Two days later, Guo Haiqian and Fu Yayun successfully completed the school withdrawal procedures for their son, Guo Yuntao. Since it was already the final stage of his senior year, taking leave at this point would not prevent Guo Yuntao from obtaining his high school diploma.
In fact, if he wished, he could even participate in the college entrance examination as usual.
The specific results would depend entirely on himself.
The school was aware that Guo Yuntao's family had purchased a fake Foundation Establishment Pill, which led to Guo Yuntao's failed breakthrough and subsequent backlash. They were very understanding of their decision to withdraw, not only expediting the procedures but also enthusiastically inquiring if the school could help organize a donation to alleviate their financial burden.
Guo Haiqian and his wife naturally declined this offer.
Since their son was fine and there was a high probability of recovering the money that had been scammed, there was no need to earn money through the sympathy of others.
On the very day the withdrawal procedures were completed, Ding Yun finally finished modifying the cultivation techniques she had found in her collection over the past two days to perfectly suit them, and began teaching them one by one.
Whether it was the ancient techniques circulating in this world or the ones Ding Yun had collected, they differed significantly from the universal cultivation methods her husband, children, and grandson were currently practicing.
To prevent errors during their cultivation, Ding Yun had to explain each technique to them individually. They understood this, as they were well aware of the substantial differences between ancient and current cultivation methods. Therefore, they did not raise any questions and listened to her explanations with great seriousness.
The only slight difference was in their aptitude.
Guo Yuntao, having consumed the Body Reshaping Rebirth Pill, had the greatest improvement in his aptitude and was therefore the first to successfully switch to the new techniques. Guo Haiqian and Fu Yayun, being Foundation Establishment cultivators, also successfully transitioned to the new techniques after two more days.
Furthermore, they experienced the power of the new cultivation methods.
And their high degree of compatibility with their own bodies.
Only the elder, Guo Jing, was truly struggling. It had been a full five days since he began switching techniques, and he had only just seen a glimmer of hope. It was estimated that it would take at least another half a month for him to successfully transition.
However, Ding Yun could not attend to improving his aptitude for the moment, as the Public Security Bureau suddenly contacted her, stating that the swindler who sold the fake pills had been found and asked her to come identify him.
Facing the arrest of the culprit, Ding Yun naturally rushed to the Public Security Bureau without delay, and upon meeting him, she affirmed with certainty that it was indeed him.
“So, you’re the poor, old hag who reported me?”
Before Ding Yun could even utter a word, the captured swindler glared at her, his eyes filled with hatred.
He gritted his teeth and spat out, venomously.
If he hadn’t already been restrained, it seemed as though he would have pounced on her to attack her. He was incredibly arrogant. While Ding Yun desperately wanted to slap him to death, she was at the Public Security Bureau, so she couldn’t act rashly.
She could only take a deep breath and ask:
“Excuse me, can the money be recovered? Also, can you tell me approximately how many years he will be sentenced?”
“The money has been recovered, though not entirely. They spent a significant amount. More people have come forward to report them, so how this money will be returned to you needs further discussion.
As for the sentence?
Three to ten years. Under normal circumstances, it's likely to be around seven or eight years. You can rest assured about this.”
As soon as the Public Security Bureau staff member finished speaking, the swindler, who had been so arrogant moments before, immediately protested: “Wait, what nonsense are you talking about?
Why three to ten years? Do you think we haven’t read the law? It’s clearly stipulated that selling fake medicine is only punishable by up to three years.
Although the pills I sold were fake, they weren’t poisonous. Unlike those who sell poisonous or废丹 (waste pills), they don’t cause any severe harm to a person’s body.
I absolutely will not give them any serious harm. I want a lawyer, I want a lawyer! You are talking nonsense!”
“Shut up.
Under normal circumstances, the penalty for selling fake medicine like yours is similar to selling ineffective health supplements. But who told you to sell fake Foundation Establishment Pills of all things?
The victim consumed your fake Foundation Establishment Pill, attempted to break through, and then, due to the pill’s lack of efficacy, failed to break through and suffered a backlash, causing their cultivation to regress and their foundation to be damaged. This already meets the criteria for causing serious harm to human health. A sentence of three to ten years is quite reasonable.
You should be fortunate that there was only one victim. If there were a few more who consumed it and attempted to break through without verifying the pill’s authenticity…
You’d be looking at a solid ten years or more!”
The Public Security Bureau had not yet explained the specific details to the culprit. Seeing him loudly questioning them now, they took the opportunity to explain, ensuring he understood exactly why he was going to jail!
Upon hearing the staff member’s words, the fake pill seller collapsed and then angrily pointed at Ding Yun:
“Are you stupid? Are you trying to frame me? Foundation Establishment Pills are such crucial medications. You bought one and didn’t get it checked for authenticity before giving it to your grandson? Is your grandson also sick, or an idiot? For such an important pill, shouldn’t he feel the medicinal effects before attempting a breakthrough? Who attempts a breakthrough without feeling any medicinal effects after taking it? What kind of karma did I create in my past life to end up with two fools like you.
I don’t accept this, I don’t accept it!
I suspect they are deliberately extorting me, extorting me.
Oh, and my fake Foundation Establishment Pill has nothing to do with the injury. The grandson’s injury was clearly caused by a failed Foundation Establishment. Even with a genuine Foundation Establishment Pill, there’s a chance of failure. How can you blame it all on the fake Foundation Establishment Pill I sold? I want a lawyer!”
It's important to note that if the fake medicine sold did not have significant consequences and did not cause major harm to others, the punishment would generally be less than three years, or even just detention or a fine.
There was considerable room for maneuver in this regard.
However, if it escalated to the three to ten-year range, there would be no room for negotiation.
Therefore, the fake medicine seller naturally became desperate.
He had to defend himself.
“Ms. Ding, as you can see, this person has a very low probability of directly admitting guilt. Therefore, it is likely that we will have to go to court, so you will need to prepare sufficient evidence.
I will provide you with a list of the evidence you need to prepare later. Don’t worry, as long as your evidence is sufficient, it will merely take more time.
The only issue is that if we have to go to court…
The money you paid for the Foundation Establishment Pill will likely not be returned to your account until the lawsuit concludes and he is convicted.”
This staff member was not speaking in defense of the fake pill seller; he was stating a fact. According to relevant laws and regulations, this was indeed the process.
His reminder was also because he worried that Ding Yun might urgently need that money for her grandson’s treatment. And this reminder hit the mark for Ding Yun. Firstly, her family did need this money as a cover, to explain externally how her grandson Guo Yuntao’s foundation had been restored.
Secondly, if this person were to be punished according to the law, Ding Yun might feel somewhat ashamed to take action against him. Now that he was evading punishment through various means and would be released from prison in a relatively short time,
Ding Yun would have a much clearer conscience to take action against him.
With this in mind, Ding Yun immediately stated that her grandson urgently needed money for treatment, so she would not pursue the lawsuit.
A few years less in prison would be a few years less.
She then left with a look of dejection.