The Adopted Cannon Fodder Made a Comeback

After hearing Gu’er out, Zhou Mazi didn’t reply immediately. In his heart, he was willing to let Gu’er get closer to Sun Jiaming. It might just land him a good son-in-law, and then he wouldn’t have to worry about money anymore.

"So, the money for the items—was it yours or Jia Ming’s?"

Zhou Mazi asked. Although he hoped Gu’er and Sun Jiaming would get close, he didn’t want to be on the losing end. All the money Gu’er earned was his. If she spent it on someone else, that would be a major offense. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

"Of course it was Brother Jia Ming’s. I gave all my money to Dad. Where would I get any money?"

Gu’er’s voice carried a hint of surprise, as if it was wrong for Zhou Mazi to even ask.

"Hmph."

Zhou Mazi snorted, but in his heart, he believed her.

"As long as we’ve cleared the air, it’s fine. Gu’er, next time you go to the Sun Family, remember to tell us at home first."

Li Hua, however, wasn’t overthinking it.

"Okay, Mom. I understand."

Gu’er agreed.

Zhou Feng’er was fuming. She never imagined Zhou Gu’er would actually go to the Sun Family, and even eat a meal there. ’When did she get so close to Sun Jiaming? This won’t do. I have to go tell Zhou Mei. If this continues, Zhou Gu’er might really manage to snatch Sun Jiaming away. If even Zhou Gu’er can marry Sun Jiaming, then where does that leave me?’

Zhou Gu’er had no idea how angry Zhou Feng’er was, and neither did Zhou Duo’er. Zhou Duo’er’s mind wasn’t as complex as Zhou Feng’er’s, but that didn’t mean she was simple-minded. She was also thinking about her own interests. ’Second Sister is so focused on sucking up to Zhou Mei, but I’d rather this good fortune fall on our own family—preferably on me. If I married Sun Jiaming, why would I need to be afraid of Zhou Mei?’

’It’s a shame I’m so young, and Sun Jiaming isn’t. He’s at the age where he should be getting a wife. If only I were a few years older, maybe Sun Jiaming would take a liking to me.’

’Then again, it wouldn’t be a bad thing if Sun Jiaming really did get together with Oldest Sister Zhou Gu’er. Oldest Sister is honest and not very useful. Plus, she’s afraid of Dad. In the future, when I’m older, it’ll be fine if I can find a good family to marry into. But if I can’t, couldn’t I go after Sun Jiaming? By then, Oldest Sister definitely wouldn’t be a match for me. I’ll be young, and Sun Jiaming will surely prefer someone younger. If I got together with Sun Jiaming, Dad would definitely side with me. I’m his real daughter, after all. Then I could get Dad to help me force Oldest Sister to leave Sun Jiaming, and I’d be the one to marry into the Sun Family. By then, Oldest Sister will be an unwanted woman. I wouldn’t care if she lived or died.’

Thinking about it this way, Zhou Duo’er decided it might not be so bad for her oldest sister to get with Sun Jiaming after all. ’Now, how can I talk to Second Sister and get her to stay out of this?’

’I definitely can’t be direct. No one can know what I’m thinking right now. If word got out, things wouldn’t end well for me. What should I do?’ Zhou Duo’er racked her brain for a plan.

Gu’er had no idea what Zhou Duo’er was thinking. If she did, she would have been shocked. ’How old is Zhou Duo’er? How could she have such thoughts? To even come up with a plan to steal her own sister’s husband... It’s clear she’s been rotten to the core since she was little.’

But Gu’er didn’t know Zhou Duo’er’s thoughts.

Once Zhou Mazi had his say, Zhou Gu’er left the main room.

Li Hua followed her out. Knowing Gu’er had already eaten, she told her to get some rest. Then, Li Hua went to the kitchen to put away the food she had saved for her.

Gu’er lay on her bed, her whole body aching. She was clearly exhausted, but she couldn’t seem to fall asleep.

She wouldn’t have to go to the city to sell wild vegetables starting tomorrow. After doing it for so many days, now that she was stopping, she felt a little lost about what to do.

Then there was Liu Yuan. All those days she went, he would always bring her water. Sometimes, he would even bring her something to eat.

Liu Yuan was very good to her. At first, she didn’t think much of it, but thinking back on it now, how could she not understand his intentions?

’Liu Yuan probably likes me a little. People are still thin-skinned these days, not like in the future. Even if Liu Yuan has some feelings for me, he would never say it out loud.’

’I forgot to tell Liu Yuan about what I told Aunt Wang—that I was going to find other work. I haven’t gone to sell vegetables for the past two days. I wonder if he went there to wait for me, to bring me water.’

Thinking of Liu Yuan standing there foolishly with a water cup, waiting for her when she never showed, made Gu’er feel a little agitated.

Since her rebirth, the two men she’d had the most contact with were Liu Yuan and Sun Jiaming. Both of them were good men, but Gu’er knew she didn’t have any romantic feelings for them.

In her past life, she had married Zhang Da. After he passed away, she never considered marrying again.

’After being reborn into this life, my only goal has been to avoid marrying Zhang Da. I haven’t really thought about anything else. My plan is to give Zhou Mazi the thirty yuan, and as long as he doesn’t marry me off to Zhang Da, I’ll just find an honest, reliable man and get married. That’s all.’

But as for who to marry, she hadn’t thought about it, because she didn’t dare to.

’Whether it’s Liu Yuan or Sun Jiaming, I won’t marry either of them. I’d rather find a reliable young man I don’t know and have no feelings for, than marry someone I have an emotional connection with.’

Because Gu’er was afraid. First, she was afraid of her own mentality. Although she was young now, in her mind, she had already been married once. Even though she called them Brother Liu Yuan and Brother Jia Ming, she had always treated them with the mindset of an elder looking at a junior. If she were to marry one of them, it would feel awkward.

’Besides, they both helped me, and I... I...’

When Gu’er thought about the issue of children, she felt a piece of her heart go missing. She didn’t dare think about it any further.

The agitation in Gu’er’s heart wouldn’t dissipate. She rolled over and let out a long sigh. ’Really, what’s the point of me thinking about all this?’

’Liu Yuan is from the city. Even if he has some feelings for me, it’s just a young man’s fancy. He’ll forget about it soon. His family would never let him marry a girl from a village like me, especially one from a family like this.’

’As for Sun Jiaming, I know perfectly well that the Sun Family would never let him marry me either. We’re from the same village, so they know my family’s situation even better. Besides, there’s also Zhou Mei. It’s impossible for Sun Jiaming and me.’

’Neither of them should belong to me, so why am I even thinking about this? I was already so old in my past life, why am I having these girlish thoughts now? Maybe I was influenced by the way Sun Jiaming pulled me behind him to protect me at the doorway. Or maybe it was the way Liu Yuan looked at me when he brought me water that made me overthink things.’

Gu’er let out a small laugh—a laugh that was a little bitter, and a little mocking.

「The next day」

Gu’er woke up a little late. After breakfast, she spent the whole morning doing chores around the house. After lunch, the rest of the Zhou family took their afternoon nap. Gu’er didn’t feel like staying inside, so she went out.

Gu’er had no trouble leaving the house. She had already told Zhou Mazi that morning that she would go out during the day when she was free to look around and see if she could find another way to make money.

For Zhou Mazi, money was everything, so he was more than happy for Gu’er to go out, as long as she brought back money for him.

With his tacit approval, no one else would dare to say a word.