Chapter 311 - Chapter 311: Xiao Ning

Chapter 311: Xiao Ning

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Gu Chang’an took out something that looked like a scroll from his pocket. Xiao Ran took it and handed it to Ning Fengnian and his wife. “Since we’ve acknowledged Xiaoxiao, we naturally have to place her in the genealogy, so we want to change her name. Everyone, take a look. What do you think of this name?”

Ning Fengnian and Madam Song’s eyes became aching. Ning Anhui and Ning Ansheng didn’t feel good either. However, when they opened the scroll, they were instantly filled with incredulity and gratitude.

“Xiao Ning?”

It was the Ning Family’s Ning. It was their Ning!

Gu Chang’an was not good at communicating with others, so Xiao Ran said, “The Xiao Family is her surname, and the Ning Family is her name. From now on, everyone will always be her family.”

The huge weight on their hearts was lifted. The Ning Family couple cried tears of joy and repeatedly agreed. Xiaoxiao ran to look for her brother. “Brother, have you prepared the things for tomorrow’s exam? Shall we check them together?”

Ning Ansheng asked, “Could it be that you specially rushed back for this?”

Xiaoxiao said matter-of-factly, “Of course. This is your big day. Oh, no, I’ll definitely be present when you and Second Brother get married in the future.”

Ning Anhui blushed, but Ning Ansheng’s heart trembled slightly. However, he only said, “Naughty.”

Xiaoxiao had long known that her brother was reliable, so she was not surprised to find that everything was ready after checking. She urged her brother to rest early today. It was most important to keep a clear mind. After all, Ning Ansheng was different from those people who made last-minute preparations. He had a solid foundation and was diligent in his studies. What he needed was a clear train of thought and appropriate grooming.

Ning Ansheng couldn’t dissuade her and agreed obediently.

Ning Anhui gave her a thumbs up. “It’s still Xiaoxiao who has a way. If it were us, it would be useless no matter how we tried to persuade you.”

Xiaoxiao raised her head proudly. “Of course. I’m Big Brother’s most beloved sister!”

Ning Ansheng smiled gently and tapped her forehead. “You’re arrogant because you’re pampered.”

After a simple dinner, everyone rested. That night, the Ning Family slept well, and Xiao Ran and Gu Chang’an slept peacefully. Little Aunt Ning could only find a random roof to make do with. She rushed to the county office’s prison before dawn the next day.

County Magistrate Shen was not here, so the people who replaced him at the last minute did not know what happened to the Ning Family. Seeing that she was here to see the death row prisoner, they were more accommodating. The people in the old residence were even worse. They could not eat or sleep well in prison and were beaten up from time to time. The only thing they cared about was whether the eldest branch was finished.

Every time a newcomer came to the prison, they would perk up to see if it was a familiar face. When they realized that it was not, they would continue to wait in disappointment and anticipation. This was probably their greatest motivation to continue struggling to survive.

It wasn’t that they hadn’t been curious about Little Aunt Ning’s whereabouts during this period of time, but they had no choice and didn’t even have a place to ask. It wasn’t easy for them to wait for her to come, so they immediately surrounded her and fought to ask questions.

“How is it? Have they been arrested?”

“Are they enlisted or executed?”

“Is their family finished?”

“Has the money of the eldest branch all fallen into your hands? You brat, you haven’t been here for so long. Have you gone to enjoy yourself? Have you forgotten about us long ago?”

Little Aunt Ning’s head hurt from the noise. The throats of everyone in the old residence were dry and hoarse, and it was very ear-piercing. She took a step back in discomfort, instantly arousing even more suspicion. “You’re guilty, aren’t you?! You used my idea to get the eldest branch’s assets, but now you can’t bear to use them to save me at all? I’ve long asked around. As long as there’s money, I don’t have to work!”

Little Aunt Ning looked at Third Brother Ning. “Third Brother, what are you talking about?”

The gentle Third Brother back then seemed to have become a fantasy. The person in front of her now was disheveled and had a fierce gaze, like a demon.

He had been pampered by Old Madam Ning since he was young. He had always thought that he was a prodigy. He had been gnawing on cold and hard steamed buns in this prison and smelling an indescribably disgusting smell. He was about to break down.

“What did I say? You know very well what I said! Otherwise, why didn’t you look for us for so long!”

Little Aunt Ning’s tears fell. “I was deceived!”

After she finished talking about the scholar incoherently, she did not notice that her family was completely indifferent. The few of them wolfed down the steamed buns that Little Aunt Ning had exchanged for with the remaining copper coins. They did not even care about drinking water. It was only when they finished eating that Third Brother Ning asked curiously, “What a coincidence. You just went to expose Ning Xiaoxiao’s identity and you were deceived?”

Of course, she was deceived because she was stupid. There was no need to mention this again, in case she was desperate and refused to do anything for him.

Little Aunt Ning was also puzzled, but she didn’t like to use her brain, so she couldn’t understand at all.

Third Brother Ning looked at the dirt between his fingers and snorted. “Isn’t it obvious? Ning Xiaoxiao must have deliberately hidden you because she was afraid of you exposing her identity.”

As soon as he said this, everyone felt that it made sense and started cursing again.

Amidst the increasingly unbearable scolding, Third Brother Ning said smugly, “The fact that she did this means that she has a guilty conscience.”

Ning Xiaoxiao’s background must be something that the eldest branch could use against her!

“Do as I say…”

Little Aunt Ning didn’t have much of an opinion to begin with. She was convinced by him in a few sentences and started to nod like an acknowledging bug.

The second day was an important day for the academy examinations. The entire Ning Family set off to send Ning Ansheng to take the examinations.

Seeing that he had entered the examination hall, no one went home. They just sat in the milk tea shop. They were busy, so time passed faster.

Gu Chang’an was very interested in his daughter’s shop. After running around a few times, he even changed into a shop assistant’s uniform and got busy. Ning Anhui originally felt that it was not appropriate, but when he saw his sister say that it was fine, he let him be.

Xiao Ran looked at this harmonious family. She was glad that her daughter had grown up in love, but her heart ached for her for suffering too much at such a young age.

It was said that children from poor families took charge early. If life wasn’t hard, why would she think about this?

As she was thinking, she saw her husband ask his daughter as if he had discovered a treasure, “Is that the oven you mentioned?”

Xiaoxiao nodded and jumped over. “That’s right, that’s right. Father, didn’t you ask me how to make cakes last time? Do you want to try?”

The two of them squatted down in the small kitchen. About an hour later, they came out with a few freshly baked Mianmian Cakes. “Father, Mothers, try them. These are the ratios that Father just modified for me. See which is better!”

The form of address was messy and confusing, but everyone looked at Xiaoxiao’s glowing eyes and smiled. “Looks like we can save on lunch today.”

Xiao Ran took a few bites and looked at her daughter’s and her husband’s identical expressions. Under their expectant gazes, she pointed at the second one. “This is softer.”

Xiaoxiao cupped her fists at Gu Chang’an. “As expected, the older, the wiser.”

Gu Chang’an said humbly, “Your mother is used to my cooking. She likes this kind.”

Xiaoxiao had an idea. “Father, I suddenly have a new idea.. Shall we do it together?”