Transmigrating into the Genius Cannon Fodder’s Aunt

Chapter 47.1 – Family Support (I)

Xiao Feng was still fixated on Ning Shaobai’s promise to take him to an auction to see antiques. However, being a well-behaved child, he never pestered or asked about it. Instead, every time he saw Ning Shaobai, he would gaze at him with hopeful, expectant eyes.

One day, Ning Shaobai came home from work and found Xiao Feng, Chenchen, and Mao Huizhu playing with mud at the doorway. The trio seemed to be building a stove and pretending to cook.

The moment Xiao Feng saw him, he immediately stood up, his large, grape-like eyes filled with anticipation. “Uncle Ning.”

Ning Shaobai sighed and shook his head. He picked up the little boy and swung him lightly. “You’re just like your Auntie—here to torment me, huh? Alright, we’ll go tomorrow!”

Xiao Feng’s eyes instantly curved into happy crescents.

Chenchen ran over when he saw this. “Uncle, me too, me too!”

Ning Shaobai frowned. “Dirty hands…” Despite his words, he ended up picking both Chenchen and Mao Huizhu up and giving them a swing before heading back inside.

By now, Xiao Feng and Chenchen were as inseparable as real brothers. If Xiao Feng was going, Chenchen wasn’t going to be left behind. The next day, Ning Shaobai drove them all—Ning Shaoyun and her son, Xia Mian and her nephew—to the auction.

Xiao Feng sat in Xia Mian’s lap, happily swaying back and forth. Chenchen imitated him, and the two children resembled two cheerful pendulums, making the three adults smile at the sight.

Xia Mian, however, was careful to manage Xiao Feng’s expectations. “Baby, today we’re just going to learn and see what antiques look like. The items at the auction are too expensive for us to buy.”

Xiao Feng nodded, unaffected in the slightest. He kept swaying his little body with a bright smile and said, “I know. We’re looking for bargains.”

Xia Mian: “…”

Both Ning Shaobai and Ning Shaoyun burst out laughing.

The auction was held at the Roman Imperial Hotel. By the time they arrived, a line of luxury cars had already filled the hotel’s parking lot. Following the valet’s instructions, Ning Shaobai parked the car, giving Xia Mian a strong sense of the opulence of the place.

Ning Shaobai led them into the hotel, where it was clear he had already paid a deposit. The manager quickly came over to give him a bidder’s badge. “By the way,” Ning Shaobai said, stopping the manager as he turned to leave. He extended his hand toward Xia Mian. “The stamps.”

Hurriedly, Xia Mian took out a black album holding the stamps and handed it to him. Ning Shaobai had specifically told her to bring them the day before, making it clear that the antiques were just a distraction for Xiao Feng—the stamps were the real reason for this visit.

Ning Shaobai handed the folder to the auction manager and said, “These are two stamps. Please have them appraised.”

The manager opened the album, his eyes lighting up immediately. Recently, stamp collecting has become a craze, with many prominent figures avidly hunting rare stamps. If these stamps could be auctioned here…

The manager enthusiastically replied, “I’ll invite an expert to appraise them right away. However, it’s too late to include them in this session. We’d need time for cataloging and promotion.”

“No rush,” Ning Shaobai said. “Just get an estimate for now. We’ll discuss the auction details later.”

After the manager left, Xia Mian asked curiously, “Are you planning to auction off the stamps here?”

Ning Shaobai nodded. “You want to exchange it for the courtyard, don’t you?”

“Then why get an estimate?” Xia Mian asked, but as she glanced at the people coming and going, she began to understand. Everyone attending the auction today was either wealthy or influential, with dedicated managers catering to them. Even for promotional purposes, once the auction house acquired new items, they’d notify their clients. This was the perfect place to spread targeted information.

Sure enough, as they waited in a private booth, Xia Mian overheard snippets of conversation mentioning ‘stamps,’ ‘Red Landscape of China,’ and ‘Red Revenue Overprint.’ Clearly, the news was spreading quickly, and it wouldn’t be long before stamp enthusiasts, including the Huo family, caught wind of it.

Xia Mian couldn’t help but wonder what kind of scheme Ning Shaobai was orchestrating. But the scattered clues made no sense to her, and thinking too much about it gave her a headache. She decided to give up. After all, the hidden big boss was in charge—she could just relax and follow along, reaping the benefits.

“If one stamp is enough to exchange for the courtyard, what about the other one? Are you planning to auction it?”

“Let’s keep it for now,” Xia Mian replied. “In the future, we can leave it to Xiao Feng to decide.”

Hearing his name, Xiao Feng raised his head. “Auntie?”

Xia Mian ruffled his fluffy tuft. “It’s nothing.”

But for Xiao Feng, it was something. He held up the auction catalog to show Xia Mian. “Auntie, antiques?”

Xia Mian chuckled, took the catalog, and flipped through it. She pointed out a few pages for him. “These vases, bottles, bowls, and plates are all antiques.”

Ning Shaobai, listening to her sum up antiques worth tens of thousands or even millions in such simple terms, was speechless, while Ning Shaoyun couldn’t hold back her laughter.

But Xiao Feng was unfazed. Having gotten his answer, he and Chenchen bent over a small table to study the catalog intently. The little guy even traced his short fingers over the images, as if trying to memorize them.

Xia Mian wiped her face helplessly and said, “Should I just sell the stamp and buy an antique to cure his obsession?”

Ning Shaoyun laughed. “Then you’d also have to buy a winning lottery ticket worth five million, a house ready for demolition compensation, and stocks that hit daily upper limits.”

Xia Mian sighed in despair. “I think I’ll just wait until he grows up and understands on his own.”

Suddenly, Chenchen pointed to a page in the catalog. “Mom’s painting!”

Xia Mian and Ning Shaoyun froze. Chenchen pushed the catalog toward Ning Shaoyun. “Mom, look.”

Ning Shaoyun paused and reached out. Sure enough, it was a painting she had spent two years working on.

She looked up at her brother, who seemed completely unsurprised, clearly having known about this all along.

Xia Mian just realized that the stamp issue was only one of the reasons for coming here today, and Ning Shaoyun’s painting was the highlight.

Ning Shaoyun’s eyes reddened. “Xiao Bai.”

Ning Shaobai patted her shoulder. “We’ll make sure you get it back.”

Xia Mian then realized that the stamps were only part of today’s plan. The real focus was Ning Shaoyun’s painting. Even so, she was stunned the moment she saw the photograph in the catalog. She had an inkling that Ning Shaoyun was a talented artist, but she hadn’t expected her work to be this breathtaking. Even as an amateur, Xia Mian could see the brilliance of the piece.

The painting depicted a towering tree battling a violent storm. Amidst the howling wind, branches snapped and leaves flew, as though the tree could fall at any moment. Yet its trunk stood steadfast, shielding a small, idyllic world behind it—a snug haven with a bear clinging to the bark, bright flowers, fresh grass, and a determined, fearless girl…

Xia Mian couldn’t articulate it well, but the contrast between darkness and light was palpable. It inspired a warm sense of hope, convincing viewers that no matter what, the tree would protect its sanctuary.

The painting’s title was Guardian.

And this was just a photograph in a catalog. The real painting must have been even more soul-stirring.

“Mom,” Chenchen nestled into Ning Shaoyun’s arms, using his small hand to wipe the tears from her eyes. “I’ll help you get it back, too.”

“Yes, mom knows.” Ning Shaoyun hugged him tightly and kissed his forehead.