Outside the prison cell, there is a hot labor scene, but there are some diehards who refuse to participate, such as the grumpy Qiao Mei.

She had been a retainer of a certain lord, but now she was lying on the bed without moving, her eyes were full of indifference and stubbornness, as if there was nothing in this world that he cared about.

With a creak, the cell door opened.

Maya probe walked into the cell, first looking up and down, left and right, the room was arranged. It stands to reason that the inmates should not be allowed to decorate the cells, but the prison houses are mostly dilapidated, and Nick agrees that they should make their living conditions a little more livable.

So you can see someone raising a small flower by the window, someone folding a paper crane at the head of the bed, and someone pinching the image of a kitten with mud and putting it on the table.

Only Qiao Mei was lying there like a corpse, motionless.

"General Qiao Mei, are you okay?" Maya asked with a smile.

Maya's arrival made a trace of vigilance flash in Qiao Mei's eyes, and she glanced at Maya coldly and didn't say a word.

This attitude of rejection from thousands of miles away made Maya very uncomfortable. Her smile stiffened slightly, and she slowly moved to the edge of the bed and sat down, trying to communicate with Qiao Mei a little, "The general has been lying like this for too long, it's not good for the body, why don't you go out and move?" ”

Qiao Mei didn't answer, just glanced at her with indifferent eyes.

Maya sighed, "Her Royal Highness the princess arranged for you to work in the hope that you can find the meaning and value of life......

Qiao Mei didn't bother to listen to her at all, turned over, and continued to lie down with her back to Maya.

Maya couldn't help but smile wryly.

Thankfully, she inherited her mother's patience and kindness, and she would not be as violent as Finks, picking up a crossbow and making a hole in Jomei's body; Nor will he come up with any sinister ideas with a slap on the head like his father Nick.

It's as if after learning about Jomei and Cynthia's last fierce fight, Nick tied the two of them to each other for two hours. Such a vicious idea that leaves a lifelong psychological shadow, I'm afraid that even if you don't laugh, you may not be able to come up with it.

Maya took a deep breath and tried to stay calm: "I know you're reluctant to go into labor, but it's the only way you can change the status quo. You need to give yourself a chance and give life a chance. ”

Qiao Mei finally turned around and glared at Maya: "You stinky little hairy child, you know what a fart!" ”

"I really don't know much about." Maya deliberately provoked, "Why don't you tell me about it, what is the mystery in this?" ”

Qiao Mei almost roared loudly, "I used to have everything, my own territory, the lord who trusted me. The result? After an inexplicable war, there is nothing. Even myself have been reduced to a prisoner? ”

She angrily slapped the bedboard, "I lost my status, my dignity, my everything. Now you want me to do all that dirty manual work like an inferior person? ”

In the face of Qiao Mei's anger, Maya was not angry but happy, "It seems that you haven't realized why you are being locked up here. Or can I give you some hints? ”

Maya paused deliberately and looked at Qiao Mei's reaction. Seeing that there was a little urgency and curiosity in her eyes, Maya's expression relaxed: "You might as well think about it carefully, are all those officers who went out with you really all captured?" ”

Qiao Mei suddenly hesitated.

She was not a fool, and she knew very well that many of her retainers were taken prisoner and sent to prison with her. But she also knew that there were indeed a few people who were released back after the expressionless "Lord of the Red Pavilion" finished interrogating.

"Why?" Qiao Mei asked.

This time it was Maya's turn to set up the score, she got up from the bed leisurely, and glanced at Qiao Mei one last time, "I'm afraid you know this answer better." ”

With that, she walked out of the cell and closed the door by the way.

……

After a few days, the center of the prison courtyard was filled with inmates.

"Today is a day to celebrate." Nick stood on a high platform and shouted to the inmates, "Guys, we finally have a new bathroom from today. Thank you to our students and all the partners involved in the construction work. ”

Everyone cheered, saying that this was unprecedented good news, which also made Red and the others quite proud.

"To celebrate this great day, I have also brought you some small gifts." With that, Nick asks Crohn to bring some bags of marijuana, and Nacian and Maya, like two generous Santa Claus, pull out small gift boxes from the bags and throw them at the prisoners around them.

The gift box was small, but the "trainees" who were held here were still very excited. They scrambled over the palm-sized gift boxes and hurriedly opened them to see.

"What is this?" A prisoner took out several reddish strips from the box.

Nacian laughed beside him, "You'll know when you take a bite." ”

The prisoners carefully stuffed one in their mouths, closed their eyes and carefully refused, and a fresh and spicy taste quickly spread in their mouths.

"What a magical thing this is!" Someone couldn't stop his mouth with excitement, and instantly stuffed the remaining few into his mouth, "I've never eaten such a delicious thing, it's so exciting!" ”

Nacian looked up and thought for a moment, "The princess said that this is called 'spicy strips', which is a soy product. ”

For those prisoners whose lives are monotonous and boring, this stimulating snack is simply more appealing than the maze. Quite a few people's eyes flashed with excitement and shouted: "Spicy strips! I want spicy strips! ”

"There are a few other flavors." Crohn brought another sack of snacks, "It's a small dried fish, it's fragrant and crispy, I love it." ”

These deep-fried dried fish immediately caused another frenzy, and the prisoners tasted the crunch and umami of the dried fish, as if they were in a feast for the palate. They munched on it, their faces full of happiness and contentment.

"Dried fish! It's been a long time since I've eaten such delicious dried fish! The other prisoner said with a tearful smile. His hands trembled as he held the small bag of dried fish, as if he were cherishing a lost treasure.

If they hadn't seen it with their own eyes, they would have thought they were at some royal banquet.

Maya stood by and looked at her father, Nick, and then at the agitated prisoners. Her mind was full of doubts: although these snacks were not valuable, she didn't quite understand why she should reward them for no reason.

Maybe there was a voice in her heart that was roaring angrily: "My dad hasn't bought me so many delicious things yet!"

Nick seemed to see what was on her mind, patted Maya on the shoulder, and whispered, "You think it's just to make them happy?" It's about arousing their desires. ”

"Desire?" Maya was puzzled.

"That's right, desire." Nick seems to have a chance to win, "There are two kinds of stubborn people, one is one who has a strong belief in himself, and the other is almost no desire. It is difficult to change people's beliefs, but it is much easier to arouse people's desires. ”

Maya still didn't quite understand, "What's the use of that desire?" ”

"If I change the word, maybe you'll understand." Nick explains, "That's 'I want'. ”

People want to live before they eat; If you want to keep warm, you will wear clothes. It was the original ape-men who wanted a safe environment and would go into the cave to hide, which gave rise to the "cave men" in ancient times.

If a person is disillusioned and wants nothing, it is often the time to end his life.

Nick's logic is very simple and very practical: "They have lost hope in life, so we want to give them a taste of life again." Although it is just a few snacks, it can inspire their yearning for freedom. ”

He smiled mysteriously again, "For these little snacks, there must be many people who will take the first step of labor." And when they get a 'labor voucher' to buy more snacks, they get an effective incentive. ”

Maya understands this a little: "Will they do more work in exchange for greater incentives?" You can even buy something other than snacks to make your life better. ”

General Nick smiled with satisfaction, "Yes, let them see the future reward first, and they will take the first step for this small reward." And when they have achieved a certain return, they will work for a greater return. ”

Maya suddenly asked curiously, "A bigger reward?" What's that? ”

Nick raised an eyebrow, "If you're a prisoner, what would you most like to get?" ”

"New clothes?" Maya was confused, so she could only guess, "Fluffy beds and sheets?" A better bedroom? Or is it...... Got a pet? ”

Nacian shook his head as he listened, "I'm afraid your mind is full of straw, why can you think of a pet with such a simple question?" ”

Maya glared at him, "Is there anything wrong with having a pet?" I think it must be a very happy thing to raise a kitten and a puppy and bask in the sun every day. ”

"Happiness you ball of yarn." Nacian complained, "The most important thing a prisoner wants, that's freedom." Isn't it possible that there are still people who like to live in prison for the rest of their lives, and of course they want to get out. ”

Maya was choked half to death.

Nick clapped his hands and laughed, "That's right, freedom. So the biggest reward that these 'labor vouchers' can be redeemed is...... Commutation. ”

Maya's mouth opened wide in shock, "This...... Is this something we can decide? ”

Nick spread his hands, "I have already asked Master Buxiao and Her Royal Highness the Princess, and they are very satisfied with this plan. It is just that the rules for commutation of sentences need to be clarified, including details such as limits, exchange volumes, etc. It may not be long before this rule is enforced. ”

Maya and Nacian exchanged glances in surprise.

The surrounding prisoners were still scrambling for the small snacks they had tasted, and at this moment they seemed to have forgotten the distress and sadness of being a prisoner, and everyone's face was filled with happy smiles, which was joy from the bottom of their hearts.

"Spicy strips, I still want spicy strips!" Someone was still chanting.

The atmosphere in the courtyard is even more cheerful and lively.