"Police!" Qiang Min shouted angrily.
Inside the apartment, Lin Xiaoliang peered through the peephole and saw Li and Qiang's movements clearly. Quickly grabbing the phone, he dialed a few numbers and said, "There's trouble here, come quickly!" Within moments, an Audi sped to the entrance of the apartment building. A well-dressed middle-aged man carrying a leather briefcase hurriedly exited the car and entered the building. Soon after, a police car with flashing lights followed, parking behind the Audi. Several detectives jumped out and rushed inside. By this time, Lin Xiaoliang had dressed neatly and was sitting in the center of the living room, legs crossed on the big sofa. The middle-aged man, who had just entered, sat behind him like an interpreter or a bodyguard. Lin Xiaoliang looked at the stern-faced Li Xinjian and said, "Let me introduce, this is my lawyer, Mr. Han Lifang. If you have any questions, you can talk to him."
Qiang Min barked, "Stop pretending to be in an American movie! Where are those two women?" Han Lifang, looking puzzled, asked, "Which two women are you referring to, officer?" "The two prostitutes who came in with Lin Xiaoliang," Qiang Min said, not waiting for an explanation, and waved to the detectives, "Search the place!"
Han Lifang and Lin Xiaoliang wanted to say something, but Li Xinjian showed them the search warrant. In less than a minute, Qiang Min and the detectives brought the two women into the living room. Qiang Min then cuffed Lin Xiaoliang.
In the bedroom, everything was quiet. Moonlight streamed through the sheer curtains, casting a glow on the carpet. The bedside phone suddenly rang loudly. "Who's this?" Guo Xiaopeng asked sharply, then switched to a respectful yet cold tone, "Oh, it's you. Why are you still up so late?"
His stepfather, Lin Zilie, sounded agitated on the phone: "How can I sleep? Do you know your brother is in trouble?" Guo Xiaopeng replied calmly, "I know."
Lin Zilie asked, "What are you going to do about it?"
"I've already sent a lawyer," Guo Xiaopeng said, holding the receiver away from his ear, indicating he might hang up at any moment.
"What good is just sending a lawyer? You know how effective lawyers are here," Lin Zilie was clearly dissatisfied.
Guo Xiaopeng frowned, "Do you have any constructive suggestions?"
"You should use all available channels to organize a rescue," Lin Zilie commanded. Guo Xiaopeng laughed, "Xiaoliang isn't some noble person detained for ideals or beliefs; he's a criminal caught for soliciting prostitutes. Under what pretense should we organize a rescue? Should we use your name?"
Lin Zilie's patience was at its limit, his voice rising, "I know you have issues with the Lin family, but Xiaoliang is still your blood. You've never called me father, and I can understand that. But I only have two sons; I can't let both end up in jail because of you. If you want revenge, take it on me, not on your brother!"
Guo Xiaopeng was also furious, "If you think this is revenge, then wait and see the outcome!" With that, he slammed down the phone.
The Desert Prison
The setting sun cast long shadows over the vast desert, home to a large reformation camp. A bright moon hung over the barred windows, illuminating the dark, damp cells. In one of these cells, several inmates lay on their bunks, silent and pretending to sleep, not daring to snore.
Lin Xiaoqiang, with a beard covering his face, sat on the farthest bunk from the door, eyes closed, meditating. A young inmate was washing his feet. Suddenly, the sound of the iron door unlocking echoed through the room, and the prisoners opened their eyes to peek. The guard pushed a bespectacled young man with a scholarly look into the cell and announced loudly, "This is the new inmate, number 4087. Make some space and explain the rules to him." The prisoners eyed the newcomer curiously, and as the guard locked the door and left, they all sat up simultaneously. Lin Xiaoqiang continued washing his feet, ignoring the commotion.
A burly man called Mule slapped 4087 hard, sending his glasses flying, and snarled, "The guards told us to explain the rules. Do you know what rules are? This is a rule!"
4087, severely nearsighted, groped blindly for his glasses. A short, stout man known as Hound Dog kicked him over, admonishing, "You can't kneel to the masters until the rules are explained!" 4087, bloodied and bruised, could only ask helplessly, "Why are you bullying me?"
"Oh?" Mule threw a powerful right hook, "You dare talk back?" Beaten and bleeding, 4087 slumped against the wall, not daring to say another word. Hound Dog pinched his cheek and sneered, "Oh, a delicate one, are we?" 4087 stammered, "No, no, definitely not!"
Mule grabbed his chin, "Maybe you're here for murder, like me?" 4087, terrified, replied, "No, no…"
Mule let go, "I figured you didn't have it in you!"
Hound Dog, intrigued, asked, "Raped a minor? In class?" 4087's face turned even redder, "No, no, not that…"
From the back of the room, Lin Xiaoqiang spoke, "Bring him over." His voice was low but commanding. The prisoners immediately parted, revealing their "boss" sitting cross-legged on the bunk. Lin Xiaoqiang leaned against two blankets, his legs crossed, smoking a large pipe. "What's your name? What are you in for?"
4087 quickly understood this man's status and answered respectfully, "My name is Jin Tie. Fraud." Lin Xiaoqiang asked, "How many years?"
Jin Tie replied, "Three years."
Lin Xiaoqiang, interested, asked, "Did you go to college?"
Jin Tie answered, "I have a master's degree in finance."
Lin Xiaoqiang, intrigued, ordered Mule, "Find his glasses."
Mule glanced around, and the young prisoner who was washing Lin Xiaoqiang's feet quickly picked up the glasses and handed them to Jin Tie.
With his glasses back on, Jin Tie straightened up and bowed to Lin Xiaoqiang, "Boss." Hound Dog corrected him, "Call him Lin Chief."
Lin Xiaoqiang, indulgent, said, "Call me whatever, it's just a title." Jin Tie, eager to please, said, "Lin Chief, I'll do whatever you need." Mule kicked him again, "What can you do, you nerd?" Lin Xiaoqiang sternly said, "He has his uses, just as you have yours." Mule, silenced, nodded respectfully to Lin Xiaoqiang.