The infinite heavens begin with American horror.

Chapter 234 Parole

In this prison, Red was one of the few friends he could trust, but he couldn't tell Red about his plans, at least not now, because he didn't want to implicate Red.

Moreover, Red still has a few years left before he can apply for parole again, and Andy doesn't want his situation to affect Red.

......

1955, a cell in Ward 5 of Shawshank Prison.

Andy lay on the open bed, turning to look at the Marilyn Monroe portrait on the wall.

This new poster was put up by Andy a month ago; the old poster was worn out and could barely cover the hole in the back.

So Andy went to Red again and replaced Rita Hayworth's poster with a still of Marilyn Monroe from the movie "The Seven Year Itch".

Marilyn Monroe stood on the metal cover of a subway vent, and a warm breeze lifted her skirt.

So beautiful it's mesmerizing...

I really want to go out into the world and meet this beautiful woman.

......

He had been helping Norton launder money for a full year, and every minute of that year he lived in guilt, the pain in his heart feeling like being gnawed by a million ants, indescribable.

However, he had nowhere to confide in and could not release this long-suppressed unhappiness.

He knew full well that what he had done was unforgivable, but he was powerless in the face of Norton's threats.

When the night was quiet, he would lie in bed tossing and turning, his thoughts surging like a tide. He kept asking himself, "Why did I end up like this?"

Did he harbor evil thoughts because he was drunk?

Or was it because of his cowardice?

As the days went by, his heart grew heavier and heavier, as if he were carrying an insurmountable mountain on his back.

Andy reached out and touched the Marilyn Monroe poster on the wall. The empty space behind the poster seemed to encourage him to persevere; perhaps in just a few more years he could escape Shawshank Prison.

......

On the spacious sports field, Li Qing was strolling around aimlessly.

Suddenly, a figure blocked his way.

Li Qing looked up and stared intently, and was quite surprised, because the person was actually Andy.

Li Qing smiled slightly and said softly, "Andy, this is the first time in all these years that you've taken the initiative to come to me."

Andy looked a little nervous. He took a deep breath and then said, "Mr. Li Qing, actually... there's something I'd like to ask you for a favor..." His voice was slightly low, as if he was having some difficulty speaking.

After hesitating for a long time, Andy finally mustered up the courage to come to Li Qing and tell her everything that had happened recently.

Li Qing looked at Andy quietly, a hint of curiosity flashing in his eyes, but he didn't interrupt him. He knew that Andy must have encountered some thorny problem, otherwise he wouldn't have come to him in such a difficult situation.

Li Qing told Andy more than once that she could come to him if she encountered trouble, but over the years, Andy never came to him, not even once.

So Li Qing nodded, signaling Andy to continue.

“Mr. Li Qing, I know you are different from the other guards at Shawshank Prison, which is why I came to find you... Do you think Shawshank Prison is hell?”

Before Li Qing could answer, Andy said angrily, "Shawshank is hell. The guards in the prison sell drugs, and I'm helping them handle the money they make from drug trafficking..."

“I don’t like drugs, I never have. I also don’t like smoking or drinking, but I don’t sell drugs. I neither smuggled drugs in nor sold them. It was mainly the guards who sold them, and the prison higher-ups, even the warden, were fully aware of the guards’ drug trafficking activities. Instead of stopping them, they condoned their behavior…”

"I am furious, furious at the prison authorities' actions, and furious at myself for being an accomplice!"

At this point, Andy seemed to lose all his energy and became listless.

"Andy, do you know why I always tell you that you can come to me for help if you have any trouble? It's because I admire you."

Li Qing looked at Andy calmly: "I know about the dirty things the higher-ups at Shawshank Prison did, but what does all that have to do with me? You shouldn't blame yourself. These problems aren't your fault. You were just threatened by that old bastard Norton."

"You know all this, Mr. Li Qing?"

"Of course I know, Andy, you need to understand that the problem isn't you, it's the world! There's too much evil in this world, how can you possibly manage it all by yourself?"

Li Qing chuckled and patted Andy on the shoulder. "I knew I hadn't misjudged him. If it were anyone else, they would have already gone along with him."

Andy raised his head, his eyes filled with determination. "I will never become that kind of person. I have my bottom line."

Li Qing nodded in agreement, "But you have to understand that in this prison, sticking to your principles often means hardship and danger."

Andy took a deep breath. "I understand."

“If you want to overthrow Norton, you need to wait for an opportunity, gather evidence of Norton’s crimes, and then figure out a way to get out of prison.” After saying that, Li Qing looked at Andy with a hint of amusement.

Being stared at like that by Li Qing, Andy inexplicably felt that Li Qing had seen through all his secrets, even the secret of him secretly digging a tunnel in the prison cell.

"It's best not to let anyone find out about your tunnel digging, including me." Li Qing looked sharply at Andy.

???

What do you mean?

Mr. Li Qing really knew about my tunnel digging?

Andy was startled; he hadn't expected Li Qing to know even this. But he quickly regained his composure and simply nodded blankly.

"Andy, keep going..."

"Redemption is coming!"

Li Qing patted Andy on the shoulder and strode away.

Playing with the jade snake in his hand, feeling his cultivation level slowly increasing, Li Qing couldn't help but smile. Cultivation brings me joy...

......

June of the same year.

The sun is shining and the weather is fine.

In Shawshank Prison, a dark and hopeless place, Old Brooks, who had been there for fifty years, experienced a major turning point in his life when his parole was approved.

However, faced with this sudden freedom, Old Brooks felt bewildered and lost. Under Andy's questioning gaze, Old Brooks made a shocking move: he actually picked up a knife and took Herwood hostage.

Andy was completely stunned, and Herwood, who was being held hostage, was even more terrified, not daring to move an inch, for fear that a knife would be plunged into his neck.

Andy and the others couldn't understand why Old Brooks would do this, but when they saw the pain and confusion in his eyes, they couldn't help but feel a surge of sympathy.