The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 543: Chapter 534: The Stepmother Who Refuses to Be a Stepping Stone 22

Anning specially asked Li Jingyu to invite Li Baolai and Zhang Fengfeng over when she was steaming rice cakes and frying meatballs the next day.

After Zhang Fengfeng arrived, she asked Anning, ”Why did you think of stewing meat and frying meatballs today?”

Li Baolai also asked Li Zhifang, ”Haven’t you sold all the vegetables from your greenhouse yet? Why take a break now?”

As Anning was washing the big red dates needed for the steamed cakes, she smiled and said, ”It’s because the children got good grades on their exams, so I thought of rewarding them.”

After washing the red dates, she steamed them: ”Our Liu Qi, Liu Ming, and Jing Yan all scored two hundred points, and even Jingyu scored over ninety points. The kids have also worked hard studying, and now that New Year is approaching, we should definitely nourish them well.”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Fengfeng was especially happy, ”That’s great news, wow, they all scored a hundred points, I really didn’t expect that.”

While she spoke, she asked Jing Yan and the others to bring their test papers for her to see.

Looking at the papers, marked boldly in red ink with hundred points, Zhang Fengfeng was thrilled.

Even Li Baolai was extremely happy, repeatedly saying, ”Good, good, everyone eat more meat later to nourish your brains.”

Suddenly, Zhang Fengfeng remembered something, ”Ningning, I heard from your Third Sister-in-law that eating walnuts is good for the brain, and we happen to have some at home. Later, let Zhifang come back with me to get some for the children. It’s rare for our family to have such good students, and we should let the children eat and drink well. I’m counting on them to go to university and bring honor to our family in the future.”

”Okay.”

Anning readily agreed.

She and Zhang Fengfeng steamed the cakes and stewed the meat, then they started frying the meatballs.

Smelling the delicious aroma, the kids were incredibly eager, circling around the stove.

Zhang Fengfeng, laughing non-stop, gave the first batch of meatballs to the six kids to eat on the side.

While Anning and Zhang Fengfeng were frying the second batch of meatballs, Li Zhifang came over and said, ”Anning, I want to discuss something with you.”

As Anning squeezed meatballs into the pot, she asked, ”What is it?”

Li Zhifang hesitated for a moment: ”I’ve been thinking of buying a television.”

Zhang Fengfeng was adding firewood when she heard this and paused briefly.

Anning also stopped her activity, ”Why are you suddenly thinking of buying a television?”

Li Zhifang explained: ”Just the other day, I saw that other villages also had families buying televisions. In the cold winter, they can watch TV dramas every evening, so I thought since we’re not short of money, why not buy one as well?”

Anning put the basin aside, turned around, and faced Li Zhifang, ”If you mentioned buying other things like clothes, shoes, or food, I wouldn’t object, but buying a television is absolutely out of the question.”

Observing Anning a bit annoyed, Zhang Fengfeng quickly told Li Zhifang, ”Let’s drop the television matter, we barely have two coins to rub together and yet it’s burning a hole in your pocket, what are you showing off for?”

Seeing that Li Zhifang seemed embarrassed, Anning softened her tone: ”It’s not that I don’t want you to watch TV or buy one, or that I’m hoarding money unwilling to spend it. But you also need to consider our family situation. We have six children. Four are already in school, and in another two years, the other two will start school too. They are all students, and should prioritize their studies. If you buy a TV, aren’t you intentionally tempting the children to come home and watch TV instead of studying?”

Li Zhifang hadn’t thought of this reason before.

He originally thought Anning was saving money by not spending, or just being a miser, wanting to be frugal.

But he didn’t expect that Anning’s reason for not buying a TV was for the children.

Anning’s voice softened a bit more, ”There’s still no TV in our village. If you suddenly bring one home, everyone will run to our house to watch TV like watching a Western scene, every day. With so many people coming, you can’t say no to them watching, and who knows until what time they will stay up at night huddling in our house without going back. Could we even shoo them away? It’ll just cause trouble. More so, not only will the electricity fees be spent, we’ll also need to provide tea for everyone. The kids won’t be able to study quietly. Think about it, is it worth it?”

Anning really woke up the dreamer with her words.

Li Zhifang had seen TV and really wanted to buy one, he just wanted it for watching, not thinking about what would happen after buying the TV.

But Anning considered everything thoroughly and laid it out for him one by one.

He thought for a bit: ”Then let’s not buy it. The children’s studies are more important.”

He didn’t think that having everyone crowded over to watch TV was a bad thing, but in his heart, the children still held the main place.

At this moment, Zhang Fengfeng also came to her senses, and suddenly laughed, ”Ningning is really insightful. Buying a TV not only costs money but also brings trouble to our own home. Let’s not buy it.”

Convinced by Anning, Li Zhifang then turned with Zhang Fengfeng to fry meatballs, this time giving Li Zhifang and Li Baolai each more than half a bowl to enjoy as a side dish while drinking.

After having a meal at Anning’s place, Zhang Fengfeng happily walked back home.

On her way back, she met several Old Madams out for a stroll.

Seeing her smiling face, they came over to chat: ”Where have you been?”

The joy in Zhang Fengfeng’s eyes couldn’t be concealed, ”You know, the Fourth Family was steaming cakes and frying meatballs, and they invited me and his father to dine over. Ah, you wouldn’t know how good the fourth son’s wife is, she treats me and his father so well, even buying us new clothes for the New Year. Anything delicious at home, she remembers us old folks, even with frying meatballs she kept us in mind. You tell me, we’re old and can’t eat much, what matters is her thoughtfulness, this child is truly sincere.”

Anning’s reputation in the village was already good, after marrying into the Li family she treated Li family’s children well and was diligent and proper in behavior. Both the elderly and the young had a very good impression of her.

Now, Zhang Fengfeng praised Anning, the few Old Madams listened and joined in the praise: ”Your fourth son’s wife is really good, always smiling upon entering and exiting, always warmly greeting us as ’aunt’ and ’uncle’, and always willing to lend a hand with other people’s troubles. Most importantly, she truly treats your fourth son’s three kids well. Such a daughter-in-law is hard to find even with a lantern; you’re indeed fortunate.”

Zhang Fengfeng was even happier listening to this: ”Isn’t it just so? You all don’t know, ever since those four kids started school, to help them with homework, the fourth son’s wife, who couldn’t read a single character, actually started learning to read and write. Now, she’s self-studied up to a fourth-grade level. She’s so dedicated. When adults strive to learn, children also learn exceptionally well. This time during exams, my three grandchildren all scored full marks, even Jingyu scored more than ninety in each subject. You see, isn’t my family truly blessed?”

”Ah, it truly is. Anning is beyond reproach, even a real mother might not do as much for her children.”

”Yes, since she’s so good to your children, you should tell them to remember to show gratitude to her in the future.”

Zhang Fengfeng cheerfully said, ”That’s a given. My three children aren’t ungrateful, they know who’s good to them, and they will certainly treat Anning well in the future.”

With Zhang Fengfeng’s enthusiastic campaigning, Anning’s reputation in Li Jiazhuang became even better.

Anning, hearing those words, pretended not to hear them and continued doing her own things just as always, working diligently and sincerely. When meeting others, she spoke warmly, interacting with people carefully and thoughtfully, treating Zhang Fengfeng and Li Bao as if they were her own parents.

Before the New Year, Zhang Fengfeng fell ill, possibly because she caught a chill attending a funeral in Shanqian Village, she fell sick a few days after returning. Anning then went to take care of her, cooking and washing clothes for her every day, feeding her medicine and cleaning her body, and fearing she might be bored lying in bed, would keep her company talking and telling her stories.

Zhang Fengfeng had given birth to seven sons in her lifetime, never having a daughter, and never knowing a daughter’s care.

Although the other daughters-in-law were also good and respectful towards her, none were as meticulous and thoughtful as Anning, nor as caring.

After Zhang Fengfeng recovered, she pulled Anning into a big cry together, and from then on, truly treated her as her own daughter.