As the group stepped into the second ward, Li Ming had expected the inmates to start causing a commotion again, but to his surprise, it didn’t happen.
The prisoners quietly peeked at Li Ming through the iron bars of their cell doors.
After all, the sudden appearance of a man in the prison was unusual. Even though he seemed somewhat intimidating, it couldn’t suppress the women’s curiosity.
"This ward houses inmates serving fixed-term sentences. Some of the older ones are close to release. They’re also the most obedient and hardworking. If they perform well, I’ll apply for sentence reductions on their behalf," Lin Xi explained to Li Ming.
Li Ming nodded while scanning the inmates.
Their ages varied, with most being middle-aged. There was no room for makeup in prison, so their faces were bare, but Li Ming still spotted a few whose natural beauty was striking. If these women were outside, they’d undoubtedly attract hordes of admirers and suitors.
Lin Xi introduced Li Ming to the inmates as the new warden, as per protocol.
Perhaps due to his imposing aura, the prisoners remained silent, watching him intently. Some even glared at him with hostility, as if they wanted to devour him whole.
"I know some of you have doubts—or even resentment—toward me as the newly appointed male warden. But let me make this clear: as long as you follow the rules and commit to rehabilitation, I’ll fight for every one of you to have a chance at reduced sentences!" Li Ming’s voice echoed through the ward, yet the inmates stayed silent, offering no response.
Seeing this, the supervising officer of the second ward stepped forward, banging her baton against the iron cell doors. "What, are you all mute? Didn’t you hear the warden? Show some gratitude!"
At the officer’s scolding, the inmates reluctantly muttered, "Thank you, Warden."
Their voices were uneven, weak, and disorganized, infuriating the officer, who slammed her baton against the doors again.
"What’s wrong with you? Rebelling? Louder and in unison! Do you want to get out or not? Do you want sentence reductions or not?" the female officer barked.
"It’s fine… No need to force them. They’ve just met me—it’s natural they’re not familiar yet. These inmates will be released eventually, so there’s no point in pressuring them," Li Ming waved his hand, stopping the officer.
He figured these women had their own thoughts, given their impending freedom, and he had no intention of bullying them.
Relieved that Li Ming didn’t take offense, the officer exhaled quietly. She’d seen how petty he could be back in the first ward. Her harshness wasn’t meant to intimidate the inmates but to protect them—she didn’t want them crossing the warden and landing in trouble.
Li Ming followed the group to the next ward, quietly taken aback by the sheer number of inmates here—far more than in the first ward. Some cells even emitted a strange, pungent odor.
The stench was sharp, almost like rotting seafood. He glanced at Lin Xi and the others, but they seemed unfazed, as if accustomed to it.
After walking down a long corridor, they entered the third ward.
Lin Xi began her introduction again.
"This is the third ward. It houses the unruly ones—lifers and death row inmates. All the troublemakers are kept here. Half of this ward is cells, and the other half has solitary confinement and a communal shower area. Further ahead is the recreation hall, where they watch TV every night. Beyond that is the cafeteria. That’s the general layout."
Li Ming nodded in understanding, then curiously peered into the cells of the death row inmates.
Unlike the previous wards, the prisoners here lacked energy. Even as the group passed, few bothered to look up.
Stopping at one cell, Li Ming leaned in to see two women inside. One, around fifty, sat quietly reading a book, while the younger one stared blankly into space, lost in thought.
Noticing Li Ming at the door, both turned to look.
The older woman calmly set her book aside, offering a faint smile. Her voice was hoarse but gentle. "Here for an inspection, new Warden?"
Li Ming blinked in surprise before nodding. "How did you know I’m the new warden?"
After all, Lin Xi hadn’t introduced him here.
"Just a guess, Warden. If the deputy warden herself is escorting you, you must be someone important. I figured you were the new warden. Though I didn’t expect a man. This prison’s about to get lively," she replied, rolling up her book and clapping lightly with a smile.
"Sharp. What’s your crime?" Li Ming asked. He’d heard prisons housed all kinds of talents, and this woman’s deduction confirmed it—clearly a high-IQ offender.
"Fraud, drug trafficking, kidnapping… and killing a cop. That’s how I ended up here," she answered.
Li Ming was stunned. He knew she was on death row, but he hadn’t expected a woman to be involved in so many crimes. With charges like that, the death penalty was inevitable.
"How long have you been here?"
"Two years in half a month. I got a two-year reprieve. After that, my sentence will be commuted to life. I won’t die. Thanks to you, Warden, and the officers for taking care of me." She glanced past Li Ming at Lin Xi and the guards, her eyes filled with gratitude.
But Lin Xi ignored her, stepping forward to address Li Ming.
"Alright, it’s almost mealtime. Let’s head to the cafeteria."
"Right, let’s go." Li Ming followed her.
Soon, they arrived at the cafeteria. It was Li Ming’s first time seeing the prisoners’ utensils—all made of plastic. He picked one up, noting how safe they were; even if stolen, they couldn’t be used as weapons.
Once the officers finished preparing the food, Lin Xi radioed the ward supervisors to release the inmates for meals.
Then Li Ming watched as a flood of prisoners marched in formation toward the cafeteria.
The moment they spotted the handsome warden standing there, their eyes gleamed with hunger—as if they weren’t there for the food, but for Li Ming himself.