MWC – Chapter 22 A Loving Father and a Filial Son (Part 1)

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

The laundry’s reception room had temporarily become Lu Ming’s office.

When Wang Da’an came in, Lu Ming was flipping through a science magazine.

“You still enjoy reading these?” Wang Da’an was surprised to see the cover of the magazine in Lu Ming’s hand.

Lu Ming smiled and pointed to an empty medicine bottle on the table, “I bought this medicine bottle at the pharmacy for 5 cents.”

“5 cents for an empty bottle? I wouldn’t take it even if it were free!” Wang Da’an shook his head, “Little brother, I can’t keep up with your thinking.” He then said, “Gao Dazhuang wants you to see him at his office tomorrow; he doesn’t have time today.”

Lu Ming nodded, “We’ll talk about it later then.”

Wang Da’an sighed, “What can you do, he’s a second-tier lawyer.”

Gao Dazhuang, also known as Gao Wentian, was a mid-level advocate hired at a high price by Liu Laocai from the city, commonly referred to as a second-tier lawyer.

After Liu Kexing sent Lu Ming back, Lu Ming arranged a meeting with Gao Dazhuang through Wang Da’an.

But clearly, the other party was putting on airs.

Just as Lu Ming was about to speak, a commotion erupted outside. Even before the people entered the room, the noise seemed like it could lift the roof.

“Lawyer Lu! Lawyer Lu!”

It was Liu Laocai’s booming voice.

The door of the laundry shop was flung open, and Liu Laocai strode in, his face full of anger, “Lawyer Lu! Come out here!”

Wang Da’an was startled and quickly went out to greet him, “Chairman Liu, what’s the matter? Calm down.”

Liu Laocai glared at Lu Ming, who was walking out leisurely, his eyes almost spitting fire, “Lawyer Lu, tell me, is it really as Little Fourth said? Did Little Third and that slut conspire to mess with me?!”

“Seeing is not always believing!” Lu Ming gestured, “Chairman Liu, please come in and talk.”

Liu Laocai, gritting his teeth, blinked his small eyes at Lu Ming, finally snorted, and followed Lu Ming into the room.

He sat down on the sofa opposite the coffee table but was still fuming, “Why didn’t you tell me as soon as you found out?!”

Lu Ming smiled, “Alright, now we can formally sign the retainer agreement!”

Pamela came over and placed two copies of the retainer agreement in front of Lu Ming and Liu Laocai.

“Chairman Liu, once you sign, I’ll be your official representative lawyer,” Lu Ming said with a smile.

“Fine! That bastard Gao, he doesn’t know what he’s doing. The things you found out in a day, he still hasn’t figured out. He’s just a fool!” Liu Laocai gritted his teeth, took the pen Pamela handed him, and signed the papers swiftly.

Suddenly, he looked up suspiciously, “Lawyer Lu, why didn’t we sign this morning?” Then he laughed, like an old fox, “I see, you weren’t confident then, but now you think you can win the case, so you’re getting involved. You’re like me when I was young…” Suddenly, he slapped the table, “Damn it, that little bastard, he actually wants to send his old man to jail!”

Watching his almost schizophrenic behavior, Wang Da’an didn’t know whether to laugh or cry and just sat quietly in the corner.

Lu Ming smiled, “Chairman Liu, we didn’t sign this morning because, if I needed to investigate and potentially talk to Ms. Deng, there could be conversations that the prosecution might use against me, accusing me of misconduct. If I wasn’t yet your official representative lawyer, there would be no such concerns.”

“However, I didn’t get a chance to speak to Ms. Deng face-to-face, so it didn’t matter in the end.”

Liu Laocai nodded with partial understanding but seemed increasingly convinced by the young man in front of him.

Lu Ming continued, “Also, Chairman Liu, don’t be in such a hurry. This case is not as simple as you think. I still need to sort things out.”

Liu Laocai’s face instantly filled with anger, “What, can he still get away?! I found out that little bastard issued two new checks for 1500 yuan each, and I don’t know where the money went!” He paused, “Lawyer Lu, you might not know, but as the vice-general manager of the New Era, any check over 2000 yuan needs my signature. That bastard broke it up into smaller amounts. Where’s that money gone now? He’s hiding somewhere and doesn’t dare face me!”

Lu Ming nodded, “Maybe, but I need to think about how to fight this case.”

Just then, the phone on the back table rang urgently. Pamela answered it and then turned around, “Mr. Liu, it’s a call for you.”

Liu Laocai frowned, “Who is it? A debt collector? How did they know to call here?”

He got up to take the call. After a few words, his face darkened. Slowly, he walked back and sat down, frowning, “Old Zhang from the company called, said Little Third was taken by the police for allegedly bribing a witness. There are detectives coming to take me for questioning too. I told them to come here.”

“Did I really misunderstand Little Third?” Liu Laocai was a bit remorseful and slapped his forehead hard, “Damn it!”

Lu Ming silently nodded, pondering something.

After about half an hour, two detectives in black uniforms arrived at the laundry. The one in front had silver stars on his epaulettes, indicating he was a sergeant. He was a thin man in his thirties, with triangular eyes and a fierce look.

He showed his credentials, “Mr. Liu Gaoyu, I am Sha Dahai, deputy head of the second criminal division of the North District Branch of the Donghai Police Department. You are suspected of instructing others to bribe a witness. Please come with us to assist in the investigation!”

Lu Ming stood up, “I am Mr. Liu Gaoyu’s representative lawyer. If you have a warrant, please show it. My client is currently dealing with urgent matters and does not have time to assist you!”

Sha Dahai blinked his small eyes and nodded to his subordinate, “You wait outside!”

After the subordinate left, Sha Dahai immediately smiled apologetically at Liu Laocai, “Chairman Liu, you understand, orders from above, I had to come!”

Liu Laocai snorted coldly.

Sha Dahai continued to smile, “Don’t worry, Chairman Liu. The eldest young master insists it was his own action and not bribery, just giving some comfort to an employee. With Gao Dazhuang there, I don’t think it’s a big deal.”

“Well then, Chairman Liu, I’ll be off. Sorry to bother you!” Sha Dahai bowed and nodded, then slightly bowed to Lu Ming as well, “This esteemed lawyer…”

Lu Ming signaled to Pamela, who handed a business card to Sha Dahai, “This is Lawyer Lu Qianxing.”

“Yes, yes, Lawyer Lu, you’re busy!” Sha Dahai looked at the elegant Pamela with her blonde hair and blue eyes and smiled even more apologetically, “Miss, you’re busy too!”

With constant bows, he retreated.

Lu Ming rubbed his nose. Despite the police chief’s submissive demeanor, it was because of Liu Laocai’s presence.

In the world of Zhongzhou, minor officials were often the most troublesome.

This police chief, in a previous life, would have been similar to a head in the district’s criminal investigation unit in a directly governed city, a position of significant power, far beyond what ordinary citizens could imagine.

In this world, his power might not be as extensive, but many matters still depended on local figures like him.

“Sigh! I really wronged Little Third!” Liu Laocai lamented, sitting back on the sofa.

Lu Ming shook his head, “If the prosecution can’t pin it on the eldest young master, they will target you. They can subtly hint at his actions during the trial, leading the jury to believe that he bribed witnesses under your instruction. This will be a major disadvantage for you.”

Liu Laocai was taken aback, slowly sitting up straight, and frowning deeply.

“Gao Dazhuang is quite familiar with the eldest young master. He went to him immediately, but when I tried to meet him earlier, he said he wasn’t in North District and didn’t have time.” Lu Ming mused.

Liu Laocai’s expression gradually grew serious as he stared at Lu Ming, “I want you to lead the defense in tomorrow’s trial.”

Initially, he hired this young man only to serve as a good-luck charm.

Due to Li Guan’s quirky temperament and deep experience, the chief judge of the North District Circuit Court, a Western female judge, was Li Guan’s disciple and followed Li Guan’s lead. Moreover, several senior judges in the Donghai High Court were also close to Li Guan.

This eccentric old lady was a maverick; no one could do anything about her.

Li Guan clearly sympathized with Deng Hongmei, showing bias during the trial. When it came to questioning witnesses, sensitive topics, and objections, nine out of ten objections from their side were overruled, while the opposition’s objections were almost always sustained.

In today’s courts, if a judge wants to sway the jury towards one side, it is very easy.

He had heard of a rookie lawyer who was highly favored by Li Guan and thought this person might have some connection with Li Guan, so he intended to hire him at a high price to serve as a good-luck charm.

During the trial, he would sit in the co-counsel’s seat, just to let Li Guan see him.

But unexpectedly, this young man had brought a series of unforeseen changes.

Some he understood, some he didn’t.

There were many aspects he needed to think over, the events of these past few days, and some of the young lawyer’s inadvertent remarks seemed to remind him, he needed to ponder their implications.

Even though he didn’t understand all the hidden truths, his keen business instinct told him that this young man could bring him surprises.

Liu Laocai looked at the cultured young lawyer in front of him and said solemnly, “Lawyer Lu, my reputation and my business are now in your hands!”

Lu Ming nodded, “I will do my best!”