The Adopted Cannon Fodder Made a Comeback

Gu’er had just rolled up her sleeves and hadn’t even sat down yet when a discordant voice rang out:

"My, my, what have we brought here? Why did you even bring corn grits? You’re not planning to eat corn grits for lunch, are you? I’ve never seen anyone bring green onions when they visit. Let me see how many eggs you brought... one, two, three... six. Wow, so many. How dare you show your face here to eat and drink with just this? Aren’t you afraid of eating your parents’ family into poverty?"

Looking at the woman holding their family’s basket with a sneer on her face, Zhou Gu’er sighed softly. This was her third maternal aunt, Cui Mei.

Cui Mei was from Liu Shu Village. Liu Shu Village was rather famous among the nearby villages. Why? Because the families there were all relatively well-off. Liu Shu Village had even produced an impressive figure, a man who was now a successful official in the city. As a result, families from other villages were eager to marry their daughters into Liu Shu Village, and men from other villages all hoped to marry a girl from there.

Cui Mei’s own family was considered lower class in Liu Shu Village, but her ambitions were high. In truth, Cui Mei was very plain-looking, but she had uncommonly fair skin. There’s a saying that a fair complexion can hide a multitude of flaws, and because of her skin, she looked decent enough. A woman like that was dead set on marrying into a good family, but after all the matchmaking, no one particularly suitable had come along.

Under normal circumstances, the Li Family couldn’t have afforded to marry Cui Mei. However, Gu’er’s third uncle, Li San Chui, was handsome and had even trained as a carpenter in the city. Since he would be able to stay and work in the city after completing his apprenticeship, the Cui Family finally agreed to the match and married Cui Mei to him.

After marrying into the family, Cui Mei acted as if she were a cut above everyone else just because she was a girl from Liu Shu Village, and she looked down on people. Later, she pushed her husband to tamper with things at his workplace. He was eventually found out and sent back home. Just like that, Li San Chui lost his job in the city and returned to the village.

Instead of reflecting on her own actions, Cui Mei felt she had gotten the short end of the stick. From then on, she became even more of a troublemaker. Whenever something didn’t go her way, she would threaten to run back to her parents’ home, making everyone in the family afraid of her.

’Gu’er knew what this third aunt of hers was like. She didn’t just look down on our family; she didn’t seem to like a single person in Grandpa’s entire household either.’

’She remembered that later, after Grandpa passed away, Third Aunt had caused such a ruckus that the family assets were split. Grandma went to live with First Uncle, but she passed away just a few years later.’

’Once Grandma was gone, Third Aunt forbade Third Uncle from having any contact with First Uncle or the Zhou family.’

’Later on, because Zhou Cai and the others wouldn’t support Mom, she had even come here for help. But at the entrance to the village, she ran right into Third Aunt, who berated her mercilessly. In the end, Mom was too ashamed to enter the village and came to find me instead.’

’But this Third Aunt came to a bad end. One time, when her son Li Yin was fighting with his wife, she started cursing her daughter-in-law and jumped in to help her son beat her. Unexpectedly, her son Li Yin slipped and accidentally struck her on the head with a club. She nearly died on the spot. Afterward, she lay on the kang for several months. Her daughter-in-law, who had suffered her abuse, refused to care for her. When she finally died, Gu’er didn’t go, but Li Hua did. Li Hua came back and said the room stank so badly it could make a person faint, and Cui Mei herself was disgustingly filthy. When it was time to place her in the coffin, no one wanted to wash her body. It was Li Tie who found two other women to help. Li Yin couldn’t have cared less.’

’Even though Third Aunt’s end was tragic, Gu’er felt no sympathy for her. She had brought that fate entirely upon herself.’

Hearing Cui Mei’s words, Li Hua lowered her head even further, her hands flying as she washed the dishes, as if that could help her avoid the awkwardness.

Zhou Feng’er and Zhou Duo’er acted as if they hadn’t heard a thing, sitting off to the side and chatting with their female cousins.

Zhou Cai had already gone off to find his male cousins. He paid no attention to any of this. Even if he had heard, he wouldn’t have cared, as long as there was meat to eat.

"Alright, that’s enough. Why bring this up on such a happy occasion? Do you have nothing better to do? If you’re so idle, go outside and see why your eldest sister-in-law isn’t here yet."

Zhou Ercao felt sorry for her daughter and spoke up to help her out of the predicament.

"Ma, that’s not how you should be doting on your daughter! She’s your daughter, but our San Chui is your son! You can’t be so biased! Today is Dad’s birthday! Look at what we prepared, and then look at what she brought! Who visits with things like these? If word gets out, she might not care about her reputation, but we still have to live here! If I went back to my parents’ house like this, do you think my sister-in-law would even let me in the door? If everyone acted like her, how would we survive? If you’re going to side with your daughter like this, then there’s no place for me in this house! You might as well have her and her kids move back in! I’ll go back to my parents’ home and stop being a nuisance here!"

Cui Mei wasn’t afraid of her mother-in-law at all. She unleashed a torrent of words, accusing her mother-in-law of being biased and threatening to go back to her parents.

Zhou Ercao’s head ached. She really didn’t know how to handle this daughter-in-law. Her son listened to his wife, and she herself was old. What could she do?

’Bai Erni silently disagreed. She and her husband, Li Datie, had prepared all the food for today. They had bought the meat with their own money and paid someone to net the fish. Her younger sister-in-law hadn’t contributed a single thing, nor did she lift a finger to help. How could she have the gall to criticize Li Hua? Sister Hua’er at least brought something. But in this situation, Bai Erni didn’t dare speak up. She lived under the same roof as Cui Mei and was terrified of her. When Cui Mei threw a fit, it was unbearable.’

"Mei’er, please don’t talk to Ma like that. She didn’t mean it that way. I know I brought too little... you know my family’s situation. Please don’t hold it against me. I... I’ll bring more next time. Please, don’t go back to your parents’. The family can’t be without you."

Li Hua was the one being wronged. Of course she was upset hearing those words, but no matter how upset she was, she could only endure it. Who could she blame for not having a stronger backbone? So, she could only stand up, her eyes red, and apologize to Cui Mei.

Zhou Ercao lowered her head. She felt for her daughter, but she had no say in this house. Besides, she was old and had to rely on her sons. If she stood up for her daughter and deeply offended her daughter-in-law, the daughter-in-law might not support her in the future, and she could starve to death. So, she could only let her daughter suffer a little. After all, her daughter only visited once or twice a year.

Bai Erni continued to chop vegetables. Although she was the eldest sister-in-law, her role in this family was just to be the diligent worker. Her younger sister-in-law did nothing, yet her status in the family was higher. She couldn’t step in either, because she was afraid this sister-in-law would hold a grudge and look for trouble with her later.

"Listen to what Second Sister is saying! I can’t accept that! It’s as if I’m greedy for your pathetic little things. Don’t make me sound so worthless. I’m a girl from Liu Shu Village; I’ve seen it all! It’s not that I’m trying to be harsh, but I’ve never seen anyone behave the way you do. You don’t bring things to your parents’ home; you just think about taking advantage of them. How are we supposed to live? These six eggs... you have the nerve to bring them? I’m blushing for you! And you brought so many freeloaders with you! Do you think this food just fell from the sky? I’ve seen pathetic people, but never anyone *this* pathetic. It’s like you haven’t eaten in eight lifetimes, showing up the second you see a scrap of food. Aren’t you afraid you’ll eat so much you won’t be able to shit it out?"

Cui Mei spewed her venom at Li Hua without restraint. This second sister was a nobody, so she wasn’t going to give her any face. It would be best if this whole family just left and never came back.