The Adopted Cannon Fodder Made a Comeback

Gu’er was surprised to hear someone call her name. Lin Shan was just as surprised that someone here knew her.

They both turned to look and saw three young men standing nearby. The one who had shouted for Gu’er was now rushing toward them.

Gu’er frowned. She recognized this person. It was Xiao Li, the man they had met when they were selling wild boar, the one Sun Jiaming had forced to apologize.

Xiao Li rushed right up to Gu’er, shocked to have run into her today. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

After their last encounter, he’d had someone follow Gu’er and found out the general location of her home. He had planned on getting some people to teach her a lesson, but he’d been too busy before the New Year to find the time. On top of that, the manager had recently been on the verge of firing him. He had to ask his backer to come and put in a good word for him. The manager only agreed to keep him on because it was difficult to find new hires around the holiday, telling him he’d be watching his performance. He had invited his backer over today to talk to the manager again, hoping to smooth things over and secure his job. He had already made up his mind: once the New Year was over, he’d find a few guys to stake out her house and teach her a lesson she wouldn’t forget.

He never imagined that before he could even go after her, he would run into her right here in the restaurant. He instantly saw red, shouting and charging over without a second thought.

"What are you doing here! Who let you in?"

Xiao Li charged right up to her, glared, and demanded rudely.

Lin Shan’s brow furrowed slightly. ’Who is this person? How can he talk like that?’

"I’m here to eat."

Gu’er answered calmly, though she was inwardly displeased. ’The mood was so nice today, but this obnoxious Xiao Li just had to show up and ruin everything.’

"Eating? You? You think you can afford to eat here? Do you have any idea how much a meal costs in this place?"

A look of contempt flashed in Xiao Li’s eyes.

"Who let you people in? Some hicks from the sticks think they can just come eat here? Take a look around! Is this a place for the likes of you?!"

Xiao Li shouted again. The two men who had been with him watched from a distance without saying a word. Their expressions made it clear they couldn’t care less; even if a couple of country folk had a bit of money, they were beneath their notice.

The other servers watched on, some with looks of displeasure, but no one dared to intervene. They only whispered among themselves; after all, Xiao Li held a higher position in the restaurant than they did.

"I don’t care who you are, but you’d better watch your mouth. We’re paying customers. Is this any way to treat guests?!"

Anger flashed in Lin Shan’s eyes. He didn’t come to the hotel often, but he had been here many times to entertain guests. He was sure he had never seen this young man before, or at least had no impression of him. The person he knew was the manager; someone of Xiao Li’s level wasn’t worth remembering.

He didn’t know what kind of history this man had with Gu’er, but he could tell his character was appalling. ’How could the hotel employ someone like this? What does that say about their reputation?!’

"Watch my mouth? Why should I watch my mouth with you? A couple of hicks from the boonies come here pretending to be big shots, and you have the nerve to lecture me? You think you’re worthy?!"

Xiao Li’s words were exceptionally vicious. He knew Gu’er was from the countryside. Although he’d had her followed to a house in the city, he figured she was just visiting relatives. If she had any real status, she wouldn’t be hawking goods on the street—she’d have a decent job. Since Gu’er didn’t have one, it meant she was a nobody. Besides, his own connections had some pull, so he wasn’t the least bit intimidated by her.

He was only acting this brazen because he was certain Gu’er had no backing.

Before Lin Shan or Gu’er could react, he glanced between them with a filthy smirk and said, "Ah, so that’s how Lin Gu’er can afford to eat here. Turns out you found yourself a man. He’s got a wife, doesn’t he? He’s old enough to be your father, and you’re still whoring yourself out to him. Can you even stand to kiss an old geezer like that? You..."

Lin Shan was normally a very composed man, but hearing Xiao Li’s words, his anger became uncontrollable. Someone was talking about his daughter like that. If he still tried to reason with the man or argue, he wouldn’t be a man; he wouldn’t be worthy of being a father.

So, before Xiao Li could finish, Lin Shan shot to his feet. He slapped Xiao Li across the face. Before Xiao Li could react, he grabbed his collar with one hand and a fistful of his hair with the other. With a powerful tug, he yanked Xiao Li forward and slammed his head down onto the table.

Xiao Li struggled, but Lin Shan used all his strength, giving him no chance. He forcefully pressed Xiao Li’s head down, smashing it against the table several times—BAM! BAM!—amidst Xiao Li’s pained screams, pinning his face to the tabletop so he couldn’t move.

"Say that again!"

Lin Shan’s face was livid, and the cold glare in his eyes was terrifying.

Gu’er was stunned. She hadn’t expected Lin Shan to react with such ferocity. Sun Jiaming had gotten physical last time, but it felt nothing like this raw violence. ’Another man is willing to fight for me.’

She looked at Xiao Li, feeling not an ounce of pity. ’His mouth is disgusting. He completely deserved that.’

Seeing things had gone south, the two men who were with Xiao Li scowled and rushed forward.

"You take one more step and see what happens."

Lin Shan, still grabbing Xiao Li’s hair, barked at the two men.

The two men hesitated. Hearing Xiao Li’s cries and seeing his bruised, red face, they started to move forward again.

Gu’er, without a word, smashed the glass she had been drinking her liquor from on the table. She placed a shard of the broken glass against Xiao Li’s neck and said, "Take one more step. I dare you."

Gu’er’s tone wasn’t as violent as Lin Shan’s; it was even somewhat calm. But her action and her gaze were terrifying, as if she would really slit Xiao Li’s throat if the two men disobeyed.

Lin Shan glanced at Gu’er. He suddenly remembered that night when Gu’er had taken a knife to someone. A flash of heartache crossed his eyes.

"AHHHH!"

Several waitresses screamed in terror. Two of the more quick-witted ones immediately ran to find the manager. Lin Shan didn’t stop them. He wanted the manager to come; he needed the man to give him an account for this.

"You’ve got some nerve! Do you know who we are? Don’t think you can come to the city and act like hotshots just because you scraped together a couple of bucks in your village. You’ve crossed us, and I’ll make sure your entire village regrets it!"

One of the young men, a friend of Xiao Li’s, didn’t dare get any closer, but his expression was venomous as he spoke.

Lin Shan didn’t even spare him a glance.

"Some people are not to be crossed. Don’t do something rash that you’ll regret. Even if you think you have some fight in you, this city isn’t your playground. Let him go, offer a sincere apology, and maybe this can all be forgotten. Otherwise, none of you are walking out of here today."

The other man, also glaring venomously at Lin Shan, was Xiao Li’s backer. This was his so-called "big brother," the one who was friendly with the manager. And, of course, he had some clout of his own.

"Heh heh, is that right? So this city isn’t my playground? You insult my daughter—Lin Shan’s daughter—and you still expect us to apologize? Fine! I’d love to see just how you plan to make me apologize. If you’re not done with this, then neither am I!"

Lin Shan laughed out loud, but his face was filled with a ferocious energy. They had insulted his daughter to his face and threatened him with consequences he couldn’t handle? Fine. He would face them. He was about to find out just who dared to bully Lin Shan’s daughter.

——————————

Thank you to Dong Han Yue for the peace charm, and to Book Friend 140525141926461 for the monthly ticket. Thank you all for your support.