The Adopted Cannon Fodder Made a Comeback

Tears streamed down Gu’er’s face as she tightly gripped her adoptive mother’s hand. Her adoptive mother had agreed to let her leave the Zhou family. Even though she was terribly reluctant, she had still nodded in agreement.

"Grandma, Jia Ming, I’ll have to trouble you with Gu’er. Gu’er has had a hard life. She’s never had a good day with me. From now on, I won’t be able to watch over her every day, so I’ll have to ask you to take care of her. I will repay your immense kindness in my next life, even if I have to be reborn as an ox or a horse."

Li Hua added, speaking to Grandma Sun and Sun Jiaming.

They both told Li Hua not to worry, promising they would take good care of Gu’er.

"Well, I’ll be heading back then. Gu’er, if you need anything, just come and tell Mom. Like you said, I’ll always be your mom, no matter what."

Li Hua held onto Gu’er, full of reluctance, but since Gu’er wasn’t going back with her, she had to leave.

Gu’er took her adoptive mother’s hand and walked her out.

She was reluctant to see her go, too, but she could only endure it.

"Gu’er, you should go back inside. It’s dark out. I’ll walk Auntie home, and I’ll be back once she’s safely there."

Sun Jiaming said to Gu’er.

"No, no, it’s not far. I can get back on my own. You all should go back and rest."

Li Hua refused.

But Sun Jiaming insisted on walking Li Hua home.

Gu’er waited at the door until she could no longer see them before turning back. By the time she went inside, she had wiped her tears dry.

"Your mother... she’s a good person, but she’s just too timid. When people don’t have a temper, they get bullied. If she had a bit of a backbone, her life wouldn’t have ended up like this. Don’t overthink it. If you have a good life in the future, just be sure to treat her well."

Grandma Sun consoled Gu’er. She sympathized with Li Hua, but she saw Li Hua differently than she saw Gu’er.

"Yes, thank you, Grandma. I will. I’ll definitely be a good daughter to my mom."

Gu’er nodded, making a promise to herself.

Grandma Sun chatted with Gu’er for a little while longer. When Sun Jiaming returned, he came inside and announced that Li Hua had made it back to the Zhou family, which finally set Gu’er’s mind at ease.

Sun Jiaming went to the other room. Gu’er blew out the lamp, climbed onto the kang, and closed her eyes in the pitch-black room. Tears slid from her eyes and soaked into the pillow...

The next day, the moment Gu’er opened her eyes, her mind went blank with a buzz. She stared blankly at the ceiling. ’This isn’t my little room. Where am I?’

It took her a good while to become fully awake. This was the Sun family’s home. The events of yesterday flashed through her mind.

Gu’er shot up into a sitting position. ’The light in the room is so bright... it must be eight or nine o’clock already. How did I sleep this late?’

"You’re awake? Go get washed up. Jia Ming left some food warming in the pot for you."

Grandma Sun’s kind voice called out.

Gu’er blushed. She usually woke up very early, but today she had slept until the sun was high in the sky.

Grandma Sun smiled at Gu’er. She knew Gu’er had barely slept during the first half of the night. When Jia Ming had come in that morning, Gu’er had been so sound asleep that she hadn’t even woken up when they were talking.

She knew the girl must be worn out from exhaustion, fear, and sorrow, so she couldn’t bear to wake her. Besides, there was nothing urgent to do, so she had just let Gu’er sleep.

Gu’er went out to wash her face, then peeked into the kitchen. There was food left for her in the pot.

The meal was much more generous than what she got at the Zhou family’s home, but that wasn’t what mattered to Gu’er. The food was warming in the pot, steaming hot. Someone had thought of her, someone cared for her. ’It feels so good.’

"Where’s Brother Jia Ming?" 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

Gu’er asked Grandma Sun after she finished eating, not seeing Sun Jiaming anywhere.

"Your Brother Jia Ming went to the city right after breakfast. He probably won’t be back until dark. Your Aunt Zhao will be stopping by in a little while."

Grandma Sun replied.

Gu’er understood in her heart. The reason Sun Jiaming had gone to the city today was likely because of his engagement to Zhou Mei. After all, his parents had agreed to the match. Didn’t Zhou Erpao say yesterday that he was going to the city to find Sun Jiaming’s parents? Sun Jiaming must have gone because of that.

’I’ve pretty much ruined Sun Jiaming’s engagement,’ she thought. ’I wonder what Grandma Sun thinks about it.’

"I’ve never liked that Zhou Mei girl. I’ve seen her a few times, and she’s not a decent person. I was surprised Jia Ming’s father agreed to it. But then again, Jia Ming’s mother thinks the Zhou family is a good match and wants to join the families. As for my son... I know him. He listens to his wife in everything, completely spineless. I’m old and I don’t live with them, so they don’t have to listen to me. It’s good that Jia Ming made the trip. This marriage shouldn’t have happened in the first place. If Grandpa Jia Ming were still alive, he certainly wouldn’t have approved either."

Grandma Sun had seen what was on Gu’er’s mind and spoke frankly. Zhou Mei used to come over to the Sun family’s home whenever she had nothing better to do. Sun Jiaming was too polite to turn her away, but every time she came to the doorway of Grandma Sun’s room, she’d have a look of disdain on her face. Her words were always hinting that Jia Ming should find work in the city and not stay in the village.

She knew exactly what that Zhou Mei girl was thinking. She didn’t want her grandson to marry a daughter-in-law like that. A man should marry a virtuous wife. Bringing a woman like that into the family would be a disaster.

Her own daughter-in-law was overly ambitious. Her eldest son had married a city girl whom she couldn’t control. Since Jia Ming wasn’t willing to go to the city, he had to marry a girl from the village. The Zhou family was so eager that her daughter-in-law thought it was a great match. She never stopped to think that the wife brought into the family would have to spend her life with Jia Ming, so he should be the one to choose her.

But she had never gotten along with this daughter-in-law, even when they were younger. The moment her daughter-in-law married into the family, she wanted to be the one in charge. Back then, Grandpa Jia Ming was still alive, so she didn’t dare say much. But as soon as he passed away, she goaded her son into letting her make all the household decisions. The son was too meek and didn’t dare to utter a peep. Grandma Sun was dissatisfied with this daughter-in-law, but for the sake of the two grandsons she had given her, she tolerated it, thinking it was enough just to get by.

Later, when Grandma Sun fell ill and couldn’t get off the kang, her daughter-in-law, afraid of having to take care of her, actually persuaded her son to move to the city.

She didn’t even stop to think about how she, the mother-in-law, had taken care of her during her postpartum confinement.

Yes, it’s true that ’no son stays filial by a parent’s long-term sickbed.’ A daughter-in-law isn’t your own flesh and blood. If she didn’t want to care for her, there was nothing to be said, but it truly chilled her to the bone.

’By treating me this way, isn’t she afraid of setting an example for her own daughter-in-law, who might treat her the same way in the future?’

Thank goodness she had Jia Ming. He had insisted on staying home to take care of her, no matter what. Otherwise, this old woman would probably be six feet under by now.

Thank goodness she had a good grandson, so filial and sensible. Unlike her useless, heartless son. If not for Jia Ming, she would have lost all hope long ago.

Jia Ming had taken care of her for these past few years without a single complaint or look of disgust. Right now, in her heart, her entire family—her son, her daughter-in-law, her eldest grandson, her great-granddaughter—all of them put together didn’t weigh as much as Jia Ming. Compared to Jia Ming, they could all stand aside!

If Jia Ming has truly taken a liking to Gu’er, and if his mother is against it and dares to come back and cause a scene, she would protect Jia Ming even if it cost her her old life.

Whatever Jia Ming liked, she liked. No matter how formidable Cao Qiu was, when the time came, she would have to behave herself in front of her!

A fierce glint flashed in Grandma Sun’s eyes.

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An extra Chapter for wenzhouzzp’s He Shi Bi donation. Recommending my friend Cat Loves Fish’s completed novel, *Contract Concubine: The Black-Bellied Emperor and His Adorable Consort*. It’s a story about a cute, dorky girl who wins over the man of her dreams.