The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 430: Chapter 421: I Am the Malicious Eldest Aunt (Part 8)

Xu Erya brought the gold home, and as soon as she sat down inside the house, she began to ponder how to get Old Madam to agree to the family division.

She thought over and over until she finally came up with a plan.

Although the plan was somewhat unsavory and would cause Xu Zhiyong to suffer a little, it would ultimately enable a smooth family division and also let the villagers see the true colors of Old Madam and the Eldest branch.

At this time, Anning was talking with Old Madam.

”Mother, let’s wait a little longer before we talk about dividing the family. Just yesterday, I had a quarrel with my sister-in-law. If we talk about division now, the Second and Third branches will inevitably think that I instigated this, and they might get angry at me.”

Old Madam thought that what Anning said made sense, so she nodded: ”Alright, Mother will listen to you.”

Only then did Anning smile and pick up her embroidery work.

Old Madam leaned over to look and saw Anning embroidering a pair of mandarin ducks playing in the water. The ducks she stitched were vivid and lifelike, the embroidered lotus leaves and flowers looked just like real ones, ready to flutter in the wind. Old Madam had lived for so many years but had never seen such bright and vivid embroidery work.

”Your skills are improving more and more.”

As she embroidered, Anning replied: ”I embroider every day, naturally there’s some progress. This is a coverlet I’m stitching for Mr. Qu’s legitimate daughter in town, I heard Miss Qu is marrying the son of the county magistrate.”

”Then you must embroider it well.”

Old Madam instructed before leaving.

Anning embroidered for a while longer, then rubbed her neck and moved around in the courtyard.

Anning thought about moving to live in town with the two elders and the children after the family division.

The original body had saved some money over the past few years, and together with her dowry, it would be enough to buy a small house in town. However, the future life would require money, sending the kids to school would require money, and social relations would require money; if she bought a house and had no money left in hand, life would indeed be difficult.

So, Anning was thinking of saving up another sum.

She had many ways to get money immediately.

But since the original body lived in the same courtyard with Old Madam, and Old Madam was such a shrewd person, she probably had some idea of how much money the original body had on hand.

Moreover, whatever skills the original body had, Old Madam was clear about them. If Anning did too much, it would inevitably arouse suspicion.

Therefore, Anning could only use the skills of the original body to make money.

And the most outstanding skill of the original body was her embroidery.

Anning thought about using this opportunity to do embroidery work for Mr. Qu’s family to establish her reputation, and then find a way to take on another large piece of embroidery work. It would be a bit of a hassle, but with one piece of embroidery, she could earn several years’ worth of expenses.

While Anning was considering how to make money, she saw Xu Erya sneakily going out.

Anning chuckled and called out for An Xin: ”You go keep an eye on Xu Erya, see what she’s up to.”

An Xin didn’t take long to return fuming.

When she came back, Anning was continuing her embroidery.

”What’s wrong?”

Anning saw that An Xin was angry and quickly stopped her work to ask.

An Xin angrily said: ”That Xu Erya is no good, she found the village’s Lai Zi and paid him to break Xu Laoer’s leg.”

Anning raised her eyebrows: ”Why are you angry about that? It’s ultimately their family’s business; if they turn their household upside down, what does it have to do with us?”

”I just think this person is too malicious; just for the sake of dividing the family, she could break her own father’s leg. Who knows what else she might do in the future.”

An Xin was particularly angry, her cheeks puffing up.

Anning poked her: ”You keep watching her, see who she’s in contact with, what she’s said, and try to get some evidence.”

”Alright.”

An Xin agreed before continuing to keep watch on Xu Erya.

Anning was exceptionally focused on her embroidery work.

After eating lunch, Anning rested with the two children for a while; in the afternoon, she let the children practice writing while she watched.

Xu Erya stood on the porch, watching the mother and her two sons from the Eldest branch getting along so well. Then, she looked at Brother Ying practicing his calligraphy with copybooks; her gaze flickered, suppressing the jealousy in her eyes.

Anning saw Xu Erya but didn’t say anything and instead went into the house to get some dried fruits for Brother Ying and Lan to eat.

Xu Erya felt even more uncomfortable.

She heard Anning gently stroking Lan’s head and whispering, ”Lan, you’ve been so good these past few days. How about after Mama finishes this embroidery work and exchanges it for money, I make you a new dress?”

”I want a hair ornament too.”

Lan loved looking pretty and was especially fond of clothes and jewelry.

Anning smiled and agreed.

Xu Erya recalled her mother mentioning that the main house had recently taken on an important embroidery job, one that, if well done, could earn a large sum of money.

She gritted her teeth, resentfully thinking how could Heaven lack eyes to such an extent that such a wicked woman would have such skilled embroidery work?

Looking at the embroidery frame set up in Anning’s room, an idea flashed across Xu Erya’s mind.

During dinner, Anning brought the two children to the main house. She observed everyone in the room and noticed that Xu Erya was the only one missing.

After making sure Lan and Ying Ge’er were seated properly and serving Old Madam her meal, Anning was about to sit down and eat when her body suddenly lurched, and her hand trembled, spilling soup onto her skirt.

”Are you okay?”

Old Madam hurriedly asked.

Anning shook her head: ”I’m fine, the soup wasn’t too hot. It’s just my clothes are dirty now, I’ll go back to my room and change.”

She rose to her feet, paid her respects to Old Madam, then left the main house.

”Eldest Son’s Wife must be exhausted.”

Old Madam commented, then glanced at her husband and began eating again.

After leaving the main house, Anning deliberately lightened her footsteps.

She quietly pushed open the door of the east side room and saw Xu Erya holding a candle, standing before the embroidery frame.

”What are you doing?”

Anning quickly approached and grabbed Xu Erya’s wrist: ”Why aren’t you dining in the main house? What are you doing in my room?”

She looked down and noticed a corner of the embroidery fabric had been stained.

”You want to ruin my embroidery work?”

A sharp glint appeared in Anning’s eyes as she glared at Xu Erya unfavorably.

Xu Erya’s hands flailed in panic, causing the candle to drop.

If that candle fell onto the embroidery, it would surely burn the fabric to ashes.

A smug look momentarily crossed her face.

But then she saw Anning reach out, deftly caught the candle, flicked it, and tossed it onto the ground.

”What, now you also want to burn my embroidery?”

Anning’s grip tightened, causing Xu Erya’s wrist to ache with pain.

”I didn’t, it was an accident,” Xu Erya denied any intention of sabotage, refusing to admit her motives.

”Then why did you come to my room? Were you trying to steal something?”

”I didn’t, I just saw the embroidery work that Aunt was doing and it was so good, I just wanted to come and take a look.”

Xu Erya clenched her teeth, wracking her brains for an explanation.

Anning didn’t give her any time, pulling her straight out of the room.

”Xu Laoer, Mrs. Feng, take a look at the fine young lady you’ve raised.”

Anning dragged Xu Erya into the main house and shoved her onto the floor.

Everyone in the room eating was taken aback.

”What is this all about?”

Old Madam’s face darkened with a serious tone, as she put down her bowl and asked.

Mrs. Feng let out a startled cry and ran over to help Xu Erya up.

”What could it be? Erya took the opportunity while we were dining to try and burn my embroidery work in my room. Fortunately, I got there in time. Otherwise, how could I explain to Mr. Qu? If the job was ruined, causing Miss Qu to be shamed at her wedding, our entire family’s lives wouldn’t be enough to compensate.”