The Adopted Cannon Fodder Made a Comeback

Of course, Chen Fengjiao didn’t want anything to happen to Lin Shan, but he was the one who had brought this woman into their lives, and she was resentful.

"If something happens, then so be it. He brought this on himself. Who asked him to let someone like her in the door? It serves him right!"

Chen Fengjiao talked tough, but despite her words, she went and got two bowls, filling them with porridge. Looking at the two bowls, she felt disgusted all over again and muttered, "I’ll just pretend I’m feeding the dogs."

Gu’er shook her head but said nothing, carrying the bowls out.

Gu’er set the porridge down on the coffee table in front of Liu Fang and her daughter.

"I’m not eating. I’m not hungry."

Liu Fang shook her head. Even though she hadn’t had a bite to eat or a drop to drink in two meals, she refused to eat food given to her as charity.

Gu’er watched her. Liu Fang didn’t even glance at the porridge. The fragrant porridge seemed to hold no appeal for her whatsoever.

’I used to think Feng Ling was patient, but looking at Liu Fang now, Feng Ling pales in comparison. Then again, they’re different. Feng Ling had a certain spirit about her and never would have considered becoming someone’s mistress. At her core, Feng Ling was kind. It was only because of her past life that she was unused to being around people and kept her guard up.’

Gu’er then looked at the child. She was still too young to know how to hide her feelings. Her eyes were glued to the porridge, unable to look away. Her mouth moved constantly as she swallowed, and it was clear she desperately wanted that bowl of porridge.

"Even if the adult won’t eat, the child has to, right? She’s so little. Starving her is no joking matter."

After speaking, Gu’er watched Liu Fang. ’I want to see if she’ll let the child eat. Whatever is going on with the adults, the child is innocent.’ She genuinely wanted the little girl to have the food. ’If Liu Fang doesn’t let her daughter eat, it means she’s ruthless enough to even sacrifice her own child.’

Liu Fang’s eyes flickered at Gu’er’s words. She looked at her child, then at the porridge on the table, a flash of conflict in her eyes.

"Mom, I’m hungry. I want some porridge."

Liu Fang’s child was named Chun Ya. Seeing the bowl of porridge, she desperately wanted to eat it. It had been a long, long time since she’d had a full stomach.

Tears welled in Liu Fang’s eyes. It broke her heart to see her child like this. ’But if we eat their food, what will I be able to say later?’

"I don’t care if you starve, and I wouldn’t feel bad if you did. But the child is still little. Starving at this age can cause problems for the rest of her life. Don’t worry, I haven’t poisoned the porridge. We’d go to jail for killing you, and it’s not worth it. So just relax and let the child eat."

Gu’er’s voice sounded cold and detached. Liu Fang looked up at her, said nothing, and picked up the bowl from the table. She began to feed her daughter, one spoonful at a time.

’Good, she’s not that heartless.’ If Liu Fang had kept refusing to let her child eat, Gu’er would have had to completely re-evaluate what kind of person she was.

"Mom, it’s sweet! It’s yummy! You eat too, Mom."

Chun Ya took two bites and thought it was the most delicious thing she’d ever had. She’d never tasted such wonderful porridge. Smiling, she urged Liu Fang to eat as well.

Liu Fang’s eyes filled with tears. ’A single bowl of porridge makes her this happy... I’ve truly failed her.’ From now on, she vowed, her daughter would have a full belly and warm clothes every day. She would never let her child live like they used to.

"Your daughter is so perceptive, Sister-in-law. Did you think about her before you did this? If you move into our house as you intend, what kind of status will you be giving her? Do you want her to grow up with people pointing fingers, gossiping about her mother, and forcing her to live in shame alongside you, unable to hold her head high?"

Gu’er finished and watched Liu Fang’s expression. She saw that Liu Fang’s hand was trembling, but the woman said nothing, continuing to hold the bowl and feed Chun Ya.

"You can already see that Chun Ya is an adorable and lovable child. She’ll surely grow up to be as beautiful as you, Sister-in-law, and she should be able to marry into a good family. But if that family finds out what you’ve done, would they still want her? Are you really going to ruin your child’s entire life over your own mistakes?"

Gu’er pressed on. She noticed Liu Fang’s hand was trembling even more violently, but the woman didn’t stop feeding Chun Ya. When Chun Ya had eaten most of it, Liu Fang finished the rest of the porridge in the bowl, eating every last bit. She didn’t touch the second bowl.

"If that’s how it is, then that’s her fate. She was fated to be born my daughter, so she’ll have to accept it."

Liu Fang’s voice sounded calm, but it carried a faint tremor. ’I can’t back down because of what she’s saying. I made up my mind when I came here. I will not retreat.’

"Sister-in-law, why did you choose today to come?"

Gu’er didn’t press the previous topic. She could see that Liu Fang was resolute. ’Once she’s set her mind on something, it’s difficult to make her change it.’

"There was a heavy snow a few days ago, and our house collapsed. We can’t live there anymore. The You family won’t take me in either; they say I’m a jinx. I just can’t survive over there anymore. If I don’t find Brother Lin, there’s no way for me to live. I’m not looking to remarry. If it were just me, I’d have ended it all. But I have Chun Ya. I have to find a path for her to survive."

Liu Fang’s reply was tinged with a deep, sorrowful bitterness.

"If you just need a path to survival, Sister-in-law, that’s simple. If you’re looking for a place to stay, that’s easy. I can arrange it for you without my father even needing to come back. I have a house that’s empty. No one lives there. It’s more than big enough for you and your daughter. You and Chun Ya can move in whenever you’re ready. It has everything, and you won’t have to worry about food or drink. Your life there will be secure."

Gu’er immediately jumped in.

"No. I can’t accept your charity for nothing. I don’t take advantage of people. As for what you’re offering... my daughter and I aren’t fortunate enough to be worthy of such a gift."

’So you can come to my house, eat my father’s food, drink what he provides... you’re worthy enough for that?’ Gu’er thought, but she didn’t say it out loud.

"If you’re uncomfortable living there for free, Sister-in-law, I can help you find a job. It pays a monthly wage, and a decent one at that—more than enough to support you and your child. That way, both you and Chun Ya will have a way forward. If you work hard, then when Chun Ya grows up, she can find a good husband and get married with a clean reputation. When that time comes, we can even help her out and treat each other like family. Isn’t that what you really want?"

Gu’er added silently, ’You said you wanted a path to survival? I’m giving you one. I’m even offering to treat Chun Ya as family. What more could you possibly say to that?’

Liu Fang stared at Gu’er, and Chen Fengjiao stared at Liu Fang. Gu’er had laid out a path; now it was up to Liu Fang to take it. If Liu Fang was truly just looking for a way for her child to survive, as she claimed, then the path Gu’er offered was a perfectly viable one. ’I’ll give you a house, find you a job, you can earn a wage, raise your daughter, and see her married with a clean reputation. Isn’t that a good outcome?’

But if Liu Fang didn’t take the path Gu’er offered, then she would be making a liar out of herself. It would prove that she wasn’t trying to find a path for her child’s survival at all. It would mean she had her eyes set on someone else’s husband, determined to interfere in another family and be a shameless woman.

"I... I only trust Brother Lin."

Liu Fang said nothing else, only offering that one sentence. Her meaning was clear: ’Nothing you say matters. I don’t trust you. I only trust Lin Shan.’