Chapter 37

"Old man, if you let him go out to buy some vegetables or wander around, that’s fine, but he’s a prisoner. If he doesn’t show up for ten days or half a month, I… I can’t handle it either!"

Hu Baoguo was really anxious. Although he wasn’t very satisfied with his current job and didn’t take it too seriously, a prisoner’s escape was a very serious matter, and the higher-ups would certainly hold all levels of personnel accountable.

If this also led to the revelation of Hu Baoguo’s previous favoritism and autocratic behavior towards Qin Feng, he might even lose his police uniform. Hu Baoguo wasn’t particularly attached to his job, but if the hero of Lao Mountain were to be dismissed, he couldn’t afford to lose face.

"You’re not happy with your job, right? If you don’t want to do it, just quit."

Whether or not he was a direct disciple made a difference in Zai Shi’s mind. Despite Hu Baoguo’s urgency, the old man pretended not to notice and reached for the tobacco pipe by the bed.

"Old man, you can’t do this. If Qin Feng really runs away, his life is over!"

Hu Baoguo’s voice lowered as he filled Zai Shi’s pipe with tobacco and said in a low voice, "Old man, you’ve eaten more salt than I’ve eaten rice. Give me some advice!"

After Hu Baoguo lit the pipe, Zai Shi took a satisfying puff and said, "How big of a deal is it? It’s almost the New Year, just say Qin Feng is going to another juvenile detention center for an exchange and learning session, and that’s it."

Having spent nearly thirty years in prison, Zai Shi knew the ins and outs very well. Although they always emphasized strengthening security during the New Year, in reality, management became much more relaxed during the holiday.

"Huh? Why didn’t I think of that? Old man, you’re right, let’s do it!"

Hu Baoguo’s eyes lit up. The juvenile detention center housed only minors who had to undergo some labor reform and also learn the same knowledge as their peers outside.

Every year around the Spring Festival, various juvenile detention centers would organize activities for advanced juvenile delinquents to learn and exchange. For example, last year’s Spring Festival gala at the Shishi Juvenile Detention Center was co-hosted by the Lusheng Juvenile Detention Center.

This year, the Lusheng Juvenile Detention Center had already sent a letter, hoping that some of the advanced individuals from the Shishi Juvenile Detention Center could go there for an exchange report, and Hu Baoguo had already agreed.

Qin Feng had a talent for the piano, and he practiced it within the juvenile detention center, which was a good highlight.

Hu Baoguo originally planned to take Qin Feng and a few others to the Lusheng Juvenile Detention Center in half a month, but now that Qin Feng had run away, he could only work on this matter.

After considering the feasibility of the plan, Hu Baoguo said, "Old man, with this method, I can only guarantee that nothing will be exposed within ten days. After that, I really can’t do anything."

Zai Shi nodded and said, "Fifteen days. If he doesn’t return within fifteen days, just say he escaped halfway. The worst that can happen is a reprimand!"

After giving Hu Baoguo some advice, Zai Shi pointed to the hanging scroll of "The Secluded Orchid and Bamboo" on the wall and said, "Alright, take this thing, sell it for some money, and buy the herbs I prescribed for you."

Hearing Zai Shi’s words, Hu Baoguo smiled bitterly and looked at the old man on the bed, saying, "Old man, you’ve almost sold everything here. Is it… worth it?"

Others might not know, but Hu Baoguo was well aware that in the past six months, Zai Shi had sold all the antiques in the house, earning over 1.5 million yuan.

In the early 1990s, although ten-thousand-yuan households were already common, million-yuan households were rare.

Although 1.5 million yuan seemed like a lot, the herbal prescription Zai Shi had given was a bottomless pit. Just one set of herbs for soaking his body cost 40,000 to 50,000 yuan, and 1.5 million yuan had only lasted a little over half a year.

"I’m already half in the grave, what do I need this money for?"

Zai Shi waved his hand and said, "Xiaoguo, although I didn’t take you as a disciple, we still have a master-disciple relationship. If possible, take care of Qin Feng in the future!"

Pausing, Zai Shi looked around the room and continued, "Xiaoguo, I don’t have much to give you. When I’m gone, this set of furniture will be yours. It’s a good thing, and you can sell it if you need money in the future."

"Ah, Old man, why are you saying these things? Take care of yourself, I’ll go and boil your medicine…"

Hu Baoguo sighed. Time was a killer that no one could resist. Thinking back to his childhood, he remembered how formidable the old man in front of him had been. After decades, he was now in his twilight years.

After boiling the medicine for the old man and chatting with Zai Shi for a while, Hu Baoguo returned to the detention center.

In the early 1990s, the juvenile detention center’s system wasn’t very strict. Under the director’s responsibility system, Hu Baoguo didn’t need to report to anyone for what he wanted to do, making it easy to arrange.

He called a brother who had served with him in the cat ear cave and made a note in the duty log. Then he called a short meeting with the few squadron leaders.

The other squadron leaders were aware of the Lusheng Juvenile Detention Center’s request for advanced individuals to exchange. Therefore, when Hu Baoguo proposed taking Qin Feng to the Yusheng Juvenile Detention Center for an exchange with an old comrade, no one objected, and the matter was settled.

As for when Hu Baoguo took Qin Feng away, the guards didn’t pay much attention. They didn’t know that Hu Baoguo had indeed gone to Yusheng, but only to drink with his old comrade.

After staying in Yusheng for a week, Hu Baoguo hurriedly returned to Shishi. Of course, he didn’t dare show up at the detention center but hid in his hometown, waiting for Qin Feng to call him.

This anxious wait didn’t last long. On the tenth day, he finally received Qin Feng’s call and quickly drove to the train station to pick him up.

"Brat, if you dare to run away again, I’ll break your legs!"

Seeing Qin Feng dressed up, Hu Baoguo was furious. He threw the prisoner’s uniform in the back seat and said, "Hurry up and change!"

"Thank you, Director!" Qin Feng silently took the clothes, changed out of his jacket, and asked, "How is my master?"

"The old man is fine, just don’t make him angry in the future." Hu Baoguo glanced at Qin Feng in the rearview mirror and shook his head. Seeing the frown on the boy’s face, he knew Qin Feng hadn’t achieved much.

Hu Baoguo’s guess was correct. Qin Feng’s trip had indeed been fruitless.

After escaping from the juvenile detention center, Qin Feng changed out of his police uniform and buried it, then “borrowed” some clothes and three small bowls from a nearby house. He walked to the train station and set up a small stall.

Qin Feng’s stall was simple: he placed a pebble under one of three bowls and moved the bowls around, challenging people to guess which bowl the pebble was under. If they guessed correctly, they won; if not, they lost.

Under his feet, he had a hundred-yuan note, which looked very tempting. As the saying goes, money tempts the heart. Soon, a crowd gathered around his stall.

Taking off his mask, Qin Feng looked like a 15-16-year-old boy. Many people tried to take advantage of him, but after a few rounds, they realized that winning money from this boy wasn’t easy.

After winning about 70 to 80 yuan, Qin Feng packed up and left before the local thugs at the train station could cause trouble. Of course, he also took the hundred-yuan note he had drawn.

The reason for this was Qin Feng’s agreement with his master. On this trip, he couldn’t use the techniques of the Thieves’ Guild but had to use the skills of the Tricksters’ Guild. Guessing the pebble was just a simple trick.

The word "deceive" was about exploiting people’s greed. In