The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Anning didn’t go to Xiao Yuan’s company every day during this period.

She didn’t have the time.

Moreover, the salesmen and factory management staff Xiao Yuan hired were quite reliable, which saved Anning a lot of work.

However, Anning still dropped by from time to time, and if the management staff had any issues they couldn’t decide on, they would consult her.

Besides, Anning also had Xiao Qin, besides learning baking, take up a presence at the company.

Xiao Qin really had her eyes opened during this time.

Previously, she was worried seeing Yi Qihang suppressing their company, fearing it wouldn’t survive. If that were the case, her second brother would have to start all over again.

However, to Xiao Qin’s surprise, Xiao Yuan had already made plans.

He didn’t go head-to-head with Yi Qihang but instead opened up another money-making path. This way, not only did Yi Qihang lose money for nothing, but they also earned a lot more for themselves.

Xiao Qin was truly impressed.

She also realized how impressive her second brother and Anning were.

This day Anning came by the company, and Xiao Qin complained to her, ”Ningning, don’t you think that guy named Yi is a fool? I’ve been calculating for him these days, and I really don’t know how much he’s lost. Doesn’t it hurt him? Just to spite my brother, he treats money as nothing, losing it like water. I don’t know what he’s thinking.”

Anning smiled and pointed to her own head, ”Maybe his brain is really fried, but as long as we make money, who cares about how much he loses?”

It’s not just about making money. During this time, those clients have already recognized the furniture produced by Xiao Yuan Company.

These pieces of furniture have stylish and elegant designs, are of great craftsmanship, and most importantly, use eco-friendly materials, making people feel secure using them.

They not only used Xiao Yuan Company’s furniture themselves but also recommended it to their relatives and friends. As a result, furniture sales increased significantly, earning the customers’ praise and leading the factory into a positive cycle ahead of schedule.

Anning wasn’t keen on mentioning Yi Qihang, so after chatting with Xiao Qin for a bit, she brought up the exams.

The winter holiday was approaching, and Anning had to take her final exams, so she wouldn’t have time to come over to the company in the next few days. Anning asked Xiao Qin to keep a close watch and not to slack off.

Xiao Qin agreed very earnestly.

She definitely had to keep a close watch. After all, this was her second brother’s company. With her second brother not around, she had to take responsibility.

Anning spent a whole week taking final exams, and during these exam days, Xiao Yuan returned.

This time, he came back with a large sum of money as well as contacts with the bigwigs in Hai City.

Xiao Yuan returned and rested for two days, and Anning finished her exams.

Earlier, Anning wasn’t sure when Xiao Yuan would return, so she didn’t buy tickets to go home. Now that Xiao Yuan was back, they naturally needed to buy tickets.

Xiao Yuan bought train tickets for three days later, and after purchasing the tickets, he, Anning, and Xiao Qin started shopping all the way.

Anning bought many things for her family, Xiao Yuan also bought some things for his family, and Xiao Qin bought herself a few outfits and clothes for Xiao Xiu and He Fangfang.

After shopping, the three of them carried large bags and small packages and took the train home.

Anning called home two days in advance, telling Yang Erchou when she’d be back and asking him to inform the Xiao Family that Xiao Yuan and Xiao Qin would be coming back with her.

By now, people in the village knew that Xiao Yuan and Xiao Qin had found jobs in the Capital, though they weren’t sure what exactly they were doing.

In fact, even the Xiao Family didn’t know what Xiao Yuan and Xiao Qin were up to.

Xiao Yuan hadn’t explained clearly to the family, and Xiao Qin just vaguely said her second brother was doing some renovation work while she worked as a nanny.

The Xiao Family thought Xiao Yuan was just a workman in a renovation team and that Xiao Qin was a little nanny for someone, and they didn’t think much of it.

Yang Erchou knew this too, and he didn’t think much of it either.

After all, Xiao Yuan and Xiao Qin were fellow villagers and happened to be in the Capital, just like Anning. It was only natural to help each other out sometimes.

Yang Erchou never imagined that his beloved daughter would be with Xiao Yuan, and he certainly never guarded against it.

Because Anning had called in advance, when they arrived by bus at the county, Yang Erchou and Xiao Qun came together in a tractor to pick them up.

The tractor was a new addition to Yang Erchou’s household this year. It was very useful: for farming, for transporting wood for Yang Erchou’s door and window factory, and for delivering goods.

Anning, Xiao Yuan, and Xiao Qin had just stepped off the bus and saw Yang Erchou and Xiao Qun in military coats waving at them.

Anning smiled and quickly ran towards Yang Erchou.

Behind her, Xiao Yuan and Xiao Qin resignedly helped her carry the luggage.

Of course, Yang Erchou and Xiao Qun didn’t think much about Xiao Yuan carrying Anning’s luggage.

After all, Xiao Yuan was a man. He’s strong, and it was right for him to help Anning with the luggage.

”Dad.”

Anning ran to Yang Erchou and called sweetly, which made Yang Erchou so happy: ”Good, it’s good that you’re home, though you look a bit thinner. When you’re back, let your mother nourish you well.”

Over there, Xiao Yuan and Xiao Qun didn’t have much to say.

The father and son loaded the luggage onto the vehicle, then Yang Erchou drove, and the other four sat in the carriage at the back of the tractor.

It was freezing cold at this time, so there were quilts and such on the vehicle. As soon as Anning got in, Xiao Qin handed her a quilt to wrap around herself. Anning smiled and said thank you, and Xiao Qin smiled back.

Xiao Yuan was wrapped in a military coat and sat with Xiao Qun talking about joyful events at home.

The Xiao family was poor, with many children, and after already giving considerable dowries for Xiao Hei and Xiao Li’s marriages, they truly had no money to hold two wedding ceremonies. So, Xiao Hei and Xiao Li’s weddings were combined — that is, the brothers married on the same day.

Even so, the Xiao family still incurred debts. Now, with the weddings approaching, they still couldn’t afford to buy many needed things. Xiao Qun asked Xiao Yuan: ”Second brother, do you have any money left? If you do, take it out for the family’s use.”

”I have some left.”

Xiao Yuan didn’t say exactly how much money he had, but he asked Xiao Qun: ”How much are we short? If it’s not enough, I’ll think of something. Going out this time wasn’t for nothing — I’ve made quite a few friends, and I have colleagues in our county. If worse comes to worst, I can borrow a bit from them.”

”Five hundred.” Xiao Qun named a figure.

”I have that, I’ll give it to you later.”

Xiao Yuan agreed very quickly.

Xiao Qin watched Xiao Qun asking Xiao Yuan for money, lowered her head, and felt somewhat choked up inside.

Initially, Xiao Qin wanted to give more money to the family, but Xiao Yuan stopped her.

At first, Xiao Qin didn’t fully understand. She thought since she had earned money, why not tell the family, and why not give the money to them so that parents could live a bit easier?

Later, Xiao Yuan analyzed it for her, and after following Xiao Yuan out for so long, she was no longer the naive village girl who knew nothing. She had gained quite a lot of knowledge and understood many things, so she kept it from the family together with Xiao Yuan.

The main reason was that on the Yangjiazhuang side, or at this time in many rural areas, customs weren’t quite good.

That custom was: once one brother in the family achieves success, everyone assumes you should support the entire family, not only taking care of your parents but also handling all matters for siblings. If anyone has difficulties, you should help, no matter how big the issue, or else you’re seen as unfilial and unkind, and people will point at your spine and curse.

The Xiao Family also adhered to this idea.

Especially Xiao Hei and his brothers.

Speaking of which, Xiao Yuan replaced his predecessor, naturally things were different than before, that goes without saying. Xiao Hei was somewhat dumb, a bit simple-minded, and stubbornly believed that as the eldest, he deserved respect from his brothers regardless of their future success; many things should be discussed with him.

Whereas Xiao Li was a bit sly, specifically, he was lazy, practiced not moving if he could, and wouldn’t go all out to work if he could earn money through clever schemes to get by.

The remaining siblings weren’t particularly diligent or capable either.

It’s easy to understand — the siblings were all grown now, and didn’t have much education, if each was diligent and capable, the family wouldn’t be so poor.

With the Xiao family’s temperament, if Xiao Yuan revealed a hint that he had money, these brothers might cling to him like leeches. Giving money is not the issue — he feared the brothers wouldn’t do any work, lie around asking him for money daily, and also worried about their lack of self-awareness. They might be swayed by others’ nonsense and insist on following him to the Capital to help at his company, even claiming shares in his company by demanding it be jointly owned by the Xiao family, which would be a disaster.

Of course, Xiao Yuan could solve these problems when the time came, but Xiao Yuan didn’t want the hassle, nor did he want Anning to suffer such vexations along with him.

Xiao Qin initially didn’t quite understand all this. She vaguely knew that what her second brother said was correct, but now watching Xiao Qin brazenly ask Xiao Yuan for money just for Xiao Hei and Xiao Li’s weddings, she felt pained, and she understood why Xiao Yuan kept it from the family.