The Adopted Cannon Fodder Made a Comeback

Gu’er fell into thought after listening to Director Chen.

Sun Jiaming stood by silently. ’In a situation like this, we have no other choice. The story has to be told, so it’s best if Gu’er tells it.’

"Alright."

Gu’er nodded, as if she had come to a decision. She looked around at the courtyard, which was packed with people. Not a single person was speaking; it was obvious they were all waiting to hear her out.

Gu’er gazed at the sea of eyes. Even the road outside the main gate was crowded with people, all listening intently. She knew that if she misspoke or said the wrong thing today, it would be very damaging for her father, Lin Shan.

"Starting the year before last, I went up the mountain every day to dig for wild vegetables. I’d then push them in a cart to the city to sell, earning a few yuan a day. I did that for about a month and made a few dozen yuan."

As Gu’er spoke, her thoughts drifted back to those days.

"Who’d believe that? That you could make the kind of money to run a department store just by selling vegetables? Stop treating us like idiots!"

Director You yelled, and the crowd clearly felt it was impossible too.

"Can you just shut your mouth? Didn’t your mother ever teach you not to interrupt people when they’re talking?"

Gu’er stared at him, her disgust plain on her face.

"You... You little punk. Fine, I’ll just see what you have to say."

Director You was fuming.

"That’s right, I couldn’t have made that kind of money selling wild vegetables. But everything has to start somewhere, and I started with vegetables. At first, it was only a few dozen yuan, but it was money. Then I earned a little more selling mushrooms. Jia Ming took out his years of savings and bought a small storefront in the city. We sold goods from the mountains, earning a little through hard work. It was only a few hundred yuan, but it was an accumulation. That continued until I met Li Zhi at night school."

Gu’er gestured toward Li Zhi as she spoke, and he stepped forward.

"He told me he wanted to do business, that he wanted to go to the Soviet Union. So we planned to go there to sell goods and make money. But you need capital to buy inventory. When he learned I was going into business, my dad gave me a few hundred yuan. Do you have any idea that this was the family’s entire savings? My mom was angry with my dad over this money, and my sister resented me because she thought I was taking the family’s money to go squander it."

Gu’er’s thoughts returned to those days. Standing at the entrance to the courtyard, tears streamed down Chen Fengjiao’s face. Back then, she really had resented Gu’er, thinking her daughter was reckless and wouldn’t settle down.

"Who’d believe that?"

Director You curled his lip.

"Shut up! Didn’t Secretary Lin’s daughter just tell you not to interrupt? Didn’t your mother teach you anything?"

Grandpa Wang glared at Director You.

Director You was seething with rage. He had been scolded again.

Gu’er gave Grandpa Wang a grateful look. She felt a real warmth toward the old man.

"With that money, plus what I had already earned, Li Zhi, Dingzi, and I went to Shenyang. We got our visas, bought some local goods, and then took a train to the Soviet Union to sell our things to the Soviets. Yes, we made money on that trip. But do you have any idea how hard it was for us in a foreign country where we couldn’t speak the language? We were chased through the streets by police for trying to sell our goods. When we went to buy new stock, we ran into some Vietnamese and were nearly killed by them. If it weren’t for Li Zhi and Dingzi being army veterans who knew how to fight, we’d all be dead in the Soviet Union right now. The person standing here talking to you would be a ghost."

Recalling that first trip to the Soviet Union, Gu’er remembered just how hard it had been.

The crowd members looked at one another. They believed what Gu’er was saying; she couldn’t be lying to them.

"As a young woman, maybe I could have relied on my dad to get a nice job as a sales clerk or something and live a stable life. In many people’s eyes, I’m just someone who won’t settle down. Some people even say I’m improper, always mixing with men. But why would I go to the Soviet Union? Why would I risk everything with two men to earn money that we nearly died for?"

Gu’er gave a wry smile. Sun Jiaming watched her, his eyes filled with heartache.

"If a girl isn’t pushed to the brink, who would choose to live like this!"

A wave of bitterness washed over Gu’er.

"You’re just wild. Who can you blame but yourself?"

Forgetting himself again, Director You blurted out.

"Shut up! Didn’t your mother teach you not to interrupt people?"

This time, several people shouted at Director You at once. They all wanted to hear what Gu’er had to say.

Director You looked like he was about to explode with rage.

"Fine, I’m wild. But do you know *why* I’m so wild?"

As she spoke, Gu’er looked at the crowd. Seeing everyone staring at her, she continued, "Ever since I can remember, I’ve been afraid. My father died, and I was terrified my mother would abandon me. I was only a few years old. No one knew how scared I was. My mother remarried, and I was afraid of being thrown out, so I worked desperately. And even then, I couldn’t get enough to eat."

Gu’er thought back to her childhood. Those memories had grown hazy over time, but now that she was speaking of them, they resurfaced with stark clarity.

The crowd looked at Gu’er in confusion. ’Isn’t she Lin Shan’s daughter? Why is she talking about her father dying and her mother remarrying?’

"I worked myself to the bone, but all I got in return were beatings and curses. My mother gave that man—my stepfather—two daughters and a son. Once he had his own children, he treated me even worse. I never had a single good day. I was too scared to talk to anyone. I could only work endlessly every day, just like my mother, because if we slowed down even a little, we’d be beaten and cursed. I was so scared, every single day. Then one day, I got sick. I found out he was going to sell me to a gambler in our village. I refused. I felt I couldn’t live like that anymore, so I started trying to find ways to make money. Why did I work so hard to earn money? Because I didn’t want to be sold. I wanted to have money so I wouldn’t be sold off to some gambler."

"I earned a little money, and I thought I’d be safe from being sold. But I never expected that my own sister would set me up, and I was nearly violated by that gambler. I fought for my life. I grabbed a chopper and wounded him. I wounded the people who were trying to destroy me. When my stepfather arrived, not only did he not help me, he ganged up on me with them. Why did they bully me? Because I had nothing. Because I was weak, so they could trample all over me! I swore then and there that I would leave that family. But that man, my stepfather, demanded fifty yuan to sever ties with me. Fifty yuan! I didn’t have that much money back then, do you understand? Fifty yuan could decide my fate. It could decide whether I lived with dignity or handed my life over to others like a dog. Fifty yuan... Luckily, I had Jia Ming back then. He gave me the money and helped me."

The memory of that night returned, and Gu’er’s face was etched with sorrow. She looked toward Sun Jiaming, who moved to her side and took her hand, gripping it tightly. Her expression softened into tenderness.

A bitter feeling welled up in Li Zhi. ’By the time I met Gu’er, she was already a composed, mature young woman. I wasn’t there for her during those difficult years; only Sun Jiaming had accompanied her through them. That’s why no one could ever replace Sun Jiaming’s position in her heart.’