Wolf-Raised Cub with a Space: Surviving the Disaster Years Chapter 99: Ningning, Someone Is Looking for You

"What are you afraid of!" Qian Siniang chided. "Shen Ningning is only four. No matter how smart she is, she’s still just a kid."

As soon as they arrived at the academy, their classmates all gathered around.

"Shen Xuezhi, have you recovered from your injuries?"

"I heard you were invited to the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet. Were there a lot of nobles and high-ranking officials?"

"You fell down with the Crown Prince last ti. I heard you two hunted ten wild boars. Is that true?"

Everyone chattered at once, asking all sorts of questions.

Wu Zuchang, following behind Shen Ningning, was clearly intimidated by the large crowd.

He’d had a growth spurt and was nearly five feet seven, yet he was hiding behind Shen Ningning, hunched over with a wary and fearful look in his eyes.

The little girl inconspicuously tugged on his sleeve.

With a calm expression, she smiled and answered each question in turn. "I’ve recovered. I didn’t go. And it’s not true."

Just as the crowd was about to ask more, Xiang Qian squeezed her way through.

"Shen Xuezhi, my mom had a baby sister! Please co over and see her when you’re free!"

Shen Ningning nodded her round little head and readily agreed.

They blocked her path so completely that the little girl couldn’t even get into the classroom.

Finally, Lu Shaoyuan walked over, his sharp brows furrowing. "Are you guys done yet?"

Only then did the crowd scatter in all directions.

Lu Shaoyuan looked at Wu Zuchang, who was standing behind Shen Ningning.

"And he is?"

"Oh, he’s from the Wu family. His na is Wu Zuchang," Shen Ningning introduced with a bright smile.

With fewer people around, Wu Zuchang was no longer scared. He gave Lu Shaoyuan a goofy grin.

Lu Shaoyuan’s suspicious expression softened.

He entered the classroom just behind Shen Ningning and whispered to her, "Qin Fangi ca to the academy today."

"If you feel uncomfortable, I can make her leave for you."

The little girl paused. She lifted her gaze and, sure enough, saw Qin Fangi sitting in her spot.

Qin Fangi looked over at her, a aningful smile on her face.

Shen Ningning’s dark eyes were clear and bright as she said to Lu Shaoyuan, "It’s fine. Don’t go looking for trouble with her."

Although she could guess that Qin Fangi was up to no good, the things she’d done so far were nothing for the little girl to fear.

Mr. Huang didn’t allow outsiders in the classroom.

So, Shen Ningning turned back and said to Wu Zuchang, "Brother Zuchang, there’s a long bench over there. Why don’t you sit and wait for until class is over, okay?"

Wu Zuchang glanced back. The bench wasn’t far.

He nodded with a silly grin. "Okay, I’ll wait. I’ll wait for the girl."

Shen Ningning took out a bag of roasted lon seeds and a bowl of chilled, sugared lychees from her lunchbox.

"Eat these if you get hungry."

Wu Zuchang happily walked away, clutching the food.

Shen Ningning sat down in her own seat, and Ren Yu imdiately leaned over.

"Ningning, you haven’t been here for the past few days. I was so worried about you."

"I got scratched up when I fell, so Grandma made stay ho and rest for a few days." The little girl’s smile was sweet, revealing her adorable dimples.

Ren Yu was surprised. "You’re incredibly lucky to be alive. That ravine was so deep, we all thought you were a goner for sure."

She glanced back at Lu Shaoyuan.

She whispered, "Did you know Lu Shaoyuan searched for you all night? His mother had to drag him ho in the end."

Shen Ningning was taken aback. She looked back at Lu Shaoyuan, but he was just reading a book, his expression unchanged.

"I didn’t know. He didn’t say anything just now. He really went through a lot of trouble." ’It must not be easy to find soone in those vast mountains.’

Ren Yu snickered. "He was definitely too proud to ntion it. But, Ningning, you should take this opportunity."

"Opportunity?" Shen Ningning asked, confused.

"That’s right! Since Lu Shaoyuan is willing to be your friend, it’s a huge opportunity. Even if you don’t pass the entrance exam for the National Academy, you can get in through his family."

Seeing Shen Ningning’s clueless expression, Ren Yu beca even more animated.

"You still don’t know? Lu Shaoyuan’s maternal family is the ng Family. They’re incredibly wealthy and donate two hundred thousand taels to the National Academy every year."

The little girl was awestruck, her pink lips forming a small "o." "They’re so rich."

’With that much silver, how much jade could I buy?’

Ren Yu nodded. "So, if you get on his good side, getting into the National Academy will be a sure thing."

Shen Ningning imdiately refuted her. "No way. I promised the mad scholar I would pass the exam myself, without relying on anyone."

Ren Yu froze. "Mr. Feng?"

’It must be a private teacher Shen Ningning hired.’

Her respect for Shen Ningning grew even more.

’An ordinary family could never afford to hire a private teacher. Usually, a whole clan has to pool their resources to hire two or three teachers for the clan school.’

Filled with admiration and envy, Ren Yu wanted to get even closer to Shen Ningning.

So, she said, "Oh, by the way, Ningning, Qin Fangi’s foot is really mangled."

"I just saw her. She’s limping badly. It looks so ugly."

Shen Ningning paused as she reached for a book, her long lashes concealing her expression.

She was reminded of an unpleasant mory from the past.

Last year, during the worst of the drought, there wasn’t a single drop of rain for nine consecutive months.

A group of strangers ca to the village and tried to persuade the village chief, saying the drought was caused by the Heavenly God’s wrath and that a sacrifice of young boys and girls was required to appease him.

At that ti, Shen Ningning was only three, and Aunt Qin would force her to squat on the ground to eat.

Qin Fangi took the opportunity to deliberately knock a pair of scissors off the table.

Fortunately, Grandma Qin saw it happen and swiftly pulled Shen Ningning out of the way.

Otherwise, the falling scissors might have landed on Shen Ningning’s small, bare feet.

In front of the adults, Qin Fangi claid it was an accident.

But after the adults were gone, Qin Fangi said to Shen Ningning with a wicked grin—

"Shen Ningning, my mom is going to send you to be sacrificed to the Heavenly God. If you don’t want to go, you should hurry and cripple yourself with the scissors. That way they won’t take you. I was just trying to help, you know."

Terrified, Shen Ningning burst into tears, only to be scolded by Aunt Qin for making a fuss.

However, the old village chief deed the group to be charlatans practicing dark arts and had them reported to the officials and arrested.

The so-called sacrifice was, of course, called off.

But looking back on it now, Shen Ningning was certain that if it hadn’t been for the old village chief’s righteous wisdom, Aunt Qin’s character was such that she might have really handed her over.

So, seeing Qin Fangi limping now...

The little girl felt not a flicker of sympathy. Instead, she softly uttered two words: "Serves her right."

Ren Yu nodded with a smile. "Exactly!"

When Mr. Huang arrived, he saw Shen Ningning and made a point to ask how she was doing.

Seeing how attentive Mr. Huang was to Shen Ningning, Qin Fangi seethed with anger.

’My foot is in this state, and even though I don’t have to withdraw from the academy, Mr. Huang hasn’t even asked about my injury once.’

’He’s so biased.’

The class ca to an end.

An Attendant Student ran over. "Shen Xuezhi, soone’s at the gate for you."

The little girl quickly got up and went outside.

As she passed Wu Zuchang, Shen Ningning was so preoccupied with wondering who was looking for her that she didn’t look up. Like a little puppy, Wu Zuchang watched her leave with longing eyes.

He wanted to follow her.

But he imdiately sat back down on the bench, hugging the lon seeds.

’No, the little girl said to wait here...’

Reaching the academy’s gate, she saw a low-key carriage parked around the corner.

Shen Ningning walked over, and upon seeing a familiar figure, her face broke into a bright and lovely smile.