Chapter 48 - 40: The Trial Begins

"Take care. I won’t see you out."

At the main entrance of Jinmao Law Firm, Xu De smiled and waved mockingly at their somewhat desolate departing figures.

Li Youcai and Liu Cui snorted coldly and left without a word.

After the two of them disappeared from sight,

Xu De let out a long, heavy breath. He then looked down at the "Letter of Understanding" and "Criminal Settlement Agreement" in his hand.

What were these two documents for?

The former applied to the criminal case and could lead to a reduced sentence to a certain extent. The latter applied to the civil case; with it, Chen Wei’s demand for 230,000 in compensation would become nothing more than a clown’s impotent rage!

As for what would happen if they reneged on the agreements...

’What if I told you they couldn’t?’

’Or rather, Li Youcai didn’t meet the conditions to retract the Letter of Understanding and the settlement agreement!’

The law clearly stipulates that a letter of understanding can only be revoked if it was obtained through "inducement, threats, coercion, or other such means," or if a "major misunderstanding" was involved.

But Xu De had never uttered a single threatening word!

Secondly...

Inducement?

’I didn’t induce them either.’

’On the contrary, I used plain language to repeatedly emphasize and remind them that they didn’t have guardianship rights and couldn’t get the child through legal means!’

’So there’s an eighty percent chance the judge won’t think Li Youcai had any major misunderstanding.’

’And even if they do, it doesn’t matter.’

’I’ll naturally fulfill the promise I made!’

Looking at the two documents in his hand, Xu De muttered to himself.

What promise had he made?

Visitation rights!

In the recording, Li Youcai had clearly stated that he wanted to "meet the child."

As long as he fulfilled that promise,

then, in effect, Li Youcai wouldn’t have suffered a loss. The "consideration" for the Letter of Understanding would have been met, and the defendant would have legally fulfilled their end of the bargain.

The court would see no need to overturn something that was already valid, legal, and in effect.

As for the motive—"to get the child completely, but only ending up with visitation rights"—could that be grounds for retraction?

Useless.

A mistaken motive doesn’t affect the validity of the contract!

"Everything is ready... Now we just wait for the trial tomorrow."

Xu De smiled and turned back into the law firm.

The time was 3:00 PM.

With 23 hours left until the trial, he had plenty of free time.

He could use this time to take care of some personal business!

"TAP, TAP, TAP..."

Xu De walked back to the main hall, dumped out the cold coffee, and refilled three fresh cups. He then placed them on a tray and headed for the reception room.

As he neared the door, he nudged it open with his hip.

"CREAK~"

The door swung open.

Through the opening, two somewhat familiar figures came into view.

"Coffee’s here. Drink up, it’ll wake you up."

Xu De walked in with a smile and handed a cup to each of them.

The pair, a man and a woman, were none other than Wang Chao and Lin Yue.

The former took the coffee, took a serious sip to taste it, and then chugged the rest in one go.

This was his unique way of showing appreciation.

The sip was to give a "high-class" beverage like coffee its due respect; chugging it was to respect his own stomach!

Lin Yue, on the other hand, took an elegant sip from the rim of her cup before looking at Xu De quizzically.

"Why did you ask for us?"

Xu De sat down across from them, smiled, and said:

"I mainly wanted to ask you two... if you have any interest in striking out on your own?"

Striking out on their own? In other words...

Starting their own law firm!?

Hearing this, Lin Yue and Wang Chao both paused, their reactions completely opposite.

"Start a firm? Lawyer Xu, you think too highly of me!"

Wang Chao was thrilled and immediately sat up straight.

He was touched. Other law firms looked down on him, calling him a fake "Project 985" graduate and complaining that he couldn’t argue cases or cite laws.

But Xu De was different. Working with him was just so comfortable!

He would never forget the night of the 10th, when they went to Li Family Village and Xu De praised him for being able to scale walls and pick locks.

It was like a master zitherist finding someone who truly understood his music!

"If my lord does not forsake me, I am willing to undertake this great enterprise with you!"

A smile spread across Xu De’s face as he nodded.

"If you’re willing... I can give you twenty percent of the shares."

"No way. You get what you work for. I know my own worth."

Wang Chao shook his head, his expression very serious.

"You can insult me with words, but you can’t insult my character with money!"

Xu De gave him a thumbs-up. "A man of principle!"

"But this isn’t up for discussion. The twenty percent is set."

He turned to look at Lin Yue.

A law firm isn’t like a company. To open a general partnership law firm, it must be established by three lawyers together, so both of them were crucial.

"And you, Lawyer Lin?"

Hearing this,

Lin Yue was tempted. She’d had the idea of striking out on her own for a while now.

It’s just that...

"Lawyer Xu, how much do you have in savings right now?" Lin Yue asked.

"A little over three thousand," Xu De replied calmly.

Lin Yue shook her head. "That’s not enough."

To start a law firm, the three partners need to contribute at least one hundred thousand yuan in capital. Three thousand is nowhere near enough.

But before he could speak, Lin Yue continued:

"However, I can put in one hundred and fifty thousand, on the condition that I get 29% of the shares."

"And... how do you plan to grow the firm?"

"Where will the cases and clients come from?"

Her mother was the founder of a boutique law firm in Yanjing, so she wasn’t short on money. Compared to capital, the mindset of the firm’s leader was far more important.

Regarding this, Xu De was already prepared. He casually handed her a document.

"With this."

The two of them looked down and saw...

"A Letter of Understanding?" Lin Yue frowned.

"The Letter of Understanding from Wang Qiang’s case?"

She immediately understood, but still shook her head.

"It’s not enough. If you want to make a name for the firm with Wang Qiang’s case, you can’t just rely on the first trial’s proceedings. You need a decisive, overwhelming victory at sentencing."

If a law firm wants to attract clients and have a steady stream of cases, the best way is to win an unprecedented lawsuit!

Let everyone know what you’re capable of, and people will naturally come to you.

For Xu De to become famous overnight with Wang Qiang’s case, the first trial isn’t enough. The sentencing must also be considered a "win"!

In the legal world, people only look at the results, not the process!

And a single Letter of Understanding really can’t determine the sentence.

"Then what if I add this? Is this enough!?"

Xu De passed over the settlement agreement.

Lin Yue looked at it, her eyebrows raising slightly.

The settlement agreement could indeed only affect the civil suit, but that presented its own wrinkle.

If the case had special circumstances and the parties settled the civil suit, the judge would often exercise "discretionary power" based on these two points to reduce or lighten the sentence. There was a high probability Wang Qiang could be pushed toward a not-guilty verdict.

However...

"Nine thousand yuan in compensation? To be paid off with interest within ten years?"

Lin Yue looked at the contract, which clearly stated nine thousand yuan in compensation, and hesitated.

"Wang Mei hasn’t adjusted to normal life yet, and Xu Hong is disabled. If Wang Qiang only has to pay nine thousand yuan, while also supporting his family..."

Even if it’s a win, it would be a pyrrhic one.

Xu De had anticipated this reaction. Without another word, he placed a yellowed piece of paper on the table.

"Then this, plus this, is it enough!?"

They looked down and were surprised to see several IOU notes from ten years ago. Written on them was...

[We, Li Youcai and Liu Cui of Li Family Village, Lusen City, hereby borrow one thousand yuan from Li Jianguo to buy a daughter-in-law, to be repaid within three years...]

Reading further down...

...were the signatures and thumbprints of Li Youcai and Liu Cui!

This was... ironclad proof that Li Youcai and Liu Cui participated in the human trafficking case, making them "accomplices"!?

"Where did you get this!?"

Lin Yue’s head snapped up, and she stared at him in disbelief.

This ironclad proof... even the prosecutor couldn’t get their hands on this!

"Don’t worry about that. In any case, besides this, I also have three witnesses who will appear in court tomorrow."

Xu De smiled, showing no intention of explaining.

Lin Yue’s mind was reeling. After suppressing her shock, she spoke objectively:

"Setting aside the sentencing for a moment, that nine thousand yuan in compensation..."

"Lawyer Lin, when dealing with people, we have to know how to be flexible,"

Xu De said nonchalantly.

He pointed to the settlement agreement, then to the IOU.

"It’s true that we’re paying Li Youcai."

"But what if, after using the settlement agreement, I immediately use this IOU to form a complete chain of evidence and have Li Youcai and Liu Cui tried on the spot!?"

The chain of evidence is solid. The court might not even grant a second hearing and would sentence them directly.

Taking into account the series of crimes, it would be at least twenty years, just as Xu De predicted!

"But, Lawyer Lin, let me ask you a question!"

Xu De’s voice suddenly rose, growing serious.

"How many more years do you think Li Youcai and Liu Cui have left to live?"

At his words, Lin Yue froze.

The couple was already over sixty, lived in a harsh environment, and their bodies were already riddled with a series of ailments.

Forget twenty years, forget ten. They’d be lucky to live another eight!

"Li Youcai and Liu Cui can’t spend money in prison. Ten years from now, when they’ve died of old age or illness, what happens to the nine thousand yuan Wang Qiang is supposed to pay them?"

Xu De explained patiently, not waiting for her to answer as he continued on his own:

"It becomes their estate!"

"And if it’s an estate, doesn’t that mean someone has to inherit it?"

"And if someone has to inherit it, who would that be?"

As his words sank in, Lin Yue’s mind instinctively followed his logic. The moment she understood, she was stunned.

Heirs to an estate are generally determined by the closeness of blood relations.

But here was the problem...

There was only one person qualified to inherit their estate.

Li Yang!

"It’s Li Yang, Wang Mei’s son. And ten years from now, since Li Yang won’t be an adult, the money will be managed by Wang Mei on his behalf!"

Xu De said with a grin.

"In other words... this nine thousand yuan is basically being given by Wang Qiang to Wang Mei!"

After he finished speaking,

the entire reception room fell silent.

What... The compensation paid by Wang Qiang to the plaintiffs would, after a roundabout journey of ten years, end up back in the hands of his sister, Wang Mei, complete with interest!?

"And it’s not just the nine thousand yuan."

Xu De continued:

"Li Youcai’s house, furniture, and savings will all be part of the estate!"

"Wang Mei was imprisoned and abused for ten years... Heh. She can’t just get nothing for it."

What’s that?

You say Xu De mentioned ’wiping out a family line’ to Li Sheng and Li Li?

He never said *they* would be the ones doing it!

Li Sheng might have been able to wipe them out, but that doesn’t mean the victim can’t!

In short...

"This, plus this. Is it enough!?"

Xu De’s gaze burned as he stared at Lin Yue.

Lin Yue opened her mouth, but no words came out.

Putting everything else aside, just this executable, almost bug-exploiting logic for inheritance was enough to prove how thoroughly Xu De had thought things through.

Not to mention his terrifying ability to improvise. Looked at this way, maybe Wang Qiang’s case...

...really could make him famous overnight!

"It’s enough!" Lin Yue took a deep breath and nodded in agreement.

The money was paid, but it was also as if it wasn’t.

He was willing to grant visitation rights, but with Li Youcai sentenced to prison, he wouldn’t be able to use those rights anyway. It made no difference whether he had them or not.

What does it mean to get something for nothing?

This is how you get something for nothing!

"Welcome aboard."

A smile spread across Xu De’s face, his whole demeanor radiating with spirited confidence.

Now that the matter of the law firm was settled,

everything depended on tomorrow’s trial!

Thinking of this, Xu De looked down at the materials he had prepared from scratch over the past month or so.

’The Letter of Understanding’ + ’the settlement agreement’ + ’the IOU evidence chain’ + ’the witnesses’ + ’the surrender’...

Either...

...tomorrow, the prosecutor and Chen Wei would crush him with an even fiercer assault, his defense would fail, and his career prospects would be bleak as he hit rock bottom.

Or...

...he alone would face the prosecutor, Lawyer Chen Wei, Li Youcai, and Liu Cui in court, and carry out a textbook, bloody slaughter where the winner takes all!!!

’Will it all be for nothing, or will I make a name for myself...’

’It all comes down to tomorrow’s trial!’

...

...

「The next day.」

On November 15th, as a transport vehicle slowly drove into the Lusen City Intermediate People’s Court,

the trial officially began!

...

...

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