Summer in Qingwan is hot and humid, and there is always a lot of rain. I shake the water off the umbrella and put it away, there is a place for umbrellas outside the courthouse so they don't stain the marble floor in bad weather.
When I entered the court, Shen Xiaoshi had already arrived, and there were many people sitting in the victim's family seat on the other side, some old and some young, with unfriendly expressions.
"Lawyer Sheng said that my younger brother will testify in court as a witness for the prosecution." As soon as I sat down, I heard Shen Xiaoshi say.
I remember his younger brother, who was a minor, went to a boarding school, and was... not at home when the crime happened.
"He should be very sad when this happened."
Shen Xiaoshi stared at the empty witness stand, pursed his lips and nodded.
"I haven't seen him alone. After the accident, his grandparents picked him up from school. I wanted to see him several times, but was rejected by his relatives at his father's side." Shen Xiaoshi moved his eyes to the other side and sat down. Sweeping over the middle-aged men in the first row, he said viciously, "They want me to pay one million in compensation to compensate their family for the loss, otherwise they won't issue a letter of understanding, so that my mother can't get out until she dies." .” As he spoke, his hands on his knees suddenly clenched into fists.
I could see he was in a bad mood and worried.
The letter of understanding is equivalent to a compensation agreement. With this thing, the judge will be relatively lenient in sentencing.
I had this too back then. My mother didn't know how much money she gave to obtain a letter of understanding from Qi Yang's parents, which allowed me, who should have been sentenced to more than ten years in prison, to end up in prison for only ten years.
The court did not interpret this item in detail, but submitted it to the judge as a piece of material. Afterwards, I tried to ask how much money my mother gave to the Qi family. She refused to say anything at first, but she just told me not to worry about the money. Later, when I was pushed into a hurry, she said it was 500,000 yuan.
500,000, it is difficult for an ordinary family to come up with so much at once, let alone my family's family situation. I asked her where she got the money, and she flickered, saying that she already had some savings, and after selling the house, she finally got together the half a million yuan.
When I heard her say that she sold the house, I really felt bad. Although the house is dilapidated, it also has the memories of our family for so many years. Every corner and every mottled place bears the bitterness, pain, sweetness and happiness of the four of us.
Regardless of the family, as long as the house is there, it is as if the home is still there.
But now the house is gone, the owner of the house has passed away, the eldest son has grown up and left home, and the younger son is in jail... I suddenly feel that this family is really about to break up.
My mother saw that I was sad, and comforted me by saying that the house had poor lighting and it was too big for her to live alone. She had long wanted to change to a house with a lower floor and a smaller area.
In fact, I know this is not all. After my accident, there must be a lot of gossip among the neighbors. She has always wanted to save face, how can she bear other people's gossip? Moving out of the old house is probably also to avoid those pointing fingers.
"You don't have to worry about the money," she held the phone and pressed her palm on the transparent baffle in front of her, her eyes were slightly red, "This is... what I owe you, it's not too much."
The subject of this sentence was submerged between her lips and teeth, a little vague. It is said that children are the debts of parents, and I subconsciously thought that was what she meant, and I felt even more uncomfortable.
"No, you don't owe me anything, I owe you too much." I held the microphone tightly, my heart full of frustration.
Since I was born, I have kept asking for it, and I have never been filial. I owe them too much, everything is my fault.
I have not only failed their expectations, but also failed to fulfill their wishes. I will never give up what they most want me to give up in this life.
I have too little fate with them in this life, and I have to repay all grievances and grievances in the next life.
After a not-so-long wait, the trial began. The prosecutor in charge of this case was a middle-aged man who made an opening statement in a well-regulated manner.
"The defendant in this case, Ms. Yao Jing, brutally killed her husband Tang Zhipeng for 16 years with an ax hidden in her home on the evening of June 17. Afterwards, she voluntarily surrendered and explained the crime process, saying that it was all caused by trivial family matters. , made a big mistake on the spur of the moment. The facts of the crime are clear and clear, and the testimony is complete. Ms. Yao Jing killed someone, and she should pay the price for her actions. Guilty indeed."
Shen Xiaoshi's mother was sitting in the dock, wearing an orange vest that represented the state of custody, her hair was disheveled, her expression was sluggish, and she looked very insensitive to all external stimuli.
"Ms. Yao Jing did not intentionally kill, she was just a reasonable self-defense. This is a tragedy, an accident that no one wants to happen, but the main responsibility is not my client. Ms. Yao Jing has been tortured by Tang Zhipeng for a long time, and her family The violent history has lasted for sixteen years, and there is no love for each other, only love for each other. This marriage is soaked in the blood of Ms. Yao Jing." Sheng Minou stood up, his tone and rhythm were just right, as if he was preparing for a battle The long-awaited speech, "For sixteen years, she endured Tang Zhipeng's punches and kicks again and again, without any resistance, until this time..."
"That's her home. What's so strange about an ax at home? The prosecutor may not do much housework at home, so he didn't know that an ax is also one of the necessary tools for handling ingredients. Ms. Yao Jing is responsible for the daily meals of the family. How can there be an ax in the kitchen called 'hidden'?"
The prosecutor had a stern face, pushed his glasses, and his face was a little bad.
"My client, Ms. Yao Jing, and I do not accept the accusation of intentional homicide. I hope that the jury will take into account a series of factors such as Tang Zhipeng's long-term domestic violence and being in a state of drunkenness at the time of the crime. This is instinctive. In self-defense, he caused serious physical and psychological harm to her, and if she did not fight back, she would lose her life. I believe that any normal person would do anything to protect himself."
"You fart!"
Before Sheng Minou finished speaking, a loud curse suddenly came from the auditorium.
"It's Tang Zhipeng's younger brother." Shen Xiaoshi whispered in my ear.
Tang Zhipeng's family members were very angry when they heard Sheng Minou's words. They rioted in the auditorium, completely disregarding the order of the court, and some even stood up and threw objects into the court.
Sheng Minou was hit in the chest by a ball of paper, looked down, and flicked the neckline of the suit that was not wrong, as if he was about to flick off something dirty.
The judge knocked the gavel several times but couldn't calm down the Tang family, so they had to dispatch the bailiffs to arrest the most annoyed ones.
Seeing that the situation was not good for them, the rest of them didn't dare to make trouble again, so they sat down obediently and begged the judge not to drive them out.
Everyone in the jury frowned watching the farce, and their perception of the Tang family fell to the bottom.
With a sullen face, the judge did not let the bailiff chase him away, and announced that the trial would continue.
In the subsequent trial, the prosecutor showed the jury many photos and evidence of the crime scene, including the murder weapon and the forensic autopsy report.
It is not difficult to hear that he hopes to create an image of a wife in front of the jury who, in order to get rid of her husband, deliberately prepares a murder weapon, waits for an opportunity to get drunk, and then commits murder.
The atmosphere of the trial became more and more tense. The prosecution prosecutor and Sheng Minou fought back and forth, turning words into sharp knives, and fought fiercely in front of the jury and the judge.
When Yao Jing and Tang Zhipeng's son Tang Zhuo testified in court, all the muscles in Shen Xiaoshi's body tensed up instantly, and his eyes were fixed on the little fat man who shyly walked up to the witness stand.
Yao Jing, who had always been rather numb, raised her head for the first time.
Prosecutor: "Can you tell everyone how the relationship between your parents has been in the past two years?"
The little fat man glanced at his mother, and then at the Tang family in the auditorium.
"I went to boarding school, and I don't know it normally, but I'm fine when I'm home."
"Did you see your father beating your mother?"
"No."
"Has Mom talked to you about this?"
The little fat man paused, and finally shook his head.
Yao Jing closed her eyes, two lines of tears rolled down her face. She buried her face in her palms, her thin shoulders shrugged, and her fingers were as thin as sticks, as if they would snap off.
The prosecutor said: "Your Excellency, I have nothing to ask."
Sheng Minou stood up, I was a little nervous, his way of questioning was too cruel, I don't know how the Tang family will react.
"Last year your birthday happened to be Saturday. I checked your circle of friends, and you were at home that day."
The little fat man moved his eyes a little uneasily.
"Did anything happen that day?"
The little fat man frowned slightly: "I don't remember what happened last year."
Sheng Minou sneered: "Your mother went to the emergency room at ten o'clock in the evening and got five stitches on her head. You are at home but don't know what happened?"
The little fat man bit his lip and shook his head: "I don't remember."
"On your sixteenth birthday, the family even took a group photo during dinner. Do you really not remember such an important day?"
"I said I don't remember!"
Sheng Minou stayed blank for a few seconds and said nothing at all, and then signaled to the judge that there was nothing more to cross-examine.
After the trial, Wu Yi came to stop Shen Xiaoshi, saying that the prosecutor wanted to interview the defendant's lawyer and family members.
"It may be to discuss the prosecution and defense deal." Seeing Shen Xiaoshi's hesitation, he added, "Of course, this is not a must."
The Tang family also left the court at this time, staring at Shen Xiaoshi one by one as they passed by us, their eyes were full of unkindness.
"Tang Zhuo..." Seeing the little fat man surrounded by the Tang family, Shen Xiaoshi strode forward, and was immediately blocked by Tang Zhipeng's younger brother.
"What are you doing?" The other party pointed at Shen Xiaoshi, "You son of a murderer, stay away from my nephew! Our Tang family has nothing to do with you."
Shen Xiaoshi's eyes suddenly turned fierce: "You try again by pointing at me?"
The other party was taken aback, as if instantly overwhelmed by his aura.
I quickly inserted between the two of them, pressed the finger that poked in front of my eyes, and said calmly: "This is the court, please speak softly." I turned my head to Shen Xiaoshi and said, "You too."
Shen Xiaoshi turned his face away, his expression was unclear.
"If the upper beam is not upright, the lower beam is crooked. Sure enough, there is a son like a mother." The other party snorted coldly, and the whole family left in a mighty manner.
The little fat man looked back at Shen Xiaoshi in the crowd, his eyes were rather nostalgic, but he followed his grandparents after all.
Wu Yi was a little amazed: "This family is really..."
Their firm took on big cases, and their clients were all decent people. Naturally, they had never seen such qualities.
"Brother Feng, go first, don't wait for me." The cruelty faded, and Shen Xiaoshi looked extremely lonely.
I patted his arm, not knowing what to say.
"Okay, then I'll go first."
After Shen Xiaoshi left with Wu Yi, I went to the umbrella storage place to get an umbrella and prepared to go home. As a result, just after taking the umbrella, he turned around and met Meng Xuanjun.
This is the first time we have met since the trial of the Luo Zhengyun case was terminated.
She was also a little surprised: "Lu Feng? Why are you here?"
"My friend has a case. I'll sit in with him."
I didn't say much, and she didn't ask much. Chatting a few words and exchanging pleasantries can be regarded as completing the necessary steps for adults to socialize.
"By the way, do you have Lao Huang's contact information? Last time I thanked him for testifying in court for me. I always wanted to thank him in person."
Meng Xuanjun quickly realized who "Lao Huang" was referring to, and hurriedly took out his mobile phone and flipped through the phone book.
"Here, I keep his mobile phone number."
She gave me Lao Huang's phone number, and then waved me goodbye.
Holding an umbrella, I walked slowly outside the courthouse, which seemed abrupt, so I first sent a message to Lao Huang to identify myself.
As a result, within a minute, the other party called.
"I just want you to call me sometime." An angry voice came from the other end of the phone.
Hearing the familiar tone and voice, I couldn't help but laugh too.
"You've been waiting for me to treat you to dinner?"
Old Huang laughed out loud when he heard this.
Today he happened to be on vacation, and he lived not far from the courthouse where I was at the time, so I decided to choose a day rather than hit the day, and ask him out for a drink in the evening.
Lao Huang arrived at the barbecue restaurant I had an appointment with before me. As soon as he saw me, he asked me when I learned to drink.
I rubbed my nose, and as a habit, when I saw him, I wanted to stand at attention and call "Sir".
"It's not considered good at all, but I can only take two mics at most."
Lao Huang poured me tea, with a smile on his face, but he said sternly: "It won't be good, drinking will hurt your health."
We talked about some inside things, and some outside things.
Knowing that I was working with Wei Shi, Lao Huang slapped his thigh and said that he had seen that Wei Shi was capable and loyal, and asked me to continue to follow him well.
"If you have skills, you don't have to worry about having nothing to eat." Lao Huang took a sip of tea and said.
Chatting and chatting, talking about Luo Zhengyun's case last time, Lao Huang couldn't stop shaking his head. Although the villain got the punishment he deserved, the ending was a bit too tragic, which made people sigh.
"Coincidentally, I saw a person in the auditorium..."
I laughed and said, "It's strange to see people, there are all people there."
Lao Huang gave me a blank look: "I used to see this man outside the gate of our No. 1 Prison. Year after year, he never went in. He just smoked outside, and sometimes he could stand there all day."
"It's so strange?" I frowned, and I couldn't figure it out, "Male or female?"
"Man, he looks like a star, otherwise I wouldn't be able to remember him for so many years. After all, I don't think I've seen him this year."
The teacup was handed to his lips, and the man, who looked like a star, appeared in the auditorium of Luo Zhengyun's case. He came to the No. 1 Prison every year but didn't go in...
My fingers tightened, because of the vague possibility in my mind, I became nervous for no reason, and my heart beat a little faster.
When I put down the teacup, I almost spilled it. I frantically shook the water in my hand, turned on my mobile phone, found a profile photo of Sheng Mingou I secretly took, and handed it to Lao Huang.
"Is it... him?" I asked cautiously.
Lao Huang took it and squinted his eyes: "Yes, yes, it is him." He raised his head in doubt, "Why do you have his photo?"
It was really him.
For a moment, I felt as if I was struck by lightning all over my body, which cannot be described as simply shocking and unexpected.
Goosebumps ran up the back of my neck, and I even doubted the world.
Am I dreaming
Then this dream is really real, and it is too real.
"He's my brother." My voice was light and weak, because I had already lost my mind.