The Adopted Cannon Fodder Made a Comeback

Zhou Erpao couldn’t possibly let Sun Jiaming get hurt, but he felt Sun Jiaming’s actions had made him lose face.

"Actually, there’s another reason I took this cut for Gu’er."

Sun Jiaming gripped the knife and looked at Zhou Erpao.

"Uncle, you went to the city to speak with my parents. I went into the city today myself, and they told me about it. I’ve already made it clear that I will not marry Zhou Mei. I asked my parents to relay my answer to you, but I suppose you haven’t received word yet. I’m very glad I didn’t agree. If I married a woman like her, I don’t think I’d be able to sleep at night."

Sun Jiaming hadn’t liked Zhou Mei, but he hadn’t detested her, either. Now, however, he detested her. What Zhou Mei had done was simply too malicious.

"That’s why I took this cut for Gu’er. I have nothing to do with Zhou Mei, and I will never marry her. Uncle Zhou, and you, Uncle—if you don’t think this settles it, then I’ll just cut myself again. From now on, let’s not speak of this matter again."

Sun Jiaming stared at Zhou Mei. By taking the knife for Gu’er, he was also settling things with Zhou Mei once and for all.

"Sun Jiaming, how dare you reject me!"

Zhou Mei was furious. Sun Jiaming had actually said that in front of so many people. He was willing to cut himself just to avoid marrying her. ’Just how much must he hate me? How am I supposed to live this down?’

Sun Jiaming glanced at her, his eyes filled with deep disgust and disdain. ’When she was trying to hurt someone, did she ever stop to think about the consequences?’

"Jia Ming, this is no way to handle things! Your parents and I had an agreement. Aren’t you just slapping your uncle in the face?"

Zhou Erpao’s face was livid. ’This Sun Jiaming is going too far.’

"Uncle, face is something you earn for yourself. I didn’t want it to be this way; you all forced my hand. Besides, I’m the one getting married, not my parents. And they don’t even know what kind of person Zhou Mei is. If they did, they certainly wouldn’t agree either. Since things have come to this, let me make it perfectly clear: I, Sun Jiaming, would rather be a bachelor for life than marry Zhou Mei."

Sun Jiaming’s voice rang with conviction. Since the incident had occurred and he had taken a stand, he would see it through to the end. ’The Zhou family used their power to bully Gu’er, so I don’t need to spare their feelings. Zhou Mei is a young woman, but so is Gu’er. If she can try to harm Gu’er, then she shouldn’t care so much about her own reputation.’

’Gu’er couldn’t quite describe the feeling in her heart. She was moved that someone was helping her. She hadn’t wanted Sun Jiaming to marry Zhou Mei because of what Zhou Mei did in their last life. She never imagined that Sun Jiaming would reject the engagement so publicly, right here with so many people watching. Now, there was no way Zhou Mei could marry him. Sun Jiaming’s fate had changed, but...’

"Jia Ming, that’s no way to behave. Don’t speak in such absolutes. You’re rejecting our Zhou Mei because you’ve taken a fancy to that Zhou Gu’er, haven’t you? You’d even want a woman like her? You sure have great taste."

Zhou Da Kui walked over. He was Zhou Mei’s great-uncle. He had hoped for the Zhou and Sun families to be joined by marriage, because only then could he solidify his position in the village. But he never thought things would turn out like this.

"Uncle Zhou, don’t try to pin everything on Gu’er. She didn’t start this. I see nothing wrong with Gu’er. In fact, it’s Zhou Mei who should go home and be taught some manners."

Sun Jiaming didn’t back down. ’So what if he’s the village chief? A chief like him only earns my contempt.’

Zhou Mei was practically faint with anger, her chest heaving. Right now, Sun Jiaming was trampling all over her dignity to defend Gu’er. ’How could he do this to me?’

’Zhou Mei couldn’t understand it. Her family was clearly a hundred times better than Gu’er’s. The entire village despised Gu’er, so why was Sun Jiaming so determined to help her? Was it just because she was a tiny bit prettier than me?’

’Zhou Mei stared at Gu’er’s face. She desperately wanted to rush over and claw it to pieces, to see how Gu’er would seduce men after that. We’ll see if Sun Jiaming still wants her then!’

’But she was being held back and couldn’t move. Besides, even if she managed to get over there, could she actually win in a fight against Gu’er?’

"Jia Ming, are you really going to protect her?"

Zhou Da Kui’s eyes were sinister. He badly wanted to have a falling out with Sun Jiaming, but he knew he couldn’t.

His reason for wanting Zhou Mei to marry Sun Jiaming wasn’t merely that she liked him. He had his own daughters and didn’t particularly care about Zhou Mei. He supported the match because he wanted to pull Sun Jiaming to his side. If the Sun and Zhou families were united by marriage, Sun Jiaming would become the Zhou family’s son-in-law. As Da Kui’s junior, he would have no choice but to support him.

Little by little, the Sun Family would lose all influence in the village, while the Zhou family’s status would become unshakeable. The Zhous would call all the shots. He would be the village’s own little emperor. When he grew old, the title of village chief would pass to his son, and then to his grandson. The Zhou family would forever be in charge of the village.

This was what Zhou Da Kui wanted. He planned to absorb Sun Jiaming’s popularity and resources, completely eradicating the Sun Family’s influence. That was why he had so strongly supported Zhou Mei’s marriage to Sun Jiaming.

But now, it had come to this; Sun Jiaming had turned on them, all for Zhou Gu’er. ’Has he really taken a fancy to Zhou Gu’er? Or does he have his eyes on my position as village chief, and this is just a power play to seize it?’ Zhou Da Kui couldn’t help but let his mind race.

"Yes." 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Sun Jiaming only said one word, but his voice was firm and powerful.

"And I’m making a declaration here today. From now on, anyone who dares bully Sister Gu’er will have to answer to me, Sun Jiaming! Gu’er has already severed ties with Uncle Zhou; she no longer lives with the Zhou family. I’m giving her my family’s old house to live in. If I find out anyone is intentionally starting trouble, or dares bother Gu’er in the dead of night, don’t blame me for what happens next! If you have a problem, bring it to me. I’ll take you on. And if anyone dares to touch Gu’er again, don’t blame my family’s shotgun if it doesn’t know who it’s pointing at!"

After he finished speaking, he slammed the butt of the shotgun in his hands onto the ground.

The shotgun was old, and it was anyone’s guess if it even worked, but it was a powerful deterrent.

This was especially true for the older folks. They trembled inwardly, as if they were once again seeing the scene from back then, when the old village chief held a shotgun and pointed it at Limp Zhou while ordering him to be beaten with a plank.

Remembering Limp Zhou’s squeals like a stuck pig, and the sight of his blood-soaked buttocks, a chill ran down everyone’s spines.

Those on good terms with Sun Jiaming, of course, sided with him, shouting for everyone to leave Gu’er alone.

"Sister Gu’er, if you need anything from now on, just say the word! If anyone dares to bully you, we’ll beat the son of a bitch to death!"

"That’s right! We’ve got your back, Sister Gu’er. Don’t be afraid."

Quite a few people began to comfort Gu’er.

Gu’er sighed to herself. ’It really is a world of difference, having someone on your side versus having no one at all.’

"Sun Jiaming, helping her like this... are you planning to marry her?!"

’Zhou Mei felt as if her heart was splitting in two. She refused to accept this. She had to know. She couldn’t believe Sun Jiaming would actually marry Gu’er. Gu’er had nothing but her looks. The Sun Family would never allow such a person through their doors.’

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Just got home, I’m freezing to death. It’s been since 5 o’clock and I haven’t had a sip of water or a bite to eat. Grabbing some food, then back to writing. Have a great weekend, everyone! Please vote, please subscribe, only a dozen more votes needed for an extra Chapter.