Transmigrated as Cannon Fodder — I Rise to Female Lead Through Hard Work-Chapter 17: Favored by Heaven

"I think this time when our elder brother returns, he’ll have a different view of you. If you perform well, I will support you too." Ding Anmin said this somewhat sheepishly.

Yi Roujing laughed, her smile as gentle as a spring breeze, "To be honest, you’re really a good girl."

Ding Anmin blushed, giving Yi Roujing a glare, "I don’t need your compliments."

"Do you think I support you because I like you? You’re gravely mistaken; I do it because of our elder brother." Ding Anmin huffed and walked away briskly. However, after walking a bit farther, she slowed down when she saw Yi Roujing hadn’t caught up.

The Ding Family really is adorable, no wonder they have a happy ending. The male protagonist Ding Ancheng has always cared for the Ding Family, and such a family is unforgettable.

But Ding Anmin’s personality is a bit different from how it was described in the book, how strange.

Ding Anmin is just a minor character in the book, not much is said about her, but it mentioned she has a reserved and cautious nature, though she has a husband who dotes on and loves her. Her only regret seems to be not having children, but in an epilogue, when the main characters’ children are mentioned, it also says that Ding Anmin and her husband adopted a child, living a warm and happy life.

For a person’s personality to change so drastically, it’s either because someone like her had a core change, or she experienced something significant.

Given the reaction of the Ding Family, Ding Anmin seems to have always been this way, so the latter is more likely. It’s hard to say what exactly happened.

"Anmin," Yi Roujing called out.

"Huh?" Ding Anmin turned back, confusion on her delicate face.

"Do you want me to carry that?" Yi Roujing changed the topic; there’s no basis for what they talked about just yet, she’ll just have to keep an eye out in the future.

"Here." Ding Anmin handed the basket to Yi Roujing.

The two walked for fifteen minutes to a stone-built house, comprising three rooms without even a courtyard, but the surroundings were kept clean, without weeds. The path leading to the house was paved with small stones, keeping shoes from getting muddy even in the rain.

Despite these living conditions, it’s clear that Bai Wei’s family isn’t well off, but that hasn’t stopped her from being kind-hearted. Yi Roujing is very grateful for being saved by her.

"Aunt Bai Wei." With no one nearby, Ding Anmin called out loudly, unbothered.

"Creak."

The middle house door opened, and a woman, about thirty years old, appeared, dressed in black cotton clothes with a patched-up pair of black cloth shoes. Her short hair reached her ears, and she wore a patched blue apron.

Bai Wei wiped her hands on her apron and, upon seeing Ding Anmin and Yi Roujing, a smile bloomed on her face, "Ancheng’s wife, Anmin, come in and sit down."

The interior was quite simple, with a dirt floor and patched tables and chairs, yet it was tidy. Steam wafted from the pot, and on the square table lay a small sieve with steamed sweet potatoes.

Bai Wei, a bit reserved, looked at Yi Roujing with concern and asked, "Ancheng’s wife, are you alright now?"

Yi Roujing nodded with a smile, "Aunt Bai Wei, thank you. If it wasn’t for you rescuing me, I would’ve lost my life in that river."

Bai Wei waved her hand repeatedly, "Hey, what are you saying, child? You look like someone destined for long life."

"Maybe I do have some fate with fortune, or else how could I meet someone as kind as Aunt Bai Wei," Yi Roujing complimented in a clever tone, drawing several side glances from Ding Anmin.

This person can indeed talk sweetly.

Bai Wei blushed slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed, "That day was truly your good fortune, Ancheng’s wife. I was already walking past the riverbank when a fish suddenly jumped out of the water and onto the road, right in front of me, startling me. I turned to look and that’s when I noticed you. With all the water plants around, you couldn’t be spotted easily without a close look."

Understanding dawned on Yi Roujing; apparently, the original character in the book died from drowning because she wasn’t discovered. It seems she’s being favored by fate now that she’s arrived here.

"No matter what, I owe it all to Aunt Bai Wei," Yi Roujing said with a smile, "My mother made some mantou; please, you must accept them."

Yi Roujing took out the white steamed buns from the basket and placed them on the table. Bai Wei instinctively swallowed, it had been so long since her family had tasted refined grains. The brigade grows rice, which makes white flour rarer and even more precious.

When dividing food, Bai Wei’s family mostly takes coarse grains, keeping a little white rice hidden for a treat.

"I really didn’t do much, and Hongying already brought something earlier; I truly can’t take this," Bai Wei declined politely.

"Aunt Bai Wei, please take it. My sister-in-law just recovered in the past couple of days and came personally to express her thanks. If you don’t accept, she won’t feel comfortable," Ding Anmin said.

"Right," Yi Roujing nodded in agreement, and in the end, Bai Wei accepted and walked them to the door herself.

"Aunt Bai Wei’s family doesn’t seem to be doing well," Yi Roujing whispered.

"Ah, Aunt Bai Wei’s son, Jie, isn’t healthy, and he can’t go without medicine. Originally, her family’s conditions were quite good, but children come first. Over the years, they’ve struggled more and more with medical expenses," Ding Anmin said empathetically.

"Jie, that child, though only eight, acts sensibly like a little adult, always busy despite his illness." After Ding Anmin said this, she gave Yi Roujing a pointed look.

"Implying something between the lines doesn’t suit you," Yi Roujing remarked, amused, "By the way, I’d like to visit the county in a few days."

Ding Anmin immediately got annoyed, "Trying to shirk?"

"Heh, if I didn’t want to work, I’d have plenty of ways to avoid it. Do I need to do this?"

"So, you want to find my elder brother?"

Yi Roujing sighed, "I’m thinking of going to the county to see if I can find a job."

Ding Anmin laughed, "You think finding a job is like picking cabbages? Those big factories in the county rarely hire people. When workers retire, their families take over; outsiders never get a chance."

"Even if they do hire, they look for skilled people. With only a middle school education, what could you possibly do?" Ding Anmin dismissed, "If jobs were so easy to find, my second brother and I would’ve left to find one; we wouldn’t be stuck working in the brigade."

"I’ll be honest with you—factories hire based on connections. Forget official job positions, even temporary ones have fierce competition."

"It’s true that connections help in getting better opportunities," Yi Roujing said calmly, "But it’s worth a try, isn’t it? If it doesn’t work out, I’ll just come back."

Ding Anmin couldn’t argue with this and felt puzzled, "If you want a job, why don’t you ask my elder brother for help?"

Yi Roujing blinked and thought to herself, asking the male lead for help would just invite endless complications.