My Life with Narration

Chapter 400 - 396: Sudden Death Narration

Su Qing exchanged a glance with Zhang Heng, noticing that Zhang Heng’s expression was calm and composed, as if he had long been prepared.

During his days in the detention center, he lived quite peacefully. Because of the color of his vest, no other inmates bothered him.

The yellow vest, paired with shackles, was a sign recognized by all inmates as the mark of a serious offender, most likely serving life or facing the death penalty. Only a fool would provoke such a person.

Thus, Zhang Heng had been getting by in there quite alright and had made peace with himself.

With Zhang Heng’s arrival, the trial officially began, starting with a statement from a representative of the prosecution.

The prosecution is distinct from the court; they are not one and the same, though many confuse them, assuming the prosecutors are the court.

The prosecution is the national legal supervisory authority, representing the state in exercising prosecutorial power. Simply put, after the police capture a suspect, the prosecution, based on the investigation, represents the state and the public in prosecuting the accused, which the court then tries.

Such processes are generally not understood by the public, including Su Qing, who sat bewildered in the audience.

Next was an inquiry from the presiding judge; the defense and prosecution lawyers presented evidence against each other. Although Zhang Heng was the accused and had already confessed, he also had a defense lawyer arguing for a commuted sentence.

Zhang Heng’s defense lawyer even pointed out his voluntary surrender, linking it to Su Qing, asserting that Zhang Geng’s confession to him, a police officer, qualified as a mitigative factor.

However, the lawyer for Liu Family’s parents argued that it did not count as surrender, reasoning that Su Qing was not an official police officer.

The back-and-forth between the lawyers was exceedingly fierce. Facing the judge’s questioning, Zhang Heng did not deny his actions and offered no defense or justification for himself.

"We will not settle; we do not accept compensation. I want justice for my daughter. A life for a life!" Liu Dashan and his wife shouted in agitation.

[Liu Dashan and his wife did not issue a letter of forgiveness because Zhang Guoxin only had eighty thousand yuan, far below the couple’s expectations]

Hearing this, Su Qing couldn’t help but sigh. Truly, there is only one ailment in this world: poverty.

He didn’t deny that some would never issue a letter of forgiveness, regardless of compensation, refusing to waive the death penalty for money. Yet, others, under economic pressure, might have no choice but to compromise.

If no one were ever short of money, such mediations wouldn’t be necessary.

"Plaintiff, please calm down and control your emotions!" the judge struck the gavel, then spoke:

"After the courtroom debate, both sides have thoroughly expressed their views on the factual evidence, legal application, and sentencing circumstances of the case. The positions are clear and will be fully considered in the deliberation. The courtroom debate ends now, and the defendant will make a final statement. Defendant, please stand."

With Zhang Heng standing, he began to speak.

"I plead guilty to what I have done and extend my apologies to the deceased’s parents because I’ve caused them the grief of losing a daughter. I also express guilt towards my own father. Ashamed, I cannot care for you in your old age.

I hope the judgment will be as deemed fit. Whatever the outcome, I can accept it. Judge, I have finished my statement."

He didn’t deny his crime, nor did he defend himself or plead for mercy; all he expressed was guilt towards a few elders.

It can be said that he hadn’t admitted fault; regarding Liu Xiaojuan’s death, it was intentional, and his conscience wouldn’t allow him to apologize to that person.

Thereupon, the judge nodded from his seat.

"The court is adjourned!"

Thereupon, the judge, jurors, and others temporarily left the courtroom.

Faced with such a major case, their judgment would not be careless. It was not a matter for the judge alone to decide; they needed to deliberate.

Time ticked by. From the start of the trial through the statements, debates, evidence presentation, rebuttals, and final declarations, three and a half hours had elapsed.

The central issue being debated was the death penalty or a commuted sentence; Zhang Heng had admitted guilt, leaving little else to focus on.

The recess served two purposes: they needed to deliberate, and they also needed a break, as the atmosphere was oppressively heavy.

After a solid forty minutes, the judge and others returned, and the gavel struck.

"The court is now in session!"

After another twenty minutes of statements, the judge finally spoke: "The Jiangcheng City Intermediate People’s Court will now announce the sentence for this case. Please all rise!"

With these words, everyone present, including Su Qing in the audience, stood together.

"Defendant Zhang Heng, found guilty of intentional homicide, with a cruel method and severe circumstances, is sentenced to death, with deprivation of political rights for life."

As the judge’s gavel came down, the final decision was made. Though this was only the first verdict, Zhang Heng still had the right to appeal. However, how could someone who sought death choose to appeal? He immediately stated his acceptance, with no plans to appeal.

Upon the ruling, Liu Family’s couple burst into tears, with some relatives beside them providing support, while Zhang Guoxin remained silent, appearing to age ten years in an instant.

A half-hour later, Zhang Heng was taken away, and Su Qing found himself standing before Zhang Guoxin at the courthouse entrance.

"Uncle... are you alright?" Su Qing asked.

The honest and straightforward Zhang Guoxin shook his head, muttering, "How could it be the death penalty? This isn’t right; it shouldn’t be the death penalty. I, as his father, am powerless, don’t have enough money...

Though there was no sound of crying, the father’s eyes reddened, tears streaming uncontrollably, as the light rain fell, making the old father appear even more desolate.

There was nothing to be done; in front of the law, pleading alone was futile.

The two stood in the rain in silence for a while.

After a long time, Su Qing finally spoke, "Uncle, I visited Zhang Heng some time ago; he... he doesn’t want you to run around like this.

Actually, he... has already accepted this result, mainly because he feels sorry towards you. I think..."

In the end, he couldn’t get the words out. He thought he could help, but only realized when face-to-face that asking a father to give up on his son, to watch him be executed, was unbearably cruel.

"I understand, I actually know, but... I just want him to live; if he lives, I’ll have something to strive for. That rascal, he’s not ours, yet, what do I say to his mother?"

"Forget it, officer, please go ahead with your duties, I’ll think of another way!"

With that, Zhang Guoxin nodded slightly and turned to leave, his already hunched back now bending even lower, as if the life had been drained from him.

He didn’t know how many times this father had kneeled before others or how many heads he had bowed. The successive blows from life had finally broken this man who had been strong all his life.

"People are like this. We as outsiders think one should consider the living, as life must go on, but to him, perhaps his son is his only hope!" Li Zijun’s voice came, as he held an umbrella for Su Qing.

"Yes, I oversimplified things back then," Su Qing murmured.

A man who has lost his wife, his son facing the death penalty, and his grandson not his own, at this age, life’s concerns diminish to almost nothing. Living becomes suffering.

So when he tried to speak those words of comfort like advising him to let go and live well, he could not get them out.

The two stood silently in the rain for a while longer. Suddenly, a voice sounded in Su Qing’s mind, conveying a message:

[An elder severely affected by blow after blow is distracted due to emotional turmoil and will die in a car accident in ten minutes; misfortunes fall upon those with hard lives]

Upon hearing this message, Su Qing’s eyes widened, and he dashed out.

"Hey? What’s wrong with you?"

"Where is he, where is he! Find him now!" Su Qing shouted.

The narration granted him ten minutes, indicating that he still had a chance. A family with a son sentenced to death, followed by the father gone—such a world shouldn’t be allowed!

...