Chapter 15

After being detained in the detention center for nearly three months, a police car stopped outside, and Qin Feng, handcuffed, was sent to the provincial juvenile labor re-education center. This shocking bloodbath in the small town finally came to an end.

Although it seemed that people's lives had not changed much, most of the martial arts schools that were once widespread had been shut down. Perhaps this was the aftermath of Qin Feng's martial arts training and subsequent violence.

---

In the suburbs of Shijiazhuang City, in the province, lies the famous Taihang Mountains. Under the Taihang Mountains, there is a heavily guarded compound with a high wall. The five-meter-high wall is lined with electric fences.

This is the newly established juvenile labor re-education center in Jibei Province, which was converted from a provincial prison due to financial constraints. Except for the prisoners who were transferred to other prisons, the original prison guards were retained.

"Qin Feng, 14 years old, sentenced to five years in prison for intentional homicide. Go in!"

In the duty room of the labor re-education center, the police officers who brought Qin Feng completed the handover with the guards. After taking a mugshot, Qin Feng was given a set of blue clothing, and his hair, which had grown to about an inch, was shaved off.

After completing the pre-incarceration procedures, a guard in his early thirties came to Qin Feng.

"Qin Feng, I am your squad leader, Li Fan. From now on, your rehabilitation and education will be my responsibility. You are still young, and I hope you can put down your burdens and seriously reform, striving to become a useful member of society."

According to regulations, Li Fan explained the rules of the labor re-education center to Qin Feng. However, his eyes curiously examined Qin Feng.

In the 1980s, a movie called "Juvenile Delinquents" became extremely popular. It proposed the idea of "saving children and nurturing talent," urging people to pay attention to the psychological changes and living environments of juvenile delinquents, and to enhance social responsibility.

With the increase in juvenile crime, the state has increased its investment in the management and rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents. Li Fan is an expert in juvenile criminal psychology. While supervising the rehabilitation of the inmates, he also studies their psychology.

However, Li Fan could not discern anything from Qin Feng's eyes. This child appeared very calm, without the usual fear and anxiety of new juvenile delinquents, nor the restless and agitated demeanor. His calmness made Li Fan feel uneasy, as he knew the case Qin Feng had committed.

"Captain, I understand. I will seriously reform," Qin Feng nodded faintly, looking at Li Fan in his police uniform. From the day the verdict was handed down, he had no intention of serving his sentence honestly.

As he entered the labor re-education center, Qin Feng quietly observed the guard posts, the distance between the gate and the cell, and the security lines.

"Alright, Xiao Wang, take Qin Feng to the cell and introduce him to his roommates."

Li Fan stared at Qin Feng for a while before instructing a guard to take him away. After Qin Feng left his sight, Li Fan's brows furrowed.

"Captain Li, you seem quite interested in this kid?"

A middle-aged guard in his forties, Zhou Dalong, who was Li Fan's deputy, laughed. At first, Zhou Dalong was resistant to having a young man in his thirties as his superior, but after more than a year, he was convinced of Li Fan's expertise in juvenile delinquency.

Li Fan shook his head and said, "This prisoner is a bit special. Keep a close eye on him."

Qin Feng, who was deliberately keeping a low profile, did not know he was being watched. Even if he did, he wouldn't care, as he was determined to escape at the first opportunity.

"Qin Feng, this is your group leader, Li Tianyuan."

The guard named Wang opened the cell door and called out to a muscular young man, saying, "We have a new arrival, Li Tianyuan. Take charge of him, make him memorize the rules, and explain the schedule and study times to him."

"Guard Wang, you can count on me. If he's a dragon, he'll have to coil up here!"

The young man, who looked about 16 or 17, nodded and eagerly escorted the guard out of the cell.

The state's emphasis on the rehabilitation of juvenile delinquents was evident. The dormitory, originally a communal bunk room, had been converted into a room with bunk beds and a table. At the moment, a dozen or so young boys were sitting around the table, memorizing the rules.

However, as soon as Guard Wang left, the boys, who had been acting formally, immediately surrounded Qin Feng. After all, none of the boys who ended up here were good kids; their previous behavior was just an act.

"Kid, what's your name? What did you do to get in here? Tell us, grandpa wants to know..."

Li Tianyuan, who had been respectful in front of the guard, now had a different expression. He took out a cigarette from somewhere and put it in his mouth, and another boy quickly lit it for him. Two others stood at the cell door, keeping watch for any guards.

"Kid, the boss is asking you a question. Didn't you hear?"

Seeing Qin Feng seem a bit dazed, a boy pushed him, his eyes flashing with menace.

The management of the juvenile labor re-education center was not as strict as that of a prison, and there was little heavy labor. Most of the time, the boys spent on political classes and studies, making life quite monotonous.

In such a situation, the arrival of a new inmate was a cause for celebration, as bullying new inmates was a tradition in prisons and labor re-education centers. As long as no one died or was seriously injured, the guards rarely intervened.

"My name is Qin Feng. I got in for fighting."

Pushed by the boy, Qin Feng took a step back, showing a fearful expression. "I won't fight anymore. Please don't hit me."

"Look at you, what a wimp. Fighting is nothing. I've killed people!"

Seeing Qin Feng's reaction, the group of boys burst into laughter. In 1993, even organized crime among adults was rare, let alone among teenagers.

Most juvenile delinquents were the result of poor family supervision and fights over petty disputes. Influenced by Hong Kong and Taiwan gangster movies, these boys did not think their actions were wrong. Even in the labor re-education center, they were like aggressive roosters, often getting into fights.

Li Tianyuan, the group leader, had been elected by the other boys, but before the election, he had used his fists to win votes. In this place, strength was the ultimate truth.

"You're so tall, but you're a wimp."

Li Tianyuan looked at Qin Feng with disdain. "Go stand in a horse stance and memorize the rules. I'll check tonight. If you get one word wrong, you won't eat."

These boys, though young, had many ways to torment others. Each new arrival would be punished.

"Yes, boss!"

Qin Feng acted obediently. Having wandered with his sister for four or five years, he had endured all kinds of contempt. If he had resisted everything, he would have been beaten to death long ago.

More importantly, Qin Feng did not want to reveal his martial arts skills. As the saying goes, people fear fame and pigs fear fat. Exposing too much of himself would not help his escape plan.

Qin Feng's behavior bored Li Tianyuan and the others. Although Qin Feng's wobbly horse stance was amusing, he managed to stand until dinner, giving Li Tianyuan no reason to beat him.

Dinner was better than in the detention center, with two dishes, one meat, one vegetable, a plate of pickles, and steamed buns. However, the meat dish was placed in front of Li Tianyuan, and only a few of his close friends could eat it.

For Qin Feng, even eating pickles and buns was a good meal. He kept his head down, ignoring the constant provocations and glares from Li Tianyuan and his friends.

After dinner, the boys were gathered in a large room to watch the news. This room housed over a hundred boys from twelve cells in the eastern section of the labor re-education center.

The boys from each cell sat together on plastic stools, but the atmosphere in the room was not good, with some boys glaring at each other.

"Boss, that Wu guy is glaring at you again. Should we take care of him?"

After spending the afternoon together, Qin Feng knew the speaker was Jiang Ping, who had been arrested for theft. Jiang Ping was good at flattery and had been following Li Tianyuan since he arrived, avoiding any trouble.

To Qin Feng, Li Tianyuan was just a brainless thug.

Li Tianyuan, 16 years old, was from Shijiazhuang. His parents divorced when he was six, and neither wanted him. He grew up with his grandfather, who, being old, could not control him. At 11 or 12, Li Tianyuan dropped out of school and started hanging out with older teenagers. In that environment, how could he have learned anything good?

At first, Li Tianyuan just followed the older boys, but gradually, he became bolder and more aggressive. At his age, walking around with a swagger and being feared by others was seen as very cool. He also extorted money from students, and he was very satisfied with this lifestyle.

By the time Li Tianyuan was 15, he had become the leader of the small gang due to his physical strength and bravery. His desires began to grow.

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