The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Yang Junni was speaking the truth.

Actually, it’s not just their family; many families in the village are not living very comfortably.

Yes, now people don’t worry about eating or drinking, every family gets enough to eat, and they have clothes to wear.

But just farming doesn’t really earn much, and then there’s the money for seeds and fertilizers, and agricultural taxes and such. The money earned from farming goes into daily expenses for the family.

But no family just wants to eat and drink enough.

Who doesn’t support the elderly or raise children?

Children need to go to school, and elderly need medical care, and all of this costs money.

Yang Junni’s mother-in-law fell seriously ill last year and stayed in the hospital for about half a month, which cost a lot of money, and that’s the main reason for their family’s financial struggles.

Thinking about her family’s situation, Anning sincerely suggested, ”If you want Xiangxiang to start earning money soon, let her apply to a teacher training school, or if it’s a vocational school, apply to specific schools related to electricity, water, or railway departments. After graduation, she could be assigned to those units.”

Zhang Xiangxiang, at this point, couldn’t focus on making dumplings; she listened attentively, ”Sis, I want to be a teacher, but I’ve noticed that our teachers’ salaries aren’t being paid. Teachers like ours haven’t received their salaries for several months.”

”Yes.”

Yang Junni frowned, ”Factory workers earn more, while teachers earn less, and salaries are delayed.”

Anning smiled, ”This is just the current situation; in a few years, things will change. Many factories will merge or become privatized, and workers will face layoffs and reemployment. Meanwhile, teachers will have more job security. The issue of unpaid salaries is temporary; in a few years, or by the time you graduate, not only will teachers’ salaries increase, but they will also be paid on time.”

Yang Junni then said to Zhang Xiangxiang, ”Listen to your sister; she is much more knowledgeable than us.”

Zhang Xiangxiang said, ”I’ll apply to a teacher training college then. I always rank first or second in exams at our school, and my teachers say there’s hope.”

Yang Junni sighed, ”Xiangxiang is sensible and studies well, so we’re not worried about her. It’s just Xiangshan who is naughty and doesn’t study well, and it’s a real worry. If he doesn’t get into school, what will we do? He’s so young, not even legally an adult after middle school, he can’t just go out and become a construction worker.”

While talking, the dumplings were all wrapped.

Over there, Yang Lingni and Yang Baoni had washed and cut the vegetables, helping Old Madam cook.

Yang Lingni glanced at Yang Junni, ”Don’t mention it; your Xiangshan is really troublesome, always fighting at school.”

Anning carefully recalled the memories of the original character, ”Auntie, why not let Xiangshan study sports? I remember Xiangshan runs particularly fast, he’s stronger than others, and his legs are long. I think he could do well in running, and when it comes to high school entrance exams, he could apply as a specialty student; the scores needed are very low, and teacher training colleges also recruit sports students. He could become a physical education teacher.”

”Is it possible to apply for that?”

Yang Junni wasn’t aware, ”Alright, I’ll inquire about it at school later. Xiangshan doesn’t excel in other things, but he’s really fast at running. No other kid in the village can catch up with him.”

Speaking of Xiangshan’s speed, Anning became interested.

She said to Yang Junni, ”I’ll go borrow a stopwatch from Mr. Gao and take Xiangshan to school to run a lap, let’s see his performance.”

”You’d better hurry.”

Concerned about Zhang Xiangshan’s future, Yang Junni urged Anning, ”By the way, when you go to Mr. Gao, don’t go empty-handed; take the fruits I brought.”

Anning agreed, put on a cotton jacket, and went to visit Mr. Gao with a bag of fruit.

She returned within half an hour, not only with a stopwatch but also with the elementary school’s keys.

Anning invited Zhang Xiangshan and asked a few uncles to bring brooms and such to the elementary school.

Together, they cleared a track on the playground behind the elementary school, and Anning asked Zhang Xiangshan to warm up before starting to time him.

Before timing, Anning explained some points to Zhang Xiangshan, who listened attentively.

Anning first timed 100 meters, and indeed, Zhang Xiangshan’s performance was quite good.

Then, after resting for a while, Anning timed 200 meters, and his performance was still impressive.

Smiling, Anning patted Zhang Xiangshan’s head, ”Alright, let’s go home.”

Once home, Zhang Jianfang and Yang Junni gathered around, ”Ningning, how did Xiangshan do?”

Anning smiled, ”He did very well, absolutely. He’s naturally talented for sprints, and he’s still so young. His performance already rivals adults, and with proper training, he might even make the national track team someday.”

”Really?”

Yang Junni was surprised by such good news, ”Then we’ll aim for sports specialty; I don’t even expect him to join the track team, I’d be thrilled if he just got into school.”

Saying this, Zhang Jianfang echoed the sentiment, but Anning had different thoughts.

Honestly, Zhang Xiangshan was a pleasant surprise for Anning.

Not only did she time his performance, but she also examined his physical condition and facial features. Anning felt that with proper training, Zhang Xiangshan could potentially win a sprint championship, maybe not a world championship, but there’s hope for an Asian one.

Anning planned to ask Xiao Yuan in the Capital to help inquire with the track team to see if Xiangshan’s performance made him eligible for a special admission.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, families gathered together, lively and warm.

Anning’s three aunts have good temperaments, and the three uncles are honest and sincere people. When they visit, they don’t act like guests; they help with everything and get along with Yang Erchou. The men gathered, and since it was the New Year, they drank quite a bit.

Later, they were so drunk they were stumbling, unable to go home, causing quite a bit of worry.

If Yang Erchou wasn’t drunk, he could drive the tractor to take them home.

But Yang Erchou drank quite a lot today and was lying on the kang.

Anning rolled up her sleeves, ”I’ll drive my aunts home; I can drive a tractor.”

This frightened Old Madam, who firmly stopped Anning, ”Absolutely not, the road is too slippery today. I’m not comfortable with you driving a tractor; you can’t go.”

Anning thought for a moment, ”Should I ask Xiao Yuan for help?”

Old Madam hesitated, ”He knows how to drive a tractor?”

Anning nodded, ”He does.”

She thought Xiao Yuan could even deliver babies if needed; what couldn’t he do?

Anning decided to act immediately, donning a thick cotton jacket and heading to the Xiao Family to call Xiao Yuan.

The Xiao Family was busy at the moment.

Today Wu Chunli and Li Huixx had returned to their natal families; in the morning they argued over the bicycle, then later due to Li Huixx boasting about the generous gifts from the Li family, which Wu Chunli found upsetting. This argument led to Xiao Hei and Xiao Li taking sides, turning into a scuffle.

Seeing Anning arrive, Xiao Qin quickly approached her, ”Ningning, what’s the matter?”

Anning whispered, ”Can you go get your second brother? My dad and my uncles are drunk; I want him to drive the tractor and take my aunts home.”

Xiao Yuan was originally helping to stop the fight with Xiao Qin and Xiao Bai, but once Anning arrived, regardless of the commotion, he entered the room, grabbed a military green coat, and put it on, ”Let’s go.”