The Adopted Cannon Fodder Made a Comeback

Back at the hotel, the group chatted for a while before going to their own rooms to sleep.

Gu’er lay in bed, and it wasn’t long before she heard Lin Shuying’s light snores.

Gu’er smiled. Her great-aunt had barely slept at all last night. Now that this business was settled, she could finally get a peaceful night’s sleep.

’I wonder if Jia Ming is asleep yet? Is he thinking of me? I really miss him.’ Gu’er’s cheeks flushed as she thought of Sun Jiaming, and she sweetly drifted off to sleep.

The next morning after breakfast, Uncle Qi arrived. He had taken another day off work. Since he was going to help, he might as well see it through to the end. So today, he would go with Gu’er, Li Zhi, and the others to the production brigade office again to get the certificate, and then take them to the police station to get another one.

They found a car and bumped along the road to the brigade office, where the brigade secretary and Zheng Changsheng were already waiting.

"Village Chief Zheng, what happened to you? Who beat you up? Tell us, and we’ll get even for you."

Li Zhi spotted Zheng Changsheng immediately. Zheng Changsheng had a black eye, and a white gauze pad was taped to the side of his head, which must have been bleeding. He clearly looked like he’d been beaten up.

Lin Shuying also looked at Zheng Changsheng, a trace of concern in her eyes. If he really had been beaten, it was definitely because of her.

"It’s nothing. I got back late last night, it was dark, and I carelessly bumped into the doorframe. Sorry to make a fool of myself in front of you."

Zheng Changsheng chuckled, sounding a little embarrassed.

Gu’er didn’t believe his explanation—bumping into a doorframe wouldn’t cause injuries like that. The others didn’t believe him either, but since Zheng Changsheng was unwilling to talk, they couldn’t force him. Besides, some things were better left unsaid.

Lin Shuying turned her head away, her eyes starting to moisten.

"It’s really nothing. I’ve already spoken with the secretary. Let’s get the certificate done first."

Zheng Changsheng couldn’t bear to see Lin Shuying upset, so he quickly changed the subject to the certificate. The truth was, he had been attacked. He’d arrived home late last night, and as he was about to open his front gate, several people jumped out and started beating him without a word. It was dark, he was caught off guard, and they outnumbered him, so he got the worst of it. His head was bleeding, but the attackers knew not to kill anyone, so they didn’t use lethal force. After beating him up, they left.

He knew who they were—it had to be Zheng Daniu, Zheng Fuzi, and their men. They beat him up because of what had happened during the day. He didn’t hold a grudge, but his heart had grown cold toward the village. Once this was over and Lin Shuying’s paperwork was processed, he would leave. He would never come back, except to visit his parents’ graves.

Of course, he couldn’t and wouldn’t tell Lin Shuying any of this.

The certificate was quickly issued and stamped. With the business concluded, Lin Shuying gave Zheng Changsheng a deep look.

"Take care of yourself. Go back and live a good life. Zhongshan will surely be a lot of work for you, but with your family’s help, I believe you can live well. Try to forget all the bad things that happened here."

Zheng Changsheng couldn’t stop himself from saying this to Lin Shuying.

With red-rimmed eyes, Lin Shuying nodded.

Although she had no room for other thoughts right now, this man had been truly good to her. He had been beaten up today because of her, yet he didn’t say a single unnecessary word about it. He had never said a harsh word to her. Instead, he had helped her in a very real way. During those difficult, unbearable days, he was the one who helped her and brought her warmth. She feared they would never see each other again.

"You take care, too."

After speaking, Lin Shuying turned her back to wipe her tears.

Gu’er and the others sighed inwardly but said nothing.

With their business done, it was time for them to leave. Gu’er glanced at Zheng Changsheng. ’He seems like a good person, but now isn’t the time to discuss other matters. My great-aunt needs some breathing room.’ As for what Zheng Changsheng would do, and whether there was any possibility for him and her great-aunt, that would depend on him. They, as outsiders, couldn’t help.

Watching Lin Shuying and the others leave by car, Zheng Changsheng felt as if a piece of his heart was missing, leaving an empty, painful void.

Lin Shuying’s niece, the young woman named Gu’er, had given him a phone number. This suggested she wasn’t against him liking her great-aunt. He didn’t want to stay here anymore either. So, should he go to the Northeast to find Lin Shuying?

The Northeast... To him, it was a completely unfamiliar region. He didn’t even know where Lin Shuying’s city was. But he would never forget the name of that city, because it was where Lin Shuying’s family was from.

Could he really leave his hometown for a strange city? He heard they didn’t even eat noodles there, only rice. He’d never even eaten rice in his life. Would he be able to get used to it?

He’d also heard the Northeast was incredibly cold. So cold that if a man peed outside, it would freeze solid. So cold that your ears would freeze hard after a trip outdoors and could snap right off if you touched them. He couldn’t imagine what that kind of cold would be like. Could he endure it?

His parents’ graves were here. If he went far away, who would visit their graves each year?

This was the place where he was born and raised. Even though he didn’t want to stay, it was still his home. They say fallen leaves return to their roots. Should he really leave in his middle age?

Zheng Changsheng’s heart ached as he thought about all this.

But no matter how hard it was to get used to the Northeast, Lin Shuying was there. The woman he’d thought about for most of his life. From now on, she would be living in that city. All alone, without a man to support her—it must be difficult, right? Back then, she, a delicate young woman, had traveled a thousand miles to a strange village without fear. What was there for a grown man like him to be afraid of?

As long as he was in the same place as her, just thinking of her warmed his heart. He wouldn’t be afraid.

’I have to go find her!’

Once this thought took hold of Zheng Changsheng, it became an overwhelming, uncontrollable urge.

But he couldn’t follow them right now. If he went at this time, people would definitely gossip about Lin Shuying, and he didn’t want her to be spoken of like that. Besides, he had nothing to his name right now. He couldn’t offer her a stable life. He had to earn some money before going to find her. Only when he could guarantee her a good life could he stand before her and say he wanted to marry her, that he wanted to be her support for the rest of her life.

Zheng Changsheng’s resolve hardened, and his eyes filled with a new light. He had a goal. He had hope. And he would work hard for it.

While Zheng Changsheng was making up his mind, Gu’er, Lin Shuying, and the others were completely unaware. They weren’t giving it much thought as they were currently on their way to the township police station.

When they arrived at the police station, Uncle Qi stepped in and found someone he knew. He explained the situation, the person asked a couple of questions, and then processed the paperwork very efficiently. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"Alright, that’s all the paperwork. You can go back and find someone to get her registered now."

Uncle Qi said to the group with a cheerful laugh. This whole affair had gone very smoothly, finished in less than two days. He could now report back to Li Zhi’s father.

"Thank you, Uncle Qi! We really owe you for this one. If it weren’t for you, we would have been completely lost."

"You would have managed even without me. I have to admit I’m getting old. You young people these days... each one is more capable and impressive than the last. The future belongs to you all."

Uncle Qi remarked with feeling. Back when he was army buddies with Li Zhi’s father, he knew that people from the Northeast were passionate and impulsive, but also sincere. If they got along with you, everything was great. If they didn’t, they’d roll up their sleeves and be ready for a fight. He’d thought that was impressive enough, but he never expected the son to be even more capable than the father.

——————

Thank you 6763hs for the peace charm, thank you Dong Han Yue, Sidney Liu, and Book Friend 160908144235147 for the monthly tickets, and thank you all for your support.