"What is this?" Zhao Zemu looked at the extra scrolls on the table, very puzzled.
The scroll was very delicate, with bronzing piping and a brocade ribbon around the waist. Zhao Zemu fiddled with it and saw the cherry branch embroidered on the corner of the Jindai, "The wine note of the Cherry Manor?"
Qiao took away the brocade ribbon, unfolded the paper roll, turned and pushed it in front of Zhao Zemu.
"Remember, it was from last year," Joe said.
On this day last year, he had a wine appointment with Zhao Zemu and George Manson at Cherry Manor. There was no particular reason. They just happened to meet and they happened to be free, so the three of them had been away for a long time without anyone else to accompany them. Next, I drank a night of wine at Cherry Manor.
In fact, it is not very enjoyable, because there are not many new topics to talk about, and most of them are talking about old things.
But alcohol can always make people emotionally charged, drinking and drinking, actually drinking a bit of unfinished meaning.
It was already dawn when they left, the morning glow reflected in the cherry orchard, and there was early morning mist among the branches and leaves. The buttons on the collars of their shirts were open, not as neat and tidy as usual.
Occasionally, they would relax and laugh because of a certain sentence, and at that moment, it even reminded people of their youth.
No parting ways, no flattery.
George Manson drank the most and was one of the most excited.
Before leaving, he summoned the waiter of the manor and said that he would order another bottle of wine, choose cherries that are in season, brew a bottle of wine with the right taste, and store it in the manor. On this day next year, they will come to drink for another night.
The waiter said, "Okay, sir," and handed them a wine note.
A year later, on the appointed day, the wine note was taken apart on the long table in the interview room of the detention center.
Above is a line of words with dragon and phoenix dance:
To my old friends of many years, and those memorable days.
Signed: George Manson.
Zhao Zemu put his fingers on the corner of the wine note and lowered his eyes. His slightly longer hair blocked his eyebrows, so he couldn't see his emotions clearly. He could only see the bones on his cheeks move twice, as if gritted his teeth.
Qiao also looked at the wine note, and said in silence for a long time: "My lawyer buddy and former teacher gave me a suggestion that I should stop talking nonsense and try to play emotional cards with you. I heard it actually Annoyed, because I couldn't find any emotional cards between us for a while. It wasn't until I received a reminder from Cherry Manor an hour ago."
Joe said quietly, "I asked the waiter to rush the wine and the wine note. I wanted to have a drink with you and use the wine to convince you. But after I got the wine, I changed my mind. Do you know why?"
Zhao Zemu didn't look up: "Why?"
"Because this bottle of wine has already been opened, the waiter said that George went to the Cherry Manor by himself this morning and drank a few drinks by himself. But he didn't finish it, and left more than half of it for us." Joe was silent After a while, "I think it's a waste to drink the leftovers, what do you think?"
Zhao Zemu didn't speak. He was silent for a long time before he said in a hoarse voice, "Yes, a bit."
Joe said: "For many years, I have felt that George is a very weak person. One day he flirts with this group of people and tomorrow with that group of people, no one cares about it. Recently, I suddenly realized that I was mistaken, he is the The most nostalgic of the three of us."
"I always think of the days when he was hospitalized. No matter how many people came to see him, he was always in a daze, unwilling to speak, very depressed. When he heard that you were listed as a suspect, he did not show No surprise at all. I keep thinking that maybe he wasn't as drunk as he was described in court when he was lying in the bathtub drunk and being injected with those powerful sleeping pills."
Perhaps even though George Manson drank a lot at the time, he still had a trace of consciousness.
Maybe he didn't close his eyes completely.
Perhaps in the midst of the heavy drinking, he saw a man bend over and stand in front of him, injecting those powerful sleeping pills into his veins, and he remembered who that man was.
…
Zhao Zemu closed his eyes.
"But he still went to Cherry Manor today, picked up this bottle of wine, and didn't finish it." Qiao finally raised his eyes and looked at Zhao Zemu, "I believe in intuition, and I know George does the same. You see , we still believe in you intuitively, and believe that you don't really want him to die."
"You said just now that it's this time, and there's no point in saying anything else." Joe shook his head and said, "I don't think so. The things you know, the evidence in your hands, the things hidden in your heart, are very important to those who have been caught The people killed by the Sen brothers are meaningful, the victims who are still lying in the hospital where their life and death are uncertain, those who have been implicated for decades and cannot live a comfortable life, and it is meaningful to our family and your family. At least the least... makes sense to George."
"You owe him an explanation, or you can't afford the half bottle of wine he left behind."
The meeting room was quiet.
After a long time, Zhao Zemu moved his lips, "When I took over the Zhao family, it was too late..."
George looked at him without interjecting or pressing. Just wait quietly for him to speak slowly.
"Breuer and Milo Manson penetrated too deep, my father...you know his, far from the others in shrewdness, impulsive and flippant at times. When I found out, he was completely overwhelmed. Pulled into the net of Brewer and Milo Manson, the entire Zhao family can't be washed, and it is impossible to wash it off. I have tried many methods, and finally found that I can only take the most circuitous way. Holding the two brothers on the top, privately disconnecting those tangled lines of interest little by little."
When Zhao Zemu said this, his voice revealed a strong sense of exhaustion: "This is actually a difficult and long process, I can't directly overthrow Manson, because it is not only the two brothers who are involved, but also other families. Including Cliff, Joseph, etc., Zhao alone can't bear it. I can only choose the safest way to protect myself. But Brewer and Milo Manson are not stupid, they can feel To my hesitation and procrastination. I was able to get in touch with many things in the first few years, but these two years, I have been marginalized by them.”
He let out a sigh of relief, like some kind of powerless sigh, "I actually learned about the fact that they were going to attack their brother George at the end, or through someone else's mouth. At that time, people had already On the island of Yaba, everything is ready, even the people who will do it are arranged."
In that case, Zhao Zemu couldn't actually stop anything. Because with the characters of Brewer and Milo Manson, there will be a second time if it fails once, and if it fails this time, it will be more ruthless next time.
"The safest way I can think of is to transfer the power of hands to myself." Zhao Zemu said.
He wanted to make things louder and more focused, so that more people could stare at the Manson Brothers, so they could have room to breathe and turn around.
Zhao Zemu: "If I come, at least I can guarantee that George will not die. It's also just enough to remind him, don't believe anyone..."
Hearing this, Joe suddenly remembered what the doctor had said.
The doctor said that George Manson was very lucky. The dose of powerful sleeping pills injected into the body was a little short, and the rescue was timely, so he could finally save his life, and if he took good training, he would not leave any excessive damage.
At the beginning, at the reception on Yaba Island, it was Zhao Zemu who first reminded everyone to go to the room to wake up George Manson.
After a long time, Joe nodded. "Do you mind if I tell George this?"
Zhao Zemu hesitated a bit: "With his character, knowing that these are not good things, he can't hide things. Not only can it not keep him away from danger, but it will also make his two brothers even worse."
"If you're worried about this, then you'd better take it easy." Joe looked at him, considered for a moment, and said, "Actually, what we said before did not lie to you, we now have a lot of evidence in our hands, and we have the most proficient in genetic technology. Our team, backed by a family whose roots are deeper than Manson—my family, and the best lawyers in the league to escort the way.”
He stood up straight, finally looked solemn, and said, "I will ask you one last question, do you want to join us? The evidence of the exchanges between those families in your hand will make us icing on the cake."
It's been a century.
Zhao Zemu finally opened his mouth: "You know? Switching camps one after another like this will make me seem a little indecisive, have no opinion, and look like a jerk."
He laughed at himself and said in a deep voice, "However, I promise you: I can go to the witness stand again if needed."
Joe smiled happily.
This is his rare sincere smile in recent days: "That's really good."
The bottle of wine sent by Cherry Manor was finally placed on the long table in the meeting room.
Everything is rudimentary.
No fancy ice bucket wine racks, no decent waiters, no sweet and sour red cherries and trimmed flower branches. Only an open bottle of wine and two glasses.
Joe poured himself half a glass.
He suddenly remembered a certain lunch many, many years ago, the first time three young friends dug out the wine kept by their elders at the Cherry Manor, clinked a glass pretending to be a gentleman, then raised their heads and laughed and drank it.
The long wind passed through the branches, and it seemed that there was always a bright and dazzling sunlight in the memory, jumping on a certain cluster of flower branches.
…
In a blink of an eye, so many years have passed.
Joe touched the rim of the other empty cup with his cup, then raised his glass to Manson. "Actually, I'm nostalgic too, and I think so are you."
To my old friends of many years, and those memorable days.
"I will order a new bottle of wine at Cherry Manor, waiting for you to drink."
"Okay."
Wait until all the dust settles, don't get drunk, don't go home.