"Well..." The village chief was clearly hesitant.
It wasn't that there was a problem with the idea.
It was just that Aunt Qin had always been shrewish, and she was backed by Landlord Du.
Provoking her was like stepping in dung. You couldn't wash it off, and the stench would linger.
Shen Ningning continued, "If the village house is sold to me, I'll hire the uncles and aunties from the village to help me renovate it."
"I'm willing to pay two taels per person. Grandpa Village Chief, you won't lose out by helping me."
After the recent series of events, the little one had come to understand that if she wanted people to do her bidding, she not only had to entice them with benefits but also intimidate them when necessary.
She blinked her long lashes, her expression lively. "Besides, this is a normal business transaction. If Auntie is unreasonable, I'll just tell Grandpa County Magistrate and have him see that justice is done."
Upon hearing this, the village chief immediately nodded. "Alright! Ningning, you're such a good child. You haven't forgotten everyone in the village now that your life has improved."
"Let's go to my house right now and draw up the deed. In the future, if Aunt Qin and the others come back and try to take the house, I'll be the first one to drive them away for you!"
Shen Ningning happily followed behind him.
The villagers who had heard the news soon completely blocked the entrance to the village chief's house.
Heavens!
The once dusty little orphan, Shen Ningning, was actually wearing such a respectable new dress.
She looked like a young lady from the Capital City.
The moment the village chief's grandson saw Shen Ningning, he immediately poured her some tea.
And the village chief also took special care of the little one.
The deed was signed and stamped.
The village house was now completely Shen Ningning's.
The village chief announced the news in front of everyone.
He also explained that Uncle Qin had used the house as collateral for a debt.
Shen Ningning looked up, seeing the expressions in the villagers' eyes as they stared at her. There was surprise, admiration, and also contemptuous disdain.
She didn't care about any of it.
The little one lifted her small face. With her fair skin and big eyes, she was so beautiful it was as if she had never known hardship.
She said, "Uncles and Aunties, my village house is old and needs to be renovated. It also needs a new door and a fence."
"Who among you is willing to help me? I'll pay two taels per person, and I definitely won't treat you unfairly."
Upon hearing this price, the villagers erupted!
"Two taels?!"
"Heavens! Ningning, the wage you're offering is even more than the monthly pay for a maid serving a noble in the city!"
Soon, more than twenty people raised their hands.
Shen Ningning glanced around.
She pointed with her small finger. "You, you, and you."
The villagers who were pointed at immediately looked overjoyed.
But unexpectedly, the little one's next words were: "I don't want any of you. Last time that auntie bullied me, not only did you not testify for me, but you also joined her in bad-mouthing me."
"I remember it all. So, I don't want your help."
Those few people looked as if they had been struck by lightning!
They hurriedly tried to explain—
"Ningning, we were all deceived by Aunt Qin last time."
"That's right, she's an animal! I'll never say those things again!"
Shen Ningning remained unmoved.
The village chief calmed the noisy crowd for her. "Alright! The house is Ningning's. Who she chooses is up to her."
"And you lot, remember to watch your mouths in the future. Don't say such wicked things!"
The few villagers' faces turned ashen, and they kept saying they knew they were wrong.
Shen Ningning walked up to a very quiet, middle-aged man who was over forty.
"Uncle Liu, can I entrust the renovations to you?"
'Grandma once said that Uncle Liu is a carpenter with excellent skills.'
'Most importantly, Uncle Liu is an honest and trustworthy person.'
'He never argues with anyone. Aside from his wife being a bit fierce and domineering, there's nothing else to fault.'
Uncle Liu was taken aback, not expecting the little one to choose him.
He was a bit hesitant.
He wasn't sure if he could repair the house properly because the Qin Family's old place was just too dilapidated.
His wife nudged him from behind. "Say something, will you!"
Only then did Uncle Liu nod. "I can do it, but your house is old. The renovations will definitely cost a fair bit of money."
Shen Ningning immediately smiled, revealing cute little dimples. "No problem."
In the end, it was settled.
Uncle Liu would be in charge of picking people to help, and Shen Ningning would make an upfront payment of fifty taels for materials.
If it wasn't enough, she would provide more.
Everyone in the village started to gossip, saying Uncle Liu had gotten lucky.
How did such a lucrative job land in the lap of an honest man?
Many people were also suspicious.
Where did Shen Ningning get so much silver?
Could it be that the County Magistrate had given it to her privately?
Recalling how the County Magistrate had staunchly protected Shen Ningning that day, the villagers thought it wasn't impossible.
After giving twenty taels to the village chief and fifty taels to Uncle Liu, Shen Ningning had 480 taels of silver left in her Immortal Realm.
It was more than enough.
「Back home that evening.」
The little one first took a piping hot bath in the Spiritual Spring.
Her skin became even fairer, smoother, and more supple.
Afterward, she went into the Immortal Realm and discovered that all eight seedlings she had planted had already borne fruit!
There was bok choy, cucumber, carrots, chili peppers, and more.
One of the seedlings had even grown into an orange tree!
It had just produced green, unripe oranges.
She believed it wouldn't be long before she could eat their sweet flesh!
Shen Ningning was as happy as a busy little bee during a harvest.
She first packed the mature vegetables into a basket, then dragged it out of the Immortal Realm to give to her grandma.
That very evening, Grandma showed off her skills for the little one again!
Smashed cucumber salad, tangy and sour, sprinkled with minced garlic.
Braised pork with bok choy, its aroma filling the air.
And there was also a dish of stir-fried shredded beef with chili peppers.
Served with steaming, pearly white rice, it was absolutely delicious!
Shen Ningning ate until her little belly was round.
As night fell, she took a walk around the courtyard with her little steps to aid her digestion.
The moon hung in the sky like a bright jade plate.
Grandma Qin sat under the eaves, weaving a bamboo basket as she spoke. "When Grandma was little, the adults would see a moon like this and say the 'sky fire' was coming."
"The so-called 'sky fire' just means heat. It looks like the weather is about to get even hotter."
It was already evening, so it wasn't as scorching on the mountain, and the blowing wind still carried a hint of coolness.
But when Shen Ningning went out during the day, she was nearly overcome by the sun!
The blazing sun overhead made one's head spin.
The little one leaned against the Black Wolf King coquettishly and asked her grandma, "Grandma, if the weather keeps getting hotter and it doesn't rain, will a lot of people die?"
'She thought of the refugees she had seen, dead at the city gates.'
Grandma Qin nodded. "Yes, the great drought has already lasted for seven years. It only rains two or three times a year, and many places have nothing to eat."
"The court has been opening the granaries to distribute food these past few years, but I reckon there isn't much left."
"Our Xiangyun Village used to receive grain from the government every month. Each family could get a sack, but we can't get it anymore. We have to buy it all ourselves."
"So, Ningning, summer is coming soon, and even more people will die. Don't run around, you'll make Grandma worry."
Shen Ningning thought for a moment, then said, "I'll stay home for the next few days to keep you and Langlang company. Hmm, but tomorrow I have to go back to the village to check on our house."
Grandma Qin's hands paused. "The village house?"
Shen Ningning briefly explained how she had bought the house.
Grandma Qin was silent for a long time before finally nodding. "Ningning, you did the right thing. Grandma never wants to see you suffer again."
Shen Ningning wrapped her arms around the Black Wolf King's neck, leaning her whole body against Langlang.
"I won't suffer anymore. I'll make sure Grandma and Langlang live a good life with me!"
Grandma Qin smiled, her expression kind and gentle.
It was a scene of warmth and joy. However...
「General Zhen Nan Mansion.」
CRACK! CRACK! The sound of a whip cracked through the air several times.
The whip struck, its barbs tearing into flesh. When it was pulled back, it brought with it a spray of hot blood.
The housekeeper collapsed to the ground, his lips trembling from the pain, his face deathly pale.
He crawled like a pathetic insect to the feet of a seated young man, begging for mercy.
"Your Highness, the Crown Prince, this servant truly knows he was wrong! This servant didn't know... that she was your person!"