Counterfeit Hero

Tian Xingjian walked out of the processing plant reluctantly. In prison, they first strip you of the rights you ought to have and then give them back as rewards. This is the tradition here. Both the guards and the prison bullies do this. Things that originally belong to you, like a bed near the cell door, a dinner, a piece of meat or a cigarette, can be taken away for no reason. If you behave well or if they are feeling unusually kind, you might get a bit of food or a puff of smoke. These things, which are worthless in the Free World, become luxuries, temptations, and tools in prison.

Seeing Davis earlier, raising the workbench for the new prisoners to a normal height, seemed like he had done a great deed. Fatty was almost tearfully grateful before stopping Davis’s incessant self-congratulation.

As he walked out of the factory gate, he saw the yard was already filled with prisoners sunbathing, chatting, or playing basketball. Tou’er was leaning against the outer wall, hands in his pockets, idly peering into the plant. When he saw Fatty come out, he was delighted and quickly came up to pull him over, saying, "How’s it going, any trouble?"

Fatty shook his head and pouted, "No trouble. I helped Davis out a bit, and my reward was getting my workbench raised to the normal position. This world is too dark." Looking righteous and indignant.

Tou’er was stunned, "It’s your first day at work, and he raised your bench to the normal height? How big a favor did you do him?"

Fatty, puzzled, said, "From how you’re talking, it’s like I came out way ahead. I helped him solve a Mecha malfunction. Outside, that would at least fetch a thousand in reward."

Tou’er sighed enviously, "If you could spend a thousand to buy a year’s worth of no-bending six-hour workdays, wouldn’t you think it’s worth it?"

"A year?" Fatty was startled, shivering all over. One day was already exhausting enough. If it were every day like that, he would rather be a shrimp.

Tou’er nodded, "Yeah, not counting overtime."