Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 635 Little Hui Returns Home and Yang Xuemei Announces the Verdict

After chatting with Yang Xuemei for a while and watching her eat half a bucket of hot meat porridge, Xiao Wei, with Qin's tacit approval, let Xiao Hong accompany Yang Xuemei out of the detention room for a short stroll near the entrance. Leaving the thermos for Yang Xuemei, Xiao Wei went to check on Qin Aihua. He didn't go inside, but just spoke a few words through the door, telling Qin Aihua that he had arrived and would bring food to Yang Xuemei every day, assuring her not to worry.

A week passed in the blink of an eye.

The foundation work at Wanliu is finished, and they'll start drilling holes and pouring foundation piles soon. The demolition at Xingcheng is also complete; they're just waiting for Xiaowei to bring the blueprints. But Xiaowei can't leave; he has to wait for Qin Aihua and Yang Xuemei's verdict. Some things, once picked up, are hard to put down.

Everything else was proceeding smoothly and methodically, so Xiao Wei didn't need to worry about it. He would just occasionally drive over to check on the progress and find fault. Comrade Chen Hui was completely unreliable. Now, he would get angry with anyone who tried to make him leave the hospital. The baby had grown up and his features were showing. Even when Chen Xiao wanted to hold the baby for a while when she wasn't breastfeeding, she had to discuss it with Chen Hui.

Several cars drove out of the Central Hospital and parked downstairs at the guesthouse. Chen Xiao, who was wrapped up tightly, was helped upstairs by Xiao Hong and Geng Hui. Chen Hui's mother followed behind with the child in her arms, followed by Chen Hui, who looked resentful. There was nothing he could do; he couldn't compete with his mother.

Old Chen seemed to have suddenly become much younger, always smiling at everyone, his mood incredibly cheerful. Everyone carried their things upstairs to Chen Hui's room. After discussing it, they decided that Chen Xiao would stay here for her postpartum confinement, as it was more convenient than home. Her home was on the fifth floor, the kind without an elevator. Besides, there were more people here, making it lively and providing more support.

Once inside, they helped Chen Xiao remove the packaging and lie down, then arranged the items neatly in their places before everyone sat down to talk.

Old Chen asked Xiao Wei, "How's the progress in all aspects lately? Xiao Hui has abandoned his post and it's all up to you."

Xiao Wei said, "It won't cause any trouble. I'm just going to take a look. The construction team is doing all the work; they're all our own people."

Old Chen nodded and said, "Now that Xiao Xiao is home, Xiao Hui doesn't have to be tied up anymore. You still have to go to Longcheng and Xingcheng. No matter how much you're confident, it's not good to be idle for too long. You have to show up from time to time, point out any faults, or give encouragement so that your subordinates will always place you in an important position."

Xiao Wei nodded and said, "Yeah, I'll go after Sister Xiao Mei gets her verdict. I've been calling her these past few days when I have nothing to do. I'm also constantly going back and forth to Hong Liang's place. Don't worry, it'll be fine."

Chen Hui laughed and said, "I always smell a bit of poop on Hong Liang now. Do you guys feel that way? This kid was afraid I would change my mind. I heard he drove off without even eating in that car. I still had some tea leaves and stuff in my car. I called him and he insisted he didn't know anything about it and didn't see it."

Xiao Wei said, "It does smell like a pig farm. It should be fine once the feed mill is built. The progress there is going well. The main structure of the factory building is already up. The equipment was arranged by Han San and should arrive in the next few days. Now it's just a matter of sales channels. I'll talk to him about it in a few days."

Aunt Wang laughed and said, "Don't talk about others like that. In a few days, when you guys go out, people will smell like you're all nursing babies."

Several people sniffed themselves, but Chen Xiao's mother said, "I don't have any right now. I just got back. I'll have some in a few days. There's no point in sniffing; I can't smell it myself."

Xiao Hong said, "Who cares? Let it taste whatever it wants. It's not an unpleasant smell. Others want it but don't have it. Let them be envious." Just then, Xiao Hui, who was nursing in Chen Xiao's arms, was affected by something and let out a cry. Everyone was stunned for a moment, then they all laughed.

Looking at Xiao Xiao Hui in Chen Xiao's arms, Chen Hui said, "These past few days I've come to understand how my parents felt back then. They were so happy. Now I just hope that when this child grows up, he won't look too much like me, but more like Xiao Xiao, more like my mom, and more like my dad, and that he'll be more successful than me in the future."

Chen Xiao's mother said, "One generation bears, the next generation dragons. You know what, this child will definitely take after his grandfather in the future."

Aunt Wang said, "Stop talking about Xiaohui all the time. People can succeed if they put in the right effort and find the right path. Besides, Xiaohui is not bad either. Why do you keep putting him down?"

Chen Hui hugged Aunt Wang's arm and said, "Auntie, you're the best. Do you need a son? We have plenty now."

Xiao Hong checked the time and said, "It's almost time, Xiao Wei."

Xiao Wei glanced at his watch and said, "Okay, let's go over and listen. Hopefully, it will have a good result."

Xia Maosheng stood up and said, "Go ahead, consider it a farewell to this guy."

Xiao Wei, Xiao Hong, Chen Hui, and Xia Maosheng went downstairs together, and the three Ferraris roared towards the High Court.

Xiao Wei originally wanted to see Qin Aihua before the trial to ask if he had anything else to do, but Qin Aihua and Yang Xuemei were already in custody by the prosecutors, and seeing them would involve too much trouble, so he gave up.

Qin Aihua appeared somewhat subdued in court, speaking little throughout. He repeatedly requested that the court not notify his family and emphasized that Yang Xuemei was innocent, and that the blame lay entirely with him. As he was being led away from the courtroom after the verdict was announced, he bowed deeply three times to the audience and said to Yang Xuemei, "A life for a life. Live well for me."

Qin Aihua was sentenced to death, to be carried out immediately. Yang Xuemei was sentenced to one and a half years. Liu Ting sat next to Xiao Wei and said in a low voice, "There's nothing we can do about this. It's too heinous. I was hoping to see if we could get a suspended death sentence, but it's not possible."

Things are alright with Xiao Yang; this is the best outcome we could get. I'll also give the prison a heads-up. His incarceration location is in the city; just visit him regularly. It'll only be a short time, the whole year will pass quickly.

Xiao Wei said, "This whole thing is really complicated. Being a police officer is tough. I used to see news reports about police officers taking care of prisoners' families and helping their children, but I didn't understand it then. Now that I'm in this situation myself, I finally understand what it's like. On one side is the law, and on the other is human compassion."

The trial ended, and everyone walked out. Yang Xuemei would be sent directly to the women's prison to serve her sentence, while Qin Aihua would be taken to the execution ground at a later date. Life is a constant series of choices, and often we don't know whether our choices are right or wrong, or where they will lead. But we must always be responsible for our choices and pay the corresponding price. No one can escape this outcome.

Stepping outside, looking up at the blue sky and white clouds, feeling the warmth of the sun and the comfort of the wind, Xiaowei felt he had gained a deeper understanding of life.

Standing with his hands behind his back next to Xiao Wei, Liu Ting chuckled as he looked at the three Ferraris with military license plates lined up in a row. "New cars? Young people have it so good, living so freely. Xiao Yang is in the Ninth Prison District. The warden's surname is Wu. I have her contact number. You can call her, so she won't suffer in there. Once you've been in there, you're bound to suffer a bit."

Xiao Wei took the slip of paper with the phone number written on it and said, "Uncle Liu, wouldn't it be more effective for you to call him than for me to contact him?"

Director Liu said, "I'll naturally make the arrangements, but since 83, prisons have been subject to judicial regulations, so we don't have much influence and can't interfere. You should go and get to know them and make some connections; it'll be a good way to make friends. I also feel sorry for Xiao Yang; what a fate for this couple. If that kid had joined the criminal investigation team, he would definitely have been a great asset. It's such a pity."

(End of this chapter)