It was all in ruins, completely collapsed.
The onslaught of public opinion and the fury of the masses brought all of the Zhao family's overt and covert businesses to a halt and on the verge of bankruptcy. The Zhao family was on the brink of collapse.
Upon learning that the police and the prosecution had jointly set up a special task - force for this major case, fearing arrest, Zhao Quanjing, General Manager Ran, Xu Chengye and others went into hiding like rats.
They changed locations every two hours, discussing how to escape to save their own skins.
Finally, they decided on a plan to leave by small boat from the sea area near a scenic spot.
The escape was planned for the dead of night. By the seaside, there were only the sound of the waves and the gasping of their running.
Perhaps running too hastily, Zhao Quanjing didn't watch his step. He suddenly stumbled over a protruding rock, fell to the ground and rolled forward a few times.
General Manager Ran was startled and quickly rushed forward with Fang Ruiyang to help him up.
In the moonlight, Zhao Quanjing's face was covered in blood. He opened his mouth and spat out a mouthful of blood - flecked foam, in which there were clearly three broken teeth.
"Damn it! It hurts like hell!" he cursed angrily, and immediately ordered someone to dig out and smash the rock. Xu Chengye said anxiously,
"Hey, Brother Jing, why bother with this rock now? We'd better run for our lives quickly!"
Zhao Quanjing thought it made sense and limped on towards the ferry. Seeing Fang Ruiyang helping him, Zhao Quanjing was extremely gratified. He even thought that once they escaped abroad, he would cultivate this illegitimate son well, and he would surely make a comeback.
But who would have thought that as they approached the ferry, they were captured by the police who had been lying in wait nearby!
"Stop! Don't move! Put your hands up!"
The black muzzles of the guns were pointed at them. Fang Ruiyang beside them seemed startled by this sudden turn of events. Unexpectedly, he "accidentally" pushed Zhao Quanjing, and Zhao Quanjing fell hard to the ground again!
Damn it! Another tooth broken!
Before he could react, he was pinned down by the police and handcuffed with cold handcuffs!
Xu Chengye, General Manager Ran, Nie Tao and others were all captured. And since Fang Ruiyang was also there, he was taken back to the police station as well.
At the moment of his arrest, Zhao Quanjing was completely devastated and tried to struggle desperately. "What right do you have to arrest me! I'm just an ordinary entrepreneur! I'll sue you! I'll sue you!"
The police coldly held up the documents in their hands and said, "Suspect Zhao Quanjing. Yes, we're arresting you. As for the evidence you asked for, you'll know when you get to the police station."
At the police station, Zhao Quanjing understood everything.
Rake wasn't dead. He had been rescued and sent to the police station to accuse Zhao Quanjing of attempted murder!
Moreover, someone had anonymously sent a large amount of evidence of his and his subordinates' various crimes to the Haicheng Police Station.
There were the sordid scenes that Li Mao had risked his life to secretly film in the nightclub; there was evidence of him and Xu Chengye running an illegal gambling den in a teahouse, tricking people into losing money and then lending them money for profit; there were also records of every instance of his smuggling goods through his scenic spots; and there was evidence of him violently threatening local fishermen to obtain a desired plot of land, resulting in their disabilities...
Each and every one of these crimes was abhorrent to both man and God!
During the interrogation, many of his subordinates, in order to get a lighter sentence, voluntarily provided a lot of evidence that couldn't be found on the surface and was only known to themselves.
- There were many lives on Zhao Quanjing's and his subordinates' hands.
The betrayal of his subordinates, the conclusive evidence and the pressure of public opinion left Zhao Quanjing speechless. He admitted all the crimes he had committed.
The investigation into the Zhao family lasted for more than half a month. Every day, police cars raced through the streets and alleys of Haicheng. According to Zhao Quanjing's confession, many more people were arrested one after another. And all the other victims who had been transferred from the "Rose and Wine" nightclub were rescued.
Major media outlets tracked the latest developments in real - time. Every time the progress of the situation was announced, it would top the hot - search list. The level of public attention was unprecedented.
Due to the extremely serious nature and impact of this case, it entered the court - trial stage in less than half a month.
In the Haicheng Detention Center, after nearly half a month in custody, Zhao Quanjing no longer had his former high - spirited appearance. He had suddenly become haggard and aged.
His entire network and he himself had been completely uprooted. Those who used to be on familiar terms with him and called him brother were now his fellow inmates.
A tiger that has fallen to the plains is bullied by dogs. After he was imprisoned, those who used to call him Lord Zhao started to torture him in various ways. Even Xu Chengye treated him coldly, making him taste the feeling of being betrayed by everyone.
Zhao Quanjing had never felt so aggrieved in his life. Now, leaning against the cold wall in silence, he looked even more gloomy.
Since he was imprisoned, he had been thinking about one question - how did the police know their escape route?
It was a route known only to them!
Could there be a mole among them?
Today was the day of the court trial. When the time was approaching, there was a sound of footsteps outside. Two policemen opened the iron gate and took Zhao Quanjing out.
The other accomplices in this case were also taken away at the same time.
When they arrived at the court, the car was still some distance from the court gate. Many victims' families had gathered there. When Zhao Quanjing and the others appeared in front of the crowd, countless rotten eggs, dog excrement and garbage were thrown at them.
The stench almost made everyone faint on the spot. All kinds of condemnations came pouring down on them.
"Zhao Quanjing, you're not a human being! You're garbage, a scumbag!"
"You bunch of trash should be thrown into the garbage can! You're polluting the air and insulting life just by being alive!"
"Give them the death penalty! We won't be convinced if they're not given the death penalty!"
"Zhao Quanjing, go to hell! You killed my sister. If you don't die, I'll fight you to the death!"
...
With great difficulty, they managed to avoid the condemnation and scolding of the masses and entered the court. The solemn and solemn atmosphere in the court made Zhao Quanjing's gang tremble with fear and they didn't dare to have any other thoughts.
Entering the courtroom, the judge and the prosecutor took their seats in the front. In the witness gallery, not only was Rake sitting there, but the eight escaped victims had also returned and appeared in Zhao Quanjing's field of vision.
The moment they saw Zhao Quanjing, the victims' eyes were filled with bone - deep hatred. If the occasion hadn't prohibited it, they would have rushed up immediately to take revenge on Zhao Quanjing, General Manager Ran and others.
Although Zhao Quanjing had no remorse in his heart, when he met those looks, he still uncomfortably averted his gaze. Then he saw a familiar face among the many media in the witness gallery.
The half - breed girl he had picked up from the nightclub was also there. When she noticed him looking over, she playfully winked at him. Zhao Quanjing was stunned. He suddenly felt that something was wrong, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.
Before he could think further, the judge banged the gavel. It was time for the trial.
Without any surprise, with multiple pieces of evidence presented, a complete chain of evidence, and with Rake and the eight victims testifying as witnesses, Zhao Quanjing, Xu Chengye, General Manager Ran and others were sentenced to immediate execution. As for the other members of Zhao Quanjing's gang, they were punished according to their crimes. Some were sentenced to death with a two - year reprieve, some to life imprisonment, and some to 30 years...
There was only one exception.
"Defendant Fang Ruiyang, who is the biological son of defendant Zhao Quanjing, helped defendant Zhao Quanjing engage in multiple illegal activities... Sentenced to five years in prison..."
Hearing that Fang Ruiyang was sentenced to five years, for the first time, Zhao Quanjing felt a bit of guilt towards this step - son.
Since this step - son had found him, he had been used by him. He either helped him transport smuggled goods or dealt with the fishermen who refused to relocate for him. Later, he even infiltrated the Pei family...
A five - year sentence wasn't bad. After five years, he would still be a good man when he got out and could continue to carry forward the Zhao family's business. It would be even better if he could change his surname to Zhao.
But the next second, he heard the judge say, "In view of the defendant Fang Ruiyang's positive attitude of admitting his crimes, his active cooperation with the police in providing a large amount of key evidence, and his truthful accusation and exposure of the criminal facts of defendant Zhao Quanjing, which prevented defendant Zhao Quanjing's criminal activities, it is considered that he has made significant meritorious contributions. It is decided to give him a lighter punishment. He is sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for two years."
Zhao Quanjing and the others were all stunned and looked at Fang Ruiyang in disbelief.
Under the looks of the others as if they wanted to eat him alive, Fang Ruiyang straightened his back and stared at the badge hanging high on the wall in front of him. His eyes gradually welled up with tears.
He had been waiting for this moment for a long time.