As the number of laid-off workers increased, many state-owned factories began to close their doors one by one, leading to a rise in petty theft and even robberies.
"Another cashier was robbed yesterday. And there was an old woman wearing gold earrings—as she passed an alleyway, someone just snatched them right off her ears. It was bloody, but thankfully someone saw it and helped get her to the hospital," they said.
Lately, everyone was discussing these issues. Even though state-owned enterprises were struggling, private businesses and small-scale traders were becoming increasingly common.
Chapter 199