Chapter Eighty-Nine: Prison Storm, Part Two

The brat’s finger was caught hard in Jiangxiwen’s grip, and he howled in pain, unable to move.

“Let go! If you don’t let go, I’ll make you regret it!”

“Only after I let go will you make me regret it,” Jiangxiwen shot back, tightening his hold. The flunky was left shrieking in agony as the other punks gathered around.

“Oh? Yang Wei, what’s wrong with you? Infighting already? Haha. I’ve told you plenty of times: if you want to be the boss, you have to know how to make money. Otherwise, why wouldn’t your underlings mutiny?” A voice came from behind the wall; clearly, there was another holding room there.

“Shut your damn mouth! When I get out, if I don’t grind Zhang Fang into meat paste, I won’t be Yang anymore.”

“Not being Yang would be better. Saves me the trouble of watching you turn weak. Besides, you can’t beat me anyway.”

“What’re you yelling about? Zhang Fang, you bastard, shut your filthy mouth!” The thin policeman, seeing that Jiangxiwen had tangled with Yang Wei’s people, was delighted inwardly and even prodded them further: “Yang Wei, this kid is causing you trouble. As boss, you can’t be polite now!”

Clearly, this scrawny man was adding fuel to the fire. He was only too happy for Jiangxiwen to provoke this crew. There was no need to ask; their leader was obviously the muscle-bound fellow named Yang Wei.

Jiangxiwen had no time to listen to these fools rambling. He applied more force, and after another scream from the flatterer, he shoved the man away.

“Damn it, looking for death!” With the flunky subdued, Yang Wei had not moved at all until now. One of his brothers had been beaten, so how could the big brother ignore it? He immediately stamped his foot toward Jiangxiwen’s bandaged hand as Jiangxiwen sat there. The bandage still bore Li Wenwu’s footprint, reminding Yang Wei to stomp there hard.

Jiangxiwen had long expected this move. Seated on the floor, he spun sharply, lifted both legs high, and locked Yang Wei in a scissor hold from below, then crushed down with force. Yang Wei’s body hit the ground with a boom.

No matter how hard he struggled, he could not break free. Seeing Jiangxiwen’s skill, the thin policeman secretly rejoiced that he had not gone in to interfere just now; otherwise he might well have gotten beaten by Jiangxiwen again. That would have been miserable. Yesterday’s kick still left him shaken.

No matter how Yang Wei’s brothers threatened, no matter how Yang Wei cursed, Jiangxiwen kept a cold expression, his legs continuing to clamp down with unrelenting force.

After about ten minutes of deadlock, Yang Wei could not bear it any longer. He slapped the floor with his only free hand and roared, “Little brother, I admit defeat. From now on, you’re my big brother!”

Jiangxiwen still said nothing. He simply opened his legs and let Yang Wei go, then sat back up, returned to his original spot, and leaned against the wall to rest.

That brief struggle, though lasting only ten minutes, had drained him considerably. The reason he had not, as usual, spoken at random was that he was using every ounce of strength to endure the pain in his broken hand. Add to that a day and a night without food, and what he needed now was rest—rest that would not let these hoodlums see the slightest sign of weakness.

“Little brother, no, Big Brother...” Yang Wei got to his feet again and came over with an ingratiating smile.

Naturally Jiangxiwen would not believe that men like this surrendered so easily. He replied coolly, “What is it? Say it.”

This kid really was capable; he’d even figured out that I want something, Yang Wei thought with a slight start, then laughed again. “Big Brother, it’s the second day of the New Year and we’re all sitting in the detention center together. You could say we’re fellow sufferers. Those damned cops aren’t doing anything either. They’re waiting until the holiday’s over before they deal with us...”

“After the holiday?” Jiangxiwen knew nothing about police procedures. Hearing Yang Wei, he interrupted at once.

Seeing that Jiangxiwen’s face had finally taken on a normal expression and was no longer that cold mask, Yang Wei felt much more at ease and hurried on: “That’s right, Big Brother. I got into a fight with Zhang Fang and his gang before the New Year, and both sides got brought in. They’re in the big room next door. That bastard Zhang Fang is a complete son of a bitch.

“I’ve got an open-air karaoke place near People’s Square, and this kid insists on taking my turf. Big Brother, seeing how good you are, maybe when it’s time for breakfast, why don’t you...” His voice faded lower and lower.

Before Yang Wei could finish, Jiangxiwen waved him off. “You want me to beat him for you, right? Fine. You just need to promise me one thing.”

I never expected Jiangxiwen to be this straightforward. Yang Wei was overjoyed. Zhang Fang had always been his rival, and, maddeningly, Zhang Fang was the better fighter. Several times Yang Wei had suffered losses. This time, after finally gathering enough men, the two sides had fought to a draw. Now that both groups had been thrown in here, Yang Wei dreamed of the day he could stand over Zhang Fang and speak to him from above.

“You’re already my big brother. Whatever you need, just say the word.”

Of course, Yang Wei did not truly accept Jiangxiwen as his big brother. After Zhang Fang was taught a lesson, Jiangxiwen could go wherever he pleased. From the look of it, this kid seemed to have a grudge against the police too; he didn’t seem like someone from the streets. There was no way he’d really become his big brother.

“Is there anyone here who can somehow make a phone call? If so, I’ll give you a number in a moment. Call it for me and tell them I’m here.”

Hearing this, Yang Wei quickly nodded. “That’s easy. Hu Pao, come here...” He called over the flunky. “When it’s time for breakfast, ask the cops if you can make a call home. Dial the number Big Brother gives you.”

After saying this, before Hu Pao could answer, he turned to explain to Jiangxiwen, “This kid wasn’t brought in for fighting. Before the New Year he bullied some kid on the street and tried to shake him down. The cops saw it. It’s nothing serious. Besides, he comes in here several times a month, and he’s handed plenty of cigarettes to the cops here. Making a call is easy.”

Every trade has its own tricks. Jiangxiwen had never been a thug, never been in prison, and even with the advantage of rebirth, he knew nothing about these things. But no matter where, strength was still strength. Soon he had found this temporary alliance of convenience—Yang Wei and his gang.

He gave Hu Pao the phone number and the words he wanted said. Then Yang Wei sent Hu Pao off to the side and began bragging to Jiangxiwen. Jiangxiwen did not respond at all, and the man, as though reciting his own autobiography, related his life story bit by bit.

Even thugs could be narcissistic, Jiangxiwen thought. His gloomy mood eased somewhat, and he could only hope Hu Pao’s call would work.

Around eight o’clock, the thin policeman opened the cell door, tapped the bars a few times with his baton, and shouted, “Time to eat...” Then he backed away from the doorway and watched Jiangxiwen warily from a distance. By now he treated Jiangxiwen as an extremely dangerous criminal.

Once out of the holding room, Jiangxiwen was astonished. Who would have thought that a police station would contain such a huge detention block? There were three large makeshift rooms, along with a little cafeteria for the “criminals” to eat in.

The moment he saw Zhang Fang, Jiangxiwen felt disgust.

The guy had a head full of green hair and walked with such a swaggering sway that he looked absurd—like one of the little gangsters from Yangjiang Third High, the same type through and through. Not only in 1993, but even years later, he would still have stood out as the sort of person you could not help noticing. Jiangxiwen could not imagine how such a man had ever become a boss.

“Hey, Yang Wei, haven’t your underlings beaten you weak yet?” Zhang Fang’s mouth was foul, and that was the thing Yang Wei hated most about him. Yet one-on-one, Yang Wei knew he could not beat him.

“This guy just has a bit of money at home and learned some taekwondo. His old man runs a slaughterhouse. Money plus a little skill—those are the underlings he’s built,” Hu Pao explained promptly.

Hearing this, Jiangxiwen could not help regarding him in a new light. This fellow truly had a knack for fawning; before anyone asked, he already knew enough to speak up first.

“Hu Pao, stop talking nonsense here. Go make the call, now...” Yang Wei urged.

“All right, Brother Wei.” Hu Pao answered and went toward the thin policeman. After a few casual words and a pack of cigarettes slipped into his hands, the scrawny cop led him to the public phone mounted on the wall.

Jiangxiwen ate his steamed bun and thin rice porridge slowly, warming his hungry stomach. Wang Wu had taught him that when one’s strength was depleted and one had gone too long without food, one must chew whatever little there was as slowly and thoroughly as possible. Only then could one recover strength to the greatest extent.

After swallowing the last bite of the bun, Jiangxiwen kept watching Hu Pao. Only when Hu Pao turned back and made an “all done” gesture did Jiangxiwen rise with a smile, walk to Zhang Fang’s side, and slam the bowl of food down over Zhang Fang’s head.

Though he had only one functioning hand, dealing with a thug like Zhang Fang was absurdly easy. Once he had Zhang Fang under control, the others did not dare move. Yang Wei followed up at once, raining old-fist blows on Zhang Fang until his face was black and blue. At last he had vented his anger.

By the time several policemen arrived, Yang Wei’s brothers had already scattered as if nothing had happened. Zhang Fang, meanwhile, was wailing and filing complaints at the police. The station chief gave a slight smile and pointed at Jiangxiwen. “Was it him?”

He knew Zhang Fang had plenty of money. Helping him this time would earn him another fine carton of cigarettes. Besides, dealing with Jiangxiwen—the man who had beaten his brother-in-law—was something he was more than willing to do.

“Yes, it was him. He beat our boss,” Zhang Fang’s men said one after another, each voice loud with righteous fury.

“It wasn’t him. It was me!” Yang Wei suddenly stepped forward and met the station chief’s gaze, his expression openly defiant.

He knew this station chief well. When Jiangxiwen had been thrown in yesterday, he was already unconscious. They must have shocked him with an electric baton to get that result.

If they dragged him to the interrogation room now, he would likely suffer even more. Looking at Jiangxiwen’s not-so-large frame and the arm in a cast, Yang Wei worried that the boy might not be able to take it.

Jiangxiwen had subdued Zhang Fang for him and avenged him; he could not be ungrateful. So, on impulse, he had stepped forward.

This guy really does have some sense of loyalty, Jiangxiwen thought, glancing at Yang Wei and nodding to him. Then he said to the station chief, “What, you’re taking me somewhere? Fine, wherever you want.”

Since it had already happened, there was no avoiding it. This time Jiangxiwen would absolutely not go easy. If these scum still dared to lay hands on him, he would not wait for them to bring out the electric batons; even if it cost him the use of his broken hand, he would break the station chief’s ribs.

The station chief gave Yang Wei a cold laugh. “We’ll settle your business later.” Then he barked at the other policemen, “This kid’s dangerous. Cuff him!”

These men had been thoroughly beaten by Jiangxiwen yesterday and had not yet found a chance for revenge.

After Jiangxiwen had been shocked down, only Li Wenwu had seized the opening to kick him once. The others had not been allowed to follow up—the station chief wouldn’t permit it. Beating people was fine; killing them was not.

Now they had finally found another chance. They did not believe that after being shocked once, Jiangxiwen would still dare act so arrogant.

Jiangxiwen held out one hand and said, “Cuff me.” His other arm was in plaster and could not be extended at all.

Li Wenwu wanted to curse him, but the station chief stopped him with a wave. “Enough. Come with us. We won’t treat you badly.”

When they left the detention room and headed for the interrogation room, Jiangxiwen did not see Mu Rong. It seemed that the prettier a girl was, the less trustworthy she was. Jiangxiwen thought of Yin Susu’s words.

When the door was shut, the same scene from yesterday appeared again. Several men advanced with batons in hand; this time, they were all electric batons, though not yet switched on.

Jiangxiwen knew they were trying to intimidate him. If they all turned them on at once, they would still be afraid of causing a death.

This time, Jiangxiwen showed no mercy. The instant Li Wenwu swung his baton and came up, Jiangxiwen had already flashed forward to the station chief’s front. Before the station chief could react, Jiangxiwen drove his elbow hard into the man’s throat.

Next was Li Wenwu. Jiangxiwen did not pause for even a second, and a kick landed squarely in the man’s groin. In less than a minute, two ringleaders were down.

The remaining men no longer dared to strike. They shouted in panic, pulled open the door, and rushed out to seek help from the other policemen.

Jiangxiwen sat in the interrogation room chair and rested for a moment, forcing his breathing to steady. He could already hear the police outside calling for the riot squad by phone.

Things had come to this. Jiangxiwen could only gamble one more time. All his hopes now rested on Hu Pao’s call.