Chapter 25 nine new losses

When Jean Valjean was released from prison, he heard someone say in his ear the strange words "You are free", and for a moment it seemed unreal and unheard of; A true light of life suddenly shot into his heart.But the light dimmed in no time.At the first thought of freedom, Jean Valjean could not help but be pleased with himself. He thought he had a new life.But he soon realized that since he was holding a yellow passport, so-called freedom was the same thing. And there is still a lot of bitterness in this matter.He calculated that his savings, taking into account the years he had spent in prison, should have amounted to one hundred and seventy-one francs.It should also be noted that the forced rest of Sundays and holidays cost him roughly twenty-four francs in nineteen years, and he forgot to add that amount to his accounts.In any case, his savings had been reduced to one hundred and nine francs and fifteen sous after the usual 30% discount.That's what he got when he got out of prison.

Although he didn't understand the truth of this, he thought he always suffered a disadvantage.Let's be clear, he was robbed. On the second day after he was released from prison, he went to Grasse. He was in front of an orange blossom essence refinery and saw many people unloading.He asked to join the job.Work was tight at the time, and they agreed.He raised his hand.He is smart, strong, and clever, and he tries his best to carry it, and the owner seems to be satisfied.While he was working, a policeman walked by, noticed him, and asked him for his papers.He had to take out the yellow passport.After the police had seen it, Jean Valjean went to work again.He first asked a worker how much he could make per day doing that kind of work.The workman answered him, "Thirty sous." In the evening, he went to the owner of the perfume factory and asked to pay him his wages, because he had to go early the next morning.The factory owner gave him fifteen sous without saying a word.He asks.The man answered him, "That's good enough for you." He still wanted it.The master opened his eyes wide and said to him: "Be careful of the dark room."

That time, he felt that he had been stolen again. Society, the government, robbed him once in a big way in cutting his savings, and now it's the boy's turn to steal from him. Being released is not the same as being liberated.Although he was out of prison, he was still charged with the crime. That is what happened to him at Grasse, and what happened to him at Digne afterwards we already know.