Chapter Six: Change of View

  The father and son looked at each other affectionately for a long time, and Qiao Siyuan patted Qiao Anbang's shoulder with great comfort, saying: "Good boy, I knew my son would turn back, I knew he could change! Work hard, the future of our Qiao family depends on you!"

  "My son will remember your teachings, Father. Please be at ease!" Qiao Anbang replied with a respectful bow.

  "Let's go! We'll go out for dinner. Your second brother should be back by now." Qiao Siyuan said, taking the lead and walking forward.

  "Ah! Father, slow down." Qiao Anbang hastily stepped forward to support him, and the two of them walked out of the accounting room together towards the main hall.

  Just as Qiao Anbang and Qiao Sifang had just arrived at the main house, someone else came from outside the courtyard. The two of them looked up to see that it was Lao Er Qiao Anhui.

  Seeing his second brother, Qiao Anbang didn't hesitate and hurriedly called out: "Second Brother, you're back."

  "Hmm!" The Qiao family obviously didn't notice Qiao Anbang's sudden enthusiasm, and immediately called out to Qiao Siyuan: "Dad."

  "Uh, have you finished all the accounts for today?" Qiao Si asked with a nod. In recent years, he had been letting Qiao An's family gradually adapt to taking over the management of the Qiao family's local industries in Yiriver.

  "Yes, all done." Qiao Anjia nodded in response.

  "Alright! Let's all come in and have dinner." Qiao Siyuan said, turning around and walking into the main room. Qiao Anbang responded with a sound and hurriedly came forward to support him.

  Qiao An's family followed behind and finally discovered the change in Qiao Anbang. Seeing that Qiao Anbang actually took the initiative to help his father, he was shocked beyond measure. It must be known that in the past, Qiao Anbang didn't even bother to call out, let alone offer a helping hand.

  As for his third brother, Qiao Anbang, Qiao Anhao didn't dislike him from the start. Although his behavior was somewhat improper, it didn't affect his affection for his younger brother. In his opinion, family members would always be family members, and he would forever treat Qiao Anbang as his own brother.

  Seeing San Di's change, Qiao An's family was surprised and delighted, and immediately followed in with a smile.

  The father and son trio entered the main room, sat down in order of seniority, and soon several servants brought in steaming hot dishes. Next, Yalifeng also walked in lightly under Qiao Wu's lead.

  Qiao An's family saw a strange and beautiful woman suddenly appear in their home, with a look of surprise on her face, turned around and asked: "Dad, Third Brother, who is this?"

  "Oh! Second brother, let me introduce you, this is my friend, surname Liu, named Yifei, just returned from studying abroad. Dad's old leg injury hasn't been healing well, right? Coincidentally, Yifei majored in medicine, so I invited her to take a look at dad!" Qiao Anbang hastily stood up and introduced.

  "Oh." As soon as the Qiao family heard that Ya Li was an overseas student and had been invited by Lao San to treat his father's illness, they immediately stood up, smiled, and politely said: "Miss Liu, welcome, please take a seat!"

  "Thank you!" Yali smiled and nodded slightly before sitting down.

  After Ya Li sat down, Qiao Anbang saw Qiao Wu standing aside and hastily said: "Fifth Uncle, please sit down too, let's have a meal together."

  "No need, thank you, Young Master. We'll just go and eat with Gen Sheng and the others." Qiao Wumeng never thought that the Third Young Master, who usually looked down on everyone, would invite him to join in.

  Qiao Anbang did this with a purpose, after inheriting Qiao Anbang's memories, he knew that Qiao Wu was not just an ordinary housekeeper, his martial arts skills and marksmanship were the best among all the servants in the Qiao family, and his abilities far surpassed others.

  It was for this reason that Qiao Siyuan strictly required the three brothers to address him as "Fifth Uncle", and Qiao Anbang naturally understood the implication.

  Qiao Siyuan was apparently very pleased with his third son's performance and, rarely smiling, waved his hand at Qiao Wu: "Old Five, don't be polite, An Bang is right, sit down and let's have a meal together!"

  "Ah! Thank you, sir!" Qiao Wu nodded repeatedly and immediately sat down.

  After everyone sat down, Qiao Anbang spoke up and asked, "Dad, will big brother be coming for dinner today?"

  "Oh, your big brother received a combat order a few days ago and took his troops to Qingtang to eliminate bandits. He won't be back for another two days. You all know that in recent years, the country has been plagued by warlords fighting each other, with battles raging on year after year, leaving the common people suffering. As a result, bandits have multiplied. Although the National Government has basically unified the country, local bandits and robbers are still rampant, which is why this campaign to eliminate them was launched. Alright, let's not talk about these things anymore, let's eat." Qiao Siyuan said, waving his hand to signal everyone to start eating.

  Just as everyone was about to start eating, a sudden rapid footsteps echoed in the courtyard, and then a man wearing military uniform covered in blood rushed in with quick steps.

  That man's face was flustered, panting and seeing Qiao Siyuan, he hastily said: "Master, it's not good! The young master has been surrounded by bandits on Quan Mountain. The situation is extremely urgent now. The young master ordered me to rush out desperately for help. You quickly send someone to rescue the young master and his brothers, or else the young master and his brothers will be in danger."

  Qiao Anbang knew this man, who was originally a house servant of his own family, named Cao Er. As a well-known wealthy household in the Zhuheshu area, the Qiao family had also raised dozens of armed guards before. Since young master Qiao Anguo joined the national army, these guards were all expanded by Qiao Anguo as the backbone of his security team.

  His security team can be said to have developed from the expansion of his own family's guards.

  As soon as they heard that Qiao An Guo was surrounded by bandits, the expressions of Qiao An Jia, Qiao Si Yuan and Qiao An Bang changed drastically, and they all stood up in a hurry. Qiao An Guo even asked urgently: "Cao Er, what's going on? Tell me clearly!"

  "Reporting to Second Master, Eldest Master led the brothers to eliminate the bandits at Quan Shan. Originally, there were only over 20 bandits with more than 10 guns at Quan Shan. Who knew that when we arrived, we found out that there were actually several hundred bandits at Quan Shan? Moreover, it seemed like they had been prepared beforehand and set up an ambush at Quan Shan. The brothers were ambushed as soon as they entered the mountain. Eldest Master led the brothers to fight while retreating and is now guarding a cliff, the situation is extremely dangerous!" Cao Er replied anxiously.

  "Old master! Young master is in imminent danger, we can't afford to delay, we must rush to his rescue immediately!" Qiao Wu also spoke out urgently.

  Qiao Siyuan's face was very solemn at this moment, because the original guards of the Qiao family had all been incorporated into Qiao Anguo's security team, and since Qiao Anguo's security team was stationed in Zuihe Village, they could protect the Qiao family nearby, so Qiao Siyuan did not reorganize another armed guard.

  So now Qiao's family, apart from twenty or so servants, didn't have anyone who could go and rescue Qiao Anguo.

  Seeing Qiao Siyuan's ugly face, Qiao Anbang thought for a moment and said: "Father, my elder brother is in imminent danger. I suggest that we immediately gather all the servants in our house. I am willing to lead them to rescue my elder brother!"

  "Third brother! The servants at home can handle some rough work, but fighting against fierce bandits, they're probably not enough, and we don't even have any weapons. Even if we did, they wouldn't know how to use them!" Qiao An's family also chimed in with a worried tone.

  "Dad, Second Brother, I'll think of a way to deal with the weapons. With more people, we have more power. We can't just sit back and watch our Big Brother get into danger without doing anything." Then Qiao Anbang turned around and said to Qiao Wu: "Uncle Five, please gather all the servants in the house! Also, tell them to bring out all of our horses, we'll ride them there."

  "Alright, I'll go!" Qiao Wu glanced at Qiao Siyuan, nodded and turned to leave.

  After Qiao Wu left, Qiao Anbang gave Yali a look and the two of them also walked out of the hall. After instructing Yali for a while, Qiao Anbang turned around and returned to the hall, and Yali took orders and left.

  Before long, Qiao Wu walked in hastily and said to Qiao Siyuan and others: "Master, young master, all the people have been summoned!"

  Qiao Anbang nodded and immediately said to Qiao Siyuan: "Father, big brother is in a life-threatening situation, I must take people to rescue him!"

  "Third Master, this rescue of the Eldest Young Master is extremely perilous, let me lead the team instead!" Qiao Wu immediately stood up and objected.

  "Uncle Five, don't try to persuade me. Big Brother is my own brother. When brothers are in trouble, I should stand up for him! If even a close brother doesn't dare to go and rescue him, am I still a human being? A real man has things he will do and won't do. For the sake of his brother, even if it means death, there's nothing to be afraid of!" Qiao Anbang firmly but politely declined Qiao Wu, knowing this was an excellent opportunity to change the way the Qiao family looked at him, as well as deepen his relationship with Qiao Anguo. No matter what, he couldn't give up.

  "Good! Well said! You're indeed my son, Qiao Siyuan!" Qiao Siyuan's face was filled with excitement and emotion as he exclaimed: "My son, be careful on your journey, I'll wait for you and your brothers to return home safely!" Today's Qiao Anbang had already given him too many surprises and shocks, but now he began to feel proud, honored, and relieved to have such a son.

  "Third brother, I'll go with you!" The second brother, Qiao Anjia, who was also deeply moved, spoke out.

  "No, Second Brother, you must stay behind. If this time I and Big Brother don't return, in the future Father will have to rely on you to take care of him!" Qiao Anbang said with a heavy tone, firmly refusing.

  "Third brother!" Qiao An's family choked with sobs, his eyes moist as he reached out and hugged Qiao Anbang tightly, saying in a low voice: "Good brother, you must come back safely, did you hear me?"

  "Hmm!" Qiao Anbang nodded heavily, patted Qiao Anhao's shoulder, and slowly looked at his second brother and father whom he had just met for less than an hour. He then turned to Qiao Wu and said: "Uncle Five, let's go!"

  "Yes!" Qiao Wu responded with a single word and immediately followed the Third Young Master, who had suddenly changed his impression of him, as he strode out of the main hall.

  Seeing Qiao Anbang and Qiao Wu leave, Qiao Siyuan and Qiao An hastily followed them out until they saw them off at the gate of their own courtyard. Watching his son's gradually disappearing back, Qiao Siyuan felt indescribable comfort and reassurance in his heart, as if an invisible voice was telling him that he would definitely succeed, and would definitely rescue 'Lao Da'.