Chapter 96

Chapter 96: They Absolutely Aren't

Wu Cui said, "Our family used to be landlords, but fell into hard times during a year of disaster. However, my father left some family heirlooms."

"Among them, there is a family treasure meant only for children, a longevity lock. I placed it on Ningning the moment she was born."

A lock?

Shen Ningning remembered the small ruyi tied around her waist.

Could this be the same item?

She looked up at Grandma Qin, who remained calm and unreadable.

After a moment of silence, Grandma Qin said, "Take me around your village. Ningning, stay here and get to know Zu Chang."

Shen Ningning looked at the drooling Wu Zu Chang and quietly pouted.

Why did Grandma instruct her like this? Could it be she believed Qian Si Niang and Wu Cui were her parents?

Grandma Qin then left with the couple.

Wu Zuchang, while drooling, kept his eyes fixed on Shen Ningning.

The little girl hid behind a chair, but he tilted his head to keep looking at her.

Finally, Shen Ningning couldn't bear it anymore and said softly, "Hello… you."

Wu Zuchang immediately grinned, a silly smile on his face.

He turned and ran off, apparently with something else in mind.

Seeing him leave, Shen Ningning quickly went to the doorway.

Officer Wang was talking to the villagers outside; she reached out her little hand and pulled him into the yard.

"Uncle Officer, do you also think they are my parents?"

"Miss Shen, before coming here, I had already investigated them," Officer Wang explained. "Four years ago, this couple registered at the government office, reporting their lost daughter."

If it was a deception, why would they have reported to the officials four years ago?

Shen Ningning's little face puffed up, her black eyes brimming with confusion.

"But, I don’t feel like they are my parents."

She still remembered the dream she had when she fell down the valley.

Although this Shen family house in Xitai Village was large, the room her mother lived in her dream was as big as the entire courtyard of this village house.

And the calligraphy in that house, 'Peaceful Mind', she remembered it clearly.

Her father was tall, and when he held her, his right middle finger had calluses from writing.

But Shen Ningning had just observed Wu Cui's hands.

They were purely those of a farmer, with calluses on the palms and base of the fingers.

Officer Wang understood Shen Ningning's unease.

He reached out to pat the little girl's head.

"They described their lost daughter as very similar to you, which is why I brought them to Xiangyun Village for a reunion."

"If they don’t match your memory, you don’t have to force a relationship. However, if it turns out they are indeed your parents, it would certainly be a good thing."

Officer Wang meant well.

He thought Shen Ningning was charming and adorable, and it would be wonderful if she could be reunited with her biological parents.

At that moment,

In the largest house in the village, Deng Fugui was looking out the window.

He caught a glimpse of Shen Ningning’s familiar figure standing in a courtyard not far away.

Unable to resist, Deng Fugui hastily wanted to run outside.

But he was grabbed by his mother, Wang Qiao'er.

"Where are you running off to?"

"Mom! That’s Little Wolf Sister, I want to go see her!"

"Don’t you dare! Haven’t you had enough of the trouble that Little Wolf Girl has caused us?" Wang Qiao'er said with a mix of blame and anger.

Deng Fugui was anxious but didn’t dare to defy his mother.

He could only peer out the window longingly.

He was very happy inside.

Now, he and his mother lived in a large house bought by his maternal uncle. Wang Qiao'er forbade him from returning to Xitai Village, so Deng Fugui thought he would never see Shen Ningning again.

Unexpectedly, here he was, able to see her once more.

"Mom, is that Wu Uncle's house?" Deng Fugui asked doubtfully, "Wu Uncle only has a simple-minded son; when did they lose a daughter?"

Wang Qiao'er was counting silver coins, her head lowered.

Hearing his question, she replied irritably, "How would I know? Your maternal uncle did mention that their family lost a child, but that seemed to be five or six years ago."

"Five or six years ago? Little Wolf Sister is only four and a half years old; she definitely can't be Wu Uncle's daughter!" Deng Fugui became anxious.

Wang Qiao'er looked up and scolded him, "Mind your own business. Shen Ningning was also picked up by Grandma Qin. Who knows if she really is four and a half years old? Maybe Grandma Qin, being old, remembered it wrong."

"I warn you, don't cause trouble and stay away from that Little Wolf Girl. Don't bring problems to your maternal uncle!"

Deng Fugui clenched his teeth, gazing out the window, longingly at Shen Ningning's small figure.

Officer Wang had other duties at the yamen and needed to leave.

Just then, Grandma Qin returned with Qian Si Niang and her husband after a walk around the village.

Qian Si Niang, trailing behind Grandma Qin, spoke in a rather ingratiating tone, "Grandma Qin, if you're willing to stay as well, we will surely treat you like our own mother."

Grandma Qin’s tone remained calm, "No need. My own son has already disappointed me enough. Apart from Ningning, I don't wish to live with anyone else. I'd rather go back and take care of Xiao Si."

Xiao Si? Qian Si Niang was confused. Who was that?

Grandma Qin didn’t explain further, instead beckoning towards Shen Ningning in the courtyard.

"Ningning, come here, Grandma wants to talk to you privately."

The little girl hurried over, grabbing onto Grandma Qin's arm.

Her round face, with big black eyes, showed signs of anxiety and fear: "Grandma, don’t leave me behind."

Grandma Qin pulled her aside.

"How could Grandma leave you? These parents, they're definitely not your real ones!"

"When I brought you back, there was a layer of silk handkerchief in the swaddling clothes, but I just asked Qian Si Niang, and she doesn’t remember such a thing."

"If they cherished their daughter as much as they claim, how could they forget?"

"Besides, your surname is Shen, as carved on the ruyi. That’s the name given by your biological parents, but to protect you, Grandma claimed she made up your surname."

"Even if this couple didn’t question your name, at least one of them should have the surname Shen!"

"I initially thought they were traffickers, but after walking around the village, I found that Wu Cui’s family has been in Xitai Village for three generations. The villagers know them well; they don’t seem fake."

"Officer Wang wouldn’t lie. Wu Cui and Qian Si Niang likely lost a daughter years ago, but it's definitely not you. We’ve clarified the facts, and Grandma wanted to explain everything to you."

"But if you like these parents and want to stay with them, Grandma is willing to listen to your wishes. What do you think, Ningning?"

Shen Ningning was about to shake her head and speak.

But then, she heard a soft call coming from nearby.

"Girl, girl~"

She turned around and saw Wu Zuchang waving at her.

He was hiding behind the corner of the house, making a "shush" gesture with his hand, as if deliberately avoiding Qian Si Niang and her husband.

The little girl glanced at the couple, who were talking to Officer Wang, who was about to leave.

Shen Ningning walked towards Wu Zuchang, with Grandma Qin following her cautiously.

She was worried that Wu Zuchang, who was simple-minded, might harm Shen Ningning.

Wu Zuchang grabbed the little girl's wrist and led her straight to the well in the backyard.

He frantically turned the rope, and soon, a bucket was pulled up, containing a package.

Upon opening it, it was actually filled with bars of gold!

Both Shen Ningning and Grandma Qin were startled.

"This…"

Wu Zuchang, grinning foolishly, took out the gold and stuffed it all into Shen Ningning's arms.

"Hidden by mom and dad, they said it was given by a noble person… Girl, for you… for you to buy things, it’s all yours."

Suddenly,

Qian Si Niang’s voice calling out from the main courtyard: “Ningning? Grandma Qin? Where have you both gone?”

Footsteps approached the backyard.