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After Prison: Wife Remarried, Son Changed Surname, Partnered with Girlfriend to Kill
墨書 Inktalez
In the autumn of 1991, the iron gate of Liaoyuan Prison slowly opened. Liu Baoshan stood at the entrance, holding a worn-out canvas bag, staring blankly for a while.
It had been nine years, and the outside world had changed so much that he hardly recognized it. The cars on the street looked different, and people's clothing had also transformed.
"Old Liu, you’re out?" Officer Wang patted him on the shoulder. "Make sure to stay out this time."
Liu Baoshan nodded, responding, "Yeah, I know." But deep down, he understood that it was easier said than done.
He returned to his old neighborhood and found that the building was still standing, but the small shop on the first floor had new owners, and the hallway was plastered with various advertisements. Climbing to the third floor, he took out his keys to open the door, only to realize that the lock had long been changed.
"Who are you looking for?" Aunt Wang from next door poked her head out. Upon seeing Liu Baoshan, she paused for a moment. "Old Liu? You... you’re out?"
"Yes, Sister Wang. Where’s my wife?" Liu Baoshan asked with a hint of awkwardness in his smile.
Aunt Wang's expression shifted dramatically. "Your wife? She remarried a long time ago, and the child has taken another surname. Old Liu, it’s been so many years..."
At that moment, Liu Baoshan felt as if the sky had fallen in on him. During his nine years in prison, he had held onto a glimmer of hope that his wife and child would be waiting for him outside; now that hope was completely shattered.
Carrying his bag, he walked out of the neighborhood and found a small inn to stay at. He realized he needed to find work quickly to make a living.
But reality was harsh.
"I'm sorry, but our company policy doesn't allow hiring anyone with a criminal record."
"Maybe you should try somewhere else?"
"We really can’t accommodate you here..."
Repeated rejections made Liu Baoshan begin to doubt himself. At 41 years old, without skills or connections, and burdened with the label of a robber, he started to understand that the notion of "starting over" was nothing more than a joke in the face of reality.
He could only take on odd jobs to make ends meet. Working at a construction site, he moved bricks for twelve hours a day, earning thirty yuan. At the market, he helped unload goods, waking up early and working late, leaving his hands covered in injuries by the end of the month. What he found hardest to bear were the looks from those around him.
"I heard that old Liu is a convict."
"Don't get too close to him; you never know when he might get into trouble again."
"People like him never change; a dog can't stop eating shit."
Every night, Liu Baoshan returned to the rented basement, staring at the moldy walls and leaking ceiling, reflecting, "I spent nine honest years in prison, and now I'm worse off than an ordinary person. What rules am I supposed to follow?"
In 1998, through an introduction, he met Shi Songmei. This 29-year-old divorced woman was cheerful and talkative, and most importantly, she didn't mind Liu Baoshan's past.
"Let the past be the past," Shi Songmei smiled at him. "People have to look forward."
The two quickly moved in together. Shi Songmei enjoyed playing mahjong and often mingled with wealthy women. She frequently complained to Liu Baoshan, "Look at that Xiao Wu; she wears gold necklaces every day and drives a nice car. She can lose thousands in one night without batting an eye."
As Liu Baoshan listened to her words, his thoughts began to change. He thought, "I suffered for nine years in prison, and now I have to watch others' faces while she has endless money without lifting a finger?"
Shi Songmei continued her complaints as they walked, "Xiao Wu won five hundred from me today; just look at her smugness. Old Liu, when are we going to turn our lives around?"
Liu Baoshan stopped in his tracks and turned to Shi Songmei. "Do you think Xiao Wu's family has a lot of money?"
"Isn't that obvious? The gold and silver jewelry in her house could open a store."
"Then..." Liu Baoshan lowered his voice, "why not just take her out and get some money?"
Shi Songmei was stunned.
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