The Adopted Cannon Fodder Made a Comeback

Restaurants in those days didn’t have masters of ceremonies like they would later on. Someone had Gu’er and Sun Jiaming stand at the front and gave a speech. It was the usual fare—announcing that Sun Jiaming and Gu’er were married, that this was their big day, and wishing them a long and happy life together, to have a son soon, and so on. Finally, he had Sun Jiaming and Gu’er bow to their parents and then to the crowd to express their heartfelt thanks.

Once that was over, the feast began.

Gu’er glanced around. The main hall was packed with people, with dozens of tables set up. The sight made her a little dizzy.

"Time to make the toasts."

Someone reminded Sun Jiaming and his friends.

Li Zhi, Dingzi, Liu Yuan, and Sun Jiasheng were the four who would be accompanying them to make the rounds.

"Let Gu’er get a few bites to eat first. She’ll feel sick later if she drinks on an empty stomach."

Sun Jiaming’s heart ached for her. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

They weren’t far from Lin Shan’s table, so Lin Shan and Chen Fengjiao happened to overhear him. They both nodded to themselves in approval. ’As long as our son-in-law is always thinking of our daughter, that’s what matters.’

Chen Fengjiao waved Gu’er and Sun Jiaming over.

Gu’er and Sun Jiaming went to their table first.

"Quick, sit down and eat a few bites to line your stomach."

Chen Fengjiao started to give Gu’er her seat. This was her daughter, and she doted on her as well.

"Don’t get up," a woman on good terms with Chen Fengjiao said, standing. "I need to go say a few words to someone. Let Gu’er sit here for now."

Chen Fengjiao thanked her. The table was full; besides herself, there was Chen Damin, Liu Yue Mei, Chen Yu, Chen Shuangbao, and a few other relatives.

Chen Yu and Chen Shuangbao shouldn’t have been at this table, which was meant for the proper elders. But they were taking up the seats, and Liu Yue Mei didn’t make them move, so there was nothing Chen Fengjiao could do. Fortunately, Chen Ping was more sensible and had taken Lin Sui’er and Lin Zheng to sit elsewhere. Otherwise, it would have been quite embarrassing to have their family take over an entire table.

Meanwhile, Lin Shan’s table was all men, including Li Zhi’s father, the Party Secretary and the Director of Yonghong District, and several other officials.

When Gu’er and Jiaming came over, Chen Yu and Chen Shuangbao should have stood up, but they didn’t budge. They just kept picking up food and eating, much to Chen Fengjiao’s annoyance.

"Here, Jiaming, take my seat. You should also get a few bites in, or you’ll feel awful later after all the drinking."

Chen Damin, at least, was considerate enough to offer his seat.

Liu Yue Mei pursed her lips but didn’t say anything.

Gu’er didn’t hesitate, picking out a few of her favorite dishes to eat. Drinking on an empty stomach really was unpleasant, and she was a lightweight drinker anyway.

"Gu’er, your aunt has to ask," Liu Yue Mei said, her face a mask of gossip. "How much was in the red envelope your mother-in-law gave you?"

"I don’t know. I haven’t looked."

Gu’er was annoyed. ’What business is it of yours? Even if it wasn’t much, I wouldn’t tell you anyway.’

"Why haven’t you looked? Do you have it on you? Let your aunt take a look for you. If she gave you too little, we’re your family, we’ll stand up for you and go have a word with her."

It was as if Liu Yue Mei didn’t get the hint, instead pressing Gu’er to show her the red envelope.

"Auntie, are you saying that if my mother-in-law didn’t give enough, you’ll make up the difference for me?"

Gu’er stared at Liu Yue Mei. She just wanted to eat something in peace. ’Why can’t this aunt of mine ever just be quiet?’

"Listen to you! We’re your own family, how can you not tell friend from foe? Your aunt came all this way to give you a wedding gift, and now you’re asking me for money?"

Liu Yue Mei was getting angry. She had no intention of giving Gu’er any money. Even earlier, when she’d wanted Gu’er and Sun Jiaming to kowtow to her, she hadn’t planned on giving them a red envelope in return.

"Heh, maybe I really can’t tell friend from foe."

Gu’er rolled her eyes at her.

"Sister-in-law, we’re surrounded by people. This isn’t the place. Don’t make us a laughingstock," Chen Fengjiao said in a low voice.

Liu Yue Mei wanted to argue, but she remembered what Lin Shan had said and held her tongue.

"Mom, you all go ahead and eat. Brother Jiaming and I are going to make the toasts now."

Gu’er had lost her appetite and stood up.

"Alright, go on. And don’t drink if you can help it."

Chen Fengjiao shot Liu Yue Mei a glare. ’Honestly! She wouldn’t even let my daughter eat in peace. If Gu’er feels sick later, I’ll be having a word with her.’

With Li Zhi and Dingzi holding the liquor bottles and Liu Yuan carrying a tray, Sun Jiaming and Gu’er began to make their rounds.

They started at Lin Shan’s table. Sun Jiaming and Gu’er each drank a glass, offering thanks for their attendance.

The men at this table were mostly officials and quite well-mannered. They offered a few words of blessing and quickly sent the couple on their way to the next table.

Next, they went to Sun Zhuzi and Cao Qiu’s table, which was filled with close relatives from the Sun and Cao families.

Li Zhi and Dingzi, each holding a bottle, poured the strong liquor into small cups and handed them to Sun Jiaming and Gu’er.

The guests offered auspicious blessings, Sun Jiaming and Gu’er thanked them for coming, and then they both downed their liquor.

A fiery heat seared Gu’er’s throat. ’This stuff tastes awful.’

After they finished, someone tried to make them drink a second glass, but Li Zhi and his friends intervened, explaining that there were too many tables to get through. If they had several drinks at each, they’d never finish. Therefore, it was one glass per table.

Gu’er and the group made their way back to Chen Fengjiao’s table.

"Jiaming, Gu’er, your uncle and I will toast you again." Liu Yue Mei stood up, ready to pour more drinks. "Jiaming, you have to bring Gu’er back home often in the future. You can’t get a new family and forget about your old one."

"Auntie, it’s one glass per table. Look how many tables there are. Once they’ve finished their rounds, we’ll have Jiaming and Gu’er come back and toast you two separately," Li Zhi intercepted again.

"That’s right, there are dozens of tables, and you know Gu’er is a lightweight," Chen Fengjiao added. "Sister-in-law, just let them finish their rounds first."

After speaking, Chen Fengjiao shot Jiaming and Gu’er a look, signaling them to leave.

Sun Jiaming led Gu’er away. They moved on to the next table of elders, but as Gu’er took a sip of her "liquor," she frowned slightly. ’Have I drunk so much my tongue’s gone numb? Why does this taste so weak? It feels just like water.’

Gu’er glanced over at Li Zhi, who gave her a subtle wink.

Gu’er understood immediately. ’They must have been worried I’d drink too much and switched my liquor with water.’

Gu’er smiled to herself but still put on a show, coughing and covering her mouth as if the "liquor" was incredibly strong.

After they had toasted another ten or twenty tables, most of the remaining guests were the younger crowd. Unlike the elders, the young people were rowdier, demanding they chug multiple glasses right from the start.

"Hey, she’s had so much to drink, how is the bride not even tipsy yet? You’re not drinking water instead of liquor, are you?" one of the young men shouted.

"Yeah, that’s right! I bet they switched it to water! You can’t trick us with water!" someone else chimed in.

"Who said anything about water? This is real liquor! If you don’t believe me, let him try it!" Li Zhi shot back. "Hey, Dingzi, give him a taste!"

He wasn’t about to be called out, so he had Dingzi pour a cup of the strong liquor and hand it to the young man.