Teddy Bear Operation

Chapter 3 Teddy Bear Operation

Martin took the check, glanced at it, and realized the amount was wrong; it was only $100.

That's two weeks' salary.

Martin recalled the situation when he arrived, saying, "Mr. Max, we agreed on a daily wage of $45, and I worked for you for 12 days out of two weeks."

"You've never signed a daily wage contract with me, you can only pay the minimum hourly wage." Max had already considered the situation when Martin Davis was injured and had made preparations in advance.

The worker's head injury was a complicated area, and if it got stuck, it would be quite troublesome. Max blocked the way in advance: "You fell from the roof and damaged Mr. Paul's doghouse, which cost him $1200. I paid him $1000 in compensation. You can ask Mr. Paul for confirmation."

Paul, a friend Max had known since his teens, had already given him a heads-up: "Bill and Jones, who worked with you, testified that you were primarily responsible for the accident caused by your drinking, improper operation, and failure to heed warnings, which resulted in a huge financial loss for your employer."

"Furthermore, your actions have severely damaged the company's reputation, causing the company to lose three business deals in succession." Max easily delivered a series of punches to deal with this poor, dropout, and ignorant fool.

He pulled out a folder and pushed it toward Martin: "Take a look. This is the termination agreement that happened because of you. Your actions caused the company to lose three important clients."

Martin opened the quick scan and saw no problems at first glance, but it would be easy for a company to create such a document.

Max smiled kindly: "Instead of taking you to court and demanding compensation, I'm paying you $100 out of humanitarian considerations. You should thank me."

He also kindly reminded me: "If you have any objections, you can appeal to the union and apply for arbitration. Sorry, I forgot, you don't have a stable job, can't afford membership dues, and have never joined a union."

Martin closed the text and fell into thought; this was not a good situation.

Max sniffed repeatedly, his expression growing even more excited: "If you can't afford a lawyer, you can apply for legal aid from the ATL Legal Aid Association. I heard the waiting time is only a few months."

This is a complete crushing defeat, from social class to money, even if Max is just a small company owner.

Martin himself was unfamiliar with American laws and regulations, and having not even completed his "happy education," he could not possibly have had the relevant knowledge.

Max slammed his fist on the table: "Go back, young man. Get well soon. The company will welcome you back anytime."

Martin put away the check and looked at Max. It seemed that the normal procedure was unlikely to work.

Nothing more than social class and money.

The door behind then opened, and the burly Latin man appeared in the doorway.

Martin couldn't possibly do anything with his injured leg, so he turned and left Max's office.

As he went downstairs, he carefully searched his memory to confirm what he had discovered.

This thing is rampant in Atlanta.

Martin got into the car and saw a Cadillac parked not far away; he remembered it as Max's car.

After thinking for a few minutes, noting down the license plate number, and recalling more about Max, especially his usual route home, Martin started the car and drove off in that direction.

Max lives in a middle-class neighborhood, not far from Clayton.

Martin drove along the route he remembered, then turned back into the Clayton neighborhood and went into Carter's house.

Elena approached and asked, "Did that damn guy pay?"

Martin pulled out a cash check and handed it to her: "I've encountered a very difficult boss."

"Only $100?" Elena was furious. "Does he think you're a beggar?"

Harris took painkillers to temporarily suppress the pain and said, "What are our chances of winning if we apply for arbitration or legal aid?"

Martin sat on the single sofa and said, "We're broke, time is a huge cost."

Hall suddenly interjected, "Get the gun and kill him!"

Lily scoffed, "You want to go to jail?"

Elena punched one of them on the head and pointed at the bedroom door: "Get in! You two idiots aren't allowed out until I say so!"

The siblings turned their heads to one side and went into the bedroom.

Martin waited until the bedroom door closed before speaking again: "Harris, can you walk normally?"

Harris nodded: "I took painkillers, I'm fine."

Martin didn't waste any words and said directly, "I worked for Max for two weeks and I know him to some extent. He's a family man who leaves the company at 3:30 every day to go home. He always takes the same route, and there's a suitable intersection on that route where we wait for him."

Elena asked in surprise, "What do you want to do? Rob me?"

Harris backed down: "If I steal Max, there's a 90% chance I'll go to jail. I still want to apply to college."

"What are you two idiots thinking?" Martin slammed his fist on the sofa armrest. "I'm a man of principle and principles!"

Elena couldn't understand: "I don't want to go to that hellish prison, those two idiots, Lily and Hall..."

"Either shut up or listen to me!" Martin quickly explained what he was considering, then said, "In their rules, the poor can never beat the rich. We have to break free."

Harris murmured, "Principles and bottom lines..."

Martin didn't care: "We have principles and bottom lines, but principles and bottom lines need to be flexible and adaptable."

Elena gave him two middle fingers and agreed, "The idiot has finally become a little smarter."

Martin grabbed Elena's leg, yanked off a few strands of fur from her teddy bear mascot pants, and asked, "Can you get me a teddy bear mascot costume?"

Elena raised an eyebrow: "No problem."

Martin then asked, "Do you have a camera or anything like that?"

Harris interjected, "Scott's shop should have some secondhand goods."

"Very good!" Martin ordered, "Elena, go get the mascot costume. I'll go find Scott. Harris, keep an eye on those two idiots, don't let them cause any more trouble!"

Elena was the first to stand up, saying as she walked out, "Lazybones, get the hell out of here! Operation Teddy Bear has begun!"

She drove back to the mall where the promotion was taking place.

Martin headed to the north side of the neighborhood and found a tiny grocery store.

Scott Carter, sitting at the counter, was chugging a bottle of rum. Seeing Martin, he let out a burp and said, "Hey kid, what are you doing here?"

Martin approached the counter: "Your son Harris broke his arm."

Scott took a swig of his drink and said, "Remind him to go to the hospital."

Martin knew Scott wouldn't pay, so he asked, "Do you have a camera?"

"I don't have a camera, but I do have a video camera." Scott put down his bottle and proudly pulled out a miniature video camera: "It's brand new from JVC, just got it last week. Help me find a buyer, and I'll give you a cut."

Martin had seen this model before, picked it up and fiddled with it: "It still works?"

Scott craned his neck: "Of course it will work!"

Martin picked it up and left without looking back: "Harris needs it for treatment, I'll return it to you later."

"Damn it, stop right there, stop right there!" Scott shouted fiercely, but he didn't chase after them.

Back at the Carter's house, Elena returned quickly, and the three of them reunited and set off together.

Operation Teddy Bear begins.

(End of this chapter)