Meanwhile, Sheldon had visited several nearby supermarkets, but he couldn't find the whole wheat bread he liked.
As dinner time approached, he returned home feeling depressed.
"Hello, do you know the girls from The Plastics?" The female reporter, who had been waiting outside the Cooper family's yard, approached Sheldon when he returned.
"Of course, I've seen their performance. And they used to come here often to find Mike…" Sheldon, still feeling down, answered truthfully without thinking.
"The Mike you're talking about, is he the Mike who wrote songs for The Plastics?" The female reporter's eyes lit up, realizing she had stumbled upon a scoop.
Several other reporters nearby also gathered around, drawn by the news.
"Excuse me, do you know what Mike's relationship with The Plastics is?"
"Are any of them boyfriends or girlfriends…"
…
Sheldon, who suffered from trypophobia, looked at the crowd asking various questions, and his head started to spin. His phobia was on the verge of acting up.
Feeling very uncomfortable, he immediately wanted to avoid the crowd and escape.
However, just as Sheldon was about to "flee," he caught a glimpse of the press passes hanging around the necks of the people in front of him.
"We can talk about Mike and their affairs later…"
Sheldon suppressed his discomfort and stopped, a clever plan forming in his mind: "I have something big here that concerns people's health. Are you interested in knowing?"
Yes, he planned to use the reporters' power to expose the food company's "unethical" behavior.
However, Sheldon's young age made his words unconvincing.
It made sense; what big news could a child have?
Among the group of reporters, only the female reporter remained curious, asking, "Oh, what kind of big deal is it?"
The female reporter, being more emotionally perceptive, thought of building a good relationship with him first, then finding an opportunity to get information.
In her opinion, innocent children were easier to trick than adults.
"I want to complain about and condemn Happy Hearth Home Bakeries. Their sweet bread will harm people's health…" Sheldon, still unaware of the dangers of human nature, proceeded with his exposure plan.
"Can you elaborate?"
Happy Hearth Home Bakeries was not small in scale, and the keen female reporter, sensing a big story, continued to prod.
"Happy Hearth Home Bakeries's old whole wheat bread packaging used to say—'Providing energy for your health'…"
"But now, without everyone's permission, they have secretly changed the bread's recipe, using unhealthy ingredients like refined flour, saccharin, and artificial colors…"
"For everyone's health, I strongly suggest that Happy Hearth Home Bakeries resume selling the old whole wheat bread."
Sheldon, unaware of the seriousness of the issue, poured out all his dissatisfaction and demands regarding the food company.
Camel Food Company developed by taking a populist approach. From a democratic standpoint, Sheldon's demands were not too excessive.
However, what reporters are best at is taking things out of context.
"So, you mean the food company should listen to your opinion?" Beside him, another reporter who also sensed something different, asked slyly.
"Yes, I've studied their company's development history. Camel brand food was able to develop precisely because it had a good public base, so they should continue to maintain this point…" Sheldon spoke eloquently.
"Can I interpret that as you supporting communism more?" The previous reporter asked an even sharper question.
America's development history is not long, and now, relying on capital manipulation, the nation is in a period of rapid development.
However, another ancient country across the ocean, relying on different ideologies, is also in a period of rapid development.
This situation made America feel very insecure from top to bottom, which also led to the widespread belief in the "great power threat" theory.
To put it simply, it's about different living habits. To put it broadly, it's about competition between nations.
Under this situation, that reporter's question was clearly ill-intentioned.
Although Sheldon had an awkward personality, he was definitely an out-and-out genius. He quickly realized that something was amiss.
However, with a rigorous attitude, Sheldon still replied, "There's nothing wrong with collecting everyone's opinions and meeting everyone's needs…"
…
While Sheldon was expressing his opinions, George, who was observing the situation outside from the Cooper family's living room, also noticed the commotion.
"Hey, Sheldon seems to be in trouble." George, also unaware of the seriousness of the issue, looked gleeful.
"Shut up, George." Mary, who was waiting for dinner, instructed her eldest son, "Go get your brother."
George, having been tormented by reporters before, still wanted to watch Sheldon's predicament for a bit longer.
But upon seeing his mother's grim expression, he wisely walked out.
However, it wasn't long before he ran back, looking panicked.
"What's wrong, Georgie? Where's Sheldon?" Mary, who was calling everyone to the dining room, asked, displeased by her eldest son's frantic appearance.
"Something, something big happened…" Georgie didn't know how to describe the situation outside and said anxiously, "You'll know if you go out and see. Sheldon is in big trouble this time."
Although Georgie was usually unreliable, he would never joke around at a time like this, and he couldn't act so realistically.
So, Mary, worried about her younger son, pulled her husband and walked outside.
"Come on, let's go out and see too—" Connie, who knew reporters were difficult to deal with, also became serious.
…
"What is your opinion of America?"
"What do you think of communism…"
Outside the Cooper family's yard, the reporters, realizing they had dug up a big story, became more and more excited.
All sorts of strange questions were thrown at Sheldon one after another.
Mary, who had just stepped out, suddenly felt her legs go weak after hearing the reporters' questions clearly.
The questions asked by the reporters could be minor or major.
One wrong answer could label someone a national traitor.
"What should we do, Georgie?" Looking at her younger son being led on by the crowd, Mary felt fear in her heart.
"Don't worry, it might not be that serious…" Georgie, supporting his wife, softly comforted her.
However, his slightly trembling hands showed that he was also very uncertain at the moment.
"This trouble is big…" Paige, who followed them out, also expressed her opinion, looking at Sheldon's predicament not far away.
"Alright, let's think about how to get through this." Mike patted the little girl's head and then walked out of the yard.
Strictly speaking, those reporters could be said to have come here looking for Mike, and Sheldon was an innocent victim.
Moreover, the current problem was no longer just Sheldon's alone.
If the trouble continued to escalate, the Coopers, and even Connie and the others, might all be implicated.
"Sheldon, you go to the back inside first." Mike pushed his way through the crowd and pulled Sheldon behind him.
Even if the trouble couldn't be resolved immediately, it couldn't be allowed to expand further.
Keeping Sheldon away from the reporters would effectively control this.
Sheldon, who didn't know how to deal with reporters anyway, immediately fled back into the yard after receiving Mike's instruction.
The reporters, who only wanted a big story, saw their news target leave. So, they threw all their previous questions at Mike.
"Everyone, calm down. Sheldon's statements just now were just a child's nonsense and shouldn't be taken seriously…" Mike was not misled by the reporters' rhythm and tried to explain for Sheldon.
Fortunately, Sheldon's age gave him an extra layer of protection.
After all, the phrase "He's just a child" is very convincing.
"Who taught that child to say those things… Is there a problem with his family education?"
Behind every mischievous child, there's always an instigator; this situation is applicable everywhere.
Realizing that Mike was changing the subject, the reporters cleverly directed their questions towards Sheldon's family.
"There's no problem with Sheldon's family education; he just has an opinion about the food company's bread…" Mike calmly circled around the reporters.
…
At the same time, Sheldon, who had returned to the yard, was also being questioned by Mary.
"Alright, stop blaming Sheldon. We should resolve the immediate trouble first…"
Connie, who had been through many storms, grasped the crux of the problem: "Mary, George, both of you come with me. We need some props…"
Soon, under Connie's direction, Georgie hung a Star-Spangled Banner at the door.
The Coopers also put on clothes and accessories with national elements.
Especially Sheldon, wearing a top hat, he cosplayed as an American uncle.
Afterward, the group lined up neatly at the yard gate and began singing "The Star-Spangled Banner."
Facts proved that as long as you use your brain, there are always more solutions than problems.
Amidst the singing, the reporters also fell silent.