The Adopted Cannon Fodder Made a Comeback

Gu’er was afraid of being spotted as she passed the Zhou family’s gate, so she walked quickly. But after she went by, she hadn’t seen a single person.

’Aren’t any of them in the yard?’

’Zhou Mazi is probably not home, and Zhou Cai is at school, but isn’t Mom home either?’

’And what about Zhou Feng’er and Zhou Duo’er? Why haven’t I seen them either?’

With this in mind, Gu’er turned and walked back, but she still didn’t see anyone.

The yard was perfectly still, without a sound.

’The main gate is open, which means someone’s home. Is Mom in the kitchen?’

Seeing no one, Gu’er turned around again.

She paced back and forth in front of the Zhou family’s gate four or five times, but she didn’t see a single member of the Zhou family.

Gu’er found it strange. ’Not a single person in sight. Why hasn’t anyone come out?’

Gu’er continued on and walked to the village entrance, where she stood for quite a while.

Sun Jiaming hadn’t returned either, so Gu’er had no choice but to head back. ’Looks like I won’t get to see my adoptive mother today. I’ll come back and check again tomorrow.’

When she reached the Zhou family’s gate, she instinctively peeked inside again.

’Hey, isn’t that my adoptive mother?’ She was just coming out of the kitchen, carrying a basin.

"Mom."

Gu’er called out happily. ’As long as she’s okay, that’s all that matters.’

The reason Gu’er had insisted on coming was because she was truly worried. Now that she had seen her mother was all right, she could finally rest easy.

"Gu’er."

When Li Hua heard someone call her name and saw Gu’er at the gate, her eyes lit up. She put down the basin of pig feed in her hands and rushed to the entrance in a few quick steps.

"Are you all right?"

"Are you okay?"

The mother and daughter asked at the same time.

Then, they both laughed.

Gu’er looked her adoptive mother over. The injuries on her face were no longer visible, and the rest of her seemed fine. This meant Zhou Mazi probably hadn’t beaten her these past two days. ’Thank goodness, thank goodness.’ Gu’er could finally relax.

Li Hua grabbed Gu’er’s hand, her eyes welling with tears as she asked how she was doing.

She had wanted to visit Gu’er, but things at home were hectic. Feng’er was lying in bed and refused to get up, Du’er spent all day running around the village, and all the household chores fell on her alone. She was run off her feet.

Gu’er briefly explained her situation.

Li Hua nodded repeatedly. It seemed Gu’er was doing better now than she had with the Zhou family. Contrary to what they had thought, she wasn’t going to starve to death after leaving them.

’People can survive on their own. As long as Gu’er is living well, I can be at peace.’

"Oh, Gu’er, I was planning to bring your clothes over, but..." Li Hua sighed.

She had wanted to bring Gu’er her clothes, but she never expected that daughter of hers, Feng’er, to take them all when she wasn’t looking. When she asked about them, Feng’er said she’d burned them. Li Hua was absolutely furious, but there was nothing she could do. Her second daughter was already in such a state; she couldn’t very well beat her over it.

"I’ll secretly save up a few eggs over the next few days. Then I’ll trade them for a little money and buy you some fabric."

Li Hua whispered to Gu’er, afraid someone might overhear.

Gu’er’s heart ached. She knew Li Hua had no money, but she couldn’t give her any either. If she did, Li Hua wouldn’t be able to spend a single cent on herself. It would all go to Zhou Mazi and the others, and Gu’er refused to let that happen.

"Mom, don’t worry about me. And please, don’t try to secretly save eggs. If he finds out, he’ll beat you again. You don’t have to worry about me. Brother Jia Ming lent me some money, and I’ll go to the city in a few days to buy some new clothes. As long as you’re doing well, I can be at ease."

Gu’er tried to reassure her adoptive mother, not wanting her to worry.

"Jia Ming is a good man, Gu’er. But don’t owe him too much. Debts like that are hard to repay."

Li Hua held onto Gu’er’s hand, reluctant to let go.

"Mom, are you going to come back and cook or not? Dad will be home soon and start yelling again!"

Zhou Feng’er shouted from the yard. As she watched the two people at the gate, her eyes filled with venomous resentment. ’It’s all because of Zhou Gu’er that I’ve ended up like this, but my own mother won’t help me one bit! She doesn’t care how badly I’m hurt; all she can think about is that Zhou Gu’er. Who’s her real daughter anyway?!’

"Gu’er, you should head back now. When you have free time, spend it with Grandma Sun and help out with more chores. Don’t give anyone a reason to find fault with you. I’m going back to cook now."

After saying this, Li Hua urged Gu’er to leave.

Gu’er nodded and glanced at Zhou Feng’er standing in the yard. Just as she was about to leave, she heard a distinct ringing. DING-A-LING!

’In this day and age, there are no cell phones, not even those big, clunky brick phones. Where could that ringing be coming from?’

’The sound was somewhat familiar... like a bicycle bell.’

’Bicycles are a rarity in the village these days; only a couple of families have one. Who could it be?’

Gu’er looked in the direction of the ringing.

A bicycle came riding toward her and stopped right in front of her.

Looking at Sun Jiaming’s smiling face, Gu’er was completely astonished. ’It’s Sun Jiaming! Where did he get a bicycle?’

Gu’er looked at the bicycle. It was one of those big, straight-bar models, and it was sparkling. You could tell it was brand new at a glance.

’This... this? Did Sun Jiaming just buy it?’

The sight also captured the attention of Li Hua and Zhou Feng’er, who paused instead of going back into the yard.

"Jia Ming, did you just come from the city? Is this brand new?"

Li Hua asked, clearly intrigued by the novelty.

"I did, Auntie. I had some free time today, so I made a trip to the city."

Sun Jiaming replied with a smile, though he didn’t mention the bicycle.

Zhou Feng’er’s expression darkened. ’Everyone can see how good Sun Jiaming is to Gu’er. He actually went and bought a bicycle? He already gave Gu’er fifty yuan! I heard a bicycle costs over a hundred yuan; a normal family could never afford that. Is Sun Jiaming really that rich?’

’What on earth does he see in Gu’er?!’

Zhou Feng’er was seething with a helpless hatred.

Because of Sun Jiaming’s arrival, Li Hua and Zhou Feng’er remained where they were, watching him and Gu’er.

"Gu’er, come on. Let’s go to the village entrance."

Sun Jiaming gave Gu’er a meaningful look. He didn’t want to linger here.

"What for?"

Though confused, Gu’er nodded to her adoptive mother to reassure her, then followed Sun Jiaming away under Zhou Feng’er’s watchful gaze.

"Weren’t you planning to sell popsicles? Pushing a wheelbarrow is too tiring. A bicycle will make it easier to get to the city, and it’s a lot less work. I’ll teach you to ride over the next couple of days. Once you’ve got the hang of it and the box is finished, you’ll be all set to sell your popsicles."

Sun Jiaming said it casually, but Gu’er was stunned.

’Sun Jiaming... he actually bought the bicycle for me. So I could sell popsicles. So it would be easier for me to get to the city.’

’I did really want a bicycle, but I’d planned to earn the money to buy one myself. I never imagined someone would just buy one for me to use.’

’No. Sun Jiaming is being too good to me. I can’t accept this. I can never repay him.’

Gu’er immediately shook her head.

"Gu’er, don’t stand on ceremony with me. I can’t go to the city every day to help you sell popsicles. I just want to make things a little easier for you with this bike. If you really feel bad about it, then just bring me back a popsicle every day. I like them too, you know."

Sun Jiaming knew Gu’er was reluctant to accept, not wanting to owe him such a huge favor. But he couldn’t bear to see her so exhausted. Traveling dozens of miles back and forth every day was incredibly hard work, and his heart ached for her.

He couldn’t tell her not to go, so this was the only way he could support her and make her life a little less exhausting.

----------

Author’s Note: Today is the Dragon Boat Festival! I wish all you dears a healthy and happy holiday! Since it’s a festival, I wanted to write something warm and happy. There will be three updates today. Even though we don’t have enough monthly tickets, it’s a holiday, so I (Xue) will post an extra Chapter. Please subscribe! If you’re able, please show your support and read the official version. A Chapter only costs a few cents, but it’s very important to me. Thank you.