Receiving a subtle cue from Vice Factory Director Jiang, Jiang Guangzong stepped forward and declared loudly:
"Su Yun has been seeing me this whole time. I've given her plenty of gifts, and she accepted all of them. Now that she's found someone better, she wants to dump me. I will not let this go!"
At his words, Aunt Gao and the others immediately began murmuring among themselves:
"What? That happened? No way…"
"Su Yun doesn't seem like that kind of person…"
"Well, who really knows?"
"But that collector she's seeing—he's tall, handsome, and well-built. As long as she has eyes…"
This last remark came from Aunt Wang, clearly implying that Jiang Guangzong was neither attractive nor impressive—someone Su Yun would never choose.
Chen Xiue grew furious. Planting her hands on her hips, she shouted at Jiang Guangzong:
"That's nonsense! My Su Yun is not that kind of girl! When did she ever accept your gifts? How would I, her mother, not know about it?"
Vice Factory Director Jiang quickly tried to smooth things over. "Sister, don't be upset. Perhaps Su Yun was shy and didn't tell you."
Jiang Guangzong, however, spoke with certainty:
"In the past twenty days, I gave her two roast chickens, a box of braised meat, twenty yuan, and a set of new clothes specially bought from Haicheng. Altogether, it's worth at least sixty yuan!"
As soon as he finished speaking, someone gasped.
"My goodness—sixty yuan in just half a month? That's nearly two months of my salary!"
"The Jiang family really is well-off!"
Just as the admiration settled in, Aunt Gao suddenly slapped her thigh.
"Wait a minute—that's not right!"
She turned to Aunt Wang and the others. "All that roast chicken and braised meat… wasn't that exactly what He Hua's family had been eating recently?"
Aunt Wang quickly caught on. "That's right! A few days ago, He Hua was wearing a brand-new outfit and kept saying her boyfriend bought it for her from Haicheng!"
Another neighbor chimed in, "I've seen their family snacking a lot lately. Widow He eats sunflower seeds every day. Once, I even saw her eating peach pastries! When I asked if they'd struck it rich, she said the snacks were gifts from He Hua's boyfriend."
Aunt Gao did a quick calculation. "Then it's clear! That twenty yuan from the Jiang family must have been used by He Hua to buy those seeds… But wait, who exactly is dating Jiang Guangzong—Su Yun or He Hua?"
Jiang Guangzong frowned. "That's impossible. I asked Comrade He Hua to deliver those items to Su Yun. Are you saying she kept them for herself?"
Chen Xiue immediately raised her voice. "Everyone heard that! Our family never saw even a single hair of those so-called gifts. Now they come here accusing us—please, everyone, bear witness for us!"
Aunt Gao, Aunt Wang, and the others nodded in agreement.
"Don't worry, Xiue. We all saw who actually ate those things."
Vice Factory Director Jiang clenched his jaw slightly, glaring at his son in frustration. At the same time, he subtly held back his wife, who was itching to rush forward and cause a scene. Still maintaining a polite smile, he said to Chen Xiue:
"Sister, there must be some misunderstanding here. Someone may have taken the gifts meant for Su Yun, but it's not a big issue. Even if Su Yun didn't receive them, the feelings between her and Guangzong are genuine. We came tonight to—"
Before he could finish, Su Yun suddenly raised her hand and spoke solemnly:
"I swear in front of everyone here tonight: if I have even the slightest romantic feeling for Jiang Guangzong, may I be struck by lightning and die a terrible death!"
Vice Factory Director Jiang: "…"
Jiang Guangzong: "…"
Jiang's mother's eyes bulged with rage. Gritting her teeth, she was just about to charge at Su Yun!
This shameless girl dared to reject her son? She would tear her apart!
As dark thoughts filled her mind, the door of the He family suddenly opened. Widow He burst out, dragging He Hua along, both wearing bright smiles. She grabbed Jiang's mother's hand enthusiastically and shouted:
"In-law! You're here!"
"Oh my dear in-laws, you've come to the wrong house! Our He Hua is right here—she's your future daughter-in-law!"
He Hua stood beside her, dressed in that gaudy new outfit, shyly playing with her braid, looking every bit like a bashful young girl.
The moment Jiang Guangzong saw the clothes on her, his face darkened instantly.
Those were meant for Su Yun!
He had entrusted He Hua to deliver them, but this wretched girl had kept them for herself!
"Who are you?" Jiang's mother snapped, yanking her hand away. "Calling me in-law out of nowhere—get away from me, you old hag!"
But Widow He wasn't offended in the slightest. Instead, she eagerly moved closer to Vice Factory Director Jiang and said flatteringly:
"My dear in-law, the one dating your eldest son is our He Hua! Everyone in this courtyard knows it—you mustn't make a mistake."
"That Su Yun won't do—look at her hips, she doesn't look like a decent girl at all! But our He Hua is different. Just look at her figure—so straight and elegant. She'll make a perfect wife!"
Before the Jiang family could react, Widow He turned and grabbed Jiang Guangzong's arm, her eyes brimming with fake tears:
"My dear son-in-law! I've finally met you today. For over twenty days, you and our He Hua have been dating—I've dreamed of meeting you! I never expected your family to be so sincere, coming all this way with so many gifts…"
As she spoke, she swiftly snatched the gift boxes, fruit cans, and liquor bottles from Vice Factory Director Jiang and Jiang Guangzong's hands, passing them to He Hua.
He Hua immediately handed them to her brother, He Cheng.
He Cheng quickly carried the gifts inside and didn't come back out.
At the same time, He Hua shot Su Yun a smug look, her expression full of provocation.
Su Yun merely snorted and rolled her eyes.
If someone wanted to jump into a pit like the Jiang family, what could she possibly say?
By now, all the neighbors in the courtyard were completely stunned.
Aunt Gao asked in confusion, "Vice Factory Director Jiang, how can you mess up something as important as a marriage proposal?"
Though his smile was starting to falter, he still replied calmly:
"There is no mistake. The person we came to propose to tonight is Su Yun. My son Guangzong has deep feelings for her and wishes to form a revolutionary partnership with her…"
"Wrong, wrong!" Widow He interrupted cheerfully. "Vice Factory Director Jiang, you've got it all wrong. The one dating your son is our He Hua."
"He Hua, hurry and explain it clearly to everyone!"
He Hua stepped forward, casting a shy glance at Jiang Guangzong before addressing the crowd:
"I am Jiang Guangzong's partner. He originally came to meet Su Yun, but he didn't like her. After meeting me at the gate, he became deeply interested in me. He pursued me tirelessly—treating me to meals at the state-run restaurant, giving me gifts, even taking me to the movies…"
"Bullshit!"
Jiang Guangzong gritted his teeth, his gaze sharp and furious.
"He Hua, if you dare to keep making up lies like this, don't blame me for being rude!"