On the other side, Ma Ming looked at the explanation Qin Mu had sent, feeling sowhat wistful.
As for ng Lei’s predicant... He actually felt no sympathy for him.Pitiable people often have detestable aspects. Ma Ming was truly disgusted by ng Lei’s failure to repay his debts and his utter lack of credibility.
But now... ng Lei was facing the misery of imprisonnt. He had also squandered all his credit and personal relationships. Ultimately, he had lost his freedom and his wealth.
It had to be said.This was truly ironic.
And for all of this... Qin Mu had been ’instruntal’. If it hadn’t been for Qin Mu’s behind-the-scenes guidance, they truly wouldn’t have known how to deal with such a deadbeat. ng Lei might even have continued to live a carefree life.He could have been buying cars and houses, enjoying a happy family, a harmonious marriage, and a house full of children...
...
「Three days later.」
Jin City.
The nursing ho.
Qin Mu arrived at the nursing ho on ti, before nine o’clock. He found Wang Dachui. Together with Wang Dachui, they set up a screen in the courtyard, preparing for the live broadcast of the court hearing.
After days of investigation, ng Lei’s case was finally scheduled for its second hearing. The trial was set to officially begin at ten o’clock.
While they were setting up the screen, Zhang Qingyuan and the other seniors had already brought out small stools and settled in front of it. They were waiting for the live projection to begin.
"’Ah, ng Lei. Such a fine young man, and he’s finally going to be sentenced.’"
"’If I’d had half his thick skin back in the day, I might be the richest person in our village by now.’"
"’I dreamt last night that he was acquitted. It startled right awake!’"
"’You dread about him, too? I did as well...’"
"..."
The crowd sat in the courtyard, chatting away. Their conversation never strayed far from ng Lei.
Listening to their discussion, Qin Mu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ng Lei, about to stand trial, probably had no idea that so many people were thinking about him in a nursing ho in distant Jin City.Unbeknownst to him, he had beco incredibly popular at the nursing ho.
From the eighteen-yuan debt dispute to the recent fraud case, he had, by an overwhelming margin, beco the new favorite of Zhang Qingyuan and the others. One had to know, their previous favorite had been the villagers of Chen Family Village.
"Eh?"
Just as they finished setting up the screen, Qin Mu turned around. He suddenly spotted Wan Zhongyuan sitting upright in the crowd. Wan Zhongyuan held a handful of sunflower seeds, apparently prepared for a long wait.
As ten o’clock approached, the courtyard was filled with people. Over a hundred elderly people from the nursing ho had found their respective spots and were waiting eagerly. The scene was quite spectacular.
For ng Lei’s trial, many had even given up their spots to attend court hearings in person today. This just went to show how great ng Lei’s "renown" was within the nursing ho.
"The trial is starting, the trial is starting!"
At ten o’clock sharp, images finally appeared on the projection screen. It was the familiar Yangcheng Court, the familiar First Criminal Trial Court.
However, this ti, besides Ma Ming, there was an additional seat for the public prosecutor. The previous hearing had established his criminal behavior. Consequently, the evidence collected by the public security organs was handed over to the public prosecutor, who would now formally accuse ng Lei in court.
In the defendant’s dock, ng Lei was no longer alone; an attractive woman, Tian Shulan, was also there.
As for the gallery, it was still empty. There wasn’t a single onlooker.
"’What’s going on? His wife has beco a defendant too?’"
"’ng Lei isn’t alone this ti; he and his wife are facing trouble together.’"
"’Are there so few spectators in Yangcheng? The gallery is completely empty! Whenever we go to observe, we can’t find a seat if we’re even a little late.’"
"’No, wait, they seem to be arguing.’"
"..."
Watching the live broadcast screen, Zhang Qingyuan and the others suddenly beca excited.
On the screen, they saw ng Lei and Tian Shulan, seated close together in the defendant’s dock, suddenly start hurling insults at each other.
"’You borrowed that money! What does it have to do with ? Why did you have to drag into this?’"
"’The money *I* borrowed? Who do you think I spent it on? Handbags, costics, clothes—doesn’t all that cost money? Now that I’m going to jail, you want to wash your hands of it? Dream on!’"
Faced with Tian Shulan’s accusations, ng Lei exploded. For the past few days, he had been detained by the public security organs and undergoing investigation. This court appearance was the first ti he had seen Tian Shulan since his detention.
He had initially been able to control his emotions, but who would have thought that as soon as Tian Shulan saw him, she would start cursing him out.
"’Let tell you, don’t think you’ll get away with this! You’re going to jail too!’" ng Lei stared fixedly at Tian Shulan, enunciating each word.
But Tian Shulan rely scoffed, "’? Go to jail? I’ve hired the best lawyer in Yangcheng. You should worry about yourself. Let’s see how many years your legal aid lawyer gets you!’"
She had already received assurances from her lawyer. As long as she actively pleaded guilty and clearly explained her situation, she would likely only get a year or two. She also had a chance for a suspended sentence, aning she wouldn’t have to serve ti.
"’You!!’" Hearing this, ng Lei was once again on the verge of exploding.
This ti, since he had no money to hire a lawyer, he was once again being defended by a legal aid lawyer. Furthermore, as luck would have it, his lawyer this ti was the very sa intern lawyer from before, who had only recently completed his probationary period.
"’Mr. ng, I admit I was a bit nervous last ti; it was my first ti formally handling a criminal defense. It’s different this ti. I’ll definitely do my best to defend you,’ the legal aid lawyer said apologetically from the defense counsel’s table.
As ng Lei listened, his eyes began to redden. His heart was filled with a sense of grievance, but he didn’t know who to confide in.
His luck... was simply too rotten.
User Comments
0 comments from readers