Zhou Quanmin took a deep breath and spoke earnestly, "The reason our court exists is to uphold the dignity of the law."

"But beyond the law, there is also human sensibility."

"That farmer was the family's breadwinner at the time, and his entire family depended on him."

"His sentence of three years' imprisonment had a tremendous impact on his family."

"When we pass judgment, beyond upholding the law, we must also consider the judgment's fairness, its punitive effect on harmful actions, and its equity for the parties involved."

"Take Song Yun's case: he sold endangered protected animals only due to repeated requests from others, and the three endangered parakeets were recovered, resulting in no social harm."

"Such mechanical judgment… will only make us appear too lazy, too incompetent."

He spoke at length, thoroughly explaining his views.

The other six listened, falling into a brief contemplation. Indeed, judging strictly by the letter of the law was the simplest approach.

But the court prides itself on being the institution that most champions fairness and justice.

They are entrusted with upholding society's commitment to justice.

"But… we have no authority to issue a sentence below the statutory minimum," sighed one of the adjudicators, shaking his head.

"Then report it to the Intermediate Court!" Zhou Quanmin declared, his voice heavy and his gaze resolute.

After Wang Dachui's defense, this case was no longer merely a question of sentencing length. It had become a matter of the contradiction between a twelve-year sentence and the principles of fairness and justice.

Wang Dachui's seven defense arguments all pointed directly to this conflict.

This was a dilemma they couldn't resolve on their own.

Their only option was to report it. Half an hour later, the collegiate panel reached a consensus and decided on a definitive plan: to report the case to the Intermediate Court.

All relevant materials, including the case file, trial proceedings, and defense arguments, were to be submitted.

「At seven in the evening.」

Outside the courthouse.

Song Yun emerged, looking completely bewildered. He couldn't help but look at Qin Mu and ask, "Uncle Qin, what did the judge mean when he said the case was too complicated?"

Only moments before, they had waited patiently for half an hour. They had expected the verdict to be announced. Who would have thought... the judge would declare the case too complex and instruct them to return home to await notification of the judgment?

"It's likely being referred to the Intermediate Court," Qin Mu guessed, the corner of his mouth twitching.

This outcome was beyond his expectations as well.

However, this also indirectly indicated that the Jin City courts weren't taking a rigid, one-size-fits-all approach. That was why they had proactively reported it to a higher court.

According to procedural law, when local courts encounter cases they cannot resolve, they can report them to a higher judicial level.

"Let's go home and wait for news," he said. Then, he comforted Song Yun, telling him to wait patiently for the judgment.

Simultaneously, he discussed preparations for a potential second-instance appeal with Wang Dachui. If the verdict still found him guilty, their only recourse would be to continue appealing to fight for his rights.

「The next day.」

In the nursing home.

Once the court proceedings had concluded for the time being, Qin Mu and Wang Dachui, those two apparent idlers, resumed their work.

Qin Mu's work remained relaxed and leisurely, allowing him to slack off as usual. What surprised him, however, was that Wang Dachui, after this incident, was no longer content to just drift along.

During work hours, he frantically crammed knowledge of criminal law and defense strategies. In his own words, "This trial has significantly boosted my status at home."

His girlfriend now looked at him with newfound admiration, affectionately calling him 'Brother Dachui'.

"I never expected my real talent to lie in criminal defense."

"I've already decided, once this lawsuit is over, I'm quitting my job to help out at her law firm."

"You need to hurry up and get your license too, then you can just transfer over," Wang Dachui even began to proactively urge Qin Mu.

Qin Mu: "…"

From Wang Dachui, he also learned the basics about Yan Wenxia. She operated a law firm in another city and, similar to Zhang Wei, specialized in criminal cases.

Still, Qin Mu felt that with Wang Dachui's current 'skill level,' he might be more of a hindrance than a help if he went there.

Afterwards, Qin Mu also used this waiting period to prepare for the bar exam. Once he got his lawyer's license, defending people close to him would be much easier.

Although the bar exam's pass rate was only 8.75%, it didn't seem too difficult for him.

Time flew by, and five days passed in the blink of an eye.

「That day.」

Song Tiancheng, with Song Yun in tow, rushed to the nursing home and found Qin Mu.

"Uncle Qin, can you help me understand what this judgment says?" Song Yun asked nervously. "The person who delivered it told me to report to the community corrections office as soon as possible."

Qin Mu paused, startled for a moment.

He took the judgment and began to read it. Court judgments could be delivered in two ways: announced directly in court, or formally served as a written document to the parties involved. The latter was delivered directly into the hands of the concerned party.

Opening the judgment, he saw the verdict stated: "After trial by the superior court and review by the supreme court, it is decided to sentence Song Yun to six months' imprisonment, with the sentence suspended for nine months, and a fine of 15,000 yuan."

The reasoning section detailed: "After trial by the basic-level court and review by the superior court, Song Yun's actions constituted the crimes of illegal business operations and the illegal hunting and killing of precious and endangered wild animals. The facts of the crime are clear, the case is free of doubt, and the trial procedures were accurate and proper.

However, considering that Song Yun is a first-time offender; that in the process of breeding Fei's parakeet, no societal or environmental benefits were harmed, and no obvious harm was caused; and that the sale was not of his own volition but at the behest of others.

Therefore, to manifest the true value of criminal law in punishing evil and promoting good, a sentence below the statutory minimum has been rendered."

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