MWC – Chapter 180 Is there still law?

I AM DROPPING THIS NOVEL. IF ANYONE WANTS TO CONTINUE THEY CAN. IF POSSIBLE PLEASE SHARE THE LINK SO I CAN BINGE READ TOO.

South Wing of Liberty Tower, Rest Area Next to the Conference Room

Zheng Zhongshi’s expression was grim.

The middle-aged man in a suit sitting beside him was his newly hired lawyer, Wang Zhenren, from the Mingde Law Firm in Xinfa District. Wang was a senior barrister with a high-level third-tier qualification.

After dismissing the Manila legal team, Zheng had gone straight to Red Law Firm, only to be politely turned down. The firm cited a conflict of interest due to their long-term partnership with Jintai Ping Insurance, the opposing party in the case.

Several other prominent firms also rejected him, all giving the same response: settling the two cases would likely require no less than 300,000 yuan in compensation. They emphasized the difficulty of reconciliation, especially given the opponent’s lawyer, Lu Qianxing.

It wasn’t until yesterday that Mingde Law Firm agreed to take his case.

But during the just-concluded negotiation session, the other side unexpectedly raised their demands. Three conditions were presented:

1. The compensation for the female officer was increased to 400,000 yuan.
2. Compensation for the horse owner was raised to 200,000 yuan.
3. The third condition remained unchanged.

Lu himself didn’t even show up; his three apprentices handled the negotiations. Each was more ruthless than the last.

They argued that once an offer was made, the other party needed to respond promptly. If no response came within a few days, the initial offer would be withdrawn due to evolving circumstances.

No matter how Wang Zhenren negotiated, the other side wouldn’t budge.

Now, during a 30-minute recess, Zheng felt he needed a break to calm down; otherwise, he might lose control. He was already extremely agitated.

Listening to Lawyer Wang ramble on in front of him, he had the urge to slap him. But he feared repeating his earlier mistake. Perhaps if he had let the Manila team continue handling things, the situation wouldn’t have deteriorated to this extent.

“Mr. Zheng, the opposing side’s arguments do hold some merit. The grand jury has already passed the hearing on the kidnapping case, and the trial has been scheduled. If the other side withdraws the charges, it could indeed tarnish Lawyer Lu’s reputation.”

“Whose side are you on, anyway?” Zheng finally snapped, glaring at Wang.

Wang sighed. “Mr. Zheng, scold me all you like, but I must say this: it’s because you didn’t trust your lawyers and kept delaying things that the situation has reached this uncontrollable point. You don’t understand the law, and if you keep being stubborn, you could be facing a 20-year prison sentence…”

Zheng sprang to his feet. “Twenty years again? What’s wrong with you people?”

Wang sighed again. “Shout if it helps, Mr. Zheng. But as your lawyer, I sincerely hope you don’t fire me. Otherwise, things will get worse. If we can’t reach a settlement soon, you’ll end up in jail.”

Wang’s face was full of sincerity, as if he didn’t mind Zheng’s outbursts and was only concerned about his client’s best interests.

Seeing this earnest expression, Zheng gritted his teeth, snorted, and sat back down. “Fine. What do you suggest we do?” He was the type who responded better to softness than hardness.

Wang sighed. “Mr. Zheng, you’re not young anymore—almost fifty, right? If you spend twenty years in prison, when you get out…”

Zheng waved dismissively. “Spare me the pep talk. If I do twenty years, I might as well not come out at all!”

“Exactly…” Wang sighed deeply.

Turning slightly, Zheng asked, “Hey, what do you think their bottom line is? How much money will settle this? Why do I feel like those three brats don’t want to back down by even a penny?”

“If it’s 600,000 yuan, could you manage that?” Wang casually asked while closely observing Zheng’s reaction.

“No way! Even if I sold everything, I wouldn’t have that much!” Zheng was frustrated. Although he often bragged about his wealth when drinking, his actual financial situation was far from his boasts.

Over the years, the horse breeding and prize winnings had brought in significant income—last year alone, the maintenance fees for 80 horses exceeded 200,000 yuan, and the stable’s total prize money surpassed 400,000 yuan. However, large expenses ate away at those earnings.

Wang studied his expression and nodded. “Mr. Zheng, here’s how I see it. You’re at the peak of your career. Money can be earned back, even if you have to sell property. But if you go to jail, everything will be over.”

“So, we focus on the third condition. The stables must not be transferred or impacted in a way that damages your reputation. As long as the stables remain under your control, your position in the horse racing world will remain intact. Whatever you lose now, you can win back later. Don’t you agree?”

Zheng furrowed his brows.

Wang continued, “Of course, we shouldn’t pay the full 600,000 yuan. For the kidnapping case, our bottom line is 250,000 yuan. For the horse owner’s case, 100,000 yuan. That’s 350,000 yuan. What do you think?”

Somehow, the way Wang laid it out made the figure of 350,000 yuan seem reasonable.

After some calculations, Zheng nodded reluctantly. “Alright, including your 10,000 yuan lawyer fee, I’ll shell out 360,000. Consider it money down the drain!”

Wang smiled, unbothered by the insult.

An hour later, the three returned to the lounge. Zheng was livid, kicking the sofa repeatedly and shouting profanities.

The assistant lawyer didn’t dare intervene, knowing the damages would ultimately be billed to Wang.

The opposing side hadn’t budged on any condition or reduced their demand by even a cent.

“Am I really looking at 20 years in prison?!” Zheng asked Wang.

Wang sighed. “It’s hard to avoid at least 15 years, especially if you get a strict judge…”

He added, “Mr. Zheng, I must be honest. Lawyer Lu has significant influence in the judicial world. It wouldn’t be hard for him to ensure a strict judge presides over your case. This is an unwritten rule I’ve used before. Against him, there’s no way to get a favorable judge.”

“So yes, you might face over 20 years.”

Zheng clenched his fists. “What kind of world is this? Where’s the justice?!”

The assistant lawyer chuckled inwardly. When you were kidnapping officers and mistreating expensive horses, did you think about the law? Now you’re playing the victim? It seems the wicked truly need someone more wicked to deal with them.

In the eyes of ordinary, kind-hearted people, you are an untouchable bully. But when you face someone stronger, you’re completely outmatched. They didn’t need to use any underhanded tricks—they simply followed the rules of society, and effortlessly left you at the brink of despair.

“Fine, 600,000 then, but I’m keeping the stable!” Zheng Zhongshi gritted his teeth. “I’ll go borrow money, sell everything I own if I have to, but I’m done begging these inhuman bastards! These bullies abusing their power—may they all rot in hell someday!”

Wang Zhengren froze for a moment. While he was relieved, he also felt a twinge of worry. Would he even get his 10,000 yuan lawyer fee now?

In the office, Lu Ming reviewed the finalized settlement agreement.

It wasn’t what he originally envisioned. His initial baseline was a total compensation of 350,000 yuan—250,000 for Bi Xiaoting and 100,000 for his little Jennifer.

He had planned to transfer the stable to Ma Zengli as a gesture of gratitude for housing his fifteen thoroughbreds.

Moreover, he had plans for horse racing. It was a great way to meet new people and expand his social circle.

He’d even considered having Zheng Zhongshi take over Ma Zengli’s old city stable.

After all, leaving Zheng with no means to make a living while bankrupting him entirely would defeat the purpose of a settlement. If it were him, he’d rather serve a jail sentence than settle under those terms.

But the new agreement included a staggering 600,000 yuan in compensation, while the clause about the stable was removed entirely.

“Master, they were too afraid to come, so I made the decision,” Tong Xiao’e explained nervously, watching Lu Ming’s expression. “I thought the new terms were more in line with our client’s interests, even though it deviated from your original baseline.”

“And honestly, that guy was so enraged after dealing with us that he was acting out of spite. I thought if I didn’t agree quickly and waited to consult you, he might back out.”

Lu Ming looked at the agreement, then at Tong Xiao’e, who was visibly anxious.

“Hmm, it’s fine. Go ahead. And ask someone to call Bi Xiaoting back. Actually, never mind, I’ll go myself.”

“Yes…” Not knowing how to read her master’s emotions, Tong Xiao’e left with her head low.

“Tong Xiao’e!” Lu Ming called after her with a smile. “Good job!”

“Huh?” Tong Xiao’e turned, stunned, to see Lu Ming smiling at her. Instantly, her unease melted away, and the world seemed brighter.

“You’re right. The new agreement better serves our client’s interests.”

“Thank you, Master!” Tong Xiao’e bowed deeply and walked out with a spring in her step. As she exited the door, she quietly cheered under her breath, clenching her fist.

Lu Ming chuckled. His first disciple was proving she could stand on her own in the future.

During this negotiation, Bi Xiaoting wasn’t involved to avoid giving away anything through her expressions.

At the old city stable owned by Ma Zengli, Bi Xiaoting was accompanying Jennifer in caring for “Princess Love.”

Seeing Lu Ming, Jennifer, dressed in a pristine white riding outfit, ran over excitedly. Lu Ming naturally embraced her and planted a light kiss on her delicate face. Jennifer blushed with joy, lowering her head shyly.

“Xiaobi, come here!” Lu Ming called to Bi Xiaoting.

Bi Xiaoting quickly walked over.

Lu Ming pulled out a check and handed it to her. “This is for you! I’m paying you in advance, but I deducted 50,000 yuan for legal fees. After all, my apprentices and the other staff can’t work for free, right?”

Bi Xiaoting stared at the check in shock. “Boss, didn’t the settlement just get finalized…”

The amount on the check was 350,000 yuan.

Lu Ming smiled knowingly. Clearly, the news had already spread, and someone she was close to must have informed her.

The legal community was buzzing with rumors. Besides the envy and jealousy, there was an element of shared sentiment. Working for such a boss could mean becoming a millionaire just from a minor grievance—utterly unbelievable.

The ripple effects were clear. While it might lead some to think associating with Lu Ming could bring sudden windfalls, or that being loyal to him might create opportunities for rewards, the overall benefit was immense. If loyalty were a game stat, it would have skyrocketed, with the average hitting 90 or above.

“Take it. The lawyers will handle the settlement money. This is for your peace of mind,” Lu Ming said.

“I-I can’t take this much…” Bi Xiaoting shook her head. “This… this is too much…” She wasn’t being modest; she was genuinely overwhelmed.

She had fantasized about getting a few thousand yuan in compensation, but 350,000? That was more than she could imagine saving in ten lifetimes.

Plus, how could legal fees only be 50,000 yuan for such a large settlement?

What were the boss’s fees like? Without him, even getting a few thousand in compensation would’ve been miraculous.

“Boss, I really can’t. Just give me a small portion,” Bi Xiaoting stammered, still processing her disbelief.

Lu Ming smiled. “Take your time to process. And you’ll probably resign, but I hope you’ll stay friends with Jennifer.” Actually, he didn’t need to say this. Anyone with basic emotional intelligence would maintain their connection with Jennifer.

Especially with newfound wealth, Bi Xiaoting would undoubtedly seek to earn more and stay close to someone like Jennifer, who represented a higher echelon of society.

Sudden wealth with no foundation is like winning a massive lottery prize. Relationships like this were priceless and irreplaceable.

Ignoring Bi Xiaoting’s dazed state, Lu Ming pulled Jennifer aside and handed her a check for 200,000 yuan. He smiled. “Here’s your allowance.”

At first, Jennifer wouldn’t take his money, but hearing it was “allowance,” she happily accepted it. “Thank you, sir!” she said sweetly, carefully tucking the check into her purse without even looking at the amount.

After chatting with Jennifer for a bit, Lu Ming noticed Bi Xiaoting approaching hesitantly.

“Boss, I-I can only take 100,000!” Bi Xiaoting said cautiously. The amount still frightened her. She added, “And I don’t want to quit. I’d like to stay on as Jennifer’s assistant. Is that okay?”

Lu Ming smiled. “Your job is up to you. As for the check, deposit it first, and then take your time to think about it.”

He asked Jennifer to accompany her to ensure her safety. Jennifer was now always surrounded by bodyguards, so there was no worry about robberies or other threats.

Bi Xiaoting nodded. “I’ll deposit it, then transfer 250,000 to your firm. That feels safer. After all, the world of the wealthy is daunting—even if you’re not like that, your partners might be.”

Lu Ming glanced at her and chuckled. “Do as you wish. But in doing so, you’ve become a major client of our firm.” He laughed as he spoke.