Chen Xiue was furious. She jumped down from the kang, stormed over to Su Wenshan in a few quick steps, snatched his pipe, and threw it outside!
Even as his beloved pipe was tossed away, Su Wenshan said nothing and continued squatting there obediently.
Seeing this, Chen Xiue felt even more aggrieved and burst into tears. "I can't live like this anymore!"
"Xiaoyun, go outside and see if Xiao Wu is back. When he returns, pack up your things and come back to my parents' house with me. Let your father live here alone!"
Su Yun hurried to comfort her. "Mom, it's not that serious. Maybe Dad is just tired. Let him rest for a few days…"
As she spoke, she quickly tried to change the subject. "Mom, when I came back just now, I saw Widow He and He Hua handing out wedding candies at the gate. They said He Hua is getting married to Jiang Guangzong in three days and even invited us to the wedding!"
"What?"
Chen Xiue hadn't reacted yet, but Su Wenshan shot to his feet in shock!
He had been arguing with Chen Xiue inside the house and had no idea about this at all.
Su Wenshan asked in disbelief, "Xiaoyun, is that true? He Hua is marrying Jiang Guangzong in three days?"
Su Yun nodded. "That's what she said. Judging by their confidence—they're already handing out wedding candies—it must be true."
Su Wenshan immediately became furious.
He slapped his thigh. "This is outrageous! How can Deputy Factory Director Jiang be this kind of person?"
Chen Xiue, only now catching on, asked, "What do you mean by that?"
Su Wenshan looked at them seriously and said, "Yesterday at work…"
He then recounted what had happened with Deputy Factory Director Jiang.
"That's what happened. Before I left, he told me to go home and reflect. He even said that if I refused to marry Xiaoyun to Jiang Guangzong, I shouldn't bother going back to the steel factory."
After hearing this, Chen Xiue suddenly understood. "So you didn't go to work today just to stand up against him?"
"On what grounds? He's just a deputy factory director—what right does he have to stop you, a warehouse director, from working? He's not even from the personnel department! Who does he think he is, throwing his weight around like that?"
She snorted. "In that case, I really should go to your factory tomorrow and speak to the director. Let's see if Jiang Zhengyi actually has the authority to fire you!"
Su Wenshan moved his lips but didn't object this time.
He also wanted to confront Deputy Factory Director Jiang and demand to know why he was so determined to target their family!
---
In the room, only Su Yun had drifted off into her thoughts.
She couldn't understand why Deputy Factory Director Jiang seemed like two completely different people between this life and the last.
Could it be that in her previous life, the man who stood up to clear her father's name had only been her imagination?
After learning the truth about why Su Wenshan hadn't gone to work, Chen Xiue finally relaxed. She glanced at Su Yun and asked, "Xiaoyun, why didn't Gu Hai come back with you today?"
At the mention of Gu Hai, Su Yun snapped back to reality and pouted. "He has his own home. He can't come here every day, can he?"
"Besides…"
She trailed off, clearly annoyed.
Chen Xiue pressed, "Besides what? Did you two have a fight? Xiaoyun, let me tell you—men like Gu Hai are hard to find even with a lantern. You need to hold on to him, or someone else might snatch him away!"
"Let them take him! I don't care! Does he think he's some kind of prized treasure?"
Hmph—just a flashy but useless showpiece!
And that Sun Xiaoping—what kind of taste does she have? She even wants to pay to take Gu Hai away. So what if she has money?
Even if Sun Xiaoping really brought the 250 yuan, Su Yun wouldn't sell!
Considering how much Director Sun had helped her, she wouldn't harm his daughter like that!
As for Gu Hai—he could just stay single forever!
As soon as Su Yun finished speaking, Chen Xiue grabbed a broom from the kang. "Hey! I'm kindly sharing my experience with you, and you dare talk back? I can't deal with your father today, but I can certainly deal with you!"
Sensing danger, Su Yun immediately tried to run.
But this time, she wasn't fast enough. Chen Xiue caught her on the spot and pinned her onto the kang, giving her a beating—
"Mom, we can talk this out! Why are you hitting me? Ah! My butt! Dad, help me!"
Hearing Su Yun's cries, Su Wenshan frowned and awkwardly touched his nose—but in the end, he didn't dare step in to help.
---
Meanwhile, Gu Hai had just pushed his bicycle into his courtyard when Gu Jun ran out of the kitchen. His face was smudged with soot, making him look like a little cat, but he was beaming with excitement.
"Big Brother, why are you home so early today? Second Brother and I are making dinner—we're having pork dumplings tonight!"
Gu Hai sighed, gently ruffling Gu Jun's hair. "Junzi, you guys take a break. I'll cook tonight."
Hearing this, Gu Jun jumped up in joy. "Oh! Finally, we don't have to eat pig food tonight! Big Brother is cooking!"
Gu Jiang, who had been rolling dumpling wrappers in the kitchen, rushed out upon hearing this. With a dark expression, he shouted at Gu Jun, "You brat! You dare call my cooking pig food? Then don't eat it ever again!"
Gu Jun wasn't afraid at all. He hid behind Gu Hai and made a face at Gu Jiang. "Fine, I won't eat it! Since Big Brother is cooking, why would I eat your pig food? Nyeh!"
Gu Jiang sneered.
Kid, you're too naïve. Big Brother clearly has a girlfriend now. He's been busy pleasing her lately. You'll have plenty of pig food in your future!
Ignoring their squabbling, Gu Hai went into the kitchen and skillfully began preparing the filling.
---
By dinnertime, Gu Meng returned home after studying at a classmate's house.
The four siblings sat around the table and began eating dumplings.
Gu Jun was happily stuffing dumplings into his mouth when Gu Hai suddenly said, "Junzi, if anyone comes asking about me in the future, just tell them I already have a girlfriend. Got it?"
At this, Gu Jun, Gu Jiang, and Gu Meng all choked on their dumplings at the same time.
After a few seconds, Gu Meng cautiously asked, "Big Brother, who is your girlfriend? Do we know her?"
Gu Jiang and Gu Jun also looked at Gu Hai expectantly.
Gu Hai took a bite of his dumpling and said calmly, "Kids shouldn't pry. When it's time for you to know, I'll tell you."
"Alright, eat up. After dinner, I'm heading out. Lock the doors properly and go to bed on time."
That was hardly fair—he had sparked their curiosity but refused to explain!
The three siblings were instantly restless, itching to interrogate him thoroughly.
Under their resentful gazes, Gu Hai finished eating, cleaned up the kitchen, and then rode his bicycle to the Public Security Bureau residential compound.
As soon as he arrived downstairs, he happened to run into Su Wenbing, who was coming out holding a handful of peanuts with a cheerful grin.
They met face to face.
Su Wenbing immediately rushed over excitedly and asked, "Hai-ge, what brings you here? I heard you're dating Comrade Xiao Su? Honestly, what a surprise—I only found out today! You two really kept it under wraps. I always thought you were just tutoring her!"