Chapter 023: Medical Parole
Zhao Feng took a deep breath. “Director Li, just tell me directly—what should I do?”
Li Changqing pondered for a moment, then said, “There’s only one way now.”
“What way?”
Li Changqing inhaled deeply. “There’s only one way left: applying for medical parole.”
“Medical parole?”
“Yes.”
Zhao Feng looked utterly astonished. “How can we get medical parole?”
Glancing at the people around them, Li Changqing said, “There are too many eyes and ears here. Let’s find somewhere private to talk.”
Zhao Feng hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
They stepped into a room. Li Changqing looked around, making sure it was empty, and prepared to speak.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Feng raised a finger to his lips in a gesture for silence.
Li Changqing frowned.
Zhao Feng strode to the corner, extended his slender right hand, and deftly removed the surveillance camera.
Li Changqing was startled. “What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”
Zhao Feng smiled. “That camera records audio.”
Li Changqing nodded. “So that’s it.”
“Can we talk now?” Li Changqing asked.
“Yes.”
Li Changqing drew a deep breath. “In fact, I very much want to help your father.”
Zhao Feng was surprised. “Why? Because I noticed you have cancer?”
Li Changqing shook his head. “Yes and no—that’s only part of it.”
“What else?” Zhao Feng pressed.
Li Changqing smiled. “Another reason is…”
“What is it?”
“Never mind. You’ll find out in time.”
Zhao Feng rolled his eyes.
Li Changqing laughed. “Let’s focus on getting your father out first.”
Zhao Feng nodded.
After a moment’s thought, Li Changqing said, “I can only think of one way.”
“What is it?” Zhao Feng asked.
Li Changqing smiled. “Medical parole.”
Zhao Feng frowned. “But my father doesn’t have any serious illness.”
Li Changqing shook his head. “Leave that to me. However…”
“However what?”
Li Changqing explained, “Once your father is released, he must stay in a designated place, and he can’t leave Chenzhou City.”
Zhao Feng nodded. “I understand.”
Li Changqing smiled. “Let’s go then. We’ll start the paperwork. If we move quickly, your father could be out tomorrow.”
Zhao Feng was a little surprised. “Director Li, did you have this planned before you arrived?”
Li Changqing merely smiled in silence.
They left the room, and when they emerged, Chen Lan and Zhao Jun were speaking through the glass.
Seeing them come out, Chen Lan stood up excitedly.
“Son, how did it go?” Chen Lan asked, her voice trembling with hope.
Zhao Feng glanced at Wang Meng, then said, “My father has a serious illness and needs to be released on medical parole.”
Chen Lan was momentarily baffled. “A serious illness? What serious illness? Why didn’t I know about this?”
Zhao Feng inwardly rolled his eyes, but still winked at Chen Lan on the sly.
Chen Lan was slow to catch on but finally understood.
“Yes, yes! Your father has a serious illness and needs medical parole!”
The others looked puzzled, but the Zhao family understood each other perfectly.
By the time everyone left the Fifth Prison, it was already afternoon.
Li Changqing looked at the group. “Shall we find somewhere to have a meal?”
Everyone thought for a moment, then nodded. Only Wang Meng shook his head vigorously.
“Director Li, I won’t join you. I have things to do at home and need to head back.”
Everyone inwardly smiled, knowing perfectly well why Wang Meng declined, but said nothing.
Li Changqing waved his hand. “Go on then.”
Wang Meng looked as if he’d been granted amnesty. “Alright, alright! I’ll be off, sorry!”
With that, he hurried away, nearly at a run.
After Wang Meng left, Zhao Feng said, “Director Li, we’ll take our leave as well.”
Li Changqing was surprised. “Not staying for a meal?”
Zhao Feng shook his head. “Director Li, your reputation for integrity precedes you. If we dine together and someone with ill intentions sees us, it wouldn’t look good.”
Li Changqing gave a wry smile. “I’m a dying man—what does it matter now?”
Zhao Feng shook his head. “Not at all. My father will be out tomorrow. Save the meal for then—let me host a welcome for him. I’ll take the opportunity to treat your illness as well.”
Li Changqing was astonished. “Really?”
Zhao Feng smiled. “I’ve never gone back on my word.”
“Wait, you can actually cure cancer?” Li Changqing asked, amazed.
Zhao Feng laughed. “I can’t promise a complete cure, but I can certainly extend your life.”
Li Changqing was utterly taken aback.
In truth, Zhao Feng thought to himself, even if a cure was possible, it would be nothing extraordinary. Cancer was just a particular malfunction of the body; compared to Zhao Jun’s leg injury, it was a trivial matter.
Li Changqing, somewhat emotional, said, “Alright, I’ll head back for now.”
Zhao Feng nodded.
Li Changqing left with his secretary.
Once they were gone, only Chen Ying, Chen Lan, Wang Xiaoyun, Li Ping, and Liang He remained.
Liang He smiled. “I’ll be heading back too. Tomorrow, let’s go together to welcome your father home.”
Zhao Feng nodded. “Alright, Uncle Liang, safe travels.”
Liang He nodded, got into his white Santana with his driver, and left.
After everyone else had gone, Zhao Feng and his family returned to Xiaohe Village.
That night, many people were destined to lie awake.
Wang Meng couldn’t sleep, nor could Li Changqing, nor could most who’d witnessed the events of the day.
The next morning, at first light, Zhao Feng took Chen Lan with him, urged Li Ping along, and drove Li Ping’s Audi A8 to the Fifth Prison.
Everything went smoothly. After two nights and a day in detention, Zhao Jun was finally released.
There was no celebratory feast; after all, this was not something to be flaunted.
For now, the villagers still didn’t know Zhao Jun had killed someone—only that something had happened.
They returned to Zhao Feng’s home and had a simple family meal.
Then Zhao Feng got to work.
Li Changqing removed his shirt and lay down on a mattress. Zhao Feng stood at his side.
Zhao Feng smiled. “Director Li, I’m going to start the acupuncture.”
Li Changqing nodded. “Go ahead, Xiaofeng. I’m not afraid of death, but I’d still like a few more years.”
Zhao Feng chuckled. “Don’t worry, Director Li.”
He gently took out his blue satchel, and from the satchel embroidered with tiny flowers, he drew a blue pouch.
Zhao Feng gazed at it tenderly, whispering in his heart, “Senior Sister, where are you? I’ve searched all of Yaogi Sect—even found the bodies of our master and senior brothers—yet yours is the only one I haven’t found…”