Gu Hai was slightly taken aback. "How do you know about this?"
Su Wenbing immediately replied, "It's not just me—everyone in our residential compound knows now! I heard it from my mom, and she heard it from Sun Xiaoping's mother."
"Hai-ge, let me tell you, Sun Xiaoping's mom is really something else. Back then, Uncle Gu treated their family so well, but now she's spreading rumors all over the compound, saying you're dating an older woman who works at a recycling station. She even said you're being kept by her, and that she might secretly sell you off! If I didn't know the person she was talking about is Comrade Xiao Su, I might've believed her nonsense!"
"And Sun Xiaoping isn't any better. I don't know where she heard that I've been making money, but when she saw me, she immediately asked to borrow some. As if I'd lend it to her!"
After saying this, Su Wenbing snorted proudly.
Gu Hai, however, was speechless.
Fortunately, he had come over tonight in time. Otherwise, both his and Su Yun's reputations would have been ruined, and he wouldn't even know why!
"Oh right, Hai-ge," Su Wenbing added, lowering his voice, "today I collected two good items from the countryside. I plan to take them to the recycling station tomorrow and ask Comrade Xiao Su to appraise them. Since you're dating her, could you put in a good word for me and ask her to give me a bit more cotton cloth in exchange?"
He looked at Gu Hai with undisguised anticipation.
Gu Hai hesitated. "…I'm afraid I can't help with that."
Based on his understanding of Su Yun, she was clearly angry with him right now. It would already be good enough if she didn't shortchange Su Wenbing—there was no way she'd give him extra cloth.
Su Wenbing was stunned. "Hai-ge, your words don't carry any weight?"
Gu Hai: "…"
It was hard to explain.
He gave a brief explanation: "Sun Xiaoping suddenly came to the recycling station today, and I ended up making Su Yun angry. She doesn't want to talk to me right now, and I don't know how to make it up to her."
Su Wenbing looked at him with a complicated expression, thinking to himself: This is what happens when you start dating.
So, a good man should focus on his career—just like him!
Still, even though Gu Hai had "fallen," as his good brother, Su Wenbing felt it was his duty to help him—and more importantly, not offend Su Yun, their valuable patron!
So he said seriously, "Hai-ge, to be honest, I have a good method for appeasing a partner."
Gu Hai's eyes lit up instantly.
Su Wenbing continued, "You know how my parents often argue? Every time my mom gets angry and goes back to her parents' house, my dad shows up within three days with a bunch of gifts to visit my grandmother. Then my mom comes back with him."
"So I think, besides pleasing Comrade Xiao Su, you should first make your future mother-in-law happy. Once she's satisfied, everything else will be easy!"
Gu Hai nodded in agreement, then said somewhat proudly, "But my future mother-in-law already likes me a lot. In just a few days, she's made two new outfits for me. I haven't even had the heart to wear them yet."
"Then you need to make her like you even more!"
Su Wenbing, being rather straightforward, didn't even notice the bragging and continued acting as an earnest advisor. "Hai-ge, how about this—you prepare some nice gifts tomorrow, and I'll go with you to Comrade Xiao Su's house. We'll win over your future mother-in-law together!"
Gu Hai raised an eyebrow and narrowed his eyes. "Why do you need to come with me to my future mother-in-law's house?"
Su Wenbing froze for a moment, then scrambled for a reason. "Well… because I'm your good brother!"
"Hai-ge, think about it—even though I'm not exactly doing proper work, I'm still the child of a Public Security Bureau official. If your future mother-in-law knows you associate with people like me, she'll definitely feel more at ease about you!"
Gu Hai considered this for a moment, then nodded. "You're right."
If he had a daughter himself and found out her boyfriend made a living collecting scrap, he'd probably chase the guy down the street with a knife!
Seeing Gu Hai agree, Su Wenbing felt relieved.
He secretly rejoiced, planning to use this opportunity to build a closer relationship with Su Yun's family so he could get better deals—more cotton cloth in exchange for his goods!
From this perspective, dating actually had its benefits—at least it could help make money!
At this moment, Su Wenbing just hoped Gu Hai and Su Yun would get married soon. That way, he could rely on connections, take shortcuts, and build wealth—finally earning his parents' respect!
---
After making plans for the next day, Gu Hai went upstairs to Director Sun's home.
When the door opened, he was surprised to be greeted by Mrs. Sun's smiling face.
"Oh, Gu Hai! I heard you're dating a woman from a recycling station. So, when are you two getting married?"
Her attitude was extremely warm as she ushered him inside.
Hearing the commotion, Sun Xiaoping quickly came out of her room, her eyes red from crying. She called out pitifully, "Gu Hai-ge!"
She felt terribly wronged.
It was one thing that her mother didn't understand her, but even her father had scolded her after hearing her out, saying she was being immature and making trouble!
Now, she felt like Gu Hai was the only one she had left.
Thinking this, she looked at him with longing, hoping for his attention.
But Gu Hai didn't even spare her a glance.
When Director Sun came out and noticed his daughter's expression, he shot her a sharp look.
Sun Xiaoping felt even more aggrieved.
Only then did Gu Hai respond to Mrs. Sun, smiling politely. "Auntie, don't worry. When I get married, I'll definitely send you an invitation."
Mrs. Sun beamed. "That's good! Our whole family will be looking forward to it!"
The underlying meaning was clear—she wanted him to stay away from Sun Xiaoping and hurry up and marry someone else!
Director Sun, well aware of his wife's temperament, rolled his eyes at her before turning back to Gu Hai with a smile. "Xiao Hai, I really didn't expect you and Comrade Xiao Su to be a couple. If I'd known earlier, I wouldn't have interfered."
Back then, he had wanted Gu Hai to become his son-in-law, so he had supported Sun Xiaoping's interactions with him.
Now, he regretted it somewhat. He felt he shouldn't have indulged his daughter so much—now, at the slightest emotional setback, she acted as if the sky were falling, crying and making a scene.
Director Sun continued, "Comrade Xiao Su is indeed a good girl—hardworking, ambitious, and with a strong sense of justice. We all remember her contributions. If your father knew you found someone like her, he would definitely feel at ease."
Hearing Su Yun being praised, Gu Hai felt a sense of pride.
He smiled, then casually asked, "Uncle Sun, when I came upstairs just now, I heard people saying they think my girlfriend is an older woman?"
At this, Mrs. Sun immediately looked away, rubbing her hands awkwardly.
Director Sun looked slightly embarrassed and explained, "Xiao Hai, this is all your aunt's fault. She didn't understand the situation and spread rumors outside…"
"I didn't spread rumors!" Mrs. Sun quickly denied. "They exaggerated things themselves after hearing it—it's not my fault!"
Director Sun frowned at her. "Then tell me—weren't you the one who started this in the first place?"