The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

”What?”

Old Madam shot to her feet: ”Our Ningning is the province’s top scorer?”

Yang Erchou was grinning so hard he couldn’t close his mouth: ”Yeah, that’s right, the county leaders are here, and reporters from the province too, they said they want to interview us.”

Old Madam hurried into the room: ”Second, you go entertain them first, I’ll go change my clothes.”

Not just Old Madam, even Li Cuixia rushed into the room to change.

So the leaders at all levels and the reporters ended up catching only Anning, who had just come out of the kitchen with her hair still a bit messy, and Yang Erchou, who had just finished breakfast.

Anning didn’t care what she looked like, she straightforwardly invited the guests to sit down, then busied herself with boiling water and making tea.

The reporter hurriedly stopped her: ”Yang, we’d like to interview you about any good study methods you have...”

Anning sat down with a smile: ”Actually, I don’t have any special study methods. I just keep summarizing and organizing as I go. I learned that from our school’s teachers. Here, I want to thank the principal and teachers of our county high school. It’s because of their hard work teaching me that I could get such good grades.”

What Anning said put so many smile lines on the county high school’s principal’s face it looked like it was all wrinkles.

He stroked his chin and thought this kid was really sensible, knew enough to thank the school’s principal and teachers. That was a good thing for their school; at least this year, when they enroll students, the source of students will definitely be much better.

Anning talked a bit about her study methods, then pointed to the principal next to her: ”You should interview the principal. He’s been working in education for many years and has a lot of experience. And ever since he became principal, our school’s college admission rate has obviously gone up every year.”

The reporter immediately started asking the principal a few questions.

Just then Old Madam and Li Cuixia came out.

Old Madam was wearing the clothes Anning had bought her, and her hair was slicked back shiny with oil.

As soon as she came over, she started talking to the reporter: ”Young man, you’re from the provincial paper, right? Our Ningning really is a good child, you don’t know...”

When Old Madam really wants to make trouble, she can drive people up the wall, but she’s also old and shrewd. If she genuinely likes you and is good to you from the heart, she thinks things through for you in every way.

As soon as she sat down, she started chatting with the reporter about family matters: ”Our Ningning studies so hard. We’re just a little county here, our education resources can’t compare with the city or the Provincial City, but our Ningning refuses to admit defeat, all her mind is on studying. She gets up early every day to start reciting, and stays up till midnight before she sleeps. And even with the child loving to study so much, I was sick and in the hospital a while ago, the college entrance exam was just around the corner, but she still worried about me. She put her studies aside every day to cook, and ran to the hospital to take care of me. You don’t know, this child is really filial, washing my face and feeding me in the hospital, cleaning up after me, not disliking the dirty or the tiring parts...”

Old Madam wiped away a handful of tears: ”I’ve lived so many years, and I’m not just bragging, but this child of ours really is outstanding. Her grades are good, that’s one thing, but the key is her character. That also has to do with how my son and daughter-in-law raised her. My son and daughter-in-law often say to me, educating a child in their studies isn’t the most important, the key is teaching them to be a person. You have to learn to be a person first, then learn to read and write.”

Old Madam rambled on for a long time, and the reporter was listening with eyes shining. He wrote down every word.

In the end he even took a family photo for them, plus a solo shot of Anning, saying it would be published in the newspaper.

Of course, the county and education bureau leaders also said a few words, and when they left they gave Anning a reward.

L County hadn’t produced a student admitted to a good university for many years. This time Anning became the province’s top scorer, really bringing honor to the county. So the county and the education bureau gave her quite a bit of money as a reward.

The county rewarded her with two thousand, the education bureau gave a thousand, and the county high school added US$ 500 on top.

Just like that, Anning suddenly had three thousand five hundred.

After they saw the guests off, Old Madam came back grinning so wide you couldn’t see her eyes: ”Ay yo, who’d have thought, being good at studying not only doesn’t cost money, it actually earns money.”

Li Cuixia was overjoyed too: ”Who would’ve thought, our child really made us proud. This way, the money for college is all set.”

Anning nodded: ”This year college tuition went up, but this is enough for this year’s tuition. As for next year, I’ll study hard and try to get scholarships. Also, I can work part-time in college. There are lots of opportunities in the Capital and many ways to make money. Once I get there I’ll ask the seniors, I’m sure I can find some way to earn. Then I can pay my own way through school.”

When Yang Erchou heard that, his eyebrows shot up: ”What are you talking about, is it that your dad can’t afford to support you or what? The money we’ve saved up is for your schooling. Once you get to the Capital, don’t think about anything else, just study hard, you hear me?”

Anning smiled: ”I’m not just thinking about making money. I just want to train myself a bit. I know our family has money and my tuition isn’t a problem. So I’m at ease. If I can earn, I’ll earn a bit. If I can’t, I won’t stress.”

That was true enough.

Only then did Yang Erchou’s expression ease up some: ”Just don’t let making money delay your studies. Our family, for generations, has only produced one college student like you. You’re bringing glory to our ancestors. Study well and, once you’ve learned your skills, serve the country. Don’t lose the big for the small.”

Anning nodded firmly: ”I know.”

”Dad, Mom...”

Yang Anzhen came rushing over on her bicycle, fast and furious.

”Dad, Mom, Ningning really is the province’s top scorer?”

Li Cuixia hurried out of the room. Seeing Yang Anzhen’s forehead covered in sweat, she grabbed a towel to wipe it for her: ”Look at you, what are you in such a hurry for, your sister’s not running away.”

Yang Anzhen grinned and took the towel into the room.

When she saw Anning, she went over and hugged her: ”My little sister really did us proud. Oh my god, I never imagined you could actually be the top scorer. If this were in Ancient times, just think how glorious that would be.”

Anning smiled and had Yang Anzhen sit down.

Li Cuixia poured a cup of tea and handed it to Yang Anzhen to drink.

Old Madam proudly showed off to Yang Anzhen: ”Zhenzhen, you came late. Just now the reporter took our picture and said it’ll be in the paper. If you’d come a bit earlier, you could’ve been in the paper too.”

Yang Anzhen regretted it so much: ”Seriously, if I’d known, I would’ve stayed over at home last night, you tell me.”

Over at Yang Erchou’s family, it was all laughter and joy.

Things were very different at Yang Dachou’s place.

Yang Lao Mao sat in the room with a stiff face, not saying a word.

He was really angry.

The leaders came, the reporters came, and Yang Erchou’s whole family didn’t even ask him to go over and hold down the fort. That was treating him like he wasn’t their father at all.

With Yang Lao Mao angry, Yang Dachou was angry too.

He took a drag on his cigarette and muttered to Yang Lao Mao: ”Dad, Second’s getting more and more out of line. Such a big thing, how could he not call us? I’m the Eldest. For something this big, I should be there. Him not asking me, is that him looking down on me or what?”

”Come on, let’s go find him.”

Yang Lao Mao stood up in a rage and headed out.