Chapter 100: Chapter 100: A Brutal Beating
"Grandpa Fu!" The little girl was as happy as if she’d seen a member of her own family.
Magistrate Fu had grown a little thinner, but he was in high spirits.
Upon seeing Shen Ningning, he smiled and lifted the little girl into his arms, treating her just like his own granddaughter.
"Ningning, are your injuries all better now?"
"All better! It was just a scrape, so it healed a long time ago. If you don’t believe me, Grandpa, look." The little girl pressed her chubby cheek toward him.
Magistrate Fu roared with laughter, thoroughly amused.
But when the trip to Jingshan came up, his tone turned apologetic.
"I only meant for you all to relax a little. I never thought such an accident would happen, or that it would lead to the Crown Prince falling with you..."
At this, Magistrate Fu abruptly stopped himself.
He couldn’t say any more.
When he was released from the main prison, the Emperor’s Chief Eunuch had personally come to escort him out.
Before Magistrate Fu could say a word, the Chief Eunuch was already bowing and scraping, begging him not to be angry or take offense.
Not only that, but the Emperor had also given him a heap of rewards in private.
The Chief Eunuch had whispered, "County Magistrate, you are a magnanimous man. Please don’t say too much to Miss Shen, lest you cause her to worry."
Magistrate Fu was completely baffled.
’Why does the Emperor care so much about Shen Ningning?’
Besides, he truly was responsible for this incident. If he hadn’t suggested everyone go on an outing, the Crown Prince would never have fallen into the valley.
However, since the Emperor wasn’t holding him accountable and even hoped he would forget the incident, Magistrate Fu knew he shouldn’t bring it up in front of Shen Ningning again.
Fu Yuansong had his guards unload some newly purchased paper and brushes from the carriage and deliver them to the private school.
"I was worried your classmates might blame you for the accident at Jingshan, so I prepared these. There’s one for every student at your school."
As he spoke, Shen Ningning’s eyes twinkled.
’Grandpa Fu is so good to me!’
"Thank you, Grandpa." The little girl opened her arms and hugged Magistrate Fu’s arm, acting cute and charming as if he were her real grandfather.
This sent Magistrate Fu into another fit of laughter.
He had official duties and couldn’t stay long. After watching his guards finish delivering the paper and brushes, he left, his mind at ease.
Shen Ningning was about to head back to the classroom when she saw Qin Fangmei limping over from the side, carrying a thick stack of heavy books.
The little girl immediately looked away. ’Even looking at a villain like her is an insult to myself.’
She quickened her pace.
But Qin Fangmei turned her head, saw her, and cried out, "Ningning, Ningning, help me—OOF!"
Qin Fangmei tripped and took a hard fall.
Hearing the cry, Shen Ningning turned to see Qin Fangmei’s books scattered all over the ground.
"What are you trying to pull, acting all pitiful?"
"I’m not acting pitiful..." Qin Fangmei choked back tears. "The teachers all went to prepare the paper and brushes from the County Magistrate for distribution. The little book boy asked me to help get these books. They’re for all of us to use."
Shen Ningning said nothing, her cute, downy brows knitting together as she looked at her unhappily.
Qin Fangmei rubbed her ankle.
"Ningning, please help me pick them up. You’ll be using these books soon, too."
"You don’t have to help me up, but please don’t hold up everyone’s lessons..."
Shen Ningning pouted.
’Fine.’ She would pick up the books, but she would absolutely not help Qin Fangmei get up.
She walked over and bent down to pick up the books.
A sinister, venomous glint flashed in Qin Fangmei’s eyes.
Her hand stealthily closed around a sharp piece of rock nearby.
Shen Ningning was squatting sideways next to her. All she had to do was plunge the rock into the girl’s temple, and Shen Ningning would die for sure!
The hatred in Qin Fangmei’s heart was burning at its peak.
Shen Ningning had caused her mother’s tragic death. The Crown Prince had ordered Aunt Qin’s body to be desecrated—her bones had been crushed and scattered to the winds!
Now, she didn’t even have a grave where she could mourn her mother.
The more she thought about it, the more Qin Fangmei was convinced that Shen Ningning deserved to die.
She violently raised her hand, about to smash it down while the little girl wasn’t looking!
Suddenly!
Someone lunged from behind, roaring, "Don’t you dare hurt my sister!"
Startled, Shen Ningning fell and landed on her bottom.
She watched as Wu Zuchang appeared out of nowhere, straddling Qin Fangmei and viciously punching her in the left side of her face.
Qin Fangmei screamed in pain, kicking her legs and clawing wildly with her hands.
Even as his cheeks were being scratched open, Wu Zuchang kept her pinned down.
"She’s my sister! You tried to hurt her! I... I’ll kill you!" He lunged and wrapped both hands around Qin Fangmei’s neck.
Shen Ningning snapped out of it and quickly grabbed Wu Zuchang’s sleeve. "Brother Zuchang, stop!"
But Wu Zuchang had gone berserk. His eyes were bloodshot, and deaf to her pleas, he was intent on killing Qin Fangmei!
Qin Fangmei’s eyes began to roll back into her head, her face turning a dark purple.
She was about to be choked to death!
Just then, other students passing by rushed over to intervene.
Mr. Huang, hearing the commotion, hurried over and managed to pull Wu Zuchang off.
"How dare you attempt murder in the school!?" he demanded, looking at Wu Zuchang with shock and anger. "Which class are you in?"
Wu Zuchang was held back, but his eyes remained fixed on Qin Fangmei with murderous intent.
Shen Ningning quickly stepped in front of him. "Teacher," she said to Mr. Huang, "this is my brother from the next village. I brought him to school..."
"Just now, Qin Fangmei tried to attack me. He saw it, and that’s why he lost his temper."
Nearby, Qin Fangmei coughed weakly. "You... you’re lying... COUGH... How could I possibly attack you when I’m like this?"
The veins on Wu Zuchang’s forehead bulged. "The rock! She had a rock!"
Mr. Huang glanced at the ground beside Qin Fangmei. There was, indeed, a small rock.
Another teacher urged, "This isn’t the time for questions! We need to get Student Qin to a doctor!"
Mr. Huang nodded and personally took two attendant students and another teacher to escort Qin Fangmei away.
Before leaving, he instructed Shen Ningning, "You watch him. Don’t go anywhere for now."
After they left, everyone was afraid of Wu Zuchang. They saw him as a lunatic who might kill someone at any moment.
The other students kept their distance. Lu Shaoyuan came over and tugged on Shen Ningning’s sleeve.
"Let’s go back inside."
"I’m not leaving. I’m staying with Brother Zuchang. You can go in first," the little girl said, shaking her head.
Once they were alone, Wu Zuchang looked at Shen Ningning and began to giggle foolishly and drool again.
"Sister, don’t... don’t be scared. Bro will protect you."
With that, like an eager puppy, he pulled a bag of sunflower seeds from his robes. "Warm... they’re warm now. You eat."
In his mind, food had to be eaten hot; cold food would harm the body.
So, since the sunflower seeds were cold, he had to warm them up for his sister to eat.
It wasn’t just this. Shen Ningning had also given him some iced lychee water to quench his thirst, but he had buried it in the sand.
When he led Shen Ningning to dig it up and saw the dirt-covered water, he frowned in distress.
"H-how did it get ruined..."
Shen Ningning looked at Wu Zuchang’s chapped lips, a sad expression on her small face.
Although the Wu family had approached her with an agenda, this simple-minded boy truly treated her like a real sister.
The little girl quickly ran to get her own waterskin for him.
"You drink this."
Wu Zuchang opened the waterskin, poured the contents over his head, and then shook out his hair.
"Heh heh..." He giggled foolishly at Shen Ningning.
The little girl felt helpless.
She led him to a shady spot under the covered walkway and took out a red fruit for him.
This time, Wu Zuchang knew what to do with it, gobbling it down in an instant.
Shen Ningning took out her handkerchief and gently wiped the scratches on his face left by Qin Fangmei.
Wu Zuchang seemed very happy. His mouth was full of juice, but he still managed to grin foolishly at her.
"Brother Zuchang, can I ask you a few questions?"
"Mhm!"
"Do I look like your real sister?" Shen Ningning asked, blinking her big eyes.
