Chapter 19

"Chapter 19: Counterattack! Ningning no longer wants to be bullied!"

"What skill is there in bullying a child?" the man scolded.

Then, picking up a stick, he wielded it like a long sword, fighting single-handedly against several strong men without falling behind!

His martial arts were impressive, suggesting he was trained in the art.

Seeing this, the mercenary men gritted their teeth: "We've hit trouble, let's get out of here!"

As they fled in disarray, the person threw the long stick in their hand.

It struck the back of the head of one of the men.

He cried out in pain but didn't dare return for revenge, instead turning his head to glare and threaten, "You'll pay for this!"

Then he ran off into the distance.

"Hah, a bunch of cowards," the person scoffed disdainfully.

Turning back, they saw Shen Ningning gazing up at them with big, blinking eyes, full of gratitude.

Upon seeing the person's face clearly, Shen Ningning recognized them: "You're the young man who was grabbing food outside the city!"

The person was taken aback.

They scratched their tangled hair and then, in a distinctly feminine voice, chirped clearly, "Actually, I'm a girl."

"Ah?" The little one's eyes widened in surprise.

The other person swept their hair behind their ear, revealing a dirt-smudged but delicate face, with only their eyes shining black and bright.

She looked to be around thirteen or fourteen years old.

Smiling, she explained, "I deliberately deepened my voice. Otherwise, if people knew I was a girl, they would bully me."

Shen Ningning quickly said, "Thank you, sister."

"Don't mention it. I just ate your food, so helping you out a little is only right," she said, waving her hand dismissively.

Seeing her about to leave, Shen Ningning asked, "Are you still hungry? How about I treat you to a good meal?"

The girl paused in her steps, turned around, her eyes sparkling, "Sure!"

Soon, the two were seated in a spacious and bright private room of a restaurant.

Shen Ningning waved her hand at the waiter, "Bring us one of each of your signature dishes, up to eight dishes in total."

As she finished speaking, the little girl generously handed over a silver piece as a tip.

The waiter was overjoyed, "Please wait a moment, miss. I'll arrange it right away!"

By the time the girl had finished bathing, the waiter had brought a table full of dishes.

"So lavish, then, I won't be polite," she said, sitting down with a chicken leg in one hand and a duck in the other, eagerly starting to eat.

Shen Ningning sat opposite her, her small hands cutely placed on her knees, sitting primly.

"Sister, eat slowly. If it's not enough, I can order more," she said sweetly.

"Thanks, this should be enough. You don't need to call me 'sister,' my surname is Jiang, with a single name Zhi. Just call me by my name."

"Jiang Zhi, sister," the little girl still preferred to call her that, "My name is Shen Ningning."

Jiang Zhi smiled, letting her be.

Shen Ningning couldn't help asking, "Sister, what about your family?"

"They're all gone," Jiang Zhi said calmly and matter-of-factly.

The little girl was startled, then silently lowered her head, feeling she shouldn't have asked.

Jiang Zhi glanced at her.

"Why are your clothes all dusty? Were you bullied too? But seeing you ride a carriage, you shouldn't be like a refugee like me."

Shen Ningning looked at her worn-out dress.

It cost a lot, yet it wore out so quickly.

Her long eyelashes drooped as she spoke in a melancholic tone, "I came to the capital to find a brother, but when I went to the address he gave me, people thought I was causing trouble. It might not have been his home, and they drove me out."

Hearing this, Jiang Zhi laughed, "That's how people in the capital are, cold-hearted and ungrateful. He probably didn't tell you the truth, fearing your persistence."

Shen Ningning's eyes darkened, biting her lower lip, her plump little face filled with sadness.

Realizing she might have spoken out of turn, Jiang Zhi pushed a plate of meatballs towards the little girl.

"Don't be sad. I'll tell you, living in this world means not letting anyone bully you. We've only got one life, why fear them?"

"If you're still upset, I'll go back with you later. Whoever threw you out, I'll give them a beating to vent your anger!"

Shen Ningning didn't speak, remaining silent for a while before suddenly reaching out her small hand to grab the remaining chicken leg and started eating.

This time, it was Jiang Zhi who was taken aback.

She watched the little girl eat messily with her chubby hands, as if venting.

Eating and drinking tea, by the time she finished the last bowl of soup, her chubby cheeks were smeared with sauce.

Shen Ningning cleaned the corners of her mouth with a hot, damp cloth from the restaurant.

Jumping down from her chair with a certain resolve, she said sweetly, "Jiang Zhi sister, you're right. I won't let anyone bully me! You keep eating, I'll be back soon after running an errand!"

"What?!" Jiang Zhi watched in astonishment as Shen Ningning ran out.

Shen Ningning headed straight back to Chun Tang, the pharmacy.

The shopkeeper Fang saw her and beamed with joy: "Miss Shen is back. Have you decided what you'll sell to me next time?"

Shen Ningning squeezed out a few tears: "Shopkeeper Grandpa, I might not be able to sell herbs to you anymore."

She began to sob.

Shopkeeper Fang immediately became anxious: "What happened? Is everything alright?"

As he approached, he noticed Shen Ningning's torn dress and the scrape on her arm.

The little girl, with eyes brimming with tears, said pitifully, "A mean-looking uncle cornered me in an alley, threatened me, and told me not to sell herbs to you anymore!"

"He also wanted to force me to sign a complaint to take to the authorities, accusing you of forced trade."

Shen Ningning sniffled, "Luckily, someone passed by and saved me. Shopkeeper Grandpa, I'm scared. I won't come here anymore."

Shopkeeper Fang was shocked and asked urgently, "What did that man look like?"

"Tall and skinny with a pointed face," Shen Ningning described, elongating her eyes for emphasis, "and squinty eyes."

Shopkeeper Fang pondered and then became furious: "It must be the owner of Renxin Pharmacy. We've always been at odds! I can't believe he dared to threaten you and try to harm me!"

Shen Ningning spoke softly, "The feud between you two has nothing to do with me. Anyway, I've earned enough silver, so I won't come again. Goodbye, Shopkeeper Grandpa."

With that, she turned to leave.

Shopkeeper Fang quickly grabbed her, pleading gently, "Miss Shen, don't let one bad apple ruin our deal."

"Don't worry, I'll take care of this matter and won't let you suffer. Now," he called to his assistant, "bring three hundred taels of silver here!"

"Miss Shen, this money is from the recent sale of the Polygonum multiflorum you brought in. I didn't expect the buyer to pay so much. Since you're here, you should have your share of the profit."

His sincerity was evident as he re-tied a heavy bundle of silver coins onto Shen Ningning's back.

Shopkeeper Fang said, "As long as we cooperate well, Miss Shen's life will surely get better. Leave those with ill intentions to me!"

His own brother was the chief of the Imperial Medical Bureau, so how could he let Renxin Pharmacy threaten them?!

Shen Ningning felt the weighty silver on her back.

She was very smart and quickly understood the situation.

This shopkeeper must be afraid that she was intimidated by that man and would choose to cooperate with him instead, not selling her herbs to Chun Tang anymore.

The fact that he could part with three hundred taels meant he likely had inflated the prices of the Zilingzhi and Polygonum multiflorum previously.

Fearing exposure, he was now compensating in one go.

Shen Ningning calmly accepted the silver.

It was rightfully hers.

She said, albeit reluctantly, "Alright then, I'll wait and see how Shopkeeper Fang plans to deal with that person."

Only then did she leave.

Shen Ningning thought it through clearly.

The reason the other party directly threatened her, instead of confronting Shopkeeper Fang,

Was because they thought she was just a child and easy to manipulate.

But she wouldn't let herself be bullied anymore!

So, she shifted the conflict onto Shopkeeper Fang.

Let the two of them settle their feud themselves!

"Where have all my supporters gone? Ningning's popularity is dropping! Come back and vote, check in, and leave messages for Ningning!! I'll release Prince Mo tomorrow~~"