The Comeback of the Cannon-Fodder Supporting Actress-Chapter 994 - 971: Honor Amidst Chaos 39

Anning used several Jade Pendants to truly win the hearts of the children.

From then on, all eight children stayed steadfastly with the Xiao Family, treating Anning and Xiao Yuan as their own parents, respecting and honoring them.

Anning knew that Xiao Yuan adopting these children would be of great use in the future.

Even though she had given birth to five biological children, the tasks she and Xiao Yuan had to accomplish in the future would not be enough for these five children. Even if other people were trained, they could never compare to the reassurance brought by adopted children.

Anning understood that these children would be entrusted with responsibility in the future, so now she needed to gather their hearts properly.

Anning aimed to make whoever followed her do so wholeheartedly, and truly, there was hardly anyone who could escape.

During her earlier days as a Princess, she managed to capture the hearts of seasoned veteran foxes steeped in politics for many years; let alone these children who had suffered discrimination and hardship.

When Xiao Yuan woke up after a nap, he could feel the change in the mental outlook of the eight children.

He knew that Anning must have taken the opportunity of his nap to gather the children together.

Xiao Yuan smiled and didn’t say much.

After having breakfast, he went to the front courtyard.

Several men were already waiting in the courtyard with their own children.

Xiao Yuan went over and began assessing these children.

Some children were suited for studying, but others were not meant to take this path.

Among seven children who came, two were quite bright, possibly capable of advancing in their studies; three were talented but average, yet still able to learn reading and writing. Even if they don’t go for the imperial exams, they could work as accounting room clerks or shopkeepers; the remaining two had robust strength, making them good candidates for martial arts.

After evaluating them, Xiao Yuan communicated his thoughts to the families of these children.

All the families that sent their children were doing quite well; they were hoping for alternative paths for their children other than farming like their ancestors.

Since Xiao Yuan found a suitable path for the children, they naturally wanted to give it a try.

Consequently, two children stayed to learn martial arts, while the other five pursued academics.

Xiao Yuan didn’t charge these families much, merely one cent each for training per year, which was especially cheap.

Xiao Yuan didn’t lack money; teaching these children was partly to train personnel and partly to better integrate into the village.

On that day, Xiao Yuan kept seven children, and the next day, four more families sent their children over, but after that, none came anymore.

Although the fee of two taels of silver wasn’t much, it was still a heavy burden for most farming families, with many struggling to avoid hunger even with a diet of gruel and vegetables. Some families had only two or three sets of clothes, shared among everyone. For such families, studying or learning martial arts was a luxury.

Up until New Year’s, Anning was busy educating the children while Xiao Yuan was occupied with teaching his disciples.

Besides giving lessons, Xiao Yuan often traveled to the county.

Anning never questioned these activities.

Throughout the winter, Anning diligently worked on conditioning the bodies and supplementing nutrients for the eight adopted children.

In just over a month since the children joined the Xiao family, they became almost unrecognizable.

The children grew taller, gained weight, their skin became noticeably fairer, and their hair was no longer so yellow and dry.

The most notable change was their stride; both boys and girls walked with heads held high, shoulders straight, and stride bolder, always exuding a lively spirit.

Initially, the children would arrive with lowered heads, unable to make direct eye contact with others. Anning meticulously rebuilt their self-confidence over just a month, truly not an easy feat.

Now, Anning entrusted various tasks to the children, who also frequently interacted with villagers.

Such interaction brought to light their differences.

The main branch of the Xiao family also adopted ten children who often ventured outside, yet their demeanor appeared timid and small, as if pitiful.

The third branch’s eight adopted children were different; without careful observation, they seemed indistinguishable from the couple’s five biological children, underscoring the couple’s true kindness and dedication in upbringing.

With idle time in the winter, people began asking the third branch’s children, "What have your parents been feeding you? Look how you’ve changed!"

The children chuckled, "Nothing specific, just rice and occasionally meat, but always enough to eat. Three meals a day, anytime we’re hungry between meals, there are snacks in the house. Mom doesn’t mind when we eat. When snacks run out, mom replenishes them. She always says we’re growing and shouldn’t be hungry or feel aggrieved. Everyone in our family, all thirteen children, shares equally."

Children don’t lie, and their appearance confirmed they were well-fed and well-cared for.

Adults praised the third branch couple’s benevolence, treating adopted children as their own, unlike the main branch, which seemed to use them as free labor.

Although if the main branch hadn’t adopted those children, they might have fared even worse.

After all, these children were orphans, lacking parental care, nobody to help them against cold or hunger. At least at the main branch of the Xiao family, they could fill their stomachs and grow up properly.

Yet comparison can be detrimental; without the third branch’s children for reference, villagers might consider the main branch treating the children well.

But comparing them to the third branch’s children, the difference was staggering.

Rumors spread throughout the village; hearing them, Mrs. Zhao of the main branch felt frustrated, secretly cursing Anning as a fool for treating non-biological children so well. Mrs. Zhao had nothing but harsh words.

Anning didn’t concern herself with that. She simply focused on managing her household properly.

Raising thirteen children well requires considerable effort.

A few days ago, pirates landed ashore, wreaking havoc through numerous villages, nearly reaching Jingtian Village. It was Xiao Yuan, who organized villagers he had trained in martial arts, who took great effort to drive the pirates away about ten miles from the village.

Surrounding villages near Jingtian were struck, households were looted and lives taken, women suffered abuses, and families who stored their wealth had their gold and silver plundered by pirates.

The County Magistrate also organized resistance and requested assistance from Nanyi Prefecture’s troops, but many towns and villages continued to endure massacres and lootings, leaving County Magistrate Xun tormented.

Xiao Yuan seized this opportunity to gain the attention of County Magistrate Xun.

Visiting the county government several times, he provided various ideas and helped organize village soldiers. Consequently, County Magistrate Xun entrusted Xiao Yuan with leading resistance against the pirates and appointed him an Inspector, a Ninth Grade official.

Although the people from Duke Ping Mansion were exiled, in the Southern Yi region, governance was virtually neglected, so-called "Heaven high and Emperor far." Xiao Yuan adeptly navigated his way, forging connections not only in the county but also in Prefecture City, integrating with both civil and military officials. Attaining a ninth-grade military officer position wasn’t a significant matter.

Even if the court found out, it wouldn’t be a concern.

An insignificant ninth-grade official in a distant land wouldn’t attract concern from the court.

Moreover, a broken vessel still contains some iron; even exiled, the Xiao family held connections within the court, forming relationships based on mutual consideration; nobody would stir trouble.

Thus, Xiao Yuan assumed his role as a ninth-grade Inspector.

Within the court, such a position is seen as trivial, almost unofficial.

Yet for villagers, a ninth-grade official is seen as quite esteemed.

All of a sudden, the way people in Jingtian Village viewed the Xiao family’s third branch significantly changed.

As a newly appointed Inspector, Xiao Yuan himself funded recruitment efforts, teaching martial arts, leading patrols and various initiatives. Since his appointment, county crimes significantly reduced.

This pleased County Magistrate Xun enormously; with virtually no expense, he gained a militia, along with Xiao Yuan’s clever advice, aiding his prestige among superiors, equivalent to having a strategist; how could he not be pleased?

As New Year approached, County Magistrate Xun gained recognition for effective governance and was reassigned, transitioning from remote Lai County to a prosperous locality through connections.

The incoming County Magistrate was a scholar surnamed Liu, whom Anning and Xiao Yuan previously assisted during their journey to the Southern Yi.