The Adopted Cannon Fodder Made a Comeback

Gu’er looked at Li Hua. She appeared calm on the outside, but inside, she was in great pain.

"Mom, what if I don’t agree?"

The color drained from Li Hua’s face at Gu’er’s words.

"You dare disagree! If you don’t listen to Mom, I’ll get Dad to come here and beat you to death!" Zhou Cai shouted.

"Did you hear that? He said he’ll have his father come beat me to death. Is that what’s in store for me? I don’t want to say any more about it. I’ve told you before that I’ve cut all ties with the Zhou family. You are my mother, and it’s my duty to provide for you. But *they* have nothing to do with me. Considering how they used to bully me, it’s a blessing I haven’t sought revenge, yet they still expect me to be good to them? I’m done talking. If they have things here, tell them to pack up and go."

Gu’er didn’t want to speak further; it was too heart-wrenching.

"Zhou Gu’er, are you really this heartless? You really can’t stand to have us here? I’m begging you, and you still refuse?"

Zhou Feng’er’s eyes were filled with desperate hatred.

"I refuse."

Gu’er’s expression didn’t change at all. She felt no sympathy for Zhou Feng’er, no matter what predicament she was in.

"Fine, fine! Zhou Gu’er, you’ve ruined me! I’ll fight you to the death!"

A bloodthirsty glint flashed in Zhou Feng’er’s eyes as she lunged at Gu’er. It looked as if she was about to start a brawl, or maybe even sink her teeth into her.

Gu’er didn’t move. Sun Jiaming, who was sitting beside her, simply stuck out an arm and blocked Zhou Feng’er. With a push, he sent Zhou Feng’er stumbling to the floor. She cried out.

"Feng’er, are you alright?"

Li Hua rushed to help her up.

"I don’t need your help! You’re *her* mother anyway. You don’t care about us, you don’t want us. You wouldn’t even care if we died!"

Zhou Feng’er’s eyes were also filled with hatred as she looked at Li Hua.

"That’s not it, that’s not it! I haven’t abandoned you. I... I just..."

Li Hua couldn’t continue and broke down in tears.

"So what’s the deal, Mom? She won’t let us stay. Are you going to do something or not? If you won’t, then just get Dad to come over and beat her until she agrees," Zhou Cai yelled discontentedly.

Li Hua looked from her other children to Gu’er, her eyes begging, but Gu’er refused to meet her gaze. Li Hua knew that once Gu’er’s mind was made up, nothing could change it.

"I don’t care, I’m not leaving. You can beat me to death, I’m still not leaving. I’m staying right here."

Zhou Cai sat on the floor and began to throw a tantrum.

"Not leaving, are you? Fine. Then I’ll throw you out myself. Once you’re out of my house, you can go wherever you please."

Gu’er stood and went into the room. Inside, several new-looking articles of clothing were strewn about, along with quite a bit of food. ’Li Hua must have bought these for them.’ Gu’er bundled up the clothes, carried them to the entrance, and tossed them all outside.

"The three of you, get out now. Or I’ll throw you out myself."

Gu’er’s expression was grim as she pointed to the door, telling them to leave.

"I’m not leaving! If you’ve got the guts, then throw me out. Let’s see you try and touch me."

Zhou Cai lay down on the floor.

Gu’er’s body was trembling slightly. Sun Jiaming knew she was both heartbroken and furious. He also knew she would absolutely not let the Zhou siblings stay. So he stood up, strode over, and grabbed Zhou Cai. Before Zhou Cai could resist, Sun Jiaming hauled him to his feet, dragged him to the doorway, and literally threw him outside.

Li Hua watched, feeling as if a knife was twisting in her heart. But she couldn’t say a single word against Gu’er or Sun Jiaming. After all, Gu’er wasn’t in the wrong.

"What about you two? Do I have to get physical with you as well?"

"Brother Jia Ming."

Zhou Duo’er cried out, but Sun Jiaming didn’t even spare her a glance.

"Mom, if we can’t live here, how will we survive? We’ll starve to death! Please, beg her!" Zhou Duo’er said, turning to Li Hua.

Li Hua looked dazed. She knew Sun Jiaming, and knew he always listened to Gu’er. His actions proved that Gu’er was not going to change her mind.

’What am I to do with these three children? Go back home? When Zhou Mazi loses his temper, he beats people half to death. I can’t let my children suffer with him any longer. But if we stay in the city... where can I take them if we leave here?’

"Gu’er, I’m so sorry. I know the hardships you’ve endured, and I know how wronged you feel. I also know I shouldn’t be doing this. I won’t make them stay here. But... they’re my children, too. I can’t just abandon them. I’ll leave with them. I was planning on giving you all my earnings from the shop to help with your debts, but now I have three more mouths to feed. I’ll have to support them. I’ll pay you back for that money later."

Li Hua said this as tears streamed down her face.

Gu’er’s eyes were red, but she held back her tears. She didn’t look at Li Hua, afraid she wouldn’t be able to stop herself from crying.

"Then I’ll be going. You and Jia Ming live a good life. I won’t go bother Grandma Sun about this."

Li Hua pulled Zhou Feng’er to her feet.

"Are we really leaving?"

Zhou Duo’er stole a glance at Gu’er, thinking she wouldn’t have the heart to go through with it. But Gu’er gave no sign of changing her mind. ’Zhou Gu’er is so cruel,’ she thought. ’Even after Mom said all that, she still won’t ask us to stay.’

Li Hua led Zhou Feng’er and Zhou Duo’er out the door.

Watching Zhou Cai still wailing outside and looking at her mother, Gu’er felt a sense of powerlessness. With a loud BANG, she slammed the front door shut. In that instant, the door cut off the sight of Li Hua, severing the bond between mother and daughter. Gu’er’s tears finally fell. She had returned in such high spirits. Her business with her aunt had gone smoothly, she had opened a new trade route to the Soviet Union, and she was on the verge of making a fortune. She had imagined a happy family reunion, but instead, she came home to this drama.

’I’m not a cruel person, but I can’t repay their evil with kindness. The life I lived in my past life was just too bitter. Zhou Feng’er actually plotted with Zhang Da to ruin me. If I hadn’t fought with everything I had, who knows what would have become of me? To ask me to be good to them now, to let Zhou Feng’er live in the house I earned with my own sweat and tears? I just can’t do it.’

But she hadn’t expected Li Hua to actually leave with them.

’That’s right... a mother will never abandon her children, no matter how awful they are. It’s just like how I was with Zhang Juan in my past life. I shouldn’t have asked my mother to cut ties with her other children. If she thinks this is the right path, then I’ll let her take it. In the future, if she’s struggling or has no one to care for her, I can bring her back. But not now.’

Sun Jiaming took Gu’er’s hand.

"Was I too cruel?" Gu’er asked him.

On the sofa, Lin Shuying and Liu Yuan sighed. Strangers can’t hurt you like this; they have no connection to you. The only people who can cause this kind of pain are your own family.

"If it were me, I’d have done the same thing. I haven’t forgotten how they treated you. If your heart had softened and you’d let those three stay, Zhou Mazi would have eventually shown up. We’d never have a moment’s peace. Besides, Feng’er despises you; she wouldn’t have behaved. Keeping someone like that around is just asking for trouble. I don’t think you were cruel at all. As for Mom, she’ll understand someday. When she does, we’ll bring her back and care for her properly."

Sun Jiaming gently stroked Gu’er’s hair, speaking with great seriousness.

Gu’er rested her head on Sun Jiaming’s shoulder and let her tears fall in silence.

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Thank you to Super Assassin, kidmeteor, Pacific Stone Monkey, and Mo Xiaoyan for the monthly tickets. Thank you all for your support.