The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 526 - 517: The Stepmother Who Refuses to Be a Stepping Stone 5 (November Bonus - for Monthly Tickets)

Wang Family came in a threatening manner, bowed their heads, paid the compensation, and left sheepishly.

After the Wang Family left, the Li brothers and their wives packed away tables and chairs in the courtyard to be returned to the rentals, dismantled the makeshift stove, divided up the leftover food that could still be eaten, and swept clean both inside the house and the courtyard.

Anning also helped out, and after everything was cleaned up, Zhang Fengfeng pulled Anning aside to speak softly inside the house.

She handed the US$ 10 the Wang Family had compensated to Anning: "Here, take this, buy some treats for the kids tomorrow."

Anning refused: "Mom, I can’t take it. You got hurt today, you should keep the money to buy some meat with Dad to nourish yourselves."

"We and your dad aren’t lacking money, Third regularly sends us money, and both Second and Fifth send back good food when they go out. We’re not in need of this, and besides, it’s your kids who are skinny, I feel pained seeing them like this."

Zhang Fengfeng forcefully stuffed the money into Anning’s hands: "Don’t take the Wang Family’s issue to heart. They may be formidable, but our Li family is no less, we’re not afraid of them."

"Mhm."

Anning smiled: "I’m not afraid, we didn’t do any immoral acts, we have nothing to fear."

Seeing Anning defending her today in every issue, Zhang Fengfeng truly grew fond of Anning.

In any case, compared to Wang Baozhu, Anning was better in every aspect.

Previously, Zhang Fengfeng had quarrels with the women in the village too, and Wang Baozhu would never help her but would always shrink back and hide like a turtle, totally unclear of loyalties.

But Anning was different, if it really came to a fight, she truly feared no one.

Zhang Fengfeng deeply felt Anning resembled her younger self and regarded her with a certain esteem.

"Mom, you weren’t injured today, right?"

After accepting the money, Anning discreetly asked Zhang Fengfeng: "If you feel uncomfortable anywhere, let’s go to the hospital and check, don’t endure it."

Zhang Fengfeng waved her hand: "I’m fine, it was just Mrs. Zheng scratching me a bit, nothing serious."

Anning leaned close to Zhang Fengfeng’s ear and whispered lower: "You can’t say that, you were really not lightly beaten, tomorrow you’ll have to lie in bed for a couple of days."

Anning specifically reminded Zhang Fengfeng.

Zhang Fengfeng thought about it and realized it was true; she had demanded US$ 10 from the Wang family, and if she was bouncing around tomorrow, who knows what the Zhang Family might say.

"Ouch, my poor back."

Zhang Fengfeng immediately exclaimed.

Anning helped Zhang Fengfeng come out from the house: "Eldest brother, big brother, quickly find a cart to take mom back, mom’s back is strained."

Li Zhiyuan was instantly anxious: "Mom, are you alright?"

The Li brothers gathered around to ask.

Zhang Fengfeng signaled them with her eyes: "It’s nothing serious, just discomfort in the back."

Li Zhiyuan instantly caught on.

Li Zhicheng, the most astute among the Li brothers, looked anxious: "Big brother, let’s quickly find a cart to take mom back, you go find a cart; I’ll help mom."

Anning took out the flatbed cart commonly used by Li Zhifang for hauling grain from under the south wall.

Li Zhifang lent a hand, fixing the wheels, Zhao Erni fetched a cushion from inside the house to lay on the cart, and the other wives helped Zhang Fengfeng onto the cart to lie down.

Li Zhiyuan pulled the cart back while Li Zhicheng followed, the brothers intentionally went through crowded areas, and Li Zhicheng kept asking with urgency: "Mom, are you alright? Mom, please don’t be in trouble, Mom, do you have pain anywhere else?"

With the two brothers handling it in this way, it didn’t take long for everyone in Li Jiazhuang to know the Wang Family had created a scene, seriously injuring Zhang Fengfeng who couldn’t even walk now.

Now was not a busy time for farming, so many idle people gathered around to gossip.

"The Wang family really lacks shame, their daughter did such a thing, they don’t behave modestly but still dare to create a scene."

"The Li family didn’t wrong their family, their daughter ran away, why can’t the Li family talk about finding another daughter-in-law? Lao Si shouldn’t remain a bachelor for a lifetime because of such a shameless woman."

"Talking about doing it for the kids, I think they’re just doing it on purpose. If they truly cared about the kids, why not take them away? If they really cared, they wouldn’t let their daughter elope."

"The Li family is really unfortunate; how did they end up with such a disastrous person before? It seems that choosing a wife is not just about looks."

"From now on, let’s interact less with the Wang family; those folks are really up to no good."

As the saying goes, good news stays at home, but bad news travels far and wide.

Soon, the story about how the Wang family had beaten Li Baolai’s mother-in-law, Wang Baozhu’s former mother-in-law, in Li Jiazhuang so badly that she couldn’t move spread to Ancient Tree Village.

The Wang family’s reputation in Ancient Tree Village wasn’t good either; people in the village never missed a chance to secretly criticize their overbearing behavior.

After causing such a ruckus, the Wang family lost face, paid money, and even encountered ostracism from several villagers. Truly, they gained nothing and ended up shamefully staying indoors, with Wang Exi and Zheng Xiuqin so angry they lay in bed for days unable to rise.

Never mind the Wang family for now, let’s talk about the Li family.

Li Baolai and Zhang Fengfeng were not yet very old, and did not live with their sons.

The old couple lived alone in a three-room brick house; Li Baolai, carrying some leftover food, had just left Li Zhifang’s house and went straight home.

At that moment, Zhang Fengfeng was lying on the kang.

Li Baolai put the food in the kitchen and then entered the room.

He looked anxious while outside, but as soon as he entered the room, he was all smiles.

When Zhang Fengfeng saw him enter, she lifted the blanket and sat up.

Li Baolai said to Zhang Fengfeng with a smile, "Initially, we didn’t like Anning, always feeling she burdened Lao Si with her three children, but now, it seems Lao Si has married quite a good wife."

"Indeed,"

Zhang Fengfeng thought more and more highly of Anning: "Lao Si is too honest and too quiet, always burying himself in work, that’s no way to be, he might get bullied easily; although he has brothers to help, everyone has their own lives, they can only help temporarily, not forever. Now, with Anning’s character, so decisive and lively, she will really stand strong in the household."

Li Baolai felt the same; he was very satisfied with his daughter-in-law now.

"From now on, let’s treat their kids well, they can also support Lao Si to live a good life."

Zhang Fengfeng immediately patted her chest and said: "Don’t worry about that, I certainly won’t mistreat them."

At night, Anning prepared some dinner and ate with Li Zhifang, after cleaning up she went inside.

Anning was thinking about telling Li Zhifang that she had been hurt in the fight today, and suggesting that he sleep in another room for the night.

But before Anning brought it up, Li Zhifang grabbed his blanket and moved outside: "I’m tired today, you rest, I’ll sleep in another room."

Suddenly, Anning realized something.

She called Li Zhifang back: "What do you mean by this? If you have any thoughts, let’s speak openly. It’s not good to keep suspicions in our hearts, neither for you nor for me."

Li Zhifang stopped and after hesitating for a while finally said: "We, can we sleep in separate rooms?"

Anning raised an eyebrow and suddenly laughed: "Sure, why not? We were only together for the sake of the children in the first place. As long as you treat my children well and I treat yours well, I don’t ask for anything else."

Li Zhifang too sighed in relief: "I’ll hang a curtain on the kang tomorrow, can we sleep separately in the same room from then on?"

Anning nodded: "As you wish."

After Li Zhifang left, Anning scoffed coldly, got into bed, and pulled the covers over herself.

She was well aware of Li Zhifang’s thoughts.

Li Zhifang was probably still thinking about Wang Baozhu.

If Anning had shown even a slight weakness, Li Zhifang would definitely be sharing a room with her, just because no matter what, Anning was easy to handle.

But today Anning had shown a strong and dominant side, which made Li Zhifang wary. He feared that if Wang Baozhu came back, Anning would strongly refuse to leave.

This man really was a coward who bullied the weak but feared the strong.