He stared at Su Yun suspiciously. "You've got poor eyesight, girl. You don't know how to recognize good stuff—don't even think about cheating me!"
Su Yun snorted. "Then go sell it somewhere else. Don't bring it here!"
Niu Ermao looked at her unhappily.
Gu Hai walked over and said to him, "Ermao, Comrade Xiao Su's judgment won't be wrong. I think you've been scammed."
"I think you're the scammers!"
Niu Ermao blurted out what was on his mind, then immediately regretted it. He hurried to fix his words: "Brother Hai, that's not what I meant. I'm just anxious. These 'treasures' cost me more than twenty yuan. If they're fake, I'll lose everything—I'm really worried!"
After saying this, he cautiously looked at Gu Hai and added, "Brother Hai, how about you buy this bag of treasures from me? I only want 800… no, just 400 yuan!"
That statement made Su Yun laugh in anger.
She immediately shot back, "You've got some nerve. With a bag of scrap metal, you think you can fleece us? Who gave you that kind of confidence?"
Being ridiculed like that, a flash of viciousness quickly appeared in Niu Ermao's eyes.
But Gu Hai focused on the key point instead, his deep gaze sharp. "Ermao, why do you need so much money? We just split the money a few days ago—have you already spent all of it?"
Niu Ermao lowered his head guiltily, stammering, "Brother Hai, don't ask. I'm begging you—just buy this bag of treasures from me!"
Gu Hai curled his lips into a faint smile. "Impossible."
Niu Ermao immediately clenched his teeth, grabbed his sack, and stormed off angrily!
He refused to believe no one else would recognize their value!
After he left, Su Yun immediately asked Gu Hai, "Is that person your friend? How did you end up knowing someone like him?"
Gu Hai himself couldn't understand why Ermao had suddenly changed so much. He used to be honest—how did he become like this after getting a little money?
And it was only 800 yuan!
But that didn't stop Gu Hai from acting innocent.
He immediately shifted the blame onto Gouzi. "He's not my friend—he's Gouzi's friend. We just know each other. Honestly, we're not close."
"Gouzi is the one who helped deliver the watches last time."
Su Yun couldn't hold back her laughter. "He's already grown up and still doesn't have a proper name? Gouzi—haha! That's obviously a childhood nickname, haha…"
Gu Hai also laughed. "Gouzi does have a proper name—Sheng Yurui. If you hadn't mentioned it, I almost forgot his real name."
After laughing, Su Yun sighed, "How does a street thug end up with such a nice name? Honestly, 'Gouzi' suits him better!"
Hearing her praise someone else made Gu Hai feel a bit uncomfortable.
He quickly said, "My name is nice too—it means 'roaming across the seas.' Look, your name is Su Yun, mine is Gu Hai. Cloud and sea—it sounds like we're meant to be a pair!"
Su Yun: "Ahem…"
For some reason, she suddenly felt shy and quickly changed the subject. "Stop chatting—let's study!"
---
At the same time, in a ward at the Municipal People's Hospital.
Eight patients were crammed into one room, making it crowded and noisy.
Su Xiu had just returned from the hospital cafeteria with some porridge when she saw Zhou Ziyang, dressed in a police uniform, standing in the corridor.
She froze for a moment. "Comrade Zhou, what are you doing here?"
Zhou Ziyang looked her up and down. "Are you alright?"
"Huh?"
"I heard about what happened from Gu Hai. That guy surnamed He didn't hurt you, did he?"
Only then did Su Xiu understand what he meant.
Her face flushed red, and she lowered her head, answering softly, "I'm fine. You didn't have to come all the way here just to ask."
Zhou Ziyang relaxed. Glancing at the porridge in her lunchbox, he frowned. "You're feeding your father this? That won't do. I already asked the doctor—his injuries are serious, and he needs proper nutrition. I've asked someone to buy brown sugar and malted milk powder. For now, come with me to the attending physician's office and arrange a transfer to another ward."
Su Xiu was about to say there was no need for him to spend money when his last sentence startled her. "Transfer to another ward?"
Zhou Ziyang said matter-of-factly, "Of course. Your father needs rest. How can he recover properly in such a noisy eight-person room?"
Su Xiu quickly shook her head. "No, no, it's not necessary. My dad—"
Before she could finish, Zhao Manfen's loud voice rang out from the ward as she scolded someone, "What's this? You stepped on my foot and think you can just walk away? I'm telling you, that's not happening—pay up!"
Another older woman retorted, "What kind of person are you? We're all sharing a room—bumps and accidents happen. Why are you making such a fuss?"
Zhao Manfen snapped, "I don't care! You dirtied my shoe. If you don't compensate me, this isn't over!"
Su Xiu: "…Alright, Comrade Zhou, I'll consider this a favor. If there's anything you ever need from me in the future, I'll do my best to help."
Her father really did need a quieter room. If they didn't move him soon, she was afraid Zhao Manfen might end up getting beaten by the other patients!
Zhou Ziyang smiled in satisfaction and took her to the doctor's office.
Not long after, the medical staff moved the still-unconscious Su Yonghe to a two-bed room on the fifth floor. The other bed was currently empty.
Zhao Manfen set down several bundles and inspected the new room with satisfaction. Then she turned to Zhou Ziyang and said, "Comrade Zhou, you're truly a good person. Our family has really met a benefactor! Ordinary people don't get to stay in such a nice room—it must cost a lot, right?"
"Ahem!"
Su Xiu coughed loudly, trying to stop Zhao Manfen from prying.
But Zhou Ziyang clearly didn't mind. Smiling, he said, "I'm a retired soldier, so I receive some benefits at the hospital. That's how I was able to arrange a quieter room."
Hearing this, Zhao Manfen was extremely pleased. Looking at him as if he were a prospective son-in-law, she asked bluntly, "Do you have a partner? What do you think of our Xiu'er?"
"Mom!"
Unable to bear it any longer, Su Xiu scolded her loudly, "Dad is still unconscious! If you're so idle, go clean the room! Comrade Zhou still has work to do—he doesn't have time to listen to your nonsense!"
Zhao Manfen pouted, unconvinced. "I think Comrade Zhou looks quite happy…"
And indeed, Zhou Ziyang was quite pleased. He didn't think Zhao Manfen was talking nonsense at all—in fact, he wished she would keep asking, so he could subtly gather more information about Su Xiu.
Unfortunately, Zhao Manfen was obedient this time. When Su Xiu told her to clean, she actually went out to find a mop.
Once she left, Su Xiu apologized to Zhou Ziyang, "Comrade Zhou, I'm really sorry. My mother is just talkative—please don't take her words to heart."
Zhou Ziyang waved it off generously. "It's fine. I think your mother is quite nice—she reminds me of my grandmother. My grandmother always asks me if I have a partner and when I'll settle down, haha…"
Su Xiu gave an awkward smile. "Well… that's certainly unique."
Zhou Ziyang was the first person to ever think Zhao Manfen was nice.
Su Xiu couldn't help but feel that some people simply had a very different way of seeing things.