The Adopted Cannon Fodder Made a Comeback

Gu’er glanced at Uncle Shitou. ’He’s a sharp one,’ she thought. Grandma Sun’s goal was to force Cao Qiu to write a formal agreement. With a written document and so many witnesses, she wouldn’t have to worry about Cao Qiu going back on her word.

If Cao Qiu had kept up her act a little longer, Grandma Sun would have been the one to suggest the agreement. But now that someone else had brought it up, it was even better.

Cao Qiu froze. A written agreement?

The villagers didn’t have the concept of lawsuits. They didn’t even know that caring for the elderly was a legal obligation. They had no idea if this agreement would be legally binding. All they knew was that a written agreement was a guarantee. It was like in the old days working for landlords or borrowing things—you always had to write an IOU and press your thumbprint on it. If you didn’t do what it said, the landlord could send people to deal with you, or even seize your children and sell them to settle the debt.

It was just like with Zhou Mazi and Zhou Gu’er. The day they signed their agreement with the villagers as witnesses, Zhou Mazi was no longer Gu’er’s father, no matter how her life turned out. Gu’er and Zhou Mazi’s family were officially separate households. Even if Zhou Mazi came to cause trouble later, Gu’er could simply ignore him.

If Cao Qiu signed an agreement stating that Jia Ming wouldn’t go to the city and would stay to care for his grandmother, she couldn’t go back on her word with so many people watching. If she did, the villagers wouldn’t let her off the hook. Even if she didn’t care what the villagers gossiped about, she couldn’t ignore a written agreement. If someone reported her to the authorities, wouldn’t the magistrate have her beaten?

’Should I sign it?’ An agreement wasn’t just empty words; it was tangible proof.

Cao Qiu’s eyes darted around. She looked at the box on the kang bed, which her mother-in-law was clutching tightly with one arm. ’The contents of that box must be valuable, or my mother-in-law wouldn’t be so protective of it,’ she thought. ’I’ll risk it. For the sake of those valuables, I’ll sign the agreement. Besides, Jia Ming doesn’t want to go to the city anyway. Letting him stay in the village won’t be any different from how things are now. As for a daughter-in-law... with money, what’s to fear about not finding a good one?’

Once Cao Qiu had thought it through, she nodded to show she was willing to sign the agreement.

"Are you sure you want to sign? Maybe we should just forget it. I don’t want people saying I forced you. I’d hate to get that kind of reputation. I might as well just ask Gu’er instead."

Grandma Sun, however, feigned reluctance.

"Mom, what are you talking about? Hasn’t Jia Ming always taken care of you? He wouldn’t leave even without an agreement. Writing it is just to give you and everyone else peace of mind. I’ll sign it. I’m doing it willingly; you’re not forcing me." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

The word "Mom" rolled off Cao Qiu’s tongue with surprising ease. In truth, she had barely called her mother-in-law that in years. She’d said it more in these few moments than in the last several years combined.

Grandma Sun looked at her daughter-in-law, her face full of hesitation, as if she didn’t know whether to trust her.

Seeing this, Cao Qiu immediately told Sun Jiaming to get a pen and paper. When Sun Jiaming didn’t move, she slapped him in anger and told Sun Zhuzi to go instead.

Sun Zhuzi hurried off.

A chill ran through Grandma Sun’s heart. Even though she had expected this outcome, even though it was what she wanted, she was still truly heartbroken.

Gu’er retreated behind the wall again. Her part was over. Grandma Sun had made it clear to her that the whole point of this was to make Sun Jiaming stay. Now that Cao Qiu had proposed it herself and was willing to sign an agreement, Grandma Sun’s goal was achieved.

’But I imagine neither Grandma Sun nor Sun Jiaming feels very good about this.’ she thought.

Sun Jiaming must have deep feelings for his mother, but she was always trying to arrange his life for him under the guise of "what’s best for you," without any regard for his own wishes. Wasn’t that a tragedy in itself?

Gu’er looked at Sun Jiaming, her heart aching for him.

Sun Jiaming felt Gu’er’s gaze and looked over at her. Gu’er quickly averted her eyes, afraid someone would see and accuse them of exchanging meaningful glances.

’Exchanging meaningful glances?’

Gu’er was slightly taken aback. ’Do I already feel in my heart that there’s something between me and Sun Jiaming?’

"Mom, do you think this is written okay?"

Cao Qiu had Sun Zhuzi write the agreement; she couldn’t do it herself, as she barely recognized any characters.

"No. You only wrote that I’ll give you the box and that Jia Ming won’t go to the city. It’s too vague. I don’t trust it."

Grandma Sun shook her head.

"Then how do you want it written?"

Cao Qiu was getting impatient but didn’t dare show it. This was the first time in years she had to act this way.

"You have to state clearly that from now on, Jia Ming will stay in the village to take care of me. His affairs will be his own to decide, and you cannot force him. Also, these things of mine are for my descendants. The wife Jia Ming marries in the future must be someone I approve of. Jia Ming and I will have the final say. Otherwise, I’m not giving these things away. I’d rather give everything to Gu’er than have him marry someone I can’t stand to look at."

Besides keeping Sun Jiaming in the village, Grandma Sun was also taking control of his marriage rights, refusing to let Cao Qiu arrange it.

"This...? I’m Jia Ming’s mother. I can’t just ignore him finding a wife, can I?"

Cao Qiu was reluctant.

"Then forget it. Just let Jia Ming go to the city."

But Grandma Sun didn’t budge.

Cao Qiu looked at the box, then at Sun Jiaming, then at Gu’er standing off to the side, before her gaze finally settled back on the box.

A vicious glint appeared in her eyes. ’Even if my son marries Gu’er, once I get my hands on that box and have the money, I can just kick Gu’er out. She has no family to back her up; I doubt she can stir up any trouble. Then I’ll just find a better wife for Jia Ming.’

With that thought, Cao Qiu nodded her head.

The agreement was written according to Grandma Sun’s wishes. Sun Zhuzi and Cao Qiu both pressed their thumbprints on it, and Third Grandpa and the others served as guarantors. The matter was settled.

Sun Jiaming watched in silence, his fists clenching and unclenching. ’For a single box, Mom was outmaneuvered by Grandma. But why don’t I feel sorry for my own mother? For this nonexistent fortune, she made a decision for me without even asking. I wanted to stay in the village, but not like this. Hasn’t Mom considered that this will give both of us a reputation for being greedy? That we’re only taking care of an elder for money? I genuinely wanted to look after Grandma, but Mom has twisted it into this.’

’Oh well, maybe this is for the best. I’ve already decided I want to marry Gu’er, but if Mom got involved, it would cause a lot of trouble. Now that she’s signed away her right to interfere in my marriage, letting Grandma and me choose, things will be much easier for me and Gu’er. Now it just depends on whether Gu’er is willing.’

At this thought, Sun Jiaming looked toward Gu’er and found her secretly looking at him, too. He felt a little better, a slight smile touching his lips. ’Gu’er must have feelings for me, too.’

"Mom, now that it’s all settled, why don’t you let me keep the box for you? The doors in the village are open all day, and strangers come and go. It would be terrible if someone made off with it."

Cao Qiu wanted to get her hands on the box right away.

"Didn’t we say it goes to Jia Ming after I die?"

But Grandma Sun had no intention of handing over the box.

"I’m just worried it’ll get lost! What if it goes missing, or some of the contents disappear? Who could we complain to then? Don’t you agree, Mom?"

Cao Qiu was extremely anxious. She wanted to know what was inside. No matter what, she had to get those valuables away with her.