The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

On the afternoon of the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, a fine snow began to fall from the sky. In less than an hour, the entire Yangjiazhuang was covered in a blanket of white. The roofs, the branches, the roads, and even the distant mountains were blanketed with snow.

The entire village stood silent and still.

The people in the village were busy at home preparing New Year’s food, or just enjoying good food and drinks while resting. In the freezing weather, no one wanted to come out and face the cold.

At the Xiao Family, He Fangfang was busy in the kitchen with Xiao Qin and Xiao Xiu.

The kitchen of the Xiao Family was just a mud-brick house with a stove inside and a cabinet made from old wooden boards.

The cabinet for holding bowls and chopsticks was made from old wooden boards that Xiao Yuan had scavenged, polished, painted, and nailed together.

For the past twenty years or even longer, the Xiao Family didn’t even have a cabinet for bowls and chopsticks. After meals, they would just toss the bowl and chopsticks wherever or stack them on the stove. Naturally, when it was time to eat again, they were dirty. The Xiao Family was also lazy; if it was dirty, so be it. It didn’t stop them from eating. A little dirt didn’t matter.

The phrase they often repeated was: ”A little dirt doesn’t make you sick.”

When Xiao Yuan came, he couldn’t stand it. So when he had time while herding sheep, he picked up wooden boards and with some effort, made a cabinet that could store kitchen utensils as well as bowls and chopsticks.

He Fangfang was frying meatballs, looking quite unhappy, her face full of frustration.

Xiao Qin was helping on the side: ”Mom, don’t think too much. Actually, in my opinion, it’s better that they moved out. This way, you don’t have to cook for them every day, and you won’t have to serve them. It’s all bad with no good.”

Xiao Xiu also said: ”Exactly. Even if they earn money, they don’t hand it over to you. Can you force them? They don’t give you money but still eat and drink at home. During celebrations and festivals, you still have to find ways to make clothes for the new daughter-in-law. Isn’t that just adding a burden to the family? It’s better to split up the family early and cleanly.”

He Fangfang understood this reasoning too, but she just couldn’t get over it in her heart.

Xiao Qun was sitting in the room smoking. He was puffing on his cigarette, exhaling smoke rings one after another, making the room rather choking.

Xiao Yuan sat a bit farther away and spoke to Xiao Qun in a low voice: ”Dad, after the New Year, I won’t be able to stay long. I want to take Xiao Bai with me.”

”Alright.”

Xiao Qun didn’t really want such a young child, Xiao Bai, to go out and work. He just thought if Xiao Bai went out to work too, there’d be another income for the family: ”When you’re outside, take care of your brother.”

”Okay.”

Xiao Yuan nodded: ”Dad, don’t worry. When I get to the Capital, I’ll find more work. Besides doing odd jobs, I can wait tables, wash dishes. Working two jobs, I can always earn more money. Once I earn money, I’ll send more home. You and Mom take good care of your health. With the money from Qinzi and me, the family can still get by. Plus, without taking care of my brother and Xiao Li’s families, it’s actually less of a burden than before.”

Hearing these words, a smile finally appeared on Xiao Qun’s face: ”Alright, then, find lots of work. Whatever makes money, do it. Don’t be afraid of hardship or fatigue. When you’re young, if you don’t strive, then when will you?”

Just then, Xiao Qin brought in food. As soon as she entered, she heard those words, and it felt like there was a thorn in her heart.

She knew their father saw the second son as gentle and easy-going, so he was squeezing Xiao Yuan for all the money he could get, hoping he wouldn’t have to work but could still build houses and marry wives for the other sons.

But he didn’t consider how hard it is to earn money. He even said let Xiao Yuan take more jobs, without a single worry about whether his son would be exhausted or sick, only thinking about money, thinking only of himself.

Thinking of the life they’d lived from childhood to now, Xiao Qin couldn’t help but feel overcome with sorrow.

If only Xiao Qun and He Fangfang were more diligent, worked harder, the seven siblings wouldn’t have been unable to go to school. Her second brother was so smart, buying books and self-studying in the Capital, learning drafting, mathematics, and even studying foreign languages now to expand his business. If only the family had sent the second brother to school sooner, maybe he would be like Anning, also a top scorer in the college entrance exam. Even if not the top scorer, he could have gotten into a good university for sure.

With these thoughts, Xiao Qin didn’t look at her father kindly and left after putting the meal down.

”That damned girl.”

Xiao Qun cursed, and seeing there was meat on the table, he didn’t wait for anyone else. He picked up the chopsticks and started eating.

He had just taken a couple of bites when a figure rushed over. Looking up, he saw it was the mute coming.

The mute entered, smelling the meat, and immediately sat down, grabbing chopsticks to pick out the meat to eat.

Xiao Hei sat next to the mute, using his chopsticks to pick out meat for the mute: ”Lili, eat more.”

At this time, Xiao Li also entered the room.

He brought in Li Huihui, and as soon as he saw the eldest serving meat to the mute, he quickly seated Li Huihui down, picked out several pieces of meat, and fed them to Li Huihui: ”Huihui, hurry and eat. If it’s not enough, I’ll get more from the kitchen. Eat more, see how thin you are.”

Xiao Qun watched as his two sons and two daughters-in-law picked out the best things on the table to eat. No one suggested letting others eat first, nor did they say to wait for the people cooking in the kitchen to come join them. This made him so angry his hands were shaking.

Xiao Yuan watched from the side at the four of them eating greedily and couldn’t help but frown.

He got up and went into the kitchen.

Seeing Xiao Yuan coming in, He Fangfang quickly handed him some fried meatballs: ”Eat quickly, if you don’t, you won’t get any later.”

Xiao Yuan couldn’t eat much, but since He Fangfang shoved them into his mouth, he had no choice but to eat them.

After eating the meatballs, Xiao Yuan spoke to He Fangfang: ”Mom, after the New Year, ask Dad to clear out our homestead. Once spring arrives, I’ll find a way to send some money back. Build two rooms for Eldest and Xiao Li’s families and split them off sooner.”

”Alright.”

He Fangfang knew what Xiao Yuan was concerned about and agreed: ”I’ll handle it. If your dad doesn’t agree, I won’t let it go. Which daughter-in-law just thinks about lazing around and eating without doing any work? I’m a mother-in-law busy in the kitchen all morning, while those two wake up late and only look for food without helping at all.”

The more He Fangfang talked, the angrier and more sorrowful she became: ”They say raise sons for old age security. But looking at it, I can’t count on my sons. I’m afraid your dad and I will be driven out by you siblings before we’re too old to move.”

Xiao Yuan said sternly: ”What are you saying? Even if they won’t take care, I won’t just stand by. Don’t worry, as long as I have a bite to eat, you won’t starve.”

He Fangfang lowered her head and wiped away a tear: ”Second son, don’t listen to whatever your dad says. Things are hard for you out there. When you earn money, eat better yourself. Don’t ruin your health. Everything is fleeting; health is the only real thing. If you ruin your health, you’ll be the one to suffer.”

Xiao Yuan agreed: ”I know. I’m going out for a walk.”

When Xiao Yuan left, he walked to in front of the Yang Family’s gate.

He saw smoke wafting up from the kitchen roof at Anning’s house. After standing for a moment, he went further on.

When Xiao Yuan reached the village entrance, Anning caught up with him.

”Here.”

Anning took out a hot steamed bun from her arms and handed it to Xiao Yuan: ”Hurry, eat while it’s hot.”

Seeing Anning’s bright smile, Xiao Yuan smiled too: ”Is it freshly steamed?”

”Yes.”

Anning handed the steamed bun to Xiao Yuan with a smile: ”It’s my handiwork. I know you crave this. I planned to have Xiao Qin take it home for you, but I didn’t expect you to be out. Since no one’s around now, hurry and eat.”

Xiao Yuan took a bite of the steamed bun, tasting the slightly sour flavor of fermented dough and the soft sweetness of red beans mixed with sweet potato and dates.

”Delicious.”

He smiled and took another bite: ”I’ve longed for this taste so much, I’ll never forget it in a lifetime.”

”If you like it, I’ll make more for you next time.” Anning took out a small cloth bag from her arms, filled with fragrant stir-fried walnuts: ”Here, take this to enjoy as a snack.”