The A and B Doors

On the first day in prison, half a filthy bar of soap becomes his "welcome gift" and gives him his first glimpse into the twisted foundations of this miniature society. Here, soap is more than a cleaning product. It's hard currency, "prison gold" that keeps gang deals and guards' kickbacks flowing. Lin Zhiyuan is forced into this web of violence and greed.

He is assigned to the cell ruled by Scarface "Old Wolf," sleeping in a corner beside the foul-smelling latrine and sharing the cell with Haisheng, another man who is trampled underfoot. The calculating former scholar known as "Professor" watches coldly from the sidelines, recording the price of human life in his ledger. Captain Wang, the guard, moves like a ghost, skimming invisible profits beyond the rules. The ambitions of the Northeastern gang churn beneath the surface in the exercise yard.