Inside the recycling station.
Throughout the entire day, whether Gu Hai was helping Su Yun with work or tutoring her with her studies, his eyes remained fixed on her pretty face, never once shifting away.
In the end, Su Yun could no longer endure his intense stare. Frowning slightly, she said to him, "Gu Hai, if you have something to say, just say it. Stop scaring me like this, okay?"
Sitting behind the counter with his chin resting on his hand, Gu Hai remained motionless as he looked at her. "I'm fine. I just like looking at you. That's all. No other meaning."
He was puzzled. His hints about wanting a kiss were already so obvious—how could Su Yun still not understand?
Speechless, Su Yun simply closed her textbook, turned to look directly into Gu Hai's deep and burning eyes, and changed the subject.
"Gu Hai, I have something I want to discuss with you…"
"Go ahead."
Without thinking at all, Gu Hai continued resting his chin on his hand.
Su Yun said, "Here's the thing. I have a recipe for braised pork, and I want you to help me make it. Can you?"
"Of course! I already told you—if there's anything you want to eat in the future, just tell me. I'll make it for you!"
Su Yun waved her hand. "It's not for me. You don't know this, but my father really loves eating meat. In the past, we simply didn't have the means. But now that we do, I was thinking that after you make the braised pork, you could bring it to my parents. Once they've eaten your food, they probably won't stay angry anymore."
Hearing this, Gu Hai instantly straightened his back, joy written all over his face.
"Xiao Yun, you're so good to me! I'll go home right now and make braised pork. Just wait for me!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he stood up and rushed toward the door.
Su Yun widened her eyes. "Hey!"
Two seconds later, Gu Hai returned. His bright eyes looked slightly embarrassed.
"Xiao Yun, um… my house doesn't have any meat. And at this hour, the supply cooperative probably won't have any left either."
At this time, whenever meat was available, it would sell out within half a day—and people still needed meat ration coupons to buy it!
Su Yun looked at him and smiled. "Help me watch the recycling station. I'm going out for a bit."
After leaving the recycling station, Su Yun went to the familiar dead-end corner she often used. She opened her system, took out the Imperial Braised Pork Recipe, and then bought ten jin of pork belly along with the necessary seasonings from the system supermarket, spending a little over ten yuan in total.
Just as she was about to head back, she suddenly stopped.
After thinking for a moment, she reopened the system supermarket and spent two yuan to buy a large watermelon.
When she returned carrying everything, Gu Hai quickly rushed over to take it from her. His eyes nearly popped out of his head in shock.
"Imperial Secret Braised Pork?"
Holding the large watermelon in one hand, he picked up the exquisitely designed vintage recipe book with the other and examined it.
Seeing that it was getting late, Su Yun quickly urged him, "Gu Hai, take all of this and hurry home. Once the braised pork is done, leave half for your younger brothers and sisters."
"And this watermelon—I specially bought it for your younger siblings. When you get home, put it in cool water to chill it. It'll taste even better."
Hearing this, Gu Hai's heart overflowed with sweetness. Just as he was about to speak, Su Yun directly pushed him out.
About an hour later, Gouzi arrived early on his bicycle.
The moment he entered, he shouted, "Comrade Xiao Su, I've already handled everything you asked me to do. Where's my Brother Hai?"
Su Yun glanced at him and silently closed the recycling station door.
Gouzi was puzzled. "Comrade Xiao Su, why are you closing the door?"
Then realization struck him.
"Oh, right! This kind of transaction can't let other people hear about it!"
"Comrade Xiao Su, same old rules? I'll come tomorrow to pick up the goods?"
Turning around, Su Yun nodded. "Fine. Ten thousand jin of watermelons. Tomorrow night, bring some people to the recycling station to transport them. I'll give you the key then, and remember to lock the door afterward."
Gouzi replied happily, "Don't worry! I've always been reliable when it comes to getting things done!"
After finishing that matter, Su Yun lowered her voice.
"Comrade Gouzi, I heard you're some kind of leader in the Qinglong Gang. Is your gang very powerful? You must have quite a lot of people under you, right?"
Hearing this, Gouzi raised his brows proudly.
"Comrade Xiao Su, Brother Hai told you this, didn't he? Hehe, my Brother Hai—"
Before he could finish speaking, Su Yun hurriedly denied it.
"It wasn't Gu Hai! This has nothing to do with Gu Hai! Gu Hai knows nothing about it—don't wrongly accuse him!"
Gouzi: "???"
What was that supposed to mean? Brother Hai knew nothing?
Before Gouzi could sort out her words, Su Yun explained:
"I figured it out myself. Once, I accidentally saw you leading people to beat up a brat outside the Steel Factory Children's Middle School."
"Oh, so it was that time…"
Gouzi recalled it.
"No wonder I kept feeling like someone was spying on me back then. So it was you, Comrade Xiao Su!"
Su Yun nodded in admission and repeated firmly:
"This matter has nothing to do with Gu Hai. Don't drag him into it."
Gouzi: "..."
He understood now.
As expected, Brother Hai really did separate public matters from private matters.
Brother Hai had once said that even biological brothers should settle accounts clearly—that was the only way for unity to last. Su Yun was only Brother Hai's partner, not his wife yet. It was only natural that Brother Hai had kept it from her.
After all, the Qinglong Gang always did business by taking money to handle matters. They couldn't just make exceptions because of personal relationships—otherwise everything would become chaotic.
Money exchanged, goods delivered. That was the hard truth.
Thinking of this, Gouzi admired Gu Hai even more.
He immediately said to Su Yun, "Comrade Xiao Su, I understand now. If you need something, just say it!"
Finally relieved, Su Yun began making up a "friend" out of thin air.
"Here's the thing. I have a friend who was wrongly accused for no reason. He's been feeling deeply wronged, so he wants to find someone to write a举报 letter to strike back at the person who framed him. But he also doesn't want anyone to know it was him. Can you handle that?"
Previously, He Hua had once written a report letter to accuse Su Yun. Now that He Hua was about to marry into the Jiang family, Su Yun decided to settle old and new grudges together—returning the favor in the same way. Fair and square.
As soon as Gouzi heard this, he immediately looked smug.
"You came to the right people! For this kind of thing, the Qinglong Gang is very experienced. We handle this kind of business all the time. We're very loyal—once we take someone's money, we'll get the job done. Even if things get exposed, we won't drag the buyer into it!"
Hearing that, Su Yun was very satisfied.
"Then I'll leave this matter to you, Comrade Gouzi. As payment, I'll give you an extra thousand jin of watermelons tomorrow. What do you think?"
Gouzi's eyes lit up instantly.
"Of course that's good! Comrade Xiao Su, you're really generous. If you ever have this kind of business again, come directly to me. As long as I can do it, I'll definitely help without hesitation!"
"Good!"
It was a transaction both sides were very satisfied with.
After Gouzi left, it was almost time for Su Yun to get off work.
She washed her face and waited another half an hour for Gu Hai.
Just as she was about to lock the door, Gu Hai came speeding over on his bicycle.
At that moment, Gu Hai was drenched in sweat. After braking with his foot, he patted the two lunch boxes hanging from the bicycle handle and said joyfully:
"Xiao Yun, the braised pork is finished! I made it here just in time, didn't I?"