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墨書 Inktalez
The woman had a small garment factory on the outskirts of Irkutsk. After these people were released from prison, they had nowhere to go, so she arranged for them to work there illegally. Later, when some workers found out, they used this information to blackmail her. Lekshev was afraid this would come back to haunt him, so he asked me to help. It just so happened that you showed up.
Xu Li rubbed his face and asked, "How many people are there in total?"
"Thirty-nine," came the reply. "They are all in their twenties or thirties, each one honest and hardworking."
Ivan sighed, "The older ones have already been placed in some welfare institutions to do simple jobs, like caregivers. When they get old, they can stay there and have others take care of them; it’s a way for them to have support in their later years."
"Are there really many in their twenties?"
"Yes, quite a few."
Ivan smacked his lips, "They all received long sentences. Once their situation was exposed, that woman reduced their sentences as a bargaining chip to get them out sooner."
"Does anyone above care?"
Xu Li listened in shock. Ivan shook his head with a bitter smile. Seeing his brother-in-law's disbelief, he sighed again, "Misha, my country has rotted from the inside long ago; now it only has a shiny exterior left. If it weren't for the Emperor keeping things in check, I can't imagine what this country will look like in ten or twenty years!"
He tightened his grip on Xu Li's shoulder. "Treat them well. If you don't like them, at least give them a place to shelter from the wind and rain. Provide some potatoes so they can be self-sufficient. Without a place to stay, these young girls are too naive; they won't last long before being consumed until there's nothing left."
"The village is my territory."
Xu Li shot Ivan an annoyed glance. "I'm not as heartless as you think. I have the final say in the village now. As long as they move in, they become villagers of our community. I will take care of them; stop using such words to provoke me."
After he got off the bus and boarded the passenger vehicle, he felt uneasy eyes watching him from all sides, making him feel like he had entered a sheep pen where he could do as he pleased with these lambs. He disliked this feeling; these were young women at the most beautiful stage of their lives, yet each one wore cheap old clothes.
These girls probably worked in the factory just yesterday; their hands were dirty, and the vehicle was filled with a strong smell of sweat. They drank the cheapest mineral water and nibbled on hard bread. Whenever someone caught his eye, they would instinctively lower their heads and expose their pale necks like lambs waiting for slaughter.
As he turned to get off the bus, he glanced at the driver and said after some thought, "Head to Bratsk. I’ll arrange for accommodations there; everyone will rest for the night before heading back to the village tomorrow morning."
The driver nodded and took the cigarette Xu Li offered him before lighting it up. "What should I tell your boss?"
"I'll have him go back first," Xu Li joked lightly as he waved his hand and got off the bus. The driver chuckled and continued smoking while confirming everyone was on board before closing the door. Xu Li drove his Mighty Warrior around the front of the passenger vehicle and honked the horn. The driver started the vehicle and stepped on the gas to catch up while Ivan's car fell behind.
The hotel wasn't luxurious but was clean and tidy; both triple and double rooms were fully occupied. After they finished showering, they gathered in the restaurant, instinctively lining up in two rows while waiting for the driver and Ivan to arrange seating—both of whom were dressed in police uniforms.
Dinner was quite generous with barbecued meat and plenty of water available. Xu Li sat at a table with Zhuo Ya, Ivan, and the driver. Looking at those women devouring their food ravenously made him shake his head. "How long have they been starving?"
The driver took a bite of barbecued meat and grimaced slightly as he replied, "Last night when we went with the director, these girls were locked up in dormitory-like cells; that environment..."
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