The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Knowing Anning would return today, Li Cuixia started slaughtering chickens and stewing meat early in the morning. Now, meat and chicken were simmering in the pot, and the meal was ready.

When the Old Madam came back cheerfully after taking a stroll, Li Cuixia and Anning began setting the table.

The whole family sat around the table to eat.

Yang Erchou, feeling happy, even opened a bottle of wine.

He took a sip with delight and said to Li Cuixia, ”You see, our family is really living well now. Even An Zhen is getting by, and her husband is an honest kid. I don’t worry about her. Anning is also successful, attending college without asking for family money and even making money. I don’t have to worry anymore. From now on, we should take care of ourselves, live a few more years, and enjoy life more. That’s more important than anything.”

Anning picked a chicken leg for the Old Madam: ”Grandma, eat more. Did you hear what Dad said? Take care of yourself and live a few more years.”

The Old Madam laughed and said, ”Yes, live a few more years. I’m still waiting to enjoy more of our Ningning’s blessings.”

The Old Madam saw the benefits now and was very kind to Anning.

Yang Erchou, after having a few more drinks, said to Anning and An Zhen, ”I tell you, you two should stay away from the Xiao Family.”

”Why?”

Li Cuixia put down her chopsticks and asked.

Yang Erchou’s face was a bit flushed from drinking, and his tongue a bit heavy: ”You don’t know, the Xiao Family is rotten to the core. Xiao Qun’s grandfather was no good, lost all conscience. I used to think Xiao Qun’s generation was honest and hadn’t done anything wrong. I even thought they might change for the better. But it turns out his heart isn’t in the right place either.”

Yang Erchou recounted how Xiao Qun asked for money from Xiao Yuan and Xiao Qin, forcing Xiao Qin to only keep US$ 10 a month while the rest had to be sent home. ”Tell me, can people like that be dealt with? In the future, just keep up appearances with them, be polite when you see them, but avoid interactions if possible.”

Li Cuixia frowned: ”This is too much; there are so many people in the family. How can they rely on those two kids working for money? Besides, Xiao Yuan and Xiao Qin are not young anymore; they should be getting married soon. They should save their money for building a house or a wedding, which costs a lot. But the way Xiao Qun handles it, the kids can’t save any money. When it’s time for them to get married, Xiao Qun probably won’t have money to help, which harms the kids.”

Yang Anzhen also said, ”There are so many people in the Xiao Family, and their kids are grown and can work. Uncle Xiao isn’t encouraging everyone to be diligent and work together for a better life. Instead, he’s thinking of scraping together money to support the whole family, which is unsustainable.”

Yang Erchou took another sip of wine.

He looked at Anning and An Zhen: ”A few years ago, I told you that our family’s girls shouldn’t find partners who are too poor. I didn’t say why back then. Now let me explain: No matter the family, if they’re living poorly without disasters, it indicates one of three things. First, the whole family is lazy. If nobody works, of course, they can’t make money.”

Yang Anzhen listened attentively and poured Yang Erchou another glass of wine: ”Dad, go on.”

Yang Erchou smiled, ”The second situation is that the family is inflexible, stubborn. Living with such people means not only living poorly but also being frustrated too. The third situation is gambling, where no matter how much they earn, they lose it all. That’s even worse. In any of these cases, a girl marrying into such a family would be like jumping into a fire pit.”

Anning nodded in agreement.

She felt Yang Erchou was a clear-headed and understanding person.

Actually, Xiao Yuan’s family was really not good.

Not to mention their bad reputation in the village, their family consists of stubborn and lazy people, greedy people, and those with unrealistic dreams. No decent girl would want to marry into the Xiao Family.

If it weren’t for Xiao Yuan, Anning would definitely stay far away from such a family. Getting into this family would bring nothing but trouble.

”Dad, I understand.”

Anning poured a glass of wine and clinked glasses with Yang Erchou: ”Come, let’s have a drink since we’re happy today.”

What were the Xiao Family, deemed untouchable by Yang Erchou, doing now?

Xiao Yuan and Xiao Qin returned home and distributed the items they bought to family members.

Knowing that Xiao Hei and Xiao Li were getting married, Xiao Yuan bought each person a new set of clothes so they’d look sharp for the wedding.

Xiao Hei and Xiao Li, excited, quickly changed into their new clothes and came out smiling brightly: ”We were thinking we’d have to borrow clothes for the wedding, but now we don’t have to. We’ve got new clothes to meet the bride, which feels great.”

Xiao Qin bought a set of clothes for Xiao Xiu, who changed into them and showed them to He Fangfang.

Xiao Qun glanced over: ”Why buy new ones? Qinzi, you could have brought back some old clothes for Xiu’er. Spending this unnecessary money, you could find a matchmaker for your brother with that.”

Xiao Xiu tugged at her clothes and lowered her head, blushing.

Xiao Qin hadn’t thought much of it earlier, but now Xiao Qun’s words felt harsh: ”Everyone in the family has new clothes. Xiu should have them too, especially during the New Year. She should look her best.”

Xiao Qun said nothing more.

He was mainly thinking about how Xiao Qin had to send money home every month in the future, so he couldn’t be too harsh and upset her now.

After a while, Xiao Qun asked, ”Qinzi, how much money do you have left?”

Xiao Qin took out her wallet and handed it to Xiao Qun.

He flipped through it and found a little over one hundred.

He took all of that money.

Xiao Qin felt a bit unhappy and pulled Xiao Xiu aside to talk in the room.

As soon as they were inside, Xiao Xiu excitedly asked Xiao Qin, ”Sister, is the Capital big? How are the people you work for? They don’t give you a hard time, do they?”

Xiao Qin shook her head: ”It’s okay, just a bit tiring. Otherwise, nothing much. The Capital is indeed big, but I don’t have much time to explore.”

Xiao Xiu asked many more questions, and Xiao Qin answered them all. Xiao Xiu listened with eyes full of wonder: ”That’s great. If only I could go out and see the world too.”

”Wait a bit longer.”

Xiao Qin patted Xiao Xiu’s head: ”In a couple of years, I’ll take you out.”

Xiao Yuan called the youngest, Xiao Bai, outside.

The two brothers stood by the millstone outside. Xiao Yuan asked Xiao Bai, ”What plans do you have for the future? Do you want to herd sheep your whole life?”

Somehow, standing in front of Xiao Yuan made Xiao Bai a bit nervous: ”I-I don’t know, Second Brother, what do you think I should do?”

If Xiao Bai were younger, Xiao Yuan might arrange for him to study. But now at sixteen or seventeen, it’s too late to catch up with school. Xiao Yuan sized up Xiao Bai: ”Why don’t you learn a trade? I’ll check out the county and see what you can learn.”

”All right.”

Though he’s the youngest in the family, Xiao Bai is considered diligent. But being so young, he has no say in family matters and can’t do much, naturally earning no money.

He actually wanted to make money but didn’t know how.

Xiao Yuan extended his hand: ”Let me see your hand.”

Xiao Bai nervously extended his hand, and Xiao Yuan gripped it: ”Use your strength.”

Xiao Bai exerted some force, trying to arm-wrestle Xiao Yuan.

Xiao Yuan tested him for a while: ”You have quite some strength. I think you should learn to repair vehicles. In the future, motorcycles, tractors, and cars will become more common, and repairing them could be lucrative. Once you master the skill, we can consider opening a repair shop.”