Chapter 73: Willingly Taking the Bait
Su He pulled a bag of beef jerky out of her drawer and gave it to Su Jinbao as a reward. Su Jinbao was so happy that even his nose bubbled with snot.
He knew it—sticking with his sister was the path to a bright future!
Su He followed Su Jinbao to Su Yongshi’s house.
Cao Hongmei was at work, and Su Yongshi was snoring away on the kang (a traditional heated bed). The smell of alcohol still lingered in the room.
Just then, Tie Zhu came over from the west room. He hesitated for a moment before saying, “Sis, you’re here?”
Su He nodded and asked, “How’s it going, living with my second uncle’s family?”
Tie Zhu nodded. “Pretty good.”
He was telling the truth. Liu Qiuju used to beat and scold him all the time, but now Cao Hongmei treated him like a God of Wealth. Not only did she not scold him, she didn’t even dare raise her voice.
Su He nodded and said, “Go bring me a basin of cold water.”
Tie Zhu didn’t know why, but he obeyed.
Su He added, “You and Jinbao, drag my second uncle off the kang.”
Before Tie Zhu even moved, Su Jinbao had already leapt onto the bed, clearly eager to help.
Su He thought to herself, when it came to sabotaging his own dad, Su Jinbao was a natural.
Together, they dragged Su Yongshi, who was sleeping like a dead pig, off the bed. Su He dumped the whole basin of cold water over him.
Su Yongshi shivered and woke up.
“What the—who the hell—”
The moment he saw Su He’s cold, piercing gaze, he immediately backed down.
“Xiao He! What’s the meaning of this? What did your second uncle do to upset you?”
Su He sneered. “Second Uncle, didn’t I remind you to keep a low profile? To stay alert? How did you respond to that?”
Su Yongshi looked aggrieved. “Xiao He, I haven’t been flaunting anything. Maybe you’re blaming me for something I didn’t do?”
Su He’s eyes turned even colder. “Second Uncle, you’re one of the smarter ones in the Su family. You really don’t get what I’m saying? Want me to wake you up some more?”
Hearing this, Su Jinbao grabbed the empty basin. “Sis, I’ll go get more cold water!”
He happily ran off to fetch it.
Su He: “…”
Su Yongshi silently cursed his son, but he began to reflect on recent events.
He had indeed gotten carried away!
What did those guys say again?
They said he was destined for greatness, said he’d be promoted to team leader, maybe even workshop director. They praised him constantly and kept calling him “big bro.”
After being treated like a nobody as a temp worker for years, their flattery felt great. Before long, they were all buddy-buddy.
And he had a weakness for food and drink. At first he’d politely refuse their dinner invites, but then he started accepting gladly.
Now that Su He had given him a wake-up call, he realized—why would anyone treat him so nicely for no reason?
As the saying goes, “Too much kindness with no cause hides evil intent.”
They must have ulterior motives.
The more he thought, the colder he felt.
Su He wasn’t surprised at all by his behavior. People who suddenly came into money often lost themselves.
Not only had Su Yongshi become a permanent worker, but he’d also moved into a nice brick house. Add in a little flattery, and he lost all sense of direction.
On this point, even Cao Hongmei was more clear-headed than him.
Looking at Su Yongshi, Su He said coldly, “Second Uncle, I told you: anyone in our Su family who falls behind will be left behind. I’m done with your mess. From now on, we go our separate ways.”
She turned to leave, but Su Jinbao clung to her leg.
“Sis, he’s my dad, not me! I’m not like him—you can’t abandon me!”
Tie Zhu didn’t say a word, but subtly moved closer to Su He.
He had chosen her as his guardian from the start. Su Yongshi and his wife had nothing to do with him.
Su Yongshi clenched his teeth and slapped himself several times.
“Xiao He, I really screwed up this time. Just give me one more chance! I promise it’ll be the last!”
The scare had sobered him up completely.
He owed everything he had now to Su He.
If she abandoned him, he’d be devoured by Shen Ruyi in no time!
Su He saw his face swelling from the slaps, and her anger finally cooled a bit.
“This is your last chance. If it happens again, I’ll make Second Aunt divorce you and remarry—with Jinbao!”
Su Jinbao’s eyes lit up. “Sis, can you find me a rich and powerful stepdad?”
Su Yongshi couldn’t take it anymore and smacked him on the butt. “You little rascal!”
Su Jinbao burst into tears.
“Sis, he hit me! I’m not living with him anymore! I want to move in with you!”
Su He: “…”
Now she understood why he’d been acting up—he was trying to move out!
She glared at him. “Quit the nonsense!”
Jinbao finally quieted down.
“Second Uncle, who exactly are those people? What did they say to you? Tell me everything.”
Su Yongshi quickly said, “They’re all from our loading dock crew. They didn’t say much—just made small talk and flattered me. They didn’t ask for anything.”
Su He thought for a moment. “Next time they ask you out, go. But don’t drink. And if anything strange happens, let me know immediately.”
Su Yongshi nodded repeatedly. “Yes, yes, I got it.”
After a few more warnings, Su He took Su Jinbao and Tie Zhu to visit Old Madam He.
Su Jinbao started scheming. He used to be the only visitor—would Old Madam He still love him the same now that Tie Zhu was tagging along? Would she give all the snacks to Tie Zhu?
So as soon as they arrived at the He household, Su Jinbao worked like a madman—he practically wanted to take the bed apart to clean it.
Old Madam He and Grandpa He were beaming. They not only brought out all the good food, but even started preparing dumplings.
Su He entrusted them with looking after Jinbao and Tie Zhu, then went to find Teacher Yuan.
The moment Teacher Yuan saw her, he lit up. “Those books from that patriotic individual—so cleverly swapped under risky conditions—gave me huge inspiration! I’ve already sent my test plan to the research institute in the capital. I think we’ll get exciting news soon.
It’s all thanks to your luck. Back in the day, you’d be considered a national treasure!”
He added, “If they hit a roadblock over there, I’ll take you to the capital for some good fortune.”
Su He: “…”
Teacher Yuan went on, “I’m starting to get a sense of that patriot’s identity—probably someone around my age. Our generation was born with loyalty to the country in our blood. We’re meticulous—not like you young people today, always so impatient…”
Su He silently rolled her eyes. If you’re so calm, why are you using me like a human lucky charm?
That evening, Gu Chiyan in the capital finally received Su He’s reply letter.
His anxious heart finally settled.
He chuckled softly to himself—he really had been overthinking.
A girl bold enough to scam her own uncle out of a bicycle wouldn’t mind his generous offerings, would she?
Far from being put off by Su He’s materialism, Gu Chiyan found it strangely endearing. It made his heart itch.
It was like knowingly biting a baited hook—and still doing it gladly.
That’s love. Willingly hooked. Sweet as honey.
As for Su He—the one holding the fishing rod—she was at home, wondering why her “best friend” Luo Xiaoling hadn’t written back yet.
Don’t tell me the hook came loose?
