Chapter 33

In the Reading Room

Taking advantage of the moment when Tian Qiaoming stepped out to get food, An Xiaohai sketched the shapes of six keys on a sheet of printer paper. Five of the keys likely belonged to the prison’s five doors, while the sixth key was for the guards’ dormitory.

Although the main gate was constantly guarded, there was also a small iron gate nearby for which some prison officials, like Yang Yuanbing, held a key.

An Xiaohai had a remarkable memory for anything he saw, and over the past days, he had been carefully observing the guards’ key rings. The keys were often jumbled together, but it was easy to identify which ones were used for the prison doors—those keys looked the same.

The keys that all guards carried must belong to the prison. An Xiaohai quickly identified four of the iron gate keys, though he didn’t know their exact order.

As for the key to the guards’ dormitory, it was Qiu Peng’s. If he wanted to get in, he’d make sure he did!

How would Qiu Peng feel when he discovered that Xu Tianyou had strolled out of the prison dressed in his police uniform? If Qiu Peng reported this, it wouldn’t end well for him. But if he stayed silent… An Xiaohai was sure it would mark the beginning of Qiu Peng’s nightmare.

As for Chen Yongqiang, the temporary worker, he could wait; there would be plenty of chances to deal with him later.

Qiu Peng had clearly been instructed by someone behind the scenes to harm An Xiaohai, which suggested that Qiu Peng knew quite a bit. He might be the key to finding the mastermind.

“How’s it going today?” Tian Qiaoguang asked, barely intelligible as he shoveled food into his mouth.

“It’s going well. Oh, and I’ve nearly finished analyzing that circuit design. I should be able to complete the modifications in a couple of days.”

“If I fix the design, it should solve the false alarm issue and cover some potential vulnerabilities. Still, to fix every single flaw might take another month or two.”

“Really? That’s great!” Tian Qiaoguang eagerly put down his lunch and moved to look at the large circuit diagram. He didn’t fully understand it but felt reassured by An Xiaohai’s detailed annotations.

Tian Qiaoguang hadn’t explicitly told An Xiaohai what issues needed fixing. But An Xiaohai had nailed both problems—something that impressed Tian Qiaoguang.

“Just addressing these two issues is fantastic,” Tian Qiaoguang said, carefully folding the circuit diagram into his briefcase.

His brother, Tian Qiaoming, had said that solving these two problems would secure a major contract for their company, Qiaoyu Electronics. This contract could sustain the company for years and potentially elevate it to a new level. This design was crucial for Qiaoyu Electronics, and An Xiaohai had managed to fix it in record time.

“Thank you so much! If this design passes testing, your reward will be significant,” said Tian Qiaoguang, giving An Xiaohai a grateful pat on the shoulder.

An Xiaohai simply smiled. Though somewhat opportunistic, Tian Qiaoguang was straightforward and kind.

Compared to the prison warden in The Shawshank Redemption, who exploited Andy by denying his parole and even silencing anyone who knew the truth, Tian Qiaoguang’s simplicity was almost refreshing.

Just then, the reading room door was pushed open, and a skinny, middle-aged man wearing a floral shirt and carrying a briefcase entered. Both parties froze momentarily.

“Heh, you must be the one managing this reading room, right? Care for a smoke?” The man smiled obsequiously and offered a cheap cigarette. His flashy gold watch caught the light, glaring.

“Sorry, I don’t smoke. Can I help you?” Tian Qiaoguang declined, showing a subtle flash of distaste.

“Oh, no, no, just came from the warden’s office and saw the reading room—thought I’d take a look.”

“I see you’re eating with the inmates. Heard you’re busy with a big project—quite promising for a young guy like you!” The man’s words sounded as insincere as his grin.

The moment he left, Tian Qiaoguang let out a deep sigh of relief.

“Who was that?” An Xiaohai asked.

“His name is Fang, they call him ‘Mr. Fang.’ He has connections and, apparently, big plans for the prison. But he’s a bit loud for someone with such ties,” Tian Qiaoguang explained without reservation, then caught himself and added, “But he comes in through official channels, pays well.”

“I see. No wonder. He sure seems flashy.”

“He is. You should see his son; he’s only 18 or 19…”

After a pause, Tian Qiaoguang advised, “Get some rest. There’s no rush on the programming. Take it slow.”

“Thank you, Officer Tian. May I ask a question?”

“Of course.”

“If he’s so well-connected, wouldn’t it make sense for him to keep a low profile?”

“That’s an interesting question.” Tian Qiaoguang considered it before responding.

“There’s a saying, ‘Hell is easy to deal with; the little devils are hard.’ Mr. Fang expects a lot from this prison and flaunts his ties with management to ensure things go his way.”

“But doesn’t that create resentment for the warden?”

“Not as much as you’d think,” said Tian, chuckling. “In fact, those connected to him might encourage it.”

“Why?”

“Simple. It’s a test.” Tian Qiaoguang took a deep breath. “A workplace is like a mini-world with all types of people. The boss wants to know his staff, and Mr. Fang is like a litmus test.”

“I still don’t fully understand.”

“Watch people’s reactions. When Fang acts arrogantly, some will ignore it, others will resist, some will gossip, and a few might even report it. Some will try to cozy up to him.”

“This way, everyone’s character and stance become clear to the leaders.”

“Ah, I get it now. Thank you, Officer Tian.”

“Ha!” Tian Qiaoguang’s smile was a bit bitter. “We’re all just trying to get by. Now, finish your food and get some rest.”

Realizing how anxious Tian Qiaoguang was, An Xiaohai sensed the person requesting the circuit modification was likely a close family member of his.

An Xiaohai ate quickly, his mind occupied by the image of Mr. Fang. He realized that in life, the things we actively search for often don’t appear on demand—everything arrives in its own time.