Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Lai Zi Plans to Kidnap Ningning!

Shen Ningning couldn’t be bothered with him and walked straight ahead.

Lai Zi followed close by.

"Little Ningning, why are you ignoring me? Given our ages, it’s only right that you call me ’uncle.’"

"Ah, whatever, I won’t stoop to arguing with a kid. I have something to tell you. Will you just listen for a moment?"

Shen Ningning still ignored him.

The Black Wolf King watched Lai Zi with a fierce gaze, making him afraid to take another step closer.

So, Lai Zi had to resort to shouting, "I know Uncle Liu and his crew have been fixing up your house lately!"

"Look at me, I’m young and strong. I can help you too! Plus, I know carpenters in the city who are way better than anyone in our village!"

"If you’re willing, I can act on your behalf. With my connections, I can get you a fair and cheap price!"

He had barely finished speaking when the gate to a nearby courtyard suddenly swung open, and a bucket of slop came splashing out.

Lai Zi couldn’t dodge in time and had the entire bucket dumped right over his head!

"Which son of a bitch!" he cursed, picking vegetable scraps from his hair.

He turned to see it was none other than Uncle Liu’s wife, Sister-in-law Liu.

She was one of the sharpest-tongued women in the village.

"Oh my! It’s Lai Zi! I just heard someone spouting nonsense right outside my gate, so I rushed out with the last bucket of slop to help them clear their head. I had no idea it was you."

Sister-in-law Liu’s lips curled into a smirk. She planted her hands on her hips and started laying into him.

"If you don’t have any water at your house, go piss in a puddle and take a good look at yourself!"

"You damned Lai Zi, you’ve squandered away every last bit of the inheritance your father left you. You just loaf around all day doing nothing. Out of everyone in the village, you’re the one with the blackest heart!"

"And you have the nerve to pester Ningning with your lies? You try that again and I’ll rip your mouth right off your face!"

Lai Zi was no match for her in a shouting match, and he knew Sister-in-law Liu was quick to throw a punch when she got angry.

So, he went right back to pestering Shen Ningning.

"Little Ningning, just trust me this one time. You won’t regret it!"

Shen Ningning was annoyed.

Especially since, as Lai Zi got closer, the stench of slop coming off him was overpowering!

She pouted. "Langlang, get rid of him."

The Black Wolf King, Wolf Three, and the others were already poised to strike.

The moment Shen Ningning spoke, the Black Wolf King lunged forward fiercely.

"Ahhh—!" Lai Zi shrieked and bolted.

In his haste, he slipped on the slop and fell, ripping the crotch of his pants wide open!

He didn’t even bother with that, just scrambled back to his feet and ran for his life!

Sister-in-law Liu clutched her stomach, roaring with laughter.

"Serves him right! That felt so good!" she said.

Shen Ningning called out in her sweet, high-pitched voice, "Langlang, come back! Don’t actually bite him, or you’ll get all stinky too!"

The moment Wolf Three heard that, it immediately turned back.

It was a wolf that greatly valued its cleanliness, after all.

After spending so much time with Shen Ningning, it wouldn’t even eat subpar meat.

Sister-in-law Liu was fond of a clever and bright little girl like Shen Ningning.

"Ningning, are you heading to the house too? Perfect. I’m taking a meal to my husband, so we can walk together."

Shen Ningning obediently nodded.

On the way, Sister-in-law Liu spoke frankly. "Ningning, you see how hot it is? The ground is cracking from the sun, and they’re still out there working for you."

"I’m not trying to ask for credit, but my husband has been running all over the place for your house renovation."

"He’s the quiet type who never complains no matter how hard things get. But as for me, I’m a straightforward person. I speak my mind."

"So, what do you say? Could you give my husband a little extra for his hard work?"

Shen Ningning lifted her small, fair, rosy-cheeked face.

She blinked and said, "Aunt Liu, please don’t worry. I know how hard the uncles are working, and I won’t treat them unfairly."

Sister-in-law Liu gave a dry laugh.

’This little girl is sharp,’ she thought. ’She didn’t say whether she’d agree to a raise or not.’

When they arrived at the house, they saw that Uncle Liu and his crew were working surprisingly fast.

He had picked about fourteen villagers to help.

It had only been two days, but they had already torn down the old fence and dismantled the brickwork.

Their work was not only fast but also meticulous.

But everyone was drenched in sweat, their skin burned red by the sun.

Shen Ningning quickly had Lang Si bring forward the bundle it was carrying in its mouth.

"These are some flatbreads my grandma made. There’s also fruit inside to quench your thirst. Uncles, please, have some."

Hearing there was food, the villagers all put down their tools.

Uncle Liu had just been sawing wood and was covered in sawdust.

He told everyone to eat first, while he kept his head down and continued to work.

Her heart aching for her husband, Sister-in-law Liu took a flatbread and a piece of fruit and brought it right to his lips.

Seeing every one of the villagers drenched in sweat, an idea sparked in Shen Ningning’s eyes.

"Please rest for a bit," she said. "I’ll be right back."

With that, she turned and ran off, the Black Wolf King hurrying to keep up.

A short while later.

Shen Ningning returned, pulling her little cart with her small hands.

The villagers were astonished. "Ningning, is this your cart?"

The little girl nodded, wiping the glistening beads of sweat from her forehead.

She smiled sweetly. "I brought over the fresh water I bought in the city to help the uncles quench their thirst!"

"It’s on the cart. You can start unloading it!"

The villagers went over to take a look.

Inside the cart were eight water barrels, all neatly lined up!

The fresh water inside was crystal-clear and felt ice-cold!

This water cost ten taels a barrel in the city!

No one could bring themselves to drink it; they all just stared in a daze.

Shen Ningning urged them, "Go on, drink! Uncles, don’t stand on ceremony. The weather is scorching, and you’ve all worked so hard!"

Only after she said that did they dare to start unloading the barrels.

As they drank bowl after bowl of the cool water, the feeling was indescribably refreshing!

It was like a cool rain suddenly falling upon a parched desert baking under the sun.

Each of the workers drank two large bowls.

Three barrels of water were finished just like that.

Shen Ningning didn’t feel the slightest bit of regret, though.

It was a well-deserved reward for their work.

Besides, the water in the barrels wasn’t ordinary water; it was Spiritual Spring Water.

If they drank enough of it, she wouldn’t have to worry about the uncles suffering from heatstroke.

With food in their bellies and water to drink, the villagers’ enthusiasm for their work soared.

One man even started singing, and the group worked with ever-increasing energy.

Shen Ningning stayed with them the whole time.

Doing what little she could to help.

Like picking up bits of trash.

The Black Wolf King and his pack were quite diligent as well.

Villagers passing by saw this and were amazed.

Aunt Qin had claimed before that the wolves were dangerous.

But now, it seemed the wolf pack was far more helpful than the Qin Family!

They worked busily until nearly dusk.

Even Shen Ningning’s face was flushed red from the sun.

She had only been helping for one afternoon, but she already felt exhausted.

So, considering how hard Uncle Liu and the others had worked...

The little girl announced, "Uncles, I’ve thought about it, and I’ve decided to give you all a raise."

"Four taels of silver per person, paid as soon as the job is done, with no delays. And from now on, I’ll provide your food and fresh water every day."

Upon hearing this, the villagers erupted in cheers.

"Thank you, Ningning!"

"Ningning, having you in Xiangyun Village is a blessing for us all!"

While they were celebrating...

unbeknownst to them, Lai Zi was hiding around a distant corner, staring viciously at Shen Ningning’s silhouette.

’Damn kid. You’re only acting tough because you have those wolves. What’s there to be so smug about?’ he muttered under his breath.

Lai Zi’s eyes shifted as a vicious plan formed in his mind.

’I’ll find a human trafficker and have you sold. Let’s see how arrogant you can be then.’

’It was Shen Ningning’s fault that he couldn’t earn any silver, and couldn’t even get food or fresh water!’

「Two days later.」

Lai Zi entered the village with two shifty-looking, unsavory men.

"You two hide right here. The kid comes by this way every day. I’ve been watching her; she has the wolves help with chores."

"Wait for the moment those wolves leave her side, then you make your move. Grab the kid and run. She’s only four; she won’t be able to fight back."

The two men nodded, wicked grins spreading across their faces.

"You’re sure the little girl is pretty, with delicate skin? Then she’ll definitely fetch a good price!"