Chapter Summaries

Su Bai and Li Xuezhen prepared Zhang Laidong’s appeal and administrative lawsuit, securing approval to livestream their joint hearing. After gathering evidence and local testimony supporting Zhang Laidong, they awaited the hearing as public attention grew.

• Su Bai explained that Hailan Construction Co., Ltd. had made a truthful report and could not be sued, then filed Zhang Laidong’s appeal and challenged the Water Pipeline Station’s fine.
• Li Xuezhen asked Feng Lijian about the case and whether its hearing could be livestreamed, and he said the case seemed winnable.
• Lin'nan City Intermediate Court accepted the appeal, consolidated it with the administrative lawsuit, and approved livestreaming; Su Bai also contacted Luo Daxiang, who agreed to follow the case.
• Su Bai and Li Xuezhen interviewed Zhang Laichun and villagers, who described Zhang Laidong’s bridge tolls as voluntary and praised his help to the community.
• The Water Pipeline Station prepared to defend its fine, while Feng Zhengyuan dismissed Zhang Laidong’s lawsuits; Luo Daxiang publicized the case, prompting widespread online support.
• The court notified the parties of the hearing date, and Su Bai prepared to argue the case.

Su Bai argued before Lin'nan City Intermediate Court that Zhang Laidong should be acquitted of picking quarrels and provoking trouble and that the Water Pipeline Station's administrative penalty should be revoked. He challenged the prosecution to prove that Zhang had forcibly demanded bridge tolls, leaving the key dispute centered on whether the payments were coerced.

• Su Bai and Li Xuezhen entered the hearing, where Presiding Judge Bai An confirmed the case involved Zhang Laidong's appeal and challenge to the Water Pipeline Station's penalty.
• Su Bai requested that Zhang's first-instance conviction be overturned and that the administrative penalty be revoked as an unlawful act, drawing Meng Haiyang's attention.
• Prosecutor Mo Xiao opposed the acquittal and maintained that Zhang had repeatedly taken or demanded money by force while collecting fees for his illegally built bridge.
• Bai An asked Su Bai how he disputed the forced collection allegation, supported his factual claims, and addressed the bridge's unauthorized construction.
• Su Bai conceded that Zhang had built the bridge and collected fees without authorization, but argued that most payments were voluntary, the tolls had not disrupted public order, and villagers had even returned refunded money to Zhang's family.
• Mo Xiao frowned as Su Bai shifted the burden of the argument back onto the prosecution to establish that Zhang had coerced people into paying.

At Zhang Laidong’s appeal hearing, Su Bai argued that the bridge tolls were voluntary and did not constitute forcible taking, while Mo Xiao challenged the lack of evidence proving that no one was coerced. The collegial panel recessed to deliberate but left its ruling for after the hearing resumed.

• Mo Xiao argued that Zhang Laidong’s toll records showed about thirty thousand yuan collected over nearly fifteen thousand crossings, while Su Bai had not proven that every payment was voluntary.
• Bai An confirmed that the sides did not dispute the bridge’s illegal construction, unauthorized toll collection, waived fees, or Li’s voluntary return of toll money, then allowed Su Bai to question Mo Xiao.
• Su Bai asked whether the bridge made travel more convenient and argued that villagers chose to pay, while Mo Xiao acknowledged that the bridge had improved travel.
• Bai An recessed the hearing for an hour, and Li Xuezhen told Su Bai that the case seemed difficult; Su Bai said Bai An had not yet shown a clear leaning.
• Luo Daxiang said neither side had established a sufficient factual basis on forcible taking, though Su Bai’s arguments were somewhat stronger.
• During deliberations, Wang Zhihua favored Su Bai’s defense, Xiao Jun considered the prosecution’s concern plausible, and Bai An postponed the decision until the hearing resumed.

At the resumed hearing, Su Bai argued that the Water Pipeline Station had unlawfully fined Zhang Laidong despite receiving his applications and never responding. Presiding Judge Bai An acquitted Zhang of picking quarrels and provoking trouble, revoked the administrative penalty, and ordered the department to apologize, while requiring Zhang to negotiate with authorities over the illegally built bridge.

• Su Bai argued that the Water Pipeline Station improperly imposed repeated fines after failing to respond to Zhang Laidong's applications, and Meng Haiyang acknowledged receiving all three applications.
• Zhang Laidong confirmed that he had received the rectification notices, made corrections, and completed the application procedures, but had received no response or approval.
• Su Bai, Mo Xiao, and Meng Haiyang delivered closing statements, disputing whether Zhang's conduct constituted picking quarrels and provoking trouble and whether the penalty was lawful.
• Bai An ruled that the prosecution had insufficient evidence to prove the charge, overturned the first-instance judgment, and acquitted Zhang Laidong.
• Bai An revoked the administrative penalty, ordered the Water Pipeline Station to issue a public apology, and directed Zhang to negotiate with the relevant departments about the illegally built bridge.

After Zhang Laidong’s hearing, public attention prompted Linnan City officials to promise a new bridge and punish staff responsible for mishandling the matter, while investigators uncovered serious problems at Feng Zhengyuan’s company. Zhang Laidong later collected his acquittal judgment and compensation application from Su Bai, leaving satisfied with the outcome.

• Mo Xiao and Meng Haiyang left the courtroom after the hearing, while Su Bai and Li Xuezhen packed up and departed.
• Online debate over Zhang Laidong’s case drew attention to the lack of a bridge, and Linnan City officials promised to build one within a month, apologize, and discipline or dismiss responsible staff.
• Feng Zhengyuan learned his company would not receive the bridge contract, then found out its tax and qualification problems had been exposed and faced enforcement officers.
• Xiao Haibo thanked Su Bai for his work on Zhang Laidong’s case and offered him tea as their professional relationship grew closer.
• Zhang Laidong and Zhang Laichun visited White Jun Law Firm, where Su Bai gave Zhang Laidong his acquittal judgment and prepared state compensation application materials.
• Zhang Laidong thanked Su Bai and left smiling after receiving guidance on follow-up paperwork, while Su Bai considered the case complete.

Su Bai agreed to cooperate with Haifang Law Firm, bought a car for White Jun Law Firm, and became the subject of Old Li’s unspoken worries about Li Xuezhen. Xu Xiang then brought him a difficult criminal retrial case that Su Bai decided the firm would take, leaving him ready to challenge the court’s refusal.

• Su Bai and Xiao Haibo agreed to pursue cooperation between White Jun Law Firm and Haifang Law Firm.
• Su Bai bought a car for the firm and drove Li Xuezhen back, while her attempt to invite him home to see her animals came to nothing.
• Old Li visited Feng Lijian to check on Li Xuezhen, then left reassured that she was not dating anyone, unaware of her feelings for Su Bai.
• Xu Xiang told Su Bai about a high-profile criminal case whose retrial application had been rejected after a judicial officer predicted the original judgment would stand.
• After hearing the case details, Su Bai agreed that White Jun Law Firm would take it.

Su Bai agreed to represent Chu Lei and his family in challenging the reduced sentence for the man who killed Chu Lei’s pregnant wife, Lu Ying. After hearing that a second-instance judge had discouraged them from seeking review, Su Bai signed the case and planned to examine the judgment and files.

• Xu Xiang told Su Bai about the pregnant woman murder case, and Su Bai agreed to take it on.
• Su Bai researched the case and learned that the perpetrator’s death sentence with a reprieve had been reduced to life imprisonment on appeal.
• Li Xuezhen arrived early, read the case information, and grew excited about the possibility that the second-instance judges had acted improperly.
• Chu Lei and three elderly relatives came to White Jun Law Firm, and Su Bai confirmed their identities and heard their account of the trials and rejected request for a retrial.
• Chu Lei confirmed that a second-instance judge had told him another challenge would not change the verdict, and he signed a representation agreement with Su Bai.

Su Bai reviewed the Pregnant Woman Murder Case files and decided to submit new evidence, pursue a protest, and apply for a retrial at the Supreme People's Court. Qin Xiaofeng's parents tried to pay Chu Lei to withdraw his application or provide a letter of forgiveness, but Chu Lei refused and sought justice for his wife and unborn child.

• Su Bai and Li Xuezhen went to the Nandu Higher Court to obtain the case files, then reviewed the evidence supporting the second-instance reduction from a suspended death sentence to life imprisonment.
• Su Bai told Li Xuezhen to prepare new evidence for a protest and a retrial application at the Supreme People's Court.
• Qin Anhai and Wan Yuping argued over Qin Xiaofeng's case, and Qin Anhai learned that White Jun Law Firm might be difficult to contend with.
• Qin Anhai told Wan Yuping to offer Chu Lei money for a letter of forgiveness, and she agreed to raise their previous offer.
• Chu Lei told Su Bai he had rejected the offer to withdraw his retrial application and refused to provide a letter of forgiveness, insisting that the law deliver justice.

After the Supreme People's Court ordered the Southern Capital High Court to retry Qin Xiaofeng's case, Wan Yuping tried to hire Su Bai away from Chu Lei's defense, but Su Bai refused. Qin Anhai and Judge He Hui then sought another way to pressure Chu Lei to change lawyers, leaving He Hui preparing to make him a discreet offer.

• Su Bai told Chu Lei to preserve evidence of the family's attempts to obtain a letter of forgiveness.
• The Supreme People's Court found problems with the second-instance judgment and ordered the Southern Capital High Court to retry Qin Xiaofeng's case.
• Qin Anhai warned Wan Yuping that Chu Lei's side might seek the death penalty and urged her to have Chu Lei change lawyers.
• Wan Yuping offered Su Bai one million yuan, then up to two million, to drop Chu Lei and defend Qin Xiaofeng, but Su Bai rejected her and had Li Xuezhen escort her out.
• Qin Anhai told Wan Yuping he had asked He Hui to persuade Chu Lei to switch firms and planned to retain Qin Xiaofeng's previous lawyer for the retrial.
• He Hui, worried about Su Bai's work in the retrial, considered contacting Chu Lei to ask him to change law firms.

Su Bai prepared to represent Lu Ying’s family at the retrial and enlisted Li Xuezhen to handle an important task. As the hearing began, reporters swarmed both families and Su Bai, while Qin Xiaofeng’s parents hoped his surrender would preserve his suspended death sentence.

• Su Bai reviewed the earlier judgments, asked Li Xuezhen to carry out an important task, and told her doing so would protect their winning streak.
• Chu Lei told Su Bai that second-instance judge He Hui had approached him and recommended another law firm; Su Bai said the conversation was not evidence of misconduct but could matter at the hearing.
• The Southern Capital High Court began retrial proceedings after the Supreme People’s Court’s instruction, and Qin Anhai and Wan Yuping worried that Qin Xiaofeng’s sentence would increase.
• Reporters questioned Qin Anhai and Wan Yuping outside the courthouse, and Jiang Min escorted them inside.
• Reporters questioned Su Bai about the case and his past advertising, but he gave a brief response and hurried into the courthouse with Li Xuezhen and Chu Lei.

At the retrial of Lu Ying’s case, Su Bai challenged the entire Collegial Panel, accusing Judge He Hui of improper conduct and disputing the judges’ authority to deny his recusal request. The hearing ended with Su Bai demanding that the judges answer his questions directly.

• Chu Lei felt nervous before the retrial, and Su Bai reassured him as they prepared to enter court.
• The Nandu Higher Court began the retrial of Qin Xiaofeng’s case, with Judge He Hui, Presiding Judge Zhou Qiangsheng, and Judge Zhang Guangquan on the Collegial Panel.
• When asked about recusal, Su Bai requested that every member of the Collegial Panel withdraw, alleging that He Hui had improperly contacted Chu Lei about retaining a law firm.
• Su Bai submitted a recording of He Hui asking Chu Lei whether he had hired a law firm; He Hui denied recommending counsel, and Zhou Qiangsheng rejected the recusal request.
• Su Bai challenged the panel’s authority to decide the recusal request, cited Article 31, and demanded that the judges explain their decision.

Su Bai challenged the Collegial Panel over its rejection of the recusal application, forcing the trial into recess. The Southern Capital High Court approved the judges’ recusal and assigned Vice President Yu Caixia to continue the case, leaving Su Bai ready to turn his attention to the accused and their families.

• Su Bai pressed Presiding Judge Zhou Qiangsheng to identify the legal basis for rejecting the recusal application, while Zhang Guangquan and He Hui avoided answering.
• Zhou Qiangsheng called a recess less than ten minutes into the trial, and Su Bai told Li Xuezhen the delay benefited their side.
• In the discussion room, Zhou Qiangsheng and Zhang Guangquan agreed to report He Hui’s conduct to the president of the Southern Capital High Court.
• The president approved the recusal and appointed Vice President Yu Caixia to replace the original panel, then arranged for the court to ask Su Bai’s opinion.
• Su Bai agreed to Yu Caixia’s appointment and turned his attention toward the accused, while Wan Yuping worried that something might happen to Xiaofeng.

At Qin Xiaofeng’s retrial, the newly appointed Collegial Panel resumed the hearing, and the Prosecution requested a death sentence while Jiang Min argued for a reduced punishment. Jiang Min gained ground against the prosecutor, but Qin Anhai remained worried about facing Su Bai as the hearing continued.

• Yu Caixia, Jin Yufang, and Wang Chuanjie replaced the original judges, and all parties accepted the new Collegial Panel.
• Zheng Lijun requested that Qin Xiaofeng be sentenced to death, citing his brutal attack on Lu Ying, the loss of her pregnancy, and the case’s social impact.
• Su Bai said the victim’s side had nothing to add to the Prosecution’s request for punishment.
• Jiang Min argued that Qin Xiaofeng’s attack was an impulsive crime of passion, that he had not known Lu Ying was pregnant, and that his alleged surrender warranted leniency.
• Zheng Lijun challenged Jiang Min over Qin Xiaofeng stabbing Lu Ying five times, but Jiang Min attributed the repeated attacks to impaired self-control during an emotional crime.
• Qin Xiaofeng and Wan Yuping felt reassured by Jiang Min’s arguments, while Qin Anhai continued to fear Su Bai’s accusations.

At Qin Xiaofeng’s retrial, Su Bai challenged the defense’s arguments and cast doubt on Qin’s claimed voluntary surrender, then demanded the death penalty in his closing statement. The court sentenced Qin to death and deprived him of political rights for life, pending approval by the Supreme People’s Court, while both families reacted in anguish.

• Su Bai argued that Qin had continued stabbing Lu Ying after learning she was pregnant and challenged whether his resistance during arrest was compatible with voluntary surrender.
• Under questioning, Qin acknowledged that Lu Ying had told him she was pregnant, then claimed he had resisted arrest because he panicked and did not notice whether the officers identified themselves.
• The judges found Qin guilty of intentional homicide, accepted that his surrender circumstances were disputed, and heard closing statements from both sides.
• Su Bai rejected the defense’s appeals to Qin’s good character and remorse, demanded the death penalty, and said Lu Ying’s family wanted the dignity of the law rather than compensation.
• After deliberating, the court vacated the prior second-instance judgment and sentenced Qin to death and deprivation of political rights for life, subject to Supreme People’s Court approval.
• Wan Yuping protested the verdict, Qin Anhai tried to restrain her, and Lu Ying’s relative Chu Lei broke down sobbing.

After Qin Xiaofeng received a death sentence in the retrial, Su Bai initiated review and supervision proceedings over suspicious issues in the earlier trials. The investigation uncovered misconduct, and He Hui, Zhou Qiangsheng, Zhang Guangquan, and Qin Anhai were taken in for investigation.

• Yu Caixia told Wan Yuping that the family could seek review if they produced evidence or suspected problems with the judicial personnel, then left the courtroom.
• Su Bai initiated review and supervision proceedings, and the relevant departments accepted his request amid public scrutiny of the case.
• Qin Anhai and Wan Yuping argued at home over the trial’s procedural problems and the risk that the review would expose them.
• Investigators found that He Hui had violated rules by contacting a party to the litigation and took him in; Zhou Qiangsheng and Zhang Guangquan were also placed under investigation.
• Investigators went to the Qin family home to question Qin Anhai about suspected obstruction of judicial proceedings, and Qin Anhai agreed to go with them.

After the Qin Xiaofeng retrial, the Supreme People's Court approved Qin Xiaofeng's death sentence, and authorities announced that several judicial personnel and Qin Anhai would face consequences for misconduct. Su Bai's handling of the case brought White Jun Law Firm widespread attention, while Nanyuan Law Firm suffered reputational damage.

• White Jun Law Firm hired Han Chen as its new litigation administrator after the firm struggled to handle a surge of inquiries.
• Chu Lei thanked Su Bai and asked about Qin Anhai's investigation and the possibility of reconsideration; Su Bai reassured him about the case's outcome.
• The Supreme People's Court approved Qin Xiaofeng's death sentence for execution on the thirtieth, and authorities announced findings against He Hui, Zhou Qiangsheng, Zhang Guangquan, Qin Anhai, and those involved in the false surrender documentation.
• Netizens praised Su Bai, while Jiang Min worried that Nanyuan Law Firm's reputation was collapsing because of its lawyers' past cases against him.
• Xiao Haibo congratulated Su Bai, discussed Nanyuan Law Firm's troubles, and arranged to buy tea for their firms' partnership.
• Li Xuezhen celebrated that a trial panel member had been indicted and resolved to keep studying criminal law.

Li Xuezhen continued gaining experience at White Jun Law Firm, while Su Bai worried that the firm was still too small to rank among the country’s top 200. Wang Li visited Su Bai with a new case: a distant relative in Shadu had received a seven-year sentence after a passenger jumped from his vehicle and died.

• Li Xuezhen counted her internship achievement points, and Feng Lijian reflected on Su Bai’s courtroom ability and her rapid progress under him.
• White Jun Law Firm handled a flood of consultations, while Su Bai reviewed a national law-firm ranking and worried the firm had not made the top 200.
• Wang Li contacted Su Bai and came to the firm to ask for help with a case involving his distant relative.
• Wang Li told Su Bai that his wife had changed after Xie Jing went to prison, and he recounted how Zhang Tongwei and others had fared since their cases.
• Wang Li explained that his relative’s passenger had jumped out of a cargo vehicle and died, after which the driver was sentenced to seven years in prison.
• Su Bai agreed to hear the case details and questioned whether the seven-year sentence was reasonable.

Su Bai accepted the case of Wang Mingxuan, who had received a seven-year sentence for negligence, and traveled to Shadu with Li Xuezhen to investigate. After hearing Wang Mingxuan’s wife Xia Xue describe the case and the victim’s family’s demands for compensation, Su Bai suspected something was wrong but reserved judgment until he reviewed the case file.

• Wang Li asked Su Bai to represent his relative Wang Mingxuan, and Su Bai agreed to travel to Shadu with Li Xuezhen.
• Su Bai arranged the trip after finishing the firm’s work, while Wang Li organized their transportation and accommodation.
• In Shadu, Su Bai declined to stay with Wang Mingxuan’s relatives and checked into a hotel before visiting the family with Li Xuezhen and Wang Li.
• Xia Xue told Su Bai that Wang Mingxuan had received seven years in prison for negligence and that the victim’s family demanded a million in exchange for forgiveness.
• Su Bai had Xia Xue sign the representation agreement and questioned her about the case and the compensation demands.
• After Xia Xue recounted the circumstances, Su Bai said he needed to review the case file before deciding whether the case was simple.

Su Bai reviewed Wang Mingxuan’s case files, visited him in detention, and questioned him about the disputed first-instance judgment. After finding no major problems left to investigate, Su Bai prepared to seek a retrial.

• Su Bai and Li Xuezhen obtained the complete case files from the Shadu Intermediate Court and reviewed the evidence and first-instance judgment.
• Su Bai reminded Li Xuezhen that lawyers must rely on evidence and legal provisions rather than unsupported client statements.
• Su Bai and Li Xuezhen visited Wang Mingxuan in the Tongtang Street Detention Center, where Su Bai asked about the incident and the judgment’s disputed points.
• Wang Mingxuan denied expecting Lin Xiu to jump from the vehicle and marked the parts of the judgment he believed were problematic.
• Su Bai concluded that no major issues remained to investigate and told Li Xuezhen to prepare for a retrial application and hearing.

Su Bai challenged Wang Mingxuan’s negligent-homicide conviction at the Shadu High Court, arguing that the first-instance judgment lacked evidence that Wang had foreseen Lin Xiu’s death. The hearing left the prosecution barred from questioning Wang further, as Su Bai continued to contest the charge.

• Su Bai submitted evidence for a retrial, and the Shadu High Court approved Wang Mingxuan’s second-instance hearing.
• At the hearing, Su Bai asked the court to overturn Wang’s seven-year sentence and argued that it violated his right to equality before the law.
• Prosecutor Lü Hongmei argued that Wang had foreseen Lin Xiu jumping from the vehicle, and Su Bai demanded evidence supporting the negligent-homicide charge.
• Lü Hongmei questioned Wang about his argument with Lin Xiu, the route change, and seeing her lean out of the window; Presiding Judge Jiang Hetao disallowed her leading question about whether Wang thought she would jump.
• Wang testified that he had told Lin Xiu about the route change and slowed down after seeing her lean out because he thought it was dangerous.
• Su Bai objected that Lü Hongmei’s follow-up questions relied on unsupported assumptions, and Jiang granted his request to bar her from questioning Wang further.