Before Su Xiaotian could explain what the letter was, she saw several people rush out, carrying various items.
There were two bags of white sugar, two cans of malted milk, a can of meat, and a small can of lard.
Additionally, there was some grain: small bags of rice, small bags of millet, some mung beans, and then white flour, cornmeal, and sweet potato flour.
Besides these, there were also two jars of jam.
Essentially, everything that could be found in the house had been searched and seized.
What surprised Su Xiaotian was that the tickets, money, and gold nuggets she had placed in the box seemed to have disappeared.
She wasn't sure if they had been embezzled by the searchers or what the situation was.
Su Xiaotian felt it must have been embezzled, after all, who wouldn't be tempted by money and tickets?
Thinking of the tickets and money being gone, Su Xiaotian felt a pang of heartache, but more than that, she felt relieved.
Getting through this difficult time was the priority; if the money and tickets were gone, she could earn them back later.
"Cadre Liu, take a look, this family really has some good things," the person who had seized the items said triumphantly, looking at Cadre Liu with an expression full of seeking praise.
"This isn't much, is it?" Su Changjiu said, "Farmers, after a year of hard work, only get this little bit..."
His voice grew quieter as he met Cadre Liu's stern gaze, eventually fading into silence.
The Su family's possessions were a bit more than others, but not outrageously so.
But Cadre Liu wouldn't let him say it!
"You're causing a lot of trouble, Captain Su. You must uphold the proletarian stance. So many good things, valuable items, do you think this is what a farming family should have? White sugar, we might not even get two jin in a whole year, but look, here are two jin." Cadre Liu's eyes also gleamed as he looked at the items.
A can of meat and a can of oil, if taken home, would be enough for his family to eat for several days.
But with everyone watching, how could he take them?
Hearing Cadre Liu say this, Su Xiaotian couldn't help but roll her eyes. What kind of talk was that?
"Does Uncle mean that farmers don't deserve to eat white sugar?" Su Xiaotian's soft voice suddenly rang out. "The leaders said that with the founding of New China, the farmers are the masters of their own destiny! How can they not even eat sugar?"
Her question seemed naive, but it was pointed.
This single sentence caused Cadre Liu's expression to sour.
When had he said farmers couldn't eat sugar? He had only said white sugar was scarce!
If he dared to say farmers didn't deserve white sugar, it would imply farmers had no status, which was a political error.
How could a little girl say something like that? She must have been taught by an adult.
He immediately shifted his gaze to Su Laosan, who was standing next to Su Xiaotian.
Just now, this man had been talking to the little girl; he must have taught her.
"What do you understand, little girl? Who taught you to say that?"
"Uncle, why would someone need to teach me? I'm asking because I don't understand. I also heard someone say that the leaders said women can hold up half the sky, and you shouldn't discriminate against girls!" Su Xiaotian's courage grew, and she spoke with full confidence, though no one knew how anxious she felt inside.
That letter might save her family, but now it wasn't even certain if the letter had been destroyed!
The people from the Su family remained silent. Others in the family couldn't say these things, but as a little girl, it didn't matter if she said them. Even if Cadre Liu had an opinion, he couldn't act against a little girl.
"Captain Su, this family is thoroughly bad. Even a little girl dares to argue with me. I represent the commune, the commune!"
"Cadre Liu, she's just a child. Perhaps, perhaps she's just confused from being scared. Please be magnanimous and don't hold it against a child!" Su Changjiu was terrified, fearing that Cadre Liu might act against Su Xiaotian.
"Children are ignorant, but are adults also ignorant?" Cadre Liu, seeing Su Changjiu's attempt to protect her, immediately reprimanded loudly, "Xiao Zhu, take two people to the cowshed. I want to see if this family is involved with the bad elements in the cowshed!"
Su Xiaotian's heart clenched again, but she couldn't stop him. She could only stand there, watching Cadre Liu intently.
Cadre Liu said triumphantly, "Little girl, tell me, does your family have any connection with the bad elements in the cowshed?"
"The cowshed is dirty and smelly!" Su Xiaotian shook her head.
With just one sentence, she expressed her disdain for the cowshed, but upon careful reflection, she hadn't said anything at all.
"Little girl, if you tell me how your grandfather and father interacted with the people in the cowshed, I'll give you candy!"
Everyone present changed their expressions. They had seen shameless people, but never someone so shameless. He was trying to lure a little girl with candy; if Su Xiaotian said anything unfavorable that could be used against them, the Su family would truly be finished.
Several people from the production team looked at Su Xiaotian with worry, fearing that the child might not be able to resist and say something.
"Uncle will give me candy," Su Xiaotian shook her head and said. "Uncle gave me candy coupons, and Grandpa said he would buy candy for Xiaotian to eat."
No one understood what Su Xiaotian meant by her words: what did Grandpa giving candy mean, and what did Grandpa say about buying candy for Xiaotian?
Cadre Liu looked at the wavering Grandpa Su and said with a cold smile, "Your grandfather can give you candy? Little girl, your grandfather has no candy."
"Uncle has candy!" Su Xiaotian said as if it were obvious.
Su Changjiu immediately understood. Su Xiaotian was referring to the leader from the province.
Even Su Xiaotian knew about it, which suggested that the leader might have expressed something.
"Cadre Liu, why don't we investigate Su Chuan's relationship with the province again? What if..."
Cadre Liu didn't believe it. A joke! If they really had someone in the province, why hadn't anyone come to see this old man?
It must be that this family had something to hide and had fabricated such a backer.
Did he think he was a fool? He wouldn't believe this.
"Look, they say this family has no problems, but even such a young child can lie. What city uncle? Who can prove it?"
"Xiaotian isn't lying, she's not lying," Su Xiaotian shook her head aggrievedly.
Grandpa Su couldn't bear to see his granddaughter wronged and immediately reached out to hug Su Xiaotian.
"Su Chuan, you'd better confess honestly. What is your relationship with those people in the cowshed?"
Grandpa Su shook his head firmly: "No relationship, they just live in the cowshed, and I've seen them twice!"
It wasn't many people in the production team who had contact with the cowshed, but several families had sent food to the people in the cowshed, including Captain Su Changjiu himself.
Therefore, Grandpa Su couldn't understand who would want to ruin them by reporting this.
Professor Chi's days were already difficult, and after this incident, they would likely become even harder.
But before Grandpa Su could worry about the lives of the Chi family and their grandson, he heard a sentence that made his eyes split with rage.