What's wrong with this lawyer?!

Chapter 65: Chapter 55 It's only right and proper to repay debts; why should I mediate?

Jingzhou City Lawyers Association has become infamous again!

What could be more embarrassing than a statement claiming "staff misoperation"? It's when the person involved produces evidence proving you indeed did it.

"Wasn't it supposed to be a temporary worker? Isn't Jingzhou Lawyers Association going to come out and explain? There's a disciplinary decision with an official seal, and you're telling me it was a staff misoperation?"

"So which is actually true? Why don't you just have a fight..."

"I'm all for it, a fight would definitely be more effective than you guys coming out to explain and apologize."

At Jingzhou City Lawyers Association, Yin Deyuan kept explaining on the phone, but clearly, the person on the other end wasn't listening.

"It's not like that, Director Wang. This... As you see, we do need to explain, and we've also told Song Tengfei not to blabber nonsense. Who could have foreseen him..."

"Yes, yes, I understand."

After hanging up, Yin Deyuan looked livid, and the several vice presidents sitting in front of him had no idea what to say.

Online now, the reputation of Jingzhou City Lawyers Association is completely ruined, with too many people kicking them while they're down.

"President, what were Director Wang's instructions just now?" Han Chengli hesitantly spoke up.

"A notice of criticism from the Disciplinary Committee, a corrective conversation from me, and an overall rectification throughout the Lawyers Association."

"It's all because of that Tang Fangjing. Who would've thought he would specifically gather evidence to report to the police? Is there really such a person in this world? Does he benefit from getting someone jailed?" someone complained with dissatisfaction.

This was the sentiment shared by many. From childhood to adulthood, people generally disliked "tattling" or "reporting" on others.

Now, some lawyers think you're part of a whole, and your actions are tarnishing the reputation of all lawyers.

"What's the use of saying all that? After the New Year, this batch of intern lawyers will start their training classes. Tang Fangjing thinks he's capable, doesn't he? Just wait and see!" Han Chengli spoke.

An intern lawyer this brazen, constantly at odds with the Lawyers Association—he really thinks he's someone special!

Yin Deyuan said nothing. It was not difficult for the Lawyers Association to deal with an intern lawyer. If you want to continue working in this field, you have to obey!

The video caused quite a stir, and Tang Fangjing's name began to grow in notoriety, at least within the legal industry circle. Many people now knew about him.

And now, what Tang Fangjing had to do was just wait for the judge's notice, which was highly likely to be a mediation.

Nothing could be done. The amount in question for Luo Duancheng's case wasn't significant, and it wasn't that he refused to repay debts; he had already paid back the principal.

As he was owed wages himself, considering various factors, the judge would definitely prefer to avoid holding a court session if possible.

It was approaching Chinese New Year, and it was the year-end rush. The courts were especially busy, and the enforcement bureau's enforcers were worked like beasts of burden.

Tang Fangjing had no family to return to, and he had no interest in visiting the relatives in his hometown—dull and pointless.

Marriage was even less of a concern. One could say that the "terminal illness shield" was really handy. No matter who wanted to press the issue of marriage, once they heard he was in the late stages of cancer, they would just sigh and drop the topic.

After several days of waiting, the time finally arrived. Tang Fangjing, along with Luo Duancheng, hurried to the courthouse.

The judge was an acquaintance, Old Zhou, whose hair was no longer as thick as before, too busy.

The other party hadn't arrived yet, and as soon as Old Zhou sat down, he started making small talk.

"Ah, don't get me started. Otherwise, I might just quit and become a lawyer. Do you know how many sessions I conducted on my busiest day this year? I'll tell you, twenty-five sessions in one day!"

It's like writing verdicts until one's hand goes numb.

Tang Fangjing smiled and kept silent; he was well aware of the situation. Why do judges scold lawyers for beating around the bush during court sessions? Because the judge might have several other cases lined up behind them.

With so many parties and representatives waiting, you're wasting time now?

Judges are humans too. If you waste their time, they surely won't show you any goodwill.

"It's the end of the year, and we are busy, so we'll avoid a court session if possible."

This pretty much set the tone. Naturally, Tang Fangjing had no objections; as long as they could agree to pay less or postpone the payment, it was all negotiable. Luo Duancheng wasn't a deadbeat; he genuinely had no cash at hand.

As they were talking, the other party finally arrived—a burly man, tattoos peeking from around his neck.

Of course, Old Tang, who had an ace up his sleeve, didn't care about these trifles, but the lawyer following the man seemed familiar. Wasn't it the same Lawyer Zhang Wei from before?

There, Lawyer Zhang Wei entered the mediation room with Miss Xiao Yan and froze; they had actually brought him?

Tang Fangjing's series of actions were all too clear to him. Mr. Hou was doing fine and then suddenly got locked up, so much so that now everyone in the firm says that Zhang Wei is a jinx lawyer…

He sat down after coughing unnaturally twice, and the party next to him had already started speaking.

"Mr. Luo, you've even hired a lawyer, huh? You've borrowed money and won't pay it back, how can you be so shameless!" the burly tattooed man, glancing at Luo Duancheng, shouted.

Miss Xiao Yan sat down and stole a couple of glances. Even though nobody knows who you are when talking on the internet, she was still worried; if someone found out, she'd probably die of embarrassment right there…

Luo Duancheng's face turned red at the words, for someone as honest as him, there was no need for anyone to urge him to pay his debts; he was constantly reminded in his own mind.

Tang Fangjing didn't speak. Old Zhou next to him spoke up, "Alright, Mr. Bai, it's not that Luo Duancheng is deliberately refusing to pay you. His money is tied up as well."

"Now that you're suing, he still can't pay. Since we're all here at the court, let's try to mediate. He's already paid the principal, right?"

"The interest you're asking for is also high. Let him pay a little less or give him a few days' extension."

The tattooed man, who is Lu Haochuan, said with dissatisfaction, "That's not it. His lack of money isn't my problem. Why should I extend the deadline? Isn't it right and proper to pay debts?"

"He agreed to the interest himself; it's not like I forced him. What's this, is your court always this muddled?"

Looking at Old Zhou's darkening face, Zhang Wei felt an immense pressure rise beside him. Although they had said before coming that they didn't agree to mediation, there was no need to pick a fight with the judge!

Tang Fangjing did understand Old Zhou's mood; he probably wanted to scold someone badly.

However, Old Tang saw it differently—mediation was a matter of mutual consent. Since there was disagreement, then they should go to court.

"Judge Zhou, since they don't agree to the mediation, let's go to trial. This case will be quick."

Old Zhou nodded with a dark face and started preparing for the trial.

Tang Fangjing, on the other hand, took out a copy of the complaint and several other documents from his bag. He had received these materials long ago but hadn't really looked at them as the case seemed too simple.

But since a trial was going to happen, he decided to take a look.

He reviewed the documents on his way to the Civil Second Court, where the case was to be heard using the summary proceedings, with Judge Zhou presiding alone.

Zhang Wei was also preparing, but he, too, felt there was nothing much to prepare; the case was too simple, even a dog could handle it.

Just as he arrived at the entrance to the Civil Second Court, Tang Fangjing was stunnned.

"What's wrong, Lawyer Tang? Is there...is there a problem?" Luo Duancheng asked nervously next to him.

This was his first time in court, and he was inexplicably nervous.

Old Tang, holding one piece of evidence in his hand, spoke with a strange expression, "The problem isn't serious, but you might not need to attend the trial after all."

Huh? Luo Duancheng was equally stunned; what did he mean I might not need to attend the trial?

Inside the Civil Second Court, with Judge Zhou sitting up there with a stern face, Zhang Wei and Miss Xiao Yan led Lu Haochuan to the plaintiff's seat, only to see Tang Fangjing rush to the judge's bench with a piece of paper in hand.

"What's he doing? Is that a bribe to the judge? That's too bold." Lu Haochuan joked from below.

However, Zhang Wei suddenly felt a lurch in his heart; although he didn't know what had happened, something felt very wrong.

At the Judgment Chief's bench, Old Zhou's face also changed after hearing Tang Fangjing out, showing an expression of "surprised confusion."

"So you see, my suggestion is to call the police; we've come this far, what do you say?" Tang Fangjing said with a smile.

Genius, it was some genius who had the plaintiff submit the bank statements as evidence.

At a glance, Tang Fangjing had discovered that the fellow on the other side was a professional moneylender!

At the very least, he had highly apparent lending transactions with over twenty accounts...

There's a crime in the criminal law called illegal business operations, and loaning money is not something one can simply do without the proper permissions!

......

At Jingzhou City First Prison, it was another visiting day. Hou Xiangyuan sat waiting for the prison guard's notice; he needed to tell his wife that he now needed money.

But however much he waited, nobody came. The sun had set, and the visiting day had ended.

What's going on? Could it be that his wife doesn't care anymore?