Chen Xiue snorted.
"Do you really think your father and I are that easy to fool?"
"I'm not lying to you…" Su Yun truly had never gone to the black market, so she really wasn't lying.
Seeing that Chen Xiue was about to grab the broom again, Su Yun quickly struck first.
"Mom, the ones lying are you and Dad, right? Did something go wrong when you went to the factory today? I noticed it the moment I walked in. Both of you looked terrible, and Dad practically had frustration written all over his face. Yet you still plan to hide it from me!"
Hearing this, Su Wenshan hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping himself.
Chen Xiue was momentarily speechless. She rolled her eyes.
"Don't change the subject. Right now, we're talking about your issue!"
Su Yun retorted,
"You don't change the subject either. I'm asking about what happened when you and Dad went to the steel factory today… Hey, Mom, that's cheating! You can't just hit people because you can't win an argument. I'm going to scream for help!"
With a dark expression, Chen Xiue grabbed the broom and chased after Su Yun.
Seeing this, Su Baoguo immediately jumped forward heroically.
"Second Sister, I'll save you!"
A few seconds later, Su Baoguo cried out loudly:
"Dad, save us!"
---
Outside the alley of the courtyard house, beneath a large tree—
Su Wenbing barely dared to breathe. Looking guilty, he glanced at Gu Hai and asked softly:
"Brother Hai… Did I ruin everything just now?"
Gu Hai silently glanced at him, thinking: Did you ruin things? Don't you know the answer yourself?
Su Wenbing understood the look in his eyes and made a bitter face.
"Brother Hai, you can't blame me either! How was I supposed to know Xiao Su's parents didn't know anything? I thought I'd go over today and build a good relationship with them, so maybe Comrade Xiao Su would exchange more cotton cloth for me. Who knew I'd make things worse instead? What do we do now? Will Comrade Xiao Su be angry with me?"
Based on Gu Hai's understanding of Su Yun, she would definitely be angry.
He really had terrible luck. He had only just managed to calm Su Yun down, and now he had offended her parents as well.
But he had long expected that lies would eventually be exposed. He had mentally prepared himself for that day.
He just hadn't expected it to come so soon.
"Sigh…" Gu Hai let out a long breath. "Forget it. Let's think about how to fix this."
Su Wenbing nodded solemnly.
They really did need to fix things. Su Yun was their biggest supplier. If they offended her, where else would they find someone to exchange for such valuable goods?
As Su Wenbing was still thinking of ways to advise Gu Hai, he suddenly realized something strange.
For some reason, he couldn't sense any sorrow from Gu Hai. Instead, Gu Hai actually seemed… happy.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, he saw Gu Hai ride away on his bicycle!
Su Wenbing stared blankly.
"Brother Hai? Brother Hai, wait for me…"
---
By the time night had fully fallen, every household in the steel factory workers' apartment building had their lights on.
Jiang Guangzong, dressed in his blue driver's uniform and reeking of alcohol, staggered home unsteadily.
The moment he entered, he saw Deputy Factory Director Jiang sitting on the sofa with a gloomy face, a lit cigarette held between the fingers of his left hand.
As soon as Jiang Guangzong shut the door, his father coldly demanded:
"Where have you been?"
Hearing the noise, Jiang's mother quickly wiped her hands clean and hurried out of the kitchen.
"Oh my, Guangzong, how much did you drink? You can barely walk straight! Come, sit down and rest for a while—"
"Rest my foot! Make him kneel before me!"
After roaring this, Deputy Factory Director Jiang threw down the cigarette butt, stood up, and yanked his belt free.
He glared coldly at Jiang Guangzong.
"Useless trash! I've been paving the way for you outside, and I was this close to bringing Su Yun into our family. But you—unable to control the thing between your legs—ended up rolling around in the guesthouse with that ugly freak from the He family! And so many people saw it. You've completely disgraced me!"
"And you still have the nerve to go out drinking? Kneel down!"
The moment his father finished speaking, Jiang Guangzong reflexively dropped to his knees.
The movement was disturbingly practiced.
His mother was heartbroken and couldn't help whispering:
"His father, this can't be entirely Guangzong's fault. It was that shameless girl from the He family who seduced him! That little slut is just like her widowed mother—completely immoral. She's not worthy of entering the Jiang family!"
"Don't worry. Tomorrow I'll go to the He family and break off the engagement. I'll make sure Widow He doesn't dare spread rumors—"
Before she could finish, Deputy Factory Director Jiang sneered.
"Break off the engagement? Too late! Everyone in the steel factory already knows that Guangzong is about to marry that ugly girl from the He family. This matter is settled. It cannot be changed now. Otherwise, it would make me look like a liar."
As he spoke, he lashed Jiang Guangzong with the belt.
His eyes were ruthless.
"It's all because of you, you worthless fool! I was just about to become factory director, and yet you had to drag me down. What use is raising a son like you? I'd have been better off raising a dog!"
Smack!
Jiang's mother stood nearby, trembling uncontrollably as she watched her son being beaten. She didn't dare move.
Jiang Yaozu, hiding in his room, also remained silent, afraid the fire might spread to him.
Not long after, loud knocking suddenly came from outside the door.
Deputy Factory Director Jiang paused.
He quickly fastened his belt again and glared viciously at his wife.
"Why haven't you taken him back into the room yet?"
Only then did Jiang's mother snap back to her senses. In a panic, she hurriedly helped Jiang Guangzong to his feet and dragged him into the room.
Deputy Factory Director Jiang coldly picked up the newspaper on the table, adjusted his clothes, and instantly replaced his furious expression with a warm smile before opening the door.
Outside stood Section Chief Wei, carrying a briefcase and smiling broadly.
"Deputy Factory Director Jiang, congratulations! I heard your Guangzong is getting married soon. Since I happened to have time tonight, I specially came by to offer my congratulations."
Deputy Factory Director Jiang warmly welcomed him.
"Welcome, welcome! Come in, quickly."
The two exchanged pleasantries as they entered and shut the door behind them, cutting off the curious eyes of the neighbors outside.
Jiang invited Section Chief Wei to sit on the sofa and personally poured him tea.
In a concerned tone, he asked:
"Old Wei, what brings you here tonight?"
Section Chief Wei put on a guilty expression and pulled out a carton of Zhonghua cigarettes from his briefcase, placing it on the coffee table.
"Deputy Factory Director Jiang, I truly owe you an apology regarding what Director Su reported about you today. Look at how things turned out. It started as such a small matter—just selecting a model worker—but it nearly resulted in you being labeled as promoting capitalist restoration. I really feel terrible about it…"
"This is just a small token of apology. Consider it something to calm your nerves. You must accept it."
Deputy Factory Director Jiang smiled modestly.
"We already said it was a misunderstanding. Although Director Su misunderstood my good intentions, fortunately the people saw things clearly, and the factory director trusts me deeply. Since this matter caused no real consequences, that is already fortunate enough. And yet you specially brought me a gift to calm my nerves—you're far too polite."
Though he said that, the carton of Zhonghua cigarettes was quickly put away.
Seeing that Deputy Factory Director Jiang did not blame him, Section Chief Wei finally felt relieved.
When it was time for him to leave, Jiang escorted him to the door and politely said:
"Old Wei, come visit more often when you have time. In a couple of days, when Guangzong's wedding celebration is held, you absolutely must come drink with us."
Section Chief Wei grinned.
"Of course, of course."
After leaving the family apartment building, Section Chief Wei smiled smugly and rode off on his bicycle.
By now, it was already late.
As he rode down the main road, he soon turned into a narrow alley—the only route leading to his home.
In a cheerful mood, Section Chief Wei hummed a tune as he turned into the alley.
But the moment he entered—
Someone suddenly threw a sack over him.
Both he and his bicycle were carried away.