It was Saturday, 12:30, and the cafeteria was overcrowded.
Zhang Chi was clearing away the dishes after finishing his meal, when a "beep——" sounded from the radio.
Unlike the usual short weather forecast alerts, it was prolonged, much like the sound of an air raid siren.
In an instant, the expressions of all the old prisoners in the cafeteria changed.
In the corridor on the second floor, there were two prison guards next to the fence. One of them wore clothes different from all the prison guards Zhang Chi had seen. It was pure white, with a triangular badge embedded on the shoulder of the clothes.
"Quiet!" said another prison guard standing next to the prison guard in white.
In fact, without him opening his mouth, the entire hall was so silent that you could hear a pin drop.
"949 - 5 points deducted, location, knitting workshop, time: Wednesday 9:30, 20 buttons No. AT032 were twisted while knitting, and they were stolen into the bathroom. Point deduction basis: "Reformation Camp Regulations" 28 strip."
"223 - 3 points deducted, location, farmland, time: Monday 9:23, confirmed that all three acres of Jinghong flowers withered due to excessive watering. Basis for deducting points: Article 112 of the "Reformation Camp Regulations"
"333 - 3 points deducted, location: knitting workshop, time: Friday 11:03, whispering to each other for more than 10 minutes during work hours. Points deducted based on: Article 239 of the "Reformulation Camp Regulations"
"764 - 1 point deducted, location: farmland, time: Wednesday at 16:12, weeds were not removed within the time limit. Points deducted based on: Article 37 of the "Reformation Camp Regulations."
"..."
After reading about a dozen prisoners' codes in total, the prison guard in white finally put down the electronic board in his hand.
He looked down at all the prisoners in the hall and said solemnly: "The above prisoners must be rectified immediately. Submit the letters of apology to Room 212 on the first floor of the office building before Monday."
After saying that, he turned around and left.
When the people completely disappeared into the corridor, the whole cafeteria suddenly exploded.
"Detain so many people this time?"
"Every newbie is like this, they don't understand the rules..."
"Jinghong flowers can be overwatered. Isn't this flower in desperate need of water?"
Zhang Chi walked through the aisle with a dinner plate and heard someone ask -
"who is he?"
She walked deliberately slowly, her ears perked up.
"The white-coated policeman specializes in enforcing production discipline. Every Friday at this time, he will announce the prisoners who will have their points deducted this week."
"How come no one from the mine was caught?"
"There are no cameras in the mine, so I'm just scratching my head. The prison guards care about their lives, and no one wants to go into the cave."
"...You mean, there are cameras in the farmland and weaving workshop?"
"Yes, otherwise how would I know if you were lazy?"
"It's over. I've been...I've been..."
"Have you been lazy? Haha, it doesn't matter. Everyone is like this. When you are tired, you will take a break. Whether you catch me or not depends on your luck. If you are not lucky, you will be caught if you are distracted for 5 minutes. If you are lucky, you will be caught doing nothing for an hour. It doesn't matter."
"Wait a minute, where can I find the "Reformulation Camp Regulations"? It's never been taught in class before."
"I don't know. No one knows. Only the policemen in white have regulations. No one knows the specific details. Everyone is crossing the river by feeling the stones. They know where others have deducted points and will be more cautious next time..."
If the rules are obvious, everyone will start looking for loopholes in the rules. If the rules are not obvious, then everyone will make up the rules themselves.
The reason why people are afraid of the unknown is because people always raise it to the upper limit of fear that they cannot accept.
They were like frightened birds, trembling with fear, no longer daring to test or act without authorization.
It's really vicious.
Zhang Chi thought.
When she walked to the place where the dinner plates were played, she met Zhou Ke.
His face was pale - if she remembered correctly, he was on the list of points deducted by the policeman in white just now. 3 points. The newcomer's score is the lowest. If there were no other newcomers with more points deducted than him in the code just now, he would be at the bottom this week - he has modified mechanical prosthetics and cannot dig mines, and his work score is also the lowest. files.
Standing next to him was his cellmate, the fellow countryman he called, with a hand on his waist.
Zhou Ke saw her.
His face turned from white to red. He shifted uncomfortably a little away from his cellmate's grasp.
"Your dinner plate is still so clean..." Zhou Ke forced a smile, "I heard that the Justice and the Tigers are looking for you..."
Zhang Chi suddenly thought of what 110 said——
"Do you know why he is ignoring you now? He has an organization, but you don't. He doesn't look down on you anymore."
Zhang Chi: "I don't like waste." Zhang Chi automatically ignored the last half of the sentence.
Zhou Ke said: "It's very good. No waste. It's very good."
After Zhang Chi put down the plates and was about to leave, Zhou Ke said from behind: "Actually, I think it's good for you to join the Tigers."
"The Chancellor has too many rules. You won't get used to being there."
***
It’s 3pm on Saturday, 9 hours before free day.
Zhang Chi works in the knitting workshop.
There are no fixed seats in the weaving workshop, only fixed categories. Rows 1-5 are work tables for making dolls, rows 5-8 are work tables for making handmade rugs, and the work tables in rows 9-12 are very large. Woven products other than blankets. If you arrive early, you can choose the table you want to sit at, but if you arrive later, you can only choose the available work table.
There were not many prisoners in the weaving workshop today, and there were empty tables for each category. Zhang Chi still chose the table for dolls. The tables are for single people, and similar tables are not far apart, less than half a meter apart. You can see what the people next to you are doing when you turn your head. There is an aisle between different types of tables. There are three large aisles in total. Prisoners usually go to the bathroom or tea room through the aisles.
Zhou Ke sat behind her, and his roommate sat next to him. They arrived later, at least later than Zhang Chi.
Maybe I chose this seat accidentally, maybe I chose it intentionally. No one knows.
Zhang Chi finished winding up the teddy bear, and Zhou Ke's voice suddenly sounded from behind - the timing of speaking was too coincidental, as if he was deliberately waiting for her to stop what she was doing.
"Have you decided which one to choose?"
The sound is not loud, but because the space is very narrow and the distance is close, you can hear it clearly.
Maybe the prisoners next to him heard something, but they all stared intently. No one dared to offend the tiger, let alone report it - talking was prohibited during work. Occasionally, prison guards would come in to check on the situation in the weaving workshop, but most of the time, they only stayed outside the weaving workshop.
——The fabrics inside have a strong formaldehyde smell, and there are also some special fabrics that are very bright, but slightly toxic. Small pieces of decoration are not harmful, and they are allowed to enter the market, but the processors are faced with thousands of times the amount of poison. Long-term inhalation is not good for your health, but people here don’t know why it’s bad.
If you find other workers slacking off, you can go out and report it to the prison guards. Of course, unless there is a real hatred, in most cases no one would do such a thing.
No one wants to be like a machine, tightening the rope from the beginning to the end, turning a blind eye, and everyone is better off.
Zhang Chi: "What to choose?"
Zhou Ke: "Are you going to be the Chief Justice or the Tigers?"
Zhang Chi said: "No."
Zhou Ke was stunned: "What?"
Zhang Chi bent down and took out a new roll of cotton thread from the basket on the side: "I said I had no choice."
Zhou Ke didn't speak. After a while, when the roommate sitting next to him got up and went to the bathroom, he moved his head forward again, almost close to Zhang Chi's shoulder, and said, "Do you... look down on me? "
Zhang Chi paused while weaving cotton thread: "What?"
Zhou Ke's voice was trembling: "I, I know, others are talking about me and you behind my back... so I don't dare to come to you these days, I'm afraid you think the same as them."
Zhang Chi felt a little baffled.
Zhou Ke continued: "Actually, I am gay."
Zhang Chi: "..."
Is this something more serious than a crime?
Zhou Ke said: "He and I are in love."
Zhang Chi didn't know what to say.
Zhang Chi: "Well... I wish you happiness."
Zhou Ke: "..."
"Are you laughing at me?" The voice sounded particularly miserable.
Zhang Chi didn't even know what to say.
Zhou Ke: "I knew it. You would miss me like this."
"He didn't force me, I did it voluntarily. I like him. He also likes me. There is no betrayal of dignity as you think. He is very good to me. I have always liked him like that. We are very good."
Zhang Chi: "...so?"
Zhou Ke choked and said slowly: "It's nothing. I just want to explain to you. You are my friend, and I don't want you to misunderstand."
Zhang Chi suddenly thought of a saying he had heard somewhere before - the princess needs to be pampered because the king will never give her the same rights as the prince.
Trying to prove to be loved is a sign of disempowerment.
Because you cannot be equal in terms of rights to someone you feel is oppressive, you need to prove that he loves you to a point beyond reason, to convince him that he will not hurt you, or to show it to the outside world. , the strife caused by their very unequal rights does not exist.
Zhang Chi: "Yes. I understand."
She lowered her head and continued to make a teddy doll. After a while, a big hand suddenly pressed down on her doll. She raised her head and saw Zhou Ke's inmate standing in front of her.
When Zhang Chi stood, she only reached his chest, and when she sat down, she could only reach his waistline. The first thing she saw was the name tag, which read 093. Looking up, she saw his resolute chin and beast-like chewing muscles. , and angry eyes.
Zhang Chi didn't know why. Suddenly, she heard sobbing - maybe it had been there for a long time, but she was too focused on her work and was not disturbed. The sound was not loud, and it was just behind her. She turned her head and saw Zhou Ke lying on the table, his eyes red.
In the entire workshop, there was only one person standing, 093, who was 1.9 meters tall. He was blocked in front of other people's tables. One after another, more and more eyes gathered here.
Zhou Ke raised his head, pulled 093's sleeve, and said with sobs: "No, you will attract the prison guards..."
Zhang Chi looked at Zhou Ke and said, "What's wrong with you?"
Zhou Ke muttered and was about to speak when 093 said: "Watch your mouth."
Zhang Chi: "?"
Zhang Chi was a little confused, but before she could ask anything, 093 sat back.
Zhou Ke didn't answer her question. He just said to 093: "It doesn't matter to me. Whatever they say."
***
It’s 6:10 pm, and there are still 5 hours and 50 minutes until the free day.
After dinner, Zhang Chi returned to the dormitory building, carefully read the "Points Handout", reviewed all the prison guards' notes about the free activity day in the last class, and combined with the information he got from other prisoners this week, he summarized the following A few key points:
1. You must work for 3 hours or more on the free day, otherwise 2 points will be deducted.
However, there is no compulsory check-in on the free day, there is no roll call in the morning, and signs will not be recycled in the evening. Signs updated on Saturday are valid for two days. Therefore, if you have enough points, you can completely ignore the deduction. Some elderly people may not work on free days.
2. All scoring stops on time at 9 o'clock. Not even a second late.
3. Most prisoners do not have any weapons.
Inmates are not allowed to smuggle items from the workplace. However, mechanical prostheses are not in the category of weapons. Regular mechanical prostheses circulating in the market are a type of medical device. However, after entering the black market, many mechanical prostheses have been privately installed and are highly lethal. There is no doubt that the prisoners here are all the latter.
Cyborgs have unique advantages.
Zhang Chi closed the book and pulled out the screw needle from the foot of the bed. It was slightly longer than the palm of his hand and could be hidden in his sleeves, trouser legs, and shoe soles. Zhang Chi put it under his pillow temporarily.
Just after 12pm, hunting time will come.
No one guaranteed that everything would only happen during the day.
After doing all this, Zhang Chi felt something was wrong.
It's so quiet.
She opened the door, walked through the corridor, and walked close to the door - almost all rooms were silent. She took a few steps back, stood on her toes and looked at the bars on the door - they were all empty.
Not only that, looking down from the guardrail on the fifth floor, no one is walking around on all floors.
It was so quiet that it was almost like an illusion.
