"Pearl, I can't go to jail. Bingchen can't have a mother who's in jail. Please, please put in a good word for me!" Ding Ermei pleaded desperately.

“Grandma, isn’t it too late for you to think of Bingchen now? Bingchen is a military officer. Even if you can’t help him, you can’t hold him back! The police officers advised you several times, but you wouldn’t listen. Now that you’ve made a mistake and been arrested, even if Bingchen were here, he couldn’t help you! When you get to the police station, you must humbly listen to the police officers’ advice and try to go home as soon as possible,” Zhao Zhenzhu said.

Ding Ermei was dumbfounded.

Could it be that Zhao Zhenzhu has really changed her mind?

She's mentioned Bingchen a few times recently, but it hasn't worked at all.

"Comrade, please have your family bring your mother-in-law food and bedding. Given her condition, she may need to be confined for at least three days," Xiao Geng said to Zhao Zhenzhu.

In this day and age, detainees don't get free prison food.

No one's bringing you food? Well, you'll have to go hungry!

If no one brings me bedding, then I'll just have to freeze!

As long as the person doesn't die, no one will dare say anything even if you beat them up.

"Officer, I understand. Thank you for upholding the law impartially. You've worked hard," Zhao Zhenzhu said sincerely.

"Fellow villagers, this woman has a very high level of awareness. We should all learn from her. Everyone is equal before the law. Don't think that just because you're related to someone, you can do something illegal. If you break the law, no one can escape its punishment!" Xiao Geng gave Zhao Zhenzhu a thumbs up and didn't forget to give the onlookers a simple legal education.

"The police officer is right."

"The female comrade has a high level of selflessness and courage!"

The crowd erupted in thunderous applause and cheers.

Seeing that she couldn't escape, Ding Ermei had no choice but to dejectedly go to the police station under Xiao Geng's escort.

Along the way, many people watched.

Several people in Zhoujia Village saw Ding Ermei's disheveled appearance.

Zhao Zhenzhu did not go to the police station.

After Xiao Geng left with Ding Ermei, Zhao Zhenzhu helped Uncle Jin and his wife tidy up their wonton stall and reopen it.

While Aunt Jin wasn't looking, Zhao Zhenzhu slipped the five-yuan bill into Aunt Jin's pocket.

Before Aunt Jin could refuse, Zhao Zhenzhu hurriedly left. Aunt Jin chased after her for a few steps but couldn't catch up.

Zhao Zhenzhu genuinely wanted to make amends to Aunt Jin. She felt bad that Aunt Jin's business had been disrupted because of her.

"Pearl, pearl!"

Zhao Zhenzhu hadn't gone far when she heard a familiar voice calling her.

Zhao Zhenzhu looked up and saw Aunt Zhang standing by the roadside, calling out and waving at her.

"Aunt Zhang, are you here to sell vegetables in town?" Zhao Zhenzhu walked over and greeted her.

"Yes, we grow vegetables in our own plot of land. If we can't finish them, we take them to the market to exchange for some money," Aunt Zhang said with a smile.

"Aunt Zhang, you go ahead with your work, I have some things to do at home." After exchanging pleasantries, Zhao Zhenzhu hurriedly took her leave.

"Wait a minute." Aunt Zhang grabbed Zhao Zhenzhu and said, "My family's eggplants are growing exceptionally well this year. I specially saved a bunch for you before I left. Take it back and add it to your dishes."

As Aunt Zhang spoke, she stuffed a large bundle of eggplants into Zhao Zhenzhu's hands.

Zhao Zhenzhu usually helps Aunt Zhang with sewing and often doesn't charge her. Today, Aunt Zhang came to town to sell vegetables and thought she would give some vegetables to Zhao Zhenzhu.

Although a bunch of vegetables isn't worth much, it's still her way of showing her affection, isn't it?

Taking advantage without giving anything back is not Aunt Zhang's style.

"No, no, Auntie, you should keep it and sell it for money!" Zhao Zhenzhu hurriedly declined.

This isn't just a bunch of eggplants, it's a huge bundle!

Zhao Zhenzhu estimated that it weighed about six or seven pounds.

"Pearl, are you looking down on your aunt or what? You didn't charge me for making clothes for me last time, and you don't want my vegetables, so I'll give you back the money I paid for making the clothes right now." Aunt Zhang said, deliberately putting on a stern face.

"No, no, no." Seeing Aunt Zhang's resolute expression, Zhao Zhenzhu had no choice but to compromise.

"Auntie, then I'll accept it. Thank you, Auntie," Zhao Zhenzhu said with a smile.

This huge bunch of eggplants is perfect for making some stuffed eggplants for lunch today.

Today, Ding Ermei suffered a setback, which made Zhao Zhenzhu happy, so she wanted to cook some delicious food to reward herself.

“That’s right! Your parents don’t have their own plot of land, so the vegetables they grow in the backyard are definitely not enough to eat. If you like what you’re eating, I’ll bring you some more when I come to town next time.” Aunt Zhang smiled broadly.

"Thank you, Auntie. I was just thinking about eating eggplant sandwiches. Please come to my house for lunch!" Zhao Zhenzhu invited.

"No, no, I need to go back to my parents' house to see my mother later. I'll have lunch at my mother's. Pearl, you don't need to trouble yourself." Aunt Zhang waved her hand repeatedly.

Aunt Zhang's family also lived in the town, not far from the Zhao family's.

Aunt Zhang's father died some years ago, but her mother is still alive and is seventy years old this year.

Aunt Zhang was afraid that her sisters-in-law and brothers' wives would neglect their elderly mother, so every time she came to town, she would bring some gifts to visit her parents' home.

"Okay, I'll make some eggplant sandwiches later and bring a bowl over to Auntie," Zhao Zhenzhu said with a smile.

"Oh my, I'm really getting a great deal!" Aunt Zhang said with a beaming smile.

To make stuffed eggplant, you need to use pork with a good balance of lean and fat, minced finely, sandwiched between two slices of eggplant, then rolled in a thin batter of flour, and finally deep-fried until cooked.

It's made with meat and deep-fried food, something most families wouldn't eat even once a year.

In terms of value, a bowl of stuffed eggplants is much more valuable than Aunt Zhang's bundle of eggplants.

Aunt Zhang thought Zhao Zhenzhu was a really good person to get along with.

After Zhao Zhenzhu left, Aunt Qiu, Aunt Zhang's old best friend, came.

"Chunhua, Chunhua, guess what kind of spectacle I just saw?" Aunt Qiu asked, her face full of gossip.

"I'm annoyed! Nothing is more important than my work." Aunt Zhang said without looking up.

Aunt Zhang had almost sold all her own vegetables, and she was tidying up the messy pile of vegetables on Ding Ermei's stall.

Aunt Zhang was furious.

Ding Ermei really killed someone.

He left her with a stall to watch over and then disappeared without a trace.

Originally, Aunt Zhang hadn't planned to help Ding Ermei tidy up. But Ding Ermei was in a hurry to visit her mother!

Ding Ermei didn't come back, and Aunt Zhang couldn't just abandon Ding Ermei's stall and leave. So she had to find a way to make Ding Ermei's vegetables sell faster.

Aunt Zhang noticed why Ding Ermei's dishes were consistently ignored.

Not only were they bundled haphazardly, but they hadn't been washed properly either. The vegetable leaves were still covered in mud.

Most of the people who buy vegetables in town are factory workers. They prefer clean and fresh vegetables.

Aunt Zhang has experience selling vegetables.

Vegetables that don't sell in the morning become even harder to sell in the afternoon after they've lost moisture and wilted.

When Aunt Qiu came over, Aunt Zhang was squatting on the ground washing vegetables.

The wooden bucket and water were borrowed by Aunt Zhang from an acquaintance who lived on the street.

Aunt Zhang not only washed the mud off the vegetable leaves, but also took apart the crooked and unevenly sized vegetables, re-tied them with water-soaked straw, and arranged them neatly.

"Let me help you." Aunt Qiu quickly squatted down and helped Aunt Zhang tidy up.

It's all gossip!

Without someone to share it with, the fun is greatly diminished.