"Do you know you're wrong?" Xu Zhengyang's voice rose again, and he kicked Chen Chaojiang several times in quick succession: "Do you know? Do you know you're wrong?"
Chen Chaojiang stood up, his facial muscles tense, and gritted his teeth as he said, "They deserve to die!"
"Still being stubborn, still being stubborn!" Xu Zhengyang slapped Chen Chaojiang several times on the head and ears. "I'll teach you to be stubborn! They deserve to die, but you can't kill them in public like this... You're a god, you have plenty of ways..."
Chen Chaojiang lowered his head and remained silent.
Xu Zhengyang straightened up, tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and began to ponder, his chest heaving violently.
He had considered that one day, even the ghost messengers or gods under the Heavenly Court would make mistakes... At that time, he would have no choice but to kill one to warn the rest and establish his authority!
But no one could have imagined that this day would come so soon.
Moreover, this person will be Chen Chaojiang!
In today's world, with the rapid spread of information and the development of online media, coupled with Ye Wan's special status—a privileged class that is already tainted and whose reputation for integrity is tarnished—this incident will likely ignite even more frenzied public outcry. Even if the cause wasn't your fault, even if the other party committed an utterly heinous act, where does such behavior fit the law?
So many eyewitnesses, and seven people were killed in such a short time!
Xu Zhengyang could clearly imagine how gruesome the deaths of those damned guys would be, given Chen Chaojiang's nature and the extent of his power.
How can we provide a reasonable explanation to the public?
How can we ensure that when the senior leaders still feel fear and helplessness towards Xu Zhengyang, they don't develop additional contempt or dissatisfaction because of this incident?
You, Xu Zhengyang, have always been a paragon of integrity and justice!
Should I find a substitute to die?
Absolutely not. In the past year, the Heavenly Court and the human government joined forces to crack down on any acts of favoritism, corruption, or bribery. To this day, officials across the country are terrified and are doing their jobs with extreme caution and trepidation.
"Get out of here, get as far away as possible... If you encounter the police, do not resist." Xu Zhengyang said coldly, with some heartache.
Chen Chaojiang stood up, turned and walked away, but after taking a few steps, he suddenly stopped, turned back and said, "My lord... I was wrong to vent my anger in a way that is only human. I am a god, and I have many ways to do this and protect the child's safety. But... if I were not a god, I wouldn't even have the opportunity to vent my personal desires. What about the other parents who have lost their children?"
Xu Zhengyang frowned and glared at Chen Chaojiang, but did not say anything.
He understood what Chen Chaojiang meant; there was no need to argue about some things anymore.
It simply means that the police will investigate and prosecute, and the law will punish the criminals...
But even Xu Zhengyang himself couldn't convince himself with such words.
"If everyone who encounters harm from criminals resorts to the same violence to resolve the issue, then why not just erase the law and let people fight for fairness in this society by force? Is that even possible?" Xu Zhengyang finally retorted angrily.
Just then, Xu Zhengyang's phone rang. He frowned as he looked at the caller ID and answered it.
"I am Xu Zhengyang."
"Zhengyang, Chaojiang, has Chaojiang contacted you?" Ye Wan asked in a trembling voice.
"Um."
"It can't all be his fault..."
"It's been two days already, why didn't you tell me sooner?" Xu Zhengyang's calm voice was tinged with anger as he looked at Chen Chaojiang.
"Well, things have been busy at home these past few days..."
Xu Zhengyang understood and said calmly, "Can it be covered?"
Ye Wan said somewhat dejectedly, "My dad and the others are trying to figure something out; they'll do their best..."
"If you could keep it a secret, were you planning not to tell me?" Xu Zhengyang's voice turned cold. He knew that the news couldn't be suppressed any longer, which was why he remembered to tell him. Of course, it was also possible that he had been so busy, worried, and nervous these past two days that he forgot to tell him.
As for Chen Chaojiang...
This kid is purely here to apologize.
"Zhengyang, please help him, I beg you," Ye Wan said, her voice choked with emotion.
"Let me think about it." Xu Zhengyang's tone softened; he also wanted to help Chen Chaojiang.
But this is tantamount to slapping oneself in the face! It's a breach of trust, a loss of authority, and a failure to uphold justice!
After hanging up, Xu Zhengyang thought for a long time before walking down the mountain. As he passed by Chen Chaojiang, he didn't even look at Chen Chaojiang, but simply said, "Go and turn yourself in."
Volume Seven: The Emperor, Chapter 377: Impartial and Unyielding
At the time, a report was received that a baby had been snatched. When the victim was brought back to the police station, the police were unaware of Ye Wan's special identity. The baby was subsequently rescued by its father, and shortly after, a report was received of a murder in the street. When the child was returned, several police officers happened to see Chen Chaojiang.
So the news was leaked before the Ye family could even react.
The incident immediately caused a huge uproar online, and news media began to pay attention to the matter. At the same time, Ye Wan's identity was also verified and posted online by some people.
While some passionate netizens applauded Chen Chaojiang's actions, praising him as a true man, ruthless and cool, and deserving of the merciless killing of child abductors, many others expressed astonishment and criticism. They questioned Chen's right to kill a criminal in the street, even as a victim. They argued that while Chen had killed two people to retrieve his child, surveillance footage and witness photos showed the suspect had no chance to fight back, yet he was brutally murdered.
This is intentional homicide!
Okay, that's understandable. After all, as a father, it's possible he lost control in that state of anxiety and anger. So, then you went on to kill five more people...
Indeed, later investigations revealed that those killed were criminals who trafficked and abducted infants, and Chen Chaojiang had also saved three children and obtained detailed clues such as the addresses of other trafficked infants, thus saving many trafficked infants and their families.
But you're a police officer? Even a police officer can't do this.
In broad daylight, in front of a large crowd, he killed seven people in a fit of rage!
Is this even human?
This inevitably raises questions: Who gave him the power? Who gave him such fearless audacity?
The finger was undoubtedly pointed at the Ye family!
These days, we've seen too many cases of injustice where privilege is abused due to status, background, or power. So, once the public and media learned of this incident and its details, they immediately began to sensationalize it. And they've basically already concluded that this incident will inevitably drag on and on until everyone gradually forgets about it…
People scoffed at the police's claim that the suspect had fled and that they were making every effort to apprehend him. They said that most of the suspects were probably just staying at home, that they were privileged families, and that no one would dare to arrest them.
This event, which was almost considered a foregone conclusion by people's usual thinking, took a dramatic turn just three days later.
Chen Chaojiang has turned himself in!
The major murder case in Xihu City has been solved, and the suspect, Chen Chaojiang, has surrendered himself to the police.
This incident, which had been the subject of much discussion in the news media and among netizens, has become somewhat confusing due to this sudden news.
Through comparison of screenshots from video recordings and verification from various sources, it has been determined that this person is definitely not an imposter or substitute.
The netizens and media who initially hyped up the matter and made unwarranted conclusions seem to have been slapped hard in the face... They even felt some regret and felt sorry for Chen Chaojiang. With such a good background and humble living conditions, why would you commit such a serious crime?
Of course, some people will speculate on how the sentence will be handed down.
If nothing unexpected happens, he will most likely be sentenced to death, given the extremely negative impact and the fact that he killed seven people!
Subsequently, with the police's consent, major media outlets conducted follow-up reports and interviews on the case, and the suspect, Chen Chaojiang, was also interviewed by reporters, with the interview transcripts and dialogues being made public.
Chen Chaojiang said, "I committed a crime, but I will not apologize to those who were killed. Admittedly, killing them might seem excessive, and they didn't deserve to die... But at the time, I was thinking about how many families in the world have been harmed, losing their children, or even having their families broken apart. The damage they suffered was enormous, even lifelong and irreparable... From this point of view, they deserved to die!"
"So you mean our criminal law isn't strict enough in sentencing for this?" the reporter asked.
Chen Chaojiang shook his head and said, "No, I was just saying that my thoughts at the time were partly impulsive."
"So how did you identify the criminal?"
Chen Chaojiang thought for a moment and said, "If you don't want people to know, don't do it in the first place. When I rescued the child, I got that woman's phone and contacted her."
...
Logically speaking, someone like Chen Chaojiang wouldn't be able to say so much, nor would he bother to say these things.
Furthermore, Chen Chaojiang's remarks during the interview were completely unsuitable for broadcast and parts of the conversation should have been edited out. However, for some unknown reason, the interview transcript was released to the public by the media without any editing.
The broadcast of this dialogue sparked heated discussions among the public, with some expressing support and others offering criticism.
However, one thing is certain: many people who previously viewed Chen Chaojiang with prejudice because of his wife's family background have naturally removed those prejudices. Regardless of whether one supports his views and ideas, it's clear that he is an upright person.
Because of the significant impact of this case, major television news outlets began to pay more attention to and report on similar cases in society. Many television stations even produced documentaries on the subject, telling the tragic stories of countless trafficked children and the immense pain of families who lost their children.
At the same time, the national public security authorities launched a special crackdown on cases involving the trafficking of children and infants.
The public, bombarded with propaganda videos, documentaries, and related reports, has been led to unconsciously begin to think about these kinds of things, and they often discuss them during their leisure time.
Unbeknownst to many, Chen Chaojiang seemed to have transformed from a brutal murderer into a figure in the public eye who served as a warning to all parties, including the public, criminals, and law enforcement agencies.
People began to feel sympathy and gratitude towards him.
Amidst the clamor of public opinion, time slipped away little by little.
In the blink of an eye, three months have passed.
The Chen Chaojiang case has entered its final trial stage.
The public media, which had seemed to have forgotten about the Chen Chaojiang case, reopened the matter, which was tantamount to injecting a shot in the arm for the public.
Major websites and media outlets have begun conducting offline interviews and holding public polls, hoping the public will express their opinion on Chen Chaojiang's sentence. What do you think he should be sentenced to?
A. Death penalty; B. Suspended death sentence; C. Life imprisonment; D. Ten to twenty years; F. Three to ten years.
This seems a bit like a joke.
But don't major news media websites love to come up with these sensational things?
Moreover... perhaps from the very beginning, someone was secretly guiding public opinion from behind the scenes...
...
Xu Zhengyang sat in front of the computer. Looking at the voting section on "H", he moved the mouse lightly and finally clicked on F.
It's somewhat selfish and unfair.
But he was truly helpless.
From a personal perspective, he hoped that Chen Chaojiang could be released without charge, and even considered using his unique and superior status and authority, as well as his supernatural abilities, to influence anyone's thoughts and win Chen Chaojiang back.
Is it possible to do that?
cannot!
Sitting next to him, Li Bingjie watched calmly, but her heart ached for her husband.
Since Chen Chaojiang surrendered and went to prison, Xu Zhengyang has not interfered in the matter at all. Even when several high-ranking leaders in Beijing called to inquire about it, he only said one thing: "Handle it according to the law."
His resolute attitude chilled the hearts of Ye Wan, who had come to his home with her child to beg for his help, and even Chen Chaojiang's parents.
If Li Bingjie hadn't stopped her, Ye Wan would have knelt down before Xu Zhengyang with her child in her arms!
Xu Zhengyang still refused to budge and was unwilling to use his abilities to help Chen Chaojiang.
It wasn't until Li Bingjie, her parents, her sister, and her son all came to him for help that Xu Zhengyang reluctantly called Ye Wan into his office and spoke with her alone.