Presiding Judge Shen Jiarui looked at Gu Chen and Zhang Tao.

Shen Jiarui: "Please, the plaintiff, proceed with the closing statement."

Shen Jiarui thought for a moment and decided to let Gu Chen speak last.

If Gu Chen were to speak first... who knows what shocking remarks he might make.

Zhang Tao stood up and said, "Respected presiding judge, members of the court, I am just an ordinary university student."

"I believe I have no significant influence, and all I can do now is study hard and strive to become someone useful to my country and society."

"I wish to use my own hands to support myself and my grandfather."

"My family is in difficult circumstances, as everyone knows, and I have been without parents since childhood."

"I need this poverty scholarship to help me complete my four years of university..."

"I really need this money..."

"Some of my classmates from impoverished families also need this money."

"Not everyone has a happy family, and not everyone can afford a college education."

"My poverty scholarship is gone."

"Many of my classmates' poverty scholarships are also gone."

"Yet they are clearly impoverished students."

"In circumstances where no one dares to speak up, I chose to be a voice."

"I understand I may face the consequence of being advised to leave school."

"But I resolutely stood up."

"Because if I don't stand up, I don't know how many impoverished students will miss out on the scholarship they deserve."

"I met Lawyer Gu Chen..."

"It's because of Lawyer Gu's legal action that I came to realize the case behind is so complex; many things I don't understand, nor do I comprehend the complicated interests involved. I am just a regular student."

"I believe a school should be a place for teaching and nurturing."

"Our school's motto is—to be erudite, resolute, inquire, and reflect."

"University is the last pure land before facing society."

"If even this pure land is destroyed..."

"If there's a band of leaders who only know how to bleed others dry, leaders who only know how to make money..."

"How can the university remain pure?"

"As the heavens move, a gentleman should strive unceasingly."

"I want the school to be fair and just, whether it's scholarships or financial aid... all should be fair."

"I hope more impoverished students can complete their studies with the help from the state."

"We impoverished students, too, can contribute our part to the country!"

"I don't understand the complexity of this case."

"But I just want fairness!"

"Fairness for all impoverished students, all students!"

"Fairness for the whole society!"

"I hope that this judgment can be made fairly and justly."

"Respected presiding judge, members of the court, my statement is complete."

Zhang Tao finished his final statement and sat down.

The online viewers in the live broadcast cheered loudly.

[Awesome! Awesome!]

[Wow, his speech gave me a rush of excitement!]

[Exactly, I don't understand this case either, but I want fairness too!]

[A school is supposed to be a place of learning, how can it become a place for these people to bleed others dry?]

[They've bled even the impoverished students dry, and I can't accept this!]

[Yeah, why should the rich heirs drive Ferraris and still get poverty scholarships? I'm not envious because he's wealthy, but he has money, he shouldn't receive this poverty scholarship! It's unfair!!]

[The poverty scholarship is meant for impoverished students! It's because these people exploit their power for personal gain that resulted in this situation.]

After Zhang Tao finished speaking.

Gu Chen applauded.

Xue Qingqing also joined in the applause.

The audience in the courtroom also applauded.

The applause lasted for a long time.

After a long while.

Presiding Judge Shen Jiarui struck the gavel.

Shen Jiarui: "Order!"

"Now, please, the plaintiff's attorney deliver the final statement."

Gu Chen smiled slightly and stood up.

He had no desire to let these four people off lightly.

These four school leaders, whose blood haven't they drained?

It's not just the blood of impoverished students...

The blood of those excellent students gets drained too!

Many students could have received scholarships.

In the end, they didn't receive scholarships. Where do they find justice?

Because these leaders greedily pocketed the scholarships!

Moreover, many facilities within the school have become their tools for profiteering!

For instance, when the school roads needed refurbishing, they had a set budget, but they outsourced it to others, used substandard materials, and pocketed money.

For instance, when dormitories underwent renovations, both boys' and girls' should have loft-beds with desks underneath.

However, the school's decisions led only to girls' dormitory having such arrangements, while boys were left crowded together.

Where did the money go?

And many other things around campus...

The dormitory air conditioning....

The renovated academic buildings....

Even the shops on campus.

Ordinarily, stores on campus would be rented out normally to tenants.

Vendors sell their goods at regular prices inside these stores.

But those people at the school rented out to their "own people", then extracted kickbacks.

The entire school's retail spots have essentially been monopolized by their "own people".

Monopolized renting leads to monopolized prices.

Prices for many things on campus soared!

For example, printing a sheet of paper, the printing services on campus are quite popular due to students' needs.

Originally, printing one sheet cost ten cents; after being contracted out, it became fifty cents for two sheets.

Students ended up spending more...

All the students on campus would now have to spend more money annually.

And dining in the canteen is the same...

Though there are subsidies, the prices are still higher than before.

Moreover, the meals prepared aren't as tasty as before....

These people for personal gain, can do anything.

This is no longer simply infringing on only impoverished students' rights...

All students are victims!

Now they talk about making amends?

How to make amends?

Can this even be remedied?

It's been ten years!

How many students have been affected?

Can these issues be fixed with a single phrase?

Therefore... heavier punishment is necessary!

Gu Chen initiated his speech.

"Respected presiding judge, members of the court."

"I disagree with the defense lawyer's arguments."

"I believe these four people are exceedingly guilty! Knowing the law yet breaking it, their crime is even graver! Over their ten-year tenure, they have sought personal gains in excess of over 20 million yuan!"

"They are vampires! They drain the blood of all the students in the entire school!"

"The entire student body suffers under their influence!"

"This case is so complex it's difficult to imagine."

"I hope the law severely punishes these individuals! Heavy punishment!!!"

"If these people are lightly punished, it will only decrease the cost of backroom deals and profiteering, encouraging others to take the risk!"

"The law must be strict! To serve as a deterrent!!"

"I ask everybody sitting here one question—"

"If today, these four people embezzled tens of millions, but only received a sentence of a few years... won't more people be tempted to take such risks for money?"

"After all, it's just a few years' sentence...."

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