Half a month later, Tian Lijí and Tian Píng were sentenced to death, Tian Lìhuī was given a suspended death sentence, and Tian Lìhuī's wife was sentenced to twelve years.
After the verdict, Zhangshan Village was silent.
The common wild fruits on the back mountain had been used as murder weapons by those with ill intentions. How could they not be terrified?
The police returned the two bank cards, which were used as evidence, to the Tian family.
Tian Yongrén withdrew all the money and gave Tian Lìguì 100,000 yuan, stating it was to repay his medical expenses.
"It is in critical moments that humanity is revealed. Take this money, it's all there is."
He gave Tian Lìyì 100,000 yuan, "Second brother, this marks the official division of the family. You should move out now."
He gave Tian Yǒnglǐ 100,000 yuan, "Third brother, all of this trouble was caused by your greed."
"Lìjí killed Da Xue and Xiao Xue, and also stole and sold my and second brother's gold bars. Strictly speaking, you shouldn't have any of this money. But for the safety of our two families, we're giving you a share to prevent anyone in your family from harboring murderous intentions again."
"Your family needs to move out immediately. I don't want you living here for even a day."
...
Tian Lìguì took his second branch of the family and bought over a hundred square meters of land on the outskirts of the county, building a four-story building. He spent all the money he had, including the remaining amount from the village for his medical expenses.
The village refused his donation because the villagers were unwilling to be associated with the Tian family's blood-stained money.
Tian Yǒnglǐ, with his third branch, left their hometown.
If he had stayed, Tian Lìhuī's parents and Tian Lìhuī's father-in-law's family would not have let him go.
...
Autumn arrived quietly. In early October, Tian Jìng gave up the last month of planting, preparing to take the female employees of the nursery to see the outside world.
Male employees could also join.
Some of the men were unwilling to go because of their severe physical disabilities; going out would only be a burden.
Tian Jìng left the decision to them.
Wei Xiǎoyǒng planned to bring his wife and son, Li Zhōngxǐ. Li Sìlái planned to bring his wife. Upon their return, they would pay their share of the family expenses.
Zhōu Chéngbīn and Yuán Mǎn were not planning to go. They had their children and wanted Dàmai and Xiǎomai to have a relaxed trip.
Zēng Jǐngchū called Jíxiáng to ask if she wanted to go out and play.
Jíxiáng was, of course, willing to go out and play, but she wanted to bring her brother along.
Zēng Jǐngchū asked Tian Jìng to bring Jíqìng and Jíxiáng out from the special training team. Tian Jìng brought back all the belongings of the two children, as the weather was getting cold and it was time to return for the New Year.
Lǐ Mǐn and Chén Suǒzhù wanted to bring Lǐ Mǔ along. Lǐ Mǔ refused, saying she wanted to stay home and wait for Lìlì to return.
Wáng Hóngwèi and Guō Hóng, a couple, did not bring their juniors but brought Wáng Dàgē and his wife.
The men who were preparing to go out saw that their colleagues were bringing their families, so they also wanted to invite their families to come out and see the world.
Captain Tian waved his hand: Approved.
A week later, three 45-seater buses drove out of Kùshān.
Because all the men took the opportunity to invite their families, the families would definitely want the men to go out with them.
After washing the men's scooters, they could go anywhere with them.
The nursery was handed over to Lín Guǎngdé for safekeeping.
The nursery employees left in a vast procession to go on their trip, making the villagers of Kùshān extremely envious.
Before the nursery employees had even returned, the villagers saw them on the news.
A freelance reporter encountered a special tour group at a scenic spot.
The tour group consisted mostly of people with disabilities, accompanied by their wives and grandchildren. Their faces were beaming with happiness.
Some with severe lower body disabilities were actually carried on their sons' shoulders while sightseeing, with their grandsons running to take pictures and their wives watching with smiles, wiping away tears.
Onlookers, seeing such a group, also shed tears and smiled.
This piqued the reporter's curiosity. Generally, disabled people came from difficult backgrounds, and it was rare for them to be able to travel.
Even if they traveled, it would not be such a harmonious and happy scene that moved onlookers to tears.
The reporter caught up with the disabled person being carried on his son's shoulders and cautiously asked if he could do an interview.
The disabled person readily agreed and told the reporter that he could gather his colleagues for him, providing a fully positive and inspiring topic...
This news report was broadcast for a full five minutes. Everyone who saw it wiped away tears and deeply remembered a person named Captain Tian.
Although Captain Tian did not appear on camera, in the hearts of the general public, an image of an incomparably tall and golden man had been formed.
In the interviews, these resilient retired soldiers did not reveal any personal privacy, only expressing gratitude to Captain Tian for bestowing upon them a glorious and brilliant remainder of their lives.
The villagers of Kùshān silently wiped away tears.
The town and county leaders in Kùshān sighed in silence.
A small group of people in the capital quietly withheld their grandchildren's pocket money...
The high-ranking officials who had been following Tian Jìng closely held a brief phone meeting, further increasing the compensation for disabled retired soldiers...
Tian Jìng, who had inexplicably become famous, was climbing the Great Wall with her employees.
The man carrying his father, panting, took a rest. A male tourist nearby took over his father's weight from his shoulders, told the man to rest, and then they would take turns carrying him.
A man with inconvenient arms was trying to wipe sweat from his wife's forehead with his prosthetic limb. A female tourist next to him reached out with a tissue-holding hand and gently wiped the sweat from his wife's forehead, smiling and saying that his wife was the happiest woman in the world.
The grandeur of the Great Wall was less moving than the scenes of the people and events happening around them.
The reporter, who had been secretly following them, captured these scenes. After the Great Wall tour, he caught up with the men and asked if he could broadcast them.
The men shook their heads and refused. Why broadcast them again? They were very happy...
The reporter edited these scenes onto a disc and handed it to the men at a prearranged location as a souvenir.
After visiting a few fixed scenic spots, Tian Jìng allowed her employees to explore or shop on their own.
Shopping was not reimbursed, but entrance fees and meal expenses were.
During these few days of travel, what Lín Duǒér saw and heard far exceeded her imagination.
No wonder Lín Wǎn wanted to leave Kùshān; the outside world was so wonderful that she couldn't describe it in words.
No wonder Niu Dàniáng's two former daughters-in-law also wanted to leave Kùshān to work; the outside world was truly captivating.
Hearing Captain Tian announce free time, Lín Duǒér was at a loss as to where to go.
Tian Jìng asked her why she wasn't going out.
Lín Duǒér shook her head, "I don't know where to go."
Thinking that everyone else had companions, and she didn't, Tian Jìng understood. "Where do you want to go?"
Lín Duǒér thought for a moment and asked, "If outsiders come to the capital to work, where can they find jobs?"
Tian Jìng was not surprised by Lín Duǒér's question. For the past two days, Lín Duǒér's mind had not been on the attractions; her gaze had been constantly wandering to the pedestrians on both sides of the streets and some tall buildings.
"The talent market."
Lín Duǒér looked expectantly at Tian Jìng, "Can we go take a look?"
"Yes."
...
An hour later, Tian Jìng and Lín Duǒér arrived at the nearest talent market, as found from the hotel reception.
The market was large, with job advertisements plastered on the surrounding walls.
Below the job advertisements was a table, with recruitment staff sitting by the side.
Tian Jìng glanced at Lín Duǒér, who was eager to try, beside her, and said calmly:
"Go and see if you like. If you find a job that you think is very suitable for you and makes you want to stay, I won't stop you."
Lín Duǒér turned sharply to look at Tian Jìng, "Really?"
"Really," Tian Jìng nodded. "The nursery can't afford to lose you, but it's not indispensable."
Lín Duǒér paused, then resolutely walked forward, "I'll go take a look."
Tian Jìng sighed and shook her head. She used to think Lín Duǒér was good, but now it seemed she was still, like ordinary people, unable to resist the temptations of the dazzling and colorful outside world.