The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

”Mom, what are you yelling about?”

Fang JianShe heard the crying and shouting, his face flushed with embarrassment. He hurried out, trying to coax and plead with Mrs. Fang to get her back home.

Mrs. Fang forcefully shook him off: ”You two keep causing troubles, and you won’t let me say anything? At first, I said not to marry a daughter from the Zhou Family, but you insisted, and now look at what happened. Once she entered our home, she’s been eating our flesh, drinking our blood. Your father and I are old now, all our retirement money was given to you, not a penny to the second son’s home. What more do you want? You still want me to buy you a house? I don’t have money. You stay here if you like, if not, just get out.”

It happened to be Sunday, Fang Jianhua and Yang Anzhen had bought some things to visit the elderly, discussing to share the house purchase news with them to cheer them up. As they approached home, a neighbor called them: ”Jianhua, Anzhen, quickly go check; your mom is arguing with your sister-in-law.”

Fang Jianhua pedaled the bike vigorously, sweating by the time he reached home.

Yang Anzhen jumped off the bike, seeing Mrs. Fang and Fang JianShe almost hitting each other. She didn’t dare to step forward.

Fang Jianhua didn’t dare to let Yang Anzhen go either.

He parked the bike and rushed to shield Mrs. Fang: ”Mom, what happened? Why are you shouting?”

Zhou Chunhua, who hadn’t shown up, came out upon hearing the noise.

She immediately noticed Yang Anzhen, dressed in a fashionable pink down jacket and plaid scarf.

”Oh, sister-in-law, got a new outfit again, huh? You surely are loaded, buying a house and daring to buy such expensive clothes. Must have cost quite a bit, right?”

Yang Anzhen smiled, deliberately provoking Zhou Chunhua: ”Not much really, less than US$ 500, sister-in-law, if you wish, buy one too.”

Zhou Chunhua’s face changed instantly: ”Second brother, spoiling your wife isn’t like this, wasting money, US$ 500 for clothes... My heavens, dare to wear that outdoors.”

Mrs. Fang was so mad she was jumping: ”What’s it to you? Didn’t spend a penny of yours. If you can, go buy one too, I guarantee no complaints.”

Zhou Chunhua’s face grew worse: ”Still saying no money to the second son’s home. Everyone judge, they bought a house and clothes, how much salary do they earn combined?”

Mr. Fang, usually uninvolved in family matters, now couldn’t bear it, came out holding a cleaver. In front of neighbors, he tossed it to Zhou Chunhua: ”Rather than enjoying a good life, always causing trouble, fine, isn’t it favoritism you’re upset about? Have the guts, use the knife to end us, saves us from suffering.”

This sentence made Mrs. Fang tear up.

Mr. Fang looked around, with a stern face said: ”Everyone here has been neighbors for decades, everybody knows what’s going on in each family. Our monthly earnings, everyone is aware, right? When JianShe was young, we only had over twenty bucks salary, his grandma was there too, we had to support the elder and raise two children, practically spent all monthly, little left leftover, later salaries increased slightly, but so did prices. Until a few years ago, our salaries grew to over a hundred, but by then JianShe had kids, buying milk powder, clothes, the whole family expenses, tell me, how much was left?”

These days, which family isn’t budgeting carefully?

Neighbors lived similarly to Fang Family, they too had an account of it.

Now they began discussing Fang JianShe and Zhou Chunhua: ”You two are really not considerate, how much could your parents have? Check the account yourself, they earn less than US$ 400 a month, a year, not spending anything, only US$ 5,000 saved, how many years to accumulate tens of thousands? Besides, few years back, they didn’t earn that much.”

Mr. Fang shivered with anger: ”When Eldest married, Zhou Family demanded a large dowry, over US$ 2,000 all at once, we scraped to give that money, until when Second married, we barely recovered, but if so much was given to Eldest, can’t fall short here, or they’d say we’re unfair...”

As Mr. Fang spoke, sadness overwhelmed him, uncontrollably shed tears: ”Back then, we had little savings, marrying off Second depleted it. These years, our earnings all supplemented Eldest’s home. Truth is, Second suffered, but Second’s Wife never complained, Second couple is really filial, Second’s Wife kind-hearted. Life goes on only because; if she were as calculating as Eldest’s Wife, we’d have no way to live.”

Mr. Fang wept, causing Mrs. Fang to cry along: ”Zhou Family raised such a daughter, Zhou Chunhua, hear this, live if you like, if not, leave, I won’t serve you anymore.”

Mr. Fang looked at Fang Jianhua: ”We served during Eldest’s confinement, now Second’s close, we can’t favor one over another, Second, you’ve bought a home, when close to giving birth, I and your mom will move over, avoiding your sister-in-law’s displeasure, we aided your elder brother’s home for years, now it’s your turn, balancing the grievance of your brother and sister-in-law.”

Zhou Chunhua panicked upon hearing this.

She discarded her pride, smiling apologetically to Mrs. Fang: ”Mom, don’t be mad, it’s my fault, I overthought, I’m wrong, I apologize, if you’re upset, just slap me a few times...”

Mrs. Fang pushed her aside, entered the house: ”I’ll listen to your dad, whatever he says, I’ll do.”

Mr. Fang stated firmly: ”Two sons, we have to care for both, when Second’s family gives birth, if we don’t serve during confinement, we’d be criticized. Your kid enrolled in school already, no more worries, but Second’s kid needs caretaking, they both work, if not us, who? Only option would be sending to Yangjiazhuang for in-laws to watch, does Fang Family have no shame?”

Fang JianShe was at a loss.

He couldn’t possibly say Mr. Fang and Mrs. Fang shouldn’t care for Fang Jianhua.

Mr. Fang’s words made sense, the elderly carried his child until grown, now it’s Second’s turn to need them, how could they deny it?

If he dare utter such words, surely to be rebuked.

Moreover, if news reached Yangjiazhuang, Yang Family wouldn’t agree.

Yang Anzhen heard all this, she understood.

She took out a book from her bag for neighbors to see: ”It’s all misunderstanding from my sister-in-law, we bought a house, but didn’t spend a penny of the elderly’s money, all borrowed from my sister, here’s the book my sister translated, see, her name is written on it.”

Anning said she earned money translating books, not exaggerating. In university, surely couldn’t earn nothing, right?

After all, her expenses were high, unwilling to ask family for money, inevitably had to find ways to earn, hence took on translation work, occasionally guiding foreigners, earning extra.

Though she didn’t earn tens of thousands, with this book, adequate as an excuse.

Neighbors passed around the book Yang Anzhen held, seeing it truly bore Yang Anning’s name, everyone expressed envy.

”Anzhen, your sister is promising, after all, good life demands more studying.”

”Exactly, those who claim studying doesn’t earn, reads poorly obviously, Anning, no matter placed where, would succeed.”

”Imagine Anning isn’t like petty merchants, upon graduating, entitled as cadre, definitely bringing glory to family.”

Others said to Zhou Chunhua: ”Chunhua, living on the same street all these years, not to criticize, idle minds do foolish things, aren’t you aware of your parents’ earnings? Where would such money come from? In fact, money came from Yang Family.”

One statement after another, embarrassed Zhou Chunhua blushed furiously.

She dared not speak, returned indoors, dragging and spanking Fang Ling: ”Get hit for babbling, who allowed you to quarrel, I’ll beat this useless wretch to death!”

Fang Jianhua entered upon hearing Zhou Chunhua spanking the child, addressed Mr. Fang and Mrs. Fang: ”Dad, Mom, today’s a happy occasion, let’s not cook, I’ll treat you to dining out.”