The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress-Chapter 988 - 965: Honor Amidst Chaos 33

Xiao Yuan was busy liaising with various parties, while Anning and Xiao Fu were rushing to make quilts at home.

In the east wing, Xiao Hui carefully held the cloth towel on her head and said to Xiao Yi, who was sitting beside her, "Sister, pinch me."

"Why do you want me to pinch you?"

Xiao Yi blinked, looking at Xiao Hui in confusion.

Xiao Hui chuckled, "I just want to see if we’re dreaming."

"Why would it be a dream?" Xiao Yun touched the thick mattress under her hand and looked at the shiny bluestone beneath her feet. "We can’t even dream of living such a life, we never imagined we could live like this."

Indeed, Xiao Hui couldn’t help but think that even in her dreams she couldn’t imagine such good days.

When she came, she knew there was a wealthy family in Jingtian Village wanting to adopt some godchildren.

She had lived in a broken temple before, where there were many beggars. An old beggar, feeling sorry for her, had taken her in for a period of time.

The old beggar was quite experienced and knowledgeable, so while following him, Xiao Hui was able to get more food.

The old beggar had told Xiao Hui many things.

He once mentioned that some wealthy families adopt godchildren, saying they are godchildren but actually intending to use them as dead warriors or future marriage tools.

The adopted sons would be taught certain things to help the family with unspeakable tasks, while the goddaughters would be carefully nurtured and later sent to influential people as playthings, either to appease them or to spy in the backyards.

When Xiao Hui came, she had thought she might be treated as an object.

But she had no choice, she couldn’t survive anymore. If she didn’t come, she feared she would die in the broken temple during this harsh winter.

She had prepared herself, thinking that no matter what, as long as she was fed and allowed to live, she would listen obediently.

But when she arrived, she found she might have been wrong.

The Xiao Family probably didn’t want them to be spies or dead warriors, just to do some work. Moreover, her newly acknowledged parents were genuinely kind to them; not as much as to their biological children, but they treated them as godchildren.

Xiao Hui knew that if they were truly being raised as objects, they wouldn’t be allowed to call them mom and dad.

She had heard the old beggar say that the goddaughters treated as objects by big families never saw the mistress and would be separately raised by the steward, only referring to the master as sir and madam, never allowed to call them mom and dad.

Because the masters would feel calling them mom and dad was a humiliation; people like them were too lowly to call someone mom and dad.

However, since coming to the Xiao Family, she had always been taken care of by mom and dad, letting them bathe, wear the young master and missy’s clothes, and calling them mom and dad, showing genuine care for them.

Thinking of these, Xiao Hui couldn’t help but smile.

Xiao Yi and Xiao Yun were also smiling.

Xiao Yun touched the clothes she was wearing, "These clothes are so warm and comfortable, I’ve never worn such good clothes in my life."

Xiao Yi also smiled, "I’ve never eaten such good food either. Do you think we’ll continue eating such good meals every day?"

"Certainly."

Xiao Hui clenched her fists, thinking she must work hard in the future and stay in the Xiao Family.

In the West Cross Courtyard, several boys were whispering.

The oldest, Xiao Song, looked around with a relaxed smile.

Since all his relatives had died, he’d been living in a broken house in the mountains, alone, often surviving on wild vegetables, sometimes catching wild rabbits and chickens, living like a wild man.

During the day it was manageable, but at night, Xiao Song was truly scared.

He was alone in the mountains, even afraid to sleep. He worried that once he slept, he might never wake up again.

Xiao Song genuinely wanted family, longing for a warm home where he could sleep peacefully, which is why he rushed down from the mountains to kneel and beg the village chief to take him when he heard someone wanted to adopt children.

The other children also had tough lives, and coming to the Xiao Family brought true joy from deep within.

Anning worked swiftly, finishing several quilts, asking Xiao Yin to help Xiao Fu put on the quilt covers. She then gathered the eight children and took off the cloth towels on their heads, checking if all the lice were gone.

Anning’s medicine was good, and within this time, the lice on the children’s heads were completely eliminated.

Anning then let them boil water to wash their hair.

To ensure they washed well, Anning even brought out her own formulated shampoo for them.

After their hair was clean, Anning put a charcoal basin in the room, letting the children sit around and dry their hair.

Anning spread out the quilts and made beds for the children.

She smiled, "Today I made your beds, from now on you have to do it yourselves. Every day you’ll wake up at 5 a.m., Brother Song will lead you boys to sweep the courtyard, chop firewood, and follow your dad to farm. Sister Hui will lead you girls to learn cooking, sewing, and once the chores are done, your dad will teach you literacy and martial arts."

"Ah?"

The eight children were surprised, looking at Anning with their mouths agape, woodenly staring at her.

It was expected that they would learn to work.

Even if they were biological children, their parents would make them work. Boys would carry water, pick firewood, farm, while girls would do household chores, cook, and such; that’s how every family was.

What surprised them was that they could learn to write and practice martial arts.

Anning smiled, patting the children’s heads, "Your dad and I know a lot. As long as you’re willing and able to learn, we can teach you everything we know."

Upon hearing this, the children all started laughing.

Who wouldn’t want to learn skills?

Just for this, they’d have to be more diligent, finish work early, and learn early.

Anning then led the girls to cook, while the boys went out to find work.

When Xiao Yuan returned, dinner was ready with two large round tables. Xiao Yuan sat with the boys at one table, Anning with the girls at another, happily eating as a family.

At this time, Xiao Yin seriously looked at the three adopted sisters, seeing how thin and skeletal they were, her heart ached, and softened.

These three girls must have had a hard life, with no parents or relatives, young as they were, how much hardship must they have endured? What was there to begrudge them?

In her life, she had parents and siblings, never suffering grievances except on the way to Southern Yi, she was much luckier compared to these sisters.

Thinking this way, Xiao Yin sweetly smiled at Xiao Hui and the girls, "Sisters, enjoy your meal, then we can chat together."

Xiao Ying on the other side also took particular care of the five adoptive brothers, which made the children’s hearts feel even more secure.

After dinner, the children collected the dishes and went to the kitchen to wash them.

Anning discussed with Xiao Yuan, "When you go to the county tomorrow to buy people, get a carving knife too."

Xiao Yuan nodded, "Alright."

When the house was tidied, it was dark, and Anning sent the children to sleep.