After parting ways with Chen Shaobei, Chen Ye drove, taking Shen Ningning and Jiang Zhi back to Xiangyun Village.

Before they even entered the village, Jiang Zhi was already a little surprised.

At the bottom of the slope by the village entrance stood a Merit Stele, and at the entrance itself was a wide, white stone memorial archway.

A plaque, personally bestowed by the Emperor, hung right in the center.

Jiang Zhi craned her neck and sighed in admiration. "Your village is really famous."

Shen Ningning swayed her head with a grin. "And everyone is very united!"

She trotted into the village on her little feet. Along the way, villagers were carrying water to irrigate the loquat trees, and Jiang Zhi watched as Shen Ningning greeted each one of them.

The affection that burst forth in every villager’s eyes when they saw Shen Ningning did not seem fake.

’It seems this really is a peaceful and serene village.’

Shen Ningning called out to a child.

"Little Tiger! Take a message to Aunt Liu for me. Tell her to come find me at my house in a bit. I have something I need her help with."

Liu Xiaohu wiped his runny nose. "Got it, Little Wolf Sister."

Jiang Zhi followed the village path a few more steps, and soon, the view before her opened up.

Crisscrossing paths lined the fields. Every home had black tiles that kept them cool in the summer and warm in the winter, and was enclosed by a picket fence. Their red-painted wooden doors looked brand new at a glance.

Every few steps, she could see lush green loquat trees inside the yards.

Children ran about playing barefoot, while the elderly gathered in twos and threes under the shade of the trees to chat.

Jiang Zhi noticed that everyone, from three-year-old children to eighty-eight-year-old elders, had a rosy complexion.

They didn’t look like they were lacking food or water at all.

After all, she knew what it was like outside of Xiangyun Village.

The drought was severe. The sun had baked the earth until it cracked, and it seemed not a single blade of grass could grow.

Many people were gaunt and sallow from hunger, and corpses could be seen everywhere along the roadsides.

In contrast, Xiangyun Village was like a paradise.

Shen Ningning led Jiang Zhi to the door of her village house and took out two strings of keys.

"Sister Jiang, these are the keys to my house." With Chen Ye not around, the little one addressed her as usual.

Pushing the door open, Jiang Zhi saw a tidy courtyard. The house was built tall and covered with the finest tiles.

She took a look around; it was clearly a new house that had never been lived in.

"Ningning," Jiang Zhi said, a bit embarrassed, "your house is too nice. I should just go back to the city."

Shen Ningning reached out her small hand and tugged on her. "But you don’t have a place to stay in the city either!"

As if sensing Jiang Zhi’s thoughts, the little one said softly, "Sister Jiang, don’t worry. I’m not letting you stay for free."

Hearing this, Jiang Zhi’s face brightened as expected. "Is there something I can help with? Just say the word!"

"Now’s not the time. For now, just get settled in. You’ll have plenty to do starting tomorrow," Shen Ningning finished. Jiang Zhi nodded.

The village house had two rooms, one large and one small. Jiang Zhi chose the smaller one.

The wardrobe was filled with clean quilts and pillows that Grandma Qin had made earlier. Shen Ningning took them out for Jiang Zhi to use.

The room was fully equipped with everything she might need, including a candlestick, a table and chairs, and paper and a brush.

Shen Ningning said, "The kitchen is just too clean; there’s no food. Later, I’ll bring Langlang and the others over to deliver some provisions for you."

Granny Chen’s smiling voice came from the doorway. "Mr. Jiang, from now on, if you don’t feel like cooking, you can come eat at my place."

Chen Ye was helping her into the courtyard. It seemed he had already told Granny Chen about Jiang Zhi’s background.

If she was a friend of Shen Ningning, then she was a friend of Xiangyun Village.

Shen Ningning smiled and made the introductions. "This is Granny Chen. Brother Chen is her son, and she’s your neighbor, too."

Jiang Zhi quickly cupped her fist in salute. "Hello, Granny Chen!"

Just then, the mad scholar, leaning on a cane, followed the sound of their voices and walked over.

"Disciple, disciple," he called out. His eyes had just been treated with medicine and were still wrapped in white bandages.

Shen Ningning hurried over to him. "Teacher, why are you out again? Grandpa Shopkeeper said your eyes shouldn’t be exposed to bright light when you’re using the medicine."

The mad scholar had a slender build, and his smile carried the strong air of a man of letters.

"I saw you haven’t come for your lessons in a few days. I’m just reminding you that you have to come this afternoon."

"Okay, okay, okay. You should hurry home. Your eyes need to rest properly!" Shen Ningning, a small figure, helped the mad scholar walk back.

When Shen Ningning returned, the old village chief came over. "Ningning, Ningning! There’s a matter I’d like your opinion on."

"Recently, a rich merchant from the city, Mr. Quan, is celebrating his birthday and wants to buy our loquat candy. He said he’ll pay an extra two taels of silver per catty, but he wants us to include a small gift with the purchase."

"I’m getting old and don’t know what to give him. Could you think of something?"

A thoughtful expression appeared on Shen Ningning’s rosy, round face.

"Hmm, this is a small business for us, and the extra silver he’s offering isn’t much. But giving a gift will earn us a good reputation."

"How about this? Pick one hundred and eight loquat leaves and bundle them up."

The number one hundred and eight, in the Buddhist Sect, symbolizes good fortune and the dispelling of worries.

Not only that, but Shen Ningning also had another idea. "Grandpa Village Chief, wait for me."

She quickly trotted into the house on her little feet.

Jiang Zhi peeked in and saw her pull out a brush and paper, hastily grind some ink, and then begin to write fluently.

She withdrew her gaze, and her eyes met the old village chief’s.

"Hello, Village Chief!" Jiang Zhi greeted him in a strong, clear voice.

The old village chief nodded slightly, beaming. "You must be Ningning’s friend, right?"

"Yes, I’ll be staying here for a while. Village Chief, if there’s any manual labor you need help with, please don’t hesitate to ask me." After Jiang Zhi spoke, the old village chief readily agreed.

Shen Ningning came out with a sheet of paper and handed it over. "Grandpa Village Chief, this explains how to use the loquat leaves."

The last time the pharmacy manager came to treat the mad scholar, he had asked her for some loquat leaves to take back with him.

Apparently, loquat leaves could clear the lungs, suppress nausea, and stop vomiting. Whether shredded and cooked into congee or dried and steeped in tea, they were effective.

The paper Shen Ningning provided clearly explained how to use them.

Under the mad scholar’s guidance, her calligraphy had long since improved by leaps and bounds, developing its own distinct and elegant style.

The script was clean, the strokes sharp and decisive, and the spacing neat.

The old village chief was beaming with joy. He praised the little one’s cleverness several times before turning to arrange for his son, Deng Jixiang, to run the errand.

Jiang Zhi had thought Shen Ningning would finally get to rest.

But then Aunt Liu came running over. "Ningning, I just heard from Little Tiger that you were looking for me. What’s up?"

Shen Ningning went outside and began explaining something to her.

Jiang Zhi blinked, sighing with emotion. ’Ningning is as busy as a little village chief.’

They came to an agreement with Aunt Liu.

Shen Ningning instructed, "Auntie, it’s settled then. Tomorrow, I’ll bring the ingredients. You’ll cook for me and prepare a few large pots."

With that, she took out ten taels of broken silver with her small hand and passed it over.

Aunt Liu was beaming.

She wasn’t one to take advantage of others, but she certainly didn’t like being taken advantage of either.

Getting her to help for free would depend on her mood. But Shen Ningning was considerate; before Aunt Liu even had to hint at it, the little one proactively offered payment for her trouble.

"No problem, Ningning! For this much silver, Auntie will help you borrow every pot in the whole village if you need!"

Aunt Liu left with a smile, clutching the silver joyfully.

Shen Ningning turned around and saw Jiang Zhi watching her.

"Ningning, what exactly are we doing tomorrow?"

The little one’s smile faded, replaced by a touch of sorrow. "I’m going to make sure everyone in the Capital City knows that what happened to Uncle Wu, Aunt Wu, and Brother Zuchang... their deaths were no accident."