The Adopted Cannon Fodder Made a Comeback

Grandma Sun hadn’t expected her daughter-in-law to say such a thing.

"That house over there was left by Jia Ming’s grandpa and given to Zhuzi. If you insist it’s your house, fine. I’ll have Gu’er move out. You and Zhuzi can go live there, and Gu’er will live with me. From now on, don’t you set foot in my house again. I don’t need you to wait on me. Get out. I’ll just pretend I have no son and no daughter-in-law."

Grandma Sun was furious. Every time she saw this daughter-in-law, they would fight. ’We must have been enemies in a past life.’

Gu’er opened her mouth to speak, feeling a little awkward. To think they were fighting over a house.

’I could say I’ll move out and find my own place. I could ask someone to help me build a small house; it wouldn’t cost too much in the village, but that would take time.’

’Or maybe I should go to the city first? Rent a place to live?’

But subconsciously, Gu’er was resistant to the idea of living in the city. She couldn’t shake the feeling that if she went, she would be walking the same path as in her past life.

That’s why she hadn’t wanted to leave the village for the city, even when she was being pressured so intensely that night.

Still, living in the Sun Family’s house wasn’t a long-term solution. ’After all, I’m not actually a member of the Sun Family.’

But this wasn’t the right time for Gu’er to speak up. Grandma Sun was arguing with her daughter-in-law partly on her behalf. If she said anything now, it would just put Grandma Sun in an awkward position.

’What’s wrong with Brother Jia Ming’s father? How can he not say a single word when the fight has gotten this bad?’

Seeing Cao Qiu’s words grow increasingly harsh and Grandma Sun’s hands begin to tremble, Gu’er quickly shuffled over and took her hand.

"Grandma, are you all right?"

Gu’er asked with concern. She had never seen Grandma Sun this angry.

"Cao Qiu! Are you trying to kill me with anger? You’ve got no shame, so don’t you dare use my grandson as an excuse."

Grandma Sun gripped Gu’er’s hand, seeming to draw strength from her.

"Jia Ming is my son! What do you mean, I’m using him as an excuse? Am I, his own mother, not allowed to manage my son’s affairs? What’s so wrong with me wanting him to go to the city? Who doesn’t want a better life? I’ll find him a wife from the city. Any other family would be laughing in their dreams at such an opportunity! You’re Jia Ming’s grandmother. You don’t want what’s best for him; you’re just holding him back, not letting him go. What kind of grandmother are you? Would you only be happy if your grandson stays a bachelor for the rest of his life and never gets married?"

Cao Qiu’s tongue was sharp, and her counterattack swift. She had wanted to say these things for a long time. Now she was saying them not only for the old woman to hear, but for Gu’er as well, to make her stop thinking she could latch onto her son.

Gu’er froze. ’Wait, while my mind was wandering, his mother mentioned Brother Jia Ming to Grandma? And even said she’d find him a wife from the city?’

A wave of pain washed over Gu’er’s heart. She couldn’t quite describe the feeling. In the past, she had thought that if Brother Jia Ming went to the city, he could marry a city girl instead of Zhou Mei. But back then, she hadn’t felt this way. Now, it was as if someone was sticking needles into her heart, a sharp, searing ache.

’And... and if his mother makes Brother Jia Ming go to the city, what about Grandma Sun? Would they bring Grandma to the city with them? From the looks of it, his mother has zero respect for Grandma; she definitely wouldn’t take care of her. Brother Jia Ming is a filial son, but when the time comes, with his mother on one side and his wife on the other, would he still be able to look after his grandmother properly?’

’Would Grandma just be left here to die?’

"You... you get out! The Sun Family has no daughter-in-law like you! I’m not dead yet, and you’re already trying to run the house. Let me tell you, you’re not the one in charge!"

Grandma Sun was trembling with rage. She wasn’t hurt by her daughter-in-law’s actions, because she had long understood what kind of person she was. What truly hurt her was her son. He hadn’t said a single word, clearly siding with his wife. ’I’m his mother! Does he really plan to just leave me in the village to wait for death?’

Grandma Sun’s heart turned completely cold.

"I don’t need to be in charge of the family, I only need to be in charge of my son. It doesn’t matter what you say this time. Jia Ming must come back to the city with us. If you want to let her live here, then let her stay. Jia Ming won’t want her anyway. I, as his mother, will arrange his marriage. As for you..."

As Cao Qiu spoke, she looked at her mother-in-law, one eyebrow arching in disdain. "Jia Ming getting married is a joyous occasion. Your health is poor, and you’ve been a widow for so many years. You shouldn’t come. It would be bad luck."

The moment Cao Qiu’s words came out, Grandma Sun nearly fainted from anger. She pointed a trembling finger at Cao Qiu, unable to speak.

Gu’er’s gaze turned icy as she looked at Cao Qiu.

She knew Cao Qiu treated Grandma Sun poorly, but she never imagined it could be like this. ’What kind of things is she saying? Can she really do this and not feel a shred of guilt? How could Brother Jia Ming have a mother like this!’

"Uncle Sun, aren’t you going to say something?"

Gu’er looked at Sun Zhuzi. No matter what, he was Grandma Sun’s son. How could he let his wife bully his own mother like this?

"I... I..."

Sun Zhuzi stammered, looking from his mother to his wife.

"I think it’s good for Jia Ming to go to the city. He’ll have a better future there. After he gets married, in half a year or a year, we can bring Mom over."

Sun Zhuzi had effectively stated his position; he thought the same as his wife. By the time Sun Jiaming was married for half a year or a year, who knew if Grandma Sun would even still be alive? Bring her over? Like hell they would.

A tear slid from the corner of Grandma Sun’s eye, disappearing into her silver hair at her temple. So this was heartbreak. The pain dealt by one’s closest kin was the most piercing of all.

"You should leave. Grandma needs to rest. If you have something to say, wait until Jia Ming gets back."

Gu’er’s heart grew cold, too. Sun Zhuzi reminded her of Zhang Juan. ’It’s better to have no children at all than to have ones like that.’

"Who are you to tell me to leave? This is my house. If anyone’s getting out, it’s you!"

Cao Qiu glared at Gu’er. Her mother-in-law was too heartbroken to fight back, but she figured dealing with this young girl would be a piece of cake.

At that moment, Gu’er’s heart was filled with rage. She felt as if she were seeing Zhang Juan and Chen Tao at her door again, causing a scene, cursing at her, smashing things. She thought of Little Yueyue.

Gu’er leaped off the heated bed platform and began shoving Cao Qiu toward the door.

"Out! Both of you, get out!"

Gu’er’s sudden aggression startled both Sun Zhuzi and Cao Qiu. Caught off guard by the shove, Cao Qiu nearly stumbled.

She hadn’t expected Gu’er to dare get physical. When she recovered, she reached out to grab her, but Gu’er dodged away. She darted to the corner of the room, picked up a thick wooden stick, and held it as she glared at the pair.

"You little brat, you’re rebelling, are you? Just you try and touch me."

Cao Qiu wasn’t having it. This was her house. If she let herself be thrown out, she would lose all face.

"Get out. Grandma doesn’t want to see you. If you have something to say, wait for Brother Jia Ming to come back. Otherwise, don’t blame me for what happens next."

But Gu’er stood her ground. She knew this wasn’t her house and that, technically, she shouldn’t be acting this way. But she could see Grandma Sun was not in a good state—she seemed unable to even speak anymore. She was such a kind old woman. Gu’er didn’t want anything to happen to her. She had to drive these two out and stop them from angering Grandma any further.