The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

After two days of midterm exams, Anning still needed to review the papers, tally the scores, and so on.

She was incredibly busy these days, and Xiao Yuan took care of things at home.

The four children, led by Xiao Lu, were estimating their scores.

Though Xiao Lu’s academic performance wasn’t outstanding, it was pretty good. As a high school student, helping her younger siblings estimate scores wasn’t a difficult task for her.

Thus, before Anning finished checking the papers, the four children’s scores were almost estimated.

Now that Xiao Lu was in her second year of high school and had been divided into arts and sciences, this midterm exam was completely based on the college entrance exam subjects, with a total score of 750. Xiao Lu estimated 560.

This score wasn’t very good, but it was decent. She couldn’t get into a top-tier university, but based on last year’s cutoff, she could still get into a regular one.

Zhao Xiaocong and Zhao Xiaomeng each estimated over 600 points, and Xiao Yishan also got over 600 points, although her score was slightly lower than Zhao Xiaomeng’s.

In the eighth grade, students study nine subjects, with a full score of over 900. Scoring over 600 really wasn’t much for the three of them.

However, this still showed some improvement compared to their previous scores.

After seeing their estimated scores, Anning didn’t comment on whether they were good or bad, she just said: ”There’s room for improvement, especially for LuLu. You’re about to enter your third year of high school. You have one year left. If you work hard, the time is sufficient. Let’s use this year to push harder and aim for a good university next year.”

”Alright, I understand.”

Xiao Lu was a sensible child, and she knew very well how advantageous her current circumstances were.

When Anning started tutoring Xiao Lu, Xiao Lu initially thought Anning, a junior high school teacher, probably couldn’t help with high school courses. She thought she’d give it a try, partly wanting to let Anning know it was beyond her reach.

But after Anning tutored her for a few days, Xiao Lu’s thoughts completely changed.

She thought to herself that this stepmother was indeed talented and versatile. No matter the subject, she could teach and do it even better than the subject teachers. The lessons Xiao Lu didn’t understand in class, she brought them home and asked Anning. Anning explained them until she understood and learned them easily.

After that, Xiao Lu genuinely admired Anning and sincerely studied with her.

Anning then looked at the three little ones: ”You too, as long as you work hard, it’s never too late for us. If you work hard for a year in ninth grade, aim to get into a key high school during the entrance exam. If any of you succeed, we’ll move to the city.”

Upon hearing they could move to the city, the three little ones were especially excited: ”Really?”

Xiao Yuan laughed as he approached: ”Would your mom lie to you? Of course, it’s true. Our family has a house in the city, so moving there isn’t difficult.”

The three little ones were eager to go to the city, gaining motivation to study hard because of that.

After checking the scores, Anning then started to formulate study plans tailored to each child and then let them do their homework.

After sending the kids off, Anning sat down to write on her computer.

In just two or three days, Anning checked the backend data. Total subscriptions had surpassed ten million, which meant in just a few days, she had earned around 400,000. Money came quickly indeed.

After checking the data, Anning spoke to Xiao Yuan: ”By next month, I can withdraw my money. It should be around two million. What do you think we should do with it?”

Xiao Yuan thought for a moment: ”I’ve looked at the terrain these days and even reviewed Bao Bufen’s face. I suggest he go to the auction for the land in the west of the city. When your money is available next month, we should check how much we have at home, combine it all, and give it to Bao Bufen, count it as a share. Once the land is developed, he can reserve a few storefronts for us.”

That seems feasible.

Anning nodded: ”Okay.”

While Xiao Family worked hard to improve their children’s scores, Zhang Family pooled a large sum of money and started bidding for land in the east of the city.

When Zhang Hao learned Bao Bufen withdrew his investment and didn’t participate in the bidding, he privately said to Zhang Linfeng: ”See? Xiao Yuan is probably a double agent. Who knows who’s hired him, causing Bao Bufen to retreat. Now we’ve lost a competitor.”

Zhang Linfeng tried to recall: ”Maybe he’s bribed by Fu Family.”

Fu Family was also one of the developers participating in the bid. Their capital wasn’t as strong as Zhang Family’s, but Fu Family connected with several other families, making them formidable.

”Never mind.”

Zhang Hao waved his hand: ”Did you find out the bidding base price I asked you about?”

Zhang Linfeng smiled: ”Yes, I arranged people on Fu Family’s side, and it worked. We found out their base price.”

Zhang Hao chuckled: ”This time, we’re determined to win.”

In recent days, Zhang Yilin was also paying attention to the bidding. She knew after Bao Bufen and Boss Wu withdrew, there must be serious problems with the land.

She was anxious but helpless.

After contemplating for a few days, Zhang Yilin stopped seeking Zhang Hao and Zhang Linfeng. The father and son duo were too confident, bordering on arrogance. They wouldn’t listen to anyone’s opinion. Anyway, perhaps after experiencing setbacks, they might change a bit.

Now, Zhang Yilin’s objective was to accumulate money.

She didn’t ask Zhang Hao for money. Instead, she flattered Madam Zhang daily.

Madam Zhang naturally had her own private stash. Plus, she had plenty of jewelry and accessories in her possession, and Zhang Yilin had her eyes on those valuable pieces.

Anyway, during the Zhang Family’s final crazed period, she occasionally hustled Madam Zhang for some jewelry and things, or asked for some cash under the guise of pocket money, or got Madam Zhang to buy her luxury goods.

If Xiao Lu were at Zhang Family, Madam Zhang wouldn’t care for Zhang Yilin. She would surely favor Xiao Lu more.

But since Xiao Lu returned to Xiao Family, now Zhang Yilin is closer to her, being her own daughter, Madam Zhang naturally dotes on her. Being someone who spends freely, when Zhang Yilin coaxed her for things, she gladly complied.

Actually, Madam Zhang had some thoughts in her mind too.

She thought since it’s her biological daughter, her belongings would eventually be left to her. So why not give them now, at least to make her daughter happy?

What she didn’t know was that the money and things she gave were secretly transferred to Xiao Family by Zhang Yilin.

Xiao Yuan asked Zhang Yilin if she wanted him to help invest the money or something. Zhang Yilin declined, saying it wouldn’t be long before the money had its purpose.

Xiao Yuan understood, knowing Zhang Yilin was preparing an escape route for Zhang Family.

A couple of days later, midterm exam scores were released.

The estimated scores of the four children at home were quite accurate, essentially the scores as estimated. The actual scores were only slightly different from the estimated ones.

The sixth class Anning taught had remarkably bright results this time.

The sixth class’s performance at First Middle School had always been poor, not unexpected but almost there.

Yet this time, the sixth class’s average scores ranked third in the whole grade. For the subject Anning taught, Chinese, its average and total scores were the top in the entire grade.

Thus, Anning was repeatedly praised by the principal at the faculty meeting.

After the scores were released, Anning continued her consistent teaching. She tightened her grip on students’ performance, especially in the Chinese class. Anning sought efficiency in her lessons, making sure every student understood and absorbed the content she explained in each 40-minute class.

For other subjects, Anning communicated and coordinated with each subject teacher, all of whom started improving efficiency. After discussing with the parents, they began giving students additional tutorials.

Every midday for half an hour, plus half an hour after school in the evening, tutorials were given to students to enhance their grades.

Seeing Anning so busy, the four children at home were also considerate, trying their best not to interrupt her.

Now, the children had mastered self-learning methods. Many of the questions they could learn themselves. If they couldn’t understand them, they’d discuss among themselves or look them up online.

Once they figured out the questions, Anning would help them connect the knowledge points once she returned.

In this manner, during the next monthly exam, the sixth class’s scores improved. This time, they ranked second in the whole grade.

The four children’s scores at home also showed improvement.

Especially the three little ones. In this monthly exam, their scores reached over 700, and Xiao Lu improved by more than ten points.