The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 989: Chapter 966: Prestige Amid Chaos 34

Xiao Yuan got up early and went to the county with Xiao Jin, while Anning took the girls in the family to make breakfast.

Though she was said to be taking the girls to make breakfast, it was actually Anning giving instructions while the five girls did the work.

Even the youngest, Xiao Yin, was brought along this time to help.

Anning knew that Xiao Yin would be living in the countryside for quite a long time, and she had to learn many tasks.

It’s not that Anning didn’t care for Xiao Yin, but the current situation is such that Xiao Yin can’t act like a spoiled Miss in the rural area. Anning believes in adapting to the circumstances.

If seated on the Jinluan Palace, then one is the ruler of the world; if fallen to dust, then even as a beggar, one must accept their fate.

She didn’t want Xiao Yin to be raised without knowing practical skills.

Breakfast was simple, just porridge and a few small side dishes.

By the time breakfast was ready, Xiao Ying had already taken the boys to the fields and brought back some firewood on the way home.

After Anning and the children finished eating, she began teaching them.

The progress of the children at home varied; naturally, Anning taught them separately.

The eight children who came barely knew any characters before, so Anning had to teach them from scratch.

She taught a few characters to Xiao Ying first, then had the youngest, Xiao Yin, teach the eight children to recognize characters.

Besides literacy, Anning also taught them counting and some life skills.

The morning was spent learning to recognize characters; the girls learned sewing from Anning, while the boys practiced standing exercises with Xiao Ying in the courtyard.

When Xiao Yuan returned, he brought three servants, one man and two women, who were clearly a family.

The elder woman looked around forty, while the other man and woman, a couple, were much younger. Upon inquiry, Anning learned that the woman’s maiden name was Xu, known to everyone as Mrs. Xu. The couple was her son Zhang Bao and daughter-in-law Wang Xiuzhi.

Anning, having known these three servants, recognized Mrs. Xu’s excellent cooking skills and had her manage kitchen affairs. Zhang Bao and Wang Xiuzhu resided in the two front rooms, partly as housekeepers and partly for cleaning.

After arranging the three servants, Mrs. Hui came looking for Anning.

She wanted to discuss finding a wife for Xiao Ling with Anning.

These days, Mrs. Hui heard about a girl living in Houshan Village, five or six miles from Jingtian Village. The girl was reputedly attractive, had a good personality, was diligent, and praised by folks around. Mrs. Hui planned to inquire more, and if she was indeed good, to set her up with Xiao Ling soon.

It’s not that Mrs. Hui was overly picky.

The Xiao Family, being northerners, all had tall statures and fair skin, appearing attractive.

However, the Southern Yi people here were generally smaller, thin, and had dark skin.

Most here have flatter features compared to northerners, smaller eyes, collapsed noses, thicker lips, and neither Anning nor Mrs. Hui wanted Xiao Ling to marry such a wife.

The girl Mrs. Hui inquired about was originally from the north but fled here due to hardship later, hence Mrs. Hui’s interest.

After hearing her out, Anning said, ”Alright, I’ll inquire tomorrow. If she is really that good, let’s settle it for Lao Liu early, saving him from not even having someone to cook for him.”

While discussing the matter of matchmaking for Xiao Ling, Xiao Zhong hurried over: ”Third aunt, mother, grandmother is sick.”

Mrs. Hui was startled, ”Who told you?”

Xiao Zhong said, ”It was Xiao Jin who said that. He mentioned that grandmother had a fight with my eldest sister-in-law a few days ago. Now my uncle has adopted some children as his own, upsetting her. This made her relationship with my uncle uneasy. Last night, she ate very little and caught a cold later. The fever is bad now.”

Anning promptly got up, ”Let’s go see your grandmother.”

Mrs. Hui tidied herself up and went to the main house with Anning.

The main house was new and particularly large, making it very conspicuous in the village.

Anning and Mrs. Hui could see the house from afar, finding it was really easy.

When they arrived, the door of the house was open, and as they were about to step inside, a thin and weak-looking young man blocked them, ”Who are you? Why come to my house?”

Mrs. Hui frowned, and Anning said, ”We are from the Xiao Family’s third and fourth branches.”

The young man glanced at Anning and Mrs. Hui, then moved aside.

Start to finish, he never once addressed them as aunt.

Anning’s eyes slightly narrowed, then she smiled.

Mrs. Hui whispered, ”How did the brother teach, so ignorant of manners.”

Anning tugged at Mrs. Hui’s sleeve, ”What teaching? Brother took in these children just for working.”

Mrs. Hui shook her head, ”Let him continue with that.”

Anning asked Mrs. Hui, ”Do you want to take a few children?”

Mrs. Hui shook her head, ”I don’t have such plans. You know if children come to our home, we can’t ignore them; we’d have to teach them properly. I don’t have the energy to raise them, but if not raised well, it feels unfair to them. Better to save the trouble. Moreover, our home has few people, getting a couple of rough servants is enough—one for cooking, one for guarding the door and cleaning, fetching water and chopping wood—the rest we can manage ourselves.”

Anning felt Mrs. Hui truly understood life, living practically.

”You’re doing great; the house is peaceful that way.”

As they were chatting, they entered the main room, hearing the Old Madam groaning from discomfort.

Anning and Mrs. Hui approached and saw the Old Madam lying in bed, covered by a quilt, side-lying. Her complexion was very pale, with unnaturally red cheeks.

”Mother, what’s wrong with you?”

Anning stepped up, ”If you’re feeling unwell, have a doctor see you; don’t push through stubbornly.”

The Old Madam lifted her eyelids slightly, her complexion worsened when she saw Anning and Mrs. Hui.

She wanted to scold but was genuinely uncomfortable, her voice weak, lacking the energy to curse, simply saying, ”Do you still see me as your mother?”

Anning laughed, ”Of course, we don’t see you outwardly; we keep you in our hearts, knowing you caught a chill and rushed over. Mother, is there something you want to eat? I’ll make it and have Brother Ying bring it to you later.”

The Old Madam lacked the strength to talk with Anning, ”I won’t eat anything.”

Anning turned and asked Mrs. Zhao, who had come over, ”Elder sister-in-law, did you find a doctor for mother? What did the doctor say?”

Mrs. Zhao sighed, ”We did, a doctor prescribed medicine, but it wasn’t much help. You know our family struggles now, and we don’t have extra money. We planned to find a good doctor in the county, but can’t afford it.”

Anning suggested, ”How about, we take mother to our place for a few days?”

Mrs. Zhao, hearing this, was happy and was about to agree when the Old Madam said, ”I won’t go; I’ll stay here. I won’t go to your home.”