The Adopted Cannon Fodder Made a Comeback

Dinner at the Lin Family’s home was relatively peaceful. There was no arguing at the table; everyone ate in silence. From time to time, Chen Fengjiao would place some food on Gu’er’s, Sui’er’s, and Lin Zheng’s plates.

Gu’er couldn’t quite put a finger on her feelings. Her emotions toward this mother of hers were complicated. ’Perhaps it’s because I’m too old mentally, so I can never bring myself to be truly affectionate with her.’

She didn’t blame Chen Fengjiao, though. They had been apart for many years, so her mother’s feelings toward her were more guilt than anything else. Lin Sui’er, on the other hand, had always been by her side as she grew up; what she felt for Lin Sui’er was true affection. ’Actually, it’s not just Chen Fengjiao; everyone’s like that. Deep bonds are only forged through years of companionship. If I were in her shoes, I’d be the same. I haven’t put in that much effort, so I can’t ask too much of Chen Fengjiao.’

After the meal, a silence fell over the living room. Gu’er returned to her room early to read.

In the middle of the night, Gu’er got up to use the bathroom and faintly heard voices coming from the master bedroom. She tiptoed toward the sound.

"Lin Shan, I refuse! I’ll die before I agree! What are you and your daughter trying to pull? She throws a fit, and you just let her? She wants to move out, so you just let her move out? You go along with everything she wants, you give in to her every whim, and now you want to buy her a house? We only have so much money. If you take it all to buy her a house, what about the family? What about Sui’er? And Zheng’er? They’re our children too! You can’t just think about Gu’er. You can’t be so biased!"

Chen Fengjiao’s voice carried, laced with anger and the verge of tears.

Gu’er froze. ’What does that mean? From the sounds of it, Dad wants to use the family’s money to buy a house for me. Didn’t I say renting would be fine? How did it turn into buying?’

Lin Shan’s voice could also be heard faintly, but it wasn’t as loud as Chen Fengjiao’s, so Gu’er couldn’t make out what he was saying.

"I don’t agree. She’s living perfectly fine at home. She can’t move out."

Chen Fengjiao obviously hadn’t been persuaded.

Then came Lin Shan’s voice again.

"Lin Shan, I’ve been married to you for so many years, and I’ve never asked for anything. I’m begging you, please don’t let Gu’er move out. I’ll give in to her from now on, okay? I’m her mother, I would never harm her. You know how much I suffered after she was lost. I want to be good to her, I want to make it up to her. I don’t want to be like this either. Lin Shan, even if my methods are wrong... she’s still in my heart. She’s my daughter, how could I not love her? I admit I’m biased, but Sui’er has always been by my side... I... I... From now on, I’ll treat Gu’er and Sui’er the same, alright?"

Chen Fengjiao’s pleading voice drifted out.

"And I’m not against you buying a house for Gu’er. She’s grown up, and she’ll be starting her own family soon. When she gets married, we can buy her a house. That way, she won’t be bullied by her in-laws; she’ll have her own place. But not now. Please, don’t let her move out, okay? I promise I’ll keep Sui’er in line and won’t let her say such thoughtless things anymore. I’m begging you, please?"

Chen Fengjiao’s voice was heartbreaking to hear, and Gu’er’s own heart ached. ’If I could just get along with this family, I wouldn’t want to do this either.’ But she understood that even if she gave in today and didn’t move out, the same conflicts would only repeat themselves later.

A sigh from Lin Shan was heard. He knew his wife all too well. This tearful offensive was meant to soften his heart. If he gave in to her today, it would just start a repeating cycle—and a vicious one at that.

So Lin Shan hardened his heart. Whether it was buying a house for Gu’er or changing Lin Sui’er’s school after the New Year, he had made up his mind. No matter what his wife did this time, he would not change his decision.

Gu’er quietly tiptoed back to her room. Lying on the bed this time, she felt no desire to sleep.

’I don’t want Dad to buy a house for me.’ Although her father was a government official, after spending these past few months together, Gu’er had come to understand Lin Shan’s character. Lin Shan had been able to climb the ranks step by step over the years on his own, which was related to his competence. But there was another thing: Lin Shan wasn’t greedy. He was well-liked by people. Otherwise, with no powerful backer, how could he have gotten to where he was today?

Don’t be fooled by the large house the Lin Family lived in. It was assigned to Lin Shan because of his rank. He hadn’t spent any money on it; otherwise, he never would have been able to afford it.

Their household possessions had also been acquired slowly over time. He still had to support his wife and two other children, so they weren’t exactly wealthy.

Of course, this didn’t mean Lin Shan had absolutely no side income. He had accepted perks that came with the job—the kind he was entitled to and that didn’t weigh on his conscience. Otherwise, how could he have supported his family?

He was well aware of how much money the family had, and he also understood the housing market. He didn’t want his daughter to live in a rented place. Since Gu’er was unhappy living here, he would give her a place of her own. From that moment, Lin Shan was prepared to buy a house for Gu’er. It didn’t need to be large, just a place that belonged to her, so she wouldn’t feel like she had nowhere to go.

Lin Shan had made his decision, so this time, he held firm no matter how much Chen Fengjiao cried.

Gu’er understood Lin Shan’s intentions. But she had always wanted to make it on her own, to buy a house in the city through her own hard work. She believed she could earn the money, that she could afford a house and live a good life by herself. At this moment, however, she couldn’t say that to her parents. It would only escalate their conflict.

As for her father buying her a house, it was a gesture of his love. Gu’er didn’t plan to refuse. ’What Dad gives me now, I will repay in the future.’

The night passed, and dawn broke. A new day began. Gu’er walked out of her room and saw Chen Fengjiao.

Gu’er didn’t know how her father had managed to convince her mother. Right now, when Chen Fengjiao saw her, her expression was complicated, but she lacked the frantic energy of the previous day.

"You’re up so early? Why not sleep in a little longer?"

Chen Fengjiao looked at Gu’er for a good while before she spoke.

"I couldn’t sleep."

Gu’er replied.

"Then come help me make breakfast."

Chen Fengjiao said before heading into the kitchen.

Gu’er helped Chen Fengjiao with breakfast. During this time, they were both calm. It was as if they had gone back to how things were before, as if no conflict had ever happened.

’This is good, too. If we can stay peaceful until the fifteenth, until I move out, that’s for the best.’

Lin Shan went to work. Chen Fengjiao was staring blankly in the living room. Lin Sui’er had shut herself in her room to sleep in. Gu’er didn’t know what to do. She wanted to go out, but seeing Chen Fengjiao’s dazed expression, she thought about it and decided to stay, keeping Lin Zheng company while he did his homework.

That day passed, and the next day was the day Lin Shan had promised to take Gu’er back to the village.

Chen Fengjiao didn’t try to stop them. Instead, she brought out some things and handed them to Lin Shan and Gu’er, telling them to give them to the Sun Family as a small gesture.

Gu’er felt that Chen Fengjiao had changed somehow, but she couldn’t quite pinpoint how.

"I want to go too!"

Lin Zheng raised his little hand.

"You can’t go. The road is so long, and you’re still so little, how could you manage? Be a good boy and stay home. Mom will make you pork ribs."

Chen Fengjiao held onto Lin Zheng, not letting him go out.

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Thank you to Karl King for the He Shi Bi, ’Fish in Thought’ for the peace charm, Ning Zhihai for the ’like’, and ’Flower West Cucumber’ and Dong Han Yue for the monthly tickets. Thank you all for your support. Regarding the bonus Chapter for the He Shi Bi: Auntie Xue is on the second day of her period and also has a cold, so I feel really awful. I’ll have to postpone it. By the fourth day, I should be feeling better and will write the bonus Chapter then.