Transmigrated as Cannon Fodder — I Rise to Female Lead Through Hard Work-Chapter 19: Li Family’s Siblings

"Look at the bigger picture," Yi Roujing glanced at Ding Anmin, saying, "Besides, you don’t often go to the county, right? It’ll be good for us to see the world."

"How much money and tickets did my elder brother give you to make you so confident?" Ding Anmin asked.

Yi Roujing’s previously calm face showed some insecurity; using money that wasn’t hers indeed left her without confidence. "Don’t worry, I’ll pay him back."

"You are a couple; isn’t it normal for my brother to earn money to support you? As long as your behavior is worthy of it in the future, that’s all that matters." Ding Anmin muttered. "You’re blessed without knowing it. Do you think every man brings money home for his wife?"

"Where did you hear these nonsensical things?"

"It’s about that Hupozi’s second son, who works in the city. Every month’s wages and tickets he hands over to Hupozi, and his own wife gets nothing." Ding Anmin said disdainfully. "Really, he listens to his mother for everything. What’s the point of marrying a wife with a man like that? He might as well live with his mother for life."

"Hmm, makes sense," Yi Roujing agreed.

"Today, if it weren’t for the family separation, it would be understandable that the elders are holding the money, but their family divided a long time ago, it’s just..." Ding Anmin felt indignant.

"However, it seems that in recent days Hupozi’s yelling at her second daughter-in-law has toned down, and she doesn’t slap as often. I wonder if her second son is about to return."

"If they are willing to endure it, we shouldn’t interfere too much," Yi Roujing thought about Hu Ailing’s own persistence and endurance.

"Oh well, you’re right. If my future mother-in-law is like that, I’ll have my older and second brothers back me up and see if they dare touch me."

"Anmin—" Ding Anmin’s previously lively face turned sullen upon hearing this call.

Yi Roujing had never seen Ding Anmin with such an expression. Turning back, she saw a man and a woman, around twenty years old, both wearing worker uniforms, the man in green, the woman in blue.

The two’s features had a hint of resemblance to Ding Anmin’s, though still not as much as between Ding Anmin and Ding Anguo.

"Hey, Ding Anmin, didn’t you say you hate Yi Roujing the most? How come you’re with her at the supply and marketing cooperative?"

Standing outside the supply and marketing cooperative, Yi Roujing and Ding Anmin naturally gave others the impression of going in, as it was the only place for shopping in the commune.

"You’re wrong. Compared to her, you’re even more annoying," Ding Anmin said sharply.

"What happened to your manners? I am your cousin, after all."

"Li Xipei, my mom doesn’t associate with the Li Family anymore, so why are you acting like my cousin?" Ding Anmin directly addressed her by name, words filled with biting resentment.

"Ding Anmin, you’ve got some nerve talking to my sister like that," Li Xipei’s brother, Li Xijun, stepped forward, half raising a fist in Ding Anmin’s face.

Yi Roujing had not long entered the Ding Family home and hadn’t gotten to know much about her mother-in-law Li Hongying’s kin. To her recollection, there were no relatives from Li Hongying’s side at Yi Roujing’s and Ding Ancheng’s wedding, though she wasn’t sure if she remembered correctly.

As for the book... Li Xipei supposedly went to jail at the end, orchestrated by Ding Ancheng with Ding Anmin’s help, all to seek justice for Xia Xingchen. Xia Xingchen’s downfall involved internal and external collusion, with the Li Family’s siblings being accomplices.

So did Ding Anmin’s change in personality originate from Xia Xingchen’s incident?

No, the book contains few descriptions of Ding Anmin; her original self died shortly after being introduced, so she didn’t have any significant role. The depiction of her came after Ding Ancheng acknowledged his roots and was subdued and cautious then. If Xia Xingchen was the cause, Ding Anmin should have appeared more during Xia Xingchen’s arc.

"Who are you to talk to me like that? Do you still want to hit me? Try touching me, and I’ll have the police arrest you," Ding Anmin retorted.

"Heh, didn’t you know? Today there’s a meeting in the county, and our commune’s policeman, Mr. Hao, went to the county," Li Xijun said smugly.

"No wonder you’re a focus for the police. Investigating their whereabouts to escape—you’re something," Ding Anmin wasn’t afraid of Li Xijun. "Even if the policeman isn’t here now, with so many people around, you think you can hit me and deny it?"

Upon hearing this, the surrounding people scattered in a flurry since Li Xijun was a known hooligan in Tongxian Commune—notorious for being more dangerous than offending a gentleman.

"Hahaha, who will stand up for you?" Li Xijun laughed arrogantly.

Yi Roujing snapped back to reality and pulled Ding Anmin behind her.

"You..."

"Oh my, stepping up as the eldest sister-in-law to defend your sister-in-law?" Li Xijun looked Yi Roujing up and down, his gaze lewd and demeanor sleazy.

"Cut the crap and act," Yi Roujing frowned. She could handle a few more people like him, not worried about trash like this—it’s just teaching him a lesson on being human.

"Don’t show off," Ding Anmin tugged at Yi Roujing, trying to pull her away, yet felt somewhat moved by her standing in front of her earlier.

"Xijun, don’t bother with them. Let’s go. They act all high and mighty, not wanting anything to do with us. We don’t need to cling to them, lest others think we’re trying to take advantage." Li Xipei spoke coldly and summoned Li Xijun to leave.

"During the famine over ten years ago, if it weren’t for our family’s support, would you Ding Anmin siblings have grown this big? Others we can forget, but you mustn’t be ungrateful." Li Xipei spoke as she walked away, words brimming with accusations against the Ding Family.

Not everyone in the commune knew the Li siblings, but when hearing mention of the famine and without knowing the details, some started looking at Ding Anmin and Yi Roujing with altered expressions.

Li Xipei’s tactics were cunning, more so than her brother’s attempt to resolve things with force.

"My parents repaid you long ago—years back, the debt was settled. To charge interest for helping relatives is one thing, but if the interest approaches usury, you dare bring it up now? Do you want me to show the receipt to outsiders?" Ding Anmin was burning with anger.

"A family worse than cold-blooded animals, chewing up everything, leaving nothing..."

"Anmin, let’s go." Yi Roujing noticed Ding Anmin’s eyes reddening, her body slightly trembling with anger, so she patted her shoulder, steering her away in the opposite direction.

"It’s too much. How can people like that exist?" Though Ding Anmin couldn’t hold back her tears, she quickly wiped them away. "Hmph, shedding tears over scum like them is a waste. I won’t stoop to their level."

"What’s this all about?" Yi Roujing asked quietly. "It shouldn’t just be a matter of interest rates to cause such a scene?"