The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 697: Chapter 784: Slapping the Transmigrator (Part 39)

After Xiao Family’s people had left, Lu Sanbao dragged his wife back home.

He slammed the door shut and slapped his wife across the face.

”You fool, I’ve told you to treat the Xiao Family nicely but you just wouldn’t listen. Now look, we’ve lost everything.”

Lu Sanbao’s family did not expect to be hit and started crying while covering her face: ”How is this my fault? We agreed to ask Eldest for things earlier, but you leaned toward Second and you knew it too. Didn’t we agree to save more money for Second and Third before the separation? Now that something has gone wrong, you push all the blame onto me.”

”That doesn’t mean you could go too far.”

Thinking of being threatened and having to allow Lu Gui and Xiao Daya to divorce, losing a money tree, it felt like Lu Sanbao was bleeding inside.

”Why are you arguing with me? If you dare, go quarrel with that young woman from the Xiao Family. Just a few words from her scared you into that state.”

Lu Sanbao’s family was not convinced and jumped up and down arguing with Lu Sanbao.

Seeing this scene, Lu Gui crouched on the ground covering his face and sobbed: ”Can you both stop fighting, please? My son is gone, my wife is gone, how am I supposed to live from now on...”

At this point, Lu Gui undoubtedly resented his parents.

If it weren’t for them, how would his good days have turned into this.

”You couldn’t keep your wife on your own, who are you blaming?”

Lu Sanbao’s family berated while hands on hips.

Lu Sanbao also cursed: ”Useless.”

The crying of Lu Gui became even worse.

While crying, he felt utterly lost about what to do next.

Anning sent Ms. Ping back home, and at that time, the servants had brought back Xiao Daya’s divorce papers.

Anning then personally made another trip to Yingtian Prefecture and went to the back office of the government to find Mrs. Qian.

Mrs. Qian and Anning’s deceased mother were close friends. When Anning was young, Mrs. Qian often held her and played with her and knew her very well.

Anning went there to ask Mrs. Qian to help with the identity papers for Xiao Xu.

Lu GouDan was lost, and henceforth renamed Xiao Xu; these identity papers needed to be redone.

Anning brought gifts and told Mrs. Qian everything: ”It’s not that we’re being unreasonable to press for a divorce for the eldest sister, but life just couldn’t go on. Eldest sister was willing to divorce herself, but if we let the child stay in the Lu family, his whole life would be ruined. We truly couldn’t bear it, so we took this chance to change the boy’s surname to Xiao, pretending he’s an adopted child of the eldest sister.”

Mrs. Qian naturally sided with Anning.

She was a decisive person, and even somewhat domineering. Mr. Qian had always been quite afraid of her. As soon as Mrs. Qian heard about the tough times Xiao Daya endured in Lu family, she immediately became angry: ”You should have handled this earlier. Since it’s not working out, you should have divorced sooner. Don’t listen to what people say nowadays, the nonsense about a woman being married for life, following wherever the husband goes; all of those are bullshit. Why should someone endure being beaten and scolded every day? No one deserves to suffer for a lifetime. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of this for you.”

Anning smiled and complimented Mrs. Qian a few times, had a meal at the Qian Family and then said goodbye.

Mrs. Qian was very efficient in handling affairs; she had the identity papers for Xiao Xu ready by the next day.

Xiao Daya was registered as a female head of household, and Xiao Xu was registered as her adopted son, taking his mother’s surname.

With the papers in hand, Anning felt completely relaxed.

From then on, there was no more Lu GouDan; even if the Lu family ever recognized the child, they couldn’t claim him, and there was nothing the Lu family could do.

Taking advantage of the season before the New Year, Anning and Ms. Ping went to the manor.

She delivered the identity papers to Xiao Daya and, in addition, discussed when to return home, meaning that Xiao Daya should bring the child home during the New Year.

Xiao Daya hesitated, ”Is this really possible? I... a married daughter staying at her parents’ house over New Year isn’t great; what if...”

Anning laughed immediately, ”What’s not great about it? As long as I don’t find it problematic, it’s fine. You are a daughter of the Xiao Family. Moreover, now that you’re divorced, where else would you go if not back to your maternal home? I don’t care about these things.”

Since Anning said she didn’t care, could Ms. Ping say she did care?

Regardless, Xiao Daya was her own flesh and blood; she was actually quite heartbroken.

”Alright, come back for New Year. After the New Year, stay at the manor. Let’s wait a few years for Xu’er to change and grow up, then we can discuss other matters.”

Xiao Daya hesitated for a while before agreeing.

Anning also sent some coal and food over to the manor, and then left with Ms. Ping.

Xiao Yuan spent several days in the Ministry of Industry, leaving home early and returning late each day in the harsh winter. He soon became noticeably thinner, which greatly distressed Ms. Ping.

Just when Old Geng finally left Xiao Yuan alone, he hurried back home, and stayed in for several days without going out.

However, he still remembered the affairs of the Ji Family. After hiding at home for a few days, he found time to investigate the potential suitors of the Ji sisters.

His investigations indeed uncovered some matters.

Looking at the thick file of information Xiao Yuan brought back, Anning’s face turned furious, ”Truly audacious, I have yet to settle accounts with him, yet he is continuously making subtle moves.”

Xiao Yuan quickly secured the documents, ”Alright, don’t get angry. I’ll handle this for you. Why bother getting upset over someone who isn’t clear-headed?”

Yet, Anning was still quite angry.

Xiao Yuan consoled her for a good while before she finally calmed down.

Anning knew that these were residual emotions from the original host.

It seemed that the original host had a good relationship with her sisters An Rou and An Yi; otherwise, she wouldn’t be this angry.

”I’ll go talk to my second aunt about this tomorrow.”

Anning gritted her teeth, ”This time, my uncle has to take a bite out of him.”

Xiao Yuan laughed, ”Even if the Ji Family doesn’t act, he’s not going to have an easy time.”

Thinking about the current chaotic situation in the Cui Family, Anning also laughed, ”That’s also true.”

Following a heavy snow, prices in the Capital had risen significantly. With such a large household, the Cui Family’s daily expenses for both masters and servants weren’t small.

Additionally, the Guan Group was not skilled in managing finances, turning everything into a mess even with Cui Yiran’s help. Otherwise, the shopkeepers in the Cui’s shops and the village chiefs in their manors could have devoured the Guan Group.

Now, as the New Year approached, everywhere demanded money.

The Cui Family was extravagant, especially the Old Madam, who demanded many different dishes every day, refusing to eat repeats. Moreover, the young masters and mistresses in the house were all very difficult to serve. The Guan Group was entangled in lawsuits every day, either being swindled by servants, dealing with quarrels among the young masters and mistresses, or conflicts between the masters and servants; she was busy running in circles all day.

It was tedious enough being busy, but with the need for money everywhere during New Year, where could the Guan Group come up with it?

Now, she deeply regretted her decision. Had she known this would happen, she would never have taken over this mess. Managing a home, handling finances, she would have been better off staying in her own small courtyard, taking care of her own affairs—how comfortable that would have been. Instead, she ended up not pleasing anyone, either inside or outside.

Cui Yiran also felt angry at the Guan Group, deeming her incompetent and incapable.

He thought again of Anning.

The book he read described Ji Anning as a rather formidable woman, one who managed the entire Cui Family well from top to bottom. The servants did not dare to deceive her, and she handled the relationships between different branches of the family smoothly. No matter how complicated the issue, once she was involved, she ensured everything was settled perfectly.

Thinking of Anning and then looking at the Guan Group, he indeed had regrets at this moment.

Had he known, he would have married Ji Anning into the family from the start. Once he had put the household in order and gained control of the Cui Family, if he truly found Ji Anning’s behavior unsuitable, he could simply exploit her vulnerabilities and let her fall ill and pass away; after all, Ji Anning’s dowry would then belong to him.