Chapter 24

“Officer Tian, please, have a seat!” An Xiaohai smiled as he spoke.

Although a bit hesitant, Tian Qiaoguang eventually sat down. He felt conflicted. He valued his job and, ideally, wished to avoid interacting closely with inmates. Yet, he couldn’t turn a blind eye to his older brother, Tian Qiaoming’s situation.

The Tian brothers had lost their parents early. Acting as a surrogate father, Tian Qiaoming had left school at fifteen or sixteen to work and support his younger brother’s education, enabling Tian Qiaoguang to finish university.

On the outside, An Xiaohai seemed calm, but his mind raced. In this brief interaction, An had already gauged Tian Qiaoguang’s motives. Given the current scenario, An was fairly certain that the electronics factory had close ties with Tian. Otherwise, Tian wouldn’t have reached out privately after his request was denied by superiors.

And Tian wasn’t strictly by-the-book. He took advantage of his position to seek benefits, but only within the boundaries of the rules, never overstepping.

Unlike Tian, Yang Yuanbing ignored the rules altogether, An noted.

“Actually, my expertise isn’t in electronic circuits but computer programming,” An Xiaohai opened.

“So?” Tian asked guardedly.

“I could write a custom management program for the library, making its operations more efficient and professional. With enough time, I could even design a more complex system that could enhance the prison’s overall management level—all under your guidance, of course.”

Tian’s eyebrows shot up. An’s proposal hit the nail on the head.

Assigned to the library as a junior officer, Tian knew opportunities for recognition in his role were slim. An’s proposal, however, presented a path forward. If An’s library program, or even a broader management program, became operational, that would certainly count as an accomplishment.

Inside meetings, the prison warden had repeatedly emphasized the need to modernize operations and prepare for the information age. This project would align well with those goals. Plus, the involvement of an inmate contributing to prison reforms would be viewed as a rehabilitative success.

While not a career-maker, this accomplishment would surely help Tian advance.

Caught in thought, Tian weighed the pros and cons. An waited silently, giving him space.

After a while, Tian shook his head. “It’d be challenging. Programming requires computers, and they’re expensive. I doubt my request for a computer would be approved.”

“That’s a minor issue, and it doesn’t necessarily need official approval.”

“How so?” Tian’s interest piqued.

“Computers are costly, yes. But what if the computer were donated?”

At this, Tian’s eyes brightened, quickly understanding An’s implication.

If an external party donated the computer, there’d be no reason for superiors to reject it, and it’d bring recognition to whoever arranged it. And who better than his brother, Tian Qiaoming, to make the donation? This solution not only solved Tian’s immediate problem but strengthened his brother’s company’s association with the prison.

Tian looked at An with a newfound respect, realizing that this 19-year-old inmate was far more shrewd and insightful than anyone had guessed. Perhaps he had someone advising him?

“What’s the cost?” Tian asked, taking a deep breath.

“‘Cost,’…” An bit his lip, replying:

“First, Officer Tian, I need a small favor: a safe place to keep money. Could you hold on to my family’s funds? I’d also need help getting some extra food from time to time when I’m in the library. I’m too thin; I’d like to gain some strength.”

“That’s no problem,” Tian nodded after a moment. An’s request was manageable and could easily be explained away if anyone noticed.

“Second, there are some books I want that the library doesn’t have. Could you help me get them? I’ll cover the cost, of course. And I’d love to have regular newspapers—nothing special, just the usual papers.”

“Not an issue,” Tian nodded again.

“Third, when the software is developed, I’d like my name included in the report.”

“That’s fair, and actually proper,” Tian agreed, though he added, “But I should caution you. They don’t seem to view you favorably, so there’s no guarantee that your contributions will help with a sentence reduction. In fact, your name might actually hurt the project’s chance of approval.”

Damn! An swore silently.

He’d known all along that there were people in power targeting him, but it hurt to have it confirmed by someone who’d observed it and done nothing.

“I understand. To start, you could submit the proposal in your name. Once it’s approved, you could request inmate assistance. You wouldn’t have to name me directly—just say you need an inmate team to help. If management agrees, you’ll have the final say on which inmates assist.”

“Understood.” Tian gritted his teeth and nodded. “Anything else?”

“No, that’s all, Officer Tian. I’m already grateful for the chance to earn some money for my family. If I can be of help, I’m glad to do so.”

“Alright, I’ll think it over. No guarantees,” Tian replied. “Get well soon, and come by the library when you’re ready. The circuit design work will be waiting.”

“Thank you, Officer Tian! I’ll be by as soon as I can to return the books,” An replied, gesturing to the two technical books Tian had brought him.

With a quick nod, Tian left the room, and An let out a long breath, leaning back and closing his eyes.

This prison was like the ocean: even when it seemed calm, powerful undercurrents churned below.