The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Anning was driving together with Xiao Yuan when Gao Nana came rushing over.

Anning saw Gao Nana carrying a bunch of bags.

”Third.”

Xiao Lei was behind Gao Nana and he spoke directly to Xiao Yuan: ”Can you give Nana a ride back? It’s not easy for her to walk carrying all those things.”

Anning opened the car door: ”Sister Nana, come on up.”

Gao Nana got into the car, and Anning followed suit: ”Sister Nana, what have you brought along?”

Gao Nana looked very pleased, showing Anning bag after bag: ”This is braised pork, these are leftover fried meatballs I brought along because I love rice, Auntie packed me a big bag of rice, and this is fried peanuts, this is wedding candy, to take home and sweeten our family’s mouths.”

”That’s quite a lot of stuff you’ve brought.”

Anning had a playful smile and raised an eyebrow at Xiao Yuan, hinting that his mom was being biased.

Xiao Yuan, amused, raised his brow too, indicating he didn’t mind the trivial things.

Indeed, Anning helped Gao Nana pack up the extras, knowing she wouldn’t care much for those leftovers and wouldn’t take them even if offered.

After dropping Gao Nana off, Xiao Yuan and Anning headed back to Xiaxi Village.

Originally, they thought with Xiao Feng getting married, the Xiao Family’s issues would settle down by the New Year.

However, Zhang Xiaoyu returned home and started demanding a family division.

So, Xiao Yuan was called back again.

At the Pei Family, there was nothing much going on; vegetables had been sold, some were kept for the holidays, and a few things prepared for visiting relatives, but nothing else was really happening.

This winter was cold, and when Xiao Yuan was called back in the early morning, snow was gently falling from the sky, and by mid-morning, it was snowing heavily.

With the snow falling, there was no stepping out, so Anning and the others stayed inside playing poker. Liu Dalian cooked a pot of chestnuts and used a big iron pan to fry peanuts, and after frying peanuts, buried some sweet potatoes in the coals.

Everyone got up late that day, had breakfast late, and didn’t cook lunch. They played while eating roasted sweet potatoes and peanuts until the afternoon when Liu Dalian went to the kitchen to cook, and the snow had become a thick layer, still falling from the sky like cotton.

Anning went outside to look around; Xiao Yuan hadn’t returned yet.

Xiao Yuan didn’t come back until the meal was ready, fighting against the wind and snow.

The snow was too heavy, so instead of riding, he walked back, covered with snow, looking almost like a snowman.

Anning stood under the eaves, brushing the snow off him before pulling him inside.

”What’s up? What’s going on with your family? Did they split?”

Pei Laoshi asked as soon as he saw Xiao Yuan.

Liu Dalian handed Xiao Yuan a bowl of hot soup: ”Have some warmth first.”

Xiao Yuan thanked her with a smile, drank half the bowl, and then spoke: ”Yes, they split—my elder sister-in-law demanded it, causing a fuss if we didn’t. Comparing with me, my parents couldn’t resist, so they split.”

”How did they split it?”

Liu Dalian also sat down to ask.

Xiao Yuan put the bowl down: ”Earlier, it was said the house would be divided between Eldest and Second, one half each, while my parents would rotate living there—each household for one year—but Second disagreed, saying it wasn’t fair.”

Pei Laoshi frowned: ”How is that unfair? Sounds fair to me?”

Anning stoked the heater a bit before sitting beside Xiao Yuan.

Hearing Pei Laoshi’s question, she answered on behalf of Xiao Yuan: ”To marry Xiao Feng, they took on external debt. Now with the split, Xiao Feng said he doesn’t want family money or debt, leaving with just the rooms, netting out to nothing—and Xiao Lei felt Xiao Feng was too cunning, trying to offload the debt onto him, so he wasn’t happy.”

Liu Dalian cringed: ”It’s true... Parents wish for sons when there are none, but too many sons bring trouble.”

”Luckily.” Pei Laoshi glanced at Xiao Yuan: ”Luckily you settled early, didn’t ask for anything, so less entanglement later.”

To be honest, Pei Laoshi now had little regard for those few Xiao Family rooms.

Looking for houses, with the money on hand, he could buy several either in the village, the Provincial City, or even the Capital.

”Your sister-in-law is too shrewd.”

Anjing came in, post-nap, her belly big as she sat down, immediately addressing Xiao Yuan: ”Don’t be fooled by her height; let me tell you, she’s the type that only grows shrewdness, not size, her wits are more than a beehive.”

An Xian said to Anning: ”Try not to interact with them much in the future.”

”What are you saying?” Liu Dalian slapped An Xian lightly.

Liu Dalian’s meaning was Xiao Yuan was sitting there, and An Xian teaching Anning this would make Xiao Yuan uncomfortable.

”So how did it end up being split?” Pei Laoshi quickly interjected, changing the topic.

”My dad said whoever takes on the debt gets the house, but both Eldest and Second weren’t willing. In the end, it was decided by drawing lots—Eldest drew a blank, so similar to me, he left with nothing, and the house and debt went to Second.”

Xiao Yuan bowed his head, slowly explaining everything: ”My parents can still manage now, so they’ll stay with Second; when they’re old, we three brothers will rotate taking care.”

An Xian glanced at Anning, seeing her silent, thus dared not speak.

In truth, she felt it was unfair to Xiao Yuan.

Xiao Feng left with nothing.

Yet previously, the Xiao Family at least got him married—provided dowry for Zhang Xiaoyu, the new home’s furniture, everything necessary for marrying, all set by the family, and accrued debt for it.

But what about Xiao Yuan?

Got nothing, not a penny, essentially chased away.

Mind you, Xiao Yuan hasn’t married yet; everything needed for his marriage to Anning must be earned himself.

These days, getting married is quite significant, and not cheap.

Anning smiled as she poured Xiao Yuan a glass of water: ”The soup is a bit salty, have some water first, we’ll eat in a bit.”

Liu Dalian pulled Anning along: ”Right, let’s start dinner; Lao Si, you come help me carry the dishes.”

Anning followed Liu Dalian to the kitchen.

”Mom, what is it?”

Liu Dalian was also somewhat displeased: ”You and Xiao Yuan haven’t married yet; if you’re to marry next year, where would it be? The Xiao Family’s house went to Second; he surely won’t let you marry over there, and Xiao Yuan isn’t a son-in-law, couldn’t marry here either; and as for the dowry, what’s the plan, there’s no arrangement.”

Anning smiled calmly: ”No worries. Even if his family hadn’t split, I wouldn’t consider marrying there. I already decided, we’ll buy a house in town and get married there, as for dowry, Xiao Yuan will arrange it—if he’s capable, more; less if not, it’s not a big deal. So long as the Xiao Family isn’t afraid of losing face, we’ll go with that.”

Liu Dalian was worried about another aspect: ”In the future, if those two follow you, can you handle it?”

If Xiao Daguang and his wife were less demanding, straightforward sort of elders, Liu Dalian wouldn’t fuss. The trouble is, they’re biased; Zhong Liumei looks down on Anning, if they truly stay, who knows what antics they’d pull.

Anning began serving the food: ”No need to worry, there’s lots of time ahead. We work hard now to earn money, later we can settle them in a house we buy in town, providing money and items monthly; when they’re unable to move, hire people to care for them, Mom, with our wealth now, not just hiring one person, we can hire ten if needed.”

Exactly, hearing this cleared Liu Dalian’s worries: ”So you’ve long planned it out, I was concerned you’d end up muddled and suffer greatly.”

Anning laughed, delivering the food to Liu Dalian: ”Have I ever been at a disadvantage, Mom, you’re underestimating me.”