January 17, Tuesday.
In the morning, the sun shines through the blinds, cutting strips of light and dark on the floor of Chairman's Office.
Chen Xi and Zhang Qingxue arrived as promised.
Su Wantang had prepared refreshments in advance and sat quietly by the window with a notepad on his lap--
This is her fixed position when participating in Core Meeting. It does not affect the discussion and can always take down trivial matters in life that Zhao Chen may need her to follow up on.
Without much greeting, Zhao Chen took out two bank cards that had been prepared from the drawer and pushed them in front of the two of them.
"This was prepared with my personal funds from selling Sanjiang Shopping," his tone was calm but unquestionable,
"Each card contains one million. Chen Xi, which is a reward for your accurate execution of Swing Trading;
Aunt Zhang, without you helping me structure Pledge Scheme and acquire First Pot of Gold, there would be nothing today."
Chen Xi looked at the card in front of him, pushed up his glasses, and subconsciously wanted to speak:
"Zhao Zong, this is too..."
"Take it." Zhao Chen interrupted her, his eyes gentle but firm.
"This is not a company bonus, but my personal gratitude. What you have done for me far exceeds this number.
Don't make me feel like I'm an ungrateful boss."
There was a rare persistence in his tone that could not be refused.
Zhang Qingxue and Chen Xi looked at each other and read the same emotion in each other's eyes - a kind of warmth that was solemnly cherished.
They all know that Zhao Chen spends money everywhere now, and this million is by no means a small amount to him.
"Thank you Zhao Zong." Chen Xi finally took the card, her voice softer than usual.
"I accepted your offer." Zhang Qingxue also nodded gracefully and put the card into Briefcase.
The sun shines on the Westerners, and the atmosphere in the office is warm and solid.
After Zhao Chen finished speaking, Zhang Qingxue's expression suddenly became a little solemn.
She pondered for a moment, then raised her eyes and looked at Zhao Chen:
"Xiao Chen, there is one more thing that needs to be reported. It is about...Zhao Jianguo."
She paused, and her eyes swept over Su Wantang and Chen Xi. The meaning was obvious--
This matter is very sensitive. Do I need to report it separately?
Chen Xi stood up immediately. "I'll go out and deal with it first..."
"No need." Zhao Chen raised his hand to stop him, his voice calm.
"Wantang and Assistant Chen are staying. There is no need to hide these things from them."
Su Wantang's fingers on his knees tightened slightly.
Although she had the embarrassing status of "Mrs. Zhao Jianguo", Zhao Chen's trust reassured her and she sat quietly.
Zhang Qingxue Seeing this, he no longer hesitated and lowered his voice and said:
"I learned through some special channels that the core crime for which Zhao Jianguo was investigated was not the economic issues initially speculated by the outside world, but
... Suspected of intentional injury and illegal detention... these are the only ones that have been found so far."
The air in the office suddenly solidified.
Zhao Chen's pupils shrank, his fingers curled up unconsciously, and then he quickly regained his composure.
Chen Xi gasped and opened his eyes wide.
Su Wantang's face suddenly turned pale, and her fingers tightly grasped the hem of her skirt.
"Due to the sensitive nature of his identity, the details of the case are kept confidential."
Zhang Qingxue continued, his tone was so calm that it was almost cruel,
"But Lin Wanqing seems to have known about it for a long time. She frequently visited him as a 'company representative' or 'family member' and hired a top criminal defense lawyer for him.
The relationships that Zhao Jianguo needs to manage and the messages that need to be conveyed in Detention Center all go through her."
She paused and added, "Of course, they have three children and have common interests. But the matter itself..."
"This beast!"
Su Wantang suddenly cursed in a low voice, his voice trembling, with the anger and humiliation that had been suppressed for many years,
"He is so... lawless!"
During the years she had been married to Zhao Jianguo, she knew that he was cold, selfish, and romantic, but she never thought that he would become so corrupt.
When I think that I have been under the same roof with such a person, and even bear the name of "Mrs. Zhao", my stomach churns.
Chen Xi's face was also ugly. He pursed his lips tightly and squeezed out a few words from between his teeth. "Scum."
Zhang Qingxue Although he was relatively calm, his eyes were full of disgust.
Only Zhao Chen was sitting in the main seat with a calm expression, tapping his fingers lightly on the smooth tabletop.
He already knew this result -
In this life, he made preparations in advance to make this matter beneficial to him.
After the three people's emotions calmed down a little, he slowly spoke, his voice so calm that it was incompatible with the angry atmosphere just now:
"If found guilty,"
Zhao Chen looked at Zhang Qingxue and asked an extremely practical question, "How many years will the sentence be?"
Zhang Qingxue pondered for a moment and gave his professional judgment, "According to Articles 230 and 238 of <Criminal Law>,
Causing minor injury: sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years, criminal detention or public surveillance.
Causing serious injury: sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years but not more than ten years.
Causing death or causing serious injury and disability by particularly cruel means: shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than ten years, life imprisonment or death.
Crime of illegal detention: The basic offender shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years, criminal detention, public surveillance, or deprivation of political rights (if there are circumstances of beating or insult, he shall be severely punished).