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

On the carriage ride taking Shen Ningning home.

Mo Lingwei asked Grandma Qin, "How did your family come to know Landlord Du?"

Grandma Qin sighed. "Who else but my damnable former daughter-in-law, Wang Guihong! Landlord Du is her brother-in-law. Ever since she married into our family, Landlord Du has taken special care of her."

The mere mention of Wang Guihong was enough to make Grandma Qin’s blood boil.

"She met Qin Sheng through a matchmaker. They had known each other for less than a month before she was eager to marry into my family."

"The Wang family is from Yu’an County. They have some savings and aren’t poor. What’s more, her sister married a wealthy Landlord. I always felt she wouldn’t have been interested in Qin Sheng."

"But I never expected her to be in such a rush to get married. The Wang family demanded a betrothal gift of thirty taels of silver. I couldn’t afford it. Besides, she seemed full of schemes and not at all easy to get along with, so I wasn’t going to approve the match. But then..."

Grandma Qin sighed again and again.

In the second month of her courtship with Qin Sheng, Wang Guihong got pregnant.

Qin Sheng pulled her down to kneel before me. It was only then that I learned they had forced my hand by sleeping together, all to secure the marriage!

"Since she was already with child, I couldn’t possibly object to the marriage any longer. So I sold our family’s ox and pigs, scraped together the thirty taels for the betrothal gift, and Wang Guihong married into our family."

There’s no need to recount what happened next. Not two years after she married in, Wang Guihong showed her true colors.

She not only despised Qin Sheng for being a good-for-nothing, but she also constantly beat and berated him. Whenever Grandma Qin tried to say a few words of advice, Wang Guihong would storm off back to her parents’ home and stay there for half a month at a time.

Over time, Grandma Qin, not wanting to affect the couple’s relationship, became even more tolerant of Wang Guihong’s behavior.

But with a personality like Wang Guihong’s, how could she not argue with Grandma Qin?

During one particularly nasty fight, Wang Guihong pointed at Grandma Qin’s nose and even cursed Qin Sheng’s long-dead father. Grandma Qin immediately told Qin Sheng to write a letter of divorce.

Unexpectedly, not only did Qin Sheng hesitate, but he also tried to weasel out of it by claiming he was illiterate. It was right at that moment that Wang Guihong suddenly fainted. A doctor came to examine her, and only then did Grandma Qin find out she was pregnant again.

It was supposed to be a joyous occasion. For the sake of the child, Grandma Qin let the matter drop and didn’t pursue it further.

As she recounted these past events, Shen Ningning sat beside her, her big, black eyes bright and alert on her round, rosy face.

Her two small hands were cupped around a sweet pastry from Mo Lingwei’s carriage. Her little mouth was sticky with crumbs, but she was listening with rapt attention.

Mo Lingwei had noticed her eating the pastry long ago.

’I usually find these cooling cakes so cloyingly sweet. How does she make them look so delicious, eating one after another?’

Finally, unable to resist, he reached out his thumb, wiped a crumb from the corner of Shen Ningning’s lips, and brought it to his own to taste.

’It’s not as sickeningly sweet as I remember.’

Mo Lingwei took out a handkerchief to wipe the corner of Shen Ningning’s mouth before slowly and deliberately wiping his own fingertip.

Just then, Grandma Qin said angrily, "After she gave birth to Fang Mei, she became even more insufferable. If she felt even the slightest bit wronged in the Qin Family, she would run off to complain to Landlord Du."

"And every time that Landlord Du came, he would back her up without distinguishing right from wrong. We couldn’t afford to offend him, so we could only endure it."

At this point, Grandma Qin was filled with regret.

If she hadn’t let a disaster like Wang Guihong into her family, how could her Ningning have suffered so much?

Mo Lingwei raised a brow, voicing his suspicion. "Wang Guihong is merely his sister-in-law. Even if he were taking meticulous care of her, he shouldn’t be interfering in her family affairs so frequently."

Grandma Qin recalled, "Perhaps it’s because Wang Guihong’s sister worries about her. I heard her sister, Wang Cuizhi, is in poor health and has been relying on medicine for years."

"If she was stressing herself out over Wang Guihong’s affairs, Landlord Du, as her husband, would certainly help shoulder the burden. There’s nothing to find fault with in that."

Shen Ningning’s pink tongue licked the frosting from the corner of her lips.

The little one said in a soft, sweet voice, "Landlord Du cares about Auntie a lot. Every time he comes over, Auntie makes me go outside and won’t let me stay in the house."

After speaking, the little girl pouted pitifully.

Every time, she was chased out of the house with nowhere to go, so she would go up the mountain to find a shady spot and take a nap.

Hearing this, Grandma Qin’s heart skipped a beat. "Is that really what happened?"

She hadn’t known about this, because Landlord Du always came during the day, which was precisely when she and her son, Qin Sheng, had to work in the fields.

Later, when the drought hit, whenever they had free time, she would take Qin Sheng to the next village to help butcher chickens and pigs to earn some silver to support the family.

But Wang Guihong often forbade her from eating, and over time, her health deteriorated. Grandma Qin never went out to work again.

At the time, she had thought Landlord Du’s visits were at least a good thing, since he always left a bag of grain when he left. So she didn’t object and never grew suspicious.

But now, hearing what Shen Ningning said, Grandma Qin frowned, sensing that something wasn’t right.

The carriage arrived at the foot of Wolf Mountain. As Grandma Qin was helped out of the carriage, she still seemed distracted.

Shen Ningning called over the Black Wolf King and helped her grandmother up the mountain first.

She then turned to Mo Lingwei. "Big Brother, would you like to come to my house for a bit? You could have a cup of fruit tea before you go!"

But Mo Lingwei said, "Not today. I’ll definitely come in a couple of days."

He had to hurry back to the palace to make arrangements and ensure the consequences of this matter unfolded just as Shen Ningning wished.

Hearing this, Shen Ningning pouted in disappointment.

"When is ’a couple of days’?"

Mo Lingwei raised his brows. "The day after tomorrow?"

The little girl grabbed his sleeve, wheedling, "By the day after tomorrow, my fruit tea might have gone bad! If I have to make a new batch, it’ll have to steep for two more days before you can drink it." 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Seeing her act this way, Mo Lingwei suddenly laughed.

His dark, narrow eyes glinted with amusement. "Just say it. What is it you really want?"

"Wow, you’re so smart, Big Brother! You saw right through me!" Shen Ningning’s little round face was all smiles.

"The scattering of Landlord Du’s ashes at Brother Zuchang’s grave to appease his spirit—on which day will that be? Can I go and watch?"

She knew the government would be carrying it out, and since her big brother had given the order, someone must be in charge.

Mo Lingwei was slightly taken aback. "You’re not afraid?"

"A bad person is getting the punishment he deserves. I should be happy for Brother Zuchang. I won’t be scared!" the little girl said.

After a moment, Mo Lingwei nodded. "Then let’s set it for tomorrow. I’ll come get you, and we’ll go together."

With their agreement made, Shen Ningning skipped away happily.

Mo Lingwei narrowed his eyes. "What happened to asking me to drink your fruit tea?"

He shook his head with a smile, then turned, boarded his carriage, and headed back to the palace.

「The next day.」

Mo Lingwei came to pick up Shen Ningning, and he brought good news.

He was dressed in a lightweight, narrow-sleeved robe of bright purple, waiting at the foot of Wolf Mountain with his hands clasped behind his back. When Shen Ningning arrived, she saw Mo Lingwei raise his head slightly, a look of carefree delight on his face.

"Big Brother!" She lifted her skirts and trotted down the mountain.

Seeing Mo Lingwei, the Black Wolf King, who was behind her, rolled its eyes mercilessly.

’That brat again.’

Mo Lingwei smiled. "Shen Ningning, is there any fruit tea for me today?"

"Yes, yes! I brought some." She pointed to the small waterskin tied at her waist.

She had made it herself, pressing sweet orange pulp into juice, adding prepared ice cubes, and then drizzling in a little molasses. It was guaranteed to be refreshing and sweet.

Mo Lingwei then brought out the hand he had been hiding behind his back. Shen Ningning saw that he was holding a bright yellow scroll.

"This is..."

"An Imperial Decree." He handed it to her. "Open it and see for yourself. I requested a reward for you."