As the lights turned on, everyone sat up.

Ling Zhenfei was a bit dazed. So many people living in one room, it was incredible. When he was young, Zhenfei stayed in a school dormitory, where over twenty people lived in bunk beds, but the number of people here was just excessive.

The two people lying at the front also sat up. Both were bare-chested with tattoos covering their bodies—definitely not good company.

Another guy had not only tattoos but also a scar, looking even more menacing than the first.

"Adding two more people here, be careful not to fight."

The person ranked first said, "Brother Zhang, what's the situation? Isn't it said that a cell holds at most thirty people? Adding these two makes thirty-one. Can we even fit?"

The prison guard glanced at the person and said, "Old Zhu, why so much talk? Whether you can fit or not isn't up to you, is it?"

The one called Old Zhu replied, "Brother Zhang, listen to yourself. How about you allow me to sleep on the floor? As long as you agree, it's fine."

"Stop the nonsense and take care of the people for me."

After saying that, the two prison guards walked out, leaving Ling Zhenfei and Jiang Haiyang glaring at those inside.

Jiang Haiyang nodded to the one called Old Zhu and said, "Hello, boss, my name is Jiang Haiyang. This is my fourth time here."

Old Zhu chuckled, "Alright, a veteran. And the one next to you?"

Ling Zhenfei said, "My name is Ling Zhenfei, first time here."

Old Zhu looked at the time on the wall and said, "It's getting late. Let's skip the initiation today. I'm a bit tired and not in the mood."

The man with the scarred face glared at Ling Zhenfei and Jiang Haiyang and said, "Stand there for now, you two. We'll have a proper chat tomorrow."

After speaking, the lights went off, and the group went back to sleeping as before.

Not long after, the snores began. Jiang Haiyang told Ling Zhenfei, "Alright, sit down. Without resting, you won't last."

Ling Zhenfei and Jiang Haiyang sat on the ground, and Jiang Haiyang said, "Tomorrow they'll definitely make us undergo the initiation."

Ling Zhenfei was puzzled and asked, "What is initiation?"

Ling Zhenfei didn't really care about any of this, just a bit curious.

Jiang Haiyang said, "It's your first time here. You look refined, might not come often unlike me. I'm a rough guy, often get into fights, so it's normal for me to be here."

Ling Zhenfei nodded and said, "I'm really curious. Since the night is long anyway, why don't you tell me about it?"

Jiang Haiyang said, "Alright, since we have nothing to do tonight, let's chat. First, let me curse the person who invented detention centers. Really a bastard.

It's pitch-black here. All kinds of people locked up together. You see, the prison is much more civilized, at least has strict management. But here, what is this place?

Killers, arsonists, drug addicts, robbers, all sorts thrown into one cell. Many come here seeking refuge.

Look at Old Zhu, I was here two years ago, knew him then. He's been here for at least seven or eight years. Seven or eight years! Just a detention center, why is someone here so long?

That's because someone paid not to be sentenced. No sentencing means staying in the detention center, holding some big crime too big to be judged, you imagine, it's definitely not small scams."

Ling Zhenfei nodded. No wonder Old Zhu seemed so familiar with the guards, turns out they've known each other a long time.

"Brother Haiyang, so we're just sitting here, doesn't anyone manage this place?"

Jiang Haiyang said: "Who would manage you? You see, the beds are set for thirty people, but have twenty-nine now. We don't even have space, came late, so we're on duty and don't even think about sleeping."

"So what do we do tomorrow?" Ling Zhenfei asked.

Jiang Haiyang said: "The weather, tomorrow we might have to dig, and there are other jobs in the afternoon."

"There's work?" Ling Zhenfei was stunned, always thought in prison or detention centers you do nothing, turns out there's farm work.

Jiang Haiyang said: "Of course there's work, and let me tell you, there are chili peppers on the fences while farming, pick a few more of those."

Ling Zhenfei was puzzled, "Why pick chili peppers?" Truly couldn't figure that out.

Jiang Haiyang said: "With the food here, if you can eat without chili, I'll admit defeat. The chili forces you to eat."

Ling Zhenfei was quite confused, wasn't expecting these complexities.

Ling Zhenfei asked, "So what does initiation mean tomorrow?"

Jiang Haiyang said: "Today we arrived late, otherwise initiation would be today."

"My first time here, I didn't know what it meant. See the toilet opposite? I was dragged in, covered in a quilt, beaten by more than ten people, dazed the next day."

Ling Zhenfei was stunned, "So initiation is to intimidate."

Jiang Haiyang said: "You could see it like that, but it ranks harsher than intimidation. You see all thirty here listening to one person, outside I wouldn't be afraid.

But here, hard to escape without brothers, others have more people, guards are familiar, they've got time, place, relationships, no matter how capable you are, you have to stay down here."

Ling Zhenfei knew Jiang Haiyang spoke from experience, probably suffered here before too.

Ling Zhenfei said: "Just wait for them to deal with us?"

Jiang Haiyang laughed, "Every newcomer wants to resist, but the consequences are always terrible, you can't outplay them."

"How long must we endure?" Ling Zhenfei asked.

Jiang Haiyang said: "Look, these are temporary holds, some for seven days, fifteen days, three months, six months, when someone leaves, another comes, then we become the seniors."

Ling Zhenfei said: "Then just follow the rules and intimidate the new ones, right."

Jiang Haiyang said: "Exactly, that's the rule here."

Ling Zhenfei was already angry coming in, knowing tomorrow there's a beating, it made him angrier.

Ling Zhenfei said: "Damned rules, rules are made to be broken, but tell me more, what do newcomers have to do?"

Jiang Haiyang said: "Daily meals split for the head and second, keep the bread yourself, hence the chili picking, also during weekly better meals, any chicken legs or whatever goes to the head.

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