Chapter 216: Chapter 183: Things remain, but people have changed; everything is over. Want to speak, but tears flow first.
September 30th, this is definitely not an ordinary day.
The sky drizzles continuously, so even though it’s already afternoon, it’s still incredibly dark.
But for some people, it’s a brand new beginning, a bright future.
Xiling Detention Center.
Song Luping is receiving his final admonition.
"You can go out now, I don’t want to see you here again, be good..." Speeches everywhere are always boring and lengthy; the detention center director’s is no exception.
But finally, it ended.
Song Luping stepped forward and got his release certificate, along with the previously confiscated belongings and clothes.
Taking off the uniform representing rank and job security, Song Luping changed into his clothes and headed to the door.
No one was there to pick him up at the door.
This was normal.
Song Luping’s family is not in Xiling. Although the Demon Suppression Bureau surely contacted them, it’s not his first time being caught; they’re used to it and naturally wouldn’t travel far just to get him.
Under the watchful eyes of the Demon Suppression Envoys, he directly walked through the drizzle and left the detention center.
This is... the taste of freedom.
By Yellow Heaven, he finally got out.
Song Luping spread his arms wide, looking up at the sky, not caring about the rain at all.
At this moment, he was even a bit moved to tears.
He felt like Andy from "The Shawshank Redemption."
"Some birds aren’t meant to be caged!" he shouted the classic line.
"What a silly bird." The Demon Suppression Envoy at the door frowned and couldn’t help but retort.
Song Luping: "..."
The mood he painstakingly built was completely ruined.
Although he was caught several times, this time felt really different for Song Luping.
This time, for some reason, he was targeted.
Song Luping was very sure he misjudged something. His most esteemed junior, Bai Bufan, his connections in the Demon Suppression Bureau, are definitely not with Yangliang.
Moreover, Yangliang most likely has a bad relationship with Bai Bufan in there.
When arrested, after saying he knew Bai Bufan and seeing Yangliang’s reaction, he thought he was in luck, but it turned out to be against him.
Not only was he the first to be judged and sentenced, but he also entered the detention center at lightning speed and received much more "attention" than in previous times.
The legal texts and conduct rules he had to recite were always picked during spot checks!
When cleaning or engaging in recreational activities, the hardest and most tedious tasks were always given to him.
Is this fair?
This isn’t right!
Yangliang was even the only person who visited him in prison, each time asking where it was hard or tiring. After answering honestly, he found those tasks doubled the next day.
—Should’ve known better than to answer. Yangliang is such a petty person, abusing his power!!
And if it weren’t for the upcoming National Day holiday, he would still be stuck there, unable to get out.
So this release really made Song Luping want to cry.
After venting his emotions, Song Luping first found somewhere to shelter from the rain, then turned on his phone.
Low battery.
"Damn it." Cursing under his breath, Song Luping had to return to the small place where he had already paid half a month’s rent to charge his phone.
Finally, it was powered on.
First, he needed to tell his boss he was willing to work overtime during National Day. If he didn’t earn money, not being able to pay rent would be one thing, but not having money for women would be the end of him.
Then, Song Luping opened the small box in his bedside table, took out the hidden backup fund inside, and started rubbing his hands excitedly.
"Fifteen days, fifteen days, I’ve finally made it through these fifteen days!"
He hadn’t indulged for fifteen days.
This number is terrifying; he must release some tension.
As a former quasi-patron king of Xiling, Song Luping could never solve it on his own.
This is a matter of dignity.
To celebrate the end of his detention, he’s going to get a woman!
Song Luping was quite glad he knew Bai Bufan, because knowing him allowed him to compile a map of Xiling Chicken Farm that he knew.
Thus, now he doesn’t have to trouble himself looking through cards and phone numbers; he just needs to pull out the document and glance at it.
"Who should I favor today?" Song Luping mused like an emperor about to choose a consort.
"It’s you! Love River!"
Song Luping picked up the phone and dialed the number.
"..."
"Sorry, the number you dialed is switched off. Please try again later."
Not working today? Understandable, taking a day off.
Try another one.
"You can do it too!"
"..."
"Sorry, the number you dialed is switched off. Please try again later."
Song Luping frowned slightly, then realized.
The National Day is coming soon, those with legitimate businesses are probably on holiday. He can still look for the self-employed ones without physical stores; after all, because it’s him, they’re willing to come to him.
Song Luping opened WeChat and randomly selected a madam’s WeChat contact.
"Song Luping: Big sis, is anyone available to help send a package today?"
After using the codeword, Song Luping waited with anticipation again.
There was no response.
Song Luping scratched his head in irritation.
"Song Luping: Is there stock today?"
He tried another one, but still no response.
Song Luping clenched his teeth, and decided to send a group message, figuring that he could apologize to the other sisters later.
—This actually violated his own beetle code, but Song Luping couldn’t hold back any longer.
Then countless messages went unanswered, as if sinking into the sea.
What on earth has happened to this world?
Song Luping was filled with terror.
「Hua’Er: Brother Ping? You’re out already?」
Seeing that someone finally replied to him, Song Luping’s hands shook in excitement.
「Song Luping: Xiaohua’Er, yes, it’s me! Has anyone asked you out today? If not, come over to brother’s place to hang out?」
「Song Luping: Hua’Er, let me tell you, damn it, this is crazy.」
「Song Luping: [Screenshot]」
「Song Luping: Did you see that? None of these people are replying to me, don’t know why they’ve stopped doing business.」
「Hua’Er: ...」
「Hua’Er: Brother Ping, I’m actually free today, but I’m no longer in Xiling. I’ll entertain you next time you’re in Yangshun.」
「Hua’Er: As for why things look like they do in your picture... Brother Ping, you might not know, but the situation in Xiling has changed.」
「Hua’Er: It’s not that they’re not replying to you; they’ve all been arrested, and the earliest they’ll be released is after National Day.」
Song Luping: "?"
「Song Luping: What a joke! All arrested? I was only gone for fifteen days! How could so many be arrested?」
Song Luping couldn’t believe it.
「Hua’Er: It’s true, brother. Xiling organized an unprecedented targeted sweep ten days ago, taking down nearly all the chicken farms there without any warning.」
「Hua’Er: I’m one of the lucky few to have survived this sweep. The rest of us sisters are either preparing to wash our hands of it for good and marry an honest man, or like me, relocating our collective businesses and moving to other places to work, determined never to work in Xiling again.」
「Hua’Er: Right now in Xiling, you won’t find a single chicken farm still daring to do business. They’re either closed, lying low, or have escaped.」
"Thud."
Song Luping’s phone fell to the ground, and he hesitated to pick it up.
Afraid to open his eyes, hoping it’s just a hallucination.
How could this be.
Was I really only gone for fifteen days, not fifteen years?
No, no way, this can’t be true!
Pulling off the phone before it was fully charged, Song Luping suddenly pushed open the door and ran crazily into the rain.
How to describe heavy rain without saying rain?
Overpass, Maybach, Nibelungen.
Deep night, Song Luping, shared bicycle.
With his electric bike out of power, Song Luping, having to make do with a shared bicycle, braved all the rain, finally reaching the chicken farm nearest to his home.
He dashed upstairs.
Sealed notice.
"Haha." Song Luping let out a tragic laugh, hopped onto the shared bicycle, and headed to the next place.
Sealed notice.
Store transfer.
Closed for business.
The place was deserted.
The backlash from pedaling the bike full tilt for a long time hit, creatine filled Song Luping’s legs, rendering him incapable of going any further.
The rain continued to fall.
There was a roof nearby that could shelter him from the rain, but Song Luping, in utter despair, just sat on the shared bicycle, letting the rain blur his vision.
Perhaps it wasn’t rain.
Things change, nothing remains the same, tears precede words.
"Haha."
"Haha."
"Hahaha——"
Song Luping lifted his head, bursting into maniacal laughter.
"Gone! It’s all gone!"
"The work of my life! It’s all gone!!!"
"The connections of my life, they’ve all been destroyed!!!"
Song Luping shouted loudly, even though it was deep into the night.
Someone in the surrounding residential buildings curiously turned on a light and stuck their head out to look at Song Luping.
Someone sighed sympathetically—
For something to make such a young person collapse like this, it must be really tragic; I hope he can hold on.
Someone else, refined—
"What are you screaming about, huh! Don’t you know people need to sleep at night? Screw you! You idiot!"
A shamed Song Luping hunched his neck and slunk away, pushing his bicycle.
He looked at his phone, soaked with rainwater.
The face of the only soulmate of his life, Bai Bufan, flooded his mind.
In these past two weeks, he must have been enduring the most.
"Bufan, brother is back," Song Luping hoarsely murmured.
He recalled Bai Bufan’s WeChat ID and sent a friend request.
...
Lin Li, who was asleep, opened his eyes groggily.
Turning over, he adjusted the part of his underwear wedged in his backside, and went back to sleep.