The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Yang Dachou and Wang Shushu, the couple, were terribly worried about Yang Fugui’s situation.

They secretly gave something to Yang Fugui, but Yang Fuyu and his wife found out, and they caused quite a stir.

In such a situation, if Yang Lao Mao stayed with Yang Dachou, he surely wouldn’t be treated well.

As he got older and couldn’t work anymore, Yang Dachou and his wife considered him a burden, cursing and swearing all day, making insinuations.

Yang Lao Mao felt angry inside but didn’t dare to say anything.

He knew that back then, he had a big argument with Yang Erchou and his wife, and now Yang Erchou’s whole family had gone to the Capital and were out of reach, so he could only rely on Yang Dachou. To avoid being driven away by Yang Dachou, Yang Lao Mao had to endure.

The more he endured, the more excessive Wang Shushu became.

Initially, she only cursed him a bit, but later she even stopped giving him food.

Also, every year, Yang Erchou would buy clothes for Yang Lao Mao from the Capital, but once the clothes arrived, they rarely reached him. Yang Dachou and Yang Fuyu would take them and wear them instead.

Fortunately, Yang Lao Mao had three daughters living nearby, who would occasionally visit him, bringing some food and sometimes giving him pocket money. When he was hungry, he would buy some food from the local shop, preventing him from starving.

What Yang Lao Mao thought, nobody knew, but everyone in the village said he had become silent, sitting at the village entrance, longingly gazing towards the Capital.

Sometimes, the Old Madam would call her old village friends from the Capital, and these old ladies would talk about how well Ge San Ni was living, living with Anning and her husband in a villa, having maids to serve her, eating and dressing well, and even traveling with Anning and her husband. It was said that a couple of years ago, she went abroad with them and visited several countries, which delighted the Old Madam immensely.

The envy in the villagers’ eyes was evident when they talked about these things.

Yang Lao Mao just listened, becoming more silent after hearing it all.

Then some people criticized Yang Erchou, saying they were enjoying life in the Capital and had abandoned the old man at home, questioning the morality.

Others said Ge San Ni was heartless, having spent a lifetime as Yang Lao Mao’s wife, and now she was enjoying life with her granddaughter, leaving the old man behind, which was truly sinful.

Then some village elders would scoff and scold those talking bad about Ge San Ni: ”Come off it. Do you think they had such a loving marriage? Ge San Ni endured a lot of suffering when she was young. When Yang Lao Mao’s mother was alive, she would either beat or scold Ge San Ni every day, and Yang Lao Mao took his mother’s side. If Ge San Ni hadn’t been strong and resilient, she might have been tormented to death by that mother and son duo. After the mother died, Yang Lao Mao still treated Ge San Ni poorly. When he was strong, he wouldn’t work, drank all day, and when drunk, he would beat Ge San Ni. After giving birth to Bai Ni, Ge San Ni got pregnant again but lost it because of Yang Lao Mao’s beatings. It was only later, when Yang Erchou grew up and Junni and her two sisters got married, that Ge San Ni had backup and stopped getting beaten.”

The village elders remembered well how much Ge San Ni suffered at the Yang house.

”Tell me, who doesn’t get angry after a lifetime of beatings? Ge San Ni longed to separate from Yang Lao Mao long ago, but never had the chance. Later, when Anning had a baby in the Capital, Ge San Ni eagerly packed up and went to take care of her granddaughter. Why? Simply to stay away from Yang Lao Mao. Everyone in Yang’s family knew these things, and none of Yang’s children ever tried to persuade their parents to stay together. They knew their family’s business, and outsiders don’t need to interfere.”

When the elders said so, the younger generation in the village realized the truth, and since then, no one gossiped about it anymore.

After seeing how well Ge San Ni was living now, many men dared not hit their wives anymore.

They feared that one day their wives would leave with the children, leaving them with a fate like Yang Lao Mao’s.

That day, during a break from farming and with the weather cooling, Yang Junni came over to wash and change Yang Lao Mao’s bedding.

When she arrived at Yang Dachou’s house, the door was locked tight, and she called out for a long time, but no one answered.

She inquired with the neighbors, learned that Yang Dachou and Wang Shushu had gone out, and asked where Yang Lao Mao was, but nobody knew.

With no other option, Yang Junni climbed over from the eastern neighbor’s roof onto her own, then descended using a ladder.

The door inside wasn’t locked; upon entering, she saw Yang Lao Mao sleeping.

Her anger flared: ”Dad, didn’t you hear me calling for so long?”

Yang Lao Mao, groggy, got up: ”I was tired. Last night your elder brother and sister-in-law argued half the night, and I didn’t sleep well.”

Yang Junni asked again: ”Have you eaten?”

”Not yet.”

Yang Lao Mao shook his head.

Suppressing her anger, Yang Junni went to the kitchen, but when she opened the cabinet, there was nothing.

She was truly infuriated but couldn’t let Yang Lao Mao starve all day, so she found a way to buy some eggs and flour from a neighbor.

Once she swiftly prepared a meal and brought it over, Yang Lao Mao, starving, was already red-eyed with hunger, ate the noodles heartily, and said, ”Delicious, your cooking is much better than your sister-in-law’s.”

Yang Junni thought to herself that it was because Wang Shushu was stingy with ingredients, with no oil, meat, or eggs, just some vegetables and salt; it could never taste good.

”Then eat more.”

While Yang Lao Mao ate in the courtyard, Yang Junni began to wash the bedding.

After finishing his meal, Yang Lao Mao put the bowl aside: ”Danni, has your mother contacted you?”

Yang Junni replied irritably, ”How could she not? She calls often, and my mother frequently visits Xiangshan. Xiangshan even stays with Anning during the holidays.”

Mentioning Zhang Xiangshan, Yang Lao Mao smiled: ”Xiangshan has made something of himself.”

Yang Junni also smiled: ”He won several championships, and recently my mother told me that Xiangshan got selected to join the national team for the Olympics. If he wins gold, it would be incredible.”

”When is he going? Tell your mother to take good care of Xiangshan and not to let the child down.”

Yang Lao Mao also showed concern.

While washing clothes, Yang Junni replied: ”Next year, but this year he’ll be in closed training. The training there is tough; he won’t be allowed to return home. Even if my mother wanted to take care of him, she couldn’t. Furthermore, his diet is strictly regulated. My mother wouldn’t dare feed him random things.”

Unfamiliar with the topic, Yang Lao Mao felt it sounded impressive after hearing Yang Junni’s explanation.

”Listen to the coach then.”

Having discussed Zhang Xiangshan, Yang Lao Mao turned to Zhang Xiangxiang.

Yang Junni chuckled more: ”Xiangxiang is doing well too. She graduated from college and got into graduate school. We’ve been doing okay these past years, and thanks to Xiangshan not only not spending family money but also sending some home, Xiangxiang can continue studying. I heard from Anning that Xiangxiang attended a good school and she excels in her studies. After graduating, she can stay in the Provincial City where several schools want her.”

Beaming, Yang Junni continued: ”Both my kids turned out well, thanks to Anning. If it weren’t for Anning taking Xiangshan to find a coach back then, Xiangshan wouldn’t be where he is today. When Xiangxiang was in high school considering college, it was Anning who persuaded us. If it were up to me and her father, we wouldn’t have wanted her to study so much. Now, I see that education is indeed beneficial. A higher educational level offers broader choices, much like my Xiangxiang. After graduation, whether staying on to teach or doing something else, she won’t have to worry about finding a good job.”

As the conversation lingered, Yang Lao Mao curiously asked Yang Junni: ”Did your mother ever say when she’s coming back?”

With a flick of water off her hand, Yang Junni responded: ”Coming back for what? My mom says the Capital is great; she doesn’t plan to come back. She eats and drinks well there, and Anning’s son-in-law treats her well. He even said he’d take her abroad next year to watch the Olympics, to cheer for Xiangshan.”

Observing Yang Lao Mao’s face, Yang Junni saw his smile vanish in an instant. After a while of stunned silence, he rubbed his face but couldn’t muster another smile.

She didn’t say much else, just focused on washing clothes.

The silence was suddenly broken as the courtyard door flung open, and Yang Fugui rushed in.

Seeing Yang Junni, he pleaded: ”Aunt, save me, you must save me.”

Yang Lao Mao, startled, stood up hurriedly: ”What’s going on? What happened?”