While Lin Wanyuan was busy saving people outside, Xie Sui's days inside were not easy either. He had grown too accustomed to a smooth life, and suddenly being thrown in here made him very uncomfortable.
Although it was a detention center, none of the people locked up were good sorts. Furthermore, someone had clearly gone to great lengths to deal with him. The cellmates were all burly, fierce-looking, and intimidating.
Xie Sui had a delicate appearance and was not the type to engage in fights. Standing before them, he was like a lamb among wolves.
There were eight people in one room, all staring at him with blank expressions, like hungry wolves spotting their dinner, ready to devour him at any moment.
Each cell had a boss, bunk beds, a toilet within the room, and a washbasin. There was absolutely no privacy.
The boss naturally slept in the upper bunk by the door. This spot had good air and a clear view. Newcomers could only sleep in the lower bunk closest to the toilet.
This was Xie Sui's current situation. He placed his quilt on the spot, and a stench of urine almost made him gag.
The previous occupant of the lower bunk was a thin, shifty young man with high cheekbones and a face like a monkey, not an ounce of flesh on him, so light a gust of wind could blow him over. No wonder he was bullied.
The skinny fellow had a nickname, "Dry Monkey," which was quite fitting.
"Dry Monkey" greeted him, "New guy, what did you get in for?"
Xie Sui grinned, "Murder."
"Holy hell!"
Everyone looked at him in shock. He looked so refined, like a white-collar worker, yet he dared to kill.
The boss, named Wu Xiong, had a face full of rough flesh, muscular arms, and a big belly, all bulging with muscle. He looked unapproachable.
"You killed people? What a joke…"
"Do you know how I got here?"
Xie Sui stared at Wu Xiong with burning eyes. He was certain there was an assassin among these people, waiting for an opportunity to kill him. Once he was dead, they could seize his assets.
With this thought, a murderous glint flashed in Xie Sui's eyes. Everyone looked like a potential assassin, and he wished he could pounce and kill them all.
"What the hell is with your eyes? You wanna fight?"
Wu Xiong felt his authority as the boss challenged. He was about to make a move when Xie Sui said calmly, "If you hit me now, I'll definitely lose. But you should be careful in the future. I'll constantly look for ways to kill you.
When you sleep, a wet towel around your neck, and in three minutes, you'll be a corpse.
When you go to the toilet, can my hand crush your balls with one squeeze?"
Xie Sui looked at his hand. Wu Xiong's lower body tensed in fear. Was this guy crazy?
A bespectacled man who looked like a teacher quickly intervened, "Don't fight. It's fate that we're in the same cell. Calm down. Newcomer, you should say less too, it's quite frightening.
This isn't a death row cell, no need to fight to the death, right?"
Xie Sui just stared coldly at Wu Xiong. If he didn't intimidate them now, he'd be bullied for sure.
Wu Xiong was not to be outdone. Although his legs trembled slightly, he couldn't lose face. Finally, Xie Sui rolled over and fell asleep.
The first night, they probably wouldn't make a move, but Xie Sui still couldn't sleep. It was too smelly; he felt like he was going to turn into a salted fish.
People kept getting up in the night to urinate and flush, making sleep impossible.
Just as he dozed off, a whistle blew. It was time to get up. They stood by the door, waiting for the guards to check them before coming out together to queue for breakfast.
Xie Sui yawned, with dark circles under his eyes, and a look of utter despair. If they really locked him here for ten days or half a month, he'd go mad even if he didn't die. This was not a life for normal people.
"I'm talking to you, stand up straight. You lazybones, what kind of posture is that?"
This was a guard bribed by Li Junhao, catching Xie Sui and lecturing him. Xie Sui sneered, "Officer, are you training new recruits? You're concerned about my posture? Do you live by the sea? You're meddling in everything!"
"You dare to talk back to an officer? You don't want to live."
"Yes, I don't want to live. Come hit me then. Officer is hitting me! I can't live anymore, help!"
Xie Sui started wailing. There were cheers from the surrounding cells. They loved this kind of troublemaker who went against the officers, like a hero.
"Hmph, you asked for it."
The guard, Zhang Hu, with a dark face, was about to drag him out, activating his stun baton. One touch and the person would be electrocuted unconscious.
Whoever felt the taste of a stun baton knew it. Those who hadn't never wanted to experience it. Xie Sui didn't want to get hit. He hid behind Wu Xiong and shouted, "You're abusing your power and using torture. I'm going to report you."
"That's enough. You're disrupting prison order. This is my right."
"You cursed me first, and I'm acting in self-defense."
"Wu Xiong, you two fight, but can you stay away from me?"
"Enough, Zhang Hu, come out. What are you doing?"
The prison warden stood on the second floor, overlooking them, and finally spoke. He looked at Xie Sui with great interest.
"I'll let you off this time, but I'll remember you."
"Ha, my honor. Want to go on a date?"
"Oh…"
More cheers erupted. Wu Xiong looked at him with sympathy. This kid was a bit too sharp-tongued.
Finally, they lined up for breakfast. Bread with lettuce, bacon, an egg, and a carton of milk. It was a very Western breakfast. Xie Sui couldn't eat it and asked, "Don't you have congee?"
The cook handing out food paused, "Where do you think this is? Are you ordering from a menu? Eat it if you want, or starve."
Xie Sui sighed, "We're all descendants of Yan and Huang, yet your 37-degree mouth can utter such cold words.
This is the stomach of a descendant of Yan and Huang, I can't eat this foreign stuff. Is it wrong for me to speak a fair word?
Master, can you convey this to the higher-ups? I get diarrhea from eating this."
The cook, angered, slammed his ladle, "Get out!"
"Ah, so cold. I'll get out then."
Wu Xiong admired him, "You're something else, kid. The moment you arrive, you want to challenge the guards and the cook. Are you trying not to live here?"
"What did you say your name was?"
"Wu Xiong."
"Uh-huh, Brother Wu, people are often bullied when they're kind. You dress like this, aren't you also trying to scare people?
You wait and see, I'll live even better, and then I'll take you out for fine food and drinks, and dominate this prison."
"Heh, talk. Bulls fly in the sky, and you blow on the ground. I've never seen anyone brag so much."
Wu Xiong didn't believe him. This guy was truly sick.
Xie Sui finished his meal in one go. While clearing his tray, he quietly tucked the milk carton into his pocket.
There wasn't much to do in the detention center. They watched TV and read books. In the afternoon, it was time for yard time, the liveliest part of the day, and also when various incidents frequently occurred.
Xie Sui immediately became vigilant. If anyone wanted to harm him, yard time was the most opportune moment.
Leaning against the wire mesh fence, he watched every inmate passing by, as if they were all coming to harm him.