bullyxtreme Chapter 236 Tommy
Chapter 236 Tommy
In the woods, the inmates of Shawshank Prison are busily engaged in their work, carrying out the so-called external service policy.
These prisoners, armed with heavy axes, worked diligently, felling trees.
“Sam, you’re going to bankrupt me! With so many cheap slaves, who can beat you at bidding?” A man in a plaid coat followed closely behind Warden Norton, clutching a pink cardboard box tightly in his hand.
Upon hearing this, Warden Norton stopped and turned around, staring at the man with a serious expression. He said, "We are providing services to the community and contributing to society as a whole. Do you understand?"
However, the man was not convinced by the warden's words. He retorted, "It's just an advertising slogan! But I need to support my family, Sam! If this continues, I won't be able to make a living." His tone revealed helplessness and anxiety.
“Sam, we’ve known each other for so long, I have to take over this highway, or we’ll be starving.”
Warden Norton approached the man, patted him on the shoulder, and said softly, “I understand your predicament, but we must consider the bigger picture. These prisoners need to reform themselves through labor and also create value for society. We cannot prioritize personal gain while neglecting our more important responsibilities.”
After listening, the man remained silent for a moment, then sighed deeply. Although he was still dissatisfied, he realized that arguing with the warden would not yield any results.
We need to get down to business...
Thinking of this, the man took a deep breath and then carefully handed the pink cardboard box in his hand to Warden Norton.
"Sam, this is a pie my wife baked especially for you, you have to accept it."
After saying that, he gently lifted the lid, revealing a golden-yellow apple pie inside, its enticing appearance making one's mouth water. Around the edge of the apple pie, neatly arranged, was a stack of US dollars sealed in envelopes.
Meanwhile, the man glanced at Warden Norton out of the corner of his eye, secretly praying that the warden would be satisfied with the gift and therefore treat him leniently.
Warden Norton looked at the banknotes in front of him, a barely perceptible glint of greed flashing in his eyes.
Taking the box, Warden Norton licked his lips and smiled at the man, saying, "Hmm, this pie looks absolutely delicious."
“I know your difficulties, old friend.” Warden Norton glanced at the banknotes in the box. “I will reconsider the project. Also, please thank her for her kindness.”
The man smiled gratefully upon hearing this.
"Thank you, Sam."
“Don’t mention it, it’s my duty.” Warden Norton patted the man on the shoulder. “Now, let’s go and see how the prisoners are doing.”
.......
In just a few years, Warden Norton amassed a fortune through the foreign service policy, accepting bribes totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars. This huge sum of dirty money was successfully laundered by Andy's clever maneuvering and flowed continuously into an account belonging to a man named Randall Steven, transforming into legitimate income.
......
1965 October.
The alarms at Shawshank Prison sounded again.
As the prison van approached from a distance, Li Qing knew that, based on the plot of the movie, among the prisoners being transported this time would be a key figure to clear Andy's name.
Tommy, a spirited young man.
Tommy is a professional thief who has committed countless crimes at a young age. Due to his numerous criminal records, he has spent most of his life in prison.
From another perspective, there is no doubt that Tommy is not suited to be a thief.
But it's truly outrageous that someone like him could still find a wife and even have a three-year-old daughter.
As usual, the prisoners, who loved to join in the fun, gathered at the prison gate. Among the dense crowd, Li Qing also saw Andy and others.
......
Hey guys, good afternoon!
In the short few hours before lunch, Tommy had successfully befriended Reed and his group. When he saw an empty seat at Reed's table, he didn't hesitate to pick up his plate and quickly sit down next to them.
His outgoing attitude allowed him to quickly integrate into the group without feeling out of place.
Reed and the others weren't surprised by Tommy's actions, and they welcomed the new member. They greeted each other and then continued enjoying their lunch.
Tommy, unfazed, immediately joined their conversation, sharing some interesting stories and anecdotes.
“I started living in prison when I was 13. I’ve been to every prison you can imagine and have seen a lot of interesting things.”
“Have you thought about doing something else after you get out of prison? I don’t think you’re suited to be a thief,” Andy said.
"You say you have a wife and children, are you going to be a thief for the rest of your life? Your child is too young to understand these things now, but how will he view you when he grows up?"
“I know, and I’ve thought about turning over a new leaf.” Tommy put down his spoon, his eyes dimming. “But I can’t do anything except steal.”
Andy tapped the table thoughtfully. "If you'd like, I can teach you some things."
Tommy looked up in surprise. "Really? But I..."
“No buts,” Andy interrupted him. “As long as you’re determined, it’s never too late.”
Tommy hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded. "Okay, I'll give it a try."
Red looked at Andy and shook his head helplessly. Andy always liked to teach him things; he was used to it.
......
Inside the Shawshank Library, Andy looked at Tommy, who didn't recognize a single word, and a sense of helplessness welled up inside him. He gently rubbed his forehead, trying to relieve the headache.
Andy simply couldn't imagine that someone who couldn't read a single word could find a wife. This filled him with curiosity and questions about Tommy's life.
Why don't you tell me you can't read?
Tommy gave an innocent look, scratched his head, and said, "Uh, that's what I was going to say! But you interrupted me..."
Andy sighed helplessly. What's done is done, and complaining won't change anything.
He decided to start teaching from the very basics, since Tommy didn't even know all 26 letters of the alphabet.
In the days that followed, Andy took the time to patiently teach Tommy to recognize letters and spell words. They started learning from simple pronunciations and progressed step by step.