The Adopted Cannon Fodder Made a Comeback

When they returned to the ward, Gu’er and Sun Jiaming helped Grandma Sun lie down. Another doctor came by and asked many questions, and Grandma Sun and Sun Jiaming answered them all.

The whole ordeal left Grandma Sun looking pale and exhausted.

Gu’er stayed by Grandma Sun’s side, watching as she slowly drifted off to sleep. Her heart ached for her. ’People really shouldn’t get old. Getting old and sick is just so much suffering.’

While Gu’er kept watch, Sun Jiaming went downstairs to pay the fees. Even with Lin Shan’s connections, a hospital stay wasn’t free.

When Lin Shan entered the ward, Gu’er quietly gestured for him to come out. The two of them, father and daughter, stepped outside to talk.

"Dad, what’s the news? Are the results back yet?"

Gu’er asked Lin Shan.

"A few of the test results aren’t back yet, but the department head told me he doesn’t think your Grandma Sun’s condition is too serious. The main problem is that it was left untreated for too long. A lot of illnesses get worse when you put them off. As for her legs, the director said if she’d been treated earlier, she wouldn’t have been paralyzed all these years. It’s too late to completely fix it now—she’s older, and her nerves and everything aren’t what they used to be. But, with proper treatment and rehabilitation, even though she won’t be able to walk like a normal person, she might be able to take care of herself. At the very least, she’d be better off than she is now."

Lin Shan relayed the news to his daughter honestly.

"Really? Then we have to treat it."

Gu’er was still quite happy. She had often wished that Grandma Sun’s condition could be cured. Now, hearing what the department head said, even if she couldn’t walk like a normal person, it was definitely better than her current state.

"We can treat it, but it’s going to cost a fortune. I’d guess we’re looking at more than eight hundred or a thousand yuan. It might even hit four or five thousand."

Lin Shan fell silent, considering. He knew how hard it was to earn money in the village. Forget a thousand or eight hundred yuan; sometimes people didn’t even have a few dozen. Take Zhou Mazi, for instance—he would have sold Gu’er for fifty yuan. To ask a family to spend so much on an elderly person... they’d rather take them home and let them wait to die. It wasn’t that they were completely heartless; they just couldn’t come up with the money.

That was why Grandma Sun had always refused to come to the city. She knew it would cost money and couldn’t bear to be a burden to her grandson.

"We have to spend it, no matter how much it costs."

Gu’er’s voice was quiet, but her expression was firm. ’Sun Jiaming probably doesn’t have much money left. I won’t go to Russia. I’ll use my money for Grandma Sun’s treatment. I’ll take care of her, and once she’s better, I can think about other things.’

"Uncle, Gu’er."

Sun Jiaming had returned. He had just been paying the hospital admission fee.

"I’ll go check in on her. You two can talk."

Lin Shan went into the ward, leaving Gu’er and Sun Jiaming alone to talk.

"My dad said the hospital stay will cost a lot of money. Brother Jia Ming, I have eight hundred yuan. I’ll bring it to you when I come over tomorrow. Use it for Grandma’s treatment first," Gu’er said softly.

"Gu’er, don’t. You don’t need to bring it. I just paid three hundred yuan, which is enough for a few days. I’ll get the rest when we need it."

Sun Jiaming waved his hand in refusal.

"Brother Jia Ming, it’s just a small gesture from me. She’s my grandma, too."

Gu’er didn’t want him to refuse.

"Gu’er, I haven’t told you this. Last year, after you left, the friend I’m in business with asked me to invest more to expand the operation. So I gave him all the money I had on hand. I didn’t take any of the profits we made later, either; I just reinvested everything. Before the New Year, he made a huge profit and gave me a big cut. Otherwise, where would I have gotten the money to buy a house? After I bought it, I was planning to fix it up and then take you to see it. Once we’re married, we’ll have our own home. I just never expected Grandma’s health to take a turn. I’m not planning on taking her back to the village; we’ll have her recover here. I really do have money left. If it’s not enough, I promise I’ll tell you. I won’t stand on ceremony with you."

Sun Jiaming’s gaze was full of deep affection as he looked at Gu’er. He knew they were of one mind.

Gu’er hadn’t realized that the business Sun Jiaming had with his partner was so profitable.

It made her even more excited about the business opportunity in Russia. But with Grandma Sun in this state, she couldn’t leave.

"Gu’er, were you and Uncle Lin planning on heading back to the village today? Was there something else you had to do?"

Sun Jiaming had noticed her hesitation.

After a moment’s hesitation, Gu’er told him about Li Zhi’s invitation to go to Russia.

Sun Jiaming fell silent. He knew about the opportunities to make money in Russia; a friend had even approached him about it once. But he had refused because he couldn’t leave his grandmother.

He could see that Gu’er wanted to go. Under normal circumstances, he would have asked Aunt Zhao to look after his grandmother for a few days and gone with Gu’er. But now that his grandmother was in the hospital, he couldn’t leave. He couldn’t count on his parents, so he had to take care of her himself.

"Don’t worry, Brother Jia Ming. I’ll tell Li Zhi tomorrow that I’m not going this time. I’ll stay here and help take care of Grandma. Once she’s better, I can go next time. There will be plenty of other opportunities."

She had told him because she didn’t want to keep secrets from him, not to put him in a difficult position.

"No, Gu’er, you should go. This is a great opportunity. From what you’ve said, this Li Zhi seems like a capable person. If you trust him, then you should go. I’ll be here for Grandma; I just can’t go with you. Please be careful about everything."

Sun Jiaming looked at Gu’er, his eyes filled with both support and a hint of worry. He supported her desire to go out and make her own way, but he worried that something might happen to her while he wasn’t there. He desperately wanted to go with her, but he knew that if he offered, she would refuse and become even more determined to stay and take care of his grandmother. He didn’t want to hold her back.

"Brother Jia Ming, making money isn’t that important. Really."

Gu’er didn’t want to choose money over her family.

"Silly girl. With Grandma in the hospital, only one of us needs to be here. I can manage on my own, so don’t worry. You go, and don’t worry about a thing. By the time you get back, Grandma will be much better. We’ll be waiting for you. Next time, I’ll go with you."

Sun Jiaming took her hand and gently stroked her hair.

"If Jia Ming is telling you to go, then you should go. I’ll come by to check on her every day," Lin Shan added as he stepped out of the room.

Seeing Lin Shan, Sun Jiaming blushed and let go of her hand. Gu’er was a little embarrassed too. Lin Shan just smiled. ’This young couple is quite nice.’

"Alright, I’ll stay for the night watch tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll see what the doctor says. If it’s nothing major, I’ll go then."

Since both Lin Shan and Sun Jiaming supported her decision to go, Gu’er didn’t argue any further.

"Alright. I’ll go buy some food first. After we eat, I’ll head back. I need to let your mother know what’s going on so she doesn’t worry."

Lin Shan nodded.

"I’ll go."

Gu’er stopped him and had him and Sun Jiaming return to the ward. She found a small eatery, ordered two dishes to go, and brought them back.

After they finished eating, Lin Shan spoke with the doctor one more time before heading home.

Grandma Sun was still fast asleep. Gu’er and Sun Jiaming sat on either side of her bed.

"Why don’t you get some sleep?"

Sun Jiaming asked, his eyes filled with concern. He had tried to get Gu’er to go home with Lin Shan, but she had refused, insisting on staying for the night watch.

"I’m not tired. Brother Jia Ming, you should get some rest. You were the one pulling the cart the whole way here."

Gu’er was worried about him, too.

"I’m not tired either."

Sun Jiaming looked back at Gu’er. Their eyes met, a tender affection lingering between them.

————————