Chapter 98: Bicycle

Chapter 98: Chapter 98: Bicycle

Hu Jun’s expression remained impassive, his attitude strictly professional. "Hello, sir. Mr. Gao only wishes to invite Su Wan over. He means her no harm."

"And we’re just supposed to take your word for it? Who’s going to believe you when you’re being so pushy?"

Su Jue had no intention of letting Su Wan meet the Gao family alone.

After hearing what Gao Qiang had done, he was convinced the girl was unstable. To put it bluntly, if Wanwan went to the Gao family home and Gao Qiang had another fit and tried to push a pregnant woman, what would happen? Even if the Gao elders were the most decent people, the most they would do is slap Gao Qiang and then rush Wanwan to the hospital.

But Wanwan would be the one getting hurt, and who knew what a single push could lead to.

"Sir, I’m just following procedure. Please don’t make this difficult for me."

"Procedure? Is it ’procedure’ that Wanwan has to go see Mr. Gao? Hmph! I’d like to see what happens if we don’t go. Let’s see if Mr. Gao really will bully us common folk." Su Jue raised his voice, deliberately speaking louder.

It was the time of day when residents of the alley were heading out to work. Plenty of people were coming and going, and upon hearing the commotion, they all instinctively turned to look.

A crack appeared in Hu Jun’s usually composed expression.

"Do you really think being a soldier gives you the right to bully ordinary people like us?" Su Jue had never considered himself part of the elite; he was just a regular guy who was decent at his studies and had made a little money.

But he was no fool.

By deliberately causing a scene, he knew the Gao family wouldn’t dare to actually force Su Wan to go, whether to avoid trouble or out of fear of being reported for abuse of power.

And just as he predicted, Hu Jun took two steps back, his attitude softening. "Sir, you’ve misunderstood. Since Su Wan is unwilling, I’ll go back and report to Mr. Gao."

"My apologies for the disturbance."

With that, Hu Jun set down the gift box he was carrying. "These are two tins of protein powder, a small apology for the trouble."

Hu Jun left the items and departed.

Though proud, Su Jue took one look at the two tins of protein powder and carried them right into the courtyard. The Gao family owed Wanwan compensation to begin with.

"Third Brother, who was that?"

Su Wan had been about to head out when she felt the baby move. The kick made her feel a little nauseous, so she’d gone to the bathroom. Now, coming out, she saw Su Jue standing in the courtyard, placing something on the stone table.

"Someone from Mr. Gao was here. They wanted to see you alone, but I turned them away."

Su Jue quickly recounted what had just happened, adding a warning at the end. "Wanwan, the Gaos are dangerous people. Don’t ever meet them alone. If anything were to happen, it wouldn’t be worth it."

"We’re just ordinary people. There’s no reason for us to get involved with them."

’He had no desire for an insincere apology anyway.’

"Okay, Third Brother, I won’t go. But since they came here, I think I should tell Lu Zhengchuan and have him mention it to Uncle He." Su Wan decided to call in her powerful connections.

’Since I agreed to help He Rong with the weapons modification, I might as well get the benefits I’m owed.’

"Alright."

Su Jue relaxed.

"Come on, let’s go visit Professor Wang first."

"Big Bro, I borrowed the bike!" Just then, Wei Hong and Zhang Shun arrived.

Zhang Shun had a lump swelling on his forehead.

"What happened to you, kid? Run into a wall in your sleep?" Su Jue teased.

Zhang Shun casually touched his forehead and waved a dismissive hand. "It’s nothing, Big Bro. My cousin pushed me. He’s so damn petty. I was just borrowing my grandpa’s bike, what business is it of his? He’s always whining about how Grandpa favors me."

"He never considers that I’m the one who always buys things for Grandpa whenever I earn money. He’s a grown man, a year out of high school, still mooching at home and doing nothing productive. I can’t even be bothered to call him out on it."

Su Jue frowned. "This is my fault too. I won’t borrow your family’s bike anymore. I’ll just borrow one from the bike shop to avoid causing problems for your family."

"Big Bro, why are you saying that? My whole family is thrilled that I’m making money with you. A little favor like this is nothing."

"You help me because you see me as a brother. But if I’m truly your brother, I won’t let a small thing like this cause trouble for you."

"But..." Zhang Shun started to say that Beijing City was huge and they often needed a bike.

The tricycle they used for selling their wares was rented.

They didn’t need a bicycle as often as the tricycle, and renting one was a bit too expensive. That’s why he’d offered to borrow one from his family.

"A bicycle?" Su Wan nonchalantly pulled her wallet from her handbag, opened it, and took out a bicycle voucher.

"Third Brother, I was just about to tell you, I have a bicycle voucher. I was actually hoping you could help me buy a bike. I’m sure you know where to get a good deal." Su Wan smiled, handing the voucher to him.

Before Su Jue could say a word, Zhang Shun exclaimed, "A bicycle voucher!"

"Wanwan, you actually have a bicycle voucher? That’s incredible!"

"A few of us brothers were planning to pool our money for a bike, but we couldn’t get a voucher. We’ve been looking for half a month and haven’t managed to find one."

Wei Hong chimed in with his own amazed complaints.

Smiling, Su Wan pulled out several ten-yuan notes and gave them to Su Jue. "Third Brother, you should go buy it now. If they sell out, we’ll have to wait."

"I’ll only take half. We’ll buy it together, brother and sister," Su Jue said, taking the money and the voucher.

After visiting Professor Wang, Su Wan returned home in the afternoon with several new books in hand. Most were physics texts filled with notes, and there were even some rare books you couldn’t find in stores. Cherishing them like treasures, she settled in at home to read.

A little after four in the afternoon, Su Jue, Zhang Shun, and the others returned.

"Wanwan! Come take a look! We bought the bike!"

Su Wan had been reading for a while, so she rubbed her neck, stood up, and walked outside.

Su Jue had already wheeled the bicycle into the courtyard.

When Su Wan got a clear look, she was surprised. "Why did you buy a woman’s bicycle?"

"Wanwan, you’re pregnant. There’s no way you can ride one of those big, heavy-framed men’s bikes. This woman’s bike is perfect."

"Yeah, Wanwan! It has a basket on the front for your things and a seat on the back for a passenger. When you’re further along, we can give you a ride to school on it."

Su Wan was touched, knowing this was her third brother’s thoughtful gesture.

’This wasn’t about them splitting the cost. It was clear he’d bought this bike just for her.’

"Third Brother... I understand."

"Wanwan, we sold out of all our stock today!"

Zhang Shun finished his happy announcement and lifted up a wooden briefcase. He opened it to reveal a pile of cash, from small-fen notes all the way up to ten-yuan bills.

Su Jue placed the wooden briefcase on the stone table in the courtyard, and they all started counting the money.

-

「The Gao family home.」

Mr. Gao had just returned home to find his wife, his sister-in-law, and his daughter in the living room. They were supposedly watching TV, but no one was paying attention to the black-and-white set. Instead, they were deep in discussion about something.