Chapter 1691: Case Opens

Without knowing it, the sky outside had already darkened.

Zhang Liming arranged dinner at the Peace Hotel. After eating, at Huang Yali's suggestion, they came to The Bund to see the night view.

This girl was coming to Shanghai for the first time. She wanted to come to The Bund to see it last night, but it was already very late, so she gave up this tempting idea.

Investigating in Pudong in the morning, she finally saw the Huangpu River she had been thinking about, thinking that the scenery at night must be even more beautiful.

It just so happened that they ate at the Peace Hotel in the evening, so this girl said to go to The Bund to see the night view, and Zhou Andong didn't want to go back so early, so he agreed.

"So beautiful."

Huang Yali looked at the calm Huangpu River and the little lights along the shore with intoxicated eyes.

"Four years ago when I came, it was still pitch black here."

Zhang Liming took out a cigarette and lit it for Zhou Andong, and only then continued.

"In 1937, Japan launched the War of Resistance Against Japan, and foreigners left Shanghai in whole ships. Western reporters described that The Bund had fallen into a void and silence of death.

After liberation, all the foreign firms on The Bund withdrew from the original buildings, and the Shanghai Municipal Government and major bureaus took over. The Bund became the main office location for various departments in Shanghai. The HSBC Building became the office of the Municipal Government, Jardine Matheson became the Foreign Trade Import and Export Company, and China Merchants Steam Navigation Company became the Shipping Bureau.

In the 1960s, the only contact point between the whole of Shanghai and the outside world was the Friendship Store in the former British Consulate on The Bund, where only foreign guests and Chinese accompanying foreign guests could enter to shop.

Starting from the late 1970s, due to housing shortages, hundreds of lovers leaned against the cement flood control wall on The Bund to whisper to each other without interfering with each other. A reporter from The New York Times described it as the most spectacular lover's wall in the world that I have ever seen."

Speaking of this, Zhang Liming laughed: "I still keep this newspaper."

Zhou Andong also laughed: "You must keep it well; these are all witnesses of history."

"I will definitely keep it well." Zhang Liming nodded very seriously, then continued: "A super-large tide in the summer of 1981 became one of the motivations for the large-scale renovation of The Bund in the 1990s.

And the first external renovation of The Bund was in 1985, but due to economic conditions, that time was only to organize and beautify the messy parts of The Bund.

That was the comprehensive cleaning of the 100,000-square-meter exterior wall of The Bund buildings. A senior chief architect who participated in it described that renovation as applying rouge and powder to The Bund.

In 1986, the State Planning Commission agreed to raise the flood control standard of Shanghai from being able to resist high water levels that occurred less than once in a hundred years to high water levels that occurred once in a thousand years.

In December 1988, the Municipal Government officially determined the renovation plan for The Bund. This was a comprehensive renovation, primarily to solve the flood control problem, and there were also traffic renovation and the construction of The Bund scenic belt.

This was the number one project related to people's livelihood. The flood control wall shoreline was moved outward to the center of the river and raised to 6.9 meters. 32 semi-arc sightseeing platforms, 64 courtyard-style palace lanterns, and 8 artistic lamp posts made of granite were set up along the river. The Bund has been lit since then..."

Zhou Andong naturally knew these, but Huang Yali and Wang Wentian didn't know, so they listened with great interest.

It was almost eight o'clock in the evening when they left. Before getting in the car, Zhou Andong and Zhang Liming exchanged business cards.

"Chairman Zhou, I believe our cooperation will definitely be successful."

Zhou Andong shook hands with Zhang Liming: "I also believe our cooperation will be very successful."

The two smiled at each other. Zhang Liming watched Zhou Andong get in the car and leave, only then easing his excited mood.

He felt that he had found a like-minded friend and also a trustworthy partner.

…………………………

March 31, 1994, the 20th day of the second lunar month, Thursday!

Zhou Andong arrived in Yangcheng. He originally thought about going straight to Dongguan, but he learned a piece of news, which was that the case of the peddler stabbing the city management officer would open for trial tomorrow, so he wanted to stay and take a look.

In the room of the municipal reception center, Zhou Andong sat on the sofa drinking tea. Opposite him was the lawyer for this case, who was also the General Manager of the Legal Department of Yuxi Real Estate, Dong Herong.

"General Manager Dong, is there any certainty about this case?"

Dong Herong smiled: "There is no problem in saving his life."

Zhou Andong held the teapot and filled the teacup in front of Dong Herong: "It's not bad to be able to save his life."

"I'll try my best." Dong Herong picked up the teacup and took a sip: "Try to sentence him to life imprisonment, which is a few years earlier than death with reprieve. It's just that the other party's family also has some background, and there is a great possibility of appeal."

"Appeal then." Zhou Andong lit a cigarette: "As long as his life is saved in the first instance, the result of the second instance won't be too bad."

"Yes!" Dong Herong said: "This case is very special, and the Supreme Court must also be paying attention. Even if the other party's family has a background, in such a situation, no one will joke with their own official position."

The two didn't chat for long, and Dong Herong left, because he had to go to court tomorrow, and there were still many things to prepare.

Zhou Andong didn't go out either, but rested in the room. After eating breakfast the next day, he took the car arranged by the reception center and arrived at the Intermediate Court.

Because the whole country was paying attention to this case, a large number of reporters gathered at the gate of the court.

Those who were familiar gathered together, discussing various possibilities of the case, speculating on the fate of the defendant.

Because this case wasn't an ordinary criminal case, the result of the verdict might promote judicial reform.

As time passed, there were more and more reporters at the gate of the court. They stood together densely, forming walls of people.

At 8:50, the peddler's wife, Gong Juhua, and Dong Herong got off a taxi.

Seeing them, reporters swarmed over and surrounded them in the middle.

"Lawyer Dong, is the defendant intentional homicide or legitimate defense?"

"Ms. Gong, if your husband is sentenced to death, will you continue to appeal?"

"Lawyer Dong..."

"Lawyer Dong..."

"Ms. Gong..."

"......"

"Everyone, everyone, everyone be quiet." Dong Herong protected Gu Juhua and shouted loudly: "The trial is about to start. If you have anything you want to ask, let's talk after the trial, okay?"

After all, they were reporters, and most of them were very high-quality. Hearing Dong Herong's words, they still let go of the road unwillingly.

Because the courtroom was only that big, it was impossible to let so many reporters all go in.

So they saw Dong Herong and Gong Juhua and wanted to get first-hand news.

But the trial was about to start, so they could only let go of the road and let people leave.

And while all the reporters were attracted by Dong Herong and Gong Juhua, Zhou Andong entered the court wearing a mask and sunglasses, with only Huang Yali and Wang Wentian beside him.

After entering, he saw two very familiar figures, which were Guan Shengjie and Du Youwei.

In addition, there were reporters from CCTV, and others were major media such as Guangdong TV and Yangcheng Evening News. ===== CHAPTER 1692 =====