After the rooster crowed three times, the rising sun peeked over the horizon, and the households in the courtyard began their morning bustle once again.
Chen Xiue had just stepped outside carrying the chamber pot when she saw Chen Jie brushing his teeth by the water basin next door.
The moment Chen Jie saw her, they exchanged a knowing glance.
He even deliberately covered the brand-new mechanical watch on his wrist, afraid that Jiang Yuling might notice it—if she did, he would be in serious trouble!
After emptying the chamber pot, Chen Xiue returned inside, washed her hands, and started preparing breakfast.
Since Su Yun knew Gu Hai would bring her breakfast, she only had half a bowl of porridge at home.
When she arrived at the recycling station, she opened the system shop and purchased the bicycle, cotton cloth, and watermelons she had promised to Gouzi yesterday, stacking them neatly in a corner of the yard.
She even set aside the two largest watermelons, planning to have Gu Hai take one home later for his younger siblings.
Before long, Gu Hai arrived, just as expected, carrying a fragrant box of fried rice.
Su Yun ate most of it, and Gu Hai finished the rest.
Throughout the morning, aside from studying and stretching now and then, Su Yun did nothing else—the work at the recycling station was entirely handled by Gu Hai.
As noon approached, a large truck pulled up outside. Gouzi walked in with Lao Liu and Ermao, looking pleased.
"Brother Hai, Comrade Su, I'm here to pick up the goods!"
Ermao had reverted to his usual patched-up appearance today. His leather shoes were gone, his hair was no longer slicked back, and he stood silently behind Gouzi, avoiding eye contact with Gu Hai.
Gu Hai secretly glanced at Su Yun and pretended not to be familiar with Gouzi as he casually asked, "Oh, you borrowed the truck through Su Wenbing, didn't you?"
Gouzi replied, puzzled, "Yeah!"
After all, Gu Hai himself had asked Su Wenbing to help arrange the truck last night—so why ask now?
Gouzi scratched his head, completely confused.
Su Yun didn't think much of it. She led them into the yard and pointed at the pile of goods. "There, everything's here. Move it yourselves."
Seeing the pile of supplies, Gouzi and Lao Liu hadn't reacted yet when Ermao suddenly spoke up, unable to hold back:
"We all bring in similar stuff—why is mine worthless?"
The bag of items Ermao had brought last time had been rejected by nearly every recycling station in the city. In the end, he had to sell it by weight for less than half a yuan.
A total loss!
Now, looking at the cotton cloth, watermelons, and the gleaming bicycle before him, Ermao felt deeply unbalanced.
Su Yun rolled her eyes at him. "Your junk is worthless—that's just bad luck. Who can you blame?"
She hadn't forgotten how this Ermao had called her and Gu Hai scammers last time!
From now on, even if he brought something valuable, she would still buy it by weight!
With that thought, Su Yun snorted and ignored them, turning back toward the front counter.
After she left, Gouzi looked at Ermao in surprise. "What's wrong? Did someone trick you when you were collecting antiques?"
Ermao's eyes flickered, but he quickly forced a smile. "Nothing serious, Brother Gouzi. I just asked casually. It's getting late—let's move the goods. Don't we still need to sell them out of town?"
Gouzi shook his head. "Not this time. Brother Hai introduced me to a police officer. We'll deliver the goods directly to him."
Unsurprisingly, the officer Gu Hai introduced was Zhou Ziyang.
Previously, when Su Wenbing handled deliveries, Gu Hai hadn't yet established contact with Zhou Ziyang, so he had insisted on cash transactions.
Now that things were set up, Zhou Ziyang could help move the goods—safe and efficient.
Hearing this, Ermao felt even more resentful.
Gu Hai was clearly playing favorites!
They were all brothers—why help everyone except him?
He only wanted four hundred yuan. That wasn't too much to ask!
Why was he the only one being treated unfairly?
As resentment spread, a dangerous thought began to form in Ermao's mind while he helped load the goods.
The truck came quickly and left just as fast.
After Gouzi and the others departed, Gu Hai took out a thick stack of papers from his bag.
Su Yun looked closely and saw they were all written in his handwriting.
Earnestly, Gu Hai said, "Xiaoyun, based on your recent studies, I've noticed your weakness is in problem-solving questions. So I spent several nights putting together this test paper. As long as you fully understand these questions, I think you'll have no problem with math."
Su Yun couldn't help praising him. "Wow, Gu Hai, you're really a dedicated little teacher!"
Gu Hai smiled shyly, thinking to himself: That's only because the student is you. If it were anyone else, I wouldn't have this patience.
He spread out the papers and told her to start with the questions she knew how to solve.
Su Yun had just finished one paper when a proud-sounding girl's voice came from outside:
"Brother Gu Hai! Brother Gu Hai, are you here?"
Su Yun frowned at the sound.
Before Gu Hai could respond, the girl walked straight into the recycling station.
Su Yun stood up and looked toward her. The girl wore a red shirt, army-green trousers, and a matching satchel slung across her shoulder. On her feet were a pair of women's leather shoes.
Her hair was tied in a ponytail with a ribbon—she clearly looked like the daughter of a cadre.
The moment she saw Gu Hai, her eyes lit up with delight.
"Brother Gu Hai! So you really are here. Good thing I didn't come for nothing!"
Gu Hai frowned deeply, surprised. "Sun Xiaoping?"
Sun Xiaoping skipped toward him.
When she noticed Su Yun, her expression changed. She reached out and pushed Su Yun aside, saying displeased, "Who are you? Why are you standing so close to my Brother Gu Hai? Don't you have any shame?"
Then she naturally looped her arm through Gu Hai's and said sweetly, "Brother Gu Hai, why have you been coming to this recycling station so often? It's so dirty here—what could possibly attract you? I've gone to your house several times, and you were never there. If I hadn't heard my dad mention last night that you might be here, I wouldn't have known where to find you!"
"Look at my outfit—it's made from the fabric you gave me. Isn't it pretty?"
She spun around expectantly, waiting for his praise.
Gu Hai instinctively glanced at Su Yun and saw her standing expressionless, watching him without any reaction.
Panic surged in his heart. He quickly said to Sun Xiaoping, "That fabric was given to Uncle Sun, not to you!"
What he meant was to explain to Su Yun that Sun Xiaoping was Director Sun's daughter, and the fabric had been given to her father—not to her personally.
But what he didn't expect was that, to Su Yun, his words sounded entirely different.
She clearly remembered that Gu Hai had once told her Director Sun wanted him as a son-in-law.
So this proud girl in front of her must be Director Sun's daughter.
Heh. Very well.
This girl, Sun Xiaoping, really did look quite well-matched with Gu Hai.
Su Yun looked at them coldly, the corners of her lips twitching slightly, while her heart filled with a sour, bitter feeling.