The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Anning went back to school to fill out her college preference form, then waited for her scores to be released.

When she returned from the Provincial City, she bought clothes for Yang Erchou, Li Cuixia, Old Madam, and Yang Anzhen.

When she took out the clothes, Yang Erchou and Li Cuixia didn’t react much, but Old Madam was overjoyed.

She had lived in the Eldest’s house for so many years and hardly worn any new clothes. Anning, having gone to the Provincial City, bought her several outfits.

There were plenty of clothes, but most importantly, the clothes Anning bought were especially beautiful and fit well.

The beauty was secondary; it was clear that Anning put thought into them. She knew Old Madam’s measurements well, making the clothes such a perfect fit.

Old Madam wore the round-necked short-sleeve shirt with a black base and red flowers Anning bought, paired with well-fitting black cropped pants, admiring herself repeatedly in the mirror, full of joy.

Li Cuixia also changed into the clothes Anning bought and went out to show them off.

When Yang Anzhen received her clothes, she said to Anning, ”It’s fine if you bought clothes for Mom and Grandma, but why for me? I’m not short on clothes.”

Anning smiled and said, ”Just take them. It’s not like I spent my own money; it was Dad’s money. I couldn’t not buy you something.”

Yang Anzhen laughed, ”By the way, I brought you some donkey-hide gelatin; remember to eat it.”

While they were chatting, Li Cuixia and Old Madam returned from outside.

It was hot outside, and both of them had broken a sweat, so Anning quickly turned on the electric fan and poured them each a glass of cool boiled water.

Old Madam took a sip of water, ”I just heard outside that the eldest boy of the Xiao Family is engaged.”

Li Cuixia was surprised, ”Their family, huh? Can they really find him a wife with their circumstances?”

Yang Anzhen sat down to gossip too, ”Grandma, are you talking about Xiao Hei?”

Old Madam nodded, ”Yes, it’s him.”

”He’s engaged? To whose daughter?”

Yang Anzhen was quite curious.

Anning felt a little indifferent inside but still sat down to listen.

Old Madam curled her lips, ”With their reputation, they couldn’t find a good wife. But someone proposed two candidates for them: one is the girl from town who lost a hand, and the other is the mute girl from the neighboring village.”

”I know, I know.”

Yang Anzhen quickly cut in, ”The girl who lost a hand was my classmate in junior high, named Li Huixia, and I also know the mute girl, named Wu Chunli.”

”Yes, it’s those two.”

Old Madam slapped her thigh, ”I heard that He Fangfang was keen on that Li Huixia, as she was educated, came from a good family, and was of good character. The main thing is, despite losing a hand, she can still do many tasks, isn’t deaf or mute, and can communicate with others. But Xiao Hei took a fancy to Wu Chunli instead.”

Yang Anzhen frowned and thought for a moment, ”I guess Xiao Hei was attracted to Wu Chunli’s looks. She is indeed quite pretty, except for Anning here, she might be the best-looking around.”

”Young folks only care about appearances. When they really start living together, they’ll realize looks alone don’t make a relationship work. Wu Chunli might be pretty, but as a mute, communication will be an issue. Imagine raising kids with someone who can’t talk; no one would trust their children with a mother who can’t teach them to speak. What if the child runs off? She wouldn’t know where to start looking. Marrying such a wife will be exhausting.”

Old Madam chuckled, ”He Fangfang’s thinking was pretty sound. I say, they should have gone with Li Huixia.”

Li Cuixia added, ”Whatever, it’s Xiao’s family’s business, nothing to do with us.”

Yang Anzhen seemed to recall something and couldn’t help but laugh, ”You know, the Xiao family is just following tradition. Back then, Xiao Hei’s great-grandma insisted on marrying his great-grandpa because he was good-looking, not caring about his background, and ended up making a fool of herself.”

Having heard this, Anning felt a bit uncomfortable and said she wanted to read, getting up to go inside.

Li Cuixia glanced at Anning’s back, and Old Madam also took a look, quietly saying to Li Cuixia, ”Ningning always reading isn’t good. When you get the chance, tell Ningning at college not to avoid relationships. If there’s someone good, she should date them, don’t let her miss out.”

Yang Anzhen shouted towards the house, ”Ningning, did you hear what Grandma said? She said find yourself a good partner in college.”

Anning put her book down and stood at the doorway, ”But what kind should I find? Ideally, it’s someone with a car and house, no parents, over six feet tall, and listens to everything I say, right?”

Yang Anzhen’s eyes brightened, ”That sounds great, go for someone like that.”

Anning waved her hand, ”You’re dreaming. Where can I find someone so perfect? I’d like to date someone good too, like someone super rich. If I want something, he buys it. Today, if I think a house is nice, he says buy it; tomorrow, a car, buy; the day after, a plane, buy; a yacht next, just buy.”

Old Madam was wide-eyed with shock, stuttering to ask Anning, ”Ningning, is there really such a person? Buying a plane, how much would that cost?”

Anning burst out laughing, ”There are such people, but what are the chances they’d choose me? If someone is that wealthy, why would they pick someone like me? What would they get out of it? Is it because they can’t spend their money, or am I really as beautiful as a Heavenly Immortal?”

Yang Anzhen sized up Anning, ”Honestly, you do look like a Heavenly Immortal.”

Well, that sister filter is too thick.

The news of Xiao Hei’s engagement spread quickly in Yangjiazhuang, with many people discussing it.

Some felt Xiao Hei led a hard life; a good-looking, hard-working young man ending up with a mute seemed a bit unjust.

Others said Xiao Hei should be grateful to marry even a mute, as the other Xiao children might not be able to marry anyone.

The Xiao children were close in age, with Xiao Hei getting married, the younger brothers would soon need to too. But marrying Xiao Hei would cost money, which, if spent, might run their funds dry, leading to debts, leaving the younger ones in a bind.

Anyway, the villagers worried for Xiao Qun and He Fangfang.

While the village buzzed with gossip about the Xiao family, another event shook the entire Yangjiazhuang.

The reason was Anning’s high school exam scores came in, and she reached 740 total, becoming the provincial top scorer.

Upon release of her scores, county officials, education department leaders, and the principal of the county high school came to Yangjiazhuang, along with provincial newspaper reporters for interviews.

Early in the morning, several cars drove into Yangjiazhuang, as villagers ate breakfast, and seeing the handful of sedans entering, followed to see what was happening.

Then they noticed the cars stopping in front of Yang Erchou’s house.

A young man got out of one car and asked, ”Excuse me, is this Yang Anning’s house?”

The villagers thought someone from the city had been introduced to Anning. But when the leaders got out, saying they came to congratulate her, and reporters followed with cameras snapping photos, everyone asking found out that Yang Erchou’s second daughter scored the province’s top marks on the college entrance exams.

Previously, some boys had had their eye on Anning, but upon hearing this, they felt a mix of emotions.

Anning was already like a Heavenly Immortal in their eyes. With the highest score in the province, she was destined for a top university, soaring even higher beyond their reach for life.