The woman's son appeared shy and awkward as soon as he stepped forward, twisting nervously like a bashful young girl.
Gu Hai immediately straightened his back and stared at him with full vigilance.
Su Yun smiled coldly and said, "Auntie, are you out of your mind? What does it have to do with me whether your son has a girlfriend or not? I'm not interested in your son at all. Take him and leave immediately. And don't come to my recycling station again unless you want me to chase you away with a broom!"
Hearing this, Gu Hai raised his eyebrows slightly and felt extremely satisfied.
The woman forced a flattering smile. "Young comrade, you can't say that. You're still young and probably haven't found a partner yet. My son just happens to be single as well. You two are about the same age, so it would be perfect to meet and get to know each other. My son is a good young man—handsome and energetic. He's more than good enough for you!"
Su Yun snorted and asked bluntly, "What exactly is your purpose? Don't tell me you really brought your son here today just for a matchmaking meeting. I don't believe that."
The woman rolled her eyes and replied with a grin, "What purpose could I have? I'm only thinking about you. Seeing such a young girl working outside makes me feel sorry for you…"
"Young comrade, let me tell you—women should stay at home, supporting their husbands and raising children. If you marry my son, he will go out to work and you won't have to do anything. Wouldn't that be a wonderful arrangement?"
"Look at my son's strong build. He's definitely good at hard work. As long as you transfer your job to him, you can order him around however you like in the future. I won't interfere!"
As if!
Su Yun didn't believe a word of it.
She picked up a broom and said to the woman, "Are you leaving or not?"
The young man, who had just been shy, suddenly changed his expression when he saw Su Yun scolding his mother. He raised his fist and rushed forward.
"You damned girl! Who do you think you're yelling at with that broom?"
Before he could reach Su Yun, Gu Hai intercepted him. With a swift movement, he twisted the young man's arm behind his back, pressing it against his waist. The young man immediately cried out in pain.
Seeing this, the woman panicked and shouted loudly, "Let go of my son right now!"
"Su, tell your lover to release my son! Is there no justice left? Someone help! Someone is trying to kill my son! Help!"
While she was screaming, Su Yun threw away the broom, picked up a wooden stick, and pretended she was about to hit her.
The woman was startled. She quickly rushed forward, grabbed her son, and ran away.
As she ran, she turned back and shouted at Su Yun, "You little slut! My family liking you is your good fortune, yet you dare let someone beat my son. Just wait—I'll come back again!"
Her son was also unwilling to give up and shouted back, "A vicious woman like you will never find a husband! Just wait until you become an old spinster!"
Bang!
The wooden stick Su Yun threw hit the gate and fell to the ground.
With her hands on her hips, Su Yun snorted. "Whether anyone wants me or not is none of your business!"
Gu Hai quickly said, "Comrade Xiao Su, don't listen to his nonsense. You're wonderful. Anyone who has eyes would like you. There's no way no one would want you!"
Su Yun thought to herself that she didn't really care about such things. Still, being comforted by a future lifelong bachelor felt rather strange.
After a few seconds of silence, Su Yun returned to the earlier topic.
"Comrade Gu Hai, you still haven't answered me. Are you coming to my house tomorrow or not?"
This time, Gu Hai nodded immediately. "Alright, Comrade Xiao Su. Don't worry. I'll perform the act well and won't expose anything."
---
That night, after returning home, Gu Hai couldn't sleep at all. He kept changing between his only two sets of new clothes, but no matter which one he wore, he felt dissatisfied.
The next morning, when he went out, he deliberately put on the clothes Su Yun had given him. He carefully cleaned his snow-white sneakers and even used the hair gel his father had left behind to style his hair before finally heading out energetically.
In the courtyard, Gu Hai's younger siblings stood together with Gouzi and the others, all very puzzled by his behavior.
Finally, eight-year-old Gu Jun spoke with a serious expression.
"Brother Gouzi, do you think my older brother has started dating someone?"
That sentence suddenly made everyone understand!
Gouzi slapped his thigh. "I knew it! These past few days Brother Hai has been acting strange—blushing, daydreaming, even making new clothes. I thought it was because summer was coming and he needed new clothes. I didn't expect him to secretly start dating!"
Thirteen-year-old Gu Meng frowned. "Who is my brother dating? Could it be Sister Liu from the alley entrance? That won't do! She's lame—no one in the countryside even wanted her!"
Fifteen-year-old Gu Jiang guessed, "I think it might be Sister Xiaoping from Uncle Sun's family. She has always liked our brother and often finds excuses to bring him things. Unfortunately, our brother never liked her and never accepted them… Could it be that he suddenly changed his mind?"
After hearing this, Gu Meng pouted. "I don't like Sun Xiaoping. She only smiles at our brother but looks down on us. I once overheard her telling him that we should all be sent to our mother's family."
Gu Jun also said, "I don't like Sun Xiaoping either. I don't want her to be my sister-in-law."
Gouzi and the others continued pondering.
"Then who could it be? Brother Hai hasn't been close with anyone recently… except for the girl at the recycling station… but that's impossible. She's our benefactor. Brother Hai would never date her!"
Completely unaware of their suspicions, Gu Hai was approaching the end of the workday.
Carrying two bottles of liquor, a jar of canned oranges, and two bolts of cotton cloth, he strode confidently toward Su Yun's house.
---
Today Chen Xiue had left work early to prepare a proper meal to welcome Gu Hai.
She cooked a table full of dishes: steamed rice, a large plate of stir-fried pork belly with chili peppers, several fried eggs, cold cucumber salad, and lettuce and egg drop soup.
The aroma drifted through the courtyard, making the neighborhood children wander around the Su family kitchen.
The neighbors also came over to ask about it. Chen Xiue simply said they had a guest tonight.
Aunt Wang smiled knowingly and guessed that Su Yun might be meeting a potential partner.
Chen Xiue didn't explain. Instead, she asked Su Baoguo to take some sponge cakes from the cabinet and share them with the children in the courtyard.
Not long afterward, Su Wenshan and Gu Hai arrived at the same time.
When Aunt Wang and the others saw Gu Hai, they focused particularly on the gifts he carried. They nodded approvingly and happily said, "What a sensible and handsome young man! Very spirited!"
Only Widow He secretly peeked through the doorway and scoffed.
"Spirited my foot. Bringing so little and still daring to visit someone's house. My son-in-law brought roast chicken and braised meat, and even bought new clothes for He Hua. That's what you call a thoughtful son-in-law!"
In the kitchen, when He Hua saw Gu Hai, a flash of unwillingness and jealousy appeared in her eyes.
Her intense dissatisfaction made her feel as if she were about to explode. She could only slam the chopping board repeatedly to vent her negative emotions.
"Why? Why? Why?"
"Why does Su Yun get to meet someone like him, yet I can't even hold onto Jiang Guangzong? It's unfair! This is completely unfair!"
"Su Yun should be matched with an ugly man—preferably a poor one—so she can suffer and struggle her entire life, living in misery!"