The agonized cries of Old Li gradually weakened, his body hung limply, while the hand cruelly pinned by the sewing machine needle continued to tremble slightly.

Blood dripped along the edge of the machine, making a faint sound as it met the cold floor—"drip."

Chen Ya continued to sew clothes with a detached yet serious demeanor, undeterred, the pedal beneath his feet made a steady "thump."

Thump!

Thump!

Thump...

The two sounds seemed to blend into one.

Yuan Dabiao's ferocity did not diminish with Old Li's screams; a satisfied sneer even appeared at the corner of his mouth.

He surveyed his surroundings, his gaze like a warning to the other prisoners that any slack and resistance would come at a heavy price.

"Get to work, all of you!" Yuan Dabiao's voice echoed in the workshop, "Don't slack off. Anyone not working diligently will face the same fate!"

After a brief pause, Yuan Dabiao's expression suddenly changed, pulling into a more hypocritical smile, and his tone softened, as if comforting frightened lambs.

"No need to be scared, everyone," he said with a false note of concern, "I'm doing this for your own good. After all, if someone slacks off, others will have to compensate by working more. As the team leader of the workshop, I can't let everyone suffer, right?"

The atmosphere in the workshop was somewhat oppressive, but under Yuan Dabiao's fierce glare, all the prisoners lowered their heads silently, numbly stepping on the sewing machines.

Yuan Dabiao was very satisfied, a contemptuous smile playing at the corner of his mouth.

He then strode over to Chen Ya, slamming the table with both hands, making a clattering sound: "What did you say just now, asking me to lighten up? Are you teaching me how to do things?"

As he slammed the table, the sewing machine beside Chen Ya also wobbled slightly, the previously straight stitches now crooked, leaving an irregular white line across the fabric.

Chen Ya gently put down his feet from the sewing machine, his brows tightly knitted, revealing a bit of confusion and puzzlement on his face.

He slowly raised his head, his gaze frank and determined, locking eyes with Yuan Dabiao's wide, angry eyes, then he said seriously and calmly:

"Team Leader, weren't you the one who asked us to work seriously? Then why are you interrupting my work? This piece was almost finished and counted for the quota, now you ruined it, who's to blame for that?"

Yuan Dabiao's face instantly turned livid, a hint of shock flashing in his eyes, the reply given by the other was indeed hard to refute.

Yuan Dabiao's face contorted, displaying a fierce grimace: "Are you defying me?"

Chen Ya's gaze was firm, his tone calm: "I'm just talking to you about logic and reason."

Yuan Dabiao was enraged to the extreme by this remark and, unexpectedly, burst into laughter, his two lackeys followed suit, casting peculiar expressions like they were watching a lunatic, scrutinizing Chen Ya from head to toe.

This scene drew the attention of all the prisoners in the workshop, they all cautiously stole glances at the situation.

Among them, three or four new inmates exchanged knowing glances, all sighing with hands on foreheads, silently conversing with lip language.

"It's over, the captain couldn't resist talking logic again."

"No, I think the captain just wants to be the team leader in the workshop, he must think that if he were the leader, everyone's work efficiency would rise by several notches."

"Then I support the captain, I think he's in the right!"

"No need for that, fellas, we're just here to serve our time quietly, why take work seriously, creating surplus value for the prison, isn't that betraying our side, aiding the enemy, especially when there's no pay?"

"Right, it's all the captain's fault for getting too serious about this labor reform, he almost led me astray."

"Seconded!"

"+1!"

"+1!"

Yuan Dabiao looked around the workshop, his teeth gritting audibly: "Like sewing, huh? Like to challenge me..."

Chen Ya cut him off before he could finish, his tone firm and decisive: "Very much so!"

Yuan Dabiao's words were abruptly cut off, his face twisting even more unpleasantly, as if something had choked him angrily.

He took a deep breath, suddenly grabbing the bin next to Old Li rudely and shoving it into Chen Ya's arms, a sinister smile playing at the corner of his mouth:

"Since you like it, I'll let you have your fill! Finish his share too, ten pieces, you must make ten pieces today. If there's one less, just see how I deal with you tomorrow."

Accompanied by the "thump" of the pedal, time passed slowly yet steadily.

Suddenly, a Prison Guard walked in, holding a transfer notice in his hand, his voice clear and powerful, breaking the silence of the workshop, a series of names echoed through the air.

"Chen Ya."

Somewhat thin and delicate-featured, he stood up with a calm expression: "Here!"

"Dong Xu."

Tall and slightly youthful-looking: "Here!"

"Liu Yi."

Burly, with ordinary looks, slightly aged: "Here!"

"Gong Court."

Lean and scar-faced, a cold and hard expression: "Here!"

"Zhao Zhibao."

Medium build, arms to knees, uneven eyes, a deep tone: "Here!"

The Prison Guard swept his gaze over the five and said calmly: "Notifying you all, you five will be transferred to Prison No. 2 early tomorrow morning, come over now and sign the transfer sheet for confirmation."

"Yes!" they all answered together, Chen Ya's face showed no emotion, while the other four seemed slightly puzzled.

Chen Ya did not hesitate, stepping forward immediately to sign and confirm, the other four set aside their momentary doubts, following suit, quickly signing their names.

"Okay, your labor reform in this prison ends here, you may now return to your cells to pack up. Wish you a pleasant life in Prison No. 2," the Prison Guard's voice was as emotionless as a breeze. After speaking, he turned to lead these inmates back to their respective cells.

Dong Xu, Liu Yi, Gong Court, and Zhao Zhibao, almost simultaneously, cast a subtly meaningful glance at Chen Ya.

Then, they noticed Chen Ya lightly touched the tip of his nose, conveying a silent signal. So, they lined up, following the Prison Guard's steps.

The Prison Guard's gaze lingered on Chen Ya, who remained in place, a hint of confusion in his tone: "What are you waiting for?"

Chen Ya straightened his back, his voice loud and firm: "Report, I want to complete today's reform task, then return to the prison area."

The Prison Guard raised an eyebrow, showing a bit of surprise, but quickly, he said nothing more, just nodded, and turned to leave with the other four.

Chen Ya gradually sat down, carefully selecting fabric from the bin, cutting it, then meticulously placing it under the needle, rhythmically pedaling the foot pedal, the needle traversed the fabric, making straight white lines.

Yuan Dabiao strolled over, stopped beside Chen Ya, a cold smile playing at the corner of his mouth, his tone playful and undisguised in its sarcasm:

"Kid, you're really lucky today, being transferred early tomorrow. I was planning to give you a lesson tomorrow, seems like you'll avoid that."

His voice lingered, a cruel note hiding in the end:

"But don't celebrate too soon. Zone 9's Prison No. 2 is not just any ordinary prison. The brutality there is much bloodier than here. I bet, someone like you, won't last a week before being carried out horizontally, ha ha ha—"

But Chen Ya showed no reaction, his gaze focused and determined, his work as precise and flawless as ever.

His face showed no expression, neither joy nor fear, as if Yuan Dabiao's words were merely an irrelevant breeze...

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