Chapter 11: Watching the Execution

Compared to the Liu family’s case, which only resulted in a fifteen-day detention, the outcome of the Qin family case obviously made Qin Yi’an even happier.

This family was the true culprit behind the original owner’s death, and they deserved such a satisfying and just outcome.

“Comrade Xu, can I watch the execution? It’s happening this morning, right?” Qin Yi’an asked Officer Xu.

She wanted the original owner’s sister to see how these people who had harmed her were finally brought to justice, to see them punished by the law and not escape it, living a comfortable life without consequence.

She remembered that it wasn’t until after 1979 that public attendance at executions was prohibited. Since it was still 1976, the public could watch executions.

“You can watch, but the scene of the execution isn’t very pleasant. I’m worried it might scare you,” Officer Xu said, his brows furrowing with concern. Executions were very bloody, and he was worried that this young girl might be psychologically affected, which would be counterproductive. Usually, few young people went to the site to watch, and those who did often fainted due to the intense scene.

“I’ve been tortured by this family for twenty years, from birth to now. I can’t be at peace unless I see them receive their punishment with my own eyes,” Qin Yi’an firmly shook her head. “I’m not afraid, Comrade Xu, I want to go.”

Officer Xu understood her feelings and stopped trying to dissuade her. After glancing at the time, he nodded. “Alright, the execution will begin soon. The convoy will start the public display at 8:00 AM, and after that, they will be taken to the execution ground at Dongshan. The execution will happen at 9:50. Our station will maintain order there. Will you go with us, or would you prefer to go on your own?”

Now that she had the exact timing, Qin Yi’an felt relieved and waved her hand to decline. “It’s fine, I’ll go on my own. Thanks, Comrade Xu. I’ll come find you in the afternoon. We’ll leave now.”

Qin Jiaguo immediately looked at his watch and called out, “Daughter, it’s already 7:50. The public display is about to start.”

“Mm, I’ll go to Dongshan for the execution. Will you two go back to the guesthouse?”

She had to witness this execution.

“We’ll go together,” Xia Xiulan said as she linked arms with her daughter, her eyes firm.

Qin Jiaguo nodded in agreement, “Yes, we’ll all go as a family. We need to see these human traffickers get what they deserve.”

Qin Yi’an smiled faintly as she looked at her parents on either side of her. “Alright, let’s go together.”

The three of them walked toward Dongshan.

At 8:00 AM, Qin Daguo, Liu Guifang, Zhao Xiaohong, Liu Laogen, and Liu Bing were led by armed police officers through the streets for a public display. Behind each of them was a wooden sign that clearly listed their crimes.

The purpose of this display was to warn the public, to show them the fate of these criminals, so that others would be deterred from committing crimes.

Since the case involved the interests of several major factories—the steel, textile, and machinery factories—the leaders of these factories decided to give half a day off so that all employees could come and watch the execution.

As a result, the crowd surrounding the public display was larger than ever, with people talking and discussing the case in hushed voices.

The criminals walked slowly with their heads down, their faces blank, as they trudged forward.

Some of the onlookers, fired up by their discussions, even began throwing stones at the criminals. Once the stone-throwing started, more and more people joined in. The criminals couldn’t dodge the stones, and they were helpless—like fish awaiting slaughter on the chopping board, no longer showing the arrogance they once had.

After watching this scene, Qin Yi’an and her parents got on a bus heading to the Dongshan execution ground.

The execution site was even more crowded than she had imagined. The viewing area was packed with people—employees from the factories and other onlookers who had come from all over. There was hardly any space left.

Naturally, Qin Yi’an stood at the very front to get the best view.

Once they found a good spot, Xia Xiulan opened a bag of sunflower seeds and handed it to Qin Yi’an.

“Eat some sunflower seeds, sweetheart. Don’t get bored.”

“Okay,” Qin Yi’an said with a smile. Her mother was so thoughtful—she was accompanying her to watch the execution and even brought her snacks. Qin Yi’an grabbed a handful and started cracking them slowly.

“Give me some too,” Qin Jiaguo said, seeing his daughter and wife happily eating. He grabbed a handful for himself as well.

While munching on the seeds, Qin Yi’an casually shared the details of the criminals’ crimes with the women standing next to her.

“This girl, how do you know so much? These people are really despicable. Tell us more.”

“I have plenty more to say, I’ll tell you slowly,” Qin Yi’an replied. She wasn’t just watching the execution, she was also making sure people heard about their vile deeds and that they would be thoroughly despised.

As she spoke with enthusiasm, the others listened with rapt attention. Before long, they saw Qin Daguo and the others being escorted into the execution grounds.

The criminals looked in even worse condition now—blood was smeared on their faces, and their eyes were vacant. They had no strength left in their steps, their movements dragging as they approached the execution site. They resembled zombies more than people.

The five criminals were pushed to kneel in front of a large pit in the middle of the execution ground, with armed police standing behind them, ready to carry out the execution.

They were about to die. For the first time, Qin Daguo and Liu Guifang’s apathetic expressions changed. Fear started to show in their eyes, their lips trembling uncontrollably, and regretful tears began to fall.

Seeing Qin Yi’an, who was happily cracking sunflower seeds in the stands, they regretted their decision to spare her life all those years ago. They hated themselves for not killing her sooner, for not torturing her to death. Now, they had brought this terrible fate upon themselves.

Qin Daguo glared at Qin Yi’an with intense hatred, his face covered in tears and mucus. Desperation seeped into his voice as he spoke to Liu Guifang, “Guifang, if we had known this would happen, we should’ve drowned that little bastard in the urine bucket!”

Evil people are evil to the end—they didn’t repent even in their final moments.

Qin Yi’an’s smile grew even brighter as she looked at the two of them. She mimicked holding a gun, pointing it at their heads, and mouthed the words, “Biu, biu~.”

Their eyes were filled with fear as they quickly lowered their heads, as if they could actually hear two peanuts being shot at them.

The time had come.

The sound of the rifle being cocked echoed in their ears, magnified by the silence around them.

“It’s time for the execution.”

Qin Yi’an glanced at her father’s watch, and saw that it was almost 9:50—just two minutes away from the time Officer Xu had given her.

The execution site was a sea of people, but it was so quiet that you could hear everyone’s breathing. Each person was tense, watching the pit in the center of the execution ground, while those with watches checked the time.

Tick, tick, tick—

The second hand on the watch moved, second by second, until it finally reached 9:50.