Chapter 3: Don't Be Afraid, Big Sister Is Here to Save You

The streets of the capital city were bustling with activity, filled with a constant stream of carriages and pedestrians. The cries of street vendors were endless, and people dressed in all manner of attire wove through the crowds.

Northern Li was a nation that placed great importance on commerce. In the capital, one could find vendors selling specialty goods from various countries; even in the heart of the empire, foreigners were a common sight.

Granny Si had brought Ye Qianning all the way from Nanyuan, and they had experienced quite a lot along the way.

Every day had been spent on the road, and even when they passed through towns, they had never stopped to look around. Now, seeing such a prosperous scene, they were somewhat dazzled.

"Fatty, look, that’s something from our Nanyuan," Granny Si said, passing a small stall and pointing to the love knots on display.

Ye Qianning had been preoccupied with thoughts of doing good deeds, but upon hearing the call, she looked up at the stall. The flowers woven from red string were unique to Nanyuan.

"Granny Si, let's buy one," she said, tilting her head.

The love knot represented longing, and Granny Si still had parents back home.

"No need. When we return to Nanyuan, Granny will make you dozens of them." She couldn't bear to spend money on such unnecessary things.

Ye Qianning nodded.

Granny Si would eventually return to Nanyuan. Once she met her deadbeat father, perhaps she could go to Nanyuan as well; in her memories, it seemed like a good place.

Granny Si took Ye Qianning’s hand and walked into the flow of people.

Ye Qianning looked left and right. The street was peaceful, which made her somewhat troubled.

Where were the scenes of bullies and forced abductions she saw on TV? Suddenly, her ears twitched. She turned to look at a small alley not far away—her "blessing points" had arrived!

Ye Qianning pulled Granny Si out of the crowd and whispered, "Granny Si, I need to use the latrine."

"Let's go. I think I saw a small alley just now," Granny Si said, looking around.

"I know, it's right behind us. Granny, you wait here for me," Ye Qianning said, pointing her small hand casually toward the back.

"I’d better go with you. There are too many people here; don't get lost," Granny Si said, worried.

"No need, I can do it myself. Granny, I’m going, I can't hold it anymore!" Ye Qianning hopped on her feet, let go of her hand, and scurried toward the alley in a rush.

Granny Si trotted after her, calling out, "Slow down... slow down."

Ye Qianning vanished in a flash. She wove through the crowd and truly arrived at a small alley. There was no one in the alley, and the most conspicuous sight was a child huddled against the wall, trembling in fear.

Opposite the child was a snake with red and black patterns. This type of snake was non-venomous and often lurked in dilapidated houses; it was commonly known as a "house snake."

From far away, she had already heard the snake’s resentful voice.

"Scare you to death, scare you to death, let you mess with my nest..." The snake hissed at the child.

The child was too terrified to even move.

Ye Qianning saw her chance—a good deed was at hand.

And so, she shouted loudly, "Little brother, don't be afraid! Big sister is here to save you!"

As her voice fell, Ye Qianning’s hefty little body leaped into the air, and her chubby hands grabbed the snake.

Under the child's shocked gaze, she grabbed the snake's head with one hand and its tail with the other, deftly performing a set of nunchuck moves before finishing with a grand split.

Ye Qianning was very confident. She was sure that this display would leave the child completely mesmerized.

However...

Things did not go as planned...

"Waaaah..." The child burst into tears, feeling that Ye Qianning was even scarier than the snake.

"...What are you crying for?"

Ye Qianning was speechless. She stood up from the ground, releasing the snake's head with one hand, but her other hand didn't stay idle; she swung the snake by its tail in circles.

"Waaaah... Mother... help me, Mother..." The child scrambled to his feet and ran, stumbling and crawling, never stopping even after tripping.

"Why are you running?" Ye Qianning refused to give up and chased after him. "Don't run, I'm a good person..."