America: Starting with Daily Intelligence

Chapter 29 Sigcombury

The situation was brought under control.

Officer Miguel and three other colleagues detained the robber who had made the zero-dollar purchase in their vehicle, reported the situation to the Southern Precinct's dispatch center via walkie-talkie, and immediately retrieved their medical kits to begin humanitarian aid.

No. This person is riddled with bullets; what use would CPR be?

Seeing that Brother Hei had gone limp, the police officers, after a symbolic attempt at first aid, decisively gave up and reported to the dispatch center that the other party had no vital signs.

But the ambulance still has to come, even if it's just for show, to get the person into the ICU and try to save them, and then regretfully announce that we did our best.

The scene was so bloody and disgusting that many people vomited, but Zhang Ailun remained calm.

"No photos! No crowding!! Hey! Don't block the way! Everyone, get out of here right now!!"

Officer Miguel immediately waved to disperse and evacuate the crowd and began to comfort the injured at the discount store.

Although the white homeless man was immediately defeated and collapsed to the ground clutching his head, his act of bravery still earned him high praise from the police officers.

When the police officers discovered that the injured person was a homeless man who was passing by and had no intention of taking a statement, after careful consideration, they personally took out $20 as a reward and let him leave the scene of the crime.

Because Sig Comprey had no identity and was listed on the death list, he was considered an unregistered person, making him difficult to track down and impossible to obtain evidence from. Therefore, his injuries were essentially wasted, and his personal actions could not be recorded in his citizen file as credit points.

Police officers can only obtain statements from discount store employees through CCTV footage, and the store owner decides whether to subsequently charge the black men with robbery and assault, and file a complaint with the court to substantiate their crimes.

Zhang Ailun followed the crowd and left the street. On the way, he saw two more police cars arrive and warning tape was put up at the crime scene.

It was a truly worthwhile experience to watch such a spectacular show.

We've only been on the West Coast for a few days, and several people have already died?

After leaving Aitou Street, Zhang Ailun glanced at the time and realized it was already 1 p.m. He then bought the necessary items at a nearby store that specializes in selling camping equipment.

Outdoor double inflatable sleeping mats: $29; a decent quality summer quilt: $69; solar panel charger: $32; insect repellent lamp: $18…

I then spent $25 at a fast food restaurant on a calorie bomb: a hamburger pizza, fried chicken, and beer.

Remaining assets: $507.

Sitting in a spacious, shady spot, enjoying the view while eating delicious pizza and drinking beer.

Turning my head, I saw an acquaintance with wet hair, a swollen forehead, and a band-aid covering a scar, rummaging through a trash can.

"Hey, it's you? How are you?"

Zhang Ailun promptly greeted him.

The homeless man, Sig, clearly didn't recognize him and asked疑惑地问道, "Hey buddy, do we know each other?"

"I saw everything you did at the discount store. Even though it seemed a bit reckless, buddy, you're a true hero!"

Zhang Ailun warmly invited him to sit down, "Haven't you eaten yet? If you don't mind, come and eat with us."

Sig hesitated for a moment, looked at the fragrant fried chicken, gave up searching for the trash can, and sat down. Zhang Ailun handed him a pizza and a can of beer.

"Thanks for your generosity, buddy!"

Touched by Zhang Ailun's kindness, Sieg ate pizza and drank beer in big bites, and his eyes welled up with tears as he recalled his experiences over the past few days.

"No one has ever been so kind to a homeless person like me! Never!!"

During this period, he experienced mostly hitting people and being hit.

Because he doesn't know the rules of street life, he often accidentally wanders into other people's territory. Even when he rummages through trash cans, people will push and shove him away. When he lies down to sleep on the street at night, people will urinate on his face to drive him away.

This place is hell!!

Looking at Zhang Ailun, Sieg realized that even though he was an Asian who was often smeared by the media, the fact was that kindness transcends race and identity.

Sieg was deeply moved.

"Because I'm also homeless, I felt I should offer an umbrella to others after getting wet in the rain. There are still many good people in the world. Besides, I admire people like you; you deserve respect. You're a real man!"

Zhang Ailun's words shocked Sieg. He stared at Zhang Ailun in disbelief, speechless for a long time.

"Dude, this joke isn't funny."

You would never guess that someone wearing DG sunglasses, dressed neatly, sitting here enjoying fried chicken and beer, looking so relaxed and carefree, is a homeless person.

Look at yourself, and then look at me.

I was disheveled, starving, sometimes hungry and sometimes full. Even when I begged on the street, I was beaten and insulted. When I lay on the street, I was chased around from time to time. At night, people would steal my shoes and luggage. My mental state was extremely poor.

Even your clothes and equipment are brand new, and your muscles and physique are more energetic than normal people, giving you the air of a pampered and wealthy person.

You said you're a homeless person?

Who could believe that?

We're both homeless, so why are you doing so well?

Sieg couldn't understand it.

Zhang Ailun didn't explain much, but asked with suspicion, "Didn't the officer just give you $20? Didn't you use it to buy a meal? At least enough to fill your stomach, right?"

Sieg honestly replied, "I donated that money to someone in need. A child begging on the street."

"Oh! You're such a great person!" Zhang Ailun exclaimed in surprise.

He thought the other party would use the money to treat themselves to something nice, but unexpectedly, they gave it away to someone else.

So, does that mean the other person's act of bravery was truly just a simple act of bravery, without any other motives?

It's rare to find people like this in the US military, who remain untainted by the corruption around them, almost like pandas.

What a pity.

A person who once had a bright future has now become a homeless person.

This is probably what the West Coast is like.

Sieg then gave a bitter smile and said, "I'm just doing my best to do good. But unfortunately, I can't even support myself. I have no identity, no job, nothing. Even survival is a problem..."

"What a coincidence, buddy! My experience is strikingly similar to yours! I'm also an undocumented immigrant; my identity was revoked for some reason. I also can't find a job, I'm homeless, and I'm living on the streets."

Zhang Ailun smiled, raised the beer can, and took a swig.

"How is that possible!?"

Sieg was somewhat surprised and incredulous.

After confirming several times, they found that Zhang Ailun didn't seem to be lying, and they were also somewhat surprised and excited, as if they had found a kindred spirit.

Perhaps touched by the other person's kindness, or perhaps because he had been holding it in for too long and desperately needed someone to confide in, Sieg lowered his guard.

The two drank bottle after bottle, and fueled by the alcohol, Sieg told Zhang Ailun about his past, revealing the secrets he had kept hidden in his heart and venting all the bitterness in his heart.

I felt much more relaxed after saying that.

"I really didn't mean to hurt anyone. I just wanted to use that money to have a decent meal, but I accidentally killed that old man... I thought about turning myself in, and I even mustered up the courage to do so, but the police officer on the street told me that I didn't have any identity and was an undocumented person. He said that what he said was not credible at all. Who knows if I was just trying to get free food and drinks and hide from my enemies. Every minute and every second I spend in prison is a waste of taxpayers' money."

Sieg chuckled self-deprecatingly: "Because I have no legal status and don't pay taxes, I don't deserve to be locked up in a private jail. I was only in the police station for a few hours before they kicked me out and even looked down on me. This is the West Coast, this is America! I've finally seen it for who I am!"

"But I haven't been completely crushed by harsh reality, and I haven't lost my passion for life! To hell with America! I don't care anymore!"

"I don't care what happens next. I'm a sinner!! Everything I'm going through now is God's punishment for me!!"

Sig was yelling and screaming like a madman.

During his time wandering the streets, he suffered greatly, enduring immense torment and pain, to the point of nearly going insane.

Passersby looked at him with surprise, then turned and left indifferently.

(End of this chapter)