Adults Have It Hard, Sigh

There are mainly three types of people in prison. The first are gang members, who make up the main part of the prison population and are the most "indestructible." No matter the era or who is in power, these people are always the majority in prison.

The second type consists of people involved in more fashionable crimes, mostly related to scams and fraud. These people are not gang members. They are here not because of what they did, but because they were not careful or cunning enough and were caught by the police or agents.

The third type is practically nonexistent in Sabine City District Prison. These people have not committed any crimes, and they can leave the prison at any time.

Being in prison is just a means for them, or perhaps they are being used as a means. These people mostly serve their sentences in some of the more famous Federal prisons, but even in prison, they can still influence the entire Federal political, economic, cultural, and even military landscape.

As for the others, they are there for various reasons, but not in large numbers. People like Little Michael, without gang backgrounds, are often absorbed into gangs in prison. Many gangs also see prisons as a major source of fresh blood.

No one here is excessively discriminated against, although class distinctions certainly exist. If prisons could eliminate class, wouldn't they have succeeded long ago? Where there are people and classes, there is society. Little Michael has not been treated too harshly because of his young age. In a place that values personal bravery, bullying a young boy only earns contempt, not respect.

But if Little Michael's father is someone with a "license," the situation becomes quite different, because most of the people here were brought in by those with "licenses."

In this strange atmosphere, it was lunchtime. In Sabine City District Prison, lunch is followed by a midday break, then free time, followed by dinner and an hour and a half of entertainment, where they can watch TV.

Next is shower time and evening rest, and finally lights out. Everyone's days are very full, at least much fuller than when they were living dissolute lives outside.

Little Michael held his rubber tray and went to the food distribution area. For the past few days, the inmate in charge of serving food had given him more meat and vegetables than others, but today, that guy took a spoonful of mushy slop from the edge of the pot and dumped it directly onto Little Michael's tray.

He looked at the inmate serving food, who had an impatient expression. Before he could say anything, a force suddenly erupted from behind him, and someone bumped him forward, causing him to fall to the ground.

He lay in the rotten soup, somewhat at a loss. The prison guard responsible for watching the inmates glanced at him and then looked away. As long as these people don't riot, they usually don't interfere in conflicts between inmates.

The prison is a unique little society with its own social structure. Unless something major happens, no one will actively intervene.

Little Michael got up and was about to pick up his tray when a foot stepped on it. He bent over, looked up, and saw the person stepping on his tray looking down at him, one with confusion, the other with indifference.

No one cheered or jeered in the dining hall; most people just watched with a smirk. If that person hadn't revealed Little Michael's background, someone might have stepped forward to stop it, such as those planning to recruit him into their gang.

But now, everyone was watching a good show. People with "licenses" and their families are instinctively hated here.

The person stepping on Little Michael's tray twisted his ankle, grinding the rubber tray on the ground, leaving a... yellowish-black stain, faintly emitting a foul odor. Little Michael's stomach immediately contracted, and a wave of nausea made him run to the trash can, where he vomited up some undigested food from the morning.

He didn't realize that his good days were over. As he vomited, someone suddenly pulled down his pants and plunged him headfirst into the trash can, which contained leftover garbage, saliva, phlegm, and his own vomit. For a moment, his mind went blank...

When the prison guard pulled him out, he hadn't yet reacted, only feeling that everything had changed in an instant.

At the same time, a news story began to spread rapidly throughout Sabine City and even the entire state: the Federal Revenue Service investigation team leader abused his power, nearly causing an innocent citizen to meet God.

Just as Lin Qi had initially estimated, he did not use the power of the judiciary to challenge the Revenue Service's law enforcement authority, but instead used the media to tear their faces apart. This move played a crucial role.

Michael was immediately placed under restrictions, confined to the city limits of Sabine City, and placed under house arrest. The Director of the Sabine City Federal Revenue Service personally bailed Michael out temporarily. If he were to remain in the Police Station, it would only allow reporters to find more points to attack the Revenue Service, such as, "If he did nothing wrong, why was he detained in the Police Station?"

He had to get Michael out, at least so that those foolish citizens would not be led by the nose by the media.

At Michael's home, the Director rarely lost his temper. "You were too impulsive! Do you know that the headquarters scolded me on the phone for more than half an hour today?"

Around seven in the morning, a large number of reporters, like flies smelling a foul odor, surrounded... no, like little bees smelling the fragrance of flowers, surrounded Lin Qi. From nurses and doctors, they even fabricated shocking articles through their own imaginations. Among them were two Federal-level media outlets. Before nine o'clock, basically seventeen Federal states already knew about this matter, and public opinion began to ferment.

In fact, this kind of thing happens countless times every year, but this time there was clearly a mastermind behind the scenes. The Federal Taxation Bureau began to pay attention and warned the Director that if he could not quell this matter as soon as possible, the Supervisory Department might send a special commissioner to Sabine City for a secret investigation.

At that time, it wouldn't just be Michael who would be unlucky, and it wouldn't just be a simple "exile" to a remote place. They would not only lose their jobs, but they might also go to jail.

For these people with "licenses," going to jail is worse than killing them. They would be severely humiliated by those they had personally sent in, making their lives a living hell.

Michael lowered his head and said nothing. He had a bad temper, but he wasn't a fool. He already knew the consequences of the stupid things he had done in his impulsiveness. It was too late to say anything now, so he might as well wait for the Director to finish venting his anger before discussing how to deal with the aftermath.

The Director cursed at him for a while, and finally sighed, "I really want to protect you, but the higher-ups want to throw you out to appease public anger..."

Michael suddenly looked up at the Director, a hint of disbelief in his eyes. He was, after all, a mid-level cadre. Could he be abandoned so easily? The Director avoided his gaze, shaking his head with a wry smile, "You picked the wrong opponent, you know?" Without waiting for Michael to answer, the Director continued, "I thought Lin Qi would sue you. If he really did that, it would be simple. Once it involves law enforcement power, the Federal Taxation Bureau would stand by us, no matter what you did."

"But I heard that he has already forgiven you in front of the media, and even said some good words for you, and gave up the idea of suing you. Do you know how big your trouble is now?"

Michael might not be clear, but the Director was very clear. The more magnanimous Lin Qi appeared, the more angry the media and the public became, even if some of their anger was directed at Lin Qi—angry that he didn't dare to stand up for his rights.

But their anger was more directed at Michael and those behind him. In the media frenzy, Lin Qi's retreat would be seen as a retreat of not daring to fight against the Revenue Service. In the end, it was still a problem of the excessive power of various Federal departments.

In recent years, there have been hundreds or thousands of discussions about whether the law enforcement power of various Federal departments is excessive, but each time it ends without a result. This time will certainly be the same, but someone must be held responsible for it.

Michael, no one is more suitable than him.

"I will try my best to protect you, but in case..." He patted Michael's arm, "Don't blame me for not trying my best. In fact, the best way now is for you to beg Lin Qi. If you can appear together in front of the media, things may turn around!"

The book friend group exploded. Many book friends expressed their incomprehension. It's nothing, really.

Since I entered this industry, no less than twenty book friend groups have exploded. Starting from a certain fan series, exploding one group every year is considered merciful by everyone. The most efficient time was when three groups exploded in two months.

I talked to my colleagues about this, and the more we talked, the more hilarious it became.

Other people's book friends have all kinds of abilities, from giving the author outlines, helping the author write, saving money to give the author gold and silver, and even delivering batches from thousands of miles away, really omnipotent.

When it comes to me, my book friends haven't learned any of these awesome skills. All they've learned is how to blow up groups, and they're professional at it.

This group was sunk by you in just half a year. I hope you will continue to work hard and blow up another one! New group, 1126568849