The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 912: Chapter 890: Top Student in the 1980s 18

Over at the Zhang Family, they want to bring Xiangling back, and there’s also the matter of finding resources for Anning.

On the Xiao Family’s side, things aren’t quite peaceful.

Xiao Heizi and Sister Xu return home, and Xiangling is cooking.

Back then, Zhang Heping entrusted Xiangling to Sister Xu because Sister Xu had given birth to a boy about the same age as Xiangling. She was lactating, so Xiangling was handed to her.

After adopting Xiangling, Sister Xu claimed she and her eldest son Xiao Baohu were twins.

At that time, everywhere was rather chaotic. The Xiao Family faced troubles, and the whole family fled, except for Xiao Heizi’s house. The main branch of the Xiao family and the third branch all fled to this place and settled down.

Because during their flight Sister Xu injured herself, she didn’t have any more children for many years. She thought having a son and a daughter was good enough. Who would know that in her late thirties, she suddenly became pregnant and gave birth to another son on New Year’s Day, who was Xiao Yuan.

When Xiao Yuan was born, Xiao Baohu was already married, and Xiangling was also married.

Xiao Heizi was worried that his eldest son would be unhappy, so when Xiao Yuan turned one year old, he asked the village head to help separate the eldest son.

Currently, Xiao Baohu lives not far from Xiao Heizi’s house.

Xiao Baohu, just like Xiao Heizi, is honest and simple. His wife is also straightforward. Together, they rely on farmwork to make a living. Life isn’t wealthy, but they have enough to eat.

Xiao Baohu’s wife, Hu Yue, is fertile. After they got married, she gave birth to three sons and a daughter. Their eldest son is older than Xiao Yuan, the second son is a year younger than Xiao Yuan, the third son is eight, and their youngest daughter just learned to walk.

This time, Xiao Baohu’s eldest son Xiao Jian Country is playing in the courtyard with his sister Xiao Nana, and Xiangling talks with Xiao Jian Country while cooking.

”Your uncle says your studies are okay. Why did you stop studying? Studying is great. Don’t you want to do something in the future?”

Xiao Jian Country replied dully, ”I can’t continue studying. When I study, my head spins and my eyes blur. I just want to join the army in two years.”

Xiao Heizi happened to hear this: ”Joining the army is fine. The military can train people. I’ll help you find out how to enlist.”

Xiao Jian Country got excited: ”That would be great. Grandpa, you have to inquire for me thoroughly. I just want to be a soldier and defend the country.”

Sister Xu carried Xiao Nana into the house.

Xiangling finished cooking and originally wanted to keep Xiao Jian Country and Nana for a meal, but Xiao Jian Country insisted on taking Nana back home.

This child understood things, knowing that his grandfather’s family wasn’t affluent because they were financially supporting his uncle’s studies, so he rarely ate there.

Since he insisted on going back, Xiangling gave him two steamed buns to eat.

During dinner, Xiangling talked to Xiao Heizi: ”Dad, from now on, let’s send some food to little brother every now and then. I inquired with the children in our village who go to school with little brother, and they said little brother is not eating well at school, just dry biscuits with pickles.”

Xiao Heizi didn’t respond.

Sister Xu said, ”Sure, I will send your little brother some food another day.”

Xiangling paused and said, ”No, let me go. I am younger, more able to walk. In a few days, the weather will get colder, and if you go, you might catch a cold.”

As soon as she said this, Sister Xu started crying.

”Dad, what’s wrong with mom?”

Xiangling was startled: ”Mom, is Auntie bullying you again?”

Here they call Auntie as ’aunt.’ This Auntie is a clever and strong-willed person. Xiangling has known since her childhood that Auntie often bullied Sister Xu.

”No.”

Xiao Heizi said solemnly, ”Xiangling, I have something to tell you.”

Xiangling quickly sat upright: ”Dad, please tell me.”

Xiao Heizi took out his rolled dry tobacco and started smoking: ”Today your biological parents came looking for you.”

”Ah!” Xiangling sprang up abruptly, almost knocking her bowl onto the ground.

Sister Xu pulled Xiangling to sit down: ”Listen carefully, your parents looked for us back then. We just changed our place when our family fled. They couldn’t find us for all these years. Your mom has been looking for you for over thirty years. And finally, the other day when you delivered food to A Yuan, your mom saw you at the entrance of the First Middle School. You resemble her, and she recognized you at once. Later, she inquired about our residence and came looking for us.”

Xiangling trembled all over, not knowing what to feel.

She knew she wasn’t biologically part of the Xiao Family. But over the years, she grew up to her thirties without her biological parents showing up, and she thought they must have had other children and didn’t want her anymore. She also thought she would always be a daughter of the Xiao Family.

Unexpectedly, her biological parents came at this time.

They hadn’t abandoned her, they had been searching for her all along.

What should she do now?

Whether to leave or stay, Xiangling’s mind was in chaos.

If she stayed, she wouldn’t be fair to her biological parents. But if she left, she couldn’t bear to be apart from her adoptive parents.

Xiao Heizi coughed heavily, making a decision for Xiangling: ”Daughter, you have to leave, you have to go back with your biological parents. Your mom worked hard to give birth to you, it’s impossible not to care. They’ve been searching for you and suffering for so many years. If you don’t go back, your parents won’t be able to take it. Also, your parents are county officials, and their family conditions are much better than ours. You can live a good life there and also avoid village gossip.”

Sister Xu hurried to echo: ”I heard the Zhang Family hasn’t given up. Zhang Erzhu’s brothers still want to come and cause trouble. If you stay at home, you might suffer losses. You have to leave quickly. Don’t worry, we won’t abandon you. You’ll still be our daughter, and after this is over, you can come back anytime you want.”

Xiao Heizi added, ”Others have one set of parents, you have two. Acknowledging your biological parents means gaining two more loved ones. It’s a good thing for you.”

Sister Xu glared at Xiao Heizi: ”It’s not two, there are three loved ones. You have a sister there too. You used to tell me you wanted a sister when you were little. Now your wish has come true.”

Xiangling wanted to say something, but her throat was tight.

She understood what her parents said was correct. If she wanted to live a better life and be peaceful, recognizing her biological parents was the best choice.

But, she really couldn’t bear to leave her adoptive parents, nor her brothers.

Xiao Heizi understood Xiangling’s feelings.

He smoked half a cigarette silently: ”Pack your things... no need to pack, likely your parents will prepare new ones for you. Hurry and leave tomorrow. Let’s not tell anyone, lest Zhang Erzhu’s house finds out and causes trouble in the county. We’ll say you’ve gone out to look for a job. As for where you’ve gone, your mom and I don’t know.”

Xiangling nodded: ”I’ll listen to Dad.”

Things have come to this, if she stays at home, it would cause trouble for the family. It’s better to go with her biological parents. They are her birth parents, surely they wouldn’t treat her like an outsider.