Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 863 Arrangements for Zhang Fu

Zhang Fu stared straight ahead and said, "Sigh, I guess I've been to the palace now, so I'm destined to make my way in the world. I'm not mentally prepared yet, I don't even have a nickname."

Xiao Wei turned to look at him: "Three days of administrative detention counts as being in jail? Want to actually experience it? If you want to go, I can find someone. It doesn't matter if it's a labor camp, a reformatory, or a detention center. You can decide the duration yourself—three months, six months, three to five years, it's all fine. Are you in or not?"

Zhang Fu said, "What's the difference? I've already experienced it; I've tasted it."

Xiao Wei turned around and walked back: "Alright, that's fine, we don't need to go back anyway. I'll just send you to a labor camp for six months so you can have a good experience."

Zhang Fu broke down, grabbing the handrail and crying, "Brother, brother, I was wrong, I admit it. I'm not going."

Xiao Wei glared at Zhang Fu: "I've discovered that all you're good for is causing trouble, and you're even putting on an act. A real coward like you could be tortured to death if you actually went in. Even in detention, you act like a complete coward. Do you know I came to see you yesterday? Look at you, where's your guts?"

Zhang Fu said, "Brother, who's not afraid to come in here? I've never even been in a fight."

Xiao Wei said, "Then why do you always act like a gangster? Can't you just do something normal and honest? You were told not to go to the pager shop, but you insisted on going. To make money. Did you make any this time? Three days in detention and a 1,500 yuan fine. Do you have the money to pay? Let me tell you, you haven't run into anyone unreasonable yet. This kind of thing would be perfectly normal for you to be sent to a labor camp, understand?"

Zhang Fu was stunned for a moment: "I'm already locked up, and I still have to pay a fine? That's just unreasonable."

Xiao Wei said, "Did they beg you to break the law?"

Zhang Fu stared outside without saying a word. Xiao Wei said, "That's the minimum. Three days in detention and a 1,500 yuan fine. For your case, ten pagers, isn't that 10,000 yuan? A three-year sentence and a 5,000 yuan fine would be perfectly justified, understand?"

Zhang Fu said, "Why should I? I didn't steal it."

Xiao Wei parked the car on the side of the road, looked at Zhang Fu, and asked, "Who stole it? Can you name the thief? If someone else stole it, why is it on you?"

Zhang Fu said, "I'm just helping out by taking care of them, aren't I?"

Xiao Wei said, "Helping to move stolen goods is considered as committing a crime together with the thief. Don't you understand this principle? If you help deliver a knife and someone commits murder, it's the same thing, understand?"

Zhang Fu, you're not a kid anymore. Tell me, what legitimate work have you ever done? How much money have you ever made? Besides thinking you're something special, what other skills do you have? You spend all your time hanging out on the streets, how much money have you made?

You always talk about making a lot of money, getting rich, and all that. Do you think getting rich is just about talking and dreaming? Are you the only person in the whole world who can get rich without doing anything hard or putting in any effort?

"What are you planning to do in the future? Just live off my grandparents' money? Live a carefree life. But what if they die one day? Who will you ask then? You're a grown man, acting all high and mighty outside, all you do is come home and beg for money. Aren't you ashamed?"

Zhang Fu looked outside without saying a word. After a long while, he said, "Isn't this why I'm supposed to work for you?"

Xiao Wei said, "How many days can you work? I'm only doing this to give face to my parents. Do you want the truth? I'd rather spend double the salary to hire someone from outside than hire you, understand? What can you do? Can you endure hardship or toil? Are you obedient?"

Zhang Fu didn't say anything, and Xiao Wei started the car and drove back.

"Hey you, have they come over yet?" Zhang Fu asked.

Xiao Wei said, "You're here. You've already been assigned to the workshop. Those two are better than you, more obedient, and can do whatever they're told. People like that have a chance to succeed in the future. You can't live by just talking or imagining, understand?"

After a long pause, Zhang Fujie finally said, "I can do it."

Xiao Wei took Zhang Fu to buy him a new outfit, then took him to take a shower, cut his hair, and tidied him up before driving home. Zhang Fu was still in good condition with his old clothes and shoes; he didn't throw them away but packed them in the bag with the new clothes, which made Xiao Wei a little more satisfied.

Back home, the old lady wiped away her tears, and the old man didn't say anything, but took out the bill and money and placed them in front of Zhang Fu.

This was probably the first time in Zhang Fu's life that he had ever received 1,500 yuan. He was truly distressed; the money no longer belonged to him, but had to be given to someone else.

He held the money and looked down at it for a long time, then turned to Xiaowei and said, "Brother, can you find someone to help us? Can we skip paying this fine? It would take my family at least half a year to earn this 1,500 yuan. Now we have no land, and my dad has injured his back. Coming to the city costs money for everything, and every penny spent is a penny less."

Xiao Wei said, "Heh, I get it now. That's a very apt way to put it."

Zhang Fu said, "If you really won't pay, I'll just keep you detained. Anyway, I don't have any money." He put the money on the coffee table and put the receipt in his pocket.

Actually, Xiaowei had already made arrangements and taken care of everything. Otherwise, how could it have dragged on until now? How could someone be released if the fine wasn't paid in full?

The old man glanced at Zhang Fu and asked, "Are you planning to go back to the county or stay here to work?"

Zhang Fu said, "I go to work to earn money to support you all."

The old man chuckled, glared at the beaming old woman beside him, and said, "Are you sure you can do it? If you run away after a few days, you won't even be able to set foot in your second uncle's house anymore. Think it over."

Zhang Fu looked down at the money on the coffee table and said, "I can do it."

Xiao Wei said, "It's the same as we agreed before. You'll work as a delivery driver for six months, okay? Can you handle it? If you perform well for six months and everyone says Zhang Fu is a capable guy, I'll give you a different job. Otherwise, you can leave, okay?"

Zhang Fu thought for a moment and nodded.

Xiao Wei said, "Let me give you a sneak peek. We've built quite a few shopping malls and hotels outside, and they all need managers. In Longcheng, we have a billiards hall there, but we don't have anyone there right now. There are plenty of lucrative jobs; it all depends on your performance over the next six months. If you perform well, you can choose for yourself; if you don't, we'll part ways, okay?"

Zhang Fu nodded: "Okay."

The old lady was overjoyed, as if her son had made something of himself. She got up and went to the kitchen, saying, "Mom will make you some food. Have you not been eating well these past few days? Yesterday, your second uncle's pig came out of the market. The meat was delicious."

It seemed like everything had been prepared in advance: rice, vegetables, soup, garlic, cilantro—and soon half the table was cleared away for a meal. Parents' hearts are always full of love and sacrifice; even someone as known for being lazy and gluttonous as the aunt would do anything for her son, practically giving her her heart.

Zhang Fu glanced at Xiao Wei, who said, "Why are you looking at me? Just eat what your auntie made for you. This is your home. Eat up, and then come to my office."

(End of this chapter)