The Adopted Cannon Fodder Made a Comeback

The next day, Gu’er had breakfast at the Sun Family’s home as well.

Sun Jiaming started planing the wooden boards. He was going to help Gu’er make a box.

Gu’er couldn’t help with the woodwork, so after chatting with Grandma Sun for a bit, she started on the laundry. She washed the clothes Grandma Sun needed doing, as well as the ones Sun Jiaming had changed out of.

Sun Jiaming had a pencil tucked behind his ear for marking lines on the wood. Every so often, he would pause his work to look at Gu’er, a constant smile in his eyes. He liked his life right now. ’Of course,’ he mused, ’it would be even better if Gu’er became my wife.’

"Gu’er, if you’re not tired, why don’t you take the bike to the village entrance and practice for a while? You need to get used to it before you have to ride it for real in a couple of days. There’s a rough patch of road, and I’m worried you’ll fall if you’re not comfortable on it."

Sun Jiaming urged Gu’er to go practice.

"Okay, Brother Jia Ming. I’m off, I’ll be back in a bit."

Gu’er nodded in agreement. As far as Sun Jiaming knew, she had just learned to ride. It would be suspicious if she became proficient without practicing.

Gu’er pushed the bike out of the Sun Family’s home.

As soon as she was out of their yard, she hopped on the bicycle.

Along the way, many people greeted her, while others just stared without a word.

Gu’er saw many envious looks. ’She knew they were all jealous that she was riding a bicycle.’

’This one is Sun Jiaming’s, but one day I’ll be riding one I bought myself.’

Lost in thought, Gu’er soon found herself at the gate of the Zhou family’s home.

"Ah!"

Zhou Duo’er was just coming out of the yard when she saw Gu’er riding toward her on the bicycle. She let out a cry of surprise and planted herself in the middle of the road.

Gu’er saw her. Her first instinct was to ride past and ignore her, but Zhou Duo’er was blocking the middle of the narrow road. If she tried to stick her arms out to stop her, Gu’er would probably fall. She had no choice but to get off the bike.

"Sister, is this the bicycle Brother Jia Ming bought yesterday? How are you the one riding it?"

Zhou Duo’er asked, her eyes filled with naked envy. It was as if she wanted to glue them to the bicycle.

Gu’er didn’t say a word. She remembered how Zhou Duo’er had conspired with Zhou Feng’er, helping her put on that act. She had no desire to speak to her.

"Sister, you already know how to ride? Teach me! Let me ride it for a bit, okay?"

Zhou Duo’er grabbed the handlebars. Though her words were a plea, her expression told a different story—it was as if Gu’er was obligated to teach her.

"Let go. I’m busy."

Gu’er couldn’t be bothered to talk to her. She glanced into the yard and saw neither her adoptive mother nor anyone else, which made her want to leave even more.

"Sister, just let me ride for a bit! I’m your little sister, you can’t just leave me behind now that you’re living the good life."

But Zhou Duo’er refused to let go.

Gu’er grabbed her hand and pulled it off the bike. Then, she pushed the bicycle forward a few steps, hopped on, and rode away.

As she watched Gu’er’s retreating figure, the envy in Zhou Duo’er’s eyes transformed.

’She seethed with resentment. Why? Why did Zhou Gu’er get to leave the Zhou family, wear new clothes, and even ride a bicycle, while I’m stuck here suffering?’

’I can’t believe Sun Jiaming is so rich. Zhou Gu’er, you just wait. After you’ve been with him for a few years and I’m grown up, I’ll go to him and make him dump you. Then, everything you have will be mine!’

Zhou Duo’er clenched her fists, her resolve to steal Sun Jiaming hardening.

Gu’er rode to the village entrance and practiced for a good while. She was already much more skilled than yesterday—more relaxed and nimble, not struggling as much.

Gu’er rode a little further past the village entrance and spotted a figure in the distance, heading toward the village. They were too far away for her to see who it was.

Gu’er kept riding, planning to practice for a few more minutes before heading back.

The figure grew closer as she rode on. Gu’er hadn’t intended to see who it was, but an idle glance was all it took for her to recognize them.

Gu’er froze. For a moment, she forgot to watch the path, and the uneven road nearly sent her into a ditch.

She quickly squeezed the brakes and jumped off the bike, staring blankly at the approaching person.

’It’s Liu Yuan. Why is he back in the village?’

Gu’er stood by the side of the road, holding her bicycle.

Liu Yuan saw Gu’er, too, and he quickly ran the last few steps to reach her.

His gaze flickered between Gu’er and the bicycle beside her, his expression unreadable.

"Brother Liu Yuan, what brings you to the village? Are you here to visit your aunt?"

Gu’er asked, her smile as pleasant as ever.

"Yeah, Sister Gu’er."

Liu Yuan’s voice was a bit hoarse, lacking its usual pleasant tone.

"This...?"

Liu Yuan asked, gesturing toward the bicycle.

"I’m going to be selling popsicles in town in a few days, so I’m practicing on the bike. I’m afraid I’ll fall if I don’t get the hang of it."

Gu’er explained with a smile.

"This bike... Did you buy it?"

Liu Yuan’s voice was strained. He stared intently at Gu’er, as if trying to read something in her expression.

"No, Brother Jia Ming bought it. He said I could borrow it."

Gu’er didn’t hide the truth. She had a good impression of Liu Yuan—he was a good person. She didn’t want to lie to him, nor was there any reason to.

Liu Yuan lowered his head. Gu’er had told the truth, but it only made his heart ache more.

’His family had a bicycle, too, but his father used it. He only got to borrow it occasionally. His dad said he’d help him buy one next year, but he wasn’t counting on it. He was starting at the factory next month, and he was confident he could earn enough to buy a bike himself. But now... Sun Jiaming had already bought one and given it to Gu’er.’

A chill washed over Liu Yuan, as if he’d been doused with ice water. It was a cold that seeped through him, from head to toe, straight to his heart.

’Yesterday, when his aunt came to visit, he’d stayed home. He wanted to ask about Gu’er. He hadn’t seen her in days and really missed her, but he couldn’t keep running over to her village, afraid people would figure out how he felt.’

’He hadn’t even had to ask. His aunt had brought it up herself, talking about the major event that had shaken the village—all of it about Gu’er.’

’He could hardly believe what he was hearing. Gu’er’s sister had plotted against her with an outsider? Gu’er had brandished a knife and cut someone? She’d been forced to her knees? And her father wanted to marry her off to a cripple?’

’The more Liu Yuan heard, the angrier he became. He wanted to run to the village that very instant and help Gu’er. Those people were too much! He had to get her out of that village.’

’But then his aunt said Sun Jiaming had shown up. He’d helped Gu’er, even paid the money for her to sever ties with the Zhou family. Then he’d taken her into his own home and declared that no one was to bully her.’

’He remembered the last time the three of them had gone up the mountain together, remembered the look in Sun Jiaming’s eyes when he looked at Gu’er. Liu Yuan knew then: Sun Jiaming had feelings for her, too.’

’Sun Jiaming had the advantage. They were from the same village, and he had helped Gu’er at her lowest point. She must be so grateful... Was she going to marry him?’

The thought made his heart ache.

’No!’

’He couldn’t let Gu’er marry Sun Jiaming. He couldn’t let her keep living in a village like that. Who knew what else might happen? Who knew if her father would try to marry her off to another cripple, or a blind man? He had to marry Gu’er. He had to fight for her!’

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For some reason, the internet at my house was down today. It just came back on, so this update is a bit late. My apologies.