Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
The masked man was secretly overjoyed. After a close battle with the bailiffs, he quickly left with the spoils of war. Little did he know that after they left, the bailiffs, who were supposed to be in a difficult position due to their serious injuries, got up one after another. They took out the broken blood bags and hard iron armor from their clothes, sleeves, and pants. They heaved a long sigh. âAiyo, this thing hurts me.â
His companion kicked him in the side. âItâs better than really getting stabbed, right? You donât know that if I hadnât reacted quickly and blocked it with my arm, I would have been cut in the neck. It was really dangerous.â
The other bailiff, whose face was a little swollen, laughed bitterly. âItâs about time for the two of you. The person I faced this person just now was the real bastard. He actually attacked my handsome face. He must be jealous of me!â After chatting for a while, they sorted out their images and made a tragic scene of surviving a calamity. They limped into the city. The city guard was immediately dumbfounded. âWhatâs wrong with you, brothers?â
The bailiffs fell into character. âQuickly report to the county magistrate that the new rice seeds have been hijacked!â
After the news spread, not only was County Magistrate Shen anxious, but even the other officials, who were waiting in the county office for the rice to be distributed, were like ants on a hot pan. âWhat⦠what should we do?â
County Magistrate Shen said anxiously, âDonât worry. I will go to Fortune Village and borrow the rice seeds of the Ning Family to distribute to you first.â
However, the county office was not the only one who was targeted. When the bailiff received the order and came to the Ning Family to explain his intentions, he realized that the room where the Ning Family was stacking the rice seeds was empty. Ning Fengnian felt as if he had been struck by lightning. âItâs broad daylight. H-how could there be a thief?â Ning Fengnian was anxious, but Ning Ansheng looked at his younger sister, who was playing with her fingers with her head lowered, in deep thought.
When Xiaoxiao went to wander around the fields as usual, she saw her brother as expected. She chuckled and pulled him to an empty spot to lower her voice. âBrother, I have something to tell you.â
Her brotherâs wisdom was enough for him not to expose himself in front of outsiders, which was approved by County Magistrate Shen and Mr. Chen. They agreed that they would discuss anything together in the future, so Xiaoxiao had to give his brother enough trust.
As expected, Ning Ansheng immediately asked after hearing what had happened, âDid you deliberately make it look like they were successful so that Prefect Yan would let down his guard?â
Xiaoxiao liked her brotherâs sharpness. âNot bad. Let him think that he still has a way out so that he wonât cause trouble.â
Ning Ansheng asked again, âIs Ah Yanâs disappearance also related to this matter? He wasnât brought to seclusion by Teacher Chen to study, but the county magistrate arranged other missions for him, right?â
Xiaoxiao just nodded. Most of the facts had already been told to Ning Ansheng, but it was not appropriate to reveal Little Big Brotherâs identity for the time being.
The panic and anger of the Ning Family and the robbery of the officialâs carriage quickly spread throughout Fortune Village. The villagers were all united against a common enemy. In their free time, they carried farming tools and looked around for the culprit. Unfortunately, they found nothing. The officials, who had worked hard to get the seeds promised by County Magistrate Shen, went to the county office every day and were more concerned about the results than County Magistrate Shen himself.
However, the officials who were originally causing a ruckus uncharacteristically gradually quietened down.
When the news reached the instigator, they were exchanged for a victorious smile that said, âEverything is under control.â
Knowing what was going on, County Magistrate Shen sneered and asked someone who could be trusted to breed all the rice seeds secretly.
Before the results of the new rice seed were obtained, the heavy rain suddenly came.
The rice in Fortune Village had basically been harvested. Even the rice in the unsightly fields in the old residence had been taken away by the casino to pay off their debts. The thatched house where Little Aunt Ning had lived had been destroyed by the heavy rain. Only then did the villagers realize that she had not appeared for a long time.
Thanks to the old residenceâs terrible relationship with people, no one cared about her whereabouts. Everyone only guessed in their free time that Ning Xiaoâer probably couldnât live anymore and ran to seek refuge with her other elders.
When the rain lessened a little, the Ning Family had guests early in the morning. A familiar nanny alighted from the Li Familyâs luxurious carriage. âMiss Ning, our Old Madam is awake and wants to see you.â
Xiaoxiao remembered her jade pendant and readily agreed.
Ning Fengnian and his wife thought that the Li Family wanted to express their gratitude, but Ning Anhui frowned.
Ning Ansheng, who was also feeling uneasy, looked at his younger brother. âWhatâs wrong?â
Ning Anhui scratched his head. âI keep feeling that if itâs to thank Sister, that nannyâs attitude is a little too aloof.â
He was a frequent businessman after all. He interacted with many customers and was more sensitive to peopleâs attitudes. After he said that, Ning Ansheng also felt that something was wrong. Hence, he opened the oil-paper umbrella and pulled out their carriage.
Ning Fengnian and his wife looked at him strangely. âDidnât the Li Family say that they would send Xiaoxiao back later?â
Ning Ansheng set up the carriage. âIâm worried.â
Ning Anhui put down the things in his hands and followed him out. âBig Brother, Iâll go too. Iâll go to the shop after picking up Sister.â
In the Li Residenceâs carriage, the nanny deliberately closed her eyes to rest and put on airs, waiting for Xiaoxiao to ask questions. She was already prepared. When the time came, she would definitely teach this rude brat a lesson. However, there was no movement in the carriage even after she memorized the script a few times. She opened her eyes and saw that the little girl had fallen asleep!
She gritted her teeth angrily. Alright, letâs see if you can still be so calm in front of Old Madam la ter!
Xiaoxiao had already recognized that the person who picked her up was Old Madam Liâs personal nanny. She was the one who had stared at her and Doctor Gongsun and fainted after Old Madamâs abdomen was cut open. She heard that she had caught a cold after lying on the cold floor for a long time and could not turn around for a few days because of her inappropriate sleeping posture.
She did not know if this nannyâs attitude was because of her orâ¦
Actually, Old Madam Li had already been awake for two days. The day before, when she opened her eyes and felt the unbearable pain in her stomach, she wanted to settle scores with Gongsun Zhongjing. However, her grandson was determined and refused to let her find trouble with the young doctor. When she changed her dressing, the more she looked at the scar on her stomach, the more terrifying she felt. She closed her eyes as if she could imagine Gongsun Zhongjing stabbing her stomach with a knife. She couldnât even sleep well.
After she woke up, she refused to let Gongsun Zhongjing change her dressing again. After a few words of persuasion, she said that the entire family wanted to force her to death. Li Muyan had a splitting headache and wanted to apologize to Gongsun Zhongjing. He was so busy that he could not do anything else. In the end, he still looked at himself in the mirror and felt inferior.
He was really too tired. He fell into a deep sleep after drinking a cup of calming tea today. He had no idea that Old Madam had immediately sent someone to look for Gongsun Zhongjing after he fell asleep. When she realized that Gongsun Zhongjing was in the county office and she could not find trouble with him, she asked the nanny to look for the little girl who âhelped the evildoerâ at that time.
Old Madamâs logic was very simple. Anyone who disobeyed her should be scolded.
In addition, the nanny hated Xiaoxiao for not taking care of her that day and letting her lie on the ground after she fainted. She had really said a lot of bad things about Xiaoxiao these few days.
For example, âThe girls in our residence were tactful and refused to help. That doctor originally planned to give up, but this girl kept thinking about the reward and insisted on volunteering. I saw the two of them stab a knife into Old Madamâs body with my own eyes. At that time, the blood⦠I was terrified. They were quacks who harmed people. Iâve never heard of any treatment that required stabbing.. Is this saving people or killing them?â