The Adopted Cannon Fodder Made a Comeback

It wasn’t that Gu’er didn’t know how to protect herself, but this wasn’t a time when people had human rights. Even if she went to the authorities, her complaint would surely be dismissed, and they would be told to resolve it among themselves.

And if they resolved it in the village, the outcome would be no different. This was her only way out.

The way they were cornering her today... ’Fine,’ she thought. She had given up all hope for this village. She, Zhou Gu’er, owed no one a thing. From now on, no matter what happened, she would have nothing to do with these people. She had once dreamed of finding a way to make money and sharing the opportunity with everyone. But now... Gu’er sneered. ’In this village, I won’t acknowledge a single one of them from this day forward!’

Zhou Mazi was stunned by Zhou Gu’er’s words. He had no idea what she was thinking, nor could he comprehend her reasoning. He had expected her to kneel.

’But what Gu’er said is right,’ he thought. ’Only if she hurts herself will I not have to pay compensation. She should have just done it earlier. What was the point of all this talk and making such a scene?’

Many people began to whisper among themselves. Gu’er didn’t look like she was bluffing; it seemed she was serious about cutting ties with Zhou Mazi. But she was a young, unmarried woman. If she left the Zhou family, how could she survive? She had offended the village’s most influential people. Could she even stay here anymore? ’Is the girl an idiot?’ they thought. ’What’s the harm in kneeling and backing down a little?’

"That’s not happening," Zhou Mazi retorted. "I raised you for all these years, and I haven’t gotten my money’s worth yet. Don’t even think about leaving. Even if you hurt yourself, if you’re going to die, you’ll die in the Zhou family home! Besides, I’ve already found you a match. The family is willing to pay a fifty-yuan bride price. You’re marrying into that family, injured or not."

Zhou Mazi blurted this out instinctively. He wasn’t sure if the family from Liu Shu Village would still want Gu’er, but he wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity. How could he let her break away so easily? As for the elders’ threats, he simply pretended not to hear them. The money was what mattered.

Rage burned in Gu’er’s eyes. ’Zhou Mazi never forgets about money, no matter the situation.’ But she knew that even if she cut herself to settle things, Zhou Mazi wouldn’t let her go if there was no money involved. The man cared for nothing but cash.

’Fifty yuan? They actually offered fifty yuan? Why would they want to marry me? The man must have some hidden defect. Zhou Feng’er must be scheming against me now because of this marriage match. Did she really think Cui Mei would introduce her to a good family? In her dreams!’

"Fifty yuan?" Zhou Gu’er asked Zhou Mazi sarcastically. "After all this, you still think you can sell me for fifty yuan? With the reputation I have now, who would dare marry me?"

Zhou Mazi opened his mouth, but he truly had no confidence.

"Gu’er, don’t be rash," a voice called out. "I’ll go talk to Aunt Sun about this. The match probably won’t fall through. Zhou Laosan, stop forcing Gu’er to hurt herself. Gu’er, just kneel and apologize to your Second Elder, Sixth Elder, and the others. You’re young, and you’ve been wronged, too. They won’t hold it against you. Laosan, you’re Gu’er’s father. Like she said, you need to protect her. You should go smooth things over with both sides and pay a little compensation to settle it. Even if Gu’er isn’t your biological daughter, you shouldn’t be so cruel. We can all talk this out. It doesn’t have to come to this."

To everyone’s surprise, it was Wu Sanduo who had stepped forward to speak on Gu’er’s behalf.

Wu Sanduo’s husband saw what his wife was doing, opened his mouth as if to speak, but ultimately didn’t stop her.

Many villagers exchanged glances. Wu Sanduo’s standing in the village was leagues above Gu’er’s. Her family came from a relatively prosperous village, and on top of that, all the Wu sisters had married well—one had even married a man in the city. As a result, Wu Sanduo was held in high regard, and most people were reluctant to offend her.

That was how things worked in the village. People with the same surname banded together. Whichever clan was the largest was also the most dominant. They could bully the weak with impunity, as no one dared to cross them.

Currently, the Zhou family was the largest and most powerful clan in the village. Many people had to act according to Zhou Da Kui’s whims, which was why no one had dared to help Gu’er.

But these people all knew the score. They knew exactly who in the village they could bully and who they couldn’t afford to offend. They sized people up and acted accordingly.

Now that Wu Sanduo had stepped in, even though Zhou Da Kui and Zhou Erpao were displeased, they wouldn’t make a fuss as long as Gu’er knelt, paid compensation, and offered a soft apology. Inwardly, however, they were already plotting. They would spread Gu’er’s tarnished reputation and make sure the family that had chosen her would reject her. If Gu’er couldn’t get married, she would be utterly humiliated. Then, they could find some excuse to drive her out of the village or force Zhou Mazi to marry her off to a scoundrel like Zhang Da. That would be their revenge.

As for the Second Elder and his group, they frowned, thinking it improper for a woman like Wu Sanduo to meddle in affairs. But they held their tongues because they had heard the name "Liu Shu Village." If Zhou Gu’er was truly marrying into Liu Shu Village, then today’s incident would have to be re-evaluated. Their village was no match for Liu Shu Village. If the family Gu’er was marrying into was powerful, they would likely have to let the matter drop.

So, everyone fell silent, wanting to first find out exactly what kind of family Gu’er was supposed to marry into.

"They’ll really still take Gu’er?" Zhou Mazi asked, his focus zeroed in. "They’ll still pay the money? You’re not kidding me, are you?"

Zhou Mazi hadn’t heard anything else, nor was he thinking about anything else. The only thing that registered was Wu Sanduo saying the engagement would probably be fine.

"I can’t make any guarantees," Wu Sanduo said, "but Aunt Sun is from my family’s village. I know what kind of person she is. Since she’s already taken a liking to Gu’er, I think it’ll be fine if I have a good talk with her."

Wu Sanduo hadn’t wanted to get involved, but looking at Gu’er, she couldn’t help but feel the girl was pitiful. ’Today’s incident was clearly Zhou Feng’er, Zhou Mei, and Zhang Da’s fault, yet now everyone is ganging up on Gu’er, demanding she kneel and admit she’s wrong or else cut herself. This is just bullying the weak. But what can you do when Gu’er is powerless?’ she thought. All she could do was step in and say a few words.

"Dahai’s wife," the Sixth Elder began, "tell us, what kind of family does this Aunt Sun represent? What’s her husband’s surname? What do they do for a living?"

The Sixth Elder had glanced at the Second Elder, who shot him a look, signaling him to ask the question. So, the Sixth Elder spoke up.

Gu’er was thinking about it too. ’After an incident like this, if that family is still willing to have me, there has to be a catch,’ she thought. She didn’t believe for a second that it was a straightforward offer.

’But judging by the villagers’ reactions, they seem to be wary of Liu Shu Village. If I really do marry someone from there, maybe these people won’t be able to bully me like this anymore?’

’But relying on others is never a permanent solution. True strength comes from becoming powerful yourself, making others fear to cross you.’

"Well..."

A troubled look appeared on Wu Sanduo’s face.

"Dahai’s wife, what’s so hard to talk about?" the Second Elder said, his voice laced with displeasure. "No matter how you look at it, Gu’er is a girl from our village. We can’t even hear about the family she’s marrying into? Zhou Laosan, what do you say!"

"Yes, yes, the Second Elder is right," Zhou Mazi chimed in hastily. "Auntie, just tell us."

Zhou Mazi nodded eagerly, his panic subsiding. As long as the engagement didn’t fall through, he would get his money. He’d just have Gu’er kowtow and apologize in a moment, and this whole mess would be over.