"That's a relief, then. This time... it's all my fault. I'm the one who dragged him into this."

Upon hearing this, Niu Huan breathed a sigh of relief. His words also carried a hint of self-blame.

After giving up Xiang Wanbin, he had actually felt very guilty. If only I hadn't offended Qin Mu... then Xiang Wanbin wouldn't have been arrested like me.

"Ahem, there's something... I think I need to tell you," Zhang Wei said with a dry cough.

He couldn't stand it anymore.

Xiang Wanbin's wife was right. Niu Huan was a car mechanic—loyal and honest. He hadn't even noticed the affair between Xiang Wanbin and his wife. The grass on Niu Huan's head... it had grown as green and vast as the Hulun Bei'er grasslands, yet he was still completely oblivious.

"I really shouldn't be meddling, but..." Zhang Wei recounted how Xiang Wanbin's wife had sought him out for defense, only to demand a harsher sentence for Xiang Wanbin.

"What?"

Struck by the news, Niu Huan looked as if he'd been hit by lightning. He collapsed into the chair with a CLANG.

His eyes were vacant. His face was ashen. It seemed he couldn't accept this reality.

"My condolences," Zhang Wei said to the desolate-looking Niu Huan, offering a word of comfort.

Telling Niu Huan about this didn't violate his professional ethics. Xiang Wanbin's wife hadn't asked for confidentiality. Besides, as one of the parties involved, Niu Huan had the right to know; he was entitled to know the truth of this matter.

「...」

At the nursing home, Qin Mu also received a notice from Shen Dao. He learned that the prosecutor's office had filed charges, and the trial was scheduled for seven days later.

There were three defendants this time: Niu Huan, Chang Yingcai, and Xiang Wanbin. Niu Huan and Chang Yingcai were the principal offender and accomplice, respectively, while Xiang Wanbin was responsible for disposing of the stolen goods.

As for the total value of the stolen goods the 'criminal trio' had disposed of, Shen Dao hadn't informed him. He would only find out during the trial.

What surprised him was that when Xiang Wanbin learned Niu Huan had been caught, he actually went to the police station of his own accord. By a strange twist of fate, his act of going to the police station constituted a voluntary surrender. Furthermore, the sentencing for concealing and hiding criminal proceeds and the gains from such proceeds was not typically severe. With this development, Xiang Wanbin's sentence was likely to be the lightest of the three—about one or two years. This also indirectly showed that in the car maintenance field, replacing spare parts was a frequent occurrence. It had already formed an industrial chain.

Moreover, Shen Dao had also specifically instructed him not to leave Jin City in the coming days. If necessary, he would also need to cooperate with the case investigation. During the trial, as the one who reported the crime and a witness, he would need to testify in court.

「Seven days later.」

At the nursing home entrance, before nine o'clock, Zhang Qingyuan and the others were all packed and ready to depart. Everyone was very excited. For them, it was another thrilling criminal case to witness.

"Second Criminal Court! Make sure we don't go to the wrong place this time!"

"As long as Old Zhang isn't leading the way, we definitely won't go wrong!"

"Hurry, hurry! Remember to bring your ID cards. If we're late, there won't be any seats left."

"I forgot my ID card last time..."

"..."

Zhang Qingyuan and the others urged each other on, bustling as if they were heading to a fair. In a grand procession, they headed toward the nearby court.

「...」

At the court, at nine-thirty in the morning, Qin Mu arrived early at the Second Criminal Court and saw Zhang Qingyuan and the others already seated.

The gallery was packed. About thirty seats were occupied by the elderly from the nursing home, while a heavily pregnant woman and relatives of the other defendants filled the remaining few.

"Xiao Qin, here! We saved a spot for you," Zhang Qingyuan said, waving enthusiastically when he saw him.

Qin Mu's mouth twitched. He declined Zhang Qingyuan's kindness. "I'll sit in the witness stand."

This incident had started because of him; he was the complainant. At the same time, the actions of Niu Huan and the others had also infringed upon his interests. Therefore, he needed to cooperate with the public prosecutor and be ready to testify in court when necessary.

At nine-fifty, Zhang Wei also entered the courtroom and approached him. "Mr. Qin, long time no see."

Qin Mu was slightly surprised. He hadn't expected the defense attorney to be Zhang Wei again. But after thinking it through, he quickly accepted it. Zhang Wei's reputation in Jin City was growing, and he was becoming the first choice for many criminal cases. Barring any surprises, his future 'opponent' would always be Zhang Wei.

At ten in the morning, under the escort of the court police, Niu Huan, Chang Yingcai, and Xiang Wanbin were brought into the courtroom.

The Judgment Chief, Zhou Quanmin, struck the gavel. "Today, the Second Criminal Court of Jin City Court will openly try the case of theft filed by the prosecutor's office against Niu Huan, Chang Yingcai, and Xiang Wanbin," he announced.

"I will serve as Judgment Chief and, in accordance with the law, form a collegiate panel.

"I now announce the court rules."

The clerk immediately stood up and announced the court rules. More than ten court rules, detailing prohibited actions, were solemnly read out, their words echoing throughout the courtroom.

"Now, please have the public prosecutor state the indictment and describe the course of events," Zhou Quanmin said, looking over the parties and continuing to move the trial forward.

As soon as his voice fell, a prosecutor from the plaintiff's side immediately stepped forward, speaking in a grave tone, "On the 11th of this month, a police station in Jin City received a report from Qin Mu.

"The caller stated that automotive spare parts had been stolen. After investigation, it was determined that Niu Huan and Chang Yingcai, employees of the 4S dealership, were the culprits.

"In this case, the two stole fourteen car spare parts, valued at over 57,000 yuan."

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