Jiang Xiaoxiao sent soone inside to buy so pork; they required ration tickets for that.
Song Moting went to buy it because he had the tickets.
Jiang Xiaoxiao thought that when she returned to the Jin family’s house, she could take the opportunity to put so vegetables from her special stash into the basket.
As she thought about what dish to make later, she contemplated buying a chicken to nourish Jia Shu tomorrow since her space didn’t have any live animals.
No, wait, she hadn’t tried raising live animals in her space yet.
Perhaps she should give it a try.
However, live animals were not easy to buy. If it didn’t work out, she could ask Jin Dachuan; after all, Jin Dachuan was well-connected locally, so he surely would know where to get chickens!
It would be even better if there were chicks.
Jiang Xiaoxiao was so absorbed in her thoughts that she was fully focused on picking vegetables.
The salesperson looked disdainful; this girl didn’t look like soone short of money, yet she was being so stingy when buying things.
There were only a few kinds of vegetables available; could she possibly pick out sothing exceptional?
Wasn’t she just pretending to get a bargain?
The salesperson had seen many, especially the older won who, when not observed, would break off the tender leaves and pick only the fresh ones. There were even worse ones who would strip a cabbage down to its heart. She really needed to watch carefully to prevent this girl from causing her to lose her bonus.
The salesperson wasn’t being overly cautious without reason; she had been frightened too many tis by others.
Just then.
A little girl, taking advantage of the salesperson’s inattention, quietly picked up leaves from the ground and stuffed them into her basket before turning to run.
She was caught hold of.
"You again! Dead girl, you’re lawless, stealing vegetables every day. Like mother, like daughter. Your mother is a thief, and look, she raised a little thief. Co! Let’s go see the manager."
Jiang Xiaoxiao was taken aback; how could soone speak like that?
Besides, the leaves on the ground were going to be thrown away anyway. How could this be considered stealing?
Judging by the child’s appearance, she was approximately five or six years old, small and thin, with yellowish hair, a clear sign of malnutrition. Her clothes were patched repeatedly.
One could tell that the child ca from a very poor family.
The girl was only picking up leaves because she had no choice.
At such a young age, she was already helping care for the family, truly the child of a poor family who had to shoulder responsibilities early.
The child was evidently terrified, trembling as if she were sifting wheat.
She tightly clutched the basket in her hands, "Auntie, I... didn’t steal, I just picked up the leaves you guys don’t want. I saw you throw them away every day, so I thought of picking so up to take ho. I really didn’t steal! I’m not a thief! I’m not!"
But the salesperson wouldn’t relent.
"You say it’s not stealing, then it’s not stealing? Let tell you, even if these leaves are on the ground, without our permission, it’s stealing. Like mother, like daughter. Your mother was also caught for stealing fabric from the factory and had to serve ti. You’re the sa, as is the mother, so is the daughter.
A whole family of thieves; I say you’re stealing, and you are! Don’t argue!"
She grasped the child’s wrist tightly.
The grip was so strong it seed like she was out to break the child’s arm.
People nearby couldn’t help but stop and watch.
"Da Liu, why not let the child go? We’ve seen this child often; she’s pitiable. You guys don’t want those leaves anyway, just let her be!"
So felt sorry for the child.
Others didn’t understand what was going on.
The salesperson pursed her lips, "You all don’t know. Her mother worked at our textile factory in the dyeing workshop and was caught red-handed last year taking fabric and cotton, sentenced to a year. She’s getting out soon.
This child has been here often enough, scheming to steal. Today it’s cabbage leaves; tomorrow she’ll dare to steal other things. We must not indulge this habit. I’m doing this for everyone’s good. We all live in the sa dormitory block. If this child develops a habit, it will cause trouble for everyone."
The little girl’s tears welled up, and she bit her lip hard. Being called a thief and having her mother brought into the argunt wasn’t new to her.
"My mom didn’t steal; she was frad. My mom was wronged."
The child shouted in grievance.
But alas, her voice was barely heard in the crowd.
"You claim she’s wronged, like a thief crying stop thief! Everyone knows your mom was caught by Security. And here you are, claiming grievance! Look at you, not even five years old and already learning to steal. What will happen when you’re fifteen?
I’m warning you, I’m doing this for your own good. Your mom doesn’t bother teaching you, so I am. To prevent you from becoming a nace to society in the future. Co with to Security. You must be thoroughly taught a lesson."
The child nearly stumbled and fell as the salesperson yanked her along.
But Jiang Xiaoxiao grabbed the child, carefully steadying her.
"Comrade, have a heart, this child is incorrigible. I’m not wrongfully accusing her; this isn’t the first ti. If we don’t teach her a good lesson now, she really will beco a thief, and then the harm will be to society!"
The salesperson looked at Jiang Xiaoxiao, thinking she was too young.
She must be having a soft mont.
She quickly advised.
The child clutched Jiang Xiaoxiao’s hand tightly.
"Sister, I didn’t, I am not a thief, I truly am not."
Jiang Xiaoxiao squatted down, "What is your na, little sister?"
"Sister, my na is Bai Yiyi."
Jiang Xiaoxiao was shaken inside; Bai Yiyi.
She carefully examined the girl’s features.
Indeed, she saw a hint of familiarity in her features.
Bai Yiyi!
It really was Bai Yiyi.
The textile factory!
Her mother was sentenced to five years for theft!
It all matched.
"Comrade, this child picking up vegetable leaves is no big deal. Though she didn’t get your permission, those leaves were going to be discarded anyway. There’s no need to frighten a child this small; if you clearly tell her, I believe she won’t take them again.
Forget about going to Security!"
Bai Yiyi nodded, "Auntie, I was wrong. I truly didn’t know I wasn’t supposed to pick up leaves from the ground. I saw the grandmothers picking them up every day, and you never said anything, so I thought it was alright to take them.
I won’t pick them up again next ti."
The salesperson’s face darkened, "What grandmothers? What nonsense are you talking? This child is speaking nonsense! Whoever allowed anyone to take leaves? I’ve never allowed it. I’m telling you, starting bad habits so young—not just stealing but also lying—you certainly aren’t destined for anything good when you grow up."
The ones who picked up the leaves every day were her relatives. The salesperson would deliberately snap off good leaves to make it easier for her family, but now that Bai Yiyi ntioned it, if the manager found out, she was in for big trouble.
Thinking of this, the salesperson imdiately beca furious.
She absolutely had to pin a serious accusation on Bai Yiyi.
At this mont, if Bai Yiyi wasn’t lying, it could only an that her own issue was about to be discovered.
Jiang Xiaoxiao, however, noticed the panic in the salesperson’s eyes just now.
It seed Bai Yiyi wasn’t lying.
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