She reached out and gently stroked the jade chili pepper: "This jade chili pepper was given to me by my mother-in-law when I got married."
Madam Ning looked into the distance: "She was a young lady from the Sheng family. The old master gave her a bracelet as a token of their love. Unfortunately, her mother-in-law was heartbroken by the old master and broke the bracelet during an argument. Master Zhong Ling then carved it into three jade chili peppers."
"Later, my mother-in-law died young due to depression. According to her dying wish, this thing should only be passed on to her daughter-in-law."
“Master Zhong Ling has gone to Switzerland. One of the three chili peppers is with the old man, one is with your aunt, and one is with me.”
Ning Yuan already knew about this gossip from the old high society from Uncle Fang, so she wasn't surprised.
Seeing her composure, Madam Ning was quite pleased that her daughter was so steady at such a young age.
She continued, "After your aunt and uncle divorced, your uncle didn't give the jade chili pepper to his children, but to your eldest brother when he was fourteen."
"At that time, your eldest brother had just been chosen as the next successor of the Ning family."
Ning Yuan thought that this was why Cha Meiling had the jade chili pepper in her possession—she was the next matriarch.
"When you were born, the Ning family was moving away. Jintou Lane was in chaos, and some people took advantage of the situation to break into the Ning residence to rob and injure people."
“I had just given birth and was unable to move. I was prepared to die, so I asked your father’s wet nurse to take you out of the house to avoid disaster.”
Madam Ning sighed as she recalled what had happened back then: "I know that powerful and wealthy families don't lack children, especially daughters. If something happens, they might not go to great lengths to find you."
"So, even at the risk of being divorced, they put the jade chili pepper on you. As long as you have it, they will definitely find a way to get it back."
Looking into Madam Ning's gentle eyes, Ning Yuan felt a sudden pang of sadness and turned her face away.
Knowing that she hadn't been abandoned by her mother, and that her mother wanted to protect her, softened her heart and made her want to cry.
She almost blurted out—then why, in her past life, even though Ou Minglang had already guessed that I was a daughter of the Ning family, no one came looking for me in the end!
Just because I no longer have jade chili peppers!
She opened her mouth, but ultimately didn't ask the question.
Why ask? Those are things that happened in a past life.
"What's wrong? Is there something you want to ask me?" Madam Ning sensed that her emotions seemed to be fluctuating.
Ning Yuan was silent for a moment, then asked softly, "What if I didn't have this jade chili pepper? What if I were just an ordinary production line worker?"
"If I don't get into university, I'll just be a timid, ordinary person who will only bring shame to the Ning family in any situation, someone who is of no value to the Ning family. Would you still want me?"
Madam Ning was heartbroken. Forgetting about frightening Ning Yuan, she reached out and hugged her tightly.
"Yes, yes, Mommy's daughter, no matter when or what, will always be Mommy's child, forever!"
Ning Yuan was held in her arms, in a warm and soft embrace that she had never felt before.
It reminded her of when she was little, seeing Ning Jinyun holding Ning Meimei and Ning Weibing, and how she, as a child, would watch enviously from the corner, sucking her finger.
Her dark eyes stared blankly, and suddenly tears welled up in her eyes.
Even though I'm well past the age of vulnerability, I still feel sad and moved by the belated warmth and love of a mother.
She suddenly didn't want to guess why Madam Ning hadn't come to find her in the past, nor did she want to guess whether what she had just said was true or false.
It's enough that the lost and tormented little girl in my heart, from past lives to this one, has finally found peace.
Finally, Ning Bingyu personally drove her back to her dormitory at Fudan University.
Ning Yuan didn't want him to see her off, but Madam Ning insisted and even forbade any accompanying personnel to see her off, so Ning Bingyu had no choice but to take the keys and drive.
The two remained silent for most of the journey.
As they approached Fudan University, he adjusted his glasses slightly and said, "Ahem... This car is borrowed from the relevant department. The steering wheel is on the left in mainland China, which is really not my style."
Ning Yuan: "Oh."
Ning Bingyu: "Isn't it too early for you to marry Rong Zhaonan?"
Ning Yuan: "Mm."
Ning Bingyu: "That guy isn't a good person..."
Ning Yuan interrupted bluntly: "Bullshit!"
Ning Bingyu held back for a while, but couldn't suppress his frustration: "Can't you even say two more words when you're cursing?!"
Ning Yuan crossed her arms and glared at him coldly: "He's not a good person, so what kind of good guy are you? I have nothing to say to a refined scoundrel!"
Ning Bingyu laughed in exasperation: "If it weren't for Mommy's sake, do you think I would want to talk to a little brat like you who always tattles on Mommy?"
He discovered that since returning to the mainland and meeting this brat, his Mandarin, which he had previously forgotten a lot of, had improved by leaps and bounds.
Ning Yuan sneered: "You worthless coward, you dare to do it but not admit it? Are you afraid someone will report you?"
Ning Bingyu retorted angrily, "Who are you calling a bastard! I was just trying to be helpful!"
"Whoever falls flat on their face gets all the blame!" Ning Yuan said coolly.
Ning Bingyu slammed his fist on the steering wheel in a fit of rage: "You...you...you deserve to be tricked by that Rong guy! Do you know what he did?!"
Ning Yuan suddenly glanced at him sideways: "What did he do?"
Ning Bingyu: "He asked me..."
Under Ning Yuan's suspicious gaze, he suddenly snapped out of his daze and swallowed his words back: "It's nothing, we're almost there, you can get off the bus now."
His original intention was just to sow discord among Rong Zhaonan, to stop that arrogant soldier from getting himself into trouble.
When he gave those things to Rong Zhaonan, he probably hadn't yet had a real relationship with his younger sister.
If Mom finds out she's an "accomplice," she'll definitely be in trouble.
Ning Yuan became increasingly suspicious. Was there something about these two "not good people" that she didn't know?
But Ning Bingyu's mouth remained closed, and he said nothing.
Before they knew it, they arrived at Fudan University's dormitory. Before they even got out of the car, Ning Yuan saw Rong Zhaonan downstairs, smoking with a cold expression.
Although he was handsome and smoked in a carefree and unrestrained manner, Ning Yuan's heart sank.
He knew she didn't like the smell of smoke, so he stopped smoking.
Could it be that my older brother has gotten into trouble with Tang Zhenzhen again, just like in our past life?
Unlike later generations, Rong Zhaonan's personnel file had been transferred to the local area, so he could still be said to have retired from the military. At most, his conduct issues would prevent him from finding a good job.
But my older brother is a regular soldier; if he has any issues with his conduct, his future will be ruined.
Rong Zhaonan saw Ning Bingyu bring her back, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes, and she went over to greet him, reaching out to open the car door for her.
Before the car door even opened, Ning Yuan anxiously asked, "How is my brother? Is he alright?"
Ning Bingyu raised an eyebrow: "What do I need?"
Ning Yuan ignored him completely, and as she jumped out of the car, she stared at Rong Zhaonan and asked, "Where's my older brother?"
Ning Bingyu: "??"
Rong Zhaonan succinctly stated: "The drug he was given was quite potent. He's in the hospital getting his stomach pumped, and Aheng is with him there. I've contacted the police, and Tang Zhenzhen has been taken into custody."
He had just finished coordinating with the police and reporting to his superiors when he rushed back here to wait for her, without having had a chance to check on Wei Heng's condition.
Ning Bingyu was expressionless, his mood extremely bad.
At this point, he still didn't know that the older brother Ning Yuan was anxious about wasn't him, so he shouldn't be the heir of the Ning family.
He doesn't need any big brothers at all, no wonder he treats him like that!
Ning Yuan was extremely anxious, so she jumped back into Ning Bingyu's car and casually tossed a sentence to Rong Zhaonan: "Get in the car!"
Rong Zhaonan got into the car immediately after him.
Ning Bingyu frowned, about to say something with displeasure.
Frustrated, Ning Yuan blurted out, "Drive, to the Second People's Hospital, driver!"
A vein bulged on Ning Bingyu's forehead, and he almost swore.
I'm so angry! Who's the boss here?! I'm not a taxi driver!
But I don't know why.
He looked at Ning Yuan's red and anxious eyes, his hand automatically reaching for the key, and started the car with a dark, refined, and noble face.
What a bummer! I ended up working as a taxi driver for no reason!
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