Shuangling: Braving the Rapids

Cheng Dong had just laid down his bedding when the guy with the small face in the next bunk came over to chat, "Brother Dong! You're awesome! Even 'Big Wart' couldn't do anything to you! Hehehe!"

Although "Small Face" deliberately lowered his voice, his emotions were unusually high. He had been bullied by "Big Wart" and others a lot in the past, and now that he saw Cheng Dong could fight those people to a standstill, he naturally wanted to lick his boots.

Cheng Dong had no good impression of this cowardly bully who was afraid of the strong and opportunistic. He glared at the "small-faced man," snorted coldly, and turned his back.

Feeling snubbed and ignored, "Small Face" was furious. But with his frail physique, he couldn't possibly confront Cheng Dong head-on. Right now, his little eyes were darting around, he was definitely plotting some underhanded trick to deal with Cheng Dong.

There's an old saying: it's better to offend a gentleman than a petty person, and the shifty-eyed "small-faced man" definitely belongs to the latter. In society, the "small-faced man" is a habitual thief that everyone hates. In the detention center, he falls to the very bottom of the social hierarchy. There's no way around it; someone as obsequious and fond of petty theft as him is unwelcome anywhere.

He barely survived outside and was humiliated in the cell. His "small face" mentality had long been twisted. Even at dawn, he was still spying on Cheng Dong's every move. He is truly a dark-hearted and trouble-averse villain!

Cheng Dong was completely unaware that he was being "targeted." Of course, he was already in prison and had enough on his mind, so how could he possibly care about such a small matter?

The cell was filled with the sounds of snoring. Even the young inmate on night duty was dozing off in the corner. After a while, a refined-looking older inmate walked up to the young inmate, gently patted him on the shoulder, and indicated that it was time to change shifts.

The old prisoner sat upright on a small stool, first scanning the communal sleeping area, and finally focusing his gaze on Cheng Dong's bed. He seemed very interested in Cheng Dong, even glancing at him when he got up at night.

When Cheng Dong came out of the bathroom, he happened to see the old prisoner. Their eyes met, and the scene became somewhat awkward.

The old prisoner stroked his chin, gave an awkward smile, and turned his head to the side. Cheng Dong seemed very uncomfortable. He hated the feeling of being watched, but he couldn't do anything to the other party in the middle of the night. So, he frowned and decisively wrapped the quilt around himself.

In his frustration, Cheng Dong thought of the half-pack of Marlboro cigarettes. This was his last thought, and he couldn't let anyone find out. So, he carefully lifted the mattress and quietly stuffed the cigarette pack into the crevice under the edge of the bed.

Regardless of whether it's legal or not, cigarettes will always be the hard currency in prison. In this cramped little world, they are more useful than cash. After all, Cheng Dong has been in the real world before, how could he not know this?

After hiding the cigarettes, Cheng Dong lay down again, crossing his hands behind his head, letting the bright light from the incandescent bulb pierce his eyelids. His vision was already blurry, and his thoughts became even more complicated.

Having been in the underworld for so many years, Cheng Dong had dealt with many people from the public security, procuratorate and judicial system, but being criminally detained was truly a first for him. At this moment, Cheng Dong was filled with fear and anxiety, worried that he would be sentenced and even more afraid that the news of his imprisonment would reach his hometown.

Thinking of his family back home, Cheng Dong felt even worse. Self-blame, regret, and a sense of defeat all rushed into his heart. For a moment, Cheng Dong fell into deep self-doubt. This feeling of self-contempt and self-loathing was exactly the same as the feeling he had when he was humiliated by a Taiwanese businessman many years ago.

"You shameless country bumpkin! How dare you lay a finger on my daughter! You're like a toad lusting after a swan!"

"You good-for-nothing wretch who'll toiled like a slave your whole life! I gave you a bite to eat, and this is how you repay kindness with enmity?"

"You should take a piss and see what kind of person you are! You and your brother! Get out of here now! Right now!"

……

In this situation, Cheng Dong's mind was filled with curses and insults from Taiwanese businessman He Yingming. Perhaps he would have felt indignant before, but now, he felt no more grief or anger, only self-mockery and helplessness. He even somewhat agreed with the other party's statement.

"What Mr. He said is right, I'm hopeless! I'm a fucking idiot! I was always thinking about making quick money, and now look what's happened, I've lost all my money and goods, and I'm facing lawsuits and going to jail. I really want to slap myself to death!"

Cheng Dong wasn't talking in his sleep; at that moment, he actually slapped himself across the face. If his fellow inmates hadn't been asleep, they probably would have called him crazy.

Since returning from Dongguan, Cheng Dong has been harboring a deep resentment. He wants to stand on his own and achieve something great, not only to prove himself to He Yingming and his elder brother, but also to prove himself to himself. This is the fundamental reason why he is unwilling to work under his elder brother.

Having an older brother to protect and guide you will help you avoid detours, but if you don't have the opportunity to use your own abilities, when will you be able to build your own career?

Therefore, he preferred to keep his small wholesale store of about 100 square meters rather than rely on a big tree for shade. But now, the wholesale store is gone, and he can't do tobacco reselling business anymore. After struggling for so long, he is still a failure. How can he not be discouraged?

Cheng Dong had always firmly believed that as long as he was willing to work hard and put in the effort, he would definitely be able to make a lot of money. However, after a series of setbacks, this confidence has completely vanished!

He wanted to be a boss, he wanted to defy fate, but being in this cramped cell, Cheng Dong finally understood the meaning of the word "class". He hadn't even finished elementary school, so of course he couldn't make a written definition like Qin Aimin, but he could clearly feel the existence of "class". It was not just a shallow strait, but an insurmountable chasm, standing between him and He Yingming!

He had fantasized countless times about becoming successful and driving a luxury car to the other side of the strait to marry the girl he loved. But where was that sweet Taiwanese girl now? She was probably in a villa in Taipei's CBD. As for him, he was lying like a maggot on a smelly communal bed next to the toilet.

Finally, Cheng Dong closed his eyes.

Perhaps only in dreams can his grand ambitions be realized, and only in dreams can he have a secret rendezvous with the gentle and charming Taiwanese girl. And this time, Cheng Dong "got his wish".

The girl, dressed in a high school student outfit—stylish blue overalls, a pretty pink headband, black leather shoes, and white stockings—stood in front of the brand-new Japanese Crown, tilting her head and smiling as she waved at him…