The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 926: Chapter 904: Top Student in the 1980s 32

On the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, the Xiao Family had completed all the gift boxes ordered by various factories, finished the custom small tasks, settled the debts for buying flour, sugar, and oil outside, and cleaned up the house. Finally, things quieted down.

Xiangling didn’t need to go to the Xiao Family to help anymore; instead, she stayed home to prepare New Year’s goods.

In previous years, Zhang Heping and Secretary An spent the New Year together in a cold, quiet house. Secretary An didn’t know much about cooking, and Zhang Shuping was not familiar with the northern New Year dishes, so their celebrations were particularly simple.

This year was different. With Anning in the house and having reconnected with Xiangling, the home became lively.

Anning had been on holiday since the twenty-third. She couldn’t stay indoors and went out to play every day.

Secretary An didn’t plan to keep Anning at home. Children, after all, are naturally innocent, lively, and love to play.

Moreover, Anning did not neglect her studies.

She topped her class in the final exams; except for losing one point in her essay, she scored full marks in all other subjects. Her grades were the best not just in the county but in the city and province as well.

When Anning brought her report card home for her parents to sign, Zhang Heping and Secretary An were overjoyed.

In his happiness, Secretary An gave Anning US$ 10 to buy something to eat.

Xiangling was also delighted.

In the Xiao Family, her brother excelled in studies, scoring full marks; returning home, her sister was also doing well. This filled Xiangling with pride.

She had money in hand and also gave Anning US$ 10 to buy candies.

Anning ran out holding the ”huge sum” of US$ 20 to play with her friends, acting like a little fairy.

Xiangling stayed home making food.

She steamed two batches of buns and also made flower rolls, bean paste buns, and sugar triangles, spending the whole day of the twenty-fifth making dough-based foods.

On the twenty-sixth, Xiangling started steaming rice cakes early in the morning.

Within one morning, Xiangling had steamed two batches of rice cakes.

At noon, the family didn’t prepare anything else for meals; they just ate rice cakes.

On the twenty-seventh, Xiangling began cooking meat and frying meatballs.

That day, the smell of meat and oil filled the house, and Anning couldn’t be bothered to go out and play; she followed Xiangling around the kitchen.

While Xiangling cooked the meat, Anning watched the fire; when Xiangling fried the meatballs, she occasionally stole a small one to eat.

Xiangling pretended not to notice, then began frying fish and chicken pieces, often slipping some to Anning to try.

Zhang Heping and Secretary An were thrilled with the smell of meat wafting through the house.

After so many years, finally, this year felt like a proper celebration, making New Year truly joyful.

On the twenty-eighth, Hou Jun finished making clothes, and Xiangling went to collect them.

She brought back four sets of clothes, first letting Zhang Heping and Secretary An try them on, then gave Anning her little dress and coat to try on inside the house to see if they looked good.

After the three of them tried on their clothes, Xiangling spun around, observing, ”They look really great, Brother Hou’s workmanship is amazing, truly...”

Looking at Anning in her bright red skirt with a Bai Se furry coat, her face fair and clean, eyes big and lively, Xiangling adored her, saying she looked like a little fairy.

”Ningning looks beautiful, this outfit suits Ningning perfectly; others couldn’t pull off the same effect.”

Secretary An was equally pleased.

Most importantly, this reflected her daughter’s intentions.

She smiled at Zhang Heping and said to Xiangling, ”Look at how thrilled your father is; wearing these clothes, he doesn’t even know how to walk. Watch, during New Year, he’ll definitely wear them to show off.”

Anning removed her coat, held it in her hand, and leapt in front of Secretary An, saying, ”Mom, when I grow up, I’ll also buy clothes for you and dad. I’ll save up money, and whatever you want, I’ll buy for you.”

This made Secretary An laugh until her eyes were almost invisible: ”Okay, Mom’s looking forward to it.”

”I’ll also buy some for my sister.”

Anning smiled at Xiangling, ”I’ll buy lots of clothes for my sister, dressing her up beautifully.”

Xiangling patted Anning’s head: ”Good girl.”

Xiangling also tried on her own clothes; they fit well, and she looked good in them.

After everyone had tried on their clothes, Xiangling quickly headed out.

She didn’t go shopping, but headed to Hou Jun’s house.

Hou Jun’s house was spacious, the place was his family’s old residence. It had been taken over during past turmoil but was returned after the Hou Family was rehabilitated.

However, the house was very rundown at that point, so Hou Jun earned money himself to refurbish it.

His residence had over ten rooms with a considerable depth; he converted the front into a tailor shop while the back was for living.

Currently, Hou Jun was the only one left in the Hou Family, living alone in such a large house felt particularly cold.

Hou Jun, as a man, really wasn’t good at cooking; in past New Years, he just made do with whatever he could.

But this year felt different for Hou Jun.

On the twenty-eighth, Xiangling was busy at Hou Jun’s house for the entire day, preparing mantou, bean paste buns, frying meatballs, stewing chicken pieces, steaming fish, and also making several steamed bowls.

By the time she finished, it was almost dark.

As Xiangling was about to leave, she advised Hou Jun, ”Put the mantou and bean paste buns in a big jar, keep it in a cool place, and they’ll last a long time. The steamed bowls can be reheated on New Year’s Day for eating. I’ll bring you dumplings on New Year’s Eve; just keep them in the cold room to freeze. Cook them in the morning on the first day of the New Year.”

Hou Jun nodded repeatedly: ”Got it, thank you so much.”

As Xiangling was leaving, he quickly said, ”Wait a moment.”

Hou Jun rushed inside, grabbed many things, and stuffed them into Xiangling’s arms, saying, ”Take these home to eat, anyway, I can’t finish them alone.”

Xiangling glanced, seeing bought braised meat, fruits, candies, melon seeds, and other items.

Hou Jun didn’t seem short of money; the candies he bought were high-quality: cream candies, chocolates, various beautifully-packaged fruit candies, along with melon seeds, and many dried fruits unfamiliar to Xiangling.

Hou Jun smiled, ”I got these dried fruits from a friend in another region; take them home to enjoy.”

Xiangling didn’t refuse.

She knew if she declined, Hou Jun would feel uncomfortable: ”Alright, then I’m leaving.”

Hou Jun escorted her to the front gate, watching her leave far into the distance, and stood there watching even longer.

When he returned home and smelled the various aromas from the kitchen, it seemed like the house was not so desolate after all, feeling a bit interesting, having a sense of warmth with the lively atmosphere.

While Xiangling helped at Hou Jun’s house, Anning received a letter.

The letter was sent to the steel factory, addressed to Zhang Anning. At first, the old man in the factory mailroom didn’t know who Zhang Anning was, but after asking around, he learned she was Zhang Heping’s little daughter.

The old man delivered the letter to Zhang Heping’s house; Anning looked at the envelope and was momentarily confused.

The letter came from Capital, and Anning couldn’t think of anyone there who might write to her.

She opened the letter to find it was from He Erniu.

He Erniu had attended school, knew how to read and write, so writing a letter wasn’t surprising; just, why would He Erniu write her a letter?

Reading it, Anning understood.

He Erniu had asked Anning for advice before leaving, and Anning suggested she go to Capital, which she did.

After arriving, He Erniu initially didn’t find a job and worked a few days washing dishes and plates at a small restaurant. Later, she met some fellow townsfolk from Y County, who introduced her to a position as a nanny.

The family she worked for consisted of two elderly individuals, both professors at Jing University.

Their children and grandchildren were not around; in their old age, they found it difficult to manage cooking and housework, so they wanted someone to take care of these tasks.

He Erniu was very diligent, had a neat appearance, and was likable, so the elderly couple hired her after their initial conversation.

Once she stayed, He Erniu devoted herself fully to looking after the elderly, tidying the house, washing clothes, cooking, even providing massages, wholeheartedly.

The elderly slept early and had few family members, so the chores weren’t too many, allowing He Erniu ample time during the day. In the evenings, she seized the opportunity to study.