Everything went exactly as Chen Feng had anticipated. The higher authorities originally intended for Cheng Liren to spend his entire life in prison. By taking the fall, Cheng Liren had escaped that fate.
The people in charge were caught completely off guard. They had seen people rush to get their share of money, but never anyone who rushed to take the blame.
Therefore, the higher authorities unceremoniously imprisoned Chen Feng. Initially, they had intended to sentence Chen Feng to life imprisonment as well, the consequence of taking the blame for Cheng Liren. However, upon investigating Chen Feng's background, they discovered he had connections in the provincial capital, the national capital, and even the military. As a result, they could only impose a symbolic sentence of one and a half years.
Due to the involvement of a major accident with the national defense optical cable, the case proceeded under a fast-track sentencing program. Within a week, Chen Feng was incarcerated.
"Kid, are you in here for something serious?"
Chen Feng was assigned to Room 608, which housed fifteen inmates, making it a large cell within the prison.
"Just a minor matter."
Chen Feng didn't want to elaborate. The incident had already happened, and there was no point in dwelling on it.
"Got some attitude, huh? Every new inmate comes in and lays out their story clearly and completely, even down to the number of hairs on their body. You're quite arrogant, with your curt reply: 'Just a minor matter.' What, you still think you're outside? Let me tell you something, this is prison. Do you understand prison? If you're a dragon, you have to coil, and if you're a tiger, you have to lie down."
The cell boss glared at Chen Feng with a menacing aura.
"It's already a civilized society now. These despicable rules need to be changed."
Chen Feng replied coldly. If he were only serving a few months, he could endure various indignities. However, with a year and a half ahead of him, he couldn't tolerate anything. He possessed his martial arts and traditional Chinese medicine skills; these scums were nothing to be afraid of.
"Oh, well, I didn't realize you were a troublemaker. This is interesting. It's been years since I encountered a troublemaker. Good, dealing with troublemakers is also a kind of fun."
With that, the cell boss gave a signal, and the other thirteen inmates in the cell rushed to surround Chen Feng.
"Beat him to within an inch of his life!"
The cell boss commanded with a murderous intent. The thirteen inmates, hearing their boss's order, became ecstatic. It had been a long time since they had a human punching bag.
The next moment, they all launched their fists and feet. Chen Feng didn't hold back either. He first executed a quick sidestep, moving rapidly from the center of the group to the corner of the cell. This way, what would have been a fight against thirteen inmates turned into a fight against two or three at a time. This was the wisdom of Chinese martial arts: never expose your back to the enemy. This was very different from the protagonists in novels who could instantly defeat everyone. In novels, as long as it was satisfying, it didn't matter how the protagonist was depicted as powerful. However, in reality, it was impossible. Even the most formidable master, if surrounded, would be in grave danger. Therefore, the best strategy was to find a corner. This way, a large group of people was reduced to only two or three who could engage at the front. No matter how many people there were, once in a corner, only two or three could effectively attack.
After positioning himself, Chen Feng casually ripped off all the buttons from his clothes and sandwiched them between his fingers. He could have defeated them bare-handed, but it would have been too exhausting and inefficient. By using the buttons sandwiched between his fingers to modify his fists, their striking power increased significantly. This was the second great wisdom of martial arts: finding ways to utilize readily available surrounding objects to enhance combat effectiveness. Martial arts were practical, not like the fictional depictions of killing with internal energy.
The subsequent fight was spectacular. Chen Feng unleashed a flurry of attacks, while the others could only cry out in pain. In less than ten minutes, all thirteen men were lying on the ground, groaning. The cell boss, watching from the side, was stunned.
"Holy hell, I've been in this cell for almost fifteen years, and I've seen all sorts of people. But I've never encountered a young man like this, with delicate skin yet extraordinary martial arts skills."
"Still asking about my situation?"
Chen Feng asked the cell boss coldly.
"No, no, no, no more questions."
The cell boss replied, trembling.
"Then where do I sleep?"
Chen Feng continued to ask the cell boss coldly.
"You can sleep in my spot."
The cell boss's attitude changed instantly. One moment he was the arrogant boss of the cell, and the next he was Chen Feng's sycophant. Chen Feng didn't press the issue further with the cell boss. He was only serving a year and a half, not a long-term convict, so there was no need to act like the boss here. He just wanted to get through the year and a half comfortably. The cell boss, being a shrewd individual, immediately understood Chen Feng's intentions. Seeing that Chen Feng had no intention of taking his position as cell boss, he became even more obsequious.
Thus, a week passed quickly. One day, while Chen Feng was working in the prison's garment factory, a guard came to call him, saying someone wanted to see him. Chen Feng was taken aback. When he entered, he had repeatedly told Qin Yan that his women didn't need to visit him, as he would be out in a year and a half, which was not long. Qin Yan was very reliable; his women shouldn't have come to visit. If it wasn't one of his women visiting, who could it be?
With a belly full of doubts, Chen Feng went to the visiting room. Upon entering, Chen Feng felt a wave of dizziness. A group of familiar women. There was Qin Yan, Wang Ziwei, Cheng Lu, Cui Yali, Kaede Shimada...
"Director Qin, didn't I tell you? I'm only serving a year and a half, and I'll be out soon. You really didn't need to come."
Chen Feng said softly.
"Chen Feng, I told them that. They wouldn't listen and insisted on coming to see you, and I also wanted to see you, so..."
Qin Yan said with tears in her eyes. Strictly speaking, all the women had tears in their eyes. The guard behind Chen Feng was filled with envy and jealousy. This Chen Feng fellow truly had better fortune than an emperor. Emperors had many women, but few were truly devoted to them. However, this Chen Feng was different; so many women were genuinely devoted to him. Their eyes filled with tears – what else could it be but sincerity? To achieve what Chen Feng had as a man was fulfilling for a lifetime.
Upon hearing Qin Yan's explanation, Chen Feng no longer dwelled on it. He chatted with each of the women individually. Cheng Lu was the last one he spoke with. Qin Yan, being very understanding, called everyone else out first.
"Chen Feng, how could you be so foolish?"
Cheng Lu wept profusely.
"Not foolish at all! This was a great deal. If it were your father, he would certainly have been sentenced to life. For me, it's only a year and a half."
Chen Feng comforted Cheng Lu.
"A year and a half is still prison. Do you know how much my heart aches while you're in there?"
Cheng Lu sobbed.
"Xiao Lu, please don't be like this. The reason I did this was precisely because I didn't want you to be sad. If you continue to be sad, then my imprisonment would have been in vain, wouldn't it?"
Chen Feng said, suppressing his own discomfort. Cheng Lu was already very sad, and if he were to be sadder, it would make Cheng Lu even more upset. This was not what he wanted. As he had said before, he didn't know if he would marry Cheng Lu in the future, given the many women around him. However, one thing was certain: Cheng Lu was his woman. What makes a man a man? Not letting his woman be sad – that's what makes a man a man!
"Chen Feng, I'm so sorry. You ruined your entire political career for my father's affairs."
Cheng Lu said, still unable to stop her tears.
"Xiao Lu, please don't think that. Imprisonment is indeed a dishonorable matter, and it does have an impact on one's political career. However, from another perspective, it can also be a form of tempering. As you know, my ambition in politics is to enter the high levels of Chinese politics. To reach the pinnacle of the political arena, it is impossible to do so without experiencing extraordinary hardships."
Chen Feng said with a serious expression.
"But you have a criminal record now. Can you still re-enter politics?"
Cheng Lu looked at Chen Feng with anxiety.