The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

The food and drinks were set on the table, and Anning and Li Cuixia entered the room.

Yang Lao Mao lifted his eyelids, glanced at them, and then pointed to Wang Shushu: ”You women can take some dishes to eat on the side; this table is for the men.”

Ha.

Anning gave a cold laugh and took the chicken, fish, and a few better dishes over to another table, leaving only some vegetables for the men.

”Aunt, sister-in-law, mom, grandma, let’s eat over here.”

Anning pulled the women to the other table: ”Everyone eat more, if there’s not enough, I’ll make more. Oh, does anyone want a drink? I’ll go get some.”

Yang Lao Mao was so angry that he glared, but he couldn’t do anything about Anning.

Yang Erchou chuckled twice: ”Let them eat. The women at home work hard all year round, it’s not easy; it’s New Year’s, they ought to eat something good.”

Yang Dachou’s mouth twitched, he wanted to say something, but when he saw his mom, his wife, and his daughter-in-law at the table, he couldn’t say a word.

It was Fugui who shouted, ”What’s going on here, can people eat or not?”

Anning turned and smiled: ”Aren’t there dishes on the table? Second brother, just eat. If you want to eat meat, come over to our table.”

Yang Fugui looked at the bland vegetable dishes on their table and then at the chicken, duck, and fish on the women’s table, and finally decided to cast aside his dignity to squeeze onto the women’s table.

Anning ate some dishes, went inside, and came out with a down jacket for Yang Lao Mao: ”Grandpa, this is what I bought for you from the Capital, planning to give it to you for New Year’s as a surprise. But since you’re here today, you can take it back and I won’t have to deliver it tomorrow.”

Yang Lao Mao was delighted: ”You bought me clothes?”

He took the down jacket: ”It’s really light.”

”Yes, it’s light, and warm, very comfortable to wear.”

Yang Erchou laughed and said, ”Dad, give it a try.”

Yang Lao Mao didn’t care about eating anymore, he stood up and put the down jacket on: ”This is really nice, soft and comfortable. Oh, I’m already warm after wearing it for just a moment.”

He spoke while taking it off: ”This isn’t cheap, is it?”

Anning laughed and nodded: ”It’s from the same shop as grandma’s; each is worth several hundred yuans.”

Upon hearing that the jacket cost several hundred yuans, Yang Lao Mao clung to it tightly.

Yang Fugui looked at the jacket in Yang Lao Mao’s hands and his eyes spun.

He was pondering how to persuade him to let him have the jacket, wondering what kind of feeling such an expensive item would bring.

Eager to go home and wear his new clothes, Yang Dachou and the others weren’t fond of the vegetable dishes either. They ate a few bites, sat at Anning’s house for a while, and left as a family around eight or nine in the evening.

Once they left, Anning sat on the sofa: ”Mom, I’m still hungry, can you make me some dumplings?”

Li Cuixia gave Anning a light slap: ”You child, you were so capable just now, taking the dishes without looking at how angry your grandpa was.”

Anning snuggled against Old Madam, resting her head on her: ”Who asked grandpa not to let us eat at the table? Why, the dishes are ours but we can’t eat them! The more he forbids, the more I want to eat.”

”Ah you.”

The Old Madam laughed and tapped Anning’s forehead: ”Today it’s just family, it’s all fine. But if there are outsiders, don’t behave that way. Pretend to be filial and sensible.”

”Got it.”

Anning stuck out her tongue: ”I really didn’t eat enough.”

The Old Madam instructed Li Cuixia: ”Cuixia, make some dumplings, I’m a bit hungry too.”

Yang Erchou got up: ”I’ll do it.”

After eating dumplings, the family sat together watching the Spring Festival Gala while staying up all night.

At midnight, Anning went back to her room to sleep.

On New Year’s Day, Anning didn’t go out to pay respects; she slept half the day, read a book, and spent most of it.

On the second day, Yang Junni and others came to pay respects, and Anning, along with Li Cuixia, got up early to prepare meals.

Anning’s aunts had good personalities and didn’t just sit and wait to be served; Yang Junni brought along Anning’s cousin Zhang Xiangxiang to help with cooking.

While cooking, she asked Anning: ”Ningning, do you think it’s better for your cousin to go to vocational school or high school?”

This year Zhang Xiangxiang was in her third year of middle school and had to take exams the next year. Yang Junni was unsure of what school she should attend.

In those days vocational and teacher training schools were hard to get into, but once graduated, job placement was guaranteed. Comparatively, high school required lower scores, but then there was the university entrance exam and a few more years of college. Rural folks thought it was a waste of time.

Vocational school grads were placed, and so were university grads, so why spend those extra years?

Anning thought for a moment; she knew in a few years vocational school wouldn’t guarantee placements anymore. Sure, Zhang Xiangxiang would make it in time for graduation, but what then?

Even if placed, so what? Nowadays, the waves of layoffs kept hitting; a vocational diploma really wasn’t sufficient.

”Aunt, I think it’s still better for Xiangxiang to attend high school. After all, a college diploma has more weight than a vocational one, and once in college, there are further opportunities. Right now, going to vocational seems convenient, but you’ve got to think long-term. In the future, with the emphasis on education, college graduates will be everywhere, and Xiangxiang with a vocational certificate truly won’t find it easy to get a job if layoffs happen.”

”Mom, I think my cousin is right; I want to go to high school.”

Zhang Xiangxiang said while making dumplings.

”But you’d be so old once you graduate college; finding a husband would be hard.”

Yang Junni worried about this aspect.

Anning put down the dumplings and earnestly told Yang Junni: ”Aunt, don’t always focus on finding Xiangxiang a husband. She’s so young! Yes, rural areas see early marriages, but do you know at what age city folks get married? Twenty-five or six isn’t considered old at all, some even marry in their thirties. Xiangxiang might stay in the city after college, then age wouldn’t be a concern. Besides, constantly talking about marriage, what’s the use of finding a good match? If she doesn’t have skills, can’t earn money, will she keep asking for money every day? Aunt, relying on others for money isn’t pleasant. In my opinion, having parents isn’t as good as having one’s own capabilities. Standing on your own, earning and spending your own money, that’s the most satisfying.”

Yang Junni remained silent.

Li Cuixia quietly spoke to her: ”I think Ningning is right. Just look at Ningning; she attended a good university, earns money now, and no matter whom she marries in the future, she’ll have no fear. If her in-laws treat her poorly, she can leave without feeling aggrieved. With her own house and money, what is there to fear?”

Yang Junni still remained silent.

Anning asked her: ”Aunt, what are you thinking?”

Yang Junni’s voice was a bit hoarse: ”Your uncle is somewhat reluctant for Xiangxiang to go so far, saying it’s too costly. You know how tight things are for us; he wants Xiangxiang to go to vocational school, graduate sooner, and help the family financially.”