Chapter 748

Six months later, in the capital.

In deep autumn, ginkgo leaves covered the small path at the foot of West Mountain, the ground a blanket of gold. Lin Dongfan walked slowly along the mountain trail, the fallen leaves rustling under his feet.

Thus we need to include any named entity that appears, even if not in glossary, but we must provide English translation. However they gave a glossary for these lines — use these EXACT English forms every time (never romanize or paraphrase them). That suggests that for terms that appear in the glossary list, we must use those exact forms. For other named entities not in glossary, we need to translate them ourselves (by meaning) unless they are person names (then pinyin). But they said "GLOSSARY for these lines — use these EXACT English forms every time (never romanize or paraphrase them):" then list. So we must use those forms for those terms. For other named entities not listed, we need to translate them (if they are not person names) or romanize if they are person names.

Thus we need to identify all named entities in lines.

Let's go line by line.

Six months later, in the capital.

In deep autumn, ginkgo leaves covered the small path at the foot of West Mountain, the ground a blanket of gold. Lin Dongfan walked slowly along the mountain trail, the fallen leaves rustling under his feet.

The Lin family patriarch, Lin Muyuan, still had a violent temper as before.

However, the old man could no longer wield a whip, unable to lash out as he once did, being over a hundred years old.

Under the arrangement of his younger uncle Lin Zhenhua, the old man moved from the military district compound to the old residence at West Mountain. The place was tranquil, more suitable for retirement.

The old residence was a traditional courtyard house with blue-gray bricks and tiles, and two century-old pagoda trees at the gate.

When Lin Dongfan pushed the door and entered, the old man was practicing tai chi in the courtyard, his movements slow and gentle. Two guards and a doctor stood nearby, watching attentively, none daring to be careless. Everyone hoped the old man would lie still at home like a good child and go out only in a wheelchair, but the old man refused to comply, loving to stir up trouble.

"Grandfather."

Lin Dongfan called out.

The old man finished his form, wiped the faint sweat from his forehead, and smiled: "You've come? Perfect, just brewed some pu'er tea—come have a taste."

The two sat down at the stone table in the courtyard.

On the stone table sat a set of purple clay teaware, the tea fragrance wafting gently.

The old man gently blew on his tea and asked with interest: "Has the big case in Wu Zhou been concluded?"

"It's closed." Lin Dongfan took a sip of tea: "The final judgment was announced yesterday."

As he spoke, Lin Dongfan took a document from his briefcase and handed it to the old man for review. The nearby guard quickly handed him a pair of reading glasses, which the old man put on and began to peruse slowly.

I. Summary of Judgment Results

1. "Teacher" (Chen Qiming)

Charges: bribery, bribery through influence, and abuse of power.

It was found that Chen Qiming, during his tenure and after retirement, obtained improper benefits for others and accepted money and valuables amounting to 890 million yuan.

The interest network he led in Wu Zhou illegally profited over ten billion yuan over twenty years.

He long provided convenience for political fixer Xu Jijun (deceased), offered protection to the Wu Zhou criminal syndicate, and plotted multiple murders to cover up his crimes.

In light of Chen Qiming's advanced age (81) and serious illness, he was sentenced to life imprisonment, permanent deprivation of political rights, and confiscation of all personal property.

2. Li Zhenyang

Charges: bribery, abuse of power, unexplained wealth, and intentional homicide (indirect).

It was found that Li Zhenyang, using his position, illegally accepted cash and valuables totaling 230 million yuan and 18 million US dollars; additionally, assets worth 4.7 billion yuan could not be accounted for.

He also bore primary responsibility for the cases of Duan Xinhua's disappearance and Duan Xiaobin's death; he allowed Li Hengbo's criminal gang to expand in Wu Zhou; and he directed Zhao Qiang to carry out a tunnel assassination (which failed).

For the combined crimes, he was sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve, permanent deprivation of political rights, and confiscation of all personal property.

Note: Li Zhenyang voluntarily confessed upon arrest, proactively disclosed most of the criminal facts not yet known to the investigators, actively returned illicit gains, and showed a good attitude of remorse, so he was not sentenced to immediate execution.

3. Wu Zhou implicated personnel (partial)

Zhang Peiyuan: former Deputy Secretary of the Wu Zhou Municipal Party Committee, accepted bribes of 120 million yuan, sentenced to life imprisonment.

Shen Jianguo: former Executive Vice Mayor of Wu Zhou, accepted bribes of 98 million yuan, with abuse of power causing major losses, sentenced to fifteen years in prison.

Zhao Mingyuan: former Director of the Wu Zhou Development and Reform Commission, accepted bribes of 67 million yuan, sentenced to fifteen years in prison.

Fang Zhanhong: former Secretary-General of the Wu Zhou Municipal Party Committee, accepted bribes of 43 million yuan, participated in a silencing plot, sentenced to fifteen years in prison.

Zhao Qiang: former Commander of the Criminal Investigation Detachment of the Wu Zhou Public Security Bureau, convicted of attempted intentional homicide, bribery, etc., sentenced to life imprisonment for combined offenses.

Liu Shu: former Deputy Director of the Wu Zhou Public Security Bureau, guilty of bribery, abuse of power, etc.; given his voluntary surrender, provision of crucial evidence that greatly aided solving the case, and significant meritorious service, sentenced to ten years in prison.

4. Other related personnel

Xu Jijun: deceased, not to be pursued.

Xu Chuping: because his son Xu Jijun provided crucial evidence showing major meritorious service, approved by the Supreme People's Court, his sentence was reduced from life imprisonment to twenty years.

Li Hengbo: former Chairman of the Rebirth Group, guilty of intentional homicide, bribery, espionage, etc.; sentenced to death for combined offenses.

Li Shuqin: suspected of intentional homicide (the Brocade Mountain Villa fatal fall case), to be handled separately.

He Qixing: guilty of kidnapping, etc., sentenced to twelve years in prison.

Laogui: guilty of intentional homicide, kidnapping, etc., sentenced to death.

5. Asset recovery and disposal

In total, the case recovered and confiscated illegal gains and illicit property worth approximately 21.7 billion yuan.

Li Hengbo's Rebirth Group has been lawfully merged into the Mortal Group, with its assets now incorporated into normal operations.

In Wu Zhou, the 17 key projects involved in irregular approvals have all been suspended for rectification, nine of which have been reopened for public bidding.

…… => ellipsis, no.

After finishing reading, the old man took off his glasses and let out Along sigh.

"These bastards should have been wiped out long ago." The old man placed the document back on the table: "Dongfan, this time you've done a great deed that brings joy to the people."

"It's not just my achievement." Lin Dongfan explained modestly: "It was the inspection team, the special task force, and those willing to come forward to testify; I merely gave them a push."

"That push—how many destinies has it changed?" The old man looked at Lin Dongfan with a smile, then suddenly shifted tone: "I think you should return to the proper path; the common people need you."

Upon mentioning returning to the proper path, Lin Dongfan was instantly speechless.

In the old man's view, doing business is not the proper path; only entering government service is. As long as Lin Dongfan does not return to the system for a day, the old man feels regret for each day.

Who knows—maybe one day he'll kick his legs and die, unable to close his eyes.

"Grandfather, um… I just remembered I still need to go pick up my child from school; I'll come see you another day…"

Lin Dongfan turned and tried to slip away.

He had taken just two steps.

Behind him came the old man's stern shout: "Stop!"

Lin Dongfan forced himself to turn, glanced at his wristwatch, feigning urgency: "Grandfather, I really am in a hurry; picking up the child cannot be taken lightly…"

Shut up!

The old man glared, eyes wide, scolding: "Do you really think I'm an old fool, easy to trick? After all these years, when have you ever gone to pick up the kids from school? Sit down!"

"!!!"

Under the tiger's might, Lin Dongfan had no choice either; he forced himself back to his original seat.

Brew a cup of fresh tea.

He then launched into a complaint: "Old man, I may as well be a billionaire tycoon with net worth of several hundred billion, and becoming the world's richest person is just a matter of time. I work hard to create jobs for society, push technological progress, and serve the people. Why must you insist I take a path I don't want to walk?"

"No reason." The old man outright asserted parental authority: "Just because you are my Lin Mu Yuan's biological grandson, you must obey my orders!"

"You're being unreasonable." Lin Dongfan wore a sullen expression.

The old man dismissed it with a scoff and lightly laughed: "I'll just be unreasonable then—if you're capable, go be reborn, don't remain my Lin Mu Yuan's grandson."