The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress

Chapter 1700: Chapter 1640: The Comparison Group in the Spoiled Daughter Story 70

Today’s sky is gray and overcast, it looks like it’s going to snow. Without the sun, even though it’s mid-morning, it’s still frigid outside.

The temperature inside the Xiao Family’s house is a bit higher than outside, but it’s still cold enough to freeze people.

Xiao Daguang is cold even with a quilt over him, so he says to Zhong Liumei, "Why don’t you go add some firewood to heat the bed, it’s gone cold."

Zhong Liumei doesn’t want to move, it’s too cold outside: "I’m not going. If you want to, you go."

Xiao Yuan wants to get angry but can’t: "Alright, you both stay put, I’ll go add some firewood."

Just after he finishes saying this, Xiao Lei in the other room shouts, "Help us add some firewood too, it’s too cold in here, I’m frozen stiff."

Xiao Yuan goes out to start the fire, and after a short while, the room becomes a bit warmer.

Xiao Yuan looks at Anning, what can Anning do but smile and make a deal with Zhong Liumei, "Mom, you and Dad stay here, Xiao Yuan and I will tidy up our place over there. When big brother and the others come, you all come to ours for a reunion dinner."

Zhong Liumei was planning on being lazy, so hearing Anning take over, she naturally agrees since she doesn’t have to do anything.

"Alright, you guys go quickly, go quickly."

Anning and Xiao Yuan then drive to the house they bought in town.

Since there’s a factory nearby, Xiao Yuan often stays over, the house is kept clean, and the furniture is all there, so they don’t need to tidy up much.

Entering the house, Xiao Yuan changes clothes and goes to start the boiler.

Anning tidies up a bit and then heads to the kitchen to start preparing food.

There’s a fridge at home; before New Year, Xiao Yuan and Anning were busy with factory affairs, paying workers and distributing benefits, organizing production schedules, holiday shifts, and stayed here for several days. The fridge still has some vegetables and meat stored.

Anning opens the fridge to take a look, there are frozen chicken, ribs, fish, and some home-grown vegetables, as well as some packaged braised flavors, enough to make a feast.

She ties on her apron and starts to prepare.

It’s only right to have dumplings during the New Year.

Anning kneads the dough first to let it rest, then takes out the premade minced meat from the fridge to start seasoning.

After finishing that, she takes out the ribs and chicken.

These are all chopped, which saves a lot of effort. She boils some hot water to blanch them, then takes them out to fry if needed, to color them if needed, and after braising them, she starts washing and selecting vegetables.

Anning is quick with her tasks and uses her time efficiently, so these chores don’t take much effort.

By the time the Xiao Family arrives, there are two pots on the gas stove, one braising ribs and the other braising chicken. The fish is fried and placed aside, all the vegetables are washed and cut, just waiting to be stir-fried.

Zhang Xiaoyu enters and sees Anning still busy, quickly sheds her coat and heads into the kitchen to help.

"What are we eating? Let me give you a hand."

Anning smiles, "I’m almost done with prep, sister-in-law, help me with the dumplings later."

"Sure."

Zhang Xiaoyu agrees, washes her hands, and starts rolling out dough skins.

Anning cleans up the counter and takes out the seasoned filling, chatting with Zhang Xiaoyu as they wrap dumplings.

Xiao Yuan comes in and sees the scene: Xiao Daguang and Zhong Liumei are sitting on the sofa, Xiao Lei and Gao Nana are on the other side, and Xiao Feng has taken a chair to sit upright.

All five are smiling, munching on nuts and clamoring for Xiao Yuan to turn on the TV.

Xiao Yuan turns on the TV, brews a pot of tea, and brings it over, then goes into the kitchen to help.

Anning and Zhang Xiaoyu wrap dumplings, and Xiao Yuan starts stir-frying the dishes.

Zhang Xiaoyu glances into the living room and calls out to Xiao Feng, "Xiao Feng, come and help."

Xiao Feng hastily gets up and enters the kitchen.

Seeing those four lazy people in the living room, Zhang Xiaoyu can’t help but sneer.

When Xiao Feng comes over, Zhang Xiaoyu says, "I tell you, you better be diligent from now on. If you keep being lazy like Second Brother, I’ll give you a good talking-to."

Xiao Feng shrinks back in fear, "Got it."

Hastily helping Zhang Xiaoyu with rolling out dough skins, "Anning, you help Third Brother with the stir-frying, sis and I will handle the dumplings."

Anning smiles, "That works."

Zhang Xiaoyu wraps a dumpling and places it, "Anning, tell me what my brother and I should do. Working in the county isn’t really going anywhere; we’re thinking of doing something to make money and save up for the kids’ future."

Anning thinks for a bit, "Sis, what do you want to do?"

Zhang Xiaoyu has clearly thought about it, "Anning, my aunt says that now wholesaling is making money. What do you think about me and your brother renting a storefront in the city to wholesale and sell some stuff?"

Xiao Yuan turns around with a smile, "That’s actually a good idea. If you’re really thinking of doing something in the city, why not become an agent?"

"Agent?"

Zhang Xiaoyu doesn’t get it at first.

Xiao Yuan then explains, "The brands Anning and I have launched are selling pretty well now. We’re thinking about developing agents, so merchants from various places don’t have to come to the factory to pick up goods. They can directly go to local agents. This way, we don’t have to entertain merchants all the time. If you want to do it, sis, you can become agents for our brands. Get a car, find merchants yourself, then pull goods from the factory wholesale to them. It’s all about volume, the more you sell, the more you earn."

Zhang Xiaoyu understands, her chubby face blooming with smiles.

"That’s good, that’s good. My husband and I have saved some money, maybe borrow a little to buy a car first. My aunt has a storefront, I can just owe her for now and pay her back after making money."

She looks at Xiao Feng, "What do you say?"

Over the past year, Xiao Feng has been living in the county with Zhang Xiaoyu. The Zhang Family are shrewd, and he’s learned a few things. "I think it’s doable. I can drive, pull goods, while you sit in the shop. We’ll get the business going."

Since Zhang Xiaoyu has managed Xiao Feng well and hasn’t caused trouble, and Zhang Xiaoyu is always enthusiastic about helping Anning, efficiently taking care of various things, Anning is inclined to support them.

"If you’re short on money, I’ll lend you some so you can open the shop. The first batch of goods can be credited, just pay back after you earn."

Anning’s generosity naturally pleases Zhang Xiaoyu, "Alright, I’ll write a promissory note then."

The conversation and laughter continue as the dishes are finished, and the dumplings wrapped.

The family of eight sits together to eat, drink wine, with Gao Nana immediately diving into food, while Zhang Xiaoyu says some formal phrases about the new year, how the past year was, and wishes for the new year. But Gao Nana only focuses on eating without a word.

After most have eaten, Xiao Daguang speaks to Xiao Yuan, "Third, your factory has hired so many people. Can you see about finding something for Second Brother? He’s been idling at home for a year, and it’s not good to continue like this."