AMRWFA -Chapter 293 The Difference Between Cannon Fodder and Cannon Fodder

Of course it was important, because Sima Hong had interacted with the female lead Song Jiao and had once “kindly” reminded her to stay away from the male lead Xiao Shao.

In other words, she was telling her that Xiao Shao might not be as simple as she thought.

Because of this, Sima Hong became a female cannon-fodder character in the novel “The Suit-Clad Tyrant: Master Xiao’s Beloved”. She had a name, a face, and a rather tragic ending.

This was something Ruan Yaoyao and the others gradually “figured out” after meeting more people later on.

Sima Hong had quite a few nephews and nieces. Among them, those who had interacted with the male and female leads like her—and were not perpetrators—had a high chance of hearing Ruan Yaoyao’s inner voice.

But those who had no interaction with the protagonists and exited the story early, regardless of whether they were victims, might not be able to hear her inner thoughts at all.

Sima Hong: “……”

This is way too much discrimination, isn’t it?

Xu Nannan and the others: “……”

This really can’t be blamed on my mom/Aunt Xu. If anyone’s being unfair, it’s the heavens themselves. My mom/Aunt Xu can’t do anything about it!

Completely unaware of any of this, Ruan Yaoyao continued meeting members of the Sima family one by one. After going through the whole circle, she discovered that very few of the older generation in the Sima family were clean.

Even the women who married into the Sima family were originally innocent victims, but over time, they gradually became perpetrators themselves.

For example, Madam Sima.

Before meeting her, Ruan Yaoyao actually sympathized with her, thinking she was pitiful for marrying someone like Sima Jiashi.

But after seeing her in person, she realized she had judged too soon.

Madam Sima’s original name was Jian Fangchun. She had once been a wealthy young lady, but her family later declined. So how did she qualify to marry into the Sima family?

It all traced back to Old Master Sima’s past sins.

When he was young, during a rebellious phase, he fell into hardship and was rescued by Jian Fangchun’s father, who then arranged a marriage agreement.

Later, when Sima Jiashi was born, the engagement was passed on to him.

Sima Jiashi resisted, but as everyone knew, he was given a choice: give up his position as heir, or marry Jian Fangchun. He chose the latter.

Before marriage, Jian Fangchun was also a young woman dreaming of love. Moreover, people from the Sima family were generally good-looking, and Sima Jiashi appeared refined and gentlemanly at first glance.

But this man, who looked so respectable on the surface, was actually a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Thus, after marrying into the family, Jian Fangchun did not immediately see his true nature and instead fell in love with his gentle and attentive persona.

By the time she discovered the truth, she was already deeply entangled and unable to resist.

【Sigh…】

Ruan Yaoyao quietly sighed, looking at Jian Fangchun sitting in the seat of honor at the tea gathering, surrounded by flattery yet wearing a cold expression, unsure what to feel.

She had started as a victim and slowly became a perpetrator. To say she was innocent—she had blood on her hands. To say she was purely evil—she had also been forced into it.

Ruan Yaoyao felt sympathy, but she also knew clearly that no matter the reason, Jian Fangchun must face legal punishment.

Otherwise, it would be unfair to the victims.

【They’re just children… how could she lay her hands on them?】

【The people who made her suffer were the Sima family. If she wanted revenge, she should have targeted them—but instead she raised her blade against the weaker, defenseless children.】

Yes, exactly.

Jian Fangchun had established a so-called charity organization under her name called the “Spring Foundation,” which supposedly adopted orphaned children and funded education for poor rural girls.

It sounded good on the surface.

But in reality, both the welfare institutions under her name and the girls she supported in poor regions were nothing more than “goods for selection.”

Beautiful girls were carefully trained and then sent to the beds of powerful men.

Ugly ones were not necessarily safe either—some had special preferences, others needed organs. They were all “valuable commodities.”

Occasionally, a few children “died of illness” in the orphanage, which was considered normal. Poor girls with no background were easy to control; if they disobeyed, they would be silenced forever.

If any girl was taken by Sima Jiashi himself, it was said she had “seduced him.” Once he lost interest, Jian Fangchun would have her taken away again—first tortured, then sent to the operating table.

In short, living people had uses, dead people had uses too—nothing would ever be “wasted.”

When Ruan Yaoyao saw all this, she felt a chill run down her spine.

It was the first time she realized how evil human nature could be.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a woman beside Jian Fangchun.

She wore a silk dress, long hair flowing behind her, pearl earrings, a delicate face with a pointed chin and innocent almond eyes—gentle and refined in appearance.

Yet who would have thought such an elegant-looking woman was actually Jian Fangchun’s right-hand aide?

Back then, Madam Qiao had also been one of the girls funded by Jian Fangchun. Unlike others, she was “smart”—she quickly understood the Sima family’s rules and seized every opportunity to climb upward.

Unlike other coerced women, Madam Qiao was “willing” and “voluntary.”

After realizing her usefulness, she actively fought for opportunities, eventually catching Jian Fangchun’s attention. She was reshaped under Jian Fangchun’s control, changed her identity, entered the entertainment industry, and later married Qiao Heng—the son of an unremarkable wealthy businessman—under the image of a “pure and innocent star.”

Later, Qiao Heng used her connection to rise through Jian Fangchun and the Sima family, and her status also skyrocketed.

The once ordinary businessman’s son became part of the powerful Qiao family, one of the Sima family’s most important allies.

Madam Qiao also became the secretary-general of the “Spring Foundation,” one of its key operators.

【So in other words, everything Jian Fangchun did—this Madam Qiao was also an accomplice, even an executioner.】

【When they did all this, didn’t they ever think they were women too? That they might have daughters?】

Looking at their profiles again, Ruan Yaoyao noticed that both women actually loved their daughters deeply.

Especially Madam Qiao—she even sent her daughter abroad for education, hoping to give her a better future and let her join the family business afterward.

She believed women must have their own strength; otherwise, relying solely on marriage would only lead to being played by fate.

Just like herself—if she hadn’t been clear-headed, she wouldn’t be a “decision-maker,” but someone being decided upon.

Ruan Yaoyao: “……”

【So you’re actually quite clear-headed, huh?】

【Then how can you do such things to others?】

Aside from Madam Sima, the second madam was not a victim at all—she was pure evil. Back then, she originally wanted to marry Sima Jiashi because she believed only by marrying him could she become the true matriarch of the Sima family and gain power.

But unfortunately, Old Master Sima had already arranged an engagement for his eldest son, and no matter how much she tried, Sima Jiashi was uninterested because of his position as heir.

Resentful and unwilling, the second madam ultimately married Sima’s second son instead.