The Adopted Cannon Fodder Made a Comeback

After Gu’er closed the door, Zhou Cai continued to cause a commotion outside for a while, even kicking the door. Gu’er didn’t open it to look, nor did she let Sun Jiaming go. She didn’t want to make things too embarrassing for Li Hua.

Zhou Cai cried and cursed a few more times before Li Hua pulled him away. Gu’er and the others waited a long time before it finally fell silent outside.

Lin Shuying, her two children, and Liu Yuan consoled Gu’er for a bit before returning to the Sun Family’s side.

When Grandma Sun learned what had happened with Li Hua, she couldn’t stop sighing.

They knew back when Li Hua brought her three children over that Gu’er would be against it upon her return. However, they weren’t in a position to say anything. The house belonged to Gu’er, so she could let whoever she wanted live there. Since Li Hua was the one staying there, if she wanted to bring people back, only Gu’er had the right to object—no one else.

So they stayed out of it. They had originally planned to talk to Gu’er about it slowly after she and Sun Jiaming came back, but they hadn’t expected them to walk right into the situation.

"Alright, don’t be upset anymore. I can understand your mother. When you’re a mom, you worry about your children whether they’re good or bad. Even if your child doesn’t think of you, you still think of them. If those children from the Zhou family were doing well, it would be one thing, but they aren’t doing well right now, so of course your mother can’t let them go. Whichever child is struggling, a mother will side with them and help them. Otherwise, her conscience won’t be clear. But you’re not in the wrong, either. Those kids are completely out of line. If you had really let them stay, you wouldn’t have had a day of peace. Since your mom thinks it’s better to be with them, then let them be together. The money she earns each month is enough for them anyway. If things really don’t work out, you can just bring her back then."

Grandma Sun continued to console Gu’er. She knew that Gu’er still had deep feelings for Li Hua, and that it hurt her to see her mother leave with the three children like that.

"I know."

Gu’er nodded. She understood, she really did, but it would be a lie to say her heart didn’t ache.

"Don’t be sad. You’ve all been tired for so many days. Now that your business is taken care of, I’ll have your aunt go buy a chicken and make some chicken soup for you all. You need to replenish your strength."

Grandma Sun instructed Aunt Zhao.

"Alright, I’ll go right now. I’ll buy two! Both Jia Ming and Gu’er have gotten thinner. You two need to drink plenty of soup later."

Aunt Zhao agreed readily and went downstairs to buy the chickens.

Gu’er didn’t object. In this day and age, there wasn’t much to eat. Being able to drink chicken soup and eat chicken was a luxury for the wealthy. Some women couldn’t even get chicken soup during their postpartum confinement.

Sun Jiaming then called Chen Fengjiao. She picked up Lin Sui’er and Lin Zheng and hurried over.

Once everyone had arrived, Gu’er and Sun Jiaming started handing out gifts. Everyone was happy to receive them.

Seeing the gift she had brought for Li Hua, Gu’er’s heart twinged again. However, she didn’t show it, reining in her emotions to chat with everyone else.

Dinner was a lively and happy affair. After eating, they all chatted for a long time before Sun Jiaming escorted Chen Fengjiao and her two companions home.

Lin Zheng hadn’t wanted to leave, and Gu’er had also told them to stay over. But he hadn’t brought a change of clothes, and Chen Fengjiao wasn’t used to it, so they went back anyway.

After a bath washed away her fatigue, Gu’er lay languidly on the bed, waiting for Sun Jiaming to return.

When Sun Jiaming got back, he saw Gu’er slumped against the headboard, her hair still wet, already breathing evenly in her sleep.

He moved quietly, gently lifting Gu’er and laying her down properly in the bed.

Gu’er’s eyes fluttered open drowsily. "You’re back?"

"Mhm. Don’t talk. Go to sleep."

Sun Jiaming arranged her hair, then planted a tender kiss on her forehead. He knew she was tired, not just from the hard work of the past few days, but also because of what had happened with Li Hua, which had left her heartbroken.

Gu’er mumbled an agreement and snuggled into his embrace, naturally draping her leg over his.

Gu’er’s movement was unintentional, but Sun Jiaming was wide awake. Her leg rested on his, and her full chest pressed against his.

As Gu’er shifted a few times to find a comfortable position, she brushed against Sun Jiaming’s chest, sending rushes of heat straight to his head.

Sun Jiaming looked down at Gu’er in his arms. Her brows were curved like crescent moons. Her eyes were closed, her eyelashes trembling like fluttering butterflies. Her nose was straight, and her lips were rosy like a cherry, inviting one to taste them.

Unable to resist, Sun Jiaming leaned down and kissed her.

Gu’er, still drowsy with sleep, didn’t think much of it and parted her lips. Sun Jiaming’s tongue slipped smoothly inside, its tip gently teasing hers, slowly enticing her.

Sun Jiaming’s hand slid under her back, gently caressing its smooth skin, moving down to her bottom, which he squeezed lightly.

Gu’er woke with a start. She knew what Sun Jiaming wanted. She tried to resist, but he held her too tightly, and her lips couldn’t make a sound.

By the time Gu’er could breathe and speak again, it was too late. The two were already intimately joined together, and all she could do was let out soft, breathy moans.

Gu’er forgot her troubles, forgot her heartache, forgot everything. All she knew was to hold Sun Jiaming tightly, following his movements to endure and enjoy the storm.

When it was over, Gu’er felt completely drained. She wanted to get out of bed but had no strength.

"How about I get a towel and wipe you down?"

Sun Jiaming saw that Gu’er insisted on getting up to wash herself, and he couldn’t bear to see her so exhausted.

Wiping down wouldn’t be clean enough. Gu’er knew she was in her fertile window and didn’t dare risk it. So, even though she was exhausted, she had to wash up.

Seeing her insistence, Sun Jiaming didn’t say any more. He prepared the water for her, then carried her to wash up.

After Gu’er was clean, Sun Jiaming carried her back to bed.

The moment her head hit the pillow, Gu’er fell into a deep sleep.

Watching Gu’er sleep, Sun Jiaming smiled. ’A buddy of mine once told me not to listen to my wife too much. He told me to be more shrewd, to save up some family money without my wife knowing. He also said I should keep my wife from interacting with other men, or else there’d be trouble. And he said it’s best to have my wife stay at home and not meddle in outside affairs, otherwise I, as the man of the house, would lose my status.’

’I didn’t say anything. While I didn’t agree with my friend, there was no need to argue. You know your own life best. Why debate with people who don’t matter?’

’No matter what Gu’er is like today, I’ll never forget the Gu’er I met on the mountain. I’ll never forget her smile. I’ll never forget the sight of her back as she pushed a cart into the city alone to sell vegetables. And I’ll especially never forget that night—the Gu’er with a bloody face, holding a chopper, standing against the entire village. She looked so strong on the outside, but her heart was completely broken.’

’I can’t forget a single moment we’ve spent together.’

’No matter what happens, my Gu’er will always be my Gu’er. My feelings for her will never change, and I believe her feelings for me won’t change either. We will support each other and walk through life hand in hand. What other people think has nothing to do with us. As long as Gu’er and I think it’s good, that’s all that matters.’

————————

Today is my father-in-law’s 80th birthday. A lot of relatives came, and I’ve been busy all day, so I’m only just now getting online. There’s one more update, but it might be late. Thank you to 6763hs for the peace charm, and thank you to Midnight Blues 3355, Swallow 125, Crystal Arrow, and Pacific Stone Monkey for the monthly tickets. Thank you all for your support.