Lin Xiaoqiang fanned himself slowly, "In a place like this, a strong body is more useful than a smart mind."
"Thank you, Lin Chief!" Jin Tie wiped his glasses, tears glistening in his eyes.
"If you have both a strong body and a smart mind, you can be a king anywhere," Lin Xiaoqiang added. Jin Tie, now wearing his broken glasses, respectfully agreed, "You're right."
"Look at these ants," Lin Xiaoqiang said, stirring the ground with a stick to show the bustling ant colony. "Worker ants labor all their lives, without even the right to enjoy sex. The ant queen stays still, enjoying the richest nutrients."
Jin Tie squatted down to observe. Lin Xiaoqiang ordered, "Get back to work." Reluctantly, Jin Tie walked away. Lin Xiaoqiang squinted, watching his frail back disappear.
The large iron gates of the detention center were black and imposing, radiating a cold, intimidating aura. Electrified wires stretched along the high walls, where a few birds playfully hopped, seemingly mocking those imprisoned inside. Liu Mei parked her Ferrari across the street, occasionally glancing at the iron gate. When it finally creaked open, Lin Xiaoliang emerged, empty-handed. He ran excitedly across the road and jumped into the sports car, blowing a kiss to the gate guard.
"Stop drawing attention to yourself. Haven't you had enough?" Liu Mei said, starting the car.
Lin Xiaoliang laughed, leaning over the back of Liu Mei's seat, "Second Brother sent you?"
"Your old man's influence did most of it," Liu Mei shifted gears. "Your second brother also helped."
"Second Brother always acts tough, but he's the kindest to me," Lin Xiaoliang said, as Liu Mei drove off.
In the hospital garden, bathed in soft moonlight, Guo Xiaopeng and Duan Hai walked, the tranquility of the scene blending their statuses.
Duan Hai asked anxiously, "Chairman, what do you want to talk about?"
Guo Xiaopeng lowered his voice, "Did you notice how President Jiang reacted when the shots were fired?"
Duan Hai shook his head, "I didn't pay much attention. Why?"
Guo Xiaopeng pondered, "The shots were sudden. We were unprepared. But President Jiang's instinctive reaction was to drop to the ground, draw her gun, and scan for danger. Such calmness and composure in a crisis, typical of a trained soldier, are rare in an ordinary woman, especially a white-collar worker from Hong Kong."
Duan Hai nodded, "I've seen similar reactions."
"Moreover, she expertly bandaged your wound. Only someone with specific training could do that," Guo Xiaopeng continued.
Duan Hai looked confused, "What are you suggesting, Chairman?"
Guo Xiaopeng asserted, "A humanities graduate shouldn't behave like a soldier."
"I understand," Duan Hai said, straightening up. "Give me your orders, Chairman."
Guo Xiaopeng placed a hand on his shoulder and whispered, "After you're discharged, discreetly go to Beijing and investigate everything about Wang."
At Haizhou International Airport, a taxi sped to the terminal. Disguised in short hair, glasses, and a dark suit, Liu Mei stepped out, looking completely different from her usual glamorous self. As she disappeared through the automatic doors, Lin Xiaoliang hurriedly arrived in his Toyota, searching the airport's café.
Spotting Liu Mei in a corner, he hurriedly sat down, gulping his coffee. "Sis, teach me your escape tricks."
Liu Mei lowered her voice, "I'm using my real ID to go to Beijing, then switching to a fake ID to fly to Xinjiang."
"You're brave, heading to Xinjiang alone," Lin Xiaoliang said.
"Who wouldn't prefer a comfortable life at home?" Liu Mei said, her voice tinged with sadness. "I was born to hustle, unlike you privileged kids. I have to fight for everything." She wiped her eyes with a handkerchief.
Lin Xiaoliang, looking concerned, said, "I heard that Xinjiang guy, Tietzu, is ruthless. If you can get the goods, fine. If not, come back. Don't risk your life."
Liu Mei sighed deeply, "Once you're in this dark world, there's no turning back." She picked up her bag, "Time to go." She leaned in for a kiss on the cheek. Lin Xiaoliang complied, and Liu Mei, with tears in her eyes, walked toward the boarding gate, disappearing into the corridor.
Meanwhile, Yang Chun, wearing sunglasses and hiding in the shadows, coldly observed Liu Mei and Lin Xiaoliang's every move. Li Xinjian and Qiang Min sat in a surveillance room, monitoring everything through cameras.
At the Xinjiang reeducation camp, it was lunchtime. Hundreds of prisoners squatted by the rocky terrain, eating ravenously. Jin Tie saw Lin Xiaoqiang eating alone in the shade and cautiously approached.
"Lin Chief, what brought you here?" Jin Tie asked.
Lin Xiaoqiang, reluctant to talk, replied, "Lots of things."
Jin Tie hesitated, "How many years did you get?"
Lin Xiaoqiang detailed, "Five years, three months, and ten and a half days."
"Didn't you try to get out?" Jin Tie swallowed a large mouthful of food, "The outside world is much better."
"The outside world is better!" Lin Xiaoqiang mimicked, then smiled, "Why did you come in?"
Jin Tie shifted uncomfortably, "After graduating with a master's, I was assigned to a bank. Two years later, I became the securities director. You know how unregulated the Chinese securities market is; there were loopholes. I helped friends and myself make some money."