Chapter 108 Unrepentant
He Shu and his godfather had finished shopping and returned to the hotel. When they heard his uncle say that Zhang Qiang had been brought out, they immediately told Uncle Zhang the good news.
Then the three of them waited in the hotel. After about an hour, Qi Zhijun led Zhang Qiang and knocked on the door of the room.
When Uncle Zhang saw that Zhang Qiang had lost a lot of weight in just a few months and his clothes were dirty, his heart softened immediately.
However, after Qi Zhijun finished explaining the whole story, Uncle Zhang was so angry that he slapped Zhang Qiang in the face.
When Zhang Qiang was first taken to the police station, he was very scared and didn't dare to say a word.
When Qi Zhijun took him away, he didn't know what would happen to him. Qi Zhijun didn't talk to him, and he didn't even dare to ask.
Zhang Qiang finally came to his senses after arriving at the hotel and seeing his father, but he was beaten by his father in front of so many people.
"Why did you hit me? Didn't I just want to make more money?"
"You make money ? What money did you make? Did you cheat me?" Uncle Zhang was so angry that his heart ached. He was still holding on to illusions before he came.
Even if Zhang Qiang can't find a job here or has trouble working, he can accept it.
Even if Zhang Qiang really joined a pyramid scheme and was controlled by someone, he could understand it, but what Zhang Qiang said now clearly showed that he has not yet realized his mistake.
"Did I cheat you out of your money? I was investing, you don't understand!" Zhang Qiang yelled, "You always say I'm not good enough, don't I just want to show you something?"
"If you support me in doing business, would I think of traveling so far to make money?"
Seeing that Uncle Zhang was so angry that he couldn't speak, He Shu helped Uncle Zhang to sit down on the bed.
"Brother, that pyramid scheme that asked you to invest is a lie. They are making money from the money you cheated from your family."
Uncle Zhang pointed at He Shu and said to Zhang Qiang: "Look, look, people who are much younger than you understand this principle, why are you so..."
"That's enough!" Zhang Qiang interrupted Uncle Zhang: "Why do you come to me if you think I'm useless? You don't have to worry about me dying outside."
When Uncle Zhang heard this, he was really hurt and couldn't say another word.
Zhao Qishui didn't care about that and went up to slap Zhang Qiang twice. Zhang Qiang wanted to fight back, but Qi Zhijun kicked him aside.
"Do you think it's your father who's holding you back from making money?"
Zhang Qiang was kicked down and lay on the ground, shouting, "What did he give me? Other families buy cars and houses for their children, but what about me? What do I have?"
“Did you know that’s a pyramid scheme?”
"So what if it's a pyramid scheme ? As long as you can make money, what's wrong with that?"
"Okay." Qi Zhijun stepped forward, pulled Zhang Qiang up, and then said to Lao Zhang: "I brought him out before thinking he was a victim. Since he knows this is illegal but still insists on doing it, he is engaged in pyramid selling. I will take him back and punish him according to the regulations."
When Uncle Zhang heard that Zhang Qiang was going to be arrested, he didn't care about being angry and wanted to plead for his son.
Zhao Qishui couldn't stand it anymore and grabbed Lao Zhang: "Don't be confused, if you don't know how to deal with it, call the police!"
Qi Zhijun took Zhang Qiang away without waiting for them to discuss. Zhang Qiang wanted to resist, but he was in Qi Zhijun's hands, so how could he resist?
Uncle Zhang followed Qi Zhijun all the way out, and when he saw Qi Zhijun taking Zhang Qiang into the car, he was so anxious that tears came to his eyes.
"Oh, will there be a sentence?"
He Shu had been watching this farce. He was a junior and it was difficult for him to interrupt, but at this moment he also felt that the reason why Zhang Qiang became like this was because Uncle Zhang doted on him too much.
"Uncle Zhang, don't worry, I'll ask my uncle later."
After hearing what He Shu said, Uncle Zhang could only stand at the door of the hotel and cry: "It's all my fault, it's all my fault..."
Zhao Qishui, the godfather, lit a cigarette at the side: "It's not all your fault. Look, you came all the way here just because you were worried about him. Do you think he appreciates it now?"
"If you ask me, it's better to lock him up. Lao Zhang, don't be reluctant. If he continues like this, who knows what bad things he will do to others in the future."
Uncle Zhang was reluctant but what could he do? After being persuaded by Zhao Qishui and He Shu, he returned to his room.
He Shu stayed in the hotel at night. It was a standard double room with two beds, but He Shu and Zhao Qishui could sleep in one bed.
Because of Zhang Qiang's matter, both godfather and Uncle Zhang were in a bad mood. They didn't talk much and just lay down.
That night, I could only hear Uncle Zhang tossing and turning, or groaning from time to time because of his back pain. I didn't know if he actually slept for a while.
The next morning, He Shu accompanied his godfather and Uncle Zhang to have breakfast downstairs in the hotel. His uncle Qi Zhijun called and said that Zhang Qiang would be detained for 15 days but would not be fined.
Uncle Zhang felt relieved when he heard that he would not be sentenced to jail.
In fact, I don’t know was really because Zhang Qiang broke the law or because of his uncle.
But He Shu thought it was a good thing and hoped that the fifteen days of education would make him sober up and at least not blame all his incompetence on his father.
"Lao Zhang, we are already in Dadu, so it's a good opportunity for you to go and check your waist."
Seeing that Uncle Zhang had difficulty getting up and sitting down, his godfather wanted to take him to a big hospital for a thorough check-up.
But Uncle Zhang had no money left, so when he came, his godfather bought the plane tickets.
He had to go. Zhao Qishui was a person who would completely ignore someone if he didn't want to, but once he was enthusiastic about someone, he would have to take care of them to the end.
So He Shu accompanied them to the hospital again to check Uncle Zhang's waist.
It took the whole morning to get an appointment with the specialist and wait in line for the examination. His aunt called him and asked when he would be back. He Shu said he would bring his godfather back for dinner in the evening.
At noon, the three of them found a dumpling restaurant near the hospital and had a quick bite.
Just then, a woman came in, looking very thin and haggard. She held a small basin in her hand, walked to the counter, and whispered something to the proprietress of the store.
The proprietress seemed to know this woman. She took her bowl and went to the kitchen. After a while, she brought back half a bowl of dumplings and a bowl of dumpling soup in a plastic bag.
He Shu kept staring at the other person until the woman left the restaurant with the small basin, then he remembered who this person was.
"Xiaoshu, what are you looking at? Eat quickly." Zhao Qishui called out and put a piece of side dish on the plate for He Shu with chopsticks.
"Dad, I think I saw someone familiar."
"An acquaintance?" Zhao Qishui looked back and asked, "Who is it?"
He Shu shook his head, said nothing more, and lowered his head to eat.
After finishing the meal, they went to the counter to pay the bill. When Zhao Qishui was paying, He Shu asked the proprietress at the counter.
"Auntie, I just saw a woman coming with a basin. Do you know her?"
"That woman you're talking about is a beggar. She comes here every day. She doesn't necessarily come to my house, but in this area, everyone gives her some food when she goes to a house. She's quite pitiful."
"Beggar? Why would she beg for food?"
The proprietress looked at He Shu and asked, "Do you know him?"
"I've seen her before. She had a daughter. She wasn't like this back then..."
"Yes, there was a girl who came here for treatment because she was sick. She spent a lot of money but still couldn't be cured."
The proprietress was kind-hearted and had a sympathetic expression on her face.
"Isn't that because she has no money? She can't even afford to eat to treat her daughter's illness. When she first came to my house, she was waiting to pick up the leftovers from the guests. Later, I told her to bring a basin next time. We run a restaurant and can afford that..."
