Chapter 58

"Chapter 58: Someone Wants to Borrow the Wolves to Show Off?"

"The northwest direction?"

"Shen Ningning didn’t know what lay there."

"But one thing was certain: that area was a more densely forested and complex part of the mountains."

"It surely couldn't be a residential area, and it was unlikely that so many items could be successfully stolen by the monkeys."

"The little monkey saw Shen Ningning frowning in thought, looking adorable."

"It kept squeaking, as if trying to explain the whole story, but unfortunately, the young girl couldn’t understand its language."

"Eventually, Shen Ningning brought out an empty box."

"She pointed to it, 'Put everything in here, and then, Wolf King, distribute fruits to the little monkeys.'"

"'But next time, you can't give me these things again. I can't accept them.'"

"She planned to store these items and hand them over to Captain Wang when she saw him."

"After all, what if these were things the monkeys had stolen?"

"The little monkeys nodded happily."

"They lined up to receive the red fruits."

"This time, Shen Ningning was very generous, even sharing peanuts she had grown in her mystical garden."

"The monkeys' eyes sparkled, and they even performed a bowing gesture they had learned somewhere, bowing to Shen Ningning."

"Shen Ningning couldn’t help but laugh at their antics, her laughter clear and bright."

"The next day,"

"Shen Ningning took barrels of spring water in her carriage to Xiangyun Village."

"She hadn’t forgotten her land and planned to irrigate it thoroughly with the spring water."

"Uncle Liu and another man diligently helped unload the water barrels."

"'Ningning, your land is all prepared now.'"

"'Uncle Liu, thank you for your hard work! I have two baskets of eggs here for you and the other uncle to share, take them home to eat!'"

"Both men immediately thanked the young girl and accepted the eggs without hesitation."

"Shen Ningning had also brought something for Deng Fugui, to thank him for treating her to loquat candy last time."

"But looking around, she learned from the villagers that Deng Fugui had gone to visit relatives with his mother today."

"The young girl had no choice but to give up on that plan and took a basket of oranges, red fruits, peanuts, and white rice to visit Granny Chen."

"She had heard that Granny Chen’s son had returned and Shen Ningning had not yet had the chance to speak with her in person."

"Arriving at Granny Chen's door, she found it tightly locked."

"The young girl felt a hint of suspicion."

"When they were neighbors, Granny Chen always liked to keep her door open."

"Now it was locked. Was she not at home?"

"'Granny Chen, it’s Ningning. Are you home? I brought some things to see you,' the young girl tapped on the door latch."

"There was no response from inside."

"But after listening for a while, the Black Wolf King howled."

"It indicated someone was inside."

"After a while, there were messy footsteps from inside."

"'Ningning is here...' Granny Chen’s voice sounded a bit hoarse."

"As soon as the door opened, Shen Ningning saw Granny Chen, her hair mostly gray and her face significantly more haggard, as if she had aged a decade all at once!"

"The young girl paused, then quickly regained her composure and offered the food she brought."

"'Granny Chen, here, this food is for you.'"

"'Oh... Ningning, you're so thoughtful, thank you,' Granny Chen reached out to take it."

"However, Shen Ningning noticed two large burst blisters on the back of her hand, exposing the flesh beneath."

"Before she could take a closer look, Granny Chen had already withdrawn her hand."

"'Ningning, the house is a bit messy, so I won't invite you in for a drink and a visit,' Granny Chen said with a forced smile."

"The young girl wasn’t concerned about that."

"She looked suspiciously behind Granny Chen."

"Behind the dark doorway, it seemed like something was hidden."

"There was also a medicine bowl on the table."

"Shen Ningning withdrew her gaze and said softly, 'It's okay, Granny. Everyone in the village is preparing their land for planting loquat trees.'"

"'I plan to give you four trees as well. If Chen Big Brother returns, he can help you with them. If you need anything, just come and find me!'"

"Granny Chen thanked her profusely and, without much ado, closed the door."

"It was all too strange, too unusual."

"To Shen Ningning, Granny Chen had always been warm and hospitable."

"Even in the past, despite Auntie Qin’s arrogance and assertiveness, Granny Chen would stand up for her and argue with Auntie Qin."

"She prepared to head home with the pack of wolves."

"On her way out of the village, she encountered Deng Fugui and his mother, who had just returned in an ox cart."

"'Oh my! Ningning!' Auntie Deng hurriedly got off the cart."

"'Little Wolf Sister!' Deng Fugui ran over, handing her a meat bun, 'My maternal grandfather made it, you should try it!'"

"His maternal family owned a bun shop."

"Shen Ningning waved her hand, 'I just ate, but thank you, Fugui, for the candy last time. I brought you a return gift.'"

"As she spoke, she had Wolf Three bring over the bag of eggs."

"Auntie Deng's face lit up with joy, 'Ningning, you're so thoughtful. We'll happily accept them.'"

"Deng Fugui looked a bit upset at his mother."

"He usually tried to be generous in front of Shen Ningning, and his mother's unhesitating acceptance of the eggs seemed a bit stingy!"

"Auntie Deng urged Deng Fugui to check on their land."

"Deng Fugui didn't want to leave, 'I'll escort Little Wolf Sister out of the village.'"

"But Auntie Deng pushed him, 'I have something to discuss with Ningning. Go on, you really have no sense of timing!'"

"Deng Fugui sulked away, reluctantly."

"Shen Ningning blinked her round eyes, 'Auntie Deng, what's the matter?'"

"Auntie Deng rubbed her hands together and said with a smile, 'Ningning, you see, we've helped you so much, and we’re neighbors after all. I have a favor to ask you.'"

"'When I visited my family, I bragged about you. I told them how you, at such a young age, not only control a pack of wolves but also have caught the eye of some nobles, giving us silver and flour. They were all envious!'"

"'My parents and family are coming to the village tomorrow. Could you bring the wolves to impress them, and maybe show them some of the gifts the Crown Prince gave you, just to let them see?'"

"The Black Wolf King was the first to show displeasure in his eyes."

"Hearing this, Shen Ningning firmly said, 'Auntie Deng, I can’t agree to your request.'"

"'Why not? It's just a matter of lifting a hand, and it doesn’t cost you anything!' Auntie Deng raised her voice, expressing her incomprehension."

"Besides, she had already bragged about it!"

"Having married the son of the village chief, she felt superior to her sisters back home."

"She had even declared that Shen Ningning would be her future daughter-in-law."

"She had expected the young girl to be easy to convince, but the refusal was so straightforward."

"How could Auntie Deng accept this?"

"Shen Ningning explained softly, 'The wolves are my family, not monkeys to perform tricks.'"

"'And the things the Crown Prince gave me are already locked away, it’s inconvenient to take them out, too much trouble.'"

"She was speaking the truth."

"The young girl didn’t want to go through the hassle of moving things in and out of her mystical space again; it was too tiring."

"Auntie Deng’s face darkened."

"'Ningning, this isn’t a difficult request. Don’t forget, when Qin Fangmei and others came back to make trouble, it was my father-in-law who called people to help chase them away! Don’t you remember this favor?'"

"Shen Ningning’s eyes darkened."

"She countered clearly, 'Auntie, perhaps there’s a misunderstanding? I had an agreement with the village chief.'"

"'I bought the house, signed the deed, and he assured me he’d help chase away those who wanted to occupy my village house. I paid for that house, it wasn’t for free.'"

"It was more a transaction than a favor."