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Little Michael's technique was very skillful, and you could tell he had been doing it for a long time.

Many people think that making pizza is a very simple thing.

Do this, then this, add a few more things, and finally stuff it all into the oven.

It's not difficult at all to smoke a cigarette, take it out, cut it a few times and serve it or send it away.

But only those who have actually done it know that just the first few steps are difficult to do well without skill.

Either it's too thick, it breaks easily, or the edges aren't soft enough.

This is a job that requires long-term practice to become proficient. Michael has had similar experience. He can tell that Michael has been doing it for at least a few months.

"us……"

Little Michael glanced at him sideways, "We'll talk about it after get off work. If you stand here, the boss will deduct my wages."

Michael was stunned for a moment, scratched his head, and gave in awkwardly, "I'll...wait for you behind."

At this time, the concept of "getting off work" is actually still far away, but Michael is willing to wait.

At eight o'clock, the "Open" sign hanging outside the store's door was turned over, and the lights in the hall were turned off.

Little Michael walked into the back alley carrying a pizza.

Michael was smoking with his back against the wall.

There were already a lot of cigarette butts on the ground, as if he had a lot of questions.

"Eat something first, it's free."

Just as Michael was about to say something, he was blocked back. The father and son stood together and quickly destroyed a plate of pizza.

"I thought... you would have a decent job. I heard you went to college." Michael hesitated and expressed his confusion.

He knew little Michael went to college, but he didn't know what happened next.

After Johnson moved, they essentially lost contact with Michael.

Some people have forgotten it, and some people are unwilling to face it.

Little Michael skillfully took out a cigarette from Michael's cigarette case and lit it for himself.

He leaned against the edge of the trash can, puffs of smoke exhaled from his mouth, feeling an indescribable... decadence.

Little Michael sighed, "You know what?"

"It's hard to find a job."

“What big companies need is not grades and interviews, but letters of recommendation.”

"No matter how stupid you are, as long as you have a recommendation letter from a big shot, you can get into the company you want to join and pick the position you want."

"No one wrote me a letter of recommendation."

Michael interrupted, "Where's Johnson?"

Little Michael shook his head, not going to talk about it.

He continued, “When entering a small business, in addition to ability, they also value the background of their employees.”

"They don't want me in businesses and shops that are related to gangs and crime, such as the butcher shop on the street."

"They have hired a lot of people, the wages are much higher than here, and the work is very easy."

"But they shouldn't do that, because you are a former investigator of the Federal Tax Service and you are still a captain. They are afraid that there may be a trap in this."

"Businesses and stores that have nothing to do with gangs don't want me either."

"Because you are a federal felon, they can't check your file and don't know what you do, and also because you are a former IRS investigator, it's hard for me to stand a chance."

"I wanted to be a police officer, but no one wanted me because you were a former Federal Tax Service investigator and a convicted felon. They didn't even give me a chance."

"This is one of the few jobs I can find, Michael."

He opened his arms, "You don't have to be too sad, and you don't have to say sorry. I'm very satisfied with my current life, and... thank you for what you did for me before."

Michael hugged his son tightly, his eyes were wet, but he didn't know what to say or what to do.

When he was an investigator for the Federal Tax Service, many people wanted to give him face.

But when he lost this identity, he was hated by people and dogs because of this identity.

This is not a flattering job and identity, worse than those of the police or the FBI!

The more power the federal government gives it, the more people hate it, and the people who work for it.

Not to mention, Michael is a fucking felon!

"Welcome home!", little Michael patted his father on the shoulder, "How did you know I was here?"

"Have you met Jane?"

Jane is his girlfriend, Michael nodded, "Yes, I have met, are you... married?"

"I hope I didn't miss one of the most important moments of your life!"

Little Michael shook his head, "We don't have this plan for the time being, we are still saving money."

He paused as he spoke and patted Michael's arm, "Let's go and talk again when we get back. I'm tired after working all day."

Little Michael rode the bike, and Michael walked beside him, and the two chatted about the changes over the years.

Since the emergence of Lynch's college league, the "gold content" of college students has dropped a lot.

College students are no longer a step into a higher social class, but in any case, it gives people a chance.

There are always a few lucky people who can successfully cross class, which also makes more people think that they are the next lucky person.

It's not too far from where they live. In the living room, little Michael introduced his father to Jane.

The girl was also a little embarrassed, "Sorry, I didn't know it was you in the afternoon."

Michael was very generous, "It doesn't matter, you did a good job, this is how you treat strangers."

The girl was still a little embarrassed because of Michael's preaching, but little Michael rolled his eyes and said, "I'll stay in the guest room with you tonight, and we'll clean it up."

Michael patted the sofa and said, "I can sleep here. You don't know how much I have longed to sleep here all these years!"

Compared to the damn plank bed in prison, the sofa is really great!

And, there is freedom!

"I'm going to clean up the room." Jane said and went upstairs. She couldn't stand the atmosphere here and couldn't adapt to it.

The sudden addition of a man to the family made her feel bad.

After she left, Michael asked hesitantly, "Your mother..."

"She's fine, and I don't want to talk about her."

When Johnson and his wife last visited Michael together, they didn't explain everything, but Michael knew what was going on.

His feelings toward Johnson were complicated.

When he was working, Johnson always wiped his butt for him. His management style was too brutal and he often received various complaints.

Without Johnson, he would have lost his job, let alone the chance to run for commissioner.

And after he was imprisoned, Johnson also ran for him and took care of his wife and children. He couldn't hate this man too much.

But he had a relationship with his wife again and gave birth to a child. This was also a fact that Michael found difficult to accept.

After so many years, he has actually become much more rational and calm.

I think when he knew the news, he beat up his roommate and was put in solitary confinement many times.

But now, I feel a lot more relieved.

"Do you know her address?"

In silence, little Michael handed over the note tucked into a book in the drawer of the TV cabinet, "What are you going to do next?"

"Go find her and get back together with her, or beat Johnson's ass?"

Michael was a little confused, "I don't know."

Johnson paid for Michael's college tuition. If it weren't for him, Michael might not even be able to afford a house now.

So Michael didn't know exactly what to do.

Little Michael looked at his much older father and sighed, "I think you should live your own life instead of disturbing anyone."

"You have to live, you have to eat, you have to wear clothes, you have to make money."

"As much as I want to take up my responsibilities, as you can see, my life is not easy now."

"You have to stand up first and then think about other things, do you understand what I mean?"

Michael nodded and said nothing.

Michael didn't feel at home in the guest room at night.

Before he came back, he thought he would be so excited, but at this moment, he suddenly felt... everything was boring.

The noise coming from the walls became louder and louder. Michael silently looked at the dark ceiling, watching the moonlight on the ceiling reflected through the glass window, pretending that he had fallen asleep.

In the next room, little Michael was arguing with Jane.

Jane asked young Michael how long his father would live here.

Little Michael gave her an "indefinite" answer, which immediately angered Jane.

"This is our home, Michael, and I won't deny him living here for a while, but you saying he has to live here forever, I can't stand it!"

"You have to consider that I am a woman and he has been in prison. Who knows what he will do to me when you are not around!"

"Besides, what will happen if we have children in the future?"

"That house in our plans is a nursery, are you going to let him squeeze in with us?"

"Also, what if he brings someone else back?"

"This house is dilapidated enough. The neighbors can hear the sound of you fucking me. Do you like him to fall asleep listening to these sounds every day?"

Arguments are like a bursting dam; once it starts to break, it's hard to control.

But it is undeniable that what Jane said are very real things. This house was originally prepared for a family of three, not three generations.

At that time, Michael had plans to change his house, but he met Lynch.

Before he could change to a bigger house, he was moved in.

The quarrel between the two kept Michael awake, and the shouts in the middle of the night that seemed to be deliberately made for him to hear and wanted to drive him away also made him very embarrassed.

That night, he didn't sleep!

It wasn't until dawn the next day that he closed his eyes.

When he opened his eyes again, it was already noon.

“I have to do something, make some money, and move out as soon as possible!”

He made a decision at this time and put visiting his wife second!