The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 441: Chapter 432: I Am the Malicious Eldest Aunt (19)

Xu Daya’s behavior caught Mrs. Feng by surprise.

She glared at Xu Daya as if she wanted to beat her to death.

On the contrary, Xu Zhiyong looked at Xu Daya with a sense of relief.

”Daya, you are a good child. Since you are willing to stay, then stay. Take good care of your grandparents and your younger siblings for me.”

The Old Madam originally did not want to keep Xu Daya.

But Xu Daya knelt and wept so miserably, coupled with Anning quietly tugging at the Old Madam’s sleeve.

The Old Madam sighed: ”Alright, if you wish to stay, then you may.”

Xu Daya knocked her head on the ground to the Old Madam before getting up.

When she stood up, she felt a sense of relief wash over her.

After the division of the family, the old man invited some clan elders to stay for dinner.

The clan elders all declined.

The Xu Family was in chaos now, and there was a sick person at home, so they did not want to add to the trouble.

After seeing off the clan elders, the Old Madam asked Anning, ”Why did you keep that girl?”

Anning said softly, ”If we send everyone away, it would seem as if we can’t accommodate others. It’s better to keep one who is easy to care for. Firstly, it will reflect well on our reputation, and secondly, there’s always work to be done at home.”

The Old Madam thought about it and agreed.

She hadn’t cooked for so many years, and certainly couldn’t be expected to do household chores at her age.

Anning was capable, but the Old Madam couldn’t have her spinning around the stove all day.

She needed to earn money with her embroidery. If her hands became rough and she couldn’t earn money, the elderly and the young in this home would really struggle to survive.

Xu Zhiyong’s family would take a few more days to move out, so the Old Madam scolded Mrs. Feng to go cook.

Xu Daya entered Xu Er Ya’s room.

She pulled up a stool to sit, keeping her distance from Xu Er Ya, ”Er Ya, after you move out, keep an eye on mother. Don’t let her send money to Grandfather’s house again. Also, take care of yourself, look after father...”

Xu Er Ya displayed a face full of anger.

”I thought you were decent, but it turns out you had your own schemes. What, you can’t wait to curry favor with the main house? Pity, even if you manage to please them, what good will it do you? Maybe the Aunt and Old Madam will conspire to sell you off someday.”

Xu Daya was amused by the anger, ”Who gets sold is still uncertain.”

She really felt there was nothing worth discussing with Xu Er Ya.

Kind words don’t suit a rogue; what else could she do?

In fact, Xu Daya’s kneeling and begging the Old Madam to keep her was also for her own sake.

She now knew Mrs. Feng’s true nature.

Mrs. Feng appeared weak but was actually the most selfish and heartless of all, and her heart was only set on her natal family’s parents and brothers, putting her husband and children after them.

If Xu Daya followed with the separation, without the Old Madam to keep Mrs. Feng in check, who knows what she might do.

Then there was Xu Er Ya.

Xu Daya was terrified by Xu Er Ya’s coldness.

Xu Er Ya didn’t even care about the life or death of her own father, let alone her sister.

If anything were to happen in the future, Xu Er Ya would definitely push her to be the scapegoat.

Knowing she was not as cruel and ruthless as Xu Er Ya, Xu Daya had to stay in the main house to live a better life.

At least the Aunt was somewhat kind and righteous, and even if the grandparents were harsh on the surface, they had never truly harmed anyone.

Over the years, Old Madam often cursed them as financial burdens, but she never let her granddaughters go hungry or thought of selling any of them, unlike some families in the village who drowned or sold their daughters.

The next day, the old master called Xu Zhiqin back home to help rent two vacant houses in the village. He also helped clean them up, made some repairs, and after a few days, he moved Xu Zhiyong’s family of four in.

When leaving, the old master handed the silver over to Xu Zhiyong.

”Take it. Don’t give this money to your wife; keep it safe yourself.”

Xu Zhiyong nodded solemnly.

After his leg was broken this time, he had seen through Mrs. Feng’s true colors. The previous gentleness and tolerance were all an act. Mrs. Feng’s selfishness and stupidity had opened Xu Zhiyong’s eyes.

Xu Zhiyong, though an honest man, was not a fool.

He had never paid attention to domestic affairs before, focusing only on earning more money.

Later, when Mrs. Feng said that Old Madam took the money, Xu Zhiyong did not question it.

He thought it was proper to give it to the mother, fulfilling his duty as a filial son.

Now Xu Zhiyong had realized that Mrs. Feng had taken the money to her parents’ home, and Old Madam indeed had very little of it.

Xu Zhiyong nearly died this time, lying in bed unable to move. Not a single person from the Feng Family came to visit. They did not bring any items or silver, let alone ask if his illness was serious or if the family needed any help.

The Feng Family was his legitimate in-laws; by all accounts, they should have come to see him.

Yet, no one from his in-laws showed up, as if they were unaware of the incident.

Even the Wen Family old lord had sent five taels of silver upon hearing of his injury, and the Third Son’s Wife, Mrs. Li, although did not send money, brought half a basket of eggs to nourish him.

But there was not a hint of activity from his actual in-laws, and meanwhile, Mrs. Feng never complained and was always concerned about her parent’s well-being.

The behavior of Mrs. Feng truly left Xu Zhiyong with a chill in his heart.

And there was Xu Erya, that ungrateful wretch; every time he thought of his second daughter hiding money and not buying medicine for him, he felt like crying.

He was a man who loved his children, always bringing them gifts when returning from work and looked after Daya and Erya wholeheartedly, never expecting Erya to be so ungrateful and even... indifferent to his life or death.

Thinking of his wife and daughter’s actions made Xu Zhiyong want to cry. What sins had he committed to encounter such people?

After Xu Zhiyong’s family moved out, the house became much quieter.

Xu Daya was diligent with her hands and feet, getting up early every day to cook, tidy up the house, wash clothes, and even helped Anning take care of the children.

Old Madam did not overwork Xu Daya to death either.

Although she didn’t cook, she did some chores and, seeing Xu Daya’s diligence and good-heartedness, Old Madam softened for a moment and took out some long-hidden fabrics to make new clothes for Xu Daya, Lan, and Ying Ge’er each.

Once the second son’s family moved out, Anning began to use money to improve the household’s food situation.

The Grandfather and Old Madam, being the elders, had been quite good to her and the children over the years, and Anning felt the need to honor them.

The three children were growing and needed good food to avoid stunting their growth and development.

Besides, Anning herself was not one to suffer or skimp when it came to food.

She took out money to buy rice and meat and even taught Xu Daya some culinary skills when she had the chance.

Since Xu Daya had stayed at home, Anning felt responsible for her.

Life was not easy for women in this era, and Anning wanted to teach Xu Daya some skills for a stable life.

Xu Daya had no talent for embroidery, but she enjoyed cooking, so Anning taught her culinary skills.

Anning had been a chef, and no one could surpass her in culinary arts.

Even the most simple dishes could be made exquisitely delicious by her.

Under her personal guidance, and with Daya’s natural talent, it wasn’t long before Daya cooked dishes that were exceptionally delicious, earning endless praise from Old Madam and Grandfather.

Besides teaching Daya how to cook, Anning also encouraged her to practice writing in her free time.

She always believed that a woman’s horizons would broaden once she could read and write. Wanting Daya to live a better life, Anning taught her seriously.