Chapter 482: That hits home, buddy

When Han Zhang mentioned "handing over his final wishes," Jian Sining and the other two prosecutors were somewhat speechless, never expecting that this guy would come up with such a lame excuse.

They were mainly worried that Lin Dongfan really had some leverage over Han Zhang.

Jian Sining hesitated briefly, then turned and walked away while saying, "Since he has a private matter to entrust to Director Lin, let's avoid him for now."

The two prosecutors tacitly understood and followed them out.

After they all left, Han Zhang also breathed a sigh of relief, then grinned and said, "Director Lin, we're all on the same side—you're really going after me like this, isn't that a bit much?"

"You need to understand: it's not me trying to mess with you; it's that you're involved in corruption."

Lin Dongfan sat down in Han Zhang's office spot, put his feet up on the desk, lit a cigarette, and adopted whatever pose was most comfortable.

He had no reservations at all.

Han Zhang stood before him like a junior who'd made a mistake, replying, "I promise you, I won't take another penny in graft—will that do?"

"Han Zhang, you've been in the system for years—don't be so naive, okay?" Lin Dongfan took a slow drag of his cigarette: "Everyone on the Sea God Foundation's dividend list is going to get caught."

Upon hearing that, Han Zhang's face darkened again with gloom.

He looked around and realized that this guy really wasn't giving him any face at all.

Damn, there are over a hundred corrupt officials on the list—adding me doesn't change much, removing me doesn't matter either; what difference does it make if you scratch my name off?

When you, Lin Dongfan, do things, even the provincial authorities have to give you some face.

Who would dare pick bones out of the broth?

The more Han Zhang thought about it, the gloomier he got, and he couldn't help but throw out the leverage he had: "Director Lin, we've been through thick and thin—I really don't want to turn against you, don't force me to do dishonorable things; if I go down, you won't escape either."

"Don't you know that if you do no wrong, you need not fear ghosts knocking at your door?" Lin Dongfan gave a faint smile: "I dare to put my feet up—what, are you afraid I'll slap a hat on you?"

"If you're going to say that, then I won't hold back," Han Zhang chuckled lightly: "Do you remember? You once gave me ten million yuan—that's bribery."

"Is that true?"

"Heh, pretending amnesia won't work—I already told you, don't push me."

"Did I personally hand you the check?"

"Well..."

Han Zhang carefully recalled the scene: at that time, Lin Dongfan was sitting in the car, rolled down the window to talk, and when leaving, he indeed did not hand the check to him personally but threw it on the ground.

It was all agreed upon.

What's the difference between that and handing him the check personally?

Han Zhang thought it over but still couldn't see it, so he insisted stubbornly: "That check has the amount filled in by your own hand and your signature—you can't deny it."

"If I remember correctly, that was a 'blank, non-named check'—it didn't have your name, Han Zhang, written on it."

Lin Dongfan smiled faintly.

He continued, "You picked up a blank, non-named check, didn't return it to the loser, and dared to cash it at the bank—that's already suspected theft; you know that?"

"!!!"

Han Zhang broke out in a cold sweat, thinking, "Damn, I've fallen into a pit?"

Lin Dongfan, well-versed in the matter, pressed further by citing legal provisions: "According to Article 264 of our country's Criminal Law, for theft of an especially huge amount or especially serious circumstances, the penalty is more than ten years' fixed-term imprisonment or life imprisonment, plus a fine or confiscation of property."

"!!!"

Han Zhang felt like he was about to turn to stone, his head full of black lines, his brain about to explode—"Damn, you used ten million to buy me off to do your work, and that doesn't count as your bribery; instead it turns me into a thief?"

Damn your mother!

How can a person be so shameless?

Is there still any heavenly principle?

Is there still any royal law?

Is there still any humanity?

No humanity at all!

Your parents sent you to university to study law so you could uphold justice for society, yet you actually use the law as a bloodless killing tool.

It's simply disloyal, unfilial, inhumane, and unjust!

It's going too far!

……

Thinking and thinking, Han Zhang grew so gloomy like a little grandson, wanting to shout out his feelings but couldn't muster the courage.

Worried that a careless word would somehow add another charge against him.

By then he wouldn't even know how he'd die.

On the verge of collapse.

Han Zhang weakly lowered his head toward Lin Dongfan: "Just now I was wrong—I shouldn't have been so unrighteous, I shouldn't have threatened you. As for this absurd theft accusation, could we just not mention it?"

"Then do you admit you're a corrupt element?"

"I admit it."

"Then are you willing to go to prison to quit gambling and lose weight?"

"I'm willing."

"That's right—know your mistake and change; why bother arguing over nothing?"

"You're right in your criticism—like me, a tiny ant, trying to argue with an elephant, I'm overestimating myself; our strengths aren't on the same level."

"If you're going to say that, you'll get criticized again."

"Did I say something wrong again?"

Han Zhang looked up, his eyes glazed, his heart in a panic; he simply couldn't make sense of that guy across from him with his legs up—Lin Dongfan.

Lin Dongfan took a slow drag of his cigarette, his mood quite stable,

He then emphasized calmly: "You're being scolded and punished not because my strength exceeds yours, but because you broke the law, and the law is punishing you—clear enough? If you say an ant can't contend with an elephant, then it becomes me personally bullying you, distorting objective facts; do you think you should or shouldn't be criticized?"

"I was wrong; if my hands weren't cuffed, I'd want to slap myself."

Han Zhang repented devoutly on the surface, but his mind harbored a hundred thousand 'whys'.

Why is Lin Dongfan's brain so sharp? No matter right or wrong, he's always right! He has a whole set of theories for talking back to people.

Why is my fate so miserable? I'm a habitual loser at the gambling table, I've also fallen flat in officialdom; what sins did I commit in my past life?

Even Mazu isn't reliable; I go to offer incense on the first and fifteenth, yet she doesn't bless me at all.

Han Zhang timidly asked Lin Dongfan: "Use your professional expertise to predict—if I plead guilty and accept punishment, roughly how many years would I be imprisoned?"

Lin Dongfan replied without hesitation: "Based on the amount of your bribery, it's usually life imprisonment. But if you plead guilty and accept punishment, plus your previous meritorious deeds, you should be able to receive a lighter sentence."

Seeing Han Zhang's face ashen as death, it seemed he had lost all will to live.

Lin Dongfan then shifted tone, comforting: "Rest assured, as long as you reform well in there, you can still get a sentence reduction. In about ten years you can get out; by then you'll be in your fifties, still young."

Mentioning that he'd be out in his fifties, Han Zhang's hope for the future flared up again.

Just moments ago, I still thought I'd die of old age in prison.

Han Zhang let out a heartfelt sigh: "Ah! What's most heartbreaking is that I embezzled several billion, yet I didn't save a single cent. After getting out of prison, life won't be easy either."

"You can go work at Elegant Maiden No. 1 for Chen Xiaoyu," Lin Dongfan laughed: "Being a sailor isn't bad either—you can wander the sea every day."

Hearing that, Han Zhang gave a sideways glance: "She's a fisherfolk, while I'm a leader of the Fisheries Bureau. Even if I'm down on my luck, I can't go work for her. Such a humiliating thing, even our ancestors wouldn't agree."

"It's not too late to be stubborn ten years from now."

Amid their chat and laughter, Lin Dongfan stubbed out the cigarette in his hand.

He rose and added: "Let's go; there's still a pile of corrupt officials waiting for me to catch—don't waste my time. Haishan's matter must be resolved before the year's end; I need to go home for New Year to be with my wife and kids."