The Adopted Cannon Fodder Made a Comeback

Gu’er didn’t say anything. Her mother-in-law had already said everything that needed to be said. ’It seems this brother of Wei Hong’s is no good,’ she thought. ’Otherwise, Mother-in-law wouldn’t have put it like that. Wei Hong is using "starting a business" as an excuse to borrow money. If we really lend it to her, I’m afraid we’ll never get it back. Just like Mother-in-law said, this isn’t two hundred—it’s twenty thousand. We can’t lend it.’

Sun Jiaming felt the same way as Gu’er. He usually sent his mother two or three hundred to help out. Since they didn’t live together, he didn’t want her to struggle financially. His mother always refused, saying she had enough and that he should save his money. But he didn’t want his mother to have too hard a life, so he was never stingy with her.

If his mother’s side of the family ran into a major crisis and needed money, he couldn’t just ignore it. But he would never lend money for something like this—his sister-in-law borrowing for her brother from her maiden family to start a business. Just as his mom said, he knew full well what kind of person his sister-in-law’s brother was. He wasn’t cut out for business. If they gave him the money, it would definitely just be spent, and they could forget about ever getting it back. It’s not like he had money burning a hole in his pocket. Even if he did, he’d spend it on people who deserved it, not on his sister-in-law’s so-called maiden family.

Besides, his sister-in-law had the nerve to ask for twenty thousand this time. Her appetite was way too big. If they actually gave in to her, she’d make an even more exorbitant demand next time. So, he couldn’t set this precedent.

"Sister-in-law, I’m sorry, but I can’t lend you this money. We stocked up on a lot of goods before the New Year, so our funds are pretty tight. We don’t have that much anyway. If your brother really wants to start a business, tell him to find another way. We can’t help."

Sun Jiaming refused. He didn’t let Gu’er speak; these were his relatives, so it was better for him to be the one to say it.

"Jiaming, I’ve been married into the Sun Family for so many years. No matter what, I gave your family Tingting. Now that your life is better, you’re just going to ignore us? I’m not asking to take your money, just to borrow it. It’s not like I won’t pay you back. If you act like this, how can I face my family when I go back home? Just do your sister-in-law a favor, won’t you? I’ll remember this kindness."

Wei Hong didn’t care what her mother-in-law said. She knew exactly what kind of person her mother-in-law was after all these years, and besides, her mother-in-law didn’t have that much money anyway. The one she cared about was Sun Jiaming. She figured if she begged him earnestly, he might just agree. ’Once I get the money,’ she schemed, ’I’ll give my family a few thousand for their use. Whether they start a business or just spend it, that’s up to them. With this money, my status in my maiden family will rise. In the future, they’ll all have to walk on eggshells around me. As for the rest of the money, I’ll save it. Sun Jiaming and Gu’er are so rich, so what’s wrong with them giving me a little? I’m a daughter-in-law of the Sun Family too. Why shouldn’t I get a share?’ So, she never had any intention of paying it back. The worst-case scenario was she’d just say the business failed. What could they do to her then?

Gu’er gave a cold smile. She knew exactly what Wei Hong was plotting. ’But Wei Hong has miscalculated,’ she thought. ’Sun Jiaming isn’t the type to go soft just because you beg him. If someone over there was sick and in urgent need of money, Sun Jiaming might agree. But with an excuse like this, she can forget about it.’

"Your words are prettier than a song," Cao Qiu snapped. "You’ll ’remember Jiaming’s kindness’? Does Jiaming need you to remember his kindness? Besides, how has Jiaming ever mistreated you? If it weren’t for Jiaming and Gu’er, would you be wearing such expensive clothes right now? Would you be able to show off when you go back to your family? Even if Jiaming didn’t say no to lending money, you wouldn’t get past me. You want to take Jiaming’s money for your maiden family to squander? No way!"

Cao Qiu was resolute.

"That’s right, Sister-in-law. I won’t agree," Sun Jiaming said. He then turned to his niece. "Alright, Tingting, come over to Second Uncle. Let me ask you, school’s out for the holidays, have you finished your homework? Do you know how to do it all?"

After his refusal, Sun Jiaming called Sun Ting over and asked about her homework, changing the subject from the loan.

Wei Hong’s expression turned ugly.

"Jiaming, you can’t be so heartless. Just help your sister-in-law out. My family is really struggling to get by. If twenty thousand is too much, how about fifteen thousand? No, ten thousand! Even eight thousand would be fine! If not, five thousand? Is that still not okay? That’s just a little bit that could slip through your fingers!"

Wei Hong couldn’t accept it. Seeing how much money the business was making, how could she not be green with envy? But she had no way in, and none of the money was hers. That’s why she’d come up with this scheme to get a piece of it.

"Who’s mistreating you on a daily basis?" Cao Qiu fired back. "The food we eat, the things we buy and use in this house—have you spent a single penny? Don’t I pay for all of it? And where do you think I get my money? Isn’t it all from Jiaming! Sun Jiasheng’s salary is all given to you too. Don’t think I don’t know you’re saving it up. I don’t say anything about you saving money; you have Tingting, so it’s right that you should save some. But you take things from this house to your maiden family, and you take that to your maiden family, and I don’t say anything about it either. A little here and there is fine. But if you think you can cheat Jiaming out of his money like this, you can forget it! I won’t let Jiaming give you a single cent! If you’re going to be shameless and keep this up, then just leave. Get out of my sight."

Cao Qiu felt this daughter-in-law was utterly shameless. Jiaming had helped them out plenty, but not only was she ungrateful, she was always scheming to get money from his side. Such a heartless person.

"Mom! How can you be like this? Jiasheng is the eldest son, and Tingting is your eldest granddaughter. She’s your only granddaughter! If you don’t side with her, who will you side with?"

Wei Hong was fuming, feeling that her mother-in-law was being too biased.

Gu’er glanced at Wei Hong. ’Is she trying to stir up more trouble?’

Sure enough, as soon as Wei Hong spoke, Cao Qiu’s gaze shifted to Gu’er’s stomach, a hint of dissatisfaction in her eyes. ’They’ve been married for over half a year. Why isn’t there any news yet?’

"Second Aunt, is there a little sister in your tummy?"

Sun Ting asked innocently, looking at Gu’er.

Gu’er really didn’t want to discuss this, but she couldn’t say anything harsh to a child. She just shook her head.

"Then can you have a little sister? My mom says she doesn’t know if your belly can have a baby. What if you can’t? My mom says if you can’t have children, the Sun Family won’t have any heirs. Then Second Uncle will have to leave you and find someone who can have babies. Second Aunt, you should hurry up and have a baby sister, then Second Uncle won’t leave you."

Sun Ting looked at Gu’er and said this in a clear, bright voice, but her words made several people’s faces darken.

"Look what you’ve been teaching the child! Don’t just run your mouth for no reason. This has nothing to do with you."

Cao Qiu shot Wei Hong a glare.

Sun Jiaming’s gaze also turned hostile. ’Do he and Gu’er need others commenting on their affairs?’ he thought. ’Whether or not Gu’er can have children is none of anyone else’s business. Even if Gu’er couldn’t, he would never be with anyone else in this lifetime.’

"You say it at home all the time too, so why blame me? Gu’er has been married into the family for over half a year and there’s still no news from her belly. Aren’t I just worried for her?"

Wei Hong muttered. Her mother-in-law said it plenty at home; why was she pushing all the blame onto her?

"Alright, stop talking about my stomach. When it’s time, it’ll happen. It’s pointless to keep talking about it like this. If you’re not tired of it, I am. The New Year is almost here, and I don’t want everyone to be unhappy. The matter of borrowing money ends here. Don’t bring it up again. And the matter of my stomach also ends here. From now on, nobody is to mention it. You all can sit for a while. I’m going to go chat with Grandma."

After speaking, Gu’er left them in the living room and went to Grandma Sun’s bedroom. She couldn’t be bothered to argue with them. It was better to use that time to talk with Grandma or knit a few more stitches on Sun Jiaming’s sweater.

***

A special thanks to Feng Shu Xia De Xue for the Peach Blossom Fan, to Lan Niao Fei for the monthly ticket, and to everyone for your support.