As he spoke, the Special Police Captain couldn't continue again, resting one hand on his forehead and reaching into his pocket with the other. He pulled out a pack of soft cigarettes that cost no more than five yuan domestically. His hand trembled slightly as he took out a cigarette and reached for his lighter; the lighter dropped to the ground with a "clatter."
Xia Jinyuan, silent, bent down to pick up the lighter. With a slip of his thumb, a flame shot out of the lighter. The captain, with shaking hands, took out a cigarette and lit it with the flame Xia Jinyuan had sparked.
He took several harsh drags, smoking two-thirds of it in one go.
Many of the special police in the north are heavy smokers. The captain of the sixth secret service squadron, who had fought alongside them before, also smoked—a cigarette sometimes truly soothes the pressure.
