The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 927: Chapter 905: Top Student in the 1980s 33

He Erniu is highly motivated in her studies, holding books every night.

Anning, the original owner of this body, was especially smart. He Erniu, her sister, is also a bright girl.

She is smart herself, willing to work hard, and with two professors guiding her, she learned the entire first-year curriculum in just two months.

The two elderly people loved smart and motivated children. Seeing He Erniu so dedicated, they were willing to guide her. They weren’t short on money and would give He Erniu some money to buy books; the family’s tape recorder and such were also available for her to use, allowing her to listen to foreign language tapes and the like.

When He Erniu was with the He Family, she was an exploited presence; she never finished her work, was poorly fed, and all the good food was given to her younger brothers and sisters. Forget about meat; she couldn’t even have a bite of an egg.

She originally came out to work with the readiness to endure hardship.

However, she didn’t expect her luck to be so good. When she arrived in the Capital, she encountered such good employers. The two elderly people were kind-hearted and cherished her. The food and living conditions at the home were excellent. He Erniu ate the same meals as the elderly, having milk, eggs, and meat every day. Even in the deep winter, she occasionally had fresh fruit.

She felt she had fallen into a pit of fortune.

He Erniu felt grateful to the elderly. She wasn’t an ingrate; she took care of the elderly people with particular dedication.

She was even more grateful to Anning.

Her opportunity to come to the Capital was due to Anning’s guidance; she remembered everything Anning told her.

Initially, she only thought about going south to earn money. But after staying in the staff quarters of Jing University in the Capital for some time, her thoughts changed.

Going south to work would let her earn money, but her education level only qualified her for assembly line work, which offered no real advancement. Marrying a man doing the same heavy labor would mean living a life she could foresee entirely.

But over here, things were different; as long as she worked hard, she might earn a bright future.

Out of gratitude to Anning, and with the new year approaching, He Erniu took a part of her saved salary and remitted it to Anning.

In her letter, He Erniu explained her current situation, mentioned she was now earning money, and sent some to Anning for the new year so she could buy something to eat and use, promising to send her money regularly so she could buy whatever she wanted, not to scrimp on herself.

No matter how it’s said, in He Erniu’s heart, Anning is her real sister.

Those two ingrates at home were not to be relied upon.

But she still really liked Anning and wanted, if possible, to take care of her sister a bit.

As for He Daniu, He Erniu never thought of taking care of her.

There’s a saying, ”There is something hateful about the pitiful,” which applies to He Daniu. If He Erniu dared to send her money, it would be given to the He Family by tomorrow, and no doubt she’d reveal He Erniu’s address to the Hes, letting Liu Zhi cause trouble in the Capital.

He Erniu knew He Daniu’s temperament, so no matter how poorly He Daniu lived, she never thought of giving her assistance.

The only person she missed was Anning.

Of course, He Erniu might not know if there was some small ulterior motive.

Maybe she noticed that the family adopting Anning had excellent conditions, and Anning was so smart, definitely much smarter than she was. Anning was bound to accomplish something, so she thought it wise to establish a good relationship now, enabling the sisters to take care of each other in the future.

This kind of small thought He Erniu would never voice, and even if Anning guessed, she wouldn’t bring it up.

No matter how it’s put, He Erniu cared about her; this is something Anning should recognize. Moreover, since He Erniu was not the kind who couldn’t improve herself, she was motivated, and Anning was also willing to give her a push.

Anning finished reading the letter and put away the remittance slip.

She ran out to tell Secretary An about this.

Secretary An was quite pleased.

She never intended to prevent Anning from interacting with her siblings, as long as the other person’s character was good. Secretary An wouldn’t stop them.

Just as she never prevented Xiangling from visiting with the Xiao Family.

Secretary An and Zhang Heping had no families left; they had no relatives; without family, who would help the two girls in the future when they faced difficulties?

Secretary An hoped that Xiangling and the brothers of the Xiao Family would treat her well, and if they stood up for her, they could help when she was in trouble.

As for Anning, her real second sister was sensible. If they got along well, since they were real siblings, they could support each other when needed.

The kinship on both sides, in fact, meant Anning and Xiangling gained more helpers, which was a good thing, so why restrain it?

Secretary An, upon learning that He Erniu sent money to Anning, suggested that Anning send something back.

After some thought, Anning organized her study notes and Xiao Yuan’s notes, then sent some local specialties from County Y to He Erniu.

Anning also learned from He Erniu’s letter that she wasn’t actually the third daughter of the He Family. He Erniu had mentioned that before Anning, there were other children, although it seemed one didn’t survive and another was also given away.

Anning merely listened to this without any intention to manage it, even less likely to find the sister who was also given away.

The Xiao Family returned to Fenggou Village on the 29th of the twelfth lunar month.

They needed to celebrate the new year over there.

On New Year’s Eve, Zhang Heping unexpectedly moved a television into the house.

He placed the television in the living room and, with great joy, told Anning, ”There was a Spring Festival Gala last year on New Year’s Eve, but unfortunately our family didn’t have a TV, so we missed it. This year our family is reunited, so we’ll have a good watch of the Spring Festival Gala tonight.”

It suddenly dawned on Anning—oh right, it was indeed 1984, and there was the Spring Festival Gala.

Xiangling didn’t know what the Spring Festival Gala was and kept asking Zhang Heping.

She was very interested, helping Zhang Heping set up the antenna and adjust the channels, just waiting to watch the gala at night.

When the evening came, Xiangling cooked several dishes in the kitchen, and the family gathered around the table, eating the New Year’s Eve dinner while watching the gala.

The family of four, except for Anning, had never seen the Spring Festival Gala before, so everyone found it particularly enjoyable, with bursts of laughter filling the home now and then. Seeing everyone happy, Anning felt happy too.

She wasn’t particularly interested in the Spring Festival Gala; she watched it as a memory, accompanying the other three into the night.

On the first day of the new year, many people from the factory came to pay New Year’s visits, and Secretary An greeted them all with smiles.

Xiangling followed Secretary An in receiving guests; when visitors came, Anning would come out of the room to say hello to the uncles and aunts and then return to her room.

She never stayed in the living room for more than a minute.

Zhang Heping, as a leading cadre in the factory, in previous years, when it was just him and Secretary An, those who came usually paid a brief visit and left quickly.

But this year, now that Zhang Heping had daughters, those looking to get things done found their way in.

Xiangling was older, and they couldn’t give her red envelopes, so they could only give them to Anning.

But Anning wouldn’t take such money; if she did, what would Zhang Heping rely on when people came to him for favors?

She wasn’t short on money, so why do something to make her parents uncomfortable?

Anning was astute and precise in all manners but wouldn’t give those who wanted to offer gifts any opportunity.

Zhang Heping and Secretary An observed all this carefully.

After sending off the visitors, Zhang Heping remarked to Secretary An, ”Some people are just naturally perceptive and capable of handling things; this is something no one can learn.”

Secretary An nodded, ”Our Ningning is really too clever. At such a young age, she already knows how to conduct herself; it’s truly remarkable.”

Indeed, in many ways, Anning managed better than Xiangling, who was already in her thirties.

Secretary An knew that this was entirely due to personal understanding, something that could never be taught.