The Adopted Cannon Fodder Made a Comeback

On the way from the village entrance to Sun Jiaming’s house, they ran into quite a few people.

Some people greeted Sun Jiaming with a smile, laughing that he was looking quite impressive, having even bought a bicycle.

Others chuckled and told Sun Jiaming to ride slowly so he wouldn’t fall.

There was all sorts of chatter.

Sun Jiaming didn’t get off the bike. He kept riding with Gu’er, answering people as he went, until he reached his front door.

Many people saw Gu’er on the back of his bicycle.

Everyone who saw them looked surprised, and different thoughts began to stir in their minds.

Surprise, goodwill, jealousy, resentment, disdain—each person’s reaction was different.

The Zhou family was displeased. ’Who would have thought Sun Jiaming would buy a bicycle and flaunt it around the village with Gu’er?’ they thought. ’Isn’t he just showing off to us? Isn’t this a warning? For him to treat Zhou Gu’er so well, to be so protective of her—isn’t that a slap in our faces?’

The Zhou family was furious, but what could they do? Nothing. All they could do was swallow their frustration.

When others saw this, they also began to wonder. ’Seeing Sun Jiaming like this, he’s clearly taken a shine to that Gu’er girl. What does this mean? We’ll have to give this some thought.’

Gu’er didn’t want to overthink it. ’If someone is good to me, I’ll remember it and be grateful. That’s all.’

When they arrived at the Sun Family’s home, Gu’er hopped off the bike, and Sun Jiaming dismounted as well.

It wasn’t just Gu’er who followed Sun Jiaming into the courtyard; a few young men who were good friends with him came along too.

As soon as Gu’er entered the yard, she smiled at everyone, then quickly took her bundle and went inside. She was afraid someone might ask what was in it.

The young men gathered around the bicycle. One rang the bell, another touched the crossbar, and someone even said he wanted to take it for a spin. For a moment, the courtyard was bustling with excitement.

Gu’er went into the inner room, where Grandma Sun and Aunt Zhao asked what was going on, so Gu’er told them.

"He bought a bicycle? I’ve heard people talk about them, saying you can just get on and ride those two wheels. I’m so curious! Have Jia Ming bring it in for me to see later."

Grandma Sun was very curious. She had never seen a bicycle before.

Aunt Zhao was also a bit surprised. She knew the Sun Family’s financial situation. Could they afford a bicycle? Yes.

But Jia Ming wasn’t the type to show off. For him to buy a bicycle now was a deliberate display. She glanced at Gu’er. ’It seems Jia Ming is truly serious about Gu’er,’ she thought. ’He must want her to share in the glory, too.’

After Gu’er finished explaining, she saw Aunt Zhao out. She then chatted a bit more with Grandma Sun before going to make dinner.

By the time she finished cooking and set the food on the kang table, the courtyard was empty.

During dinner, Grandma Sun was in high spirits, even saying that Sun Jiaming should take her for a ride on the bike when he had some free time.

Gu’er knew Grandma Sun was just saying it for fun. She had no strength in her lower body and wouldn’t be able to sit on the bike.

When it was time to wash the dishes, Sun Jiaming followed Gu’er into the kitchen.

Gu’er’s heart fluttered. She didn’t feel as comfortable as she usually did.

"What is Grandma’s illness? Is it really incurable?"

Gu’er didn’t know what else to say. Seeing Sun Jiaming remain silent, she had to find something to talk about.

"The doctors couldn’t say for sure. We had her checked by the ones in our village, but they couldn’t figure it out either. A few years ago, I suggested taking Grandma to a hospital in the city, but my mom refused. Later, when I’d earned some money, I wanted to take her again, but Grandma herself refused. She said it was hopeless, that she was old and used to it. She absolutely refused to go to the city, so I couldn’t force her."

Sun Jiaming sighed. He really didn’t know the first thing about his grandmother’s illness. The village doctors couldn’t diagnose it; their skills weren’t good enough. When he had wanted to take her to the city, his parents had forbidden it, saying they had no money and that every family’s elders were like this—who ever went to the city for treatment?

Back then, he was young and had no money, so he couldn’t make the decision. Later, when he was better off, Grandma refused to go. She said this was just what happened when you got old, and if she was going to die, she would die at home. She steadfastly refused to go to a city hospital, so he could only let her have her way.

Gu’er was taken aback for a moment, then it dawned on her. ’This is how it is in the villages these days,’ she thought. ’In many families, they never know what illness the elderly have. They just get sick and are cared for at home. At most, they get some medicine from the village. If they get better, great. If not, they’re looked after until they pass away. That’s just how it is.’

’Many people die without ever knowing what was wrong with them. In reality, a lot of their illnesses are treatable, but they just stay home, waiting to die.’

’It’s a shame I didn’t study medicine, or I could have tried to help Grandma Sun.’

"Oh. Well, if there’s a chance in the future, you should still take her to the city for a check-up. Maybe it can be cured," Gu’er said.

She knew, of course, that since Grandma Sun had been paralyzed for several years, the chances of recovery were slim. Still, it would be good to have her looked at, if only for peace of mind.

After speaking, Gu’er finished rinsing the clean bowls and let them drain.

Sun Jiaming nodded, reached out, and took the bowls from Gu’er’s hands, placing them on the dish rack. The movement was completely natural.

"Gu’er," Sun Jiaming called out.

"Hm?" Gu’er replied, still scrubbing the pot.

Sun Jiaming opened his mouth, but then swallowed the words he was about to say. ’Better not say it now,’ he thought.

Gu’er was a little confused. ’Why would he call my name and then say nothing?’ She put down the brush she was holding and looked at Sun Jiaming.

"It’s nothing. I just wanted to ask about your future plans."

Sun Jiaming didn’t ask what he really wanted to, because he felt it wasn’t the right time.

"Oh, that."

Gu’er said, ladling the dirty water from the pot into a bucket.

"I haven’t really thought it through. For now, I’ll sell popsicles to earn some money. I’ll think about other things after I pay back the fifty yuan I owe you."

Gu’er’s answer was casual. It wasn’t that she hadn’t thought about the future, but she couldn’t speak about it.

"There’s no rush with the money. You know I have enough. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. If you need anything, just tell me. Don’t be too shy to ask."

Sun Jiaming wanted to tell Gu’er she didn’t have to pay him back, but he knew she wasn’t the type of person to accept that.

"Okay."

Gu’er nodded and gave Sun Jiaming a smile.

Once the pot was clean, Sun Jiaming stepped forward and picked up the bucket. It was filled with dirty water, but he lifted it easily, took it outside, and dumped it in a ditch.

Gu’er watched his back. ’In the past, it was always me and Li Hua busy in the kitchen. Zhou Mazi never set foot in there. Sun Jiaming is a man, yet he does everything. He’s so observant, he knows what needs to be done without being told. You really can’t compare one person to another.’

Gu’er chatted with Grandma Sun for a little while longer and helped her wash up, then she headed back to her own place.

Sun Jiaming walked her over.

After Sun Jiaming left, Gu’er sat on the kang, a bundle in her hands.

It was wrapped in a blue cloth. Inside were the clothes Sun Jiaming had bought for her. She hadn’t opened it yet.

Gu’er’s hand stroked the cloth wrapper. This was the first time someone had bought her clothes. In her past life, Li Hua had bought her something once. She remembered it was when she was about to marry Zhang Da. For that one piece of clothing, her adoptive mother had been beaten by her adoptive father.

Zhang Da had never bought her clothes. She had bought her own, always the cheapest kind. Her daughter had never bought her clothes either.

Gu’er’s heart was filled with a mix of emotions.

She placed the bundle on the kang and stared at it for a long while. After much thought, she reached out and untied it.

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