Chapter 290 - Chapter 290: Chapter 290: Having a Background (1/2)

Chapter 290: Chapter 290: Having a Background

Translator: 549690339

Since Qi Haoguo asked, Xiao Liu naturally poured out all he knew, he didn’t even hold back any rumors he had heard, trying to show himself as knowledgeable as possible.

Although Xiao Liu didn’t quite understand why Qi Haoguo was so interested in that old man’s matter, he could guess from Qi’s reaction that it was likely related to the eight-armed wood carving and the similar figures in the old man’s drawings.

He had spent some time considering how to arrange his life after he got out a few months ago, and the best option he could think of was to use the skills he learned in prison to start a small business. He came this time, thick-skinned, hoping to get some startup capital from his cousin.

Now that he had the chance to make himself known to his cousin’s husband, he naturally would seize the opportunity. If he could get his cousin’s husband’s approval, it would alleviate his worries for the future.

Also, through Xiao Liu’s account, Qi Haoguo learned about the old man:

The old man was formerly known as a wise man who conned people out of their money with the help of many. But last October, the old man suddenly blew the whistle, reporting his accomplices. Because of his significant contribution, coupled with his age in his seventies, his sentence was greatly reduced.

When he first went to serve his sentence, many people called him a snitch, didn’t like him and wanted to mess with him. Some people who had some connection with his gang even wanted to hassle him. However, he wasn’t scared a bit and didn’t care, showing an attitude of “I’m already in my seventies and have lived enough, so I don’t mind dying,” which made others start to fear him.

Moreover, the old man did have some skills. He could accurately judge the situation of others with just a glance.

Xiao Liu also once asked the old man to “read his fortune.” The old man immediately discerned that he was jailed for fighting, even noticed that his sentence was nearly over and that he was preparing to leave, and even predicted his post-release plans, which Xiao Liu had never talked about.

Although the old man always claimed that he was just observant, experienced, quick-thinking, accurate in guessing, and lucky, not because he possessed any magical power or practiced any fairy craft, and that superstitions were all deceptive,

Most prisoners, however, naturally revered this aspect, and the old man’s status in prison quickly elevated. Many privately referred to him as the “Old Immortal” —— though he himself didn’t accept it.

Prisoners often sought the old man for conversation. The old man, being older and more experienced, always conveyed thoughts skillfully, always leaving people relieved and clear-minded after talking to him.

Every day, the prisoners were given certain time to read, write or do other activities in groups. During this time, what the old man did most was to draw an eight-armed, eight-eyed monster with a pencil.

The old man obviously had a background in art; with only a pencil, he could draw the monster vividly.

Every time he drew, he would mumble to himself, as if whispering something unintelligible.

The old man drew many portraits of the eight-armed, eight-eyed monster. Many people saw them. Whenever someone asked what it was, he would only smile and never answer.

Some people overheard his murmuring while drawing, which consisted of words like “Hell,” “Heart Demon,” and “Yama.” But he always denied any belief in superstition, and claimed all he did in the past was deception.

So people speculated that the old man must have gone insane, that’s why he suddenly reported on his accomplices. Otherwise, why not enjoy his money on the outside instead of suffering in prison?

However, many others began to consider the old man a “real old immortal”…

After listening to Xiao Liu, thinking back to the feelings he had when he saw the eight-armed, eight-eyed monster a few days ago, Qi Haoguo vaguely understood why the old man would suddenly turn in his accomplices and choose jail time.

The old man must have had the same experience as he did, feeling deep fear from within, seeing the thing they were most afraid of, and finally having a real encounter with the eight-armed, eight-eyed monster.

While Qi Haoguo was lost in thought, Xiao Liu was sneakily observing his famous cousin’s husband and the peculiar eight-armed, eight-eyed wood carving by his side, wondering what the significance of the eight-armed, eight-eyed monster was.

“What are your plans for the future?” Qi Haoguo suddenly asked.

“Huh? Oh, I… I’m planning to start a small… a small snack stall, use the skills I learned to make some money…” Xiao Liu cautiously replied, knowing his reputation wasn’t great, and guessing his cousin’s husband’s impression of him wouldn’t be good either, so he didn’t dare to say directly that he wanted to work with him.

Qi Haoguo stood up and said, “If that’s the case, there’s no rush. First, come with me to visit that old man.”

Although Xiao Liu was somewhat surprised that his cousin’s uncle was planning to go on a jail visit so soon, he was glad to assist him and raised no objections.

Qi Haoguo called his secretary to arrange the plane tickets and driver, informed his wife, and he and Xiao Liu left for the airport.

They arrived in the city where Xiao Liu’s jail was located that very afternoon.

High-security prisoner visits were typically limited to family members and guardians on specified visitation days each month. However, as long as they checked in properly, friends of the prisoners could also visit on regular workdays outside of the designated visitation days.

Upon reaching the city where the prison was located, Xiao Liu contacted the prison staff, intending to apply for a visit the following day. He could reasonably be considered a friend of the old man and believed that the old man would not reject his visit. However, the response he got was that the old man had been sent to the hospital for treatment after falling by accident the previous day. It seemed his condition was quite serious.

Upon seeing Xiao Liu hang up, Qi Haoguo asked with a frown, “He fell? Do you think it could have been an act of revenge by the people he had reported earlier?”

Xiao Liu shook his head. “I don’t think so. Our supervision there is quite strict. He also has a lot of people looking out for him, and the guards also pay special care to him because of his age and because he doesn’t cause any trouble. This should simply be an accident…”

Luckily, the hospital where the old man had been transferred to was nearby. After confirming the address, they ate a simple dinner and went over.

Since they had contacted the hospital ahead of time, they found the old man’s room quite quickly.

The old man did not have any family there, only a prison staff member was there seeing to him.

To ensure a smooth visit, Xiao Liu directly told the staff member that the old man Du was his “godfather” from inside the prison.

The staff member recognized Xiao Liu and knew that they were coming, having been in contact with the prison staff previously, so he didn’t have many suspicions. According to the doctor, although Mr. Du had been rescued, it was unlikely that he would fully recover. Even standing was a struggle for him and he would spend the rest of his sentence in hospital. Having friends and relatives to help would certainly alleviate the burden on them.

Mr. Du was just regaining some consciousness, and as soon as he saw Qi Haoguo entering the ward, his gaze fell on him.

Or to be more precise, he fixated on the dark wood carving in Qi Haoguo’s hand.

Originally Mr. Du, though looking somewhat tired and haggard, had a hard-to-describe sense of indifference as if the one injured wasn’t his own body. But upon seeing the wood carving in Qi Haoguo’s hand, his eyes widened and he started breathing more rapidly.

“Mr. Du, have you seen this wood carving before?” Qi Haoguo placed the eight-armed, eight-eyed wood carving that he had had a master craft on the cabinet beside Mr. Du’s bed so that he could see it when he turned his head.

Mr. Du opened his mouth and Qi Haoguo immediately leaned over to listen.

Xiao Liu who had come in with him immediately spoke to the prison staff member asking for Mr. Du and Qi Haoguo to be left to chat alone. The two of them went to the door together as Mr. Du was not in a state to attempt an escape anyway.

Leaning his ear close to Mr. Du’s mouth, Qi Haoguo heard him speaking weakly, “You…had that dream too?”

Dream? Qi Haoguo was taken aback and looked at Mr. Du with a frown. “Did you see…it in your dream?”

Sensing that Mr. Du wanted to speak, Qi Haoguo leaned close again, “You… didn’t dream?”

Qi Haoguo came back out again after not talking much with Xiao Liu who was chatting with the prison staff member.

He told the prison staff member that he wanted to take over Mr. Du’s treatment. He had arranged for people from his company to come over and they would provide a better treatment plan for Mr. Du. Of course, they would first communicate with the prison and complete all the necessary procedures.