than those of restaurants outside.
But thinking about Nie Qing's attitude towards her just now—too respectful, too... well, you know—Hong Xiaoduo decided to give up.
She helps people not in the hope of getting anything in return, but the other person doesn't think that way. They'll feel bad if they don't give gifts or money to express their gratitude.
When he met Nie Qing a second time at Dawu Pass, he was still unable to repay her.
He is now an official, and even a prefect, but Hong Xiaoduo noticed that his robes were old. Minister Wei had mentioned before that Nie Qing was an honest and upright official who, despite receiving a salary from the court, often helped his subordinates who were struggling financially.
Minister Wei was very pleased when he mentioned Nie Qing, because he had helped a young man who deserved help back then.
Therefore, to avoid making Nie Qing feel uncomfortable, it's best not to invite him to dinner.
Nie Qinggang has just arrived to take up his post and has many things to do, so he can't take care of anything else for the time being. By the time he has a little free time, I will have already left.
Back at the residence, Feiyan was setting the table. Upon seeing her, she casually asked, "What do you think? An honest official or a corrupt one?"
Quan Jinghuai, who was looking at the sword manual, also looked over, wanting to hear what she had to say.
Hong Xiaoduo sat down at the table and said with a smile, "He's a good one. You've met him before, Brother Quan, and you, Feiyan, also have some connection with him."
“An acquaintance? Who is it?” Quan Jinghuai ran through his mind but couldn’t find a match.
Feiyan was also deeply moved by Hong Xiaoduo's words and racked her brains, trying to figure out who the official was and who she had some connection with.
Seeing that neither of them could guess who it was, Hong Xiaoduo stopped keeping them in suspense and said, "Nie Qing."
"Him?" Quan Jinghuai nodded, surprised that he hadn't thought of this person for a moment.
Feiyan had never met Nie Qing, but she knew of him.
Because Hong Xiaoduo went to Dawuguan to see this person and stayed there for the New Year, which is how she met herself selling herself on the street to bury her father.
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