CHAPTER 70: CHAPTER 70: SONG JIAJIA LEFT WITHOUT SUPPORT

Most of the onlookers sided with that woman.

"Comrade, your clothes are way too expensive; what kind of clothes sell for twenty?"

"Exactly, where do you see clothes that expensive? A new dress wouldn’t even cost twenty, and you’ve worn these, yet you’re still selling them for twenty. Are you trying to rip people off?"

"And you’re forcing people to buy them, how can you be like that?"

"Buying and selling is a mutual agreement; how can you force a sale?"

Even though some wanted to speak up for Song Jiajia, they were too few. Most people chose to believe that woman.

Song Jiajia felt isolated and helpless, "I spent fifty yuan on this dress and only wore it once. It’s as good as new; twenty yuan is already very cheap."

"Who believes you? Then tell us where you bought it for such a high price?"

Song Jiajia: "I bought it in Sea City, and it’s the only one in the whole city!"

"Just because you say so, how can you prove it?" the woman questioned.

Song Jiajia was speechless. How could she prove it? This wasn’t Sea City, and she couldn’t take them to the mall to check.

How could she prove it?

"You said you bought it in Sea City, but we don’t know. You can claim whatever price; you might even say it’s a hundred yuan."

Song Jiajia was both angry and anxious, but she couldn’t utter a word.

"But you’ve dirtied my clothes; you must buy them," Song Jiajia said, holding the dress.

The woman seemed sharp and said, "I believe you must be having difficulties to be out selling clothes.

But you can’t just ask for money like that; twenty yuan is my month’s grocery money. I wanted to buy clothes from you to help, but you asked for twenty yuan upfront. How would I have that money?"

The woman helplessly shook her head.

This made the surrounding people even more inclined to take the woman’s side.

"Yes, she was just trying to help, how could you do this?"

"Some people just can’t be helped. She looks young but has so many schemes."

Song Jiajia was about to explode with anger but realized the situation in front of her.

These people were obviously siding with the woman; they were in cahoots.

"What do you want now?" Song Jiajia asked unwillingly.

She could only choose to back down now.

A glint flashed in the woman’s eyes, "I feel sorry for you, seeing you must be in a tough spot. How about this, I’ll buy the dress for five yuan, alright?"

Song Jiajia’s eyes were filled with reluctance and resentment.

The woman wasn’t in a hurry, her eyes like mung beans watching Song Jiajia, a smile on her lips.

She seemed very kind, but her eyes were filled with calculation.

"Okay!" Song Jiajia clenched her teeth and said.

The woman laughed, "Now that’s the spirit."

Finally, the woman bought the dress for five yuan. It’s just a bit of a snot stain, right?

Wash it out, and it’s fine, saving a lot of money too.

Glad she let her son assign the task of buying new clothes to her.

She was given fifty yuan, and this dress was absolutely worth fifty.

She could still keep forty-five yuan.

The woman happily gave Song Jiajia five yuan, took the dress, and left.

Song Jiajia held the five yuan, tears streaming down her face.

The onlookers saw the woman leave with the dress, and Song Jiajia cried, so they quickly dispersed.

Afraid she’d pin the blame on them too.

With the commotion, no one else came to buy clothes. Song Jiajia packed up the remaining clothes.

She spent one yuan on a bowl of noodles before returning to the inn.

She planned to call Chen Jinlan the next day; if she called now, Song Zhenhua would definitely be there.

She couldn’t let Song Zhenhua know about this.

As for Lu Hao, she didn’t care about him now.

At night, just as Song Jiajia was about to fall asleep, Lu Hao returned.

Lu Hao kicked the bed where Song Jiajia lay, "Give me some money."

Lu Hao wandered around for hours and found nothing to eat.

He couldn’t understand what people were saying, so he returned to the inn, intending to ask Song Jiajia for money.

Song Jiajia turned over, "I don’t have any money."

Lu Hao, frustrated, "How could you not have money? Hurry and give me some, I’m starving."

He hadn’t eaten since lunch and hadn’t even had water, making Lu Hao irritated with hunger.

"I told you, I don’t have any money!" Song Jiajia said impatiently.

Lu Hao started rummaging through the luggage, making a mess.

Song Jiajia felt the remaining four yuan in her pocket, closed her eyes, and ignored Lu Hao.

After a long search, Lu Hao finally stopped.

Song Jiajia had fallen asleep; she was too tired.

She only heard Lu Hao cursing twice before there was silence.

Failing to find any money, not a cent, Lu Hao ended up drinking some water at the public bathhouse.

...

The next day at noon, when Song Jiajia woke up, she saw Lu Hao standing by the bed.

Song Jiajia was startled because Lu Hao’s hair and clothes were a mess.

"What do you want?" Song Jiajia asked irritably.

"Call your parents!" Lu Hao’s eyes were sinister, his face sullen.

Lu Hao had enough; he hadn’t eaten yesterday and couldn’t sleep from hunger.

Seeing Song Jiajia sleeping soundly, he wished he could kill her,

so he stood by the bed all night, staring at Song Jiajia with dead eyes.

Song Jiajia was scared of Lu Hao now, feeling he was on the verge of madness.

"I- I don’t want to." Song Jiajia could call, but didn’t want to involve Lu Hao.

Lu Hao lunged at Song Jiajia, gripping her neck tightly.

"Will you call?" He pressed harder.

Song Jiajia found it increasingly hard to breathe.

She struggled, hitting Lu Hao.

Lu Hao had no intention of letting go; he only tightened his grip.

His words pushed through clenched teeth, "Will you call?"

Song Jiajia’s face started turning blue, and her vision blurred.

If she didn’t agree, Lu Hao would really strangle her.

She nodded slowly.

Only then did Lu Hao release her.

Once freed, Song Jiajia gasped for fresh air.

A dark ring marked her neck, a sign Lu Hao hadn’t held back.

"Call your parents now and ask for money!" Lu Hao ordered coldly.

Song Jiajia looked at Lu Hao with terrified eyes and said, "I-I understand."

Lu Hao followed Song Jiajia down to the first floor, where they asked the attendant to use the phone.

Trembling, Song Jiajia picked up the phone and dialed home.

After a long wait, the call connected to Song Zhenhua’s house.

Chen Jinlan answered the phone.

"Hello, who’s there?"

Upon hearing Chen Jinlan’s voice, Song Jiajia burst into tears.

Chen Jinlan frowned, puzzled, listening for a moment before asking, "Is that Jiajia?"