Hong Kong variety show: The mastermind behind the scenes is emerging.

February 18, 1983, the sixth day of the first lunar month.

Stanley Prison.

The festive atmosphere of the Spring Festival was like a fleeting illusion. As the holiday ended, the cold and oppressive atmosphere inside the high walls quickly returned.

For the thousands of prisoners here, the New Year is over, but the hard times have begun again. And this year seems particularly difficult.

Warehouse C, playground

"This is outrageous! One pack of 'Camel' cigarettes costs two packs of regular cigarettes? Wasn't it one and a half packs before?"

"What's so special about that? Look at that bag of biscuits, the price has gone up by 30%! We work ourselves to the bone in the factory all day and only earn a dozen yuan, and now we can't even afford a pack of cigarettes!"

In a corner of the playground, complaints were rife. The prisoners gathered in small groups, their expressions even more unpleasant than the gloomy weather.

Cigarettes are the hard currency in prison. And those who control the pricing power in the prison store are the prison's bloodsuckers. Recently, due to rising prices, these greedy guards have been arbitrarily raising the prices of internal goods, especially necessities like cigarettes and biscuits, which have doubled in price.

This was tantamount to scraping oil off the bones of these prisoners who already had nothing.

"Damn it, are these foreigners and their lackeys trying to kill us?"

In the crowd, a short but burly man stood up.

Silly Bill – He is one of the big shots in Stanley, known for his righteousness and inability to tolerate injustice.

"Brother Biao, what do we do? If prices keep going up like this, the brothers won't even be able to afford cigarette butts," one of the henchmen complained.

"Then let's deal with him!" Sha Biao slammed his cigarette butt on the ground and stomped it out. "Since they won't let us have an easy time, then nobody should have an easy time!"

"Hunger strike!" Sha Biao roared, looking around. "Starting tomorrow, the entire prison area will go on a hunger strike! I refuse to believe those bastards would dare let thousands of us starve to death! The foreigners are most afraid of scandals like this! If we make a big fuss, the higher-ups will definitely investigate!"

"Yes! Hunger strike! Protest!"

"We don't want food! We want cigarettes!"

One call, a hundred responses. In this enclosed space, anger is the most easily contagious virus.

Warehouse C, Room 204.

Zhong Tianzheng sat cross-legged on the bed, listening to the noise outside, and shook his head helplessly.

"This is going to cause chaos again," Zhong Tianzheng sighed. "Sha Biao is just too impulsive. How can you win so easily against these guys in uniform?"

"Brother Zheng, what should we do?"

Lu Jiayao adjusted his glasses, somewhat worried, "If everyone goes on a hunger strike, will we eat?"

"Eat my ass."

Suddenly, A-Wu, who was in the lower bunk, spoke up coldly.

He was leaning against the wall, fiddling with a sharpened piece of iron he had taken from the cafeteria.

"At a time like this, whoever eats will become the target of everyone's ire," A-Wu said calmly. "The nail that sticks out gets hammered down. Do you want to be killed by thousands of prisoners as a traitor?"

"Ah Wu is right." Zhong Tianzheng patted Ah Yao on the shoulder. "Let's go with the flow. Although going hungry is unpleasant, it's better than being targeted by everyone. Besides..."

Zhong Tianzheng glanced at A Wu and chuckled, "Anyway, A Wu still has the chocolate and beef jerky that Hao Ge brought in. Let's lock the door and eat them secretly, who would know?"

A-Wu rolled his eyes and didn't say anything, which was taken as tacit agreement.

……

The next day, at noon.

Stanley Cafeteria.

This is a huge canteen that can hold over a thousand people. At this time of year, it would normally be bustling with noise, filled with the sounds of people queuing for food and the clatter of trays.

But today, it's eerily quiet here.

More than a thousand prisoners sat neatly at a long table. Each person had a meal in front of them—the food was quite good today, with chicken wings and vegetables.

However, no one touched their chopsticks.

Everyone stood with their arms crossed, staring blankly ahead.

"Protest the price hike! Demand a price reduction!"

At Sha Biao's command, thousands of people shouted in unison, the sound so loud that dust fell from the rooftops.

Around the canteen, dozens of prison guards holding batons stared nervously at the group of prisoners, their foreheads covered in cold sweat.

On the observation deck on the second floor.

Killer Xiong, the head of the security department, wearing sunglasses, watched the spectacular scene below with a livid face.

"These bastards..."

The assassin gritted his teeth.

As the head of the security department, maintaining order in the prison is his top priority. If a large-scale hunger strike were to occur, even causing prisoners to need medical treatment and be hospitalized, the trouble would be much greater.

The current Government House places particular emphasis on so-called "civilized governance," with Justices of the Peace making regular inspections. If his superiors find out that he's managing the prison in this way, he'll likely lose his position as section chief.

"Section Chief, what should we do? They won't eat." A subordinate asked cautiously.

"Not eating? Then let them starve!" Killer Xiong sneered. "I refuse to believe their bones are harder than their stomachs! Take all the food away! Don't give them any more tonight!"

Although he spoke toughly, Killer Xiong was more anxious than anyone else. He had also taken a cut from the price increase at the convenience store, and if things got out of hand, he wouldn't be clean either.

Therefore, he must dismantle the protest as soon as possible.

The best way to undermine collective action is to find a mole and create division.

……

Two o'clock in the afternoon.

Security Department Office.

Datun was brought in.

Although his two arms had been reattached, they were still wrapped in gauze and hung in front of his chest, making him look quite comical.

"Brother Xiong, you wanted to see me?" Da Tun bowed and scraped, his face full of flattery.

"Da Tun, it seems your injuries are healing quite quickly," Killer Xiong said, sitting behind his desk, toying with a police baton in his hand, his eyes cold. "You've seen the situation outside. Some people are leading a hunger strike, which makes me lose face."

"Yes, yes, those bastards are ignorant," Da Tun quickly chimed in.

"I don't listen to nonsense!" The assassin slammed his hand on the table, leaned forward, and stared intently at Da Tun. "I need you to do two things."

"First, give me a list of all the people who instigated this disturbance."

"Secondly, tonight at dinner time, you and your people should be the first to get your food."

"Huh?!" Da Tun was stunned, his fat face jiggling. "Brother Xiong, this...this won't do! If I lead the way in eating, how am I supposed to live in Stanley? People will gossip and curse me to death!"

"mix?"

Killer Xiong sneered, stood up and walked to Da Tun, gently tapping Da Tun's bandaged arm with his baton.

"Datun, don't forget. Who's protecting your cigarette business? Who gave you those privileges inside?"

"And..." Killer Xiong's voice suddenly lowered, filled with threat, "If you don't obey, believe me, I'll have your cell searched right now. If they find even a single contraband item, I'll add three years to your sentence! All your businesses will be shut down. I'll promote someone else to take your place."

These few words struck at Datun's Achilles' heel.

He swaggered around in prison thanks to the protection of the killer Xiong. Without that connection, given the extent of his past offenses, he would have been hacked to death in no time.

"No...no! Xiong-ge! I'll listen! I'll listen!" Da-tun was terrified, cold sweat pouring down his face. "I'll eat! I'll lead the way to eat tonight!"

"That's more like it." The assassin smiled with satisfaction.

"However... Brother Xiong," Da Tun's eyes darted around, revealing a ruthless glint in them, "I can lead the way in eating, but I need to find someone to take the fall, otherwise my reputation will be too ruined."

"What do you want?"

"Make those two, Yao and Zheng, scapegoats," Da Tun said through gritted teeth. "Especially Yao! Last time, that madman named Wu crippled my arm to protect him. I can't swallow this!"

"Brother Xiong, later you call A Yao out in front of everyone, and then pretend that he's the one who told on you."

"That way, everyone will think that Ah Yao betrayed them and broke the hunger strike. Then, everyone's anger will be directed at him!"

"It can both break the hunger strike and allow us to use someone else to do our dirty work, killing those two bastards!"

The assassin's eyes lit up after hearing this.

This "divide and conquer" tactic is insidious.

He had long disliked Zhong Tianzheng's smirking face, not to mention A Wu, who had been making waves these past few days.

"Alright." Killer Xiong patted Da Tun's face. "We'll do it your way. Tonight, I want to see a good show."

……

Six o'clock in the evening.

C Warehouse Activity Room.

Hundreds of prisoners were gathered here. The atmosphere was extremely oppressive.

Everyone had been hungry for two meals, their stomachs were growling, and they were becoming unusually irritable.

Killer Xiong walked in with a team of fully armed prison guards.

He walked back and forth in the crowd with his hands behind his back and his gleaming leather shoes, his eyes looking like he was selecting prey.

"Are you all here? Aren't you hungry?" the assassin said sarcastically. "I know many of you don't actually want to go on a hunger strike; you're just being forced into it by certain people. Right?"

No one spoke. Everyone stared intently at him.

Sudden.

Killer Xiong stopped in front of the group in room 204.

His gaze passed over A-Wu, who was sitting in front, and landed directly on Lu Jiayao, who was huddled in the back.

"4126! Lu Jiayao!"

The assassin suddenly shouted.

Ayao was startled and instinctively stood up: "Yes... sir."

"come out."

The assassin beckoned with his finger, a meaningful smile on his face. "I have something to ask you."

"Say what you have to say right here!"

Zhong Tianzheng, who was standing next to Lu Jiayao, grabbed his arm and pulled him back to his seat.

Zhong Tianzheng raised his head, his eyes sharply fixed on Killer Xiong. "Brother Xiong, everyone's sitting down. Why did you call A Yao out? What are you planning to do?"

Zhong Tianzheng was a seasoned veteran. As soon as he saw the expression on Killer Xiong's face and then looked at the gloating look on Da Tun's face not far away, he immediately realized that this was a trap.

This is to make Lu Jiayao a "traitor"!

"Zhong Tianzheng, I'm disciplining prisoners, what's it to you?"

Assassin Xiong's face darkened. "4126! I order you to come out! Someone reported you for possessing contraband, and I'm taking you to my office for questioning!"

"Hidden possession? Search here for any contraband!" Zhong Tianzheng shouted without backing down. "Brothers! Look carefully! Killer Xiong is trying to drag someone out to take the blame! He's trying to sow discord among us!"

These words immediately caused a stir among the surrounding prisoners.

"Yeah! Just search here for anything!"

"Don't try to frame innocent people!" Sha Biao stood up and shouted in support, "We're just making legitimate demands, don't try any underhanded tactics!"

Seeing that the situation was getting out of control, the assassin became enraged.

"You've gone too far!" The assassin fiercely drew his baton. "Men! Drag Lu Jiayao out here! Anyone who tries to stop him, beat them all!"

Several fierce prison guards immediately rushed forward.

"This time it'll be six thousand yuan."

Ah Wu slowly stood up and said something to Zhong Tianzheng that only three people could understand.

Then he stood in front of Ah Yao, his dead fish eyes staring at the prison guard rushing towards him. A broken chopstick appeared in his hand, which he spun rapidly between his fingers.

Although A-Wu didn't make a move, his fierce gaze made the prison guards pause in their tracks, not daring to step forward.

That was a deep-seated fear.

"Very well...very well!" Seeing the troublemakers emerging one by one, the assassin laughed arrogantly. "You want to rebel, huh? I'll grant your wish!"

He picked up the walkie-talkie and was about to call the riot police.

Once the riot police rush in and use tear gas, it will be a bloody conflict. A few people might get killed in the chaos, and no one will be able to explain it.

Ah Yao was so scared that he trembled all over, and tears welled up in his eyes.

Da Tun watched this scene from afar, his mouth practically agape in a grin. "Let them fight! A fight would be best. We can use someone else to do our dirty work, killing two birds with one stone."

At this tense moment, when war seemed imminent.

"Stop! What is going on here?!"

A stern voice in English suddenly came from the doorway, ordering them to stop.

Everyone turned around.

A high-ranking official, dressed in a white formal uniform and carrying a crown badge on his shoulder, strode in, accompanied by several attendants.

The warden of Stanley Prison.

"Sir!"

Upon seeing the big boss arrive, Killer Xiong had no choice but to put away his baton, stand at attention, and salute.

"Killer Xiong! This is the prison block you manage?!" The warden's face was extremely grim as he looked at the cell full of prisoners poised to riot at any moment. "I heard they're on a hunger strike? Why didn't you report this to me?"

"Sir, it's just a small group of people causing trouble..." Killer Xiong tried to explain.

"Bullshit!"

The warden glared at him, then looked at the prisoners and said in a friendly tone, "Gentlemen, I am the warden. I am aware of the price increases."

"I will immediately set up an investigation team to review the store's pricing. If it is found that there has been illegal price gouging, I will order severe punishment and a price reduction."

"Now, I demand that you immediately resume eating and maintain order!"

Upon hearing this, the prisoners looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Since the warden has spoken, we'll give him face!"

"Yes, yes, we believe the warden!"

"Thank you, Warden, for upholding justice!"

Everyone here is smart enough to know when to stop. If things continue to escalate and the riot police are called in, everyone will suffer.

"Eat! Everyone, eat!"

A bloody conflict that was about to erupt was thus averted.

The assassin, Xiong, stood to the side, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

He looked at Lu Jiayao, who was being protected by A Wu and Zhong Tianzheng, and the resentment in his eyes was almost overflowing.

Not only did it ruin his convenience store business, but it also made him lose face in front of the warden.

"Zhong Tianzheng... Lu Jiayao... and that A Wu..."

The assassin silently recited these three names in his heart.

"You just wait. In Stanley, I have a hundred ways to torture you to death."

At this moment, Ah Zheng breathed a sigh of relief, but as he watched the assassin Xiong's departing figure, he understood in his heart:

This hurdle has been overcome, but the grudge has been completely sealed.

The days ahead will likely be a life-or-death struggle.