Chapter 44: The Most Formidable Escort Lineup in History

  Before dinner, the eight people in the cell had already gotten to know each other. Li Zhi Gang, Zhou Guang Chun and four others made self-introductions one after another. Li Zhi Gang was arrested for hijacking a taxi, three were thieves, one was a fighter, and notably, a guest at the "Ye Hao Dong Zhuang" hotel named Luo Jia Xing claimed to be the illegitimate son of a wealthy Fujian-Zhejiang businessman named Luo Bao Long, who was accused of fraud but insisted on his innocence.

  At dinner time, Guo Baokun arrived as promised. Half a box of sausages, half a box of instant noodles, a big bag of eggs, and half a box of canned goods were all moved in with a loud clatter, which made Guan Maolin so angry that he shouted loudly in the corridor: "Slow down! Are you moving mountains?"

  Everyone in the house was stunned, and no one could explain what these things meant in this environment. In short, it was enough to drive people who were used to eating cockroaches crazy. The brothers had just gotten over their addiction to filtered mouths, and now they could eat so lavishly, it was a dream come true, a godly life. After the excitement, they couldn't help but have a new understanding of Ye Haodong's strength. They all thought to themselves: damn, this is what it means to be a real man! To be able to live like this in this place, even Old Guan was giving face.

  Two days later, Jiang Wei met Ye Haodong again in the reception room with the 8900 phone that belonged to Ye Haodong.

  On the other end of the phone, Wang Lin silently wept and then hung up without saying a word. His mother finally found out anyway. Being trapped in prison didn't bother Ye Haodong, but his mother's silent sobs made him feel a deep tremble and guilt in his soul. Ye Haodong was painfully frantic with nowhere to vent, crazily using his hands to smash the isolation glass into cracks. The guard who heard the noise rushed in with a rubber baton, Jiang Wei signaled that everything was fine and let him leave. Ye Haodong stared at Jiang Wei: "Have you seen my mom?"

  Jiang Wei: "Hmm, don't worry, your sister also went and said many comforting words to Auntie. The phone is hers, she asked me to bring it to you so that you can talk to your mom. What did your mom say?"

  Ye Haodong gradually calmed down: "She didn't say anything, she must be especially sad and disappointed now."

  Jiang Wei: "Auntie is very strong! She believes you're a responsible man, not someone who breaks the law and causes trouble in society. Those were her exact words to me. I think she hung up the phone because she was afraid of crying out loud, which would make it even harder for you to serve your sentence calmly."

  Half a month later, Ye Haodong faced his first trial. Bald-headed and shackled. Before leaving, Bao Li helped him wrap the sponge given by Guan Maolin around his wrists and ankles to reduce the friction caused by the shackles. Guo Baokun brought in the set of shackles, clanking them onto Ye Haodong, and said as he lifted his head: "Brother, bear with it for now, this thing will be worn until the trial, where you'll be exchanged for handcuffs, just suffer a bit."

  The trial was held in public, and Ye Haodong pleaded guilty to the crimes he had committed and expressed his willingness to accept punishment. In the spectator's seat, Wang Lin brought her two sons to attend the trial, witnessing her son being shaved bald, wearing a red prisoner uniform, and handcuffed.

  Only the cases of Ye Haodong and Bao Ligang were open to public trial today, while the remaining defendants in the 11.6 case are major culprits with multiple serious crimes, who need a lot of time for detention, investigation and trial. The cases of Ye Haodong and Bao Ligang are relatively simple, and there is also intervention by powerful figures, so they quickly entered the final trial proceedings.

  The court defense ended and entered the defendant's statement session. Ye Haodong turned around to face the judges' bench, knelt down in pain. What he never expected was that his mother also knelt down at this moment, her voice hoarse, crying: "Son, it's mom's fault, I shouldn't have let you enter society so early! Your Honor, please don't give him a heavy sentence, this child is a good kid!" The sound of sobbing shook the hearts of those who heard it, and those who saw it shed tears.

  Ye Haodong's eyes were wide with anger, his eye corners seeming to split open as he bellowed at Ye Haoyun and Ye Haoran: "What are you staring at?! Hurry up and help my mom up! If a son has committed a crime, then he should face the consequences today. We must believe that the judge will give us a fair verdict. Mom, take care of yourself while I'm not around!"

  Jiang Lan rushed over to hug Wang Lin, her big eyes filled with hot tears: "Auntie, I'm Haodong's girlfriend. You can rest assured that from today on, you are my mother. Since your son is not by your side, I will be your daughter and accompany Haodong in taking care of you for the rest of our lives."

  Wang Lin looked at the tall and slender girl in front of her, feeling a bit confused. This girl was Hao Dong's girlfriend, but what about that beautiful girl who came the other day? She couldn't understand how her young son had attracted two such beautiful girls. At this moment, she clearly didn't have the mood to ask about her son's relationship with this girl. Supported by the children, Wang Lin's emotions gradually stabilized, and now they were just waiting for the judge's verdict.

  Ten years, this is the sentence that Ye Haodong is about to face. Bao Ligang was sentenced to only two years. After the judge finished pronouncing the sentence, Wang Lin fainted in court.

  Ye Haodong was escorted away by the bailiffs, shouting: "Lanlan, take care of my mom for me. Big brother and second brother, you must study hard and work hard, don't make mom angry like I did."

  In the living room behind the courtroom, Nong Juntin smiled as she looked at Ye Haodong, who was newly dressed and tidy.

  "Brother, once I go in, the new green paper industry and rolling mill will be completely abandoned. That's the rice bowl of my brothers and over 600 laid-off workers. It can't be ruined. The overall direction has been sorted out for me, but I think you should help with the details. My brothers are loyal but lack ability. They can't even guard what they have, let alone develop the enterprise. We still need to rely on you, sister. You can manage the factory's finances personally or appoint someone, it's up to you." Nong Juntian nodded tearfully, and Ye Haodong held her small hand again, saying: "Sister, we sisters having today is really fate. Originally, I didn't dare to aspire to be with you, but for some reason, from the moment I saw you, I felt familiar and close, like we were blood relatives. So when you mentioned recognizing me as your brother that day, I immediately agreed without hesitation. This lifetime, you will always be my sister, and Ye Haodong will never let you down!"

  Nong Junting cried and laughed, nodding repeatedly, covering Ye Haodong's mouth: "Good brother, sister knows you have me in your heart, that's enough. When you get inside, cooperate actively with the reform, I'll take care of your career outside, strive to make it bigger!"

  Hong Yuzhou and City Court's President Liang Haoran walked in, saying softly: "Miss Nong, it's time to send Xiao Ye to the detention center."

  Nong Junting nodded reluctantly, Ye Hao took a step forward, raised the big handcuffs, and awkwardly put them on Nong Junting, hugging her tightly. The public security chief beside him was so frightened that he almost pulled out his gun.

  Ye Haodong left with a lingering fragrance, his back straight and composed. Nong Juntin looked lost in thought, staring blankly.

  In the detention house, in the morning.

  Ye Haodong was doing handstands on the kang, his body moving up and down. Bao Lijun grasped the windowsill with both hands and lifted himself up, curling up his abdominal muscles and lifting his legs straight out. The others looked at them enviously as they luxuriously released their excess energy.

  The sentence has been passed, and all that remains is to prepare for transportation to prison to serve the sentence.

  Under Nong Junting's arrangement, Ye Haodong can meet with his loved ones once more before being taken to prison. Wang Lin couldn't bear the heart-wrenching pain and gave up the opportunity to Jiang Lan.

  In the meeting room, separated by newly replaced tempered glass windows.

  Ye Haodong's hand and Jiang Lan's hand were tightly clasped together at the small opening below.

  Yeh Hao Dong: "Don't make me feel like I'm being dragged to the execution ground for target practice, if you cry again you'll become a kitten. I'm not going anywhere, you're still young and should focus on your studies outside. If you find someone more suitable than me, feel free to replace me anytime, don't be foolishly loyal to me until death."

  Jiang Lan wiped her face, rubbed her eyes, and cried and laughed scolding: "Hateful, the more you say this, the more I'm determined to stick with you for this lifetime. I won't give in to that aunt of yours."

  Ye Haodong felt a bit guilty: "The relationship between her and me is a pure brotherly love, don't talk nonsense."

  Jiang Lan changed the subject, "No time to chat with you, your mom asked me to tell you, to behave yourself and not think about going back home, she's still young and can take care of herself. The conditions in the dorm are not good, you need to pay attention to protecting your body. She also asked me to bring you a quilt, and my sister-in-law prepared another one for you too. That blanket was sewn by me personally."

  Ye Haodong was somewhat moved and asked with deep feeling: "Are you okay?"

  Jiang Lanslapped his hand open in anger: "Such a big thing happened and you didn't even tell me, but that 'dry' sister of yours was busy running around, no one can help you like she can."

  "Yè Hào Dōng: 'You are different from her, she is herself, you are yourself.'"

  Mr. Jianglan said angrily: "This sentence is equivalent to not saying anything."

  Ye Haodong: "You're one of a kind!"

  Jiang Lan curled up her lips and revealed a hint of a smile, then asked: "What about her?"

  "She is the moon in the sky, you can only admire her while letting her shine on you."

  Jiang Lan was dissatisfied: "There is only one moon in the sky."

  Ye Hao Dong: "I'm leaving here now, today is our last meeting in 1995."

  Jiang Lan reached out her hand and Ye Haodong grasped it, they gazed deeply into each other's eyes, neither of them spoke again.

  As the end of December approached and New Year's Day drew near, Ye Haodong could feel the footsteps of 1996 getting closer. The people in the cell would leave soon and new ones would arrive; after New Year's Day, Cell No. 6 of the Fifth Courtyard would bid farewell to Ye Haodong and Bao Ligang. Their next destination was Sifangtang Prison.

  January 5, 1996. Ye Haodong and Bao Ligang were transferred to the provincial Fourth Prison to serve their sentences together. Many people escorted them, with the highest ranking being Hong Yuzhou, Secretary of the Municipal Politics and Law Committee and Director of Public Security, Jiang Wei, Political Commissar and Deputy Commander of the Municipal Public Security Bureau's Criminal Police Detachment, and Qi Zhendong, Director of the Prison Administration Bureau of the Municipal Bureau. The first two were promoted after the 11.6 case, and it can be said that the promotions of the three people are more or less related to Ye Haodong.

  Chen Shaogang, Secretary of the Municipal Politics and Law Committee and Standing Committee member of the Municipal Party Committee, was temporarily suspended from his duties by Vice Secretary Luo due to his stance on the Erxinzi incident. Hong Yuzhou took advantage of this opportunity to rise through the ranks, and as he was in high spirits, Nong Juntian went to send off Ye Haodong and intentionally asked him about related matters. Hong Yuzhou indeed showed great enthusiasm and volunteered to accompany them, coincidentally, Qi Zhendong and Jiang Wei also wanted to see off Ye Haodong, so Director Qi brought his two trusted subordinates to escort Ye Haodong personally.