The Adopted Cannon Fodder Made a Comeback

Gu’er placed the food on the kang table. It had been kept warm in the big pot, so it wasn’t cold.

Looking at Sun Zhuzi and Cao Qiu sitting at the table, Gu’er felt the atmosphere turn somber. Usually, it was just her, Grandma Sun, and Sun Jiaming eating together. Now there were two extra people—two people who had just been fighting. Sharing a meal with them now felt a bit awkward.

Cao Qiu stared at the dishes on the table, muttering incessantly. It wasn’t that she thought the food was bad; it was just her habit to always find fault with something.

"Eat or get out. Stop your constant yammering. It’s giving me a headache."

After the day’s drama, Grandma Sun’s temples were throbbing and she felt drained of energy. With Cao Qiu rambling on, she had completely lost her patience.

"I... I wasn’t saying much. Fine, I’ll stop talking, alright?"

Cao Qiu wanted to talk back, but when she thought about her mother-in-law’s actions today, she held her tongue.

Sun Zhuzi sat there, not daring to say a word.

"Eat."

Unwilling to bicker with Cao Qiu, Grandma Sun waved her hand, telling everyone to eat.

Sun Zhuzi and Cao Qiu began to eat, but Grandma Sun didn’t touch her chopsticks. Gu’er knew Grandma Sun had no appetite. She picked up a bowl of rice, added some food to it, and began to feed her.

Not wanting to refuse Gu’er’s kindness, Grandma Sun forced herself to eat the meal.

Cao Qiu secretly curled her lip. ’No wonder the old hag likes Gu’er. The girl sure knows how to wait on people.’

She glanced at Gu’er a few more times. ’I have to admit, she’s better-looking than Zhou Mei, and a good cook too. This food is much better than what I make. If she really became my daughter-in-law, she could cook and take care of people... wouldn’t I be able to just relax? She has no family to back her up, no one to support her. Couldn’t I control her however I wanted? If Jiaming gets tired of her in the future, I could just kick her out and no one would help her. Thinking about it this way, maybe having a daughter-in-law like her wouldn’t be so bad after all?’

After they finished eating, Sun Zhuzi tried to make conversation with Grandma Sun. She wasn’t interested in talking to him, which made things awkward for him.

"Alright, that’s enough. Go to bed. Stop hovering around me. After tonight, you two can go back to the city tomorrow."

Grandma Sun waved her hand, dismissing Sun Zhuzi and Cao Qiu.

"Mom, Zhuzi and I were planning to stay and take care of you for a few more days."

Perhaps because her mother-in-law had given her a scare today, Cao Qiu was acting much more docile.

"I couldn’t possibly accept. Weren’t you saying your granddaughter needs you? Go back and take care of her. I could use a couple of days of peace and quiet."

Grandma Sun knew her daughter-in-law’s character all too well. ’She’s scared today, but she won’t stay obedient for long before she’s back to her old tricks. I can’t be bothered to even look at her. If she’s not here, I can have some peace. With her around, there’s no end to the trouble.’

Cao Qiu’s eyes darted around. ’To be honest, I had originally planned to stay for a few more days. I knew Sun Jiaming wouldn’t give in so easily, so I was going to wear him down until he had no choice but to agree. As for the old hag, I hadn’t taken her seriously at first. What could a paralyzed old woman on a bed do to me?’

’But things haven’t gone as I expected. I signed that damned agreement, and this old hag is so aggressive, acting like she has nothing to lose. If I push too hard, she might have other tricks up her sleeve. I’d better go back to the city for now. I can’t stay here for days and let my daughter-in-law take over the house back home.’

’Forget it. I won’t stoop to her level for now. I’ll stop causing trouble and deal with this after some time has passed.’

Having thought it through, Cao Qiu said nothing more. She looked at Gu’er and said, "Mom, so where should we sleep tonight? How about Jiaming and Zhuzi sleep here, and I’ll go sleep with Gu’er at the old house?"

Gu’er glanced at Cao Qiu in surprise. ’She’s offering to go sleep with me at the old house?’

’What is she planning? Does she have something to say to me? Or does she want to threaten me?’

"You just stay put right here. Gu’er has been busy all day. Let her get some proper rest. Don’t you go over there."

How could Grandma Sun not know her daughter-in-law was up to no good? She turned to Gu’er and said, "Lock your door early tonight. Don’t listen to whatever anyone says, and don’t open it for anyone who calls."

"Yes, I understand."

Gu’er nodded in agreement. While she wasn’t afraid of Cao Qiu, she couldn’t be bothered to interact with her.

Cao Qiu pouted. ’I can’t believe this old hag is so protective of Zhou Gu’er. She won’t even let me go over there to teach her a lesson.’

"Go on home and get some rest. Jiaming, you walk Gu’er back."

Grandma Sun wanted Gu’er to leave to prevent Cao Qiu from saying anything else.

"I’ll walk her back."

Cao Qiu shot to her feet.

"You stay right here. I have something to say to you."

But Grandma Sun kept her daughter-in-law in the room.

Sun Jiaming walked Gu’er out.

When they got to the courtyard, Gu’er paused. She took the red silk scarf from the back of the bicycle and held it in her hand.

Sun Jiaming watched her, a complicated feeling rising in his chest.

When they reached the old house, Gu’er thought Sun Jiaming would head back, but he followed her inside.

Gu’er lit a lamp. Sun Jiaming showed no signs of leaving; instead, he sat down on a stool.

’Does he have something to say to me?’

Gu’er sat down as well.

"I asked around today. Liu Yuan is at the powder factory. They work two shifts, so it’s pretty tough, but the pay is quite high. Even though Liu Yuan just started, he’s already making more than workers at other factories."

Sun Jiaming hadn’t forgotten why he went into the city today. He told Gu’er what he had found out.

It was only then that Gu’er remembered. With all the drama Sun Jiaming’s parents had caused upon their return, she had completely forgotten about it.

Then, a wave of shock hit Gu’er. ’The powder factory... It really is the powder factory. Just like in my memories.’

’The powder factory is going to have an accident next year. A huge explosion. There will be many casualties.’

’But at the time, I didn’t pay attention to the cause of the explosion.’

Sun Jiaming watched Gu’er. He didn’t understand why she wanted to know about Liu Yuan’s factory, but he knew it was important to her because of how serious she had been about it.

"Brother Jia Ming, what kind of things could cause a powder factory to explode?"

Gu’er didn’t know much about such things, so she asked Sun Jiaming instinctively.

Sun Jiaming froze. He stared at Gu’er. ’Why would she ask that? Does Gu’er want the powder factory to explode?’

’No! No way. Gu’er has no grudge against the powder factory, so why would she want it to explode? An explosion... that’s a major incident. People would die.’

’Then why would she say that?’

’Does she know someone wants to blow up the factory?’

’No, that’s not right either. If that were the case, why would she have someone ask which factory Liu Yuan was at? Does this have something to do with Liu Yuan?’

’So why on earth did she ask that?’

’Could it be... Gu’er knows the powder factory is going to explode?’

’No, that’s impossible. Who could possibly know the future?’

’Then what is it?’

In that instant, a thousand thoughts raced through Sun Jiaming’s mind, but he could never have guessed that Gu’er had been reborn and truly knew that a massive explosion would occur at the powder factory.

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Thank you to Annabellquan and Dong Han Yue for the monthly tickets, and thank you to everyone for your support.