Chapter 109: |
After browsing through the "Trading Report" for a while, Lin Qi picked up a local newspaper. Most of the information in the Trading Report pertained to macro-level changes, which didn't have much relevance for Lin Qi at the moment.
Instead, local newspapers provided him with some important information, allowing him to quickly grasp local changes.
For instance, a few more factories had closed down, leading to a surge of unemployed workers taking to the streets, making the already unsafe environment even more precarious.
Or a certain household's male cat unexpectedly got pregnant, its bulging belly suggesting it was about to give birth soon. The cat owner reportedly even hired a special nurse to care for the pregnant male cat.
Or a milker on the farm claimed he had been abducted by aliens. The aliens took away a clump of hair from his leg and then released him. With the help of a painter, he even drew the shape of the alien spaceship and the appearance of the aliens.
Or…
Lin Qi glanced at the table of contents, flipping to the middle section of the local news of the newspaper. There was a small piece of news stating that Michael, the former head of the tax bureau investigation team, who had recently been transferred to serve his sentence in another prison, admitted to asking his child to take on some responsibilities for him in order to evade legal prosecution.
Having realised his wrongdoing, he turned himself in to the prison authorities and received his additional sentence yesterday.
Michael Junior was acquitted, but Michael's sentence was increased by forty months, which was three years and four months. With the extended sentence, even if Director Johnson wanted to utilize the "Special Talent Recruitment Act" to release Michael, it seemed like he would unlikely have the opportunity to do so.
But it was also possible that he would no longer have the ability to do so. After all, a warehouse manager couldn't possibly have the authority to utilise such an act, even if he was ostensibly promoted to the state office of the tax bureau.
This was a deal of uncertain worth.
Perhaps it had different values in different people's eyes. For example, in the eyes of Michael and his wife, at least this deal was worthwhile. Michael Junior would be out of prison a few months earlier than expected, and he even obtained the crucial judgment of "innocence".
The state court had considered some specific circumstances, believing that if Michael asked Michael Junior to do something, as his son, it would be difficult for Michael Junior to refuse. Combined with Michael Junior's age, charges of harboring a fugitive and perjury did not stand, and the state court judge gave Michael Junior an "innocent" verdict in a very humane manner.
This also meant that the blot on Michael Junior's life, which had originally fallen on his record, was completely erased due to this judgment and Michael's additional three years of imprisonment.
His life trajectory had undergone some changes.
Just as Lin Qi expressed his indignation and a certain degree of humanitarian sympathy for Michael's plight with a disdainful twist of his mouth, the doorbell rang.
Lin Qi set down the newspaper, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and walked towards the living room. The maid quickly tidied up the items on the dining table and went to open the door for Lin Qi.
A good job was very rare these days, let alone a job that only required cleaning. Whenever Lin Qi wasn't home, she would lie on the sofa watching TV to pass the time, not to mention that she still received a decent salary every month. She valued this job very much, which was also the reason why she wanted to talk to Lin Qi privately. She hoped to stay here longer.
The door of the house was quickly opened, and Director Johnson, standing outside the door, was stunned when he saw the maid's attire, then quickly averted his gaze.
Who knew if Lin Qi had some strange quirks. In case he annoyed Lin Qi by staring at his maid too much, or if something unexpected happened, he really wouldn't be able to explain himself.
After a brief inquiry, the maid led Director Johnson to the living room and then left on her own initiative.
"I just saw you in the newspaper," Lin Qi said with a smile after shaking hands with Director Johnson and sitting back down.
"So, what can I do for you?" While leaning back with a smile on his face and crossing his legs, he said.
It appeared to be a very normal demeanor, but Director Johnson sensed a certain aura hidden beneath Lin Qi's smile, something indescribable.
Perhaps, it was aloof, but there was also a hint of arrogance; regardless, it was not easy to describe.
His remarks, his expression, were all perfunctory; Director Johnson was quite sure of this.
He didn't pay attention to Lin Qi's act but rather asked strangely, "Did I make it to the newspaper?"
According to an unwritten rule, media outlets would typically refrain from publishing anything about local authority figures or presenting them to the public without their prior approval.
On the one hand, it was to maintain and protect their mystery, and on the other hand, it was to avoid trouble.
There were always many lunatics in this world who would never consider whether what they were doing was in accordance with the rules. They would only do what they wanted, including harassing people they perceived to have harmed them, even if that wasn't the case.
Lin Qi nodded. "I saw that Michael's sentence was increased…"
When he heard this, Director Johnson scratched his head and said with a bitter smile, "I knew I couldn't hide it from you. Yes, I did it, and it's also related to the intention of my visit this time."
Lin Qi nodded slightly, signaling him to continue speaking, and at the same time, he realized Director Johnson's purpose of visiting him.
But he wouldn't say it proactively; some words, if he said them himself, might be more valuable, but sometimes, if he said them himself, they might not have a good effect.
With both Michael and his son, Michael Junior, behind the bar, Michael's wife may still be uncertain how to face the sudden changes in her lives, especially since no one in her family had the ability to alter the situation.
The only one who could change it, and had the ability to do so was Michael's old boss, Director Johnson.
Lin Qi wouldn't suspect it was Michael's colleagues who did it. No matter the circumstances under which they may have betrayed Michael, they wouldn't allow themselves to be associated with him again. Only Director Johnson was different.
Unlike them, Director Johnson was a good man, and sometimes being too kind was hard to say whether it was right or wrong.
After hesitating for a while, Director Johnson sighed somewhat helplessly. "I saw Michael a few days ago. He said this matter will end here. At the same time, he regrets what he did to you before and asked me to convey his apologies to you, hoping you can forgive him…"
Lin Qi nodded to indicate that he understood, but from his unchanged expression, it seemed that he didn't care much about Michael's statement.
Indeed, ten years later, one would be a just released prisoner, and the other might be even more successful; they would no longer have any chance of relevance to each other. So why should he care?
But some things still needed to be resolved. Director Johnson continued, gritting his teeth, "In order to resolve this matter… We spent quite a bit of money on it. After Michael Junior comes out, he'll need to transfer to another school for further studies. Coupled with other expenses…"
Director Johnson subconsciously rubbed his hands. To be honest, he might not be an outstanding person, but he had hardly ever broken the law, let alone done something like this today.
Upon hearing this, Lin Qi realized it was about enough. He first expressed his attitude, "I have no business with Michael, nor is he my friend. Even if his wife and children have to beg on the roadside, it's what they deserve."
"But…" He shifted his focus, "Between you and me, Director Johnson, we're good friends. When you're in trouble, I'm willing to help you. It's not because of Michael or other nonsense; it's because of you, Director Johnson."
Lin Qi's words left him somewhat irritated, somewhat resigned, yet also with a strange, inexplicable sense of satisfaction.
In fact, when anyone's value was affirmed by others, especially when it was given a higher affirmation, they would be happy about it.
"I don't know…" Director Johnson was a little lost.
Lin Qi then took out a checkbook, wrote down a number, and handed it over. "Since it's you, out of humanity and compassion, I'm willing to assist this poor family, but I need someone to supervise the use of this money and distribute it to them gradually. Do you have time to do this, Director Johnson?"Please vote for this novel at https://www.novelupdates.com/series/blackstone-code/There are advance chapters available nowAccess will be granted 24 hours after the donationTier 1: 7 Advance chapters Link
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