But Ouyang Xu quickly justified himself, sounding completely reasonable:
"I took the milk powder. You know how harsh the conditions are where my parents live in the cowshed. Since your family can send you milk powder, it means they have connections to get it. So I shared it with my parents…"
"It's not a big deal anyway. Just write a letter and ask your mother to send another tin."
After hearing this, Su Ling cried out, "But you could've at least left half for our son! You took all of it—what is he supposed to eat?"
That large tin of milk powder could have fed their son for at least two months!
Ouyang Xu replied in a low voice, "If the child has no milk, whose fault is that? If your body weren't so weak and unable to produce milk, he wouldn't be starving. If you want to blame someone, blame your parents. They knew to send milk powder—why didn't they send more? It's not like our son is the only one who needs it."
As soon as he finished speaking, Su Ling burst into tears.
Yes, her parents had sent her milk powder—but why hadn't they sent more?
In the end, it was because she was the eldest daughter.
Since ancient times, parents favored the youngest. With Su Yun around, how could her parents possibly think about her suffering?
Having no other choice, Su Ling cooked a bowl of corn porridge and fed it to her son as a substitute.
Not long after, the postman arrived and handed her a package.
When Su Ling realized it was from Su Yun, she didn't even look at it. She tossed it into the corner of the woodshed and turned away without hesitation.
---
Meanwhile, on Su Yun's side, in just three days, she had made a substantial amount of money again.
First, Su Xiu sold six watches to the hospital nurses. Then Xia Ying handed over payment for three watches and placed an order for several more mechanical watches.
There was also Zhou Ziyang, who bought twenty jin of longan and red dates, two tins of milk powder, and a television set.
Zhou Ziyang settled the payment on the spot with Gu Hai—cash and goods exchanged immediately.
Finally, with Gu Hai's help, Su Wenbing rented a truck to deliver the steel factory's order to Xia Xingguo.
After completing this deal, Su Yun bought the watch she had promised Su Wenshan.
---
After dinner, the main room of the Su household was lively.
Neighbor Jiang Yuling came over to check on Su Wenshan's condition, and Chen Jie took the opportunity to visit as well, eager to see Su Wenshan's mechanical watch.
Aunt Gao hurried in after hearing the news, her face full of excitement. "Xiue, I heard your son-in-law bought watches for your whole family?"
Chen Xiue clearly had been asked this several times already and looked a bit helpless. "It's not such a big deal. It's all because of our Old Su—he got a watch and couldn't stop showing it off…"
From the kang, Su Wenshan couldn't help but protest, "It wasn't me—it was Xiao Wu."
Hearing this, Su Baoguo shrank his neck and quickly ran out, his face full of suppressed excitement.
Su Yun quickly brought a stool for Aunt Gao.
But Aunt Gao waved her off and continued standing as she said to Chen Xiue, "How is this not a big deal? This is a huge deal! Watches are so valuable! My Old Gao only got his watch because the steel factory issued him a watch coupon when he became a skilled worker!"
"I heard Director Su's is a mechanical watch? What does that look like? Let me see!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Su Wenshan quietly extended his wrist, his eyes gleaming with pride.
"Oh my! Look at that—mechanical watches really are something else. I heard they cost several hundred yuan! Just looking at it, you can tell it's expensive! Xiue, your son-in-law is truly capable!"
Aunt Gao exaggerated her admiration but didn't dare to touch it.
Chen Jie, however, had no such reservations. He reached out and touched the watch several times, marveling continuously.
After admiring the watch, Aunt Gao pulled Chen Xiue aside and whispered something to her.
Meanwhile, Chen Jie looked envious and said to Su Wenshan, "Uncle, your watch is really impressive… um, could you ask Comrade Gu Hai to help me get one too?"
"Don't you already have one? Too much money to burn?" Jiang Yuling, who had just put away her stethoscope, shot him a cold look.
Although Chen Jie was usually afraid of his wife, when it came to a mechanical watch, he mustered his courage. "Mine is just an ordinary watch—I've been wearing it for three or four years. How can it compare to Uncle's mechanical one?"
Su Wenshan waved his hand modestly, though he still held his wrist out proudly.
Chen Jie looked at the watch again with envy, then leaned closer to coax his wife. "Yuling, just let me buy one. I promise I won't use our savings—I'll borrow money from my parents, okay?"
Jiang Yuling showed no room for negotiation. "No!"
---
Outside the door, Widow He, who had come to secretly watch the commotion, curled her lips and quietly returned home, closing the door behind her.
He Cheng lounged on the bed and lazily asked, "Mom, what's going on with the Su family?"
He Hua, who was washing He Cheng's feet, also perked up her ears.
Widow He snorted. "What else could it be? Just showing off! I heard that Su Yun's wild man bought watches for their whole family, and now everyone is fawning over them!"
Hearing this, He Hua felt deeply uncomfortable. She wished she could rush over right now and smash Su Yun's watch!
He Cheng scoffed. "What's so great about a watch? Once He Hua marries into the Jiang family, I'll make Jiang Guangzong buy me a television. He wouldn't dare refuse!"
At that moment, He Cheng was already wearing a watch on his wrist—the betrothal gift from the Jiang family. Since he already had one, he no longer cared about watches.
Widow He immediately agreed, "Exactly! You're his brother-in-law. Asking him for a television is only natural!"
"Son, get a good rest today. Tomorrow you're going to meet a matchmaker—make sure you perform well and bring me a daughter-in-law soon!"
"And you, He Hua—listen carefully. I don't care what method you use, but you must marry Jiang Guangzong as soon as possible, in case anything changes. Do you understand?"
Widow He's tone toward He Hua lacked the patience she showed He Cheng.
He Hua nodded quickly. "Don't worry, Mom. I know what to do!"
She wanted to marry into the Jiang family as soon as possible and enjoy a life of comfort—she no longer wanted to stay here and slave away for her brother!
---
Back at the Su household, after Aunt Gao and the others left, Chen Xiue closed the door and said to Su Yun, "Xiao Yun, Aunt Gao wants Gu Hai to help her buy an electric fan. Ask him tomorrow if that's possible."
With the weather getting hotter, it was indeed time to start using fans.
Su Yun had already been thinking about getting one for the family, so she quickly nodded. "Alright, I'll ask him tomorrow."
Su Wenshan also chimed in, "Xiao Yun, the accountant next door also wants to buy a mechanical watch. What do you think—"
Before he could finish, Chen Xiue cut him off, hands on her hips. "Think about what?"
"Everyone wants my son-in-law to help them—do you want to exhaust him? Su Wenshan, let me warn you: Doctor Jiang just told me to keep an eye on you. You're not allowed to help Chen Jie buy a watch. You'd better behave!"
Su Wenshan said pitifully, "I was just asking… if it doesn't work, then forget it."
Why did he have to get scolded for that?