The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 911: Chapter 889: Top Student of the 1980s 17

”What did you say?”

Secretary An was startled. When she and Zhang Heping came, they hadn’t really inquired much about Xiangling’s situation. Once they found out Xiangling might be her daughter, they rushed over, without really knowing how the child was doing now.

Sister Xu told Secretary An all about the unscrupulous things done by Zhang Erzhu’s house: ”If the child hadn’t been desperate, she probably wouldn’t have wanted to trouble me and her dad by coming back to her maiden family. She was just worried about gossip spreading, afraid her uncles would put pressure on us. But we’ve raised this child for so many years, we’re not afraid of anything. Just thinking about how close she was to having suicidal thoughts, I just...”

Secretary An was trembling all over: ”It’s too much, too much.”

Zhang Heping also felt quite upset.

But he was more concerned about Secretary An.

He quickly grabbed Secretary An’s hand: ”Don’t get angry, let’s not react out of anger. The child is still waiting for us. She’s suffered these past few years, and we’ll make it up to her once we bring her back.”

Secretary An took a few deep breaths to suppress her inner anger.

She poured Sister Xu a glass of wine: ”Elder sister-in-law, let’s not say anything more. I thank you for raising Xiangling, I toast you.”

Sister Xu and Secretary An drank a glass of wine.

She said softly: ”It’s good that you’ve acknowledged the child, so she doesn’t always have to endure gossip in the village. Who knows, Zhang Erzhu’s family might come looking in a few days. Heizi and I lack the ability, and the child might have to suffer again...”

She said it like that, but this matter... just thinking about it was like a stab in the heart.

Xiao Heizi and Sister Xu may lack capability and be simple, but they truly loved the child sincerely, treating Xiangling like their own, having cherished her for over thirty years. Suddenly, to have her biological parents come claim her, it’s like having flesh cut from their heart.

Zhang Heping nodded: ”Well, here’s the plan, you go talk to the child properly, we’ll come again tomorrow. Big Brother, Elder Sister-in-law, we acknowledge the child, just treat her as both of ours in the future. She’ll keep in contact with both families, you can consider it as her marrying into another family, okay?”

”Okay.”

Xiao Heizi agreed.

He was considering more.

Xiangling had fallen out with Zhang Erzhu, and her reputation in the village wasn’t that great anymore. Staying at home, she wouldn’t be able to marry off. It’s better to go with her biological parents. In the county, her biological parents have better conditions, maybe they can find her a good job, a good suitor.

The four of them drank a few more glasses, chatted for a while, and then Zhang Heping and Secretary An left.

When they came, they were worried, but they left feeling a bit lighter.

When they got home, as soon as they entered the door, they smelled the aroma of food from the kitchen.

Zhang Heping quickly walked to the kitchen, and when he entered, he saw Anning cooking.

She had already fried cabbage and was stir-frying garlic sprouts with eggs.

”Dad, you’re back.”

Anning placed the dish onto a plate, smiling and greeting Zhang Heping: ”You and Mom go wash your hands first, we’ll eat in a bit.”

Seeing Anning’s smiling face, Zhang Heping also smiled: ”My daughter has worked hard, I’ll have to eat more later, the food my daughter makes always tastes great.”

Secretary An also smiled: ”Mom will wash her hands, we’ll have our meal soon. You must be hungry too, dear.”

Anning responded while setting the tableware.

After dinner, Anning asked Secretary An: ”Mom, did you acknowledge my sister?”

Secretary An patted Anning’s head: ”Not yet. We met with the folks from the Xiao Family. They’re quite understanding. They said they’d talk to your sister tonight, and we’ll go again tomorrow.”

”Then tonight let’s quickly prepare a room for my sister. Otherwise, when she comes back tomorrow, there won’t be a place for her to stay.”

Anning urged Secretary An: ”Why don’t you have me move to the back room, and give Xiangyang’s room to my sister.”

Secretary An chuckled: ”No need to worry about this. I’ll arrange another room for your sister. She’s grown; she won’t fight a little kid like you for a room. You focus on your homework and don’t worry about cleaning the room. Your dad and I will handle it.”

Anning didn’t press further and went inside to listen to English tapes.

Secretary An and Zhang Heping tidied up a guest room at the back. When Secretary An had bought bed linens and covers for Anning before, she had bought extra. Now with readily available supplies, they laid a thick quilt and changed the bed linens and covers. Zhang Heping commented, ”I remember the old Wang Family has a new dressing table, initially meant for their daughter-in-law, but then there was a fallout over the bride price. I’ll ask the Old Wang Family, see if we can buy it for our daughter.”

Secretary An then urged Zhang Heping to go ask.

Soon after, Zhang Heping and someone else brought a new dressing table into the house. After setting it up, Secretary An went to her room to get some newly bought facial cream and other skincare products.

After busying themselves for half a day, they finally had the room set up properly.

Secretary An then went to check on Anning. As soon as she entered the room, she heard Anning chattering away, following along with the English on the tape player.

Secretary An sat down and waited for a while. Once Anning finished reading, she asked, ”Can you understand this?”

Anning nodded: ”I can understand, English is just another language, much easier to learn than Chinese. Once you memorize the words and master the grammar, it’s much easier. It’s just that we don’t have any foreigners around here. If we did, and I could speak with them every day, it wouldn’t take long for me to become fluent.”

”Ha, my daughter really has some big ambitions.”

Secretary An smiled: ”Well, go ahead and study, Mom won’t disturb you.”

Anning quickly grabbed Secretary An: ”Mom, I want to discuss something with you.”

Secretary An sat down again: ”What’s the matter?”

Anning seemed a bit hesitant.

”Whatever you’re thinking, just tell Mom. Don’t overthink it,” Secretary An reassured.

Anning finally said: ”Mom, the knowledge in the first grade is really easy. I can learn it myself in no time. But, considering my age, I can’t skip a grade again. So I was thinking, after school, could I learn something else, maybe enroll in some interest class on Sundays? Otherwise, I’ll feel really bored.”

Secretary An hadn’t expected Anning to say this.

In her heart, she felt both joy and worry.

The joy was that Anning was so smart. She’s only seven, and she’s almost learned all the first-grade material. The worry was that the child was too bright, and the county’s educational resources couldn’t compare to the Provincial City. What if it hinders her development?

”How about...” Secretary An thought about suggesting going to the Provincial City, but considering Anning was too young and would need to board there for school, that was absolutely not an option.

”How about I ask around for good teachers?” Secretary An changed her approach last minute.

”Please look carefully, Mom. I want to learn painting. I also want to learn a few foreign languages. We have a tape recorder; if you could buy me some language tapes, I could learn on my own.”

Anning said with a smile, then turned back to continue listening to English.

Secretary An listened for a while, but she couldn’t understand what was being said, so she went to discuss it with Zhang Heping.

This matter really troubled the couple.

Finding a painting teacher for Anning was doable since there were art teachers in the county. But finding materials for other languages besides English was difficult.

In the county, there weren’t any tapes for languages other than English, let alone books.

Zhang Heping thought for a moment and said, ”It’s a good thing the child wants to learn, and as parents, we should support her. This is our daughter. Even if she didn’t want to learn, it’s fine, but since she does, we have to make sure she can. Tomorrow, we’ll bring Xiangling back, and then call our friends in the Capital. Ask them to help buy foreign language books and tapes and get a variety.”

That’s feasible too, Secretary An thought; for now, this was the only plan.