Wu Jun's family farmed for a living, growing fruit to sell.
Although they were farmers, their income was actually quite good, bringing in around two hundred thousand yuan a year in total.
So Tao Jia had simply quit her low-paying job to farm with her husband.
Whatever the line of work, once people made money and started living comfortably, they naturally attracted others' jealousy.
Sure enough, an old woman in the village had set her sights on their melons and fruit, coming over to steal some every few days.
At first, she only pilfered a little in the middle of the night. After catching her a few times, the couple took pity on her poor circumstances and let it go, treating it as helping an elderly woman get some nutrition rather than holding her accountable.
But look how that turned out. Their kindness was taken for weakness, and she only grew more brazen.
First, she switched from coming at night to coming during the day, and from stealing to openly helping herself.
Then, on one occasion, the old woman not only took some herself but brought her grandson along to take some too.
That would not really have been such a big deal. Even if they let you eat your fill, how much could you possibly eat?
But what the old woman said to her grandson that day thoroughly enraged the couple, who had been working in the fields.
"...That old woman told her grandson, 'The melons and fruit here are all free. Whenever you want some, just come pick them yourself.'"
"Her grandson asked, 'Can I pick extra to share with my classmates?'"
"And then that old woman actually said, 'Take as much as you want. You'd be a fool not to take advantage of a freebie.'"
"Master Xiao,