Su Yun watched the scene with amusement and said, "I think it's fine. If you help Gu Hai sell watches, he can earn something from it too. It's mutually beneficial."
Hearing this, Chen Xiue's attitude immediately changed. "Really? Gu Hai can make money from it? In that case, I'll go tell Chen Jie tomorrow. We'll handle it privately—just don't let Doctor Jiang find out…"
---
The next morning, as soon as Su Yun got out of bed, Chen Xiue stuffed another set of new clothes into her hands and said happily, "Xiao Yun, I made this new jacket for Gu Hai. Take it to him and tell him to wear it in rotation."
Su Yun: "…Why did you make him more new clothes again? What about mine?"
Chen Xiue rolled her eyes. "I'll make yours when I have time. Why are you rushing? You're just like your father—so petty! Gu Hai isn't an outsider. He's my future son-in-law. What's wrong with making him a few extra outfits?"
What could Su Yun say? She could only obediently take the clothes and head to work.
---
At the recycling station, as soon as Gu Hai arrived, Su Yun stuffed the new clothes into his hands with a pout.
"Here. My mom made these for you again. She's worried you won't have enough to change into—she's being very attentive!"
Gu Hai accepted the clothes with a smile, acting modest despite clearly benefiting. "Mom is too kind. I can make my own clothes. There's no need for her to go out of her way…"
"You don't need them? Fine, give them back. I'll take them home for my dad to wear!"
Before Su Yun could finish speaking, Gu Hai smoothly stuffed the clothes into his bag.
Then he pulled out a lunchbox and said, "Xiao Yun, I brought you a new breakfast today."
At the mention of breakfast, Su Yun quickly shook her head. "No, no, I can't eat anymore. I've gained at least five pounds recently—my face has gotten bigger!"
Gu Hai replied, "Bigger? I don't see it. Besides, girls look better with a bit more weight. You're too thin—you need to eat more! I made ham and egg fried rice today, and I even added your favorite pickled cucumbers…"
Su Yun, who had been about to refuse, immediately changed her tone upon hearing the menu. "Oh? Pickled cucumbers? Then I'll just eat a little!"
"Let me be clear—I'm not being greedy. I just don't want to waste food. In this heat, food spoils easily. Wasting food invites punishment from heaven!"
As she spoke, she took several bites of the fried rice and, in passing, told Gu Hai about the electric fan and watch requests.
Gu Hai said, "What a coincidence. After studying the electric fan you gave me last time, I figured out how it works and even assembled one myself. It can definitely function normally."
"How about this—you keep the one you got for your family, and we'll sell the one I assembled to Aunt Gao for half the price."
Su Yun crunched on a piece of pickled cucumber and shook her head. "No. Our family already has a sewing machine and watches, and Xiao Wu goes out every day showing off his new clothes and shoes. It's too eye-catching. We'll use the fan you assembled at home, and sell mine to Aunt Gao."
"Alright."
Just as Gu Hai finished speaking, he noticed a grain of rice on Su Yun's lips.
He casually reached out and wiped it off.
Both of them froze at the same time, and the atmosphere suddenly became quiet.
Su Yun's heartbeat quickened, and she felt flustered.
At that moment, an ill-timed voice came from outside:
"Brother Hai! Brother Hai! Come help me out!"
"Gouzi?"
Gu Hai stood up and shot Gouzi an annoyed look.
Despite his irritation, he still went to help Gouzi carry his things inside.
---
Gouzi was drenched in sweat, looking like a traveling peddler—carrying a shoulder pole, a basket on his back, and even several gourd ladles hanging from his neck!
Seeing this, Su Yun quickly poured a cup of water and handed it to Gu Hai.
Gu Hai understood and passed it to Gouzi, who gulped it down in one breath, panting heavily.
Gu Hai frowned and asked, "When did you get back?"
Calling out so familiarly right away—what if Su Yun suspected they were accomplices?
After catching his breath, Gouzi leaned on his pole and said, "Brother Hai, I took the train last night and arrived early this morning. I didn't even go home—I brought everything straight here. I wanted the boss—uh, I mean Comrade Xiao Su—to take a look and see if these can be exchanged for money."
Gouzi looked absolutely disheveled—who knew how many days it had been since he last changed clothes? He smelled strongly of sweat!
If not for Gu Hai's sake, Su Yun wouldn't even want to touch his things.
Slightly disgusted, she nudged one of the gourd ladles on the ground with her toe.
At that moment, a system notification sounded in her mind:
"Ding! A 300-year-old gourd ladle detected. Well-preserved. Recycling price: 50 yuan. Sell?"
Su Yun: "???"
One ladle was worth 50 yuan—and Gouzi had six of them.
Instantly, Su Yun became interested. She no longer found Gouzi repulsive and bent down to inspect the rest of his items.
"Ding! A Ming Dynasty smoking pipe detected. Well-preserved. Recycling price: 120 yuan."
"Ding! A Song Dynasty painting of a lady detected. Minor flaws. Recycling price: 200 yuan."
"Ding! A Tang Dynasty dressing box detected. Well-preserved. Recycling price: 350 yuan."
"Ding! …"
After checking everything, Su Yun estimated that this batch was worth at least 2,000 yuan.
Her expression immediately turned complicated.
A street hustler like Gouzi actually had luck no worse than Gu Hai!
She thought for a moment and glanced at Gu Hai, silently asking: Can I skim some off him?
Gu Hai understood and quietly stepped a few paces away from Gouzi, signaling: Do whatever you want.
So Su Yun spoke, immediately cutting the value in half. "These goods can probably sell for about 1,000 yuan. Do you want cash or supplies?"
"What?!"
Gouzi jumped up, his face full of excitement. "This stuff can sell for 1,000 yuan? Comrade Xiao Su, you're not lying to me, are you?"
Without waiting for her reply, he hurriedly added, "I want a bicycle, and the rest in supplies—like that cotton cloth from last time, and fruit!"
"Oh, and can you get watermelons? If so, I want all the fruit to be watermelons!"
Summer had begun—selling watermelons now would be perfect.
Su Yun hadn't intended to agree, but seeing his sincerity, she nodded. "Alright. Same as before—come pick everything up tomorrow."
Gouzi was so excited he didn't know what to say. He could practically jump three meters high! His smug expression made Su Yun want to assign him more work.
"By the way, Comrade Gouzi, I've checked these items. Are you free now? I have something I'd like to ask you to do…"
Gouzi didn't hesitate at all and nodded vigorously. "Just say it! I'll definitely do my best!"
---
A short while later, Gouzi rode off on Gu Hai's bicycle toward the department store, carrying several boxes of watches in his arms, looking utterly miserable.
He had sworn never to show his face in this line of work again—so why was he breaking his own word now?
He was the second-in-command of the Qinglong Gang—where was his dignity supposed to go now?