Wolf-Raised Cub with a Space: Surviving the Disaster Years

Chapter 310: Chapter 310: Xie Ming’an, Do You Even Know How to Talk?

Sister-in-law Liu, however, was too embarrassed to say more. She covered her mouth, smiling and waving her hands dismissively.

"It’s nothing, really. Alright, Ningning, I’ll be heading back with my things now. Thank you."

Seeing her run off so quickly, the little one turned to look at Grandma Qin and Chen Ye.

"Grandma, Brother Chen, do you know what she was talking about?"

Chen Ye answered honestly, "I haven’t heard anything about the old village head buying a woman."

"Besides, the old village head is a man of upstanding character. I’m sure he wouldn’t do anything against the law."

Grandma Qin nodded in agreement. "It’s probably just a baseless rumor. The Liu family’s daughter-in-law has been going around claiming she saw a woman at the old village head’s house."

"If this is a misunderstanding and the rumor spreads, it could ruin Old Deng and his entire family. So Ningning, let’s just stay out of it."

Shen Ningning gave an obedient "Oh."

As she was preparing to leave Xiangyun Village to take Aunt Yun and Uncle Zhong back to their shop, the little girl happened to pass by the old village head’s house.

She saw that its doors were indeed shut tight.

Peeking into the courtyard, she saw a heavy felt curtain hanging behind the window, completely obscuring the view inside.

Shen Ningning scratched her cheek, puzzled.

...

On this day, after processing case files with his subordinates, Xie Ming’an was hurrying back to the Capital City from the greater Capital region.

As they were passing a jewelry shop, one of his subordinates suddenly spoke up apologetically. "Lord Shaoqing, would it be alright if you went on ahead to the Ministry of Justice?"

"I’d like to buy something for my younger sister."

Xie Ming’an gripped the reins, his expression stern and unapproachable.

Before he could say a word, another colleague beside them started to tease the subordinate.

"I’ve long heard that you dote on your sister, Mr. Lü. Seeing you today, it’s clear the rumors are true."

"But you could buy things after we get off duty. Why the rush to do it now? We’re supposed to be following Lord Shaoqing back to the Ministry of Justice for a meeting."

The subordinate, Mr. Lü, looked both embarrassed and hesitant.

He cupped his hands in a repeated salute, apologizing to Xie Ming’an.

"I upset my sister the other day, and she hasn’t spoken to me for several days."

"They say that when a woman is angry, you have to buy her something nice to get back in her good graces. But by the time I get off duty at the Ministry of Justice, it’s always past 7 p.m., and all the shops are closed."

"So... that’s why I’m making such an unreasonable request."

Xie Ming’an was strict with himself and even stricter with his subordinates.

Ever since his appointment to the Ministry of Justice, he had always put official business above all else.

He would often go the entire day without returning home, forgetting to eat or sleep as he processed case files and interrogated criminals.

His subordinates, however, had a difficult time keeping up.

Xie Ming’an’s expression was impassive. After a moment, he finally said, "You two seem to have a good relationship. Fine. Let’s all go take a look."

He swung himself off his horse and, to the silent astonishment of the other officials, walked into the jewelry shop.

’The unapproachable Lord Xie actually has such a reasonable side to him?’

The other officials had assumed Mr. Lü was in for a harsh reprimand.

Xie Ming’an had never set foot in a shop specializing in women’s jewelry in his entire life.

He did recall, however, hand-carving a wooden hairpin for his mother, Shen Siyi, when he was a boy.

Later, that wooden hairpin accompanied his mother to her eternal rest in her coffin.

Xie Ming’an walked over to Mr. Lü.

He saw him pick up a colorful beaded hairpin inlaid with all sorts of gemstones.

Xie Ming’an frowned. "The colors are a chaotic, tacky mess. Why not choose a jade hairpin?"

He pointed to a display on the other side.

On it were displayed various simple and elegant jade hairpins, free of any unnecessary embellishments.

Mr. Lü smiled subtly. "My Lord, your skill in handling cases is near-divine."

"But when it comes to buying hairpins, you are no match for me. My sister is at that tender age of eleven or twelve."

"She adores sparkly, multicolored beaded hairpins and jewelry. It’s not just these—she loves gemstones, pearls, and jadeite all the same."

With that, Mr. Lü handed his chosen hairpin to the shop assistant.

"I’ll take this one. Please put it in a brocade box for me."

Lost in thought, Xie Ming’an reached out and picked up a colorful butterfly hairpin.

The delicate butterfly was outlined in silver thread, its brilliant wings formed from countless tiny, overlapping rubies.

It must have required exquisite craftsmanship.

Below the butterfly, lustrous jeweled beads dangled like tassels.

A gentle touch made them chime with a crisp, clear sound.

On a gloomy, snowy day like this, such a unique hairpin would surely be strikingly beautiful.

Seeing Xie Ming’an staring at the butterfly hairpin in a trance, he took the hint and said to the assistant, "Please wrap this hairpin up for me as well. I’ll pay for them together."

Xie Ming’an snapped back to his senses.

"That’s not necessary."

"Lord Shaoqing, please, don’t stand on ceremony with me. On this trip back to the Capital City, I’m deeply grateful for your guidance."

Mr. Lü cupped his hands and said with a smile, "Besides, I hear that Princess Funing is now your adopted sister."

"It was because of her reminder that I was able to prepare winter supplies and keep my family from suffering in the cold."

"So, please consider this hairpin a small token of my respect for the Princess."

But Xie Ming’an refused flatly, his expression cold.

He said, "Shen Ningning is still young. There’s no need to curry favor like this. You’ll spoil her."

Mr. Lü’s expression stiffened, and he gave an awkward nod.

"You are right, my lord."

Xie Ming’an then turned and handed the hairpin to the shop assistant.

"How much silver for this? Please put it in a brocade box for me, too."

Mr. Lü shot him a surprised glance.

’He’d thought Xie Ming’an wasn’t going to buy it after all.’

For several days straight, Xie Ming’an did not see Shen Ningning.

Finally, on the day Xie Suzhi returned to the mansion from the palace, Shen Ningning also came to see him.

The little girl was in the study, chatting happily with Xie Suzhi.

They were like a real father and daughter.

The exhaustion from days of handling state affairs vanished the moment Xie Suzhi saw Shen Ningning.

Just as Shen Ningning was coming out of the study, she ran into Xie Ming’an walking toward her.

The little girl silently pouted. She lifted her chin, pretending not to see Xie Ming’an as she brushed past him.

"Wait." Xie Ming’an called out to her.

Shen Ningning glanced back, her large eyes watching him with suspicion.

"What is it?"

With his hands behind his back, Xie Ming’an’s fingers were clenched tightly around the brocade box.

A fine sheen of sweat was forming on his slender palms.

’For some reason, facing Shen Ningning, he suddenly felt too embarrassed to take out the gift.’

"Um," Xie Ming’an said, grasping for something to say. "Is Father in the study?"

Shen Ningning pouted. "He is."

With that, she turned to leave.

Xie Ming’an’s lips parted, as if to call after her, but Shen Ningning was already walking away quickly.

In no time, her small figure had disappeared around the bend in the corridor.

Just then, Xie Suzhi pulled open the door and asked with a stern expression, "Ming’an, were you looking for me?"

Xie Ming’an shot him an irritated glance. "Not anymore."

With that, he also strode away.

Leaving Xie Suzhi standing there, stunned. He frowned. ’What’s gotten into him now?’

That night, after the family finished dinner, Second Madam Xie excused herself, saying she wasn’t feeling well, and left early.

Second Master Xie sighed. "Yuan Jiu has been writing every day, crying about how freezing it is. She says she’s been sick several times."

"Eldest Brother, about Yuan Jiu..." Second Master Xie seemed to want to plead her case, but he trailed off, shaking his head with a sigh.

"Never mind. It’s nothing."

Without a change in expression, Xie Suzhi ladled some more soup into Shen Ningning’s bowl.

His tone was mild. "Second Brother, I told you this last time."

"Yuan Jiu is at a crucial age. If her disposition becomes warped, your coddling will only end up harming her."

"Rest assured, the servants at our old home in Changzhou are taking excellent care of her. I haven’t heard anything from the housekeeper about her being sick. She most likely wants to return to the Capital City and is making things up in her letters to trick you."

Second Master Xie was taken aback, his expression turning to one of annoyance.

"My wife must have taught her to lie like this! How outrageous!" He slammed a fist on the table, clearly displeased.

Second Master Xie was an upright man himself and disliked how Second Madam Xie was always teaching their child to be so calculating.

Shen Ningning picked up the chicken drumstick from her own bowl and placed it in Second Master Xie’s.

"Second Uncle, eat some meat. Don’t be angry after you eat."

"The Divine Doctor said you only have a chance of getting better if you’re in a good mood."

"Don’t be angry, okay? Eat the meat," the little girl said, her soft, sweet voice endearing.

Both Second Master Xie and Xie Suzhi started to laugh.

The two of them looked at Shen Ningning with gentle gazes.

"Such a good girl, Ningning. Second Uncle isn’t angry anymore. If only Yuan Jiu were half as obedient as you, things would be perfect."

Xie Ming’an watched from the side, his expression unreadable.

In his memory, ever since his mother’s death, his father had been taciturn and his second uncle, due to his illness, was often prone to fits of rage.

But since Shen Ningning’s arrival, his father smiled more often.

Even his second uncle rarely lost his temper anymore.

Once dinner was over, Xie Suzhi called Second Master Xie to the study to discuss military matters.

Muchun and Wanchun were about to take Shen Ningning back to her room.

However, Xie Ming’an called out to the little girl from behind once more.

Shen Ningning glanced back. "Now what?"

Xie Ming’an finally took out the brocade box without hesitation.

He kept his face expressionless, hiding the turmoil he felt inside.

In a flat tone, he said, "This is for you."

The light in Shen Ningning’s wide eyes wavered.

She shook her head. "I don’t want it. What if it’s something bad and you’re trying to harm me?"

A crack appeared in Xie Ming’an’s carefully composed expression.

"You’re overthinking this!" He opened the box, revealing the shimmering butterfly hairpin inside.

Shen Ningning’s eyes lit up.

’Wow! It’s a little butterfly!’

Ever since she was old enough to be aware of such things, the little girl had appreciated beauty.

When her family was poor, she couldn’t even bear to wear new clothes.

Now that her life had improved, she was even more reluctant to spend extravagantly on pretty jewelry.

She simply used whatever Mo Lingwei bestowed upon her.

Seeing such a beautiful butterfly hairpin, the little girl’s heart fluttered.

But unexpectedly, Xie Ming’an immediately followed up with, "This is a welcoming gift. All the sisters in the mansion get one."

"You can have yours now. When Yuan Jiu comes back, I’ll get another one for her."

Shen Ningning’s little hand, which had just started to reach out, froze in midair.

The expression on the little girl’s fair, delicate face turned cold.

Even Muchun frowned when she heard this.

’This Second Young Master is truly brilliant when it comes to investigating cases, but he really has no idea how to talk to people.’

’Who is he trying to tick off, talking like that!’

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