Transmigrating into the Genius Cannon Fodder’s Aunt

Chapter 77 – Court Verdict

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Not long after the Jia family’s verdict came down, news about another verdict arrived from Ming City.

That night, after her evening self-study session, Xia Mian went as usual to the Ning Shaobai house next door to pick up Xiao Feng. She was now in the second half of her second year of high school, and her studies were becoming increasingly demanding.

And it wasn’t just her—the entire Xia and Mao families, except for the two little ones, were as busy as bees. Xia Wenyue was tied up with expanding the production lines, practically living at the factory. Because of the popularity of the commercial, Mao Zhishan had been spotted by a modern drama production and was off filming again. Mao Huimei had barely scraped by in the college entrance exam last September, managing to get into the accounting program, and was now enjoying her college life. Xia Mian and Mao Huilan—one in the second year, one in the first year of high school—were both under more academic pressure than ever.

That left only Xiao Feng and Mao Huizhu, the two little ones, and even they were originally separated.

Last September, Mao Huizhu and Chenchen both entered elementary school, leaving Xiao Feng the only one still in kindergarten. Because of his special circumstances, the family paid close attention to his emotional state, and sure enough, they found the boy uneasy. Though sensible enough to say nothing, his smile had noticeably faded. When Xia Mian came home after evening self-study, he would seem listless, and at night he slept fitfully—clear signs of lacking a sense of security.

When she heard from Ning Shaoyun and Aunt Wei that every day after kindergarten, he refused to go into the art studio, instead squatting obediently at the doorstep staring toward the alley waiting, Xia Mian’s heart ached.

She didn’t want this child to suffer even the smallest grievance. So she asked Ning Shaobai’s favor to arrange for him to skip ahead a grade, letting him start first grade with Mao Huizhu and Chenchen.

Luckily, school age requirements weren’t as strict in this era. Since Xiao Feng was smart, he easily passed the first-grade entrance exam, reuniting with his two playmates.

Xia Mian still clearly remembered his first day coming home from school. The little guy was so happy, uncharacteristically talkative, lying in bed telling her about his new class, new classmates, and new teacher. Finally, after rolling over twice, he ended up in her arms.

His big, black-grape eyes gazed at her and, suddenly, he said, “Auntie, love you.”

Who knew where he’d learned that, but he clearly knew what she had done for him.

In that moment, Xia Mian’s chest felt full to bursting. She couldn’t help but pull him tightly into her embrace. “Auntie loves you too.”

In this life, she would do everything in her power to make sure he grew up happy.

Not that it was a difficult task—Xiao Feng was very easy to please. As long as he could stay with Mao Huizhu and Chenchen, he was content.

So, the newly-reunited trio attended school together and began taking martial arts lessons after school.

After their last brawl with the Jia kids, Xia Mian had intended to send Xiao Feng and Mao Huizhu to learn self-defense. Apparently, she wasn’t the only one with that idea—within a few days, Ning Shaobai hired a martial arts coach to come to the house and give the three children personalized training.

From then on, every morning the kids practiced horse stance under Uncle Li’s supervision, and after school they went to Ning Shaobai’s house to learn combat skills from Coach Han.

Ning Shaobai even set up a dedicated training room for them, padded entirely with mats. Though the three little ones found the lessons exhausting—especially Mao Huizhu, who would wail dramatically like a butchered pig—they liked playing in the room afterward, rolling around as much as they wanted.

Especially in the dead of winter, with the heating on full blast, they could spend the entire day in there during winter break.

For reasons only he knew, Ning Shaobai also added toys to the room, making it even harder to get the children to leave. As a result, they now spend most of their time at his place rather than Ning Shaoyun’s.

Every night, just before bedtime, a grown-up from each house would come pick their little one—Chenchen was fetched by Ning Shaoyun, while Xiao Feng and Mao Huizhu usually waited for Xia Mian to finish evening self-study before going home together.

By now, it had become a routine: every evening after her self-study session, Xia Mian would head straight to Ning Shaobai’s home to pick up the kids. But today, when she arrived, the two little ones had already been picked up. Only Ning Shaobai was in the training room, seemingly waiting for her.

At first, Xia Mian didn’t notice anything unusual. She smiled brightly. “Did my aunt or uncle come back?”

“They are both home.” Ning Shaobai said softly, “The court in Ming City has delivered its verdict.”

Xia Mian froze for a moment. Ning Shaobai did not wait for her to recover and directly recited the judgment:

“Zhang Qiming—convicted of the murder of Xia Chun, the attempted murder of Xia Mian and Xia Yufeng, intentional injury, insurance fraud, and other major crimes—was sentenced to death, to be carried out immediately.

Huang Xiaojuan—convicted of abuse, theft, and harboring a criminal, with sentences combined—was sentenced to seven years in prison.”

Hearing this, Xia Mian’s first feeling wasn’t satisfaction but a deep, crushing sadness. In an instant, Xia Chun’s gentle face and smile rose vividly in her mind, as clear as if it were yesterday.

So what if the beasts got their punishment? That gentle, earnest young woman would never return…

If she were still alive, Xiao Feng would never have suffered so much.

Thinking of the day they moved the grave, of Xiao Feng kneeling in innocent confusion before his mother’s gravestone, Xia Mian’s eyes reddened.

Seeing Ning Shaobai looking at her, she drew in a deep breath, wanting to say, Let me just sit here for a bit, but the moment she opened her mouth, tears began to fall without control.

Ning Shaobai said nothing—he simply stepped forward and lifted his hand to wipe away her tears, gently stroking her head.

Xia Mian’s tears became even more uncontrollable. Choking back sobs, she said, “What are you doing? I still have to see Xiao Feng later—I can’t be crying.”

Ning Shaobai paused, then finally reached out his arm, pressing her head to his strong shoulder. “Cry it out first, so you don’t lose control when you see him.”

Darkness closed in before her eyes, but with it came a strange, deep sense of safety, and her tears broke free without restraint. She couldn’t help wrapping her arms around him and crying her fill.

The cry didn’t last long, because Xia Mian remembered that Xiao Feng was still waiting for her. Ning Shaobai seemed prepared, soaking a towel in cold water and pressing it gently to her face. “By the time you walk back, it shouldn’t be noticeable.”

“Thanks,” she murmured weakly.

He said nothing in response, only reaching out to pat her head.

When Xia Mian returned, sure enough, Xia Wenyue and Mao Zhishan were home, and Mao Huimei had also come back from campus. Xia Wenyue’s eyes were red—she had clearly been crying too. “You came from Dr. Ning’s? Then you’ve heard the court’s verdict.”

Xia Mian nodded.

“Huimei and Huizhu are with Xiao Feng. Go wash up first,” Xia Wenyue said, worried Xia Mian might lose control in front of the child. Just like Xia Mian, she didn’t want Xiao Feng to hear even a whisper about Zhang Qiming or Huang Xiaojuan again. Those two should disappear from his world forever!

Xia Mian was afraid she might not be able to hold back, so she went to the washroom.

Xia Wenyue followed her in. “Tomorrow I’ll prepare some joss paper. Take Xiao Feng to the street corner and burn it for your sister.”

With her face still covered by the towel, Xia Mian gave a soft “Mm” in reply.

Xia Wenyue wiped her eyes and went out. Xia Mian waited a little longer before returning to the east room.

Mao Huizhu and Xiao Feng were sitting on the bed playing checkers, while Mao Huimei sat nearby, lost in thought. The moment Xia Mian came in, Xiao Feng dropped the game and stood up, his voice tinged with unease. “Auntie!”

Xia Mian reached out and pulled him into her arms. For a moment, she felt like crying again, but having already let it out earlier, she managed to hold it back. “It’s okay, baby.”

Mao Huimei silently took her sister and left the room.

Xiao Feng’s small hand touched Xia Mian’s eyes. With his lips trembling and his voice on the verge of tears, he asked, “Auntie, what’s wrong?”

Xia Mian felt a bit helpless. This child was far too perceptive—any strong emotion was impossible to hide from him. She decided not to hide it at all; after all, Xia Chun was his mother, and he had the right to grieve for her.

“Auntie’s fine,” Xia Mian said. “Just missing your mom.”

“Mom…” Xiao Feng murmured, and in an instant, his eyes were brimming with tears.

Maybe this was the magic of mothers—though he couldn’t remember her at all, he still knew she was the person in the world who loved him most.

Xia Mian kissed his soft cheek, then took out Xia Chun’s stamp album and the few photos she had of her from a box. Holding the boy close under the covers, she began to reminisce about that gentle, earnest young woman:

“…These are all your mom’s favorite stamps. The house we live in now was bought with money from selling her stamps…”

“That’s right, your mom has always been protecting you.”

“This one is from when you were just born, your mom holding you. Yes, you were so, so tiny when you were born.”

“How tiny? Hmm… about small enough to fit into your granduncle’s shoe.”

Xiao Feng’s eyes widened in amazement, the little tuft of hair on top of his head springing straight up. Xia Mian couldn’t resist giving it a tug. Xiao Feng, as if being prompted, reached out to tug a small lock of hair on top of Xia Mian’s head. “Mom had one too.”

“Hm?” Xia Mian quickly leaned over, and Xiao Feng pointed to a short-haired photo of Xia Chun. “This one…”

“She really did!” Xia Mian exclaimed in surprise. “Xiao Feng, you’re amazing.”

Her own hair now fell past her shoulders, but when it had been shorter, a little tuft on top would always stick up, just like Xiao Feng’s. Every time he saw it, the boy would burst into laughter, and Xia Mian had never understood what was so funny.

After her hair grew longer, it wasn’t as obvious—only sticking up occasionally when she got out of bed. Whenever Xiao Feng spotted it, he would make her hold him up to the mirror so they could look together, and then laugh again, as if that alone could make his whole day.

Thinking about it now, it was probably proof of the deep bond between them.

Xia Mian thought for a moment, then got out of bed and used scissors to trim that tuft of hair short.

Sitting on the bed, Xiao Feng stared at the little lock sticking up from Xia Mian’s head, then touched his own and burst into giggles. “Same!”

Xia Mian climbed back into bed and hugged him. “That’s right—the same. Mom, Auntie, and Xiao Feng are all the same.”

“Mom is in the sky protecting you. Auntie is by your side protecting you. And Xiao Feng will grow up happy—okay?”

Xiao Feng wrapped his arms around her neck and murmured softly, “Okay.”

Author’s Note:

A question for Dr. Ning: “Why do you keep the children at your house?”

Dr. Ning: “Guess?”