Before Su Wenshan left, Su Xiu deliberately walked him out of the hospital room. After closing the door behind them, she apologized softly.
"Uncle, please don't take what my mom said earlier to heart. She's the only one getting carried away. Officer Zhou doesn't have those intentions at all."
As she spoke, a faint blush spread across her beautiful face.
Su Wenshan looked at her hesitantly before saying, "Xiu'er, there are some things that aren't convenient for me to explain here. But the next time you see Officer Zhou, remember to tell him to be extra careful and not give anyone an opportunity to use anything against him."
After all, profiteering was a serious crime. Su Wenshan was worried that if anything happened to Officer Zhou, it might also drag Su Yun and Gu Hai into trouble.
Su Xiu looked puzzled.
"Uncle, what do you mean?"
Su Wenshan didn't explain, only speaking vaguely.
"Just tell him. He'll understand."
Just as Su Xiu was about to ask another question, a doctor shouted loudly down the hallway.
"Make way! Everyone ahead, move aside! Don't block the corridor!"
Both Su Wenshan and Su Xiu immediately pressed themselves against the wall to let the medical staff pass.
Several nurses hurried by, pushing a hospital bed.
Su Wenshan glanced over casually before freezing in surprise.
The man lying on the bed was actually Section Chief Wei!
He instinctively craned his neck for a better look.
Half of Wei's body was wrapped in plaster casts, while the bruises and swelling on his face had yet to fade. It was obvious someone had beaten him mercilessly.
The hospital bed was quickly pushed away.
Su Wenshan sighed.
Su Xiu looked at him with concern.
"Uncle, what's wrong?"
Without saying anything, Su Wenshan simply waved his hand, signaling that she didn't need to walk him out any farther.
---
As he was heading downstairs, Su Yun happened to arrive with Su Baoguo.
The father and daughter met at the stairwell.
Su Wenshan immediately reminded her, "From now on, whenever you go out, be extra careful."
Hearing this, Su Yun smiled reassuringly.
"Dad, don't worry. When those thieves were caught, the Steel Factory's Security Department was so proud of themselves that they went everywhere boasting that it was entirely their achievement. They accepted everyone's gifts of thanks and even proudly displayed the honorary banner, taking all the credit away from you."
"Now that the thieves' accomplices are seeking revenge, they'll naturally target the Security Department. Even if they suddenly change their story now and claim I was the one who reported the thieves, no one would believe them."
"People would only assume they're trying to find a scapegoat now that Section Chief Wei has been attacked."
Her reasoning made perfect sense to Su Wenshan.
Even so, he still spent a long time reminding her to stay vigilant before finally letting her go.
During this visit, Su Yun secretly handed Su Xiu several more boxes of watches, successfully completing yet another discreet transaction.
---
Early the next morning, Su Yun was awakened by the loud crackling of firecrackers.
Outside the He family's home, bright red silk decorations hung across the doorway.
Widow He wore a bright red blouse with rosy makeup painted across her cheeks. She was dressed even more flamboyantly than the bride herself.
As she greeted everyone in the courtyard, she proudly handed out peanut candies while boasting,
"My in-laws gave me these candies yesterday! They're premium candies you can't even buy in the stores. Go ahead and enjoy them!"
Although she said that, each person received only a tiny piece—barely enough to get stuck between their teeth.
The elderly women who frequently visited Widow He had arrived early that morning to flatter her.
Widow He grinned so widely that only her teeth were visible.
"Today my daughter, He Hua, is getting married. From now on she'll be the daughter-in-law of the Steel Factory's Deputy Director's family! If any of you ever need anything, just come to me. I guarantee I'll get it taken care of!"
After getting herself ready, Su Yun came outside to brush her teeth.
She noticed that more than half the residents of the courtyard had gathered outside.
Widow He stuffed a small piece of candy into Su Yun's hand before smugly saying,
"Girl from the Su family, after today, you and my Hua'er will be worlds apart."
"Don't worry. Once my Hua'er marries into the Jiang family and starts living the good life, she won't forget everything you've done. After all, it's thanks to you that my Hua'er stumbled into such incredible luck! Our whole family should be thanking you."
Hearing this, Su Yun sincerely smiled.
"Then I wish He Hua and Jiang Guangzong a lifetime of happiness together. May they grow old side by side, be blessed with children soon, enjoy a long and harmonious marriage, and remain united forever."
Please stay together forever and never go out and ruin anyone else's life.
Widow He completely missed the sarcasm and assumed Su Yun hadn't understood her mockery.
Her smile instantly became even brighter.
Just then, the children from the courtyard suddenly rushed over and surrounded Widow He.
Looking up at her eagerly, they shouted one after another,
"Auntie He! Auntie He! We want more wedding candy!"
Startled, Widow He quickly raised the remaining bag of peanut candies high into the air.
"Only one piece each! No grabbing extra—"
Before she could finish speaking, Gao Tianci leaped forward and snatched the entire bag from her hand.
In the blink of an eye, he shared all the candies among the children.
Widow He desperately tried to save them, but in the end, all she managed to recover was an empty sheet of wax paper.
She let out a miserable wail and slapped her thigh.
"Oh heavens! You little brats! Those were precious peanut candies! You've taken every last one! When the Jiang family arrives later, what am I supposed to serve them?"
As she spoke, her eyes immediately locked onto Gao Tianci.
She reached toward him, trying to snatch back the half-piece of candy already in his mouth.
"Hurry up and give it back! Return it to me!"
At that moment, Aunt Gao happened to come over from the front courtyard.
Quick as lightning, Gao Tianci darted behind his mother, successfully escaping Widow He's grasp.
Still unwilling to give up, Widow He tried to reach around Aunt Gao.
Aunt Gao immediately frowned and blocked her.
"Widow He, you're already an old woman, yet you're trying to snatch candy away from children. Aren't you ashamed of yourself?"
Widow He nearly exploded with anger.
"Your son started stealing my candy! Those peanut candies were specially bought for me by my in-laws!"
Seeing Widow He suffer a loss, Aunt Wang happily seized the opportunity to tease her.
"Oh my, Widow He! The children in our courtyard only ate a few pieces of your candy, and you're already so heartbroken that you can barely stand it."
"With how stingy you are, when we come to your wedding banquet later, are you going to roll around on the ground crying? Hahaha!"
Her words made many of the neighbors burst into laughter.
Embarrassed by everyone's mockery, Widow He immediately placed her hands on her hips and began boasting loudly.
"Do you even know who my in-laws are? My son-in-law's father is Jiang Zhengyi, the Deputy Director of the Steel Factory! Do you really think his family can't afford a few banquet tables? Anyone who says something so ridiculous must not be afraid of biting their own tongue!"
Then she proudly continued,
"To tell you the truth, my father-in-law personally said yesterday that anyone who wants to attend the wedding banquet is welcome to come to the Jiang residence at noon. There'll be plenty of meat and wine for everyone!"
"Not only that, he even specially invited the Steel Factory's senior leaders to witness my daughter He Hua's wedding ceremony!"
The moment Widow He finished speaking, the elderly women who had been flattering her immediately resumed showering her with compliments.
Feeling thoroughly pleased, Widow He generously declared,
"All of you must come to the Jiang family for the wedding feast at noon! Just mention my name when you arrive, and my in-laws will definitely take good care of you!"
Inside the room, He Hua listened to every word with immense satisfaction.
She had never felt so proud in her life.
At this moment, she no longer envied Su Yun in the slightest.
All she could think about was that, after today, she would finally be standing above Su Yun and crushing her beneath her feet.
Not long afterward, the matchmaker arrived with Jiang Guangzong and the wedding procession.
Everything went smoothly as they escorted He Hua away to be married.