The Adopted Cannon Fodder Made a Comeback

Gu’er and Sun Jiaming were both a little startled by the shout. The voice was familiar, but they couldn’t place it right away.

Li Zhi and Dingzi paid it no mind. It was normal for people to come looking for Gu’er and Sun Jiaming when they were back.

"Good thing we finished eating. It’d be awkward if someone came and watched us eat."

Li Zhi muttered. Sun Jiaming went out to greet the visitor.

"Second Uncle, what brings you here? Have you eaten?"

When Sun Jiaming saw the man in the yard, a flicker of displeasure crossed his eyes. But since the man had come all this way, he couldn’t just chase him out.

"I’ve eaten! Heard you were back and had guests, so your Second Uncle brought something over for you. This is all homemade, much better than what they sell in the city."

The voices outside were loud.

Li Zhi glanced at Gu’er and said, "The people in this village are really warm and hospitable, even bringing food over."

Gu’er didn’t look at Li Zhi. Her expression wasn’t good because she had recognized the voice. It was Zhou Erpao, Zhou Mei’s father. ’What’s he doing here?’ After things fell through between Zhou Mei and Sun Jiaming, the Zhou Erpao family and the Sun Family had practically cut off all contact. ’Why is he being so proactive today?’

"Come in and sit."

As the saying goes, you don’t hit a smiling face. Since the man was being so friendly, Sun Jiaming couldn’t very well throw him out. It would make everyone lose face.

When Zhou Erpao entered the house laughing with Sun Jiaming, Gu’er realized he hadn’t come alone. Zhou Mei was with him.

"Meizi, what are you standing there for? Weren’t you always saying how much you missed Gu’er? You two are cousins, both with the surname Zhou. Now your Sister Gu’er has found her real parents and become a city person, but she’s not the type to forget her roots. She won’t forget the people in our village. Go on, go chat with your Sister Gu’er."

The moment Zhou Erpao arrived, he was already ordering Zhou Mei to go talk to Gu’er. Listening to him, anyone who didn’t know better would think Gu’er had become a snob who forgot her old acquaintances after moving to the city.

Zhou Mei glanced at Gu’er.

Gu’er sneered. ’Does Zhou Erpao think that because there are guests, I’ll put on an act in front of them? That I won’t refute his words just to save him face?’

’He’s wrong.’ Sun Jiaming knew the situation, not to mention Li Zhi and Dingzi were also familiar with her and knew her personality. She had no reason to pretend.

"Sorry, but she and I really have nothing to talk about. Chat? About what? About how she schemed against me? I don’t have the time for that."

Gu’er couldn’t be bothered to pretend, especially when she saw Zhou Mei actually start walking toward her. If Zhou Mei really sat down and tried to talk to her, it would make her skin crawl.

Zhou Mei’s face turned beet red. She stood frozen, not knowing whether to stay or go.

"Gu’er, you’re still holding a grudge, huh? What Meizi did was wrong, but it was all your sister Zhou Feng’er’s idea. Meizi couldn’t help it. Blame that Feng’er for it; it really wasn’t Meizi’s fault. She’s been regretting it ever since, always saying she wants to apologize. Look, you already cut her with a knife. Besides, you’re both Zhous—practically family. You’re cousins, and it’s been so long. It’s time to let go of the grudge."

Zhou Erpao hadn’t expected Gu’er to be so blunt, but he was thick-skinned and continued to make excuses for Zhou Mei.

"That’s enough, Second Uncle," Sun Jiaming cut in. "Everyone knows who was right and who was wrong in that matter. Just because Gu’er isn’t pressing the issue doesn’t mean we’ve forgotten. Why are you here today? If you have something to say, say it. If not, we have to head back to the city soon, so we can’t keep you."

Sun Jiaming couldn’t be bothered with pleasantries anymore. His message was clear: if you have no business here, then leave.

"Hehe, Jia Ming, I just saw you had guests. Your Second Uncle came over to see if you needed any help. These two look like they’re from the city, a cut above us village folk. Aren’t you going to introduce them to your Second Uncle, Jia Ming?"

Zhou Erpao acted as if he didn’t understand that Sun Jiaming was trying to get rid of him, a smile plastered on his face as he looked at Li Zhi and Dingzi.

For a moment, Gu’er really couldn’t figure out his motive, and neither could Sun Jiaming.

But Li Zhi understood. He had investigated Gu’er’s background and knew what had happened that day. ’So this girl is that Zhou Mei.’

Li Zhi sized up Zhou Mei. ’She’s not much to look at, a far cry from Gu’er. I heard she wanted to marry Jia Ming, and Jia Ming’s mother even agreed. What kind of taste does his mother have, passing over Gu’er for someone like this? And she even tried to harm Gu’er.’ A cold glint flashed in Li Zhi’s eyes.

No one else knew what Li Zhi was thinking. Seeing Li Zhi stare at his daughter, Zhou Erpao felt he’d made the right decision to bring her along.

"Nephew, it’s not that I’m bragging, but my Meizi is a good girl. Hardworking, decent, and very capable. Whoever marries her in the future will have it easy. I’ve heard city girls are lazy and don’t know how to do any chores. It’s different in our village. We’re good at whatever we do. Look at Jia Ming, look at Gu’er—they both came from our village and are doing so well. We just didn’t have the same opportunities, or we’d be just as good as anyone else. Don’t you think so, nephew?"

Zhou Erpao said to Li Zhi.

Gu’er understood at once. ’So Zhou Erpao had an ulterior motive for bringing Zhou Mei here. He said he was just dropping something off, but he was actually here to find a husband for Zhou Mei. But where does he get this confidence? Zhou Mei isn’t exactly a beauty; she’s considered average even in the village. Does he really think city men can’t find wives? Or that village girls are such a hot commodity?’

"Yes, you’re right, Uncle. The girls from the village are very capable."

Li Zhi nodded and agreed with a cheerful smile.

"So you think so too, nephew? You’ve got good judgment! How old are you, nephew? Who’s in your family? Have you found a wife yet?"

Seeing Li Zhi’s agreeable nature, Zhou Erpao thought he was an easy-going, gullible person. His tone became even more familiar, as if he was about to ask, ’So what do you think of my daughter? If you like her, you can just marry her.’

He wasn’t considering Dingzi for now. For one, Dingzi was average-looking and didn’t seem very talkative. Li Zhi was different—he was handsome and seemed amiable. If he could get a son-in-law like that, it would be a great help to his own family in the future.

"No wife yet. It’s hard to find one. What, is Uncle thinking of setting me up with someone?"

Li Zhi acted as if he had no idea what the man was aiming for.

Sun Jiaming and Gu’er glanced at him. They both knew Li Zhi, and he wasn’t one to be taken advantage of, so they weren’t worried.

"Hehe, hehe, I can see you’re a good man, nephew. I really am thinking of setting you up."

Zhou Erpao’s smile widened.

"Sure, that’d be great. My standards aren’t high. Someone more or less like Gu’er would be fine."

As he spoke, Li Zhi glanced at Zhou Mei.

In his heart, Zhou Erpao thought his daughter was much better than Gu’er. So when he heard Li Zhi’s words and saw him glance at Zhou Mei, he was even more delighted. "Nephew, I’m not just boasting. Everyone in the whole village praises my Meizi. We don’t even have to talk about her looks—look how fair-skinned she is, even fairer than Gu’er. My Meizi is also capable and knows how to take care of people. She’ll definitely get along with her mother-in-law and knows how to serve her husband. I guarantee she’ll be a good wife, no worse than Gu’er. What do you think, nephew?"

————————