At that moment, Director Sun came out of the inner room wearing reading glasses. When he saw Gu Hai, he was very pleased. "Xiao Hai, what a rare guest! You hardly ever come by. Stay and have dinner at your uncle's place tonight!"
His wife immediately pulled a long face. "Gu Hai didn't even give us a heads-up. I didn't cook enough food."
Gu Hai waved his hand. "Uncle Sun, I already ate before coming. I actually came because I need your help with something…"
Noticing Gu Hai glance at his wife, Director Sun immediately said, "Come inside with me. Let's talk privately."
He led Gu Hai into the inner room and shut the door behind them, conveniently blocking Sun Xiaoping, who was trying to follow them in.
Sun Xiaoping stomped her foot in frustration. Her mother called her over to help pick vegetables and took the chance to lecture her: "Xiaoping, don't get involved with Gu Hai. He's an orphan now—his father's dead, his mother ran away, and he's dragging along younger siblings. He doesn't even have a house. Whoever marries into that family will suffer! You'd better give up on him early, understand?"
Sun Xiaoping refused to accept it. "Mom, that's prejudice! When Uncle Gu was still alive, you kept saying Gu Hai and I were childhood sweethearts and told me to talk to him more. Now you look down on him—you're hypocritical and snobbish! I won't give in to you!"
Her mother rolled up her sleeves, ready to hit her. "You've really got some nerve, talking to me like that…"
Inside the room, Director Sun invited Gu Hai to sit down and said warmly, "Xiao Hai, don't mind your aunt's attitude. She doesn't understand things—don't take it personally. If you came to see me tonight, just say what you need. As long as I can help, I definitely will!"
Gu Hai didn't beat around the bush. "Uncle Sun, it's about the clerical position at the Public Security Bureau you mentioned last time. Is it still available?"
Director Sun nodded. "Of course it is! That position was reserved for you. When I asked you to come work before, your mother…"
He paused, deliberately avoiding the topic of Gu Hai's mother. "Whenever you're willing to come, the position will still be yours!"
Gu Hai thanked him and continued, "Uncle Sun, I'd like to request that this position be given to a friend of mine. I don't want to make things difficult for you. I know you kept this official position for me under pressure. If my friend takes it, she can start as a temporary worker—I don't want you to get into trouble."
"Xiao Hai, this job wasn't reserved by me alone. I don't have that much authority. It was a unanimous internal decision—we couldn't let a martyr's child suffer. That's why the position was kept for you."
"Since you don't want it, that's fine. If you're willing to give it to someone else, there's no need for her to start as a temporary worker. We'll handle it under the same terms we prepared for you. It's rare for you to ask me for something—I'll make sure it's done!"
Hearing this, Gu Hai stood up and thanked him again. "Uncle Sun, thank you. I'll leave this matter in your hands."
Director Sun said, "At the latest, by next Wednesday, I'll have everything arranged. Just have your friend report directly to the bureau then."
After finishing their discussion, the two of them came out of the room together.
As soon as the door opened, they saw Sun Xiaoping and her mother eavesdropping outside.
Director Sun's wife looked a little embarrassed and casually said, "Gu Hai, I've already cooked dinner. Why don't you stay and eat?"
It sounded polite, but there was no sincerity—more like a hint that it was time for him to leave.
Gu Hai smiled. "Auntie, I still have things to take care of at home, so I won't stay for dinner. I'll head back now."
To Gu Hai, she was just an insignificant person, so her attitude didn't affect him at all.
Seeing that Gu Hai was about to leave, Sun Xiaoping looked anxious and called out, "Dad!"
Director Sun actually wanted to keep Gu Hai, but Gu Hai spoke first: "Uncle Sun, it's already late. Only my younger siblings are at home, and I'm worried about them, so I'll head back."
Hearing this, Director Sun couldn't insist any further. He escorted Gu Hai out and gave him a few routine reminders.
Sun Xiaoping watched as Gu Hai went downstairs without even looking back at her. Her resentment immediately turned toward her mother. "Mom, Gu Hai rarely comes by, and he even brought so many gifts. You took everything, but you wouldn't even let him stay for a meal! You're so snobbish—only caring about wealth and status. I hate you!"
With that, she ran back into her room and slammed the door shut.
Director Sun's wife was furious. "You ungrateful girl! I raised you all these years, and now you side with outsiders? The moment you see Gu Hai, you forget your own mother? Do you even know his family situation? I've told you countless times, but you never listen! Don't be fooled just because he brought some valuable things tonight—that's only because he needs your father's help. Otherwise…"
"Enough!" Director Sun interrupted, unable to listen any longer. "If your mouth has too much free time, stuff it with food! Stop saying these things to the child all day."
"Xiaoping, come out and eat!"
Meanwhile, Gu Hai knew nothing about what was happening in their home.
He had just come down to the second floor when he saw his grandmother standing outside her door, wearing a cooking apron and leaning on her bound feet, clearly waiting to pick a fight.
The moment she saw Gu Hai, she put on a stern face and said loudly in a mocking tone, "Hmph! Some people are really heartless! Carrying good things around but not showing any respect to their own grandparents, uncles, and aunts—only giving gifts to outsiders, completely ignoring their own elders who are suffering. Truly unfilial!"
"If I had known you'd turn out like this, I should've drowned you in a chamber pot back then instead of letting you grow up to bully your relatives and defy your elders!"
While she scolded Gu Hai, his cousin peeked at him through the door crack, looking smug and satisfied.
Just then, a young man ran up from downstairs. When he saw Gu Hai, he excitedly called out, "Brother Hai!"
He glanced at Gu Hai's grandmother and deliberately asked, "Brother Hai, who are you talking to?"
Gu Hai replied calmly, "No one—just heard an old dog barking, and a little dog hiding inside watching the show."
With that, the two of them went downstairs together, completely ignoring his grandmother.
Hearing herself and her grandson being compared to dogs, the cousin immediately complained, "Grandma, Gu Hai called us dogs! You can't let him get away with this! I saw it just now—he was carrying a big bag of apples, plus alcohol and cloth, all delivered to Director Sun's house. He must've made money and is hiding it from us!"
Gu Hai's grandmother's face turned dark with anger. She stomped her feet. "Outrageous! What an unfilial descendant…"
A neighbor from next door came out holding her bowl and, seeing the scene, said with a laugh, "What unfilial descendant? You mean Gu Hai? You've already taken over his house—he cut ties with you long ago. There was even a written agreement, and we neighbors all witnessed it. Don't go around claiming him as your grandson—be careful the old Director Gu comes back in the middle of the night to find you!"