The day the life-and-death battle between Jiang Wuming and Liu Xin ended, the Military, Martial, and Police Departments issued statements announcing the formation of a joint investigation team. The team was tasked with re-investigating the cases of Su Shirong and Nie Xiaoqian, and thoroughly investigating the Yuan family's related personnel for abuse of power and law-breaking. This brought renewed attention to both cases, returning them to the public eye.
Many people began to follow these cases again, joining those who were newly interested, all awaiting the final outcome.
They did not wait long. Just seven days later, the joint investigation team released a public announcement spanning over a thousand characters. The announcement primarily detailed the investigation results.
After these findings were made public, the joint investigation team transferred the results to the relevant departments.
The next day, the verdicts for the Yuan family's related personnel were handed down, handled with extraordinary speed.
Yuan Guhai, having abused his position to repeatedly interfere with personnel appointments, placing Yuan family members or close associates in many important posts, violating the organizational principles of personnel selection;
Having engaged in multiple power-for-money transactions and acted as a protective umbrella for Qiao Tianba, the leader of the Jiangnan underground forces, he was sentenced to life imprisonment.
Yuan Zeping, having twice instructed the martial artist Liu Qingfeng to assassinate Su Shirong and the father-son duo Wuming, and having directed law enforcement personnel to close the case as an ordinary car accident;
Following the outbreak of the Nie Xiaoqian case, he used his authority to distort facts, forcibly attributing the victim Nie Xiaoqian's cause of death to myocardial infarction, allowing his son Yuan Hao to evade legal sanctions;
Engaging in multiple power-for-money transactions involving vast sums and acting as a protective umbrella for Qiao Tianba, the leader of the Jiangnan underground forces, he was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve.
Yuan Hao was the mastermind behind the Nie Xiaoqian case, organizing accomplices to hold Nie Xiaoqian captive, rape her, and abuse her, ultimately leading to her death;
Having instructed Qiao Tianba, the leader of the Jiangnan underground forces, and the martial artist Liu Yidao, among others, to abduct Su Shiyun and Qin Xiaozhi, with intent to murder them, but failing;
Having utilized the positional advantages of Yuan family personnel to control Yuan Ling Group for extensive wealth accumulation;
Having raped virtuous women over a dozen times;
Sentenced to death with immediate execution for multiple crimes!
In addition to Yuan Guhai, Yuan Zeping, and Yuan Hao, all direct family members of Yuan Hao were also convicted.
This included Yuan Hao's mother, Zhou Ya!
She had used her husband Yuan Zeping's power to engage in multiple power-for-money transactions and amass wealth, for which she was sentenced to twelve years.
Furthermore, many individuals with close ties to the Yuan family, including Shi Yunfeng, the chief instructor of the Jiangnan police, who acted as their direct subordinates, or those who acted improperly or illegally in the Su Shirong and Nie Xiaoqian cases, all received punishments of varying degrees!
Following the sentencing of Yuan Guhai, Yuan Zeping, Yuan Hao, and others, there was widespread public approval online, with almost everyone who had followed the matter feeling a sense of satisfaction!
At a public cemetery in Jinling, at Nie Xiaoqian's grave.
Qin Xiaozhi, accompanied by Nie Xiaoqian's parents, arrived at the cemetery, his eyes red as he stared at the photograph on Nie Xiaoqian's tombstone.
The photo was the same as the one treasured by Nie Xiaoqian's mother. It showed Nie Xiaoqian in her school uniform, holding books, standing on a football field with a bright, sunny smile.
"Qianqian, I'm sorry, I couldn't protect you."
As he looked, Qin Xiaozhi bowed deeply three times to Nie Xiaoqian, tears welling up in his eyes.
"Qian... Qian, that beast Yuan Hao has faced legal judgment and was sentenced to death. You can rest in peace now!"
Nie Xiaoqian's mother sobbed uncontrollably.
However, unlike her previous visits to the cemetery, her cries today were not filled with despair and grief, but with a sense of release!
This was because her daughter's case had received a just verdict, and light had appeared in the dark sky above.
Nie Xiaoqian's father's eyes were red, but he did not let tears fall. He didn't say anything, merely held his wife tightly and looked at his daughter's portrait.
He had regretted his own powerlessness more than once – if he hadn't been so incompetent, if he had been capable, how could his daughter have suffered such a tragic fate and still allowed her perpetrator to escape justice?
He had even considered taking a knife to avenge his daughter, but Yuan Hao was a martial artist, and he was utterly incapable of harming Yuan Hao in the slightest, not even being able to approach him!
He, like his wife, had also despaired more than once – the Yuan family was like a mountain pressing down on them, crushing their breath and making it impossible to push it over!
Now, that mountain had collapsed, and his daughter's name had been cleared. This man, who had considered himself incapable, did not let his suppressed emotions erupt.
He stood before his daughter's tombstone, still blaming himself for not being a good father and failing to protect his daughter. At the same time, he fulfilled his duty as a husband, holding his wife with his not-so-broad but supportive arms, preventing her from collapsing to the ground.
"Uncle, Aunt..."
After an unknown amount of time, Qin Xiaozhi, seeing Nie Xiaoqian's parents' emotions stabilize somewhat, called out to them.
"Xiaozhi, thank you!"
Nie Xiaoqian's parents said in unison.
"Uncle, Aunt, please don't thank me – I didn't do this! And even if I had, it would be what I should do, so there's no need for thanks!"
Qin Xiaozhi quickly stepped forward and clasped Nie Xiaoqian's parents' hands tightly.
"Xiaozhi, how can we find your friend? He is our benefactor, and we want to thank him in person!"
Nie Xiaoqian's father said, recalling Jiang Wuming, who had accompanied Qin Xiaozhi to their rented house that day.
"Uncle, that's my boss. He specifically instructed me today to convey a message to you."
Qin Xiaozhi said, "He said, Uncle, Aunt, you don't need to thank me, but you must not forget what you promised him."
Upon hearing this, Nie Xiaoqian's parents were first taken aback, then their hearts stirred as they remembered what Jiang Wuming had said that day.
"'Uncle, Aunt, if I can ensure that beast Yuan Hao is justly tried by law, will you promise me that you will live well from now on?'"
"Xiaozhi, please tell your friend that your aunt and I will live well."
Nie Xiaoqian's father paused for a few seconds, then solemnly told Qin Xiaozhi, making the decision on this matter himself.
Hearing her husband's words, Nie Xiaoqian's mother did not object.
"Okay, Uncle, Aunt."
Qin Xiaozhi's heart filled with joy, and he continued, "Also, my boss has asked me to buy you a property in Sujiang. You should move to Sujiang. As for work, my boss's family owns a large enterprise, and he has arranged employment contracts for you. You can start working whenever you wish."
"This..."
Nie Xiaoqian's parents were startled and instinctively began to refuse.
"My boss also said that if you refuse, it would mean you are breaking your promise – Qianqian would certainly not want to see you like this!"
Qin Xiaozhi, anticipating what Nie Xiaoqian's parents were about to say, interrupted them directly.
This time, Nie Xiaoqian's parents offered no response.
At this moment, tears streamed down their faces.
Having seen light in the darkness and justice amidst despair, they now felt the long-lost warmth of humanity!
In Sujiang, at the Su family ancestral home.
Jiang Wuming received a call from Su Shiyun.
"Wuming, the latest trial verdict is out. Yuan Zeping, who was behind father's death, has been sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve!"
Su Shiyun, after seeing the news, immediately dialed Jiang Wuming's number, speaking with excitement and a choked voice.
"Sister, I saw it. That beast deserved it!" Jiang Wuming replied.
Hearing Jiang Wuming's words, Su Shiyun wanted to say more but was overcome with sobs.
Jiang Wuming held the phone, silently listening to Su Shiyun cry.
Meanwhile, in another room of the Su family ancestral home.
Liu Guifang held her husband Su Shirong's photo, her eyes red as she silently shed tears.
"Shirong, did you see? Wuming has avenged you. Those who harmed you have received their due punishment!
Seeing this outcome makes me very happy. Not only has your name been cleared, but more importantly, Wuming is safe!
When your case began circulating online, I learned from Shiyun that it was Wuming who did it, that he was going to seek justice for you!
At that time, I wanted to stop Wuming immediately – rather than avenge you, I wished for Wuming's safety!
You would have thought the same, wouldn't you?
However, Shiyun stopped me. She told me that Wuming had made up his mind and had promised her he would be fine.
In the end, I didn't go to Wuming, nor did I mention this matter to him.
This is because Wuming has been stubborn since childhood. Others might turn back after hitting a wall, but he would choose to knock down the wall – even if I tried to stop him, he wouldn't waver from his decision, and it would only add pressure..."
Liu Guifang, with reddened eyes and tears flowing, spoke her heart out in a trembling voice to her husband in another world.
Creak!
As Liu Guifang finished speaking, the door opened, and Jiang Wuming walked in.
"Wuming..."
Seeing Jiang Wuming enter, Liu Guifang was startled. Reason told her that Jiang Wuming had overheard her words.
"Mom, from now on, if you have anything to say to me, don't bottle it up or have any reservations."
As if to confirm Liu Guifang's guess, Jiang Wuming walked over, interrupted her, and gently wiped the tears from his foster mother's face.
"Child, Mom worries about you..."
Liu Guifang instantly broke down in tears and hugged Jiang Wuming tightly.
"Mom, even if the sky falls, your son can bear it!"
The young man's eyes instantly reddened.
They say blood is thicker than water, but he had felt a chill at the Ye family's place a few days ago, and today he felt warmth here.