What's wrong with this lawyer?!

Chapter 63: Chapter 53: Asking for a Raise? I Love Asking for a Raise the Most!

Tang Fangjing had exerted a lot of effort, but he finally understood this so-called life-saving system.

It was simple, when subject to a fatal injury, the system could stabilize the host's life, ensuring the host wouldn't die.

Unless there were some special circumstances, like one's head being chopped off…

To be honest, after seeing this "Pain Shielding (Pseudo)," Tang Fangjing felt a bit of a toothache. First Pain Shielding, now life-saving system, does this mean that from now on, it's really a matter of life and death!

Otherwise, there was no reason for the system to give such a reward!

Thinking about the legendary cement truck situations, Old Tang felt like life was losing its fun; all those previous tasks were just for practice, huh…

However, maybe because his completion rate wasn't high enough, this fake life-saving system could only be used three times. It seemed that to get a complete life-saving system, the completion rate must exceed four hundred percent.

And now that he had Pain Shielding, maybe he could learn some fighting skills. At the very least, he shouldn't be clueless if someone initiated a fight.

Mulling over this matter, Old Tang walked leisurely towards Tengda, greeting the homeowners in the community along the way.

Now he was a celebrity in the community, highly esteemed because everyone knew what he had done. The community's current state and the fact that everyone got their money were all thanks to Lawyer Tang.

As for Director Liu, he was merely a mascot; they only believed in Lawyer Tang!

In the face of the enthusiastic elders, Old Tang quickly admitted defeat; he was always being asked to matchmake for people, and luckily he had a terminal illness to ward them off.

On his way to Tengda, he wanted to check on how Li Wanting's video was coming along.

The new case had been completed, and it definitely needed to be posted online for everyone to enjoy.

As for whether posting this case would offend the bar association... it didn't matter anymore. A hatred score of ninety-nine was almost the same as nine hundred ninety-nine.

Just as he arrived at the entrance of Tengda, he saw a man in his forties pacing back and forth at the door.

"Hey brother, what's the matter?" Tang Fangjing approached and asked.

The man turned around, his hair a mess with a few strands of white, his face shiny from dirt.

With dirty jeans and a short sleeve, he looked exactly like a construction worker.

Seeing Tang Fangjing, the man timidly said, "Ah, I... I have a little... no, there's no problem, just... just..."

Seeing the man hesitate to speak, Tang Fangjing immediately said, "Alright, brother, come on in and talk, it's okay, just a few words, it's free."

In his previous life, he had seen many cases like this, and he could tell at a glance that the other party probably had something to ask a lawyer, but was too embarrassed to afford it, wondering if not offering money would make the lawyer dislike them...

Life is always like this. Those who look impressive often try to take advantage of everything, even specifically driving to the countryside to steal crops from the villagers, their shamelessness reaching a peak.

While those struggling at the bottom layer of society care so much about others' opinions, they wouldn't dare sit in a seat on public transport, afraid of being accused of dirtying it...

So Old Tang directly told the man to ask whatever question he had.

"Don't be shy, big fellow, have a seat. Hey Wei Long, go get a glass of water!"

Li Weilong was about to say something when his mentor beside him spoke up, "Go on, what are you waiting for?"

Tears came out, real tears, the gap between an intern lawyer and an intern lawyer felt even bigger than the gap between people and dogs.

The water was quickly brought over, and Tang Fangjing began, "I am a lawyer at this firm, my name is Tang, and you can just call me Lawyer Tang. Feel free to speak, and ask any questions you have."

Sometimes doing a good deed can always put someone in a good mood.

The man across from him took a sip of water and finally began, "Lawyer Tang, my name is Luo Duancheng, and here's the thing, I work at a construction site..."

Although his explanation was somewhat convoluted, Tang Fangjing still listened without interrupting casually.

As he had guessed, the man was a construction worker, forty-eight years old this year, and had worked for a construction company that hadn't paid him his wages.

However, he had other things to take care of at the law firm.

He had not received his wages, and both his family and himself needed money, so having no other choice, he borrowed eighty thousand yuan through a coworker.

The agreement was for a monthly interest of 1.5%, but then the new worksite also delayed wages. The principal had been paid off, but he couldn't afford the three months' remaining interest.

When he tried to negotiate with the lender for reduced interest or a grace period, the lender refused and instead took him to court.

Once the court accepted the case and issued him a summons, the common construction worker, who had never seen such a spectacle, panicked and thought about hiring a lawyer, but then heard that it would cost a lot of money.

So he hesitated at the doorstep for a long time.

"Lawyer Tang, he said... he said the IOU clearly states in black and white, I signed it myself, so I must pay, and he told me to go borrow more money, but I really don't have any money left..."

With elderly parents above and young children below, speaking of it brought tears to his eyes.

Tang Fangjing remained very calm, or perhaps he had seen too many tragedies in his past life.

He took the IOU to review it, found no problems, and saw it was clear and straightforward. Coupled with the transfer records, the case was almost certainly a loss...

"The situation is as such, according to what you've said, the other party has already sued you, and it's highly likely that you've lost the case. However, you can still pay less interest."

"If you hire a lawyer, you can go through mediation, and considering your circumstances, the court may mediate for even less. But that also depends on the situation. What do you think?"

According to "The Supreme People's Court Provisions on Several Issues Concerning the Application of Law in the Trial of Private Lending Cases," the interest rate on private loans cannot exceed four times the annual interest rate of bank loans, and any excess is considered unjust enrichment."

The LPR at the time of signing the agreement was 3.65%, so four times that is 14.6%, and a monthly interest of 1.5% is an annual rate of 18%, so the excess can be exempted.

However, it certainly doesn't reach the standard for usury, and the interest due still has to be paid.

Luo Duancheng, sitting opposite, fidgeted restlessly. He couldn't even afford the interest, let alone legal fees.

"Lawyer Tang, then... thank you. I'll be going now," Luo Duancheng hesitated for a moment before standing up to say.

Although he lived a hard life, he understood that lawyers charge for litigation, and he had no money.

Being able to consult for free was already a favor.

Seeing that Luo was about to leave, Tang Fangjing spoke up, "Uh... Master Luo, about that construction company that didn't pay your wages, have you not considered claiming it?"

Luo Duancheng turned around and replied with a wry smile, "Of course I considered it. We five coworkers have asked many times, but it's impossible to get anything. That boss is very influential."

"What about the labor department? Didn't you seek help there?"

"We did. We pressed that boss a few times but got nowhere. In the end, they told us to go the legal route, saying a lawsuit would be more effective, but we have to work every day. When do we have the time to sue..."

Moreover, the common sentiment among many laborers is to avoid lawsuits whenever possible.

Especially when there were rumors that the "other party is very influential."

Seeing that Lawyer Tang had gone silent, Luo Duancheng turned to leave, thinking the unpaid wages matter was too difficult, so he didn't want to press the seemingly easygoing young lawyer.

Just as he reached the door, though, he saw the young lawyer running out with a smile on his face.

"Master Luo, where are you rushing off to? Come on, we haven't finished talking yet. How about this, you're out of money now, right? Let me take you to apply for legal aid for both cases."

"Worried about not getting approved? Don't worry, if they don't approve it, I'll represent you in court for free!"

Before he knew it, Luo had a new mission, but not for the debt case, it was for the wage arrears case!

Mission objective: Teach the wage-depriving boss a lesson through legal means!

That settled it. Piling both cases at the legal aid office, Master Luo's situation met the criteria perfectly. And with me guaranteeing to accept the case, there's no reason for it not to pass!

Moreover, wage arrears cases are a focus for maintaining public order. Taking legal action is exactly what the authorities like to see. If they don't approve it, they're the ones disrupting stability…