“Why should I apologize? You did seduce men and engage in illicit sexual relations—I saw it.” Zhao Xiaoting began fabricating lies.
Since the words were already spoken, she had to stick to this story. After all, the little bitch had no proof that she was lying.
Seeing the salesclerk’s confident demeanor, some of the onlookers began to waver. Could it be that this young girl really was promiscuous?
One of the older women said, “The salesclerk seems quite serious. Could this girl really be involved in illicit affairs?”
“So young, yet so lacking in self-respect? Who knows how her parents raised her, bringing up such a shameless vixen.”
…
The surrounding chatter made Zhao Xiaoting even more smug. See? No matter whether it was true or false, as long as someone said it, others would believe it.
Listening to the comments around her, Ruan Sui’an’s expression grew colder and colder. Just as Zhao Xiaoting was feeling triumphant—
Ruan Sui’an abruptly raised her hand and delivered two more fierce slaps across Zhao Xiaoting’s face.
Slap! Slap! The crisp, sharp sound echoed through the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
The surrounding whispers immediately ceased, and everyone instinctively took a step back.
Good heavens!
Why does this girl resort to slapping at the slightest provocation?
They certainly didn’t want those slaps landing on them—it looked painful enough just watching.
Couldn’t they see the salesclerk’s face had swollen into a pig’s head?
Zhao Xiaoting staggered back from the blows, her body slamming into the shelf of goods behind her. The pain made her grimace and bare her teeth.
Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, the metallic taste spreading inside. Subconsciously, she pursed her lips and ran her tongue over her teeth.
She discovered a gap where a tooth should have been—a realization Zhao Xiaoting didn’t dare dwell on.
“Pah!” Zhao Xiaoting spat out the blood and foreign matter from her mouth.
Looking at what she had spat out, she saw two teeth. Her eyes widened in shock.
Her teeth!
She hadn’t expected her teeth to be knocked out. The other two salesclerks behind the counter also saw the two teeth mixed with blood on the floor.
They took a step back in disgust, though a hint of excitement flickered beneath the surface.
Well, this was good—the resentment they’d bottled up over this period suddenly felt released.
“You… you’ve gone too far! You knocked out my teeth! I’m going to report this to Public Security and have them arrest you and throw you in jail!” Zhao Xiaoting’s words were slightly slurred.
But everyone around heard her clearly, and they all edged further away from this seemingly sweet-looking girl.
Good heavens!
This girl is terrifying—she knocked someone’s teeth out with just a few slaps!
The older woman who had led the accusations against Ruan Sui’an was especially frightened, hiding even farther away, afraid that Ruan Sui’an might come over and slap her too.
She deeply regretted not controlling her mouth earlier.
Why did she have to spout such nonsense?
Zhao Xiaoting’s swollen, pig-like face improved Ruan Sui’an’s mood considerably. These people actually dared to accuse her of being ill-bred and poorly raised by her parents?
Her parents were martyrs, heroes who defended the country. Without soldiers like them protecting the nation, how could these people stand here so comfortably spouting nonsense?
“Go ahead if you want. I’ll be waiting.” Ruan Sui’an showed no fear, even though she had struck rather harshly.
But from the start, it wasn’t her fault.
Zhao Xiaoting couldn’t understand why this little bitch was so brazen and unafraid. She had been beaten so badly—wasn’t she at all scared of being arrested?
Or was there something she didn’t know?
Suspicious gazes fell upon Ruan Sui'an, trying to discern something from her, yet no matter how hard they looked, nothing stood out.
She was just a little tramp, perhaps dressed a bit better and prettier than most, but nothing particularly special.
Seeing Zhao Xiaoting's face full of confusion and fear, Ruan Sui'an casually uttered these words.
"Do you know the consequences of spreading rumors about the orphan of a martyr?"
What!
What did she just hear!
Zhao Xiaoting widened her eyes, panic flooding her gaze.
What had she just heard? What had this little tramp in front of her said!
She claimed to be the orphan of a martyr!
How could that be? Impossible. This little tramp must be talking nonsense.
The people around were also startled, especially those who had just accused Ruan Sui'an, who were now at a loss.
What!
This young girl was the orphan of a martyr? If that were true, then they had truly been despicable just now.
How could they speak that way about the child of a hero? How heartbreaking it would be for the martyrs who sacrificed their lives.
Those soldiers defended the country so that ordinary people like them could live in peace.
How could they bully the child of a hero?
Zhao Xiaoting quickly composed herself, trying to keep her tone as calm as possible. "You say you're the orphan of a martyr, so you are? Anyone can lie. If you keep spouting nonsense like this, I'll report you to the Public Security."
This little tramp must be lying.
"I'm not lying. I have proof," Ruan Sui'an said as she took the basket off her shoulder.
Reaching into the basket to retrieve something, she had covered it with a white cloth, so no one outside could see what was inside.
Secretly, Ruan Sui'an took out the martyr's certificate from her Space—something the original owner had always carried with her.
Holding up the martyr's certificate, she choked back tears and declared loudly and righteously, "This is my father's martyr's certificate. My father was a martyr. Insulting the orphan of a martyr like this is against the law."
The moment the martyr's certificate was revealed, everyone looked over and saw the bright red official seal on it.
One by one, they grew solemn and respectful, feeling sympathy for the young girl.
And guilt.
"Little girl, your father was a hero. As the child of a martyr, you shouldn't be slandered like this."
"Little girl, I'm sorry. We shouldn't have doubted you earlier."
"The daughter of a hero would never engage in illicit sexual relations."
Everyone grew indignant. In any era, the orphans of martyrs are treated with special care.
Then, everyone began to condemn Zhao Xiaoting.
"How could you spread rumors about the daughter of a hero? Have you no conscience?"
"Some people are protected by soldiers yet bully the children of martyrs. It's truly unacceptable."
"That's right. You should apologize to the hero's daughter."
"Yes, apologize quickly…"
"Apologize, apologize…"
…
Everyone pointed accusing fingers at Zhao Xiaoting, indignant. These people were protected by soldiers—how could they let a soldier's family be bullied?
Zhao Xiaoting never expected that the little tramp was truly the orphan of a martyr.
She finally panicked, stammering anxiously in her explanation, "I didn't know she was the orphan of a martyr. I didn't mean it, really, I didn't mean it."
How had things come to this? She was just jealous, without any real malice.
Besides, hadn't she been beaten badly enough already?
A fifty-year-old woman glared at Zhao Xiaoting indignantly, "I think you did it on purpose. You spread rumors about that young girl and slandered her with nonsense. If it wasn't intentional, what was it?"
"That girl's father sacrificed his life, and she's already pitiable enough. Yet you're here spouting nonsense. You're utterly heartless! How could the Supply and Marketing Cooperative let someone as vicious as you work here? Get your leader out here right now to give an explanation."
"That's right, get the leader out here to explain."
The other two salesclerks hadn't expected things to escalate like this. One of them hurried off to fetch the director of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
The situation had already blown up, and if it wasn't resolved soon, things would likely get worse.
Soon, the director of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative rushed over in a hurry.
The director was a woman in her forties. The salesclerk who had gone to fetch her had already explained the situation.
Actually, when she first heard about it, she hadn't taken it seriously—just some petty rivalry between young girls.
She didn't think much of it and went back to her office.
She never expected it would blow up into such a big mess. Zhao Xiaoting was her niece and originally wasn't qualified to be a salesclerk.
But her sister-in-law had pleaded with her, so she had no choice but to pull some strings to get her into the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
Who would have thought that just a few days after starting work, she'd cause such trouble?
She had always known her niece was extremely jealous and very petty.
Her sister-in-law doted on this daughter excessively, even spoiling her. At home, the girl was domineering and arrogant.
She had advised her sister-in-law to discipline the girl properly, but her sister-in-law wouldn't listen. Now look—she's caused a huge problem!
Slandering and insulting the orphan of a martyr—that could really get her sent to labor reform.
The director of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative stepped forward and apologized directly, "Young lady, I'm truly sorry you had to suffer this injustice. I'll make her apologize to you right away and compensate you with 100 yuan. Would that be acceptable?"
After saying this, the director glared fiercely at Zhao Xiaoting and said through gritted teeth, "You wretched girl, hurry up and apologize! What are you standing there like a fool for?"
Ruan Sui'an knew the woman in front of her wanted to settle the matter quietly, but she wasn't satisfied with 100 yuan.
It was far too little.
Zhao Xiaoting kept her mouth shut and refused to apologize. Why should she apologize?
It was just a few words—it wasn't like she'd lost a piece of flesh.
Besides, her own face was swollen from being hit. If anything, she was the one who suffered more, wasn't she?
Seeing Zhao Xiaoting's defiant expression, Ruan Sui'an said sarcastically, "It seems she doesn't think she did anything wrong. Maybe we should just hand the matter over to the Public Security?"
Ruan Sui'an said this deliberately, though in her heart, she didn't actually want to trouble the Public Security.
Hearing this, the director was furious. Damn that wretched girl—couldn't she just let her have some peace?
In the short time she'd been working here, she had already caused several incidents.
Before, those involved were just ordinary folks. A few kind words, a small compensation, and an apology were enough to settle things.
But today's person was the orphan of a martyr. If this wasn't handled properly, she could forget about keeping her position as director of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.
People around them pointed and whispered, their words harsh and critical.
"I say, leader, what qualifications does someone like her have to work at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative? Isn't she just tarnishing its reputation?"
"Exactly! Even if she doesn't take us seriously, what right does she have to humiliate the daughter of a hero?"
"If you don't handle this properly today, we'll go report it to the Public Security right now."
…
The head of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative was at her wit's end. Gritting her teeth, she raised her hand and slapped Zhao Xiaoting on the back of the head.
"Hurry up and apologize! Are you trying to drag me down with you? If I get disciplined because of you, I won't let you off the hook."
Damn that wretched girl, daring to provoke anyone! Couldn't she just work quietly and mind her own business?
Couldn't she rein in her jealousy?
Does everyone have to revolve around you? If you're so capable, why don't you make the sun and the earth revolve around you instead!
The head of the Supply and Marketing Cooperative was furious. She deeply regretted letting the brat work at the cooperative through backdoor connections, all because of her sister-in-law's pleading.
Otherwise, she wouldn't be facing such humiliation.