Su Yun followed him helplessly. "I haven't even brought the ingredients over yet—why are you rushing to take over?"
Gu Hai was clearly experienced in the kitchen. He washed the rice and vegetables skillfully and lit the stove with ease.
Seeing that there were only a couple of simple vegetables in her kitchen, Su Yun returned to her room, opened the system shop, and bought tomatoes, green beans, scallions, pork belly, and a sea bass.
She had just handed everything to Gu Hai in the kitchen and hadn't even started her prepared excuse when Aunt Wang came over in an apron and called out:
"Su Yun, do you have any salt? Lend me two spoonfuls…"
When Aunt Wang reached the kitchen doorway and saw Gu Hai cooking, her tone immediately changed. "Oh my goodness! Su Yun's boyfriend is so hardworking—he can even cook! What a good young man, really, really good!"
Behind her came Su Baoguo's proud and excited voice: "See? I told you! My second brother-in-law insisted on helping my second sister cook. No matter what we said, he wouldn't listen!"
Su Yun: "…"
She hadn't expected that at such a young age, Su Baoguo was already an expert at making things up.
It was obvious that Aunt Wang had only used borrowing salt as an excuse. After watching Gu Hai cook for a while, she sighed in admiration and left.
Su Yun immediately grabbed a scallion and chased after Su Baoguo, trying to hit him!
As he ran, Su Baoguo shouted, "Second brother-in-law, save me! My second sister is going to hit me—come and save me!"
Gu Hai had no intention of helping him.
As the "second brother-in-law," he was naturally on the second sister's side!
Su Yun had just chased Su Baoguo around twice when Aunt Wang returned with Aunt Gao and the others, chatting as they walked:
"Don't you believe me? I saw it with my own eyes—Su Yun's boyfriend is in the kitchen cooking!"
Su Yun: "…"
Sigh.
By the time Chen Xiue and Su Wenshan returned home, the Su family's dining table was already set with four fragrant dishes and a soup.
There was scrambled eggs with tomatoes, stir-fried green beans with pork belly, steamed sea bass, stir-fried cabbage, and a lettuce soup.
Chen Xiue was stunned. "Did Gu Hai really make all of this?"
As she spoke, she cast a sideways glance at Su Wenshan.
Su Wenshan immediately understood the meaning behind her look and lowered his head guiltily.
He had barely stepped into the kitchen his entire life!
Su Baoguo chattered like a sparrow, recounting everything from the moment Gu Hai entered the courtyard to when Aunt Gao and the others came to watch.
Chen Xiue raised her hand to stop him. "Alright, stop talking. By the time you finish, the food will be cold!"
She quickly invited Gu Hai to sit. "You child, you came as a guest but ended up cooking. You helped buy apples and now even cooked for us—how can I accept this?"
As she spoke, she pulled the obstructing Su Baoguo aside and made Su Yun sit next to Gu Hai.
Taking the opportunity, Su Wenshan pulled out a bottle of liquor from the cabinet, poured a glass for Gu Hai, and then one for himself.
Chen Xiue shot him a glare but didn't say anything.
Sitting beside Su Yun, Gu Hai felt extremely pleased. He accepted the drink with both hands and said modestly to Chen Xiue:
"Auntie, I usually cook at home, so it's nothing special—just something I'm used to. My cooking isn't very good, so please just make do with it."
Before he finished speaking, Su Baoguo eagerly picked up a piece of fish and stuffed it into his mouth, then exclaimed, "Wow! This steamed fish is so delicious! It's even better than the fish my mom makes during New Year!"
Su Yun also took a bite of the stir-fried pork, her eyes lighting up. She said with admiration, "Comrade Gu Hai, you're too modest. Your cooking is good enough for a state-run restaurant! The braised pork Xiao Wu and I had last time at the restaurant wasn't even half as good as this!"
The moment she finished speaking, Chen Xiue's eyes widened as she questioned, "When did you and Xiao Wu go to a state-run restaurant to eat braised pork? Why didn't I know? How much did it cost?"
"…"
Oh no—she let it slip!
Without hesitation, Su Yun skillfully passed the blame to Gu Hai. "Gu Hai took us there!"
Gu Hai immediately accepted the blame and nodded. "That's right, I took them."
Su Baoguo looked at him gratefully.
Hearing this, Chen Xiue instantly changed her expression and said warmly to Gu Hai, "Good child, you spent money again. Xiao Yun and Xiao Wu are really thoughtless—how could they let you treat them so casually?"
"How about this—I'll return the money to you later…"
Gu Hai quickly waved his hands. "No need, Auntie. You're being too polite. Su Yun and I are… good friends. It was just a meal—it didn't cost much. Please don't be so formal."
His attitude greatly pleased Chen Xiue.
She thought that things between Su Yun and Gu Hai were very likely to work out!
So now, the way she looked at Gu Hai was even warmer than how she would look at a son-in-law. "Since you won't accept the money, then come over more often for meals. Tomorrow I'll stew a chicken—you must come!"
Su Wenshan also nodded. "Yes, Gu Hai, you should come often."
That way, he could drink more often too.
Chen Xiue caught the meaning behind his words and shot him a sharp glare.
Su Wenshan coughed awkwardly, raised his glass, and toasted Gu Hai. "Come, let's have a drink…"
Gu Hai was delighted and more than willing to come often. Ignoring Su Yun kicking him under the table, he clinked glasses with Su Wenshan.
"Uncle, Auntie, don't worry. I'll definitely come by often. I just hope you won't find me annoying."
After taking a satisfied sip, Su Wenshan casually asked, "Gu Hai, how old are you this year?"
"Uncle, I'm nineteen. I was born in November, so I'll be twenty in a few months."
Chen Xiue added, "My Xiao Yun was born in January. After the New Year, she'll be eighteen."
Su Yun quickly coughed, signaling her mother not to drag her into the conversation.
Su Wenshan nodded and continued, "What about your family? Who do you have at home?"
Hearing this, Chen Xiue perked up, staring at Gu Hai attentively.
It was clear she cared a lot about this question.
Su Yun kicked Gu Hai again, signaling him to change the subject.
But Gu Hai set down his glass and answered seriously:
"It's just me and my three younger siblings. My father passed away five years ago and left us a courtyard house. My mother remarried."
"My second brother is Gu Jiang, fifteen years old, and just started high school. My younger sister is Gu Meng, thirteen, and in middle school. My youngest brother, Gu Jun, is eight. He was often sick as a child and delayed starting school, so he'll enter primary school later this year."
Hearing this, Su Wenshan fell silent.
Chen Xiue felt a pang of sympathy. "Oh my, doesn't that mean you've had to take care of your siblings since such a young age? How could your mother be so heartless, leaving you all behind to remarry?"
Putting herself in that position, she felt she could never abandon her children like that.
Su Wenshan then asked, "What did your father do for a living?"
Gu Hai replied, "He was the director of the Public Security Bureau. During an arrest operation, no one expected the fugitive to have a gun. My father saved his colleague but sacrificed his own life."