Chapter 35

Police uniform, keys, timing. The police uniform and keys could be handled, now it was just a matter of timing.

For Xu Tianyou, the right timing meant when the prison guards were most likely to relax their guard, while for An Xiaohai, the right timing was when Qiu Peng was patrolling the cell block.

For example, tomorrow would be a good opportunity.

November 26th, to others, was just an ordinary day, but for An Xiaohai, this date held much significance.

For instance, on November 26, 1095, Pope Urban II called for the First Crusade at Clermont; 

On November 26, 1832, the world’s first horse-drawn streetcar was put into use in New York City; 

On November 26, 1922, the tomb of Pharaoh Tutankhamun was opened to the public…

An Xiaohai had many such pieces of knowledge stored in his mind. In the past, he would have found such random and useless facts bothersome, but now he no longer felt that way.

These things made An Xiaohai feel strangely connected to the long river of history!

“Xiaohai, tomorrow might be our last meeting, I don’t know when we’ll see each other again! At this moment, I feel like I should compose a poem!” Xu Tianyou started to get dramatic again.

I can’t believe…

“What are you talking about? I’ll be out in three years, it sounds like I’m going to be locked up for life! Enough of the nonsense, hurry up and repeat the key points for me.”

“No need, I’ve got it memorized!”

“It’s very necessary. Repeat it again, you can’t miss any details! Any missing detail could lead to failure.”

“Fine, as you say, my big brother An!” Xu Tianyou helplessly began to repeat all the details of the plan that An Xiaohai had told him.

During this free time, Hu Jianming and Yang Bo weren’t in the cell, giving the two a rare opportunity to practice.

Recently, whenever possible, Hu Jianming and Yang Bo had found various reasons not to stay in the cell. An Xiaohai had no idea what their motivations were.

But it worked out for the best, as it allowed An Xiaohai and Xu Tianyou to communicate in peace, though the downside was that, aside from communicating, they often had to physically spar.

Listening to Xu Tianyou’s recitation, An Xiaohai remained calm on the surface, but inside, his mind was swirling like a storm.

Xu Tianyou’s understanding and logical abilities were top-notch. A person like him would have easily excelled in any military academy, even at the National Defense University.

An Xiaohai couldn’t understand why he chose this path. And what was going through that Old Master Hai’s mind? How could he send such an outstanding son down this road?

“Alright, I’m done. Did I miss anything?”

“No, but repeat it again.”

…

When Hu Jianming and Yang Bo returned to the cell, the tension in the room had not eased. An Xiaohai and Xu Tianyou had more fresh injuries on their faces, but they didn’t look too severe. Clearly, the two had fought again.

Hu Jianming and Yang Bo exchanged a glance and silently climbed into their beds.

The room was small, with bunk beds. Hu Jianming and Yang Bo naturally took the lower bunks, while An Xiaohai slept on the upper bunk.

When Xu Tianyou arrived, Hu Jianming gave up his bunk for him. So Xu Tianyou slept on Hu Jianming’s bed, and An Xiaohai could easily see him whenever he turned his head.

His face stung, so An Xiaohai moved his jaw a bit. Xu Tianyou had done it on purpose, they had agreed not to hit the face, but Xu Tianyou had aimed right at it.

An Xiaohai couldn’t resist turning his head to look at Xu Tianyou, who was staring back at him. When their eyes met, Xu Tianyou exaggeratedly smiled and gave him a victory sign.

This fit Xu Tianyou’s character: the more he smiled, the more dangerous it was.

An Xiaohai looked over at Hu Jianming. As expected, there was sympathy in Hu Jianming’s gaze.

An Xiaohai had already run through Xu Tianyou’s escape plan countless times in his mind, and it seemed feasible. Thinking about how Xu Tianyou was leaving tomorrow, An Xiaohai actually felt a bit reluctant.

He never thought that in this cold and brutal prison, a drug lord’s son with a rebellious nature would give him the greatest warmth.

It was truly ironic!

—

November 26th arrived as planned, with no one noticing anything different about the day.

Wake-up, washing up, exercise, work… everything proceeded as usual.

Around lunchtime, Tian Qiaoguang came to the factory to find An Xiaohai, asking him to go to the library during lunch to deal with some computer program issues.

Tian Qiaoguang seemed excited, likely because the design blueprint had achieved the desired effect. He asked An Xiaohai to go to the library, but it was clear that the real purpose was to discuss the design.

An Xiaohai wasn’t too concerned about the design’s outcome. Success was a given, and failure would have been an accident. However, An Xiaohai didn’t agree to go immediately. He said he’d go during the evening free time instead.

Today, An Xiaohai had something more important to do.

Tian Qiaoguang didn’t insist and agreed readily. His impression of An Xiaohai had quietly changed, and now he saw An Xiaohai as someone worthy of respect.

Most people respect status and money, but those who are far from the limelight tend to respect ability.

Waiting was incredibly torturous, and the morning dragged on like a century. An Xiaohai couldn’t help but wonder how Xu Tianyou was spending his morning.

Finally, it was lunchtime. An Xiaohai and the others were escorted by the guards to the cafeteria. Hu Jianming and Yang Bo were already eating, but Xu Tianyou was nowhere to be seen!

An Xiaohai breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Xu Tianyou’s absence meant that his first step had been successful.

An Xiaohai silently queued for his meal and naturally sat at Hu Jianming’s table. That’s when he noticed a hostile gaze.

Looking up, it was Qiu Peng.

Today, Qiu Peng was on duty, patrolling the cell block. Thinking about what Qiu Peng was about to face, An Xiaohai generously gave him a big smile.

Qiu Peng seemed taken aback. Normally, An Xiaohai would openly show his hatred for him, but today, he was smiling. What was going on?

Just then, an unexpected incident happened. A prisoner who had just picked up his meal slipped and fell heavily to the ground. As he fell, his tray flew out of his hands and hit Qiu Peng directly in the face, splattering food all over him.

“I’m sorry, Officer! I didn’t mean it! Really didn’t mean it!”

The prisoner knew he had caused a big mess and tried to approach to help, but another officer next to Qiu Peng stopped him.

Qiu Peng was in agony. While the food wasn’t hot, it contained spicy peppers, and the intense irritation made Qiu Peng’s eyes tear up instantly.

The prisoner kept apologizing, but Qiu Peng couldn’t be bothered. He waved his hand to have his colleagues deal with the prisoner and rushed to the bathroom to wash his eyes.

“Such talent…”

An Xiaohai watched the scene unfold as he ate, feeling increasingly emotional.

The prisoner who fell had clearly done it on purpose. It was all part of Xu Tianyou’s plan. An Xiaohai hadn’t expected Xu Tianyou to be such a skilled actor—he was practically outshining future movie stars!

After waiting for about 10 minutes, the prisoner was escorted away, but Qiu Peng still hadn’t returned.

It seemed that the second step of the plan had succeeded.

“Now it’s up to you, Xu Tianyou…” An Xiaohai sighed inwardly.

Meanwhile…

Xu Tianyou had just pried open the steel bar on the toilet window in the workshop.

“Damn it, couldn’t they have filed it a little more? I almost couldn’t get it open!”

Xu Tianyou carefully set down the steel bar, wiped the sweat off his face, and climbed higher, squeezing through the remaining gap between the bars with a bit of frustration.