"Don't run, stop!" The people wearing red armbands chased after them desperately.

Those people ahead, carrying baskets aimlessly, were terrified and at a loss for what to do.

No one listened and stopped; they rushed forward recklessly. Suti, with her sharp eyes, thought she spotted someone she knew.

"Don't worry about it." Wei Baichuan clearly recognized her too, and pulled Su Ti away, not wanting her to get involved.

Whether it's good or bad, getting involved with the disciplinary office will at least result in serious consequences, if not death.

Wei Baichuan's heart skipped a beat. He was glad that Wei Baichuan hadn't come last night, but he was also worried about what was happening at the air-raid shelter.

“He must be carrying grain.” Su Ti was really excited when he saw Wei Changgen; it was obvious at a glance that he was desperate.

"Should we report it?" Su Ti was taken aback when Wei Baichuan asked this.

She thought Wei Baichuan was pulling her aside to let her off the hook; minor squabbles in the brigade were no big deal, but this could really be fatal if things went wrong.

No matter how deep the hatred, the Wei family was still his relatives. I never expected him to say he would report them.

“We’re not going. We won’t do something like kicking someone when they’re down.” Su Ti knew that everyone was having a hard time right now, and it wasn’t just Wei Changgen who went to the black market.

There are people in each brigade who have been to the black market. If she really reports it, she will offend everyone.

That's not honorable reporting; that's making an enemy of the entire brigade.

Wei Baichuan glanced at the person who had already run far away. This must not be the first time. There was so much food that they could not finish it all. They would rather sell it than give him a little more.

"Oh right, I bought a vegetable jar. I want to pickle vegetables and make some sauce or something when I get home."

Before Wei Baichuan could think any further, Su Ti pulled him back into the supply and marketing cooperative. She had too many things in her hands, and the jars were still inside.

They pulled Wei Baichuan inside to get the jar and left, without even noticing Su Nianyou standing there, staring at them with a resentful expression.

"Let's go to the state-run restaurant." Suti wanted to eat the braised pork at the state-run restaurant; at home, they had to hide it from each other.

Even when she eats meat, she can only eat bland food. She really wants to eat something flavorful, and she can't miss this legitimate opportunity.

"There are too many people inside. I'll go in and buy some. Honey, you wait on the cart." Wei Baichuan looked at the state-run restaurant in front of him; he had never been inside before.

"I'll go. There don't seem to be any empty seats. I bought a lunchbox, let's pack it up and eat at home." Suti saw that the place was packed with people.

Today, it's not just their brigade that's off; many brigades are taking advantage of these few days off before the autumn harvest.

The state-run restaurant mainly catered to educated youth from various brigades; the team members were reluctant to spend money here.

Then there are the commune cadres. Those who can work as waiters in state-run restaurants are all arrogant and look down on people from the countryside.

Suti had been here a few times before and didn't have a good impression of the place. She had seen people arguing several times and was afraid that Wei Baichuan would lose the argument.

"What do you want? Just these on the wooden board, the dumplings are sold out." After finally getting to Suti's turn in line, she glanced at the person over there who hadn't even looked up and hadn't moved from the chair for ages.

"Comrade, hello, do you still have braised pork?" Suti asked politely, noticing the wooden sign hanging above that also listed steamed buns and stew.

There's a "一" character crossed out after "braised pork" and "braised ribbonfish," but I don't know what it means.

"The meat dishes also include green pepper and pork slices and offal. Braised pork isn't cheap. Even if it were available, could you afford it?"

The man only looked up at Suti when he heard her ask for braised pork.

Those were meant for the commune leaders to order when they came home for lunch. She knows how much braised pork costs, right?

Looking at Su Ti's clothes and then at his face, you could tell he was a recent educated youth who had just arrived in the countryside.

He had a little money when he first arrived, and he was arrogant and conceited.

If you're really capable, don't come to the countryside. You're not even as good as her. At least she has a formal job here in the commune.

"My mom told me not to talk to ill-mannered people when I go out. I didn't understand at first, but after meeting you, I finally get it. So that's what it means!"

"I want braised pork today. I'll sit next to you and eat it for you. See if I can afford it."

"This is such a small place. Someone who can write like this can work in a state-run restaurant. In our area, nobody would hire someone to sweep the streets."

Suti glanced down at the words on the menu slip, his contempt blatant.

When you're going to roast someone, you have to hit their weaknesses. Luckily, Wei Baichuan wasn't let in, otherwise his clumsy tongue would have made him a target for bullying.

"How dare you talk like that? You're just a sent-down youth, what are you pretending for? I've seen plenty of people like you. If you're so capable, why did you go to the countryside?"

The waiter was furious when Suti dared to mock her.

She's a full-time employee at a state-run restaurant; how dare she talk to her like that?

“I am an educated youth, a glorious educated youth who followed the organization’s arrangement to go to the countryside. Do you look down on educated youth? Or are you dissatisfied with the organization’s arrangements?”

"You've seen plenty of people like me, but I've never seen anyone like you. Look at the words printed on your back: 'Serve the people, waste is shameful.' Have you truly served the people?"

"He acts all high and mighty. People come here to buy things and pay with their money and receipts. Why should they have to put up with your attitude? Besides, do you own this state-run restaurant?"

"You have such a condescending attitude, where is your boss? I'm going to report you." Su Ti slammed his lunchbox on the table.

Seeing that the waiter showed no fear, I realized that such snobbishness is everywhere.

They're all spoiled. She's here to work, but these people who pay her have to be subservient to her.

"That's right. We come to buy things, and even though we pay and get tickets, they still look down on us. If it weren't for people like us, your state-run restaurants would be starving."

"Well said! Every time we come here, we're treated like dirt. You'd think this state-run restaurant was yours!"

Suti's words were endorsed by many people in the state-run restaurant, but no one had dared to say it before.

They, being from the countryside, felt insecure about working as permanent employees.

"Wife, what's wrong?" Wei Baichuan had been staring inside, watching what his wife and the other person were saying.

Even if he didn't hear it, he could tell something was wrong just by looking at his wife's expression, so he quickly grabbed his things and ran inside.

As soon as he came in, he heard his wife about to report someone. His wife is such a gentle person, yet she was so angry that she wanted to report someone. It's obvious that she was being bullied.

"Don't be afraid, honey, I'll go report it." Wei Baichuan didn't know what had happened, but he would go if his wife said she would report it.

"That's not what I meant, I..." The woman panicked and burst into tears when she saw everyone standing up and targeting her.

"Is it appropriate for so many of you to bully a woman like me?" As soon as the man finished speaking, a number of people came out from the kitchen after hearing the commotion.

"What's going on? Is someone causing trouble?" Several people looked at Wei Baichuan and his companion without asking any questions.