The Adopted Cannon Fodder Made a Comeback

Chapter 425: Chapter 421: A Girl Named Feng Ling (Part 2)

She had slender, willow-leaf brows, almond-shaped eyes, a delicate, jade-like nose, and a small, cherry-like mouth. She was a beauty.

But the beauty was dressed shabbily. Her clothes looked like they’d been washed so many times they were worn thin, suggesting her family’s circumstances were poor.

Gu’er and Marina went to greet them. Sun Jiaming and Li Zhi both shot Gu’er a meaningful look. Gu’er didn’t ask any questions. ’No matter who these two are,’ she thought, ’there must be a reason Jiaming brought them home.’

"Please, sit down. I’ll get you some water."

Gu’er gestured for the two of them to sit on the sofa.

"I’ll get it."

Marina gently pulled Gu’er back and went to pour the water herself.

"Oh, no, I... I’m filthy. I’ll get your sofa dirty."

The old beggar stared at the sofa, not daring to sit down.

"It’s alright. People are more important than things. Please, have a seat."

Gu’er smiled. ’Even if he’s a beggar, he’s old enough to be my grandfather. Now that he’s in our home, we can’t just let him stand.’

The old beggar was still hesitant. Neither he nor the girl sat down.

"I think I’ll remain standing. Is your grandmother home? Could I see her?"

The old beggar shook his head, declining to sit. His cloudy old eyes looked to Sun Jiaming with a hint of anticipation.

Gu’er was taken aback. ’He wants to see Grandma?’ In an instant, she understood why Jia Ming had brought them home. ’This old man must be from the village and probably knows Grandma. He must have run into Jia Ming today, and Jiaming, seeing his pitiful state and that he was an elder, decided to bring him back.’

"She is. I’ll take you to see Grandma right now."

Sun Jiaming nodded.

Sun Jiaming led the old beggar to Grandma Sun’s room. Gu’er and Marina followed, curious to find out who the man was.

Inside the room, Grandma Sun, Grandma Dingzi, and Aunt Zhao were all sitting on the kang. They were startled by the newcomers, and Aunt Zhao quickly scrambled off the bed to put on her shoes.

Grandma Sun and Grandma Dingzi remained on the kang, looking a bit dazed by the sudden crowd.

"Jinxiu... Are you Jinxiu?"

The old beggar stared at Grandma Sun, his voice trembling as he spoke.

’He really does know Grandma,’ Gu’er thought. ’I don’t even know Grandma’s first name. I think I heard Jia Ming mention it once... something with ’xiu’ in it.’

Grandma Sun froze. It had been years, so many years, since anyone had called her by her given name.

"You... You are...?"

Grandma Sun knew that anyone who could call her by that name must have known her, and from when she was young. But she had no memory of the face before her. ’He’s not from our village.’

"It’s me, Guan Yicai! I’m Yicai! Don’t you remember me?"

The old beggar’s tears started to fall as he spoke.

"You... You’re the Eldest Young Master Guan?"

Grandma Sun asked in disbelief. She studied him carefully. The old beggar before her had none of the flair the Eldest Young Master Guan once possessed. She truly couldn’t recognize him.

"Yes, it’s me. Jinxiu, I never thought I’d get to see you again before I die. To look at you one last time."

The Eldest Young Master Guan, Guan Yicai, wiped the tears from his face with his hand and sighed again and again.

"How did you end up like this? Quick, come sit on the kang! Jia Ming, pour some tea for your Grandpa Guan."

Grandma Sun patted the kang. ’This Guan Yicai was none other than the match her family had arranged for her in her youth. But in the end, she had chosen Grandpa Jia Ming. The Eldest Young Master Guan had even stormed over to her house to confront her, telling her she would regret not choosing him. Although she hadn’t chosen him back then, there was no denying that the Eldest Young Master Guan was handsome and quite a figure. How could he have fallen so far as to become a beggar?’

Gu’er knew nothing of this history between Grandma Sun and the Eldest Young Master Guan, but it was clear they knew each other. ’As long as they’re acquainted, that’s what matters.’

Gu’er, Marina, and Aunt Zhao set out tea, snacks, and melon seeds on the kang table, while Sun Jiaming brought a basin of water so the Eldest Young Master Guan could wash his face.

"How did you fall on such hard times? Were you out begging on the street when you ran into Jia Ming?"

Grandma Sun asked.

"Sigh... don’t get me started. Today, I was out begging for food..."

Guan Yicai paused and glanced at Grandma Sun, a flicker of discomfort on his face, but it passed quickly. He continued, "Jinxiu, falling on these hard times is my just deserts. I did too many bad things when I was young, so it’s only right that I suffer in my old age. But let’s not talk about that. I was out begging and came across some kind of nursing home ribbon-cutting ceremony. I figured a big crowd meant I could get some money or food. But while I was looking around, I saw a young man giving a speech on the stage. I took one look, and guess what?"

"What happened?"

Grandma Sun asked hurriedly, and everyone else listened intently.

"It was like I was seeing that brat from the Sun Family. Who do you think I’ve hated most in my life? It’s got to be that Sun Family brat. He stole the woman who should have been my wife! I’ll never forget his face as long as I live."