Chapter 688

Zhang Zui had eaten his fill of anger at the airport and felt extremely depressed. He found a few friends to have a small drink, and during the meal, he chatted with two young ladies about the philosophy of life for a long time before finally feeling comfortable.

Although Lu Jingyao despised the many errors in his translation of 'A Song of Ice and Fire,' he laughed at Lu Jingyao for not understanding the national situation.

What do you think mainland novel fans like to read the most?

Grand war scenes? The spirit of fighting for freedom?

Forget it! What they like most is the forbidden luxury in Western fantasy, and those nosebleed-inducing, fragrant scenes of the Dragon Mother, okay?

Zhang Zui had been well-read since childhood and had even carefully studied 'Jin Ping Mei.' Would he be inferior to a "small-town test-taker" like Lu Jingyao?

With the cover marked "Western Classic Fantasy Masterpiece" and the content filled with lingering love and luxury, Zhang Zui didn't know how well his pirated books were selling.

With money, one becomes handsome, and naturally, girls will love you, right?

Zhang Zui had already calculated that at this rate, he would be able to buy a car in at most two years, and his life would be even more comfortable then!

He would never forget the scene two years ago when he went to talk to Li Ye about business, and the guy gave him a lukewarm "send-off" before getting into a car and driving away.

Zhang Zui was a top-tier elite who had returned from studying abroad; how could he lose to a country bumpkin who only knew how to bully people at home?

So, this grudge had to be settled, and settled fiercely.

But when Zhang Zui rode his bicycle back to the school dormitory area, the gloom in his heart spread again for no reason.

He unfastened the bicycle chain lock and locked the bike to a tree downstairs. Recently, the practitioners of the "car theft company" had started to become rampant again, daring to include the school dormitory area in their business scope.

Holding onto the concrete stairwell, Zhang Zui went straight to the third floor, took out his key, and opened the door to the east unit on the third floor.

"Mom, I'm home."

Zhang Zui was currently living with his parents in a three-bedroom apartment, which, in the eyes of outsiders, was already a very good condition.

But Zhang Zui was not satisfied; he wanted his own house, a large house that belonged entirely to him, so he wouldn't have to stay under the same roof as his parents all day, listening to those stale nagging and principles.

Unfortunately, he had only been working for two years, and there were many teachers waiting in line ahead of him. Even if he was the director's son, there had to be a proper pretext for "latecomers to get ahead."

However, Zhang Zui's mother had already said that as long as Zhang Zui had a partner, they would do everything possible to get him a two-bedroom apartment.

A young couple living in a two-bedroom apartment sounded so luxurious, but Zhang Zui missed the original courtyard house immensely.

That was over a dozen rooms! Even if it wasn't as bright as a building, it was valuable!

It was 1987; the house that cost 10,000 back then was now being fought over for 40,000 or 50,000, and there was no market for it.

"Mom, I'm home..."

Today, when Zhang Zui returned home, he didn't hear his parents' nagging, so he couldn't help but call out again.

People are like this! When you nag them, they find it annoying, but if you ignore them, they feel you don't value them.

But Zhang Zui called out again and still didn't hear his parents' response.

That's not right! The lights were clearly on in the house, and the TV was even on!

Zhang Zui changed into his slippers and entered the living room, only to see his parents sitting on the sofa, looking at him with gloomy expressions.

This meant something was up.

Professor Zhang pointed at the sofa and said in a deep voice: "Sit down first, I have something to ask you."

Zhang Zui sat down carelessly and asked: "Dad, if you have something to say, just say it quickly! I'm very tired today, and I want to go to sleep early after you're done."

Professor Zhang looked at his son and asked with concern: "Bao Xiaorui, you did that pirated book thing, didn't you?"

"Pirated book?"

Zhang Zui was stunned, then said strangely: "Dad, this isn't a big deal, is it? Our country doesn't care at all. Didn't I explain this clearly to you last time?"

Professor Zhang closed his eyes in pain and muttered: "They don't care because people aren't suing. If they sue, they will care!"

"That 'Treading Waves Literary Press' in Hong Kong is a registered entity here. Their president has been to the Great Hall of the People. Why did you have to pirate their books..."

Zhang Zui was stunned for a moment, but still said incredulously: "Impossible, I only printed a few thousand copies in total. The Copyright Administration must be bored to death to care about such a small matter of mine..."

Professor Zhang waved his hand and said firmly: "You must have offended someone. I have repeatedly told you not to be so high-profile and not to be so ostentatious. This is the mainland; it's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark..."

"I offended someone..."

Zhang Zui's mind tightened, and the scene at the airport today flashed through his mind.

But he then shook his head, feeling it couldn't have happened that fast.

After all, even if Li Ye reported it, he would have to notify the Hong Kong copyright holder first, then report it to the National Copyright Administration. The Copyright Administration would have to investigate and verify—a whole series of processes would take at least four months, if not half a year.

But it hadn't even been a day yet; even if they had eyes in the sky, they couldn't have pulled it off!

But the next moment, what Professor Zhang said was like a thunderbolt.

"You must turn yourself in immediately, actively expose everything, hand over your illegal gains, and strive for lenient treatment."

"."

Zhang Zui was completely dumbfounded.

Although his father was an upright person, he was not pedantic at all. He never did things like being stricter with his own son than with others, and he never missed an opportunity to pave the way for his son.

But what was he doing now? Eliminating his own kin for the sake of justice?

Was the whole family going to be wiped out? Were they going to push him out to be beheaded?

Zhang Zui suddenly turned to look at his mother: "Mom, did Dad take the wrong medicine?"

"."

Zhang Zui's mother looked at the "rebellious son" before her and slowly shed tears.

"Mom, could it be..."

Zhang Zui was afraid; he was truly afraid.

If it were in the past, he would have dared to speak to his father like that, and no matter how much his mother doted on him, she would have given him a light slap and sternly scolded him to "respect his father."

But now that his mother was shedding tears without a word, it was very clear whether the matter was truly that serious.

Professor Zhang said with a weary face: "I've pleaded for you. They promised to give me face; as long as you aren't the principal offender and as long as you hand over the illegal gains, it will be handled low-key."

"The school promised to only give you a major demerit. You should settle down and teach, and I'll find a way to have the demerit removed later..."

Zhang Zui stared blankly for a long time, then suddenly laughed.

"Since I've already been given a demerit, then Dad, let me go!"

"."

Professor Zhang looked at his son, who seemed to have suddenly found relief, and couldn't help but say: "Go, go, go, all you know is how to go. The country cultivated you all, and you all just leave. Who will build this country?"

Zhang Zui stiffened his neck and said angrily: "Aren't there still those who can't leave? Aren't there still countless fools like you silently contributing?"

"Who are you calling a fool? Who are you calling a fool?"

Professor Zhang, who had been holding a fire in his heart, finally exploded.

He had been inexplicably called over by the school leadership today and then sternly ordered to cooperate with the relevant departments' investigation. Professor Zhang had sacrificed his old face to prevent the public security personnel from arresting people directly.

He understood the piracy situation in the mainland—it was a matter of turning a blind eye—and his own son had just happened to run into the muzzle.

But now Zhang Zui was actually calling him a fool, and he couldn't tolerate that at all.

But Zhang Zui said viciously: "Isn't it true? Back then, I wanted to stay in Britain, but you insisted on me coming back."

"Look at Lu Jingyao; you took the responsibility for her, and she earns 50,000 or 60,000 pounds a year, but in the end, she only gave you 2,000 pounds in filial piety... Dad, why can't you take responsibility for me? If you take responsibility for me, I'll give you 20,000 in filial piety every year..."

"And our old house..."

Zhang Zui continued as if his mouth had no brakes: "When I came back, I told you either we find that 'Seven-Inch Blade' and buy the house back, or we borrow money to buy a courtyard house quickly, but you just wouldn't listen."

"Now that courtyard house of ours is almost 100,000. If I didn't want to buy the house back, would I have gone to sell pirated books?"

"100,000? How is that possible?"

"How is it impossible? If you don't believe me, ask Watching Liu Muhan."

Zhang Zui said: "Watching Liu Muhan is a relative of that 'Seven-Inch Blade,' and that 'Seven-Inch Blade' is friends with the boss of Treading Waves Press. This matter is most likely their doing..."

Zhang Zui had a flash of inspiration and still dragged the matter back to Li Ye.

That's right! Didn't Li Ye know Pei Wencong? Wasn't Li Ye Watching Liu Muhan's nephew? Wasn't his father old friends with Watching Liu Muhan's father?

This matter, going around in circles, wouldn't a solution be found?

And Zhang Zui's mother was stunned for a moment, then suddenly said to Professor Zhang: "Old Zhang, why don't you talk to Old Liu, and let's buy the house back!"

"."

Professor Zhang looked at his son and wife, not knowing what to say.

What time was it, and they were still thinking about the house?

He had only spoken lightly, but in fact... it was very serious, serious to the point that he might have to retire early.

"Bao Xiaorui, tell me the truth first: are you the principal offender?"

"."

Zhang Zui was stunned for a long time before saying in a low voice: "I was responsible for the translation, Xiao Bin found the printing unit, and I invested some capital and took a 50% share..."

"Then he is the principal offender. You solve the immediate matter first."