After finishing her gossip, Aunt Wang hurried off to the next house, casually saying she still had things to do at home.
After she left, Chen Xiue frowned deeply and pondered for a few seconds.
"If that's the case, then the Jiang family probably won't keep thinking about our Xiao Yun anymore, right?"
After what Jiang Guangzong and He Hua had done, Deputy Factory Director Jiang would definitely not dare to remain entangled with the Su family for the sake of his son's future. Otherwise, Widow He was certainly not someone to be trifled with.
But Chen Xiue could not swallow this humiliation.
Grinding her teeth, she said bitterly, "How can Jiang Zhengyi casually change his mind, let us suffer such an unjust accusation, and then just let everything end like this?"
Su Wenshan took a puff of his cigarette and sighed.
"Forget it. Better to avoid unnecessary trouble. It doesn't matter if I'm wronged, as long as Xiao Yun is safe and well. Don't tell Xiao Yun about this. Even if she knew, she'd only worry along with us. There's no need."
"Su Wenshan, your whole life, you've been nothing but a coward! You only know how to suffer losses!"
Chen Xiue felt utterly stifled. She fiercely pointed a finger at him, but she couldn't come up with anything to refute his reasoning.
After all, even the factory director was standing on Deputy Factory Director Jiang's side. What could they possibly do?
She still had three children suffering in the countryside, and her grandchildren were also waiting for them to support them. Su Wenshan absolutely could not lose his job.
At that moment, Chen Xiue felt completely helpless and could only sigh as well.
The atmosphere in the room grew heavy once again.
---
Before evening, workers began returning home one after another.
Su Yun closed the gate of the recycling station and deliberately walked around the nearby area. After making sure Gu Hai hadn't come, she headed home in frustration.
Meanwhile, Gu Hai and Su Wenbing were also heading toward the Su family's home.
Both of their bicycles had rear seats piled high with gifts, and several strings of sausages hung from their handlebars. They looked exactly like traveling peddlers!
Pedaling hard, Su Wenbing proudly said to Gu Hai,
"Brother Hai, the things I told you to buy will definitely win over Comrade Su's parents. These are all my dad's old tricks—guaranteed to work! My grandma always falls for this kind of thing!"
"And don't forget the ultimate secret move I told you about from my dad!"
Gu Hai gave a perfunctory nod, clearly not very enthusiastic.
He could only hope it would work.
He wasn't asking for much—he just wanted Su Yun to speak to him again.
As they were nearing the alley leading to Su Yun's home, Gu Hai suddenly remembered something. He quickly planted his long leg on the ground, braked his bicycle, and turned to remind Su Wenbing:
"Wenbing, there's something I need to warn you about first…"
Su Wenbing also braked immediately, listening attentively.
"Brother Hai, go ahead."
Just as Gu Hai was about to speak, he caught sight of Su Yun's slender figure entering the alley from the corner of his eye.
At once, he completely forgot about Su Wenbing, jumped back onto his bicycle, and sped toward Su Yun.
"Xiao Yun!"
Very soon, Gu Hai's bicycle was moving alongside Su Yun. He jumped off and pushed it while walking beside her, his smile bright and dazzling. The moment he opened his mouth, he said something foolish:
"Xiao Yun, what a coincidence! Are you heading home?"
Without stopping, Su Yun only glanced sideways at him and gave him a cold, sarcastic look.
Gu Hai dryly laughed for a few seconds before hearing Su Yun mockingly ask,
"In this scorching weather, instead of playing games with your new bride, why are you running to my house?"
Gu Hai instantly became anxious.
"Xiao Yun, I've already told you several times—there's really nothing going on between Sun Xiaoping and me!"
"I don't believe you!"
The moment Su Yun finished speaking, He Hua's smug and shrill voice rang out:
"Oh? Su Yun, did you and your boyfriend have a fight?"
Standing on the steps of the courtyard house, He Hua was still dressed in her bright red and green new clothes. Holding a handful of sunflower seeds, she wore an expression full of amusement as she watched the drama unfold.
Cracking sunflower seeds while walking down the steps, she pretended to advise Su Yun:
"Oh, Su Yun, honestly, it's not easy for you to find a boyfriend like this. How can you quarrel with him? Hurry and apologize! As women, we should behave properly and stay modest. You're just too fierce—that's why Deputy Factory Director Jiang's family didn't choose you…"
As she spoke, He Hua turned to Gu Hai with feigned delicacy.
"Comrade Gu Hai, Su Yun has always been like this. She never cares about other people's feelings. She's too used to being doted on by men. You absolutely mustn't get angry with her!"
Her tone clearly showed she was stirring up trouble.
Gu Hai couldn't be bothered to argue with her and simply acted as if he hadn't heard anything.
Su Yun snorted coldly and ignored He Hua as well, preparing to walk away.
Seeing this, He Hua was furious. She quickly reached out to block Su Yun and shouted:
"Stop right there! I'm talking to you! How dare you ignore me?"
She was no longer the same person she used to be. Soon, she would be the daughter-in-law of the deputy factory director's family. How dare Su Yun continue to look down on her?
Proudly lifting her chin high, He Hua raised her voice.
"Su Yun, let me tell you—I'm about to marry Jiang Guangzong. Deputy Factory Director Jiang promised to give me an electric fan as part of my dowry. Since your boyfriend can get electric fans without ration coupons, get one for me too!"
Her commanding tone immediately made Su Yun uncomfortable.
Su Yun rejected her directly.
"No time."
He Hua's brows furrowed, and her face darkened with anger.
In a burst of rage, she raised her hand as if to slap Su Yun.
But in the very next second, Gu Hai shoved her aside while holding up the pile of gifts in his arms.
"Here, move aside. Don't stand in the middle and block the way…"
The mountain of gifts Gu Hai held high completely blocked He Hua's view. Caught off guard, she stumbled backward several steps and fell hard onto the ground.
"Ah!"
Without even glancing at her, Su Yun lifted her foot and walked straight into the courtyard.
After falling, He Hua burned with fury, but her face quickly shifted into a pitiful and delicate expression, hoping to gain Gu Hai's sympathy.
When she looked up, however, all she saw was Gu Hai's tall figure rushing after Su Yun into the courtyard.
Grinding her teeth fiercely, He Hua wished nothing more than for Su Yun to be abandoned by Gu Hai as soon as possible.
At that moment, Su Wenbing finally caught up. He quickly stopped his bicycle and shouted:
"Brother Hai, wait for me! I've still got a whole pile of stuff here!"
Before he even finished speaking, Su Wenbing grabbed the large stack of gifts and rushed right past He Hua, completely failing to notice the young woman still sitting on the ground.
He Hua became even more furious.
---
Inside the Su family's main house, Su Baoguo had just returned from school. Throwing down his schoolbag, he grabbed his tin airplane toy and dashed outside, only to see Su Yun and Gu Hai returning one after another.
Excitedly, Su Baoguo shouted:
"Second Sister! Second Brother-in-law!"
Chen Xiue was just opening a cabinet to take out flour. Hearing the commotion, she walked outside holding a scoop.
When she saw Gu Hai, all the gloom in her heart instantly vanished. She warmly smiled.
"Gu Hai, why have you brought so many things again? It's not easy for you to earn money either. Don't always bring the best things to our family—keep some for yourself too. And what about your younger siblings? When the time is right, bring them over so I can meet them."
Hearing this, Gu Hai's entire face lit up with a smile.
"Mom, don't worry. When I have time, I'll bring them over so they can get familiar with the place."
At those words, Su Yun deliberately let out a dissatisfied humph.
Chen Xiue immediately shot her a glare.
"Xiao Yun, what are you humming for? Hurry up and help Gu Hai out! He's carrying so many things, and you're just going to let him carry everything by himself?"