The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 460: Chapter 451: I Am the Vicious Eldest Aunt (38)

Xu Erya rescued a young master whose family name was Lu, and his name was Lu Ze.

The Lu Family was a well-known noble family in the Capital. By the generation of Lu Ze, there was only this one legitimate son. Within the Lu Family, Lu Ze naturally got whatever he wanted, and was spoiled to the point of being quite domineering.

This time, the Lu Family returned to their hometown to pay homage to their ancestors, and Lu Ze, as the only male descendant, also followed.

Then, this little tyrant felt bored at home and arranged to go out with a few young masters he got to know here. Just so happened, he spooked a horse, and coincidentally, Xu Erya saved him.

Although Lu Ze was willful, he was not a bad person.

He knew that Xu Erya had saved him, and seeing how pitiful Xu Erya was, he brought her back with him.

Following Lu Ze, Xu Erya went to the Lu Family, and naturally, she had to meet the mistress of the Lu Family.

After being cleaned up and dressed in new clothes by the maids, she was led in to meet Mrs. Lu.

Mrs. Lu was the typical ancient aristocratic lady.

She had a face that was deemed auspicious for her husband, round with a bit of a double chin, looking very fortunate at first glance.

Her attire was luxurious, and she appeared very dignified sitting there.

”What is your name?”

Mrs. Lu asked Xu Erya.

Xu Erya naturally wouldn’t disclose her old-fashioned name, so she gave herself a new name, ”Replying to Madam, my name is Xu Fangfei, taken from the poem: ’The plants know spring’s return is nigh; a myriad flowers in beauty vie.’”

Mrs. Lu didn’t read much, so she only thought the poem Xu Erya recited sounded pleasant, but did not know where it came from.

She nodded, ”The name sounds nice. Since you saved my son, then...”

Mrs. Lu intended to give Xu Erya some Silver.

Suddenly, Xu Erya knelt down: ”Madam, I have no home to return to, I beg Madam to take me in. I do not ask for a luxurious life, I just seek a place to shelter, just a roof over my head would suffice.”

Mrs. Lu was taken aback.

Xu Erya’s name and the poem she recited repeatedly suggested that this girl came from no mean origins, yet unexpectedly, she turned out to be a poor girl without a home.

”What... exactly happened to you?”

Mrs. Lu asked.

Kneeling there, Xu Erya cried and said, ”Our family was also a scholarly noble family, where not only boys but also girls were expected to study and be literate. My father was the second eldest at home and was honest and upright...”

Xu Erya fabricated a story.

Of course, she did not reveal her true background.

If she told Mrs. Lu that she was just a poor farm girl, Mrs. Lu would certainly look down on her.

So she embroidered her family background for the better and then described her family as exceptionally pitiable. She portrayed the first and third branches as extremely vindictive, as if they had joined forces to oppress the second branch, making her entire family suffocate under their pressure. She herself was deeply affected. Later on, her father was killed by the first branch, her mother was sold, and her sister, because she was particularly beautiful, was taken in by the first branch, likely to be used for their gain. Her naive sister didn’t realize the first branch’s malicious intent and was even grateful to them. Although she had seen through their cruelty and had advised her sister, her sister refused to listen and ended up selling her.

Xu Erya cried, ”I never imagined she would be so foolish. I originally cherished our sisterly bond and didn’t want her to be sold and profit from it. But then she told my aunt, who, unable to contain her anger, conspired with the servants behind my grandparents’ back to sell me to a shameful place. I had self-taught some medical knowledge and knew a bit about herbs. I secretly made some medicine for that servant to consume, and I escaped while he was unconscious.”

Mrs. Lu, hearing how distressed Xu Erya was, felt even more compassion for her.

She too had been bullied and trapped by her sisters-in-law in earlier years; she had several daughters before finally giving birth to Lu Ze. Before the birth of Lu Ze, she and her daughters were in a pitiable state, their lives miserable as if soaked in bitter water. She could very well empathize with Xu Erya’s feelings.

”Poor thing, you have it quite tough, girl. What are your plans for the future?”

After some thought, Xu Erya wiped her tears, ”There’s no going back to my family. My grandparents trust my aunt completely and won’t believe a word I say. Besides, as just a girl, I am not valued. Even if I returned, there’s no guarantee I wouldn’t be harmed again. So, I was thinking...”

She kowtowed to Mrs. Lu again: ”I beg Madam to take me in. I am willing to be a little maidservant by your side. I will serve you well.”

Mrs. Lu was somewhat moved.

”You saved my son; I can’t just let you be a servant in our house. How about this, you can follow me and be called a maid outwardly, but you don’t have to sign a contract of servitude. How does that sound?”

Xu Erya naturally agreed.

She kowtowed to Mrs. Lu again: ”I truly cannot repay your immense kindness and favor. Rest assured, I will serve you well.”

Mrs. Lu called for a maid to take Xu Erya out, arranged a room for her to live in, and also rewarded her with clothes for all four seasons and some jewelry.

Having wandered for so long, Xu Erya finally settled down.

Wearing soft silk dresses and sporting jewelry on her head, she ate delicious food and felt that life was incredibly good.

If it had been before her time travel, Xu Erya might not have thought so.

But having suffered in the Xu Family, where she could not eat her fill or dress warmly, and had to endure beatings and scolding, she naturally grew greedy for this better life.

She wanted to live this good life forever, and even better than it is now.

Moreover, during her time of wandering, Xu Erya saw the warmth and coldness of humanity and gained some understanding of ancient social customs.

She realized how naive her previous thoughts had been.

Thinking of making a fortune with spiritual spring water after dividing the family property was simply a pipe dream.

A young girl like her, with no capability to protect herself, dreamt of using spiritual spring water to grow precious plants, brew fine liquor, and even had the idea of producing glass and raising pearls.

Back then, her only thought was to make money quickly, without realizing that if she truly succeeded, it would be like a three-year-old child walking through a crowded market with a gold brick—she might lose her life carelessly.

If she understood that, her ambitions disappeared without a trace.

She wanted to tightly grasp the happiness before her, save up a little money through small ventures, marry a man with a title, or simply stay with the Lu Family.

From then on, Xu Erya restrained her assertive nature and served Mrs. Lu very carefully.

With her varied experiences, she naturally had insights that ancient housewives could not compare with.

Coupled with Xu Erya’s eloquence and ability to make novel trinkets, it did not take long for her to become especially favored by Mrs. Lu, even the grandmas and head maids of the Lu Family.

Anning was unaware of what Xu Erya had gone through.

After the first day of the New Year, the old master changed Gousheng’s name, following the siblings Min Ruo’s lead, to Min Chang.

On the second day of the New Year, which was the day to visit the maternal home, Anning got up early, dressed the two children, and after getting ready, took them to the main house for breakfast.

When she arrived, Xu Minruo and Zhou Yu’er had already come over.

Even Xu Minchang, who had just changed his name, was chatting with the Old Master.

Anning smiled and let the children greet the Old Master and Old Madam.

Liu Chunmei helped Liu Bao’s family set up the meal, and Xu Minruo lent a hand. During the meal, Xu Minruo suddenly said, ”Grandma, I don’t want to go to my grandmother’s home. Can I stay here and keep you company?”

Old Madam was startled and was about to say something when Xu Minruo added, ”Yesterday, my father and mother had an argument. If I go to my grandmother’s home, I’m sure to face a sour expression, and I might even get angry. My mother was still angry with me yesterday, who knows if she’s going to hit me at my grandmother’s home today.”

Old Madam thought about it and realized it made sense. She had seen Mrs. Feng beating Xu Minruo yesterday; that was not disciplining a daughter, but like hitting an enemy, almost as if she wanted to beat Min Ruo to death.

Thinking of Mrs. Feng’s foolishness and lack of distinction, Old Madam said, ”If you don’t want to go, then don’t. Stay here and take care of your aunt.”

”Mmm, thank you, Grandma.”

Xu Minruo, upon hearing she didn’t have to go to the Feng Family, immediately smiled like a blossoming flower.

After breakfast, when Anning was about to return to the Wen Family, Mrs. Feng arrived. She came to take Xu Minruo and Xu Minchang back to her maternal home.

However, this time it wasn’t just Xu Minruo who was unwilling to go; even Xu Minchang didn’t want to go.