The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 1012: Chapter 989: Glory Amidst Chaos 57

Anning took a few potatoes and sweet potatoes with Xiao Yin to cultivate seedlings.

As she walked, she explained to Xiao Yin, ”We haven’t planted these before, so we can’t plant them all at once. Let’s try with a couple first, and if it works, we’ll plant more.”

This was a prudent and steady approach, and Xiao Yin agreed with Anning, ”Yes, mother, you’re right.”

The mother and daughter didn’t go outside to cultivate seedlings; instead, they put some soil into a large flowerpot and started planting indoors.

Xiao Yin remarked, ”Mother, it’s not sunny indoors, and plants need sunlight.”

Anning smiled, ”It’s fine. We’ll move them outside to sunbathe when the sun is strong at noon. Since they’re in flowerpots, they’re easy to move.”

Xiao Yin felt Anning was quite considerate and didn’t say anything further.

Just as the mother and daughter finished planting potatoes and sweet potatoes, Chun Xing, a maid Anning bought after arriving in the Prefecture City, entered the room: ”Madam, Qingping is outside asking to see you.”

Qingping was a maid Anning stationed in the West Street courtyard to manage affairs there. Over at West Street, Qingping was essentially the housekeeper.

”Let her come in.”

Anning said, while washing her hands.

Chun Xing led Qingping inside, and upon entering, Qingping knelt before Anning, ”Madam, forgive me, I...I no longer wish to stay in West Street.”

Anning was momentarily taken aback.

She said to Xiao Yin, ”I remember the kitchen just made some pastries. Go find some for Qingping to taste, and if she likes them, she can take some back when she leaves.”

Xiao Yin knew this discussion wasn’t meant for her ears, so she laughed, ”Alright, Qingping, stay a while. I’ll go get you some pastries.”

She left the room with a smile, and upon reaching the courtyard, she saw Xiao Hui hurrying over. Xiao Yin quickly grabbed Xiao Hui’s arm, ”Mother is speaking with Qingping, wait a moment before going in.”

Xiao Hui was momentarily stunned, ”Qingping is here? Why did she come?”

Xiao Yin shook her head, leading Xiao Hui out of the courtyard, ”I’m not sure, but she doesn’t want to stay in West Street anymore.”

Xiao Hui paused her steps for a moment.

Xiao Yin asked Xiao Hui, ”What brings you to see mother?”

Xiao Hui laughed, ”I met someone outside and thought of introducing them to mother.”

”Who is it?”

Xiao Yin was curious. It was rare for Xiao Hui to meddle in others’ affairs, and she seldom wished to introduce anyone to Anning or Xiao Yuan. This meant that the person must be quite talented.

”It’s Miss Lin Lianshuang.”

When Xiao Hui mentioned this name, Xiao Yin was greatly shocked, ”It’s her!”

Lin Lianshuang was a renowned talent from Jiangnan, born into a noble family, growing up surrounded by poetry and books, endowed with both literary charm and strategical acumen, and conducted herself with composure and grandeur.

However, she was unfortunate, engaged from a young age, but before the marriage could occur, her fiancé passed away. Lin Lianshuang’s father was old-fashioned, insisting that a woman could not marry twice. So he had Lin Lianshuang become a widow for her fiancé.

Further troubles arose, and Lin Lianshuang found staying with her in-laws unsatisfactory. Unwilling to return to her birth home, she eventually became a Taoist nun.

Lin Lianshuang’s reputation as a talented woman spread far and wide. Xiao Yin had read her poetry before, initially thinking it was composed by a man with ambitions, only to be shocked to discover it was written by a woman.

When Xiao Yin heard that Lin Lianshuang had arrived, she was both surprised and thrilled, ”Sister, how did Miss Lin come here? Isn’t she in Jiangnan? How did she end up in our Southern Yi?”

Xiao Hui shook her head, ”I don’t know. I happened to meet her while shopping on the street the other day. She seemed destitute, trying to exchange a jade bracelet for some silver at the Silver Tower, and I chanced upon her. I said a few words in her favor and later offered her some silver to find a place to stay. She was very grateful to me. I decided to help her fully and found an inn for her to stay. I visited her again yesterday and learned she was Lin Lianshuang during our conversation. So, I thought to bring her to meet mother...”

Xiao Yin pondered, ”Sister, how about you take me to see how she’s doing first?”

Xiao Hui chuckled, ”Alright, I’ll take you to see her.”

Xiao Hui knew Xiao Yin sometimes thought differently from others. Xiao Yin might suspect the Lin Lianshuang she met wasn’t the real person and wanted to verify it.

The two sisters talked as they walked outside, and when they reached the front yard, Xiao Yin called for two attendants to follow.

Let’s leave Xiao Yin for now and talk about Anning.

She instructed Qingping to get up: ”Speak, what exactly happened?”

Qingping wiped her tears: ”Madam, it’s truly that Old Master and the Old Master have been behaving somewhat improperly. A while back, Old Master called me and, during conversation, expressed his desire to take me as a concubine. I didn’t want to, and Old Master even spoke harshly. Afterwards, I began avoiding the men from that courtyard. Old Master, seeing that I was adamantly refusing, turned his attention to Liu Li. But before he could speak to Liu Li, both Mr. Qi and Fifth Young Master went looking for Liu Li, intending to take her into their rooms.”

Qingping spoke while sneaking glances at Anning.

Anning’s face darkened: ”Continue.”

Qingping lowered her head: ”Madam knows about Liu Li too. Liu Li and Shu Mo have long been interested in each other, planning to ask Madam to arrange their marriage in a couple of years. Naturally, she didn’t want to be anyone’s concubine. But... Mr. Qi and Fifth Young Master threatened Liu Li, and the two even fought over her. When Old Master learned of this, he wanted to punish Liu Li and instructed the house servants to take her to the front yard for a beating. He also often found fault with me; my days are truly unbearable.”

Anning was already furious, and she said coldly, ”I’ve got this matter sorted out. Chun Xing, take Qingping to wash her face and rest. I’ll handle this situation myself.”

Chun Xing was also very angry.

She and Qingping had a good relationship; they came from the same village, grew up together, and were sold to the same family. They often helped each other along the way until they got to where they are now. Seeing Qingping wronged made Chun Xing sad, and she was also quite angry at Old Master’s people, who seemed to be caged but still restless, turning their attention to the young women.

As if she didn’t know, Old Master wanted to take Qingping into his room mainly because she was managing the affairs of the courtyard. If Qingping followed him, she might gain some benefits, and Old Master could also get some news from outside through her. If he got angry, he could also find opportunities to sneak out and come to the mansion.

To Chun Xing’s thinking, Madam and Old Master were too lenient with the people in that courtyard, who, having full bellies, had nothing better to do than cause trouble. If it were up to her, she’d lock them in the manor and make them farm and be self-sufficient, seeing if they’d still have the time or energy to cause trouble.

Chun Xing took Qingping to the side room and called for water to wash her up, applying makeup anew.

Anning drank a few sips of tea and called a servant in: ”Go find out where Old Master is currently and tell him to make some time to come back if he can.”

The servant responded and ran out.

Anning was just calming down when she saw Hui Family bringing Yuan Family in.

Yuan Family was pregnant, and it was now noticeable. Hui Family kept reminding her to be careful as they walked over.

Anning put on a smile to greet them: ”Did you both plan this visit together?”

Hui Family laughed: ”Staying at home is stifling, so we came over with the younger sister-in-law to sit for a while.”

Anning led them inside and instructed the maids to serve tea and snacks. She and Hui Family drank tea, while Yuan Family had plain water.

”These are snacks just made by Yun girl; you two should try them.”

Hui Family and Yuan Family each took a snack and bit into it: ”Hmm, the taste is excellent; Yun girl is really growing adept.”

Anning smiled: ”I was about to talk to you about something, and you happened to come.”

She smilingly told the two sisters-in-law about the things causing trouble over on West Street.

Upon listening, Hui Family angrily raised her eyebrows: ”Really, the older they get, the less respectable they behave. Look at all the things they’ve done.”

Yuan Family listened and felt nauseous, couldn’t help but cover her mouth and vomit.

Anning quickly instructed someone to attend to her and rinse her mouth: ”If you’re uncomfortable, go lie down inside.”

Yuan Family couldn’t stand hearing this; she forced a smile: ”I’ll go in and relax, you two sisters can discuss.”

Anning had a maid support Yuan Family inside, then sent water, snacks, and some dried fruits over, and called a maid to keep her company and chat.

When Yuan Family was settled, Anning whispered to Hui Family: ”Their lives are too good, allowing them to do such disgusting things. Just wait...”

Hui Family gritted her teeth: ”We’ve split from them in terms of lineage and shouldn’t indulge them so much. Originally, out of respect for our parents, we arranged servants for them, yet they even scheme against their servants. These people will stop at nothing, and even Father... Do you think Mother knows about this? She can stand it, but truthfully, for money, they’d do any rotten thing, swallow any filth.”

Hui Family’s words were quite blunt.

Following Anning from the Capital to Southern Yi, seeing those things, changed her significantly; she’s no longer the gentle and kind Fourth Madam from the Duke Mansion.

Indeed, if she hadn’t learned to be strong and fierce, she probably wouldn’t have made it from the Capital to Southern Yi.