Chapter 344: Bad News
Chapter 344: Chapter 344: Bad News
Xie Ming’an thought he had misheard.
He frowned, his expression turning cold. "Father, why can’t we continue the investigation? What are you afraid of?"
"Could it be that Shen Ningning’s background is actually different from what you told her?"
Xie Suzhi abruptly raised a pair of eyes as sharp and frosty as ice.
His gaze was deep and cold. "I now hold a high position. My every word and action are being closely watched in secret."
"As my son, it would be best for you to also be cautious in your words and actions. I forbid you from investigating Ningning’s affairs, and that’s final. I won’t harm you, and I certainly won’t harm her."
Xie Ming’an furrowed his brow. "But this is her wish."
He wasn’t sure if it was his imagination, but he seemed to see a flicker of sorrow pass through Xie Suzhi’s eyes, gone in an instant.
Xie Suzhi pressed the spot between his eyebrows. "Enough nonsense. Call your men back and terminate this matter."
A light flickered in Xie Ming’an’s eyes, reflecting the wavering candlelight and making them seem even more intense.
Seeing him remain silent, Xie Suzhi asked coldly, "What? Are you going to defy my orders now?"
Xie Ming’an pressed his thin lips together. "I wouldn’t dare. I will do as you say, Father."
With that, he took his leave and turned to go.
Watching his retreating figure, the severity in Xie Suzhi’s expression finally eased.
"Rebellious son," he sighed, shaking his head.
Xie Ming’an returned to his study.
Another confidant rushed in after him. "Second Young Master, are we really stopping the investigation?"
After all that effort and a whole month of work, we’re finally making headway. Are we really stopping?
Xie Ming’an sat back down behind his desk, his eyes cold and resolute, a stubborn pride in them.
"Investigate. Not only will we continue, but I’m going to get to the very bottom of this."
As his son, he knew Xie Suzhi all too well.
’There must be something fishy about this. Otherwise, why would Father have such a strong reaction?’
It was just that if he had contradicted him openly, it would have surely made Xie Suzhi wary.
So, he had to investigate in secret.
Xie Ming’an beckoned, signaling his two confidants to approach.
He gave them quiet instructions, one on his left and one on his right, then waved his hand dismissively, watching as they each went out to carry out his orders.
The planting task Shen Ningning had entrusted to Dong Sanhua was beginning to show results.
For the past month, Dong Sanhua had practically eaten and slept with those few sweet potato vines.
She constantly monitored the temperature of the firewood, ensuring the room was never too cold, but not too hot either.
Finally, the sweet potato vines bore fruit quickly, yielding a harvest of thirteen thick, long, and plump red sweet potatoes!
Dong Sanhua presented them to Shen Ningning as if they were treasures.
The little girl was overjoyed. "Wonderful! This is really wonderful!"
With this success, Shen Ningning took the initiative to bring Dong Sanhua to see the old village chief.
The little girl wanted to rent the other two uninhabited village houses on the west side of the village.
She wanted to give them all to Dong Sanhua for growing sweet potatoes.
If she succeeded just one more time, it would prove that her method was viable.
After listening to Shen Ningning’s request, the old village chief chewed on a tea stem, silent for a moment.
The little one blinked her big eyes. "Grandpa Village Chief, do you have any conditions? Please, feel free to say them."
The old village chief came back to his senses and smiled. "Ningning, I don’t really have any."
"I was just thinking, my son, your Uncle Deng, he’s at home all day with no proper work to do."
"If you’re willing, could you let him learn how to grow sweet potatoes alongside Sanhua?"
Beside them, Uncle Deng was wiping a cup to pour water for Dong Sanhua.
Hearing this, he was a little surprised. "Dad, I know how to farm."
"You shut up!" the old village chief roared, as if disgusted by his uselessness.
Shen Ningning and Dong Sanhua were both taken aback.
The old village chief quickly turned back to the little girl with a grin. "I just want him to learn properly, so a grown man like him doesn’t just hang around the house being a nuisance all day."
Shen Ningning beamed, her small, pearly-white teeth utterly adorable and her eyes sparkling.
"No problem at all! Aunt Sanhua, what do you think?"
Over this period, Shen Ningning had come to accept Dong Sanhua’s status as a relative of Grandma Qin.
In their daily interactions, she was now willing to call her "Aunt."
A bright spark of confidence had also appeared in Dong Sanhua’s eyes.
Hearing the question, she nodded readily. "Of course. Brother Deng is hardworking and efficient. With his help, we’ll surely get twice the result with half the effort."
The old village chief finally broke into a happy smile.
He even gave the keys to the two dilapidated village houses directly to Dong Sanhua.
And he refused to accept any rent from Shen Ningning.
"Growing sweet potatoes to fill our bellies is something that benefits us all. How could I take money for that? Ningning, don’t be a stranger," the old village chief chuckled.
Dong Sanhua smiled. "Then I’ll head over and tidy up first."
Shen Ningning also said her goodbyes and went along with her.
After the two of them left, the old village chief closed the door and kicked Uncle Deng right in the butt.
"You idiot!" The old village chief’s white beard quivered with anger.
"Dad, what did I do now? Why have you been so displeased with me lately?" Uncle Deng felt wronged.
The old village chief glared. "Without me, you wouldn’t be able to find a wife in a million years!"
"I’ve created this opportunity for you. If you don’t seize it, then get out."
Uncle Deng was startled. "Find a wife? Dad, are you talking about... Sanhua?"
His dark-complexioned face flushed. "How could I... That would be so embarrassing."
Seeing him secretly delighted, the old village chief felt ashamed. "You useless thing."
His tone calmed a little. "Wang Qiao’er has already left with Fugui. It’s unlikely she’ll ever come back."
"In this cold disaster, they might have already frozen to death somewhere for all we know."
At the mention of his son, Uncle Deng’s expression darkened.
The old village chief continued flatly, "You need to put that behind you, find another wife, and continue the Deng family line."
"I think that Dong Sanhua is quite a good woman. She’s also a relative of Grandma Qin. If you marry her, we won’t be at a disadvantage, nor will we be taking advantage of her."
After he finished speaking, the old village chief went to lie down on the heated brick bed, closing his eyes to rest.
Uncle Deng sat where he was, scratching his head thoughtfully.
「Over the next month.」
Shen Ningning harvested crop after crop of Spirit Grass from her Immortal Realm, sending at least three hundred stalks at a time directly to support the border.
Changliu Country began to retreat steadily. Xie Mingxu preferred to fight conservatively, pushing the enemy forces back fifty li from the Black River.
Victorious reports frequently reached the Capital City, and the Nanzhou merchant, Mr. Zhang Liu, also continuously sent letters to Shen Ningning with good news.
The sweet potato vines he was cultivating were already showing results, and he was in the process of harvesting the first crop!
Although the cold weather had caused the tubers to be small and short, it didn’t affect their taste or quantity.
In his letter, Mr. Zhang Liu assured Shen Ningning that if she gave him one more month, he would definitely make the miracle of the sweet potato vines a reality!
Meanwhile, the golden pearls in Shen Ningning’s Immortal Realm were also growing extremely fast.
Perhaps because they had been "fed" the Jade they liked, the mature golden pearls would fall off on their own, and new ones would immediately grow to take their place.
The little girl was delighted with her harvest, feeling happy whenever she thought of the brilliant sunlight they would soon bring.
Whenever Mo Lingwei had no official duties, he would take the initiative to visit Shen Ningning in Xiangyun Village.
The little girl would then take him on an inspection tour of her sweet potato vine territory.
Thanks to her and Dong Sanhua’s combined efforts, they now had about twenty mature sweet potato vines.
Dong Sanhua had also discovered the knack for cultivating them, finding that simply maintaining a warm and gentle environment made the vines grow much faster.
After Mo Lingwei returned to the palace, he recommended this method to the Emperor.
He felt that they could imitate this method and implement it throughout Cangyun Country.
The Emperor praised the idea, "This is truly good news. However, Ningning previously vouched for that merchant surnamed Zhang to return to Nanzhou and take a hundred sweet potato vines with him. I am still waiting for their good news."
"No matter how well the sweet potato vines in Xiangyun Village are growing, the quantity is too small. It’s just child’s play."
However, a month later, disastrous news arrived from Nanzhou.