The Adopted Cannon Fodder Made a Comeback

Gu’er listened in silence.

Third Grandpa’s words sounded like he agreed to let Sun Jiaming go to the city, but he had a condition: Grandma Sun had to go with him. Cao Qiu would never agree to that.

Cao Qiu didn’t want to even lay eyes on her mother-in-law, much less care for her. Drag the woman to the city? She’d rather die. It was even more impossible considering Third Grandpa’s threat to send villagers to check in on Grandma Sun every few days. He was clearly worried Cao Qiu would mistreat her. Between the constant visitors and a paralyzed old woman, a person like Cao Qiu agreeing to such a thing was out of the question.

"Third Uncle, that won’t work. It’s not that I’m unwilling to care for my mother-in-law, but the girl’s family said they’re worried about... a clash. That’s why my mother-in-law can’t come to the city. If she brings bad luck, Jiaming’s marriage will be off. What would we do then?"

Cao Qiu was making an excuse, implying her mother-in-law was unlucky.

Sun Jiaming’s expression soured. ’He couldn’t believe his mother would say something like that—that she actually found his grandma to be a nuisance, a bad omen. Never mind that he was in love with Gu’er; even if Gu’er wasn’t in the picture, he wouldn’t want a girl with such a mindset!’

Sixth Grandpa glared. "A clash? What kind of clash? I’ve never heard of a grandmother bringing bad luck to her own grandson’s wedding. If that were the case, no grandson in the world could ever get married! Zhuzi’s wife, what are you trying to pull? Are you planning to just dump your mother-in-law in the village and forget about her? Just look at what you’ve done these past few years, egging Zhuzi on to live in the city. Is that any way for a daughter-in-law to act? If you were married to my son, I’d have had him send you packing back to your parents long ago! The nerve of you! If it weren’t for Jiaming being so sensible and taking care of her in your place, do you think anyone in this village would put up with you? And you still have the gall to talk about bad luck? Which girl said that? Bring her to me! I’ll spit right in her face, see if I don’t. Why would we want someone so unfilial in this family? Jiaming will not marry a wife like that, and we won’t allow it!"

Sixth Grandpa had a short temper, unlike the more composed Third Grandpa. He let loose a rapid-fire tirade, essentially cursing Cao Qiu for her lack of filial piety.

Cao Qiu’s face flushed red, then went pale. ’She knew it! That old hag must have had these old men brought here to give her a hard time.’

"It’s not that I don’t want to care for her, it’s just... we’re too busy with my daughter’s family. I have to look after my granddaughter. I can’t just ignore her."

Cao Qiu made excuses for herself. She could neglect her mother-in-law, and she intended to, but she couldn’t say it out loud in front of everyone. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"Hmph! Don’t think we’re fools. Who doesn’t have elders to support and children to raise? Everyone else manages, so why can’t you? Forget it, I’m not wasting my breath on you. If you want Jiaming to go to the city, fine. Let him agree to it himself, and he’ll take his grandmother with him. As for that girl, if she dares mention ’bad luck’ again, then the wedding is off. We’ll find another match for Jiaming. What’s so great about a city wife anyway? You might not even get along. Marry a village girl, and you’ll have things in common, you’ll be able to build a life together, and she can help care for his grandmother. Isn’t that better than some city girl?"

Sixth Grandpa was extremely displeased with Cao Qiu.

"Well, why don’t we just bring Mom to the city? We can have a good talk with the other family. I think that could work."

Sun Zhuzi muttered to Cao Qiu. He actually thought his wife should just agree. They could bring his mom to the city and take good care of her for a few years. ’How many more years could the old woman live, anyway? Once she passed, she passed. Jiaming would be with them, and the conflict would be over.’

Cao Qiu shot him a vicious glare.

Sun Zhuzi flinched and shrank back.

"Hmph. Look at you. You call yourself a man? You’re a disgrace to your father."

Seeing Sun Zhuzi’s reaction, Eighth Grandpa looked like he wanted to go over and give him a couple of kicks. ’So spineless.’

Sun Zhuzi didn’t dare to speak.

"Since you uncles are here, let me make myself clear. Jiaming is my son. As his mother, it’s my right to arrange things for him. I’ve already approved of the girl, and it doesn’t matter what anyone else says. Jiaming *is* coming to the city with me. No one can stop it. As for my mother-in-law..."

At this, Cao Qiu glanced at her mother-in-law, a flash of impatience in her eyes. "After Jiaming gets married, if he wants to bring his grandmother over, I won’t object. But not now. There’s no room in the city. Of course, we won’t neglect her completely. I’ll ask Sister-in-law Zhao to look after Grandma Sun. I’ll give Sister-in-law Zhao some money each month, and we’ll provide for her food and clothes. That should be acceptable, right?"

In short, Cao Qiu’s message was clear: taking her mother-in-law to the city was out of the question, but Sun Jiaming was going, one way or another.

"I’m not going. I’m staying in the village to take care of Grandma. I’m not going to the city. And I won’t even consider that marriage proposal."

Sun Jiaming had made his stance clear. He didn’t want to embarrass his mother, but he knew he couldn’t just go along with her wishes.

"You! I’m your mother, and what I say goes! You’ll go whether you want to or not."

Furious, Cao Qiu slapped Sun Jiaming’s shoulder several times.

Sun Jiaming’s expression was firm. He wasn’t going to change his mind.

The grandpas discussed amongst themselves. They couldn’t let Cao Qiu do this, but forcing her hand wouldn’t work either. It would be ugly if things escalated.

"Jiaming, you should go. Go to the city with your mother."

Just then, Grandma Sun spoke.

"Grandma."

Sun Jiaming cried out in confusion, and everyone turned to look at Grandma Sun.

"Since we’ve reached this point, let’s get everything out in the open. If Cao Qiu insists on Jiaming going to the city, and she is his mother, then he should go. But I invited all of you here because I also have something to say."

As Grandma Sun spoke, she looked around at the crowd and stopped Sun Jiaming from interrupting.

Grandma Sun waved toward the doorway, beckoning Gu’er to come in.

Under everyone’s gaze and Cao Qiu’s furious glare, Gu’er walked to the edge of the kang bed.

Grandma Sun took Gu’er’s hand and asked, "Gu’er, are you willing to stay here and take care of me?"

"I am. I’m willing to take care of you, Grandma."

Without looking at anyone else, Gu’er nodded and answered with great sincerity.

No one knew what this was all about.

Cao Qiu was about to object, but she held her tongue. ’If this Gu’er girl can really take care of the old woman, then I’ll just let her live in the Sun Family home. As long as she doesn’t go to the city, as long as she doesn’t pester Jiaming, and as long as Jiaming comes to the city with me... as for Gu’er and that old hag, I couldn’t care less what happens to them.’

’Besides, isn’t this Gu’er girl good at making money? Then she can support the old woman herself, and I can save a bit. The old hag declared in front of all these people that she wants Gu’er to care for her. If anything happens down the line, I can just blame it on Gu’er. This is just perfect.’

Having thought all this through, Cao Qiu remained silent.

A thought flashed through Sun Jiaming’s mind. ’Grandma and Gu’er wouldn’t do this for no reason. What are they planning?’

"This old body of mine doesn’t have more than a couple of years left. I’m not going to the city; I’ll die right here. Gu’er has nowhere else to go, so she’ll live here. She’s willing to take care of me, and from now on, I’ll treat her as my own granddaughter. After I die, this house will still belong to the Sun Family. The old family house goes to Zhuzi, and this one goes to Jiaming. It has nothing to do with Gu’er. However, the things Grandpa Jia Ming left for me, I’m giving them to Gu’er. Consider it a small token of my gratitude. I want all of you to be my witnesses, so I don’t kick the bucket and leave a mess behind."

Grandma Sun held Gu’er’s hand and spoke clearly to the crowd. She delivered her words with force, making it obvious this was all premeditated.