pdf-ebookys Chapter 2 Since things have come to this, let's eat first.
Chapter 2 Since things have come to this, let's eat first.
"Buzz—", the cell lights came on with the hum of electricity, and the next day had arrived.
The clanging of metal, mixed with the shouts of the prison guards, suddenly rang out, waking the four people in the room.
Ron sat up, rubbing his throbbing temples. A sleepless night had left him dizzy. He turned to ask, "Did you hear anything last night? It sounded like something flew in."
Liu Runyu's face turned pale, and his voice trembled:
"It looked like a bird... It landed here for a while and then flew away. Judging from the direction it went, it seemed to have gone to Su Zixu's place. I remembered what Old Zeng said, so I didn't dare to move."
His eyes reddened, and he looked like he was about to cry.
The sound of iron bars clanging echoed from outside the corridor. The prison guard who had taken roll call yesterday yelled at the top of his lungs, "Everyone out here in 10 minutes, line up for lunch in the canteen!"
Ron asked no more questions, immediately got out of bed, and glanced at Su Zixu, who was staring blankly at the cell door:
"What are you looking at?" Seeing that the other party did not respond, he turned around, washed his face with water in the sink, and walked out first.
"Since things have come to this, let's go eat first," Old Zeng said as he climbed down from the top bunk.
After a quick wash, he pulled Liu Runyu, who had a miserable look on his face, out of bed with one hand, and pushed Su Zixu, who was standing silently at the cell door, out with the other.
"Don't just stand there, let's sit down in the cafeteria and talk later."
The four followed the queue down to the first floor. Four guards stood at the entrance with serious expressions. After passing through a narrow corridor, they finally arrived at the cafeteria.
The room had a low ceiling and was stuffy. The four men noticed that many people wore blue prison uniforms, while they wore gray ones.
After picking up the food, Lao Zeng lowered his voice and said, "Find a few who seem easy to talk to and try to get information from them."
Su Zixu looked around and calmly proposed:
"Going together would be too conspicuous. The people here are all unpleasant, and they're inefficient. Let's split up, find a less crowded table, and meet back here in 20 minutes."
"Let's do it your way." Old Zeng glanced at the clock, and the four of them immediately dispersed.
Ron walked and observed, noting that the gazes around him were either fearful or wary.
He tried three or four tables, but as soon as he sat down, the people at the same table immediately got up and moved away. As his patience gradually ran out, he set his sights on two people at a table in the distance.
He casually sat down, and just as the old man was about to get up, he grabbed him and said, "Grandpa, I mean you no harm. Please continue eating."
The middle-aged man opposite him looked wary and said coldly, "We don't deal with people in gray clothes. Don't even think about taking anything; we have nothing."
"What's the difference between gray clothes and blue clothes?" Ron pressed down on the old man and asked casually. He had just arrived yesterday and knew nothing about this place, so he could only make up an excuse.
Seeing this, the middle-aged man had no choice but to sit down: "Your ward is full of serious offenders who have been incarcerated for more than ten years. The prison bullies are also in your ward. I've been here for two years, and I'm often exploited by them."
Ron pushed the eggs from his plate towards the old man and pressed, "Can you tell me about the prison? Also, will you be sent to do manual labor?"
At this moment, he noticed that the old man had a dark circle around his forehead and temples, and there were bruises and needle marks on the back of his hands, so he couldn't help but frown.
"I've organized books in the library and cleaned toilets. All the easy jobs were taken over by the prison staff, and no one dared to compete for them."
The middle-aged man took a bite of the apple Ron handed him and added, "Oh, and the women's section too. Can we stay with you guys during our exercise time? With the gray uniforms around, the prison bullies probably won't dare cause us any trouble."
Ron nodded: "I have three other cellmates who just arrived yesterday and don't know the situation yet, so please tell me more."
"I'm fine, but it's hard to say about him." The middle-aged man gestured with his chin toward the old man.
"We are roommates. He has been here much longer than me. He doesn't talk much, and the prison guards don't take him out for exercise. I don't know how long he has been here."
Seeing that the middle-aged man had relaxed, Ron changed the subject: "Have you heard any rumors? Like birds flying in at night?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the old man's hand trembled violently, his breathing became rapid, and then he forced himself to calm down.
His brows were furrowed, a look of pain flashed across his face, and he hesitated to speak.
Before Ron could ask further, the middle-aged man burst into laughter: "Are you out of your mind? How could there possibly be birds here!"
Ron frowned and retorted, "Why is it impossible? And didn't you notice that neither the cells nor the mess hall have windows?"
The middle-aged man's smile froze, and he muttered, "Yes... I've been here for two years, and I've never seen a bird, not even a fly, let alone a bird. I haven't seen any animals during my exercise time either..."
The old man suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse and hurried, "I don't remember how long I've been here... Why can't I remember? My grandson... and my granddaughter..."
He suddenly started scratching his forehead frantically, tearing his skin apart and releasing a faint smell of decay.