After airing time had ended, a guard found Wang Fugui and his group.
After some exchanges, Xiu Nuo became curious.
"Work?"
"Yes, work."
Xiu Nuo waved his hand, "No, I don't mean that. Did I hear right, you get paid for working in prison?"
"Of course you do." Wang Fugui looked puzzled, "Anyone who often ends up in prison knows that you get paid for working here, although it's not much. Take California for example, it's about 3 to 5 US dollars an hour."
Who normally ends up in prison so often? Oh, wait, I'm not exactly a good person either.
Seeing the confusion in Xiu Nuo's eyes, Wang Fugui hurriedly explained: "For many who come here through smuggling, this is the first pot of gold they can earn. Although outside California the minimum wage is around fifteen US dollars an hour, which is one of the highest in the United States, it has nothing to do with those without work cards. If you're doing off-the-books work, you might not even make as much as the wages paid inside the prison."
"So, working here is actually a good thing?"
"At least that's the case in Border Prison." Wang Fugui said, "After all, there are too many people in Border Prison now. How can you divide five hundred jobs among thousands? Generally, it's for those who behave well, or are willing to share some of the profits. Also, priority is given to those who speak English."
Zhao Hong was shocked, "They even take a cut from three dollars?"
"Never mind three dollars, if you don't give up a bit of even three cents, you won't get the job. The competitive pressure is too great."
Zhao Hong gritted his teeth, "Indeed, why ask for so much when you're already in prison? It should be better on the outside."
"What are you thinking about?" Wang Fugui laughed at his comment, "Do you not pay taxes outside? The tax-free threshold here is around a thousand US dollars. Can you get about eight hundred in hand?"
Zhao Hong was taken aback, "They take so much with such a low threshold?"
But soon, Zhao Hong started to self-rationalize, "Never mind, since there's free healthcare and all here, having eight hundred is having eight hundred. You save a lot not having to spend on medical care."
Wang Fugui laughed as if hearing a joke.
"Are you joking, brother? Free healthcare? I won't even mention that it's not all free; even if it is, do you know why it's free? It's because you've already pre-paid it with your goddamn taxes, understand? California has the highest minimum wage and also the highest tax rates. They can tax you up to 37 percent, and that includes your insurance expenses. It's mandatory, got it? Mandatory."
"Can't I just not pay it?"
"Unfortunately, the only time you don't have to pay is when you don't earn enough to be taxed. But likewise, if you get sick, be ready to receive a bill for five thousand dollars for a cold."
"Moreover, do you know how long you have to wait for your so-called free healthcare? I can tell you responsibly that for minor illnesses you'll be cured by the time your turn comes, and for serious illnesses, well, you'll probably be dead by the time it's your turn."
"Isn't that outrageous? Wouldn't it just be easier not to go to the hospital?"
"You could go to the emergency room or a private hospital if you really need to."
Zhao Hong breathed a sigh of relief, "At least there's an option."
"Then you'll get a sky-high bill. Trust me, an emergency or private hospital bill could bankrupt even the white trash here, let alone you guys who've just arrived."
Xiu Nuo was listening on the side, completely baffled, "Can't they just refuse to pay?"
Wang Fugui had a pious look on his face, "They didn't do that, did they, boss? That's the mercy of the United States."
Xiu Nuo found that somehow, certain terms changed their fucking meaning completely once they got here.
However, Xiu Nuo didn't take the salaried job after all; he just wanted to stay in his cell and focus on cultivating.
..............
"What do you mean? I spent fifty thousand US Dollars! Fifty thousand!" Jonas's fingers tapped on the table in front of him, his face full of disbelief, "You're telling me, you don't know?"
The doctor across was also embarrassed, "Sir, please calm down a bit, according to the MRI, there is indeed a shadow in your brain, but this shadow could be due to encephalitis, glioma, intracranial tumors, hematoma, etc."
"But considering your family medical history and what you've said about not having injured your head in recent years, we still haven't figured out exactly what's going on. We need further and more detailed examinations. So, did you ever play football during your school days, sir?"
Jonas took a deep breath, "Are you referring to CTE? The football player who killed six people and then committed suicide, the chronic brain disease found in NFL players that's been suppressed for decades. But look at me, doctor, tell me, do I look like a football player with this physique!"
"If that is the case, we can only wait for the subsequent examinations."
"Fuck!" Jonas stood up, "So, besides this damn shadow, there's nothing wrong with my body, is there?"
"I'd even say you're healthier than most people! And extraordinarily healthy at that!"
Jonas narrowed his eyes, "You've seen my medical history, doctor. I want to ask, I've had quite a few sub-health conditions previously; is it possible for them to disappear within eight months?"
The doctor smiled, "Of course, it's possible, as long as you have a regular lifestyle, healthy diet, and exercise to strengthen your body, recovery is very simple. You've done it, sir, please keep it up."
Jonas fell silent.
He could swear on his several hairs that those words coming out of the doctor's mouth had nothing to do with him.
Regular lifestyle? Please, he's a flour distributor!
Healthy diet? Unless drinking alcohol doesn't count, with the nature of his work, not touching those "flours" was already the greatest restraint he could muster.
As for exercising to strengthen the body? Does sleeping with Cuban girls, Asian girls, Latinas count as exercise?
Jonas wasn't an idiot, so obviously, he didn't think that counted as exercise.
So, there was only one conclusion.
This new boss of his, damn, can really do black magic!
"Alright, I've got it, doctor." Jonas stood up, "I will continue to cooperate with the examinations, and I hope you can figure out this shadow in my brain as soon as possible."
The doctor also stood up and said, "You don't have to worry too much, sir, just take good care of your head, although it harbors some shadows, the diseases we mentioned earlier aren't corroborated by any other abnormal physical examination data. So, maybe it's just that you've been under a lot of stress lately."
Jonas gave a slight smile, politely saying, "I understand. Spending fifty thousand US Dollars for a conclusion that I'm very healthy doesn't sound too bad."
After finishing, Jonas left the place, took out his phone, and commanded, "I don't care how much it costs, immediately, right now! Get someone out of that damn Border Prison for me!"