Free Web NovelChapter 115: Chapter 115: Jia Ming Is Back
When Grandma Sun saw Gu’er return, she asked what they had said.
Gu’er didn’t dare tell her everything. She only said that Uncle Sun and Aunt Sun had decided to discuss it again after some time, and that Aunt Sun said they would wait for Brother Jia Ming to come back.
Grandma Sun knew Gu’er was sugarcoating it; the reality was surely much harsher.
But by now, Grandma Sun had recovered. It had been like this for years, and her heart had long grown cold. It was just that seeing her son earlier had given her a flicker of hope, only for it to lead to even greater disappointment.
"Gu, when your Brother Jia Ming gets back, even if he refuses, that Cao Qiu will definitely force him. He’s their son. If things get too ugly, I’m afraid people will call him unfilial. So, when your Brother Jia Ming comes home, if the situation gets out of hand, I need you to go and get a few people for Grandma. Can you do that?"
Grandma Sun already had a plan.
"Okay. Who should I get?"
Gu’er nodded. She wasn’t part of the Sun Family. It was one thing to help look after Grandma Sun, but she couldn’t get too involved.
Grandma Sun watched Gu’er for a moment, then explained her idea.
Gu’er was stunned for a good while. She had never imagined Grandma Sun would want to do something like this.
She mulled over the feasibility of Grandma Sun’s plan.
’Knowing Cao Qiu’s personality, she might actually go along with what Grandma Sun suggested.’
"Gu’er, if you’re not willing, it’s alright. Grandma will just talk to your Aunt Zhao. You’ll just have to help Grandma get Aunt Zhao over here so I can explain it to her."
Seeing Gu’er lost in thought and not responding, Grandma Sun thought she was unwilling to get involved. frёeweɓηovel.coɱ
"Grandma, it’s not that I’m unwilling. I was just thinking about it. There’s no need to call Aunt Zhao. If Brother Jia Ming comes back and there’s really no other way, I’ll go get the people."
Gu’er hadn’t been thinking about herself at all. Cao Qiu didn’t like her, and she didn’t care about making Cao Qiu like her. All that mattered was helping Grandma Sun.
"Good girl. Grandma doesn’t want to do this either, but you saw her. Your aunt... she’s made up her mind. I can’t let her control Jia Ming."
This time, Grandma Sun was determined.
Gu’er opened her mouth to speak, but was interrupted by the clear, pleasant ringing of a bicycle bell. ’Brother Jia Ming must be back.’
"Jia Ming’s back. Go and see."
Grandma Sun had heard it too.
Gu’er nodded and went to the door. Sun Jiaming was unloading things from his bicycle. He didn’t see Gu’er coming out to greet him; instead, he saw his parents. Sun Jiaming froze for a second.
He had biked back quickly. People in the village had greeted him, but he hadn’t stopped, eager to see Gu’er. That was why he’d rung his bell the moment he got home. He had been waiting for Gu’er to come out of the house, but instead, he saw his parents. freewebnσvel.cøm
Gu’er reached the main room’s doorway just as they started talking.
"Jiaming, why’d you buy so many things? Did you know your mother and I were back?"
Sun Zhuzi asked, looking at the things on the ground.
"Yeah."
Sun Jiaming grunted noncommittally. It was a little awkward. He hadn’t gone over to their place today, so he genuinely hadn’t known his parents were back. But he couldn’t possibly say that, so all he could do was make a sound of agreement.
Cao Qiu looked at the items on the ground. At first, she also thought they were for them, but as she kept looking, her expression began to change.
’There’s meat on the ground—a big piece, enough for several meals. Red dates, brown sugar... those are to enrich the blood. Jiaming couldn’t have bought these for us. When he visits me, he never brings things like this. It can’t be for that old hag, either; I know she doesn’t like sweet drinks. Who does that leave? It must be for Zhou Gu’er.’
’On top of that, there are several kinds of pastries and canned goods. That old hag could never eat all this. Who else could it be for but Gu’er! And those jars... what are they called, yogurt? I’ve never even tried it, and Jiaming bought three jars. Isn’t it obvious? One for each of the three of them!’
Besides all that, Cao Qiu also spotted a blue cloth bundle, bulging with unknown contents.
Seething with anger, Cao Qiu snatched the blue bundle.
Seeing this, Sun Jiaming immediately tried to grab it back.
"Mom, what are you doing?"
Sun Jiaming knew his mother must have realized he’d bought these things for the household, not because his parents had arrived. Still, she couldn’t just snatch the bundle—everything inside was for Gu’er.
"What, am I not allowed to look? You’re my son! Didn’t you buy this for us because you knew we were coming?"
Suppressing her anger, Cao Qiu dodged Sun Jiaming’s hand. Before he could reach for it again, she shook the bundle open.
Inside were two sets of clothes. Besides the clothes, there was also a red gauze scarf. One outfit was blue, the other red. That glaring red stung Cao Qiu’s eyes. She brandished the scarf and sneered, "My son is just so filial! Buying a scarf for his grandmother, and a red one at that. He didn’t even bother to see if his grandmother is suited for it, or if her old frame can even wear something like this! I really have raised a good son."
Cao Qiu was so angry it felt like a physical ache. Her son was completely bewitched by Gu’er, eagerly buying her food, clothes, and even this pretty scarf. Why hadn’t he ever thought to buy things like this for his own mother?
Yes, he had bought her clothes before, and she had treasured them. But what he’d bought for her was nothing compared to this. She felt like she had given birth to him for nothing.
’No, I can’t let my son marry Gu’er. If I do, who knows what corner I’ll be forgotten in as his mother.’
Sun Jiaming’s face was grim. He silently picked up the clothes Cao Qiu had thrown on the ground and then reached for the scarf in her hand.
When Cao Qiu saw her son still trying to get the scarf, not only did she refuse to give it to him, she threw it on the ground, stomped on it, and started pulling at it forcefully.
"I’ll teach you to buy things for her! I’ll teach you to only think about that shameless hussy!"
As Cao Qiu stomped with her foot, she pulled hard. The scarf wasn’t very sturdy, and she ripped it.
Sun Jiaming clenched his fists, then relaxed them. This was his mother. What could he do?
Gu’er watched all of this from the doorway. She knew Sun Jiaming had bought the scarf and clothes for her. The scarf was the newest style; she had seen it before but hadn’t bought one. She never thought Sun Jiaming would buy it for her.
Watching Cao Qiu rip the scarf, Gu’er felt as if her own heart had been torn open as well.
Cao Qiu was still cursing, taking her anger out on the scarf. Even after ripping it, her rage wasn’t spent, and she stomped on it with all her might.
"Brother Jia Ming, you’re back. Come inside. Grandma is waiting for you."
Gu’er chose this moment to speak. She walked over, acting as if nothing had happened and she hadn’t seen a thing, and told Sun Jiaming to go inside.
"You... you shameless girl! You made my son buy things for you! How could you?"
The moment Cao Qiu saw Gu’er approach, she pointed a finger at her and started yelling.
"Mom, that’s enough! This has nothing to do with Gu’er. Let’s go. Let’s go inside and see Grandma."
Sun Jiaming stepped in front of Gu’er, shielding her. He wouldn’t say a word when his mother scolded him—after all, she had given birth to him and raised him—but she could not curse Gu’er.
