The Adopted Cannon Fodder Made a Comeback

Maybe it was the newness of it all, or perhaps he just wasn’t used to it, but Little Jiji didn’t oblige his mother. Gu’er held him for a long time, yet he didn’t pee, sleeping soundly with his eyes closed.

She couldn’t just hold him like that indefinitely. Figuring the baby didn’t have to go at the moment, Gu’er gently placed him back on the bed.

Gu’er had just closed her eyes when an arm reached over and wrapped around her.

"I’ve only gotten to change his diaper once."

Sun Jiaming whispered, his lips brushing against Gu’er’s ear. As he spoke, he took her earlobe into his mouth.

A tingling warmth spread from her ear.

"Stop it. Let’s get some sleep."

Gu’er shifted her head slightly.

"Okay."

Sun Jiaming agreed, but he didn’t let go. Instead, he gave her earlobe a gentle nip as his free hand slipped inside her clothes, roaming downward to explore her secret valley.

Before Gu’er could object, her clothes were off. Before she could even cry out, Sun Jiaming had lifted one of her legs and, with a thrust of his hips, entered her.

Gu’er knew how much Sun Jiaming had been holding back during her pregnancy. Now that she had finally recovered, she figured she might as well let him have his way.

With that thought, Gu’er stopped resisting and moved with him. But the consequence of her indulgence was making love three times in one night, leaving her sore and aching the next day.

Fortunately, Sun Jiaming stayed home during the day to help with the baby, so Gu’er only had to worry about nursing and could catch up on her sleep.

「Another day passed.」

Sun Jiaming went to the mall. He and Liu Yuan needed to select two people to handle business negotiations and product inspections.

After making arrangements with Liu Yuan, Sun Jiaming found his brother, Sun Jiasheng. The two of them found a spot for a couple of drinks at noon, and Sun Jiaming had a long talk with him.

Sun Jiasheng, in turn, opened his heart to Sun Jiaming. He said he knew Wei Hong was in the wrong, but when he first moved to the city, he had nothing. Wei Hong had married him, and the house they lived in belonged to the Wei Family. Because of that, no matter what Wei Hong did, he always tolerated it and gave in. He knew she took his salary and things from their home to support her own family, but he couldn’t forget the bond they’d shared in the beginning.

Sun Jiaming sighed. He understood what his older brother was saying. ’But if we keep letting her get away with this, something terrible is bound to happen,’ he thought. ’Today she was jealous enough to curse Jiji. Who knows what she’ll do tomorrow?’

"Big Brother, I know you’re holding on to the bond you two once had. I understand. I’ve never thought it was wrong for a woman to help her own family—after all, they’re the ones who raised her. It’s not just about wives, either. As sons-in-law, if our mother-in-law’s family has a problem, it’s our duty to lend a hand. But you can’t be blind to what’s happening with her family. For the last two years, has anyone over there actually held a job? Yet they eat the finest food, drink the best liquor, and strut around town like they’re somebody important. Where do you think that money comes from? It’s all from her. If she actually had the ability to support her whole family, I wouldn’t say a word. But you have Tingting to think about. You can’t just ignore your own daughter, can you? And then there’s her mouth... It’s only because Gu’er is easygoing and wants to keep the peace that things haven’t blown up. With anyone else, there would have been a fight long ago. If she dares to talk to our family like that today, what’s next? Big Brother, you need to have a serious talk with her. If this habit of hers doesn’t change, it’s going to cause a disaster down the road."

Sun Jiaming laid his heart bare for his brother.

Sun Jiasheng fell silent, then lowered his head and downed his drink in one go.

’He was an honest but incapable man. When the chance came to move to the city, his mother had originally wanted Jia Ming to be the one to go, but Jia Ming had given the opportunity to him. So he went to the city, learned a trade, and married a local woman. Then his parents came to live with him. They said they were counting on him, and he couldn’t refuse them—they had given him life. But Wei Hong fought with him every single day, trying to force his parents to go back to their village. No one knew how torn he was, caught in the middle, or how miserable his days were. He just endured it all.’

’Later, when Jia Ming also moved to the city, he had assumed their parents would go live with him, and he’d secretly breathed a sigh of relief. But he never expected the wife Jia Ming found to not get along with their mother. Jia Ming, who was always so filial, had actually started fighting with their mom for his wife’s sake.’

’Later, when Jia Ming and his wife started making money, he got a job at the mall. He was thrilled, thinking that with more money, their lives would finally get easier. But Wei Hong was in his ear every day, nagging him to ask his brother for money. She claimed it was Sun Family money and that, as the eldest son, he was entitled to a share. He, however, knew perfectly well that the money wasn’t his to take. He had no right to demand it.’

’Every month, he gave his entire salary, down to the last penny, to Wei Hong. He gave her his bonuses, too. His mother had her own money and would secretly slip him some from time to time, but he would just give that to Wei Hong as well. All their household expenses were covered by his mother. Jia Ming wasn’t a petty person; they often went to his place to eat or take things, and he never said a word. Yet every bit of money and every single thing in their own house, Wei Hong gave to her parents’ family. And on top of all that, she still wanted to ask Jia Ming for money. He truly didn’t understand how she could be so shameless.’