Chapter 482: Chapter 354: Court in Session!
Speak the truth.
Yang Ruoxi always felt Xu Liang might have a flexible moral baseline, often bouncing between human and humanoid.
But....
She really didn’t expect Xu Liang’s moral baseline to be so low!
What do you mean by saying honest people deserve to be bullied by him?
What have honest people ever done to you!
Yang Ruoxi looked at Xu Liang in front of her, wanting to speak but hesitating, her cherry-red lips opened and closed, yet she couldn’t utter a single word.
"Why are you staring at me? Go do your job!"
Xu Liang said very discontentedly.
Upon hearing these words, Xiaoyang took a deep breath and said anxiously:
"Damn it, if you keep doing this... What if Prosecutor Huang gets upset..."
"He’s an honest person. Honest people don’t get angry, they sulk." Xu Liang reassured gently.
Then he ruffled Xiaoyang’s hair, as if comforting a child, and said softly:
"Relax, if the sky falls, tall ones hold it up. Are you afraid I’ll sell you?"
"It’s impossible, just go ahead and take action."
After saying that.
Yang Ruoxi hesitated, wanting to speak but hesitating again, finally took a deep breath, turned around, and walked out.
She was ready to get things done.
Though it’s hard to imagine such beastly words coming from Xu Liang’s mouth, but... but being a subordinate of the law firm, she always had to follow her boss’s orders; it certainly doesn’t mean her own moral standards have declined!
As for Lv Xiong...
Xu Liang paused, turned his head to look at Lv Xiong lying on the hospital bed next to him, thought for a moment, and said:
"As for Mr. Lv..."
"During this time, I kindly ask you to learn more about the matters regarding Sanma Village... or the wilderness case!"
...
August 26th.
Fourteen days left until the trial begins, as time gradually passed.
In Lanshan Province, civilian discussions around this case began to rise.
Whether in the vegetable market or various places, acquaintances would bring up this case when meeting each other.
"Hey, don’t go to Yang City and Hanhai City these days, I’m telling you, those places are restless..."
"What’s going on?"
"There’s apparently still bandits there. I heard from others that a child went up the mountain to play in August, and soon enough, a gun was aimed at his head and shot him dead!"
"A gun? There are still guns now!?"
"Don’t listen to his nonsense. I’ve heard the case details; the one with the gun was a hunter...."
"Ugh, so pitiful, that child was just thirteen, had no father since birth, and got bullied all the time. Finally went out to play once, and was so mindlessly shot dead by someone...."
"..."
In the vegetable market, some people lamented, some were indignant, even in the noisy environment, their voices were crystal clear.
Similar situations were everywhere.
Families subscribing to newspapers, teachers teaching at schools, chat during factory downtime....
The case’s public opinion was gradually rising!
....
August 29th.
Eleven days left until the trial begins.
Lv Xiong was still in the hospital, but he requested the police to take him back to the detention center, his reason being the hospital was also discussing the shooting case everywhere.
Every time he heard about the bullet hitting the victim’s heart, Lv Xiong would toss and turn, unable to sleep through the night.
He was left with no choice but to propose going back to the detention center.
The police rejected his request.
....
September 1st.
Nine days left until the trial.
Director Yang came again, but this time he didn’t come empty-handed like before; he brought some notebooks.
Under Director Yang’s arrangement, Lv Xiong began undergoing psychological evaluations.
The results were....
Diagnosed with: depression, generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder.....
The results weren’t much different from Xu Liang’s expectations.
Post-traumatic stress disorder was naturally present.
This could be considered good news.
And the bad news....
...
September 3rd.
Seven days left until the trial, and the bad news came.
"Public opinion is currently overwhelmingly criticizing you, saying you kill for money, disregarding even a thirteen-year-old child’s life for profits.... "
In the hospital, Yang Ruoxi pulled out a newspaper, glanced at the content, then turned to Xu Liang and spoke truthfully.
Upon hearing this, Su Yu, nearby, furrowed her brows, quickly took the newspaper, scanned it, and her eyes widened.
"Isn’t this all nonsense!?"
On the newspaper, there was relentless criticism against the defendant’s defense lawyer, with various sharp words leading the public opinion like sharp knives.
But amidst the misfortune, the newspaper didn’t reveal Xu Liang’s specific identity information.
"Tsk, it’s meaningless."
Xu Liang only glanced at it and instantly felt it was uninteresting.
You can always trust the power of the masses, but you can’t trust their wisdom and vision.
Especially public opinion!
He even dared to bet that at least seventy percent of those cursing the defense lawyer didn’t know a trial must have a defense lawyer, let alone the existence of legal aid.
Just....
"Did the public opinion rise overnight?"
Xu Liang suddenly frowned and asked.
Yang Ruoxi paused, then nodded, "Just about, there were some signs before, but not as intense as now."
Xu Liang’s suspicion grew deeper.
Generally, public opinion has a rising process. If there wasn’t any initial criticism, as long as the case hadn’t started, it shouldn’t have involved him.
Even if there were, it would be like what Yang Ruoxi said, just some signs.
Unless it was.... deliberate?
"That can’t be right; the press has no reason to target me."
"Did Lv Xiong offend someone? That’s even less logical; those who can manipulate public opinion are at least wealthy, and Lv Xiong, living in Sanma Village all his life, could hardly offend such people."
"Work of the veterinarian and village chief? Also unlikely; the village chief surely has no money, the veterinarian... that’s unclear."
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