The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 1649: Chapter 1953: Group Favorite Novel Counterpart 23

The Pei Family quickly became busy. Starting from the morning, many people gradually arrived at the Pei Family home with their tools.

Anning had already prepared hot tea. The night before, she and Xiao Yuan picked some peanuts from home and roasted half a snakeskin bag of them in the big iron pot. She now took a basket made of wicker, filled it with the roasted peanuts, and placed it in the house to offer tea and peanuts to the incoming guests.

The peanuts were grown in their own fields. While they appeared to be quite a lot, they weren’t worth much money, just required some effort to roast.

The tea was even less expensive. The water came from their own well, and the tea leaves weren’t anything special, just the kind you could buy in a large pack for a few dollars.

The tea wasn’t served in cups; instead, they used rough ceramic bowls. Farmers wouldn’t be learned in drinking tea elegantly anyway, and drinking from big ceramic bowls was more satisfying.

These simple and cost-effective offerings left a good impression.

When they reached the field, the people who came to work really put in the effort.

No matter what the reputation of the Pei Family was, they were still from Xiaxi Village, and they were all fellow villagers, some even neighbors. If anyone worked while slacking off and being lazy, they would certainly be talked about.

That day, only An Xian and Anjing stayed at home to cook, while the rest of the family went to work in the fields.

Because there were many people, the Pei Family didn’t provide lunch, but the wages included money for meals, which everyone could accept.

Twelve acres—if the Pei Family had to do it all by themselves, who knows how long it would take. But with the help of the village, the fields were done in just a few days, and then it was time to build the greenhouse.

Anning and Xiao Yuan were directing this part.

The two divided the work and cooperated, each leading a group to start by erecting the frame and then covering it with plastic sheets and other materials.

It took about half a month, but the fields were ready, and the greenhouses were built.

While building the greenhouses, Anning asked Pei Laoshi to collect straw mats from around the village, and if there weren’t enough in the village, they were to go to other villages.

Anjing called Chen Qiang to help Pei Laoshi with the collection. Once the greenhouses were built, the straw mats were also collected. Anning and Xiao Yuan then led people to lay the straw mats on the greenhouses.

When everything was ready, Anning arranged for vegetable seeds, planting some in certain greenhouses and preparing another greenhouse for seedlings.

Just as the seeds were sown, Xiao Family asked Xiao Lei to find Xiao Yuan.

Xiao Lei arrived at the Pei Family home and asked for Xiao Yuan.

Anning called Xiao Yuan out.

Xiao Lei hurriedly said, “Third Brother, Big Brother’s marriage is set, and Dad wants you to return home.”

“Got it.” Xiao Yuan had just returned from the field, covered in dirt, and hadn’t even washed his face or changed clothes. He responded and used a cloth to wipe the dust from his clothes.

The flying dust choked Xiao Lei, making him cough several times: “Remember, you definitely have to come home tomorrow. Tomorrow, our family is meeting with the bride’s side to discuss dowry.”

Xiao Yuan agreed, and Xiao Lei didn’t stay long at the Pei Family home. After delivering his message, he left.

Xiao Feng was getting married, but Xiao Yuan couldn’t care less about who he was marrying, and neither did Anning.

After all, Xiao Yuan had separated; he wasn’t mixing with Xiao Feng and them anymore, so who cared whom Xiao Feng was marrying?

Opposite the Pei Family, the Yang Family was gathered around eating a meal.

Sun Jinhua, adding more rice to their plates, asked Yang Baotian and Yang Baoshan, “Have you two figured out how the Pei Family is doing that greenhouse over the past few days?”

Yang Baoshan, having worked as a carpenter, was good with his hands and could easily understand how things worked by just looking. He put down his bowl and nodded, “It’s not difficult; I got it.”

Yang Baolin was a bit hesitant, “Mom, we can build a greenhouse, but we’re not too clear on how those warm-house vegetables are grown.”

Yang Baozhu looked at Yang Baolin, “Third Brother, there’s nothing difficult about it. We’re all farmers, especially Mom. Haven’t the vegetables in our home garden all been grown by her? They’ve grown well, so what’s hard about these greenhouse vegetables?”

Sun Jinhua was also confident, “Baozhu is right. Once the greenhouse is built, what’s so hard about growing vegetables? Who in our village doesn’t know how to plant?”

Yang Baolin continued eating with his head down.

“Mom, why don’t we start small? This year, let’s try it out first,” Yang Baotian suggested with a smile.

Yang Laoer, Baozhu’s father, also agreed with Yang Baotian, “Let’s start with a small amount this year, try it out, and if it makes money, next year we’ll expand.”

They truly hadn’t grown warm-house vegetables before, and Yang Laoer lacked confidence. But since his daughter wanted to plant, they would give it a try. However, he really didn’t dare to plant ten acres like the Pei Family.

“Dad,” Yang Baozhu was unhappy, “The Pei Family will earn money this year. Next year, I bet many villagers will all start planting greenhouse vegetables. If there are too many, the price will go down.”

Sun Jinhua was also holding onto a grudge, “Baozhu is right; if we’re going to do it, let’s take big action early, before everyone follows suit next year.”

Yang Laoer was a bit reluctant.

But with both his wife and daughter saying so, what else could he do? He had no choice but to agree.

After dinner, Sun Jinhua took out all the family money and savings books and counted them. The Yang Family lived a stable life, but after all, they were from the countryside, and hadn’t saved much. Altogether, they had only about US$ 5,000 to US$ 6,000. Just like the Pei Family, planting ten acres was something they really couldn’t afford.

Sun Jinhua gritted her teeth and said to Yang Laoer, “Dear, let’s take out a loan too.”

Anning had no idea the Yang Family was planning to follow their lead.

She had just planted the seedlings, sown the seeds, and now, for the next few days, all she had to do was water them regularly, ensure they got enough sunlight, and arrange for people to watch over the greenhouses. With that, she wasn’t as busy anymore.

Liu Dalian urged Anning and Xiao Yuan to visit the Xiao Family and put down roots.

Even if the Xiao Family was separated, it was still Xiao Yuan’s family, and with his parents there, Anning certainly couldn’t avoid showing her face.

Anning understood the obligation without Liu Dalian having to explain. This time, she was also willing to go with Xiao Yuan to the Xiao Family.

The two of them got up early in the morning to get ready, freshly washed and groomed, and Liu Dalian had breakfast ready.

She made wontons, giving each of them a bowl, urging them to hurry and eat.

After eating, Anning went inside to change clothes.

She wore a white high-necked sweater dress with black leather shoes with a small heel, and a long beige wool coat on top.

The coat had a cinched waist design, appearing quite thick yet fitting snugly, making Anning’s waist look especially slim.

Once dressed, as they were leaving, Xiao Yuan carried a light brown bag for Anning.

Then Anjing came out, holding a tube of lipstick, “Lao Si, put some on, it’ll make your complexion look better.”

Anning took the lipstick, applied a little, and took out a small mirror from her bag to check. Indeed, it made her look much better.

Xiao Yuan had somehow borrowed a motorcycle, which he then brought out and waited for Anning to get on.

The two sat on the motorcycle, as Xiao Yuan confidently and pompously rode to town.

Anning laughed along the way, “Amazing, riding a motorcycle now.”

“Of course, isn’t your man impressive?”

Anning couldn’t stop laughing, “Since when did just a motorcycle make you this satisfied?”

Once they arrived in town, Anning and Xiao Yuan went to the grocery store to buy some things.

At that time, the town didn’t have much to offer, so they bought two pounds of pastries and two bottles of drinks, and with those, they headed to the Xiao Family’s door.