The Leisure Life in the 1970s

23

Chapter 23 23. Stealing vegetables

That day, Qiao Zhenzhen carried a basket and prepared to go to the open space opposite the family area to pick a cabbage, planning to make cabbage vermicelli in the evening.

That was a small vegetable plot she had opened herself, right at the gate of the family area, separated from the entire family area by only a road.

There were not enough vegetables in the base, and Qiao Zhenzhen often couldn't buy them because she was lazy and woke up late.

Because vegetables were cheap and necessary for life, people in the family area robbed them, and if they went too late, they would naturally be gone.

So, Qiao Zhenzhen planned to grow them herself. Although there was space, she had to go through a clear road.

Opposite the gate of the family compound was a deserted piece of land. After asking Director Hu of the street office, he said it was okay, so she planted some vegetables there, including some cabbage, carrots, green onions and garlic.

This behavior was ridiculed by some people in the family area, who said that Qiao Zhenzhen was indeed from the countryside and liked to farm everywhere, and she deserved to be a farmer all her life.

Qiao Zhenzhen, like before, farmed casually, sowing some seeds, watering when she remembered, and leaving it alone when she didn't remember.

Despite this, these vegetables still survived tenaciously, a small piece of green, pleasing to the eye.

Then, a series of vegetable thefts occurred.

At the beginning, Qiao Zhenzhen didn't care and just stole. But later, more and more people stole vegetables. It was too reckless, so she went to the street office to complain.

"Director Hu, we are all neighbors. Usually, I don't say anything when they need to deal with emergencies, such as picking some green onions and garlic. But recently, it's really too much. All the cabbages in the field were stolen. Not a single one was left. This is too much bullying!" Qiao Zhenzhen was very angry.

Director Hu also felt that this matter was of a bad nature. If people wanted to eat vegetables, they could buy them themselves, or they could learn from Qiao Zhenzhen and grow them themselves. Anyway, there were plenty of wastelands across the road.

This vegetable thief was also stupid. Why did he steal all the cabbages in the field? At least leave some for the owner.

"Director Hu, if this matter is not resolved, I will go to the army to complain. This is not as simple as stealing a cabbage, this is theft!"

Qiao Zhenzhen felt that no matter what, those people should be taught a lesson. They said that she was idle and talked behind her back, but they actually came to steal her vegetables.

"Comrade Qiao Zhenzhen, don't worry, we will deal with this matter seriously!"

Then, Director Hu convened a meeting of all family members, strongly condemned this petty theft, and tried to persuade Qiao Zhenzhen to promise to give them a warning for the time being and not to pursue personal theft.

"There are guards on duty at the gate of the family compound. If anyone steals vegetables, they can find out with just a few questions. This is a theft and a crime.

However, Comrade Qiao Zhenzhen, in line with the principle of unity and friendship, will not pursue it this time, but if it happens again, it will be pursued to the end. I hope all family comrades will raise their awareness and stop doing these things that are immoral."

After the family meeting, the act of stealing vegetables did not happen again, but some people in the family compound began to say that Qiao Zhenzhen was stingy and would not even care about a cabbage.