Chapter 342: Another Helper
Chapter 342: Chapter 342: Another Helper
Shen Ningning’s eyes were clear. "You can just tell me. Grandma was taking her afternoon nap when I left."
The old village chief glanced at her. He didn’t dare to underestimate the little girl, knowing that Shen Ningning always had a mind of her own.
He said, "The truth is, she has nowhere to go. We’ve been supporting her for many days now, which is more than generous."
"But at the end of the day, she’s a young, unmarried woman. For her to keep living in our house with my son and I—two grown men—it’s not good for her reputation."
Shen Ningning nodded along, her little face round, fair, and rosy.
The old village chief asked the little girl in a gentle voice, "So, Ningning, what do you think? Don’t you agree we need to find a new place for her? It’s not a long-term solution for her to keep living with us."
Shen Ningning turned to look at Dong Sanhua, only to see her expression darken as she anxiously twisted the hem of her clothes.
The padded jacket she wore was new. Although it was a man’s cut and didn’t fit well, her life with the Deng Family was at least a world apart from how it used to be.
Her complexion was rosy and glowing.
The Deng Family had firewood and rice; they certainly hadn’t mistreated her.
Besides, neither the old village chief nor Uncle Deng were meddlesome people.
They most likely hadn’t bullied her, either.
Dong Sanhua likely didn’t want to leave.
Shen Ningning thought for a moment, then asked in her soft, sweet voice, "What do you think?"
Dong Sanhua quickly lifted her gaze and glanced at Uncle Deng. "I..."
Uncle Deng opened his mouth to speak, then hesitated. Just as he was about to say something, the old village chief cut him off. "Let her speak for herself."
Dong Sanhua could only stammer, "I’ll follow the Commandery Princess’s arrangements. Anywhere is fine."
Shen Ningning asked, "What skills do you have?"
Dong Sanhua quickly replied, "I can do needlework, laundry, and cooking. I also know a little carpentry."
After a moment’s thought, she added, "I can also farm and plant trees. The fruit trees I’ve raised bear large, sweet fruit."
Shen Ningning couldn’t think of a place to send her.
The little girl was silent for a long moment before she suddenly asked the old village chief a question.
"Grandpa Village Chief, I remember at the east end of the village, next to the mad scholar’s house, isn’t there an abandoned cottage? It’s been without an owner and no one has lived there, right?"
The old village chief nodded. "There is. The family moved away a few years ago. The house is very small."
Shen Ningning smiled. "Small isn’t a problem. The idea is to let Dong Sanhua live there by herself for now. After a while, once I’ve settled this whole mess with Dong Aniu and taught him and his family a lesson, I can ask her to leave then."
"Otherwise, sending her away now would just be putting her in harm’s way. Since you brought her back, and she’s a relative of my grandma’s, we can’t just wash our hands of the matter."
"Grandpa Village Chief, if you don’t mind, how about I trade you two bags of rice for that cottage so she can stay there temporarily?"
The old village chief quickly waved his hands. "Ningning, you’re being too formal. Even if you gave me nothing, if you want that cottage, all you have to do is ask."
"You help us so much and never ask for anything in return. How could I possibly accept something from you?"
With that, he looked at Uncle Deng. "What do you think about having Ah Hua live in that house at the east end of the village? You don’t have any objections, do you?"
But Uncle Deng looked at Dong Sanhua. "Are you willing?"
Dong Sanhua wiped away her tears and nodded repeatedly. "I’m willing!"
She had never imagined she would meet such kind people.
Dong Sanhua immediately dropped to her knees, kowtowing first to Shen Ningning and then to the old village chief.
When she turned to Uncle Deng, he quickly helped her to her feet.
"Alright now, we’re all from the same village. I’ll go help you gather some things."
"That house has been abandoned for a long time and will need a good dusting. I’ll help you clean up, and I’ll bring a couple of quilts and bedrolls, too."
Dong Sanhua didn’t dare to accept, her cautious gaze shifting to the old village chief.
Seeing that the old village chief remained silent, Uncle Deng prompted him, "Father!"
The old village chief shook his head in resignation. "Go on, go on."
In the end, Uncle Deng was carrying a thick pile of quilts and bedrolls, with a bag of rice in his hand.
Dong Sanhua herself carried a few articles of clothing and some daily necessities.
Shen Ningning sat on the Black Wolf King’s back, leading the way.
As they made their way to the east end of the village, quite a few villagers spotted them.
Sister-in-law Liu tossed out a basin of hot water to melt the ice and snow in front of her door.
When she saw the group, she looked them over and called out, "Well, well! From the Deng family, are we? Who’s this pretty young lady you’re leading around? So lively and fresh! Quite the entourage you have, even with little Ningning in tow."
Dong Sanhua blushed to the roots of her hair and lowered her head.
Uncle Deng wasn’t good with words either, so he just chuckled and said, "She’s a distant relative of ours who came to us for help. We’re just giving her a hand."
As they passed Grandma Qin’s cottage, Shen Ningning stopped.
She looked back at Dong Sanhua. "Do you want to go in and say something to my grandma?"
Dong Sanhua was taken aback. "C-Can I?"
She hadn’t dared to disturb Grandma Qin before.
She was afraid of upsetting the Commandery Princess.
She had heard from Uncle Deng that her older brother, Dong Aniu, was infamous in Xiangyun Village and had caused Grandma Qin a great deal of trouble.
Shen Ningning slid off the Black Wolf King’s back. "You should. You’ll be seeing her all the time from now on, so you can’t hide it forever."
With that, the little girl pushed open the door and called out in her soft, sweet voice, "Grandma, I’m back! And I brought someone with me."
Grandma Qin came to the doorway and peered outside. "Who is it?"
Dong Sanhua set down her things and tearfully took two steps forward.
"Auntie!" she cried, kneeling in the courtyard.
Grandma Qin couldn’t see clearly, so she let Shen Ningning support her as she took a couple of steps forward.
Finally, her expression turned to one of astonishment, and gradually, tears welled up in her eyes.
"Sanhua, is that you?"
"Auntie..." Dong Sanhua sobbed, and the two embraced, weeping together.
Seeing her reminded Grandma Qin of her own younger sister.
"I asked your older brother, Ah Niu, to bring you here before, but he said you didn’t want to leave the house. I thought I would never get to see you in my lifetime."
Dong Sanhua said through her sobs, "Dong Aniu is no good! He wanted to sell me for silver and locked me in the house. If I hadn’t smashed the window with a stool to escape, I’d be dead by now."
Grandma Qin’s heart ached for her, and she stroked her hair.
Then she looked to Shen Ningning. "Ningning, what’s all this about?"
The little girl said softly, "Grandma, it’s cold out here. Let’s go inside to talk."
Afterward, Shen Ningning beckoned with her little hand for Uncle Deng to follow them inside and help explain what had happened.
When Grandma Qin heard the whole story, she slammed her hand on the table in anger.
"That damned scoundrel! I knew he was no good, even when he was just a boy! Selling his own sister—is he even human?"
Dong Sanhua wiped her tears. "Thankfully, Brother Deng and the Commandery Princess were there to help me."
Grandma Qin held her hand and nodded. "For now, you’ll stay here in Xiangyun Village. That Dong Aniu won’t be back anytime soon, and no one will dare to cause you any trouble."
Then, Grandma Qin told Dong Sanhua to wait a moment while she went to get some clothes and cotton fabric to give her.
Shen Ningning took advantage of the moment to ladle some Spiritual Spring Water from the kitchen and pour it on the sweet potato vines she kept in the corner.
Dong Sanhua watched for a long time, her eyes bright and wide.
She couldn’t help but point. "Commandery Princess, you can trim the tips off these sweet potato vines now. That will help them grow faster and stronger."
Shen Ningning paused her watering and looked up at her. "You know how to grow sweet potatoes?"
Dong Sanhua nodded. "I can farm and plant trees. I used to be the one who farmed all our family’s land."
This made Uncle Deng even more impressed with her capabilities. "Then why didn’t you mention that to Ningning earlier?"
Dong Sanhua looked a little embarrassed. "It’s already gotten so cold. Who would still be planting things? Even if I’d mentioned it, it wouldn’t have been useful."
Shen Ningning’s clear eyes twinkled as she thought for a moment. Then she said joyfully, "That’s not necessarily true!"