Chapter 6

The entire meaning of life is waiting and hoping.

—The Count of Monte Cristo

An Xiaohai loved reading Dumas, both father and son, especially The Count of Monte Cristo and The Lady of the Camellias. However, in another life, literature hadn’t given him the strength to rise above adversity, nor had he become the vengeful yet triumphant Edmond Dantès.

In the novel, Dantès’ first love, Mercédès, didn’t wait for him; she married his enemy instead. In real life, Lin Xuan’er had waited for An Xiaohai—until the very end of her life.

In that sense, An Xiaohai was luckier than Dantès.

An Xiaohai didn’t have to wait long. By the fourth afternoon, Yang Yuanbing appeared in his hospital room.

Yang Yuanbing was the head of a department at Shenhai City’s First Prison, where he’d worked for ten years before unexpectedly being transferred to the Public Security Bureau in Shenhai City, and later to the East Sea Province Public Security Bureau, climbing the ranks with ease. But in 2015, during an anti-corruption sweep, Yang fell from grace due to bribery and embezzlement.

The Wanshuhang tobacco and liquor store on Bading West Street was owned by Yang’s sister-in-law, and he used it as a front for taking bribes and laundering money.

Yang Yuanbing was unnaturally thin, his gaze somewhat erratic.

“Who told you how to do this?”

An Xiaohai simply smiled and didn’t answer. Leaving some things ambiguous could sometimes be an advantage.

“You have to know, your case is… very complicated,” Yang said, sitting down and staring at An Xiaohai with a low voice.

“I know it’s not as simple as it looks,” An Xiaohai replied. “But, Chief Yang, you don’t have to worry. My request isn’t as big as you might think.”

“Oh?” Yang’s brow furrowed.

An Xiaohai’s demeanor didn’t match that of a typical nineteen-year-old. His words also hinted that he understood he had crossed the wrong people, which intrigued Yang even more.

“Interesting. Tell me, what do you want?”

“It’s simple. Chief Yang, if you could find a way to transfer me to Area A, that’s all I need. Anything else you can assist with would be appreciated, but it’s not necessary.”

“You want to be transferred to Area A?” Yang’s brow furrowed even more deeply.

Area A of Shenhai City’s First Prison was far from a pleasant place. It was where they housed all the serious criminals, including many on death row. It was a dangerous, death-ridden environment. Nobody would willingly go to Area A.

Yang never would have guessed that An Xiaohai’s request would be this. Rather than pleading for reduced sentencing or protection, he was asking to be transferred to Area A.

This was bizarre.

“Yes, I want to go to Area A. Chief Yang, if you can help make it happen, we’ll consider this transaction complete.”

Yang didn’t agree immediately. He lowered his head, scratching his chin, clearly contemplating the pros and cons.

Getting An Xiaohai transferred to Area A wasn’t difficult; Yang could arrange it with a simple excuse. The key was whether doing so would offend certain people.

After a while, Yang raised his head again.

“You’ll have to tell me who’s guiding you in all this. Without that, it’s hard for me to proceed.”

Yang considered the Wanshuhang on Bading West Street to be highly secretive, known only to a select few. An Xiaohai was clearly a first-time offender and hadn’t been here long, yet he knew about this back channel and even followed protocol precisely.

This threw Yang off balance, making him feel unsafe. He needed clarity on the matter.

“Chief Yang, sometimes it’s better to keep things vague. Even the most powerful people have enemies. As they say, ‘The enemy of my enemy is my friend.’ What do you think?” An Xiaohai replied calmly.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend! Yang suddenly understood.

That person might have vast power in Shenhai City, but they must have enemies, too!

In that case, An Xiaohai was right—keeping this vague would be best. That way, he wouldn’t offend either side and might even gain leverage in the future.

More importantly, An Xiaohai’s request was simple and unlikely to provoke the anger of those in power. With the right approach, it might even earn their approval.

This young man, or whoever was backing him, was no ordinary person.

Yang Yuanbing took a deep breath and stood. “When do you want to go?”

“The sooner, the better.”

“Well… I can arrange it, but it will still take a little time. You understand.”

“Thank you, Chief Yang! I’ll remember this favor.” An Xiaohai glanced at Yang and slowly closed his eyes.

Yang left, but as he reached the door, he turned back. “Do you want me to put in a word for you?”

“No need. I think I can handle it myself. I wouldn’t want to make things difficult for you, Chief Yang,” An Xiaohai replied, smiling.

Yang paused, nodded, then left.

An Xiaohai exhaled deeply.

Thirty thousand yuan was a considerable sum in those days. Average wages for state-owned enterprises hovered around three or four hundred yuan.

An Xiaohai had worried that his mother might hesitate, but judging by Yang’s prompt arrival, she’d acted immediately. He felt a mix of gratitude and sorrow, touched by his mother’s love but saddened by his former self.

In that other life, his mother had also given everything she had to get him out, but it had been in vain.

An Xiaohai’s mother was an ordinary villager who knew nothing about the hidden machinations.

“Half the plan is complete. Now, it’s up to you…” he thought, closing his eyes once more.

Ensuring his survival in prison wouldn’t be possible by winning over only Yang Yuanbing; he needed an extra layer of protection. That layer would have to come from Pan Zhuangzhuang.

—

As Yang left the hospital, he took a long breath.

Although An Xiaohai was very young, his gaze had an unusual weight, so intense it left Yang with an eerie feeling of unreality.

“What on earth is going on? A clash of titans? It doesn’t seem quite like that…” Yang suddenly felt as if someone were watching him. He stopped, casting a wary look around.

The hallway was quiet.

“Damn… Doesn’t matter. It’s not much to ask; I’ll get it done… and thirty thousand yuan!” he thought, resolving himself.

—

Four days later, at the Shenhai City Public Security Bureau.

It was already early morning, yet Wang Tiejun had no intention of going home. He sat in his office, smoking one cigarette after another.

The Haiyaozi were the most notorious drug trafficking group in East Sea Province and Wang Tiejun’s lifelong nemesis.

Earlier that day, Wang’s undercover officer within the Haiyaozi went silent. It was their scheduled rendezvous, yet the agent hadn’t shown up, their fate unknown.

From past experience, Wang knew it was likely the agent had been exposed, facing a grim end.

This was the fifth undercover officer lost, all promising young police academy graduates who had volunteered for the dangerous assignment. Wang Tiejun had sent each of them into this line of duty himself, yet he hadn’t managed to bring them to victory.

The guilt, frustration, anger, and self-reproach weighed heavily on Wang, nearly breaking him. Finally, after a full day, he summoned the resolve to keep going.

Stubbing out his cigarette, he left his office.

He couldn’t stay defeated; there was still much work to be done. Only by dismantling the Haiyaozi could he honor the spirits of his fallen comrades.

Wang got into his Jetta, planning to go home for a shower and some sleep, but as he drove out of the station’s gates, a shadow darted out from the landscaping and blocked his car.