The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 581 - 572: The Stepmother Who Refuses to Be a Stepping Stone 60

Factory vacations coincided with the children’s end-of-term exam results.

Liu Qi once again ranked first, while Liu Ming and Li Jingyan scored second and third, separated by just half a point.

Li Jingyu also performed quite well this time, achieving the 20th rank in her grade.

Don’t underestimate this 20th place; Provincial First Middle School is the best in the province with the highest university admission rate. The school is filled with top-notch students—ranking within the top hundred is a sign of academic excellence. Li Jingyu’s 20th place shows how hard she has worked.

Even the younger children, Liu Yuzhen and Li Jinghan, who are still in elementary school, did well in their exams.

Liu Yuzhen scored top of her class, while Li Jinghan, somewhat affected, came in third.

Li Jinghan seemed downcast when he received his results, but the boy is resilient and not easily discouraged; he quickly grabbed his books and sought help from his brothers and sisters.

After the factory closed for vacation, Anning did some further planning and arranged for security personnel to be on duty before heading home.

She was greeted with the children’s exam results and warmth from the kids surrounding her. Listening to their heartfelt words, Anning felt truly calm and happy.

It was as if all her previous fatigue had vanished. For the sake of the children, she felt any tiredness was worth it.

Next, Anning spent a few days in the hospital, and after Zhang Fengfeng was discharged, she was taken to Li Zhicheng’s place.

Anning then began preparing New Year’s goods with the children and also bought them new clothes for the festival.

The Li family had been feeling down due to Zhang Fengfeng’s hospitalization, and Li Baolai was especially upset by Li Zhifang’s attitude. Even upon arriving in the Provincial City, he was often sullen and not very talkative.

In short, the atmosphere in the Li family was quite oppressive before the new year.

However, on the twenty-eighth of the twelfth lunar month, Li Zhiyuan made a phone call to his grandfather, who immediately cheered up.

It turned out that Li Jingming was getting married.

Li Jingming had been in a relationship for some time, but he and his partner were not old enough to marry.

Li Zhiyuan had previously suggested just going ahead with it anyway, as it was common in the village for those underaged to get married.

But Li Zhicheng disagreed, and after several persuasions from Li Zhicheng, Li Zhiyuan finally agreed to let Li Jingming wait another two years.

Now that Li Jingming and his partner were of marriageable age, Li Zhiyuan thought it was time for the parents of both families to meet and discuss arranging the wedding after the new year.

For Li Baolai, his eldest grandson’s wedding was an incredibly joyous occasion.

He immediately forgot all about Li Zhifang and was completely focused on the prospect of holding his great-grandchildren.

On the afternoon of the twenty-eighth, Anning was at home making meatballs and sausages with the children when she received a call from Li Zhiyuan: "Fourth Sister, Jingming is getting married. We’re meeting the in-laws tomorrow, so come over and join us for a while."

"Sure."

Anning answered with a smile, "What time is it tomorrow? Has the place been set?"

Li Zhiyuan gave the specifics of the time and location, which Anning noted down.

On the twenty-ninth, Anning got up early to get ready and then drove to the county.

Today happened to be market day, and the county was bustling with activity.

It was the last market before the New Year, and the roads were almost packed with people who hadn’t finished buying their New Year goods. It took Anning a lot of effort to drive there, and she only managed to get her car in front of Li Zhiyuan’s restaurant after much difficulty.

She had just parked her car when someone suddenly grabbed her.

Anning frowned and looked up, only to see Zhou Juhua’s face.

"Is it really you? I thought I had mistaken someone else for you."

Zhou Juhua looked Anning up and down.

The current Anning was very different from the one who had gone to Geng Anding’s house to borrow money. Back then, Anning looked old and haggard, her clothes were tattered, and at first glance, she seemed like a typical country bumpkin.

But now, Anning looked even younger than she did many years ago.

She was tall and slender, with fair and firm skin, black and shiny hair, and very fashionable in her dress.

She wore a beige wool sweater and a camel-colored knitted long skirt, with a thick coffee-colored coat over it, and half-high heeled little sheepskin boots of the same color as her coat on her feet. At first glance, she looked exactly like an urban white-collar beauty.

Especially since Anning had applied a delicate makeup, Zhou Juhua almost didn’t dare to recognize her.

"It’s sister-in-law."

Anning smiled: "Sister-in-law, are you here for the market?"

Zhou Juhua replied in agreement: "Anning, why don’t you go back and see me and your brother? It’s so undeserved that he’s always been thinking about you, and you never showed up, that’s not right of you."

Zhou Juhua eyed Anning with greed written in her eyes.

Anning smiled: "Really? I didn’t know my brother still thought of me. When I came to visit, sister-in-law, you despised me for being poor and turned me away. These many years, neither brother nor sister-in-law have ever visited my home, nor have you asked whether I’m doing well or not. I thought I was an orphan, with no one left in my family."

She looked at Zhou Juhua with a half-smile: "Sister-in-law, I’ve still got things to do, could you let go of my hand?"

Zhou Juhua clung tightly to Anning: "It’s so hard to see you, and before we even speak a few words, how can I let you go? No, we need to make things clear. Everyone else’s daughters care about their family. How can you be so oblivious? When someone gets rich, they help their family out, yet you only cling to the Li Family, you..."

Anning’s expression gradually cooled.

"When me and my sister were unmarried, sister-in-law once said, ’a married daughter is like spilled water’. For a high dowry, I was married off to Liu Shan. Sister-in-law sent my sister far away, we haven’t been in touch for years, and I don’t even know..."

Saying this, Anning stared closely at Zhou Juhua, her eyes growing colder by the second.

"Sister-in-law, tell me the truth, where did you actually send An Yue?"

Zhou Juhua was shocked, her face revealing a hint of guilt: "Where else could she be but enjoying a good life, you..."

Seeing that Anning was trying to push her away, she grew anxious: "You can’t leave, how can you... didn’t you open a factory? Let your brother and nephew manage it for you, we’re all family after all, surely they’d be on your side, much more reliable than hiring strangers."

Before Zhou Juhua could finish speaking, Anning scoffed: "Sister-in-law, stop dreaming. After I got married, you saw Liu Shan had no brothers to rely on, and though he was honest and upright, it wasn’t just once that you came to ask for things. It was only when I later married into the Li family, with many Li brothers, each more formidable than the last, that sister-in-law didn’t dare to come and trouble me anymore. Given how you’ve behaved, how could I count on any brother or nephew? They wouldn’t manage my factory well; instead, they might steal everything and take it home."

She leaned in close and whispered to Zhou Juhua: "When I was in trouble before, neither you nor my brother helped me in the slightest, but the Li family lent me money and helped find connections. They’ve helped me so much, and I naturally remember the Li Family’s kindness. Compared to the Li Family, you really can’t match up."

Having said that, Anning pushed Zhou Juhua away and quickly entered the restaurant.

Zhou Juhua wanted to follow inside but was stopped by the restaurant staff standing at the door.