Every time they opened their mouths, they called them "the melon stealers."
It was said that when their family members went to the town market, other people recognized them and would bad-mouth them behind their backs.
"Third Brother, our village's reputation is completely ruined now. The vegetables from our fields are taken to the market, but no one buys them."
"Yeah, my daughter-in-law went to buy fish today, and the shopkeeper refused to sell to her when he saw her."
"My tricycle broke down today, and when I went to town to get it fixed, the repair shop owner flat out refused to do business with me."
"Who exactly is slandering our village?"
"..."
The crowd looked at Zhao Dezhu, their faces livid with anger.
That afternoon, they had had enough.
Some people had been to town and experienced firsthand the "special treatment" others gave their village.
They said their village specialized in producing thieves.
