Chapter 828: More Than You Know
After learning Zhang Yi's reason for punishing Yamada Masami, over half of those present immediately changed their stance. Most citizens have straightforward moral values. They don't care for elaborate justifications, but they clearly understand the principles of settling grievances and repaying debts.
Even Li Zongyu and Zhang Weiwei could no longer voice objections. National hatred and personal vendettas were understandable reasons. Still, Li Zongyu said to Zhang Yi, "I can understand your feelings, but Mr. Yamada is innocent. He helped us greatly on Rockflow Island. Could you spare his life?"
Seeing this, Zhu Yunque stepped forward to persuade Zhang Yi: "Yes, don't condemn an entire group for one person's actions. That's not right, and it might make you appear narrow-minded." She moved closer to Zhang Yi and glanced at the Rockflow Group members before adding, "Besides, there are many foreigners and expatriates on this ship. Your actions might frighten them and harm our unity."
Su Nuanxi wiped her tears while touching her swollen cheek, glaring at Zhang Yi with eyes full of hatred. "If you dare harm Mr. Yamada, I'll never forgive you!"
Seeing so many people speaking up for him, Yamada Masami's face lit up with hope. "Thank you all! I'm deeply grateful!"
Zhang Yi sneered. "Spare him? Why should I?" He walked over and pointed at Yamada Masami's head. "How much do any of you really know about him?"
Su Nuanxi immediately declared, "Mr. Yamada is a good man! I can vouch for him, and so can everyone in our group!"
Li Zongyu also said, "Mr. Yamada was genuinely kind to us on the island."
Su Nuanxi looked at Zhang Yi in surprise. "How did you know? Mr. Yamada is a renowned philanthropist." But she quickly changed her tone. "Knowing what a kind man he is, how could you do something so evil to him? You're truly heartless! I advise you to repent immediately, apologize to Mr. Yamada, and get him medical treatment!" With one hand on her cheek and the other stubbornly pointing at Zhang Yi, she looked every bit the righteous warrior.
Zhang Yi shot her a cold glance and snapped, "You know nothing!" His sharp retort made Su Nuanxi stumble back several steps.
Zhang Yi continued leisurely, "Yamada Masami, if I recall correctly, you once went by a Huaxu name—Liu Zhengnan. The name sounded familiar when I first heard it. Five years ago, you established Weimin Food Co., Ltd. in Tianhai City, specializing in pre-made meals. Back then, you were known as Liu Zhengnan, and since you spoke fluent Mandarin, no one realized you were actually from Neon—your real name being Yamada Masami."
"Your company's main business was pre-packaged food. You sourced substandard, unsafe ingredients from overseas through various channels and pushed them into the market." As Zhang Yi paced, recounting Yamada's past, Yamada's face gradually turned pale.
Among the crowd, entrepreneur Ma Wenzheng frowned, as if recalling something.
Zhang Yi continued, "In 2047, roughly four years ago, you bribed officials to get your company's food into schools across multiple Jiangnan cities. Later, a food poisoning incident exposed your company's safety violations. People discovered that your so-called 'premium imported ingredients' were actually rejected waste materials from other countries—even expired products!"
"By the time this came to light, you'd already pulled off your escape—transferring company assets and fleeing back to Neon. That scheme must have netted you billions, right? Maybe tens of billions? Sorry, I'm just a lowly warehouse keeper—I don't know the specifics. But since my workplace was near your warehouse, I always knew what kind of filth your company produced."
"Your warehouse workers told me themselves that even pigs shouldn't eat that garbage—they refused to touch it themselves." Zhang Yi glanced down at Yamada with disgust, as if looking at a filthy swine.
"Feeding children your shoddy, harmful products, damaging their health, even hospitalizing them with food poisoning—did your conscience ever ache? Oh wait, you don't have one. After all," Zhang Yi deliberately raised his voice, "those were just Huaxu children's health being ruined. What did that matter to you, a Neon executive?"
Yamada Masami trembled violently like a sieve. The others finally understood why Zhang Yi had been so ruthless upon seeing Yamada.
"Someone like him deserves death!"
"I remember now! There were news reports about food safety issues in Jiangnan—it was this bastard's doing!"
An enraged woman rushed over and kicked Yamada repeatedly. "So you're the one responsible! My son got food poisoning from your company's products! That was a high-end private school—how did you even infiltrate it? Die, you scum! Just die!"
Now, no one dared speak up for Yamada Masami. Che Haicheng strode over indignantly, delivering several kicks while shouting, "You Neon bastard! You motherf— Shake it! Aish— I knew you were no good! You pretended to be kind while deceiving us all! Thankfully our wise captain saw through your act and exposed your pathetic lies! You vile insect—atone with your life for those poor children you harmed!"
Yamada Masami looked up, weeping. "I'm scum! I'm inhuman! But I was forced! Even if I didn't do it, others would have! And I only got a small cut—your own people took the lion's share! Please, spare me! I've reformed! I pray to Buddha daily! I to orphanages and nursing homes!"
His pleading eyes swept the crowd, but everyone avoided him. Someone like him truly deserved death.
Yamada's heart sank—until he remembered Su Nuanxi, that exceptionally kind girl. He crawled to her feet, clutching her legs while sobbing. "Miss Su! I've always treated you like my own daughter! You know my daughter died young—from the moment I met you, I saw you as her replacement!"