Chapter 224 - 132: Judging! Public Execution

After a long while...

"HUFF... HUFF...!"

In a daze, on the judges’ platform, the official host began testing the microphone, the sound of his breath filling their ears.

Before long, as if in a trance, the entire conference room suddenly fell silent. Everyone looked up at the judges’ platform, their eyes fixed on the host.

He held the microphone, and as his mouth opened to speak, a weight seemed to settle on everyone’s shoulders.

"Respected leaders, esteemed judges, comrades:"

"Good morning, everyone!"

"To deeply advance the rule of law, to summarize and refine the outstanding practical achievements in law enforcement and justice, and to fully leverage the exemplary guidance of landmark cases..."

"And now, I declare that the review process for this year’s Qingwu Province Classic Political and Legal Cases Selection..."

The host paused, then declared:

"Officially begins!"

’It’s starting?’

Everyone in the room was tense, their breathing ragged. They all prayed they wouldn’t be the first to be called.

Lusen City’s luck held out; they weren’t first.

"Next, let’s welcome the review for case number one. This is an administrative case concerning the forced demolition by the Xiluo Street Office in Hedong City... The case has garnered significant public attention..." the host announced.

After the introduction, a case officer of deputy-director rank took a deep breath, braced himself, and walked onto the stage.

The moment he stepped on stage, countless pairs of eyes instantly fell upon him. A few department-level officials in the front row sized him up.

At the back of the conference room,

Huang Shi whispered,

"This is an administrative compensation case. The litigant’s house was illegally demolished without a written notice, without a compulsory order, and without notarization..."

"The result was that the demolition was ruled illegal and administrative compensation was awarded. It’s considered a complete success."

Hearing this, Xu De and Lin Yue nodded with understanding.

A gratifying case like this should theoretically be fine. Administrative cases aren’t as severe as criminal ones, so in theory, it was worthy of being selected.

However...

On the judges’ platform,

"Respected leaders, esteemed judges, comrades, good day. Today, on behalf of the case-handling team..."

The deputy director spoke mechanically, almost as if reading from a script, fighting against the immense pressure.

"Regarding Hedong City’s review of this case, our side will deliver a comprehensive report covering the case’s origin, the points of contention, the trial process, the verdict, the case’s outcome, and the implementation of subsequent reforms."

"I invite all leaders and judges to offer their criticism and corrections."

"First, the origin of the case..."

To his credit, very few people who reach a director-level position on merit are incompetent.

Despite the immense pressure in the room and the extreme psychological stress he was under, the man on stage still managed to report the case details completely and clearly.

The crowd nodded along as they listened.

Xu De and Lin Yue were also making their own mental assessments, clearly feeling that this case was handled quite well.

Until... the moment he finished and the Q&A session began.

Suddenly, a middle-aged man in the first row spoke up. His brows were slightly furrowed, his gaze intimidating as he stared at the man on stage and began to question him:

"First, the verdict was beautifully rendered. On the surface, it’s a perfect score."

As the words fell, the man on stage breathed a sigh of relief, but the speaker’s next words nearly suffocated him.

"But..."

"But I have to ask, this isn’t an isolated case. It’s a systemic illness at the grassroots level throughout Qingwu Province!"

"Today we are judging ’classic’ cases, not isolated examples of excellence! A classic case must be replicable, it must stop the bleeding, and it must cure the root cause!"

Lu Guohua, the Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Political and Legal Affairs Commission, wore a solemn expression, his face etched with displeasure.

He spoke, fixing his stare on the man on stage, firing off one incredibly sharp question after another.

"For similar forced demolitions under the ’Three Reforms, One Demolition’ policy, what is the exact rate of procedural illegality?"

"In this case, the compensation was 1.28 million. The money came from public funds. Who ultimately paid the price? Was responsibility traced back to the specific individuals who handled it!?"

"Did the group take the fall collectively, or were individuals held accountable?"

"After the case at the beginning of the year, you held training sessions. But by the end of the year..."

"The same kinds of problems are still occurring!"

"Can you give me a straight answer!?"

In an instant, everyone in the conference room felt their pupils constrict. Hearts hammered in their chests, their nerves stretched to the breaking point.

Palms grew sweaty. They felt like death row inmates awaiting execution.

"This... This..."

In the back of the room, Lin Yue’s eye wouldn’t stop twitching. She drew in a sharp, cold breath.

’The angle and severity of these questions... they’re practically nuclear. Every single one is viciously sharp, and he just drops them one after another like a string of bombs!?’

’And this is just the Political and Legal Affairs Commission... There’s a whole line of others waiting their turn...’

As expected, the deputy director on stage was drenched in sweat the moment he heard the questions, his back soaked and his breathing rapid.

’It’s over.’

The color drained from Zhang Bingxin’s face, and he felt a sense of despair.

Even Xu De’s mouth twitched as he watched.

’But at least you can see... those guys down there really dare to ask the tough questions. They don’t care about the fluff; they aim for where it hurts most!’

Immediately after came questions from the High Court, followed by the Provincial High Procuratorate, the Public Security Department...

After three rounds of this,

"I... I..."

the deputy director on stage was pale. He stammered for a long time, racking his brains but unable to—and daring not to—give an answer.

Seeing this, Lu Guohua sighed and waved his hand impatiently.

"Step down."

Hearing this, the deputy director looked as if a great weight had been lifted. He mumbled a few words and then practically fled the stage.

The host took the stage again.

Seeing him pick up the microphone, everyone tensed up.

The host announced,

"Next, let’s welcome the review for case number two. This is a criminal case..."

’A criminal case?’

More than fifty teams in the room breathed a sigh of relief, but the remaining ten tensed up.

Until... the host continued:

"This is a criminal case that took place at a school. Lax school management, rule-breaking by faculty, and unresolved conflicts between students ultimately led to the victim falling to his death."

"It also indirectly caused his mother to have a fatal heart attack, resulting in two deaths. The case..."

In that instant, everyone else breathed a sigh of relief.

The color drained from Zhang Bingxin’s face. His adrenaline spiked, his heart rate instantly shot past 180, and it just kept hammering away.

The host continued,

"Let’s welcome the case-handling team from Lusen City to the stage."

As his words fell, countless gazes shot toward Xu De and the others at the very back. The pressure... no, it was a mountain.

A mountain pressing down on the shoulders of Xu De and Zhang Bingxin, making it hard to breathe.

’This isn’t a review... this is a public execution!’

On stage, the host urged,

"Will the case-handling team please come to the stage promptly for the review!"