Chapter 592: Ningning, I’m Your Mother
Chapter 592: Chapter 592: Ningning, I’m Your Mother
Everyone looked at each other in confusion.
They were all wondering who could be so tactless. It was one thing to vote, but to insist on writing Deng Fugui’s name down was another.
Shen Ningning glanced around, about to speak up and smooth things over.
Unexpectedly, Uncle Deng stood up.
He handed his young son, Deng Long’er, to his wife beside him.
"Father, don’t be angry. I was the one who wrote it." His expression was a little awkward.
The old village chief never would have thought it was his own son!
His eyes widened, his white beard bristling as he spoke sternly, "How dare you disregard my words? Do you still think Deng Fugui is your son? That woman, Wang Qiao’er, has thoroughly corrupted him. For all we know, he could have died out there long ago."
"You have a new wife now. Sanhua is so filial, and Long’er is so clever. How can you still be so muddled, still thinking about Deng Fugui? Have you forgotten? He even changed his surname! He’s not your son anymore!"
Uncle Deng looked conflicted. "I..."
Dong Sanhua quickly stepped forward. "Father, please don’t be angry. I was the one who asked him to write it."
"You?!" The old village chief looked at his daughter-in-law, and his stern expression softened considerably. "Sanhua, why would you do that?"
Normally, Dong Sanhua was very diligent, managing everything inside and outside the house in perfect order.
Moreover, she was truly as filial to the old village chief as if he were her own father.
Therefore, the old village chief was very pleased with this daughter-in-law, especially when compared to his mean-spirited former daughter-in-law, Wang Qiao’er.
Dong Sanhua held Deng Long’er, who was happily entertaining himself.
Her eyes filled with kindness as she said patiently, "Father, I understand. You’re afraid that if Jixiang keeps thinking about his ex-wife’s son, I’ll feel wronged."
"But no matter what, Fugui is still Jixiang’s flesh and blood. Wang Qiao’er’s evil deeds were her own and shouldn’t be blamed on the child. Besides, Wang Qiao’er is already dead. The boy is innocent."
"Maybe Fugui is still alive. As long as he’s alive, he’s one of our family. If he ever comes back, I will welcome him. For this vote, Father, you said that any villager could cast a ballot, so I had Jixiang cast a vote on Fugui’s behalf."
Uncle Deng quickly added, "If Fugui were here, he would definitely have voted for Brother Liu. Fugui used to love going over to Brother Liu’s house to play with Hu Zi and the others."
Uncle Liu’s son, Liu Hu, quietly lowered his head. "Back when we had nothing to eat, Brother Fugui would take us to raid birds’ nests and catch shrimp in the river. Whatever he caught, he’d give it all to us to eat. I kind of miss him."
Hearing this, Shen Ningning turned to look at the old village chief.
"Grandpa Village Chief, since everyone feels this way, and Wang Qiao’er is already dead—let her crimes die with her—you shouldn’t be angry with Fugui anymore."
Grandma Qin also chimed in, chuckling, "That’s right, Deng. How much longer do we have to live? A lifetime of hardship is already behind us. Why fuss over the younger generation at this stage? If Fugui could come back, wouldn’t that make your life complete?"
The old village chief’s brow furrowed with emotion, and he let out a heavy sigh.
"I failed to raise him well. I have let everyone down."
The villagers immediately smiled and waved their hands, rushing to console him—
"Village Chief, you’ve done so much more for us. Fugui is just a kid. How could we hold a grudge against him?"
"Exactly! Besides, Fugui was a good kid. Wang Qiao’er was the one who did wrong, and she’s already dead."
"As long as Fugui can come back safely, that’s more important than anything. He’s just missing, not necessarily dead. I’d say he’s still one of us here in Xiangyun Village."
Listening to everyone’s words, the old village chief felt a warm current flow through his heart.
’In truth, Deng Fugui is my biological grandson. How could I ever truly abandon him?’
’It’s just that what Wang Qiao’er did was too despicable. She caused trouble for the village time and time again. As the village chief, I naturally had to take a stern stance.’
’Even if it was my own grandson, I couldn’t tolerate him offending the villagers.’
Fortunately, Wang Qiao’er was responsible for everything, and the villagers didn’t plan on holding it against Deng Fugui.
Just as Grandma Qin had said, if Deng Fugui could return, his life would be complete.
"Alright," the old village chief said, nodding emotionally, his face flushing. "Since the head of the Liu Family has one more vote, the position of deputy village chief will go to him."
The mad scholar clasped his hands in salute again and again. "Thank heavens! I was so afraid it would be me. I almost knelt before you! Brother Liu, congratulations!"
Uncle Liu laughed and gave him a playful slap, while Sister-in-law Liu was beaming with joy.
"We’re holding a feast at our house tomorrow! Everyone, please come!"
Everyone enthusiastically agreed. Suddenly, Shen Ningning raised her voice. "Uncles and aunts, don’t be in such a hurry to leave. I have an edict here."
She pulled a vermilion scroll from her sleeve.
The crowd looked on curiously. Only the mad scholar recognized it at a glance.
An Emperor’s Imperial Decree is bright yellow, while a vermilion one is an edict from the Crown Prince.
Shen Ningning unrolled the scroll, her bright, lovely eyes filled with a smile. She glanced at the mad scholar and cleared her throat.
"By order of the Crown Prince: Dai Yuheng is a man of immense learning. As he is currently idle at home, it would be better for him to contribute to the court." Shen Ningning handed the edict over, letting the mad scholar see for himself.
"My brother has a task for you. He wants you to open a clan school in the village and enroll all the children to study. Each year, Zichen Palace will allocate a thousand taels to cover the costs of books and ink for the children. They will also arrange for two supervising instructors from the Imperial College to assist you."
The mad scholar clutched the vermilion edict, his eyes wide.
"Me... the Crown Prince truly wants me to teach?"
"Yes," Shen Ningning said, nodding with a grin. "Mad scholar, you taught me so well. My brother says you will surely become a renowned teacher, so he wants to ask you to cultivate talent for Cangyun Country. You must do your absolute best."
The mad scholar came back to his senses, his eyes already brimming with hot tears.
He turned to the east—in the direction of the Imperial Palace—and dropped to his knees with a THUD, raising the edict high.
"This humble subject kowtows in gratitude for Your Highness’s grace." He kowtowed heavily, his hot tears falling onto the earth.
The surrounding villagers cheered and congratulated him.
From this day on, no one would call him the mad scholar anymore. Everyone would have to respectfully address him as Mr. Dai.
Shen Ningning stood outside the crowd, watching as the young men lifted Dai Yuheng, tossed him high into the air, and caught him securely.
A relieved smile curved her rosy lips.
’So many years have passed, and after all that’s happened, it’s not just me who has been enlightened. Even my brother has let go of his past grudges.’
’I hope this will be a better beginning.’
「The sixth day of the ninth month was a supremely auspicious date determined by the Astronomical Bureau.」
The Ministry of Rites and other officials arranged for Mo Lingwei and Shen Ningning to visit the Royal Ancestral Temple on this day. They were to place their compatibility cards before the ancestral tablets and await the ancestors’ choice.
The night before, Shen Ningning tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
She lay in her home on Wolf Mountain, the bright moonlight streaming in through the window.
The young woman lifted her gaze and saw the clothes hanging on a rack not far away.
It was a vermilion dress, dignified and solemn—the ceremonial gown she would wear tomorrow to enter the Imperial Ancestral Hall with Mo Lingwei.
Mo Lingwei had said that once this step was over, the rest would happen quickly.
By this time next year, they would be married.
Shen Ningning felt a thrill of excitement, which made it even harder to sleep.
She recalled the hardships of her journey, thinking of how people colloquially called her the golden phoenix who flew out of Wolf Mountain.
But Shen Ningning knew that besides her own efforts, her ability to live such a brilliant life was thanks to the grain-filled Immortal Realm her mother had left her.
Thinking of this, Shen Ningning touched the mole on her wrist and instantly entered the Immortal Realm.
However, what she never expected was that as soon as she entered, she saw a red light flashing in the Thunder Hall. A crackling sound, ZZZT... ZZZT..., was accompanied by a clear female voice calling out, playing on a loop—
"Ningning, it’s Mom. I don’t know when you’ll be able to hear this recording, nor do I know if the light-year machine can accurately transmit my words to your ears. But if you can hear this, it means we’re about to meet. Before that, you have to help me find a component so I can return. The place is at..."