Me! A high-ranking official!

At this point, Luo Ming's bloodshot eyes were already brimming with tears. He lowered his voice and looked at Zhao Jianguo with an almost humble expression: "But the lawyer also said that if Wang Xiujuan's mental illness can be cured and she recovers without causing permanent or devastating consequences, the court might be much lighter in sentencing! Secretary, didn't you tell me yesterday that you were going to take Wang Xiujuan to see a doctor? You also said you contacted experts in the province and that there's a high probability she can be cured, right?"

Luo Ming stepped forward, almost grabbing Zhao Jianguo's sleeve: "Secretary, I beg you, can you take her to get that illness treated as soon as possible? If she gets better, Zhiyong's sentence will be reduced by a few years. That kid is disappointing, but he's still a piece of my flesh and blood..."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Jianguo's lips twitched almost imperceptibly, and he felt an extreme sense of embarrassment welling up inside him.

Yesterday, he said he had invited some top expert from the capital to treat Wang Xiujuan and that there was a high probability that she could be cured. This was just a pretext to put pressure on Luo Ming and force him to have his son turn himself in! Where would a newly transferred village cadre like him find some expert from the capital who specializes in treating mental illness?

Unexpectedly, Luo Ming, that old guy, was also driven to the brink of despair and actually believed this story. Not only did he persuade Luo Zhiyong to turn himself in, but now he has turned around and is clinging to this empty promise, putting him on the hot seat of adversity!

He scratched his head in frustration, gave a wry smile, and thought to himself, "Words spoken are like water spilled."

At this point, if I honestly told Luo Ming that I was just bluffing and that there were no experts at all, and Luo Ming got carried away and felt cheated, he might completely break down and make a phone call to persuade Luo Zhiyong to leave, then all the effort I had put in would have been wasted! It might even have pushed Luo Ming to an even more uncontrollable extreme.

After hesitating for a moment, he could only nod with a stiff upper lip, and solemnly reassured the other party: "Director Luo, it's good that you've come to your senses, but as you know, the village is in dire need of rebuilding during this period, and it's the busiest and most money-starved time. Moreover, the mental trauma you've suffered can't be cured just by making an appointment and seeing a doctor for a day or two; it requires a very long treatment process."

Seeing Luo Ming's anxiety, he changed the subject and comforted him, "But you don't need to worry too much. Even if Zhi Yong turns himself in this afternoon, these kinds of criminal cases, from police investigation and prosecutorial review to the final court verdict, don't go through the process in a short time. It usually takes at least half a year. Don't worry, during this time, I will do my best to help Wang Xiujuan contact doctors for treatment whenever I have the chance!"

Receiving this promise, Luo Ming felt a sense of relief. He nodded, wiped away his tears with the back of his hand, sighed deeply, and said in a low voice, "Secretary Zhao, actually, after what you said to me last night, I didn't sleep a wink. I thought about it a lot, and you're absolutely right. Luo Shuishan is no good person at all! I have his leverage over me, and by helping him do those dirty things, sooner or later he'll swallow me whole, even the bones!"

Luo Ming's eyes gradually cleared: "Zhiyong is still young. He made a mistake, so he should serve his sentence for a few years. It's better than him living like a wanted criminal, constantly hiding and living in fear. If he keeps dragging it out, what if he commits something even bigger and gets caught? That would be the end of him. I'm an old man, and I can still move around for a few more years. Whether it's farming or something else, I have to take advantage of my strength before it all falls apart and build up some wealth for him. When he gets out of prison, he'll have a proper job and won't be left without a place to stand in this world..."

Listening to Luo Ming's heartfelt words, and feeling the pitiful yet simple paternal love that an old father was displaying in this desperate situation, he sighed heavily in his heart. He stepped forward, gently patted Luo Ming's slightly hunched shoulders from years of hard work, and said in a deep voice, "Director Luo, putting aside the matter of Zhiyong, just considering your protective heart and the practical things you've done in the village before, you're a good person at heart. It's just that because of your eagerness to protect your son, coupled with being coerced by Luo Shuishan, you did do some foolish things! But I believe that once you let go of this biggest burden and straighten your mind, you will be a good village director!"

Luo Ming was stunned, as if he couldn't believe his ears, and looked up at him in surprise.

Looking at Luo Ming's somewhat dejected appearance, Zhao Jianguo said sincerely, "Director Luo, let's keep things separate. Zhi Yong made a mistake, and the law will naturally deal with it. But you've spent most of your life in Luo Family Village. Even if you haven't made any great contributions, you've certainly worked hard. You've done a lot of practical things for the village in the past, and the villagers know that."

Hearing Zhao Jianguo's affirmation of his past, Luo Ming's gloomy eyes flickered slightly. These past few days, he had lived with self-blame and the cold stares of the villagers. He never expected that in his most desperate moment, it would be this very village secretary who had personally brought him down who was willing to speak a word of justice for him. He felt a faint sense of gratitude; his Adam's apple bobbed, and though he wanted to say something, he remained silent, shaking his head, turning around, and dragging his heavy steps away in farewell.

Watching Luo Ming walk away, he looked away but did not go straight back to the village committee compound.

He walked to a relatively quiet shady spot under a tree, took out his phone, found Luo Haitao's number, and dialed it.

The phone rang twice before being answered. Luo Haitao's rough voice, accompanied by the roar of machinery, came from the other end: "Hey? Secretary Zhao! You wanted to see me?"

"Haitao, is it convenient to talk now?" Zhao Jianguo asked loudly.

"Sure, sure! I'm at the construction site outside, Secretary, please wait a moment, I'll find a quieter place." A few seconds later, the background noise on the other end subsided considerably, and Luo Haitao eagerly asked, "Secretary Zhao, is something wrong at home?"

He smiled and said in a relaxed tone, "Everything's fine here at home, don't worry. I called to tell you some good news. I just talked to Luo Ming, and I've got Luo Zhiyong on board. He'll be going to the town's police station this afternoon to turn himself in!"

"What?!" On the other end of the phone, Luo Haitao gasped, then burst into barely suppressed elation and excitement, his voice choked with emotion: "He...he turned himself in? That beast finally got his comeuppance! That's wonderful! Secretary Zhao, thank you so much! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't know where to vent this anger, and I don't know when my wife's illness would end! You are our family's greatest benefactor!"