After dinner, the Xia family left the courtyard.
Chen Xiue had just instructed Su Yun and Gu Hai to deliver food to the hospital when Widow He arrived, fanning herself and wearing a gossipy smile.
"Hey, I heard Su Yun's second uncle was beaten up?"
She spoke in a tone full of malicious curiosity. "I've always said it—Su Yun's second aunt is so vicious. What good ending could she possibly have? In my opinion, her husband deserved to be beaten. It'd be even better if he were beaten to death—then she could get compensation money and become a widow like me. Hahaha…"
Even Chen Xiue couldn't tolerate that. She grabbed a broom and tried to hit her!
Widow He, well-practiced, turned and ran straight back into her house, slammed the door shut, and cheekily shouted from inside, "Hehe, you can't hit me!"
Seeing Chen Xiue at a disadvantage, Su Baoguo narrowed his eyes, grabbed a coal briquette from the kitchen, and threw it straight through Widow He's window.
Bang!
He Hua's cry of pain came from inside, followed by Widow He's angry scolding: "Su Xiao Wu, you brat! You broke my window paper again…"
---
When Gu Hai and Su Yun arrived at the hospital, they learned that Su Yonghe had been moved to another ward.
They carried their things up to the fifth floor. As soon as they entered the new ward, they heard Zhao Manfen praising someone loudly:
"Oh my, Comrade Zhou, there's really no need! You already wiped your uncle down this afternoon—why are you doing it again? I've never seen such a diligent police officer!"
"Xiu'er, why are you just standing there? Hurry and peel an apple for Comrade Zhou! Look at this apple he brought—so big and red, and so crisp when you bite into it…"
Before she could finish, Zhao Manfen spotted Gu Hai and Su Yun. Her eyes lit up immediately. She rushed over, took the things from Gu Hai, and said in a shrill voice:
"Oh, you didn't have to bring so much!"
"Oh! Pork stomach chicken! This is such a rare treat!"
As she spoke, she had already stuffed the longan, red dates, and milk powder Su Yun brought into Su Yonghe's bedside cabinet.
Seeing this, Su Xiu felt extremely embarrassed. She quickly greeted them, "Xiao Yun, Comrade Gu Hai, come sit down—here, have some apples!"
She pressed an apple into each of their hands.
Zhao Manfen immediately pursed her lips, clearly dissatisfied.
Su Yun looked at the apple in her hand—it was indeed large and red. It was obviously from the batch she had previously given to Gu Hai.
Gu Hai was also surprised. He hadn't expected that he had indirectly made money from Zhou Ziyang.
Both of them remained silent.
Su Xiu explained, "My dad woke up once this afternoon. He ate a little and then went back to sleep. The doctor said his injury is to the head, so it'll probably take about a week or so before he can eat normally again."
Then she glanced at Zhou Ziyang and added, "This is my colleague, Zhou Ziyang. Since everyone already knows each other, I won't bother with introductions."
Standing by the bed, Zhou Ziyang smiled and nodded at them.
Zhao Manfen was surprised. "What? Xiu'er, how do they know Comrade Zhou?"
Zhou Ziyang explained, "Auntie, it was Gu Hai who informed me about Comrade Su Xiu's situation."
Hearing this, Gu Hai glanced at him, thinking: I asked him to help deal with He Qiang, and instead he came here to curry favor—he's practically wearing his intentions on his sleeve!
Zhou Ziyang caught Gu Hai's look and raised his eyebrows, clearly conveying: Brother, we might be family in the future—take care of me!
Gu Hai thought back: Nice. If I ever need to move goods quietly, I'll go straight to him!
---
Zhao Manfen also remembered that Gu Hai had mentioned knowing some police officers who could help.
Originally, she had wanted to use Zhou Ziyang to show off in front of Su Yun, hoping Su Yun would pass the message to Chen Xiue—that their family could also find a good son-in-law.
But now things were different.
Zhao Manfen felt annoyed and rolled her eyes silently.
---
Meanwhile, Zhou Ziyang enthusiastically asked Gu Hai, "Comrade Gu Hai, where did you get that can of milk powder? Can you help me get two cans as well? I asked a friend at the supply cooperative today—I wanted milk powder, but there was none available. I could only get malted milk instead."
Hearing this, Zhao Manfen was instantly energized again!
Just listen—how capable her future son-in-law was!
Something others couldn't get no matter how hard they tried had become just a second-choice option for Zhou Ziyang!
At that moment, Zhao Manfen made up her mind: she must win Zhou Ziyang over for her daughter!
---
Gu Hai glanced at Su Yun. Seeing her blink, he replied, "Sure. I'll get you two cans when I can."
Encouraged by Gu Hai's easy agreement, Zhou Ziyang pushed further. "What about longans and red dates? If you can get them, I'll take twenty jin of each!"
Gu Hai frowned slightly.
Su Yun nudged him with her wrist.
Gu Hai immediately understood. "Alright, I'll prepare them together."
Su Yun wasn't foolish—she quickly understood the situation. Zhou Ziyang clearly had feelings for Su Xiu and was trying to win over Zhao Manfen and Su Yonghe. Everything he bought was likely for Su Xiu's sake.
Which meant that in this deal, Su Yun made money, and all the goods ended up with Su Xiu's family.
The only one at a loss was Zhou Ziyang.
But judging from his excited expression, he was more than happy about it.
---
After sitting in the ward for over half an hour, Su Yonghe still hadn't woken up. Zhao Manfen kept casting displeased looks at Su Yun, clearly finding her presence bothersome.
So Su Yun tactfully decided to leave.
With an apologetic expression, Su Xiu walked them out together with Zhou Ziyang.
At the hospital entrance, Su Xiu gave Su Yun a look, and the two of them stepped aside under a plane tree to talk.
Lowering her voice, Su Xiu said, "Xiao Yun, didn't you mention selling watches last night? Today I overheard some nurses complaining—they want to buy watches but can't get ration coupons. I want to try selling to them… Can you give me one of your cheapest watches first?"
Su Yun immediately understood.
Su Xiu's situation was different from Xia Ying's. Xia Ying worked at a watch counter and could arrange sales directly with customers. But Su Xiu wasn't familiar with the hospital staff—if she just claimed she could get watches, people might think she was a fraud.
After thinking it through, Su Yun nodded. "Alright. I'll bring you one before work tomorrow. But let me be clear—the cheapest Seagull watch I have costs 150 yuan. You can't sell it for less than that, or it'll disrupt the market."
Su Xiu replied seriously, "Don't worry, I understand."
---
After they finished talking, they returned to the hospital entrance just in time to hear Zhou Ziyang saying to Gu Hai:
"Then it's settled. When the time comes, just come to my dorm and let me know—I'll pick it up myself."
Gu Hai nodded. "Alright."