After a little time, she chose one of the most expensive dresses in the shop and handed it to an assistant who wrapped it up for her as quickly as possible. Then the woman simply took the parcel and walked out of the shop without paying. When she was arrested, the detective found out that the shop assistant was her daughter. The girl 'gave' her mother a free dress once a week!

1) after a time, 这里的time看作可数的，既然可数，为什么不是after a few time, 却说成after a little time 呢？

2)  the woman simply took the parcel 这个simply究竟是什么意思，很难理解？另外，found out that the shop assistant was her daughter. 按理，应该是说成 had been her daughter 吗？如果这样说，是否正确？为什么？