"Convict?" Just those three words startled Liu Shouzhong. A convict was a ticking time bomb; many who were released after serving their sentences re-offended. This time, nearly ten thousand people were involved, and it was New Year's Eve, a very special time. If something went wrong, the social repercussions would be extremely severe. This matter could not be taken lightly. He once again sought confirmation from Li Fulin. "I am Liu Shouzhong, a police officer from the vicinity. May I know your name and unit? You say he's a convict, is that true? This is a serious matter, and there must be no falsehoods."
Li Fulin swore solemnly, "I am Li Fulin, the workshop director of the second workshop at the brewery. What I said is absolutely true. Not only is he a convict, but he was only just released from prison today. He's barely out and already up to his old tricks. He's not a good person; quickly arrest him! Otherwise, more people will be scammed!"
A commotion broke out in the surrounding crowd, and gasps of surprise rose incessantly. Many people subconsciously backed away, widening the distance. Director Zhao's face turned pale with fright. He suddenly remembered that the over ten thousand towels, the candy, and the TV were all given away without payment. If this turned out to be a scam, he would be completely ruined. His legs suddenly felt weak, and his mind went blank. Driver Old Liu felt like he'd been struck by lightning. A truckload of thermal flasks, seventy thousand yuan worth of goods—if something went wrong with this, he wouldn't be able to pay it back in ten lifetimes. He felt completely drained of strength and plopped down onto the snow.
Liu Shouzhong was shocked. Committing a crime right after being released—the situation was extremely serious. He raised his hand and pointed at Lu Changqing. "You've got some nerve, daring to commit a crime as soon as you're out. Please come with me."
Hearing these words, Xiao Qingzhu felt her world collapse. She instantly fell to her knees in the snow. Tongtong, seeing the police officer, cried silently, not knowing what to do. Lu Changqing, however, smiled. "What crime have I committed? My wife and child are here; don't wrongly accuse me for no reason."
Liu Shouzhong slowly approached, preparing for a mandatory arrest. "Are you still asking me? Now, tell me honestly, what are you doing?"
Lu Changqing was unhurried, speaking as calmly as if chatting with an old friend. "I'm selling thermal flasks. The People's Department Store also sells these thermal flasks for ten yuan each. I'm selling them for nine yuan. This is giving benefits to the general public. They should all thank me!"
"Thank you?" Liu Shouzhong was suspicious. Not only was this person not panicked, but his words were astonishing. He looked at the crowd. "Did you really buy thermal flasks for nine yuan?"
"Yes! Nine yuan!"
"Everyone bought them for nine yuan. It's true."
Liu Shouzhong frowned. This was a bit strange; something felt off. "Do these thermal flasks really sell for ten yuan in the department store?"
At this moment, Director Zhao recovered his composure. He knew he had to cooperate now. If there was a problem, he could at least strive for leniency. "I am the Director of the People's Department Store. These are indeed sold for ten yuan in our store; there's no problem with that."
Li Fulin grew anxious. "Officer, it's not about selling thermal flasks; it's about the fraudulent prize draw! You must arrest him! He's deceiving everyone!"
Liu Shouzhong nodded and looked at Lu Changqing. "Honestly, what's going on with this prize draw?"
Lu Changqing smiled. "Comrade Officer, today I'm simply giving out benefits, bringing surprises to everyone for the New Year. Each thermal flask is already one yuan cheaper, and I'm letting them participate in a free prize draw. If you're unlucky, you win a third prize, one towel. A little luckier, you win a second prize, two towels. The luckiest win the first prize, a 21-inch color TV. Right now, everyone gets at least a third prize, meaning their thermal flask only cost eight yuan. And those who win the second prize effectively bought a thermal flask for seven yuan. The thermal flasks were already one yuan cheaper, the prize draw is free, and everyone benefits. How am I committing fraud? Who am I deceiving? What am I deceiving them about?"
This... Liu Shouzhong did the math. That's right, this was a good thing. Buying a thermal flask already one yuan cheaper than the department store, with a free prize draw—this was clearly a giveaway. He looked at the surrounding crowd. "Is what he's saying true? Don't be afraid, I'm here to ensure justice for you!"
The crowd affirmed that it was all true, every word accurate. Liu Shouzhong found it incredible. A convict was actually doing good deeds. The sun must have risen in the west! And his generosity was astonishing! After processing the information, he looked back at Li Fulin. "You reported him. Tell me exactly how he committed fraud. Did you make a mistake?"
Li Fulin grew agitated, his emotions high. "He *is* scamming! You can't believe him! He said there's a chance to win a 21-inch color TV. Nearly ten thousand people have drawn, and the color TV still hasn't been won. I suspect there's no first prize in that box at all. This is clearly fraud!"
Liu Shouzhong frowned. This matter was getting confusing. He asked Lu Changqing, "Give me an explanation."
Lu Changqing pointed to the remaining twenty customers. "Not winning it only means they're unlucky! How can you say I'm committing fraud?"
Li Fulin sneered, "You are committing fraud! Ten thousand people haven't drawn it; I don't believe these last few will manage to. That doesn't make sense."
Lu Changqing raised an eyebrow, looking at Li Fulin. "Why doesn't it make sense? What proof do you have that what you're saying is correct? If you can provide evidence, even if the police arrest me today, I'll accept it."
Li Fulin had already prepared his counter. "Good, I have a way. Just take out all the remaining prize slips from the box. If there's no first prize, then you're committing fraud."
Lu Changqing looked hesitant. "There are still twenty people who haven't drawn a prize. Doing that now... wouldn't it be inappropriate?"
Li Fulin scoffed, "There's no first prize in the box at all. They'd be drawing in vain; they won't get the first prize. You're clearly guilty and dare not verify the prize slips in front of the police."
Liu Shouzhong, seeing Lu Changqing unwilling to verify the slips, also grew suspicious. "He's asking to verify the slips. If you haven't falsified anything, why are you afraid to verify them?"
Lu Changqing reluctantly compromised. "Alright! Since the officer said so, I'll comply. However, verifying the slips will have to wait a moment. I must first apologize to the twenty friends who haven't drawn yet."
Liu Shouzhong was very surprised, never expecting a recently released convict to be so trustworthy. "Fine, go apologize. I'll watch the prize box here; no one is allowed to touch it."
Lu Changqing walked over to the twenty customers and bowed. "Everyone, I apologize. As you can see, because of that person named Li Fulin's report, Comrade Officer has also arrived, and we must now terminate the prize draw. Today's event ends here."
The twenty people were naturally unwilling and protested loudly. "We waited in line for so long, and it's finally our turn. Why?"
"No, I must draw a prize."
Lu Changqing bowed again. "I'm sorry, but we must obey the police. How about this: you paid nine yuan for a thermal flask. I'll refund your money, and the thermal flask is still yours. When I do things, I'd rather take a loss myself than let anyone else suffer a loss." After saying this, he took out money and refunded each person.
After the twenty people had collected their money, Lu Changqing spoke again. "Gentlemen, today's prize draw ends here, but as an apology, each of you will receive a towel shortly. However, you'll have to wait for me until Comrade Officer has verified the prize slips." There were still towels to be given out. Among the twenty people, a burly man gave Lu Changqing a thumbs-up. This scene made everyone present envious. These twenty people were truly lucky, getting a thermal flask and a towel without paying a single cent.
Liu Shouzhong watched, dumbfounded. This situation was unprecedented and unheard of. Lu Changqing walked to the box, turned it upside down, and vigorously patted its four corners, emptying the remaining slips. The surrounding people crowded closer, wanting to see what was inside. Liu Shouzhong immediately shouted, "Step back, don't come closer! I'll supervise; no one is allowed near!"
*Thwack! Thwack!* Lu Changqing vigorously patted the box. Slip after slip fell from the circular opening onto the table. *Clatter!* A slip with chewing gum stuck to it fell out with the rest. Lu Changqing patted the box a few more times, and no more slips fell. He discarded the box, organized the slips, removed the chewing gum stuck to one slip, and threw it into the snow. Then, he gathered all the slips into a stack and handed them to Liu Shouzhong. "Comrade Officer, these are all the prize slips, exactly twenty. I haven't had a chance to check them yet; I'm giving them all to you."
Liu Shouzhong nodded, taking the slips. "What does the grand prize slip look like?"
Lu Changqing's face was expressionless. "As everyone knows, three brush marks mean a third prize, two marks mean a second prize, and one mark means a 21-inch color TV."
Liu Zhongzhong nodded, checking them one by one, calling out like an election tally. "One third prize, one second prize, another third prize, and another third prize. Oh! One... one first prize! This is the first prize!" He held up a slip with one mark, overjoyed, as if he had won the grand prize himself.
Li Fulin watched the entire process, afraid Lu Changqing was up to something. When Liu Shouzhong called out "first prize," his face was filled with disbelief. "How can this be? Impossible! A prize slip that wasn't drawn by ten thousand people, why is it among the last twenty? That doesn't make sense!"
Lu Changqing sneered inwardly. Of course it didn't make sense! Without a little trick, that 21-inch color TV would have been taken home long ago. Without the allure of the 21-inch color TV, this event wouldn't have ended so perfectly. Lu Changqing glanced at the chewing gum lying in the snowdrift not far away. That was the key. He had been chewing gum from the start, and in this era, chewing gum was accurately called bubblegum. When placing the first prize slip into the box, he had used the chewed gum to stick the first prize slip firmly to the upper corner of the prize box. All the other slips were at the bottom of the box, and people drew from the bottom. No one would have thought the first prize was fixed in an upper corner of the box. That's why the first prize remained until the end. This was a trick, and not even people from the 21st century, let alone this era, would all know it.
Lu Changqing's smile faded, and his face became serious as he questioned Liu Shouzhong. "Comrade Officer, now do you believe me? I've been wrongly accused; someone is trying to frame me."
Li Fulin flinched. If that accusation stuck, he was finished. "Comrade Officer, I just felt something was unreasonable, that's why I called the police. Really, it truly is unreasonable. Even now, I still feel it's unreasonable."
Liu Shouzhong's suspended heart finally settled; it had been a false alarm. He didn't want to get involved in anything else. "Alright, in the future, only call the police after you've understood the situation. Don't assume everyone is a bad person."
Lu Changqing, however, didn't want it to end there. "Comrade Officer, the report about the People's Market came from him too. This is the second time he's falsely accused me."