Chapter 206 - 125: The Verdict

"In accordance with Articles 17 and 129 of the Juvenile Protection Law, the abuse and intentional physical harm of a minor are prohibited."

"Anyone who causes personal injury or psychological damage shall be held liable for compensation in accordance with the law."

As he spoke,

Xu De paused for a moment before continuing:

"If this constitutes a criminal offense... my client reserves the right to press charges!"

The Juvenile Protection Law explicitly provides for compensation for damages.

And as it happens, Wang Xiaoyu was a minor.

And what’s more,

even among minors, he was exceptionally young!

A four-year-old child!

"Your Honor, my client requests compensation to cover the future costs of the victim, Wang Xiaoyu’s, physical and psychological well-being and development!"

Xu De spoke again, reminding the judges on the bench.

"After the divorce, the division of assets..."

"It might cause financial hardship for the defendant, Yang Chunping—a 29-year-old adult whose monthly income of one thousand yuan is already above average..."

"However!"

He paused, and the words that followed crashed over everyone in the room with the force of a tidal wave.

"By the same token, the division of assets will also lead to..."

"Financial hardship for the minor child, Wang Xiaoyu!"

"It will leave his future unsecured! He is only four years old... four years, six months, and seventeen days old!"

In other words, the compensation and division of assets weren’t for Wang Yu...

They were for a minor, a four-year-old child!

The moment he said this,

Everyone in the Third Courtroom was stunned. The pupils of the three judges on the bench constricted as they seemed to grasp the implication.

’It’s not for Wang Yu.’

’It’s for the child...’

’All the money was to secure the future for a minor, for the four-year-old Wang Xiaoyu. And given that the other party had already inflicted a degree of ’irreversible physical harm’... no amount of compensation would be excessive.’

At the defendant’s table.

At that moment,

A look of horror spread across Sun Li’s face. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.

’It was true that women often received preferential treatment when assets were divided in a divorce case.’

’But... that depended on who you were up against.’

’Against a young man, the advantage was huge. As long as you didn’t make a mistake, you’d win. Even if you did, it would be a draw.’

’Against the elderly, weak, or disabled, you might have a fighting chance. You could argue social hardship and maybe get a draw.’

’But against a child?’

It came back to the same point.

Across legal systems worldwide, the Juvenile Protection Law was top-tier: unshakeable, irrefutable, and absolute. It demanded special consideration...

It was mandatory preferential treatment, spelled out in black and white!!!

Magic attacks were no match for true damage!!!

’And now, the plaintiff had equated the division of assets and compensation entirely with Wang Xiaoyu, erasing Wang Yu from the equation. That meant...’

"Counsel for the plaintiff, do you have anything further to add!?"

From the bench,

Presiding Judge Wang Cheng suddenly spoke, his voice grave as he looked at Xu De.

"At this time, my client has nothing further to add." Xu De shook his head.

Judge Wang Cheng then turned to the defendant’s table.

"Counsel for the defendant, in light of the plaintiff’s statements, do you have any objections?"

Sun Li opened her mouth, hesitated for a moment, then finally took a deep breath and said with a struggle:

"Your Honor, my client... maintains her original petition!"

"Understood."

On the bench,

Presiding Judge Wang Cheng merely nodded, then sank into thought.

’Neither side had further objections, additional evidence, or legal precedents to present. That meant...’

’It was time to pass judgment!’

’But that raised a question.’

’How should he rule?’

’First, the division of assets had to be heavily skewed in the husband’s favor.’

’Second, compensation had to be awarded to ensure the child’s future was secure.’

"What if we reduce her share of the assets and increase the compensation amount?"

The Xu Family spoke up, suggesting in a low voice.

"The defendant’s ’gross misconduct’ during the marriage is all tied to her infidelity. The ’abuse and confinement’ of the child were committed by her lover, Guo Tu."

"Based on the infidelity alone, the wife shouldn’t be left with only ten percent of the assets."

"Let’s award her thirty percent. That way, the compensation amount won’t be too high for her to afford."

’This...’

Wang Cheng frowned, his expression unreadable.

Beside him, Liu Guo immediately shot down the idea.

"That won’t work!"

"The defendant, Yang Chunping, has a deplorable attitude. I don’t believe for a second she didn’t see the child’s injuries."

"You could maybe argue she couldn’t tell there was psychological damage, given the child’s young age."

"But on a physical level? I refuse to believe Yang Chunping can’t tell the difference between a birthmark and a bruise. Her attitude is despicable. She knew the child was hurt and continued her affair with Guo Tu. That is tantamount to child abuse!"

A birthmark doesn’t just appear out of thin air.

It’s there from birth.

It’s not something that suddenly appears on your body when you’re three years old.

Sun Li’s argument that Yang Chunping couldn’t tell the difference between a birthmark and a bruise could only mean one of two things.

One: Yang Chunping genuinely couldn’t tell them apart, meaning her intelligence is exceptionally low.

Or two...

In the three years since giving birth, despite bathing her child countless times, Yang Chunping never bothered to remember where her son’s birthmarks were!

And what does that imply?

It implies she has absolutely no love for her child!

Her behavior is utterly vile and must be judged with the utmost severity!

"But if we hit her with both, Yang Chunping’s future will be..."

"Heh. What future does a criminal deserve? Her future is to bear the consequences of her actions!"

"That’s also true... but an overly harsh sentence could lead to unforeseen complications..."

"..."

The Xu Family and Liu Guo debated for a while, each conceding that the other had a point.

Finally, they both turned to look at the presiding judge, Wang Cheng.

Ultimately, they were not the presiding judge.

’Would their attitudes and opinions influence the final verdict...’