Shen Ningning blinked her innocent eyes. "Grandpa, are you all better from the snake bite?"
Fu Yuansong smiled kindly. "The last time I went into the mountains to pay my respects to our ancestors, I was careless and got bitten by a venomous snake."
"Thankfully, I ran into you, and you sucked out the poisoned blood for me just in time. The doctor said even a moment's delay would have been too late. If it weren't for you, I'm afraid this old life of mine would have been a goner!"
Granny Chen stepped forward. "The County Magistrate has been looking for you. He happened to see me selling red fruits and found out you were in Xiangyun Village."
It was just that Shen Ningning hadn't returned to the Qin Family's home.
This morning, Granny Chen saw Aunt Qin with a group of constables, claiming they were going up the mountain to find Grandma Qin. She knew right away that Aunt Qin's real goal was to capture Shen Ningning and drag her back!
That's why she had hurried to the county seat to inform the County Magistrate.
Fu Yuansong took out the red fruits, which he still hadn't brought himself to eat.
When the villagers saw this, they finally understood. Shen Ningning really hadn't stolen anything!
The Red Fruits were hers all along!
Tears welled up in Shen Ningning's eyes. She understood the County Magistrate had come to thank her.
And so, with a sob in her sweet, childish voice, the little one asked, "Grandpa, can you get justice for me?"
"What's wrong? What happened to you?" Fu Yuansong asked with concern.
He looked up and was surprised to find the small courtyard packed with people.
There was an elderly woman with tears in her eyes, held down by her son and daughter-in-law. There were also a few constables, along with Landlord Du and his entourage.
Noticing the dust on Shen Ningning and her miserable state, Fu Yuansong's expression instantly turned cold.
He bent down, picked up the little girl, and looked at the crowd. His voice was stern. "What is going on here?"
Chief Wang seized the opportunity to step forward and explain the situation in a clear and simple manner.
Grandma Qin also spoke up, explaining what had happened.
After hearing the full story, Fu Yuansong's voice boomed with righteous anger as he roared, "How audacious!"
The terrified villagers dropped to their knees.
"This is clearly a case of a malicious, wicked daughter-in-law! Not only does she viciously beat a child, but she also abandoned her own injured and sick mother on a mountain. It's utterly depraved!"
"You refused to believe Grandma Qin's testimony and were determined to hound a four-year-old child to her death. In my opinion, you are all worse than that pack of wolves!"
With a THUD, Aunt Qin fell to her knees, begging for mercy. "Your Honor, spare me! Our family could barely put food on the table, otherwise we would never have abandoned her! See? We were just about to bring her back and take good care of her!"
Fu Yuansong was unmoved.
He looked at Shen Ningning. "My little savior, tell me, how do you want them to be dealt with?"
Shen Ningning looked at Aunt Qin, her eyes red-rimmed.
"Apologize to me, and admit that you framed me!" she said.
Fu Yuansong immediately fixed Aunt Qin with a stern gaze.
'Aunt Qin was seething with resentment!'
'Having to bow down to this little orphan felt worse than death!'
But under pressure from Fu Yuansong, she began to wail and beg for forgiveness.
"Ningning, your aunt was wrong. I was just muddle-headed for a moment and came up with those nasty schemes. You really didn't steal anything. I was just mad that you talked back to me. But please, for the sake of us still being family, forgive me, won't you?"
The next moment, Shen Ningning turned her head to look at Fu Yuansong.
Her voice was soft, but laced with determination. "I want her to be beaten, too, so she knows how much it hurts!"
Aunt Qin was so furious she nearly fainted.
Her voice became a frantic shriek. "You told me to apologize, and I did! Why won't you let it go?!"
Fu Yuansong, however, was a mixture of shocked and furious. "She's that vicious? Does she hit you often?"
The same villagers who had been unwilling to speak up for Shen Ningning just moments ago now found their voices.
"Yes, she hits the child often. Sometimes you can hear Ningning crying from dusk till dawn."
"That's not all. This Wang Guihong is notoriously harsh in our village. When Ningning was only three, she made the child wash clothes, and if she didn't, she'd beat her half to death."
"Several times, the child was beaten until her skin split open. When Wang Guihong gets angry, she even locks up Grandma Qin. She forbade us from speaking up for Ningning, threatening to curse us out as well."
Granny Chen testified, "It's all true. I saw with my own eyes Aunt Qin abandon the partially paralyzed Grandma Qin on the mountain."
"Truly appalling!" Fu Yuansong had never encountered such a malicious woman.
He immediately issued a decree: "Punish Wang Guihong with one hundred strokes of the heavy plank! Her husband, for condoning her wicked behavior and disrespecting his own mother, will also receive one hundred strokes! Their crimes are vile. Throw them in prison immediately and hold them for one month as a warning to others!"
Aunt Qin collapsed to the ground in terror.
'Prison? I've never been to prison before!'
She looked at Landlord Du, crying, "Brother-in-law! Brother-in-law, you have to save me!"
Landlord Du's expression was grim; he was losing face and feeling deeply embarrassed.
He had thought they could end Shen Ningning's life today. Who could have imagined the County Magistrate himself would show up?
Forcing himself, Landlord Du stepped forward to negotiate. "Lord County Magistrate, Wang Guihong is..."
Before he could even finish, the County Magistrate's temper flared.
"Landlord Du, you donated grain in the past, and the court graciously granted you the title of Landlord. You should cherish your good fortune."
"As an official, one must distinguish right from wrong. Regardless of your relationship with this person, you should not shield them from the law. This matter ends here. I do not wish to hear you plead on anyone's behalf!"
"Furthermore, Little Shen is my personal savior. I will personally vouch for anything concerning her!"
Fu Yuansong's attitude was unyielding, and Landlord Du didn't dare say another word.
He could only shake off Aunt Qin's grip, get into his carriage, and leave in disgrace.
The villagers of Xiangyun Village were all stunned.
Whenever Landlord Du had visited their village in the past, wasn't he always condescending and barking orders?
To see him scurry away like a rat was simply unprecedented!
Shen Ningning looked over at the villagers.
The ones who had just borne false witness for Aunt Qin quickly dispersed.
They were terrified that Shen Ningning would have the County Magistrate punish them as well.
Aunt Qin and Uncle Qin were dragged away, wailing in protest.
"Mother! You can't just abandon me! Mother!" Uncle Qin cried, looking at Grandma Qin and trying to get her to plead on his behalf.
But Grandma Qin, utterly heartbroken by her son, simply closed her eyes and wept without a word.
Chief Wang also cupped his hands in a salute and led the other constables away.
The crowd scattered like birds and beasts.
Only then did Fu Yuansong set Shen Ningning down.
"Child, is there anything else you want?" he asked kindly.
The little girl, with her fair skin and fluttering eyelashes, was adorable.
"Grandpa already helped me teach those bad people a lesson. I don't want anything else."
Fu Yuansong smiled. "You saved my life. How could I repay you with just such a small favor?"
As he spoke, he looked up and glanced around.
"How about this? I'll send men to repair this house for you. I'll build you a big house so you and your grandmother can live in peace. How does that sound?"
This was a boon that others couldn't even dream of asking for.
But when Shen Ningning heard this, she gently shook her head.
"I want to go back and live in the mountains with the Langlangs."
'No matter how nice they made this house, it wouldn't be her home.'
Fu Yuansong had just heard about her living with a wolf pack.
Hearing this, he hesitated. "In that case..."
Shen Ningning suddenly looked up and asked, "Grandpa, I want to learn to read. Can you give me some books?"
'After what happened today, the little girl understood completely.'
'She didn't have a father or a mother; she could only rely on herself.'
'If she learned to read, she could understand so many things. She could become strong and protect Langlang and Grandma.'
Hearing this, Fu Yuansong nodded in approval. "Of course, that's no problem at all. However, if you've never studied before, it will be very difficult to learn all on your own."
He thought for a moment. "I have an idea. On the first of next month, I'll send someone to pick you up."
"I'm an official in Guangyang County, which is near the Capital City. I have a few connections, and there's a good private school there. I can recommend you for admission."
"You won't have to worry about room and board; the school will handle all of that. You'll study for two days and have four days off. That should be enough time for you to come back, be with your wolf pack, and take care of your grandmother. How does that sound?"
'Could something this wonderful really be happening!'
Shen Ningning was overjoyed.
She quickly said, "Thank you, Grandpa County Magistrate!"
Fu Yuansong laughed heartily and said affectionately, "It seems you and I were fated to meet, child. From now on, just call me Grandpa Fu."
Grandma Qin staggered over, about to kowtow to the County Magistrate, but Fu Yuansong stopped her.
"Your granddaughter is very brave and also very kind. She was willing to suck out the snake poison for me, a complete stranger. That's a truly noble act! So no matter how I repay her, it is only right and proper."
It was getting late, so after saying his piece, Fu Yuansong bid farewell to the grandmother and granddaughter.
Having survived the ordeal, Shen Ningning and Grandma Qin supported one another as they prepared to leave.
Just then, Granny Chen called out to her.
"Ningning... Granny has a small favor to ask of you."