The anti-fraud bureau needs a promotional video, and you're going to make a "Desperate Gam

On the eve of the warden's arrival, Andy faces the task of quickly organizing these numerous and complicated items.

A long-awaited joy welled up in Andy's heart. He was passionate about reading and browsing all kinds of books was an unparalleled pleasure.

It includes a wide variety of books, from comic books and classic literary masterpieces to even mechanical operation manuals.

Andy flipped through the pages with great interest while starting to organize them.

Just then, a dusty record came into view. He gently blew away the dust, carefully touched it, and finally realized that the record was intact.

His gaze then shifted to the record player on his left, and his mind began to waver.

As if driven by a mysterious force, Andy put the vinyl record into the record player in the prison.

The pleasant melody flowed out, seemingly giving Andy courage and making him even braver.

Overjoyed at the opening of the library, Andy noticed the key on the table and, on a whim, locked the prison guard who happened to be off duty in the restroom inside.

After noticing the broadcasting equipment, he made a decision.

He decided to use the prison's public address system to play Mozart's music for everyone, knowing that music has the power to heal the soul.

As the melody, imbued with hope and anticipation, resounded, the elegance of classical music touched every corner.

The prisoners involved in the event were all deeply moved by these notes of freedom and hope.

Andy's inner world is exceptionally rich. At this moment, he seems to have regained his freedom, leaning back in his chair, quietly enjoying it all.

A heavenly voice surrounds you, the camera slowly moves to the rhythm of the music, and everything around you gradually falls silent.

Andy sat in the chair, and from a distance, he looked more like a gentleman enjoying music at home, with an extremely elegant demeanor.

His half-closed eyes gave the impression that he had fallen into a dream.

This piece is "The Marriage of Figaro." Not everyone can appreciate its cultural influence, nor can everyone enjoy the leisurely pleasures of classical music in their daily lives.

But music itself contains powerful energy; even if people cannot grasp the subtleties of the music, they can still feel and understand the meaning of the lyrics.

"Her beauty is breathtaking."

"Beautiful to the point of sadness."

The song, like a spring breeze, awakened the prisoners from their slumber. It transcended the despair of imprisonment, like a bright splash of color entering a gloomy cage.

The high walls seemed to melt away in an instant.

The camera captured everyone's face, their eyes all looking upwards, focused on the magical loudspeaker.

The beautiful singing was like a divine blessing; their shocked expressions silently spoke of the awe-inspiring power of the music.

However, Andy knew that such a bold move would not go unpunished.

The audience knew that the rebellious Andy would face serious consequences.

Sure enough, this action resulted in him being detained in solitary confinement for two weeks.

After serving his two-week sentence, Andy returned to prison, where he acquired a new nickname – "The Great Conductor".

"Look, our 'Great Conductor' is back!" his friends joked.

Andy responded with a calm smile, then sat down with composure, holding his plate.

His fellow inmates asked this prominent figure, "Was two weeks of solitary confinement worth it?"

Andy, beaming with joy, replied, "These have been the most relaxing two weeks of my life."

Someone nearby immediately scoffed, "The dark room is the most torturous."

Andy always had a playful smile on his face, and his handsome appearance always exuded extraordinary charm.

He was not lying: "No, because I have Mozart by my side."

The inmate asked curiously, "Did they let you bring the phonograph in?"

Andy pointed to his head: "It's in your heart, in your mind. The beauty of music is irreplaceable; haven't you ever experienced it?"

Old Red reminisced, "I used to play the harmonica when I was young, but I lost interest. Here, none of that matters." Andy countered, "That's precisely where it matters most. Music makes you unforgettable."

"Forget what?"

Andy revealed his innermost thoughts, saying that this persistence is his life motto: "Some things cannot be contained by high walls. They are hidden deep in your heart. They cannot touch them or take them away. They are yours alone."

"for example?"

"hope."

Red and Andy disagreed. Looking at Andy, Red lowered his head, not with sarcasm, but with empathy—he had tried to fight against the system, but ultimately failed.

"Hope, brother, let me tell you, hope is the most dangerous thing; it can drive people mad. Here, hope is useless."

Andy interrupted the conversation with a question: "Like Brooks?"

When the late Brooks was mentioned, Reed fell silent, his eyes darting around, avoiding the question, and picked up his plate to leave.

This conversation left Red bewildered; perhaps even he himself needed redemption in this Shawshank.

Time has worn away his sharp edges; Reed has spent thirty years behind bars.

Despite believing he had turned over a new leaf, he has not yet been granted parole, and life continues.

Freedom and hope seemed unattainable to him.

Red was in a daze, his memories of the past ten years were blurry.

When Andy learned that Red's parole had failed, he specially bought him a whistle as a consolation, obtaining it from elsewhere as a surprise for Red.

Reed accepted the small gift, beaming with joy, and examined the exquisite whistle in his hand.

Andy noticed Red's interest, but seeing his hesitation, he asked, "Why don't you try blowing on it?"

“The time is not yet right,” Reed said, then turned and left.

As night falls, the arrival of new prisoners once again stirs up a commotion; the familiar scene unfolds, and time slips away silently.

Andy has grown from a newcomer to a veteran, just like Red back then.

Red's burden grew heavier, and late at night, he held a whistle, wanting to blow it but unable to, as Andy's words touched a long-dormant corner of his heart.

A new prisoner arrives, and the story continues.

Andy is a man of action. Now in charge of the library, he works tirelessly to improve everything in his pursuit of the meaning of life.

He persisted in writing two letters a week, and finally in 1959, the state legislature, unable to bear the harassment any longer, agreed to allocate $500 annually to build a library in order to stop his letter offensive.

Even while imprisoned, Andy's talent allowed him to achieve great things, collaborating with book clubs and purchasing large quantities of used books...

The once dilapidated storage room was transformed in his hands into a top-notch prison library.

The prisoners were able to read books such as *Les Misérables*, *The Old Man and the Sea*, *Treasure Island*, and *The Count of Monte Cristo*.

At the same time, the warden launched an external service program aimed at prison reform, allowing prisoners to go out to work after being approved, participate in public affairs, experience the value of labor, and indirectly serve the community. For taxpayers, this is a low-cost and high-efficiency program.

On the surface, this appears to be a good strategy, aimed at educating prisoners to work honestly and conserve resources.

However, Warden Norton was actually lining his own pockets.

There were countless shady dealings involved, allowing Norton to embezzle vast sums of money, and Andy's involvement was behind every transaction and every wad of cash.

As a banker, Andy skillfully manages the accounts, becoming the warden's right-hand man, handling his personal affairs and even taking care of his clothes.

The warden took good care of Andy, giving him all sorts of trinkets.

The roles of the two have quietly reversed.

Andy would share every snack he received with his fellow inmates, who would privately discuss the warden, regarding him as the "uncrowned king" of the prison and predicting that he would become a millionaire after retirement.

Ironically, this "lucky job" made Andy's life increasingly comfortable. He became deeply involved in the warden's corrupt affairs, becoming his personal assistant and helping to clean up evidence.

To the prisoners, the warden was like an underground emperor, and Andy's relationship with him became a topic of private discussion. (End of Chapter)