Yang Ruoxi couldn't quite understand the lawyer in front of her.
She knew of Xu Liang.
This month, Wang Chao kept mentioning the name, mumbling about it upon returning home, making it hard for her not to recognize it, and it seemed his promotion was thanks to him.
From what Wang Chao says, Xu Liang is practically a superhero!
But there are no superheroes in reality.
"What is he thinking?"
Yang Ruoxi furrowed her brows; she really couldn't grasp Xu Liang's thoughts.
Could this case be overturned?
If it could, would those eager for a record miss the chance?!
And if he takes it but fails to overturn it... his career could be cut short!
After pondering for a long time, Yang Ruoxi finally stood up.
She walked towards the law office across the street.
She's here to collect rent; why should she care about so much?!
...
Meanwhile.
Hanhai City Basic Court.
At the main entrance of the court, two figures stood together.
The bailiff took a drag from his cigarette, his expression wistful, as a stream of smoke drifted on the wind with each puff.
He looked at Chen Hua before him.
"Mr. Chen, this is the ruling from the Basic Court. If you are not satisfied... you can appeal and proceed to a second trial."
"The second trial... can it be won?"
"You must understand, a trial is essentially a battle between lawyers. The prosecutor's lawyer, Zhang Cheng, is very capable. You haven't paid for a top-notch lawyer's service, even for a second trial, it will only be legal aid..."
Seeing the bailiff endlessly explain.
Chen Hua suddenly interrupted.
"So... can it be won?"
His tone was not urgent; the elderly, wrinkled face showed no expression, very calm.
The bailiff was taken aback, silent for a long time, and shook his head.
"The chances are very slim..."
"How slim?"
"Almost impossible."
The bailiff sighed, "Brother, likely they'll uphold the initial verdict; even if by luck, it's still a life sentence. But if you behave well... perhaps life could turn into a fixed term, with chances of release after thirty or forty years."
Being someone from the court, he understood better than the other party the difficulty involved.
He actually wanted to console the other party, but at the moment didn't know what to say.
Finally, he patted Chen Hua's shoulder and turned away.
Chen Hua did not leave.
His mood was surprisingly calm.
Even after the bailiff left, Chen Hua did not leave; he just stood at the gate, no one knew what he was thinking.
Now he was solitary, with no attachments left.
Chen Dong's thirty or forty-year sentence was no different from a death sentence; he wouldn't live to see him released.
Daughter was dead, wife gone.
And the family connections were long severed.
After a long time, Chen Hua suddenly chuckled, sat on the steps, gathered his backpack.
Then put on his hat, slung his pack, vanished into the night, leaving the courthouse.
The direction he headed... was towards the police station.
His target was indeed the police station.
During the evening, at eight twenty.
Chen Hua traversed the bustling streets, standing inside the chilly police station.
The staff on duty was dozing off, suddenly startled when a figure stood before him, waking up a bit.
Seeing the person clearly, he calmed down and spoke:
"Mr. Chen? Chen Dong is not at the police station, he's currently at..."
Before he could finish, Chen Hua suddenly interrupted.
"I'm looking for Chen Jian."
"Chen Jian?"
The staff was somewhat surprised, not knowing what Chen Hua wanted with Chen Jian.
Technically, he and Chen Jian should not meet; but if the two meet, the police hiding may glean a lot of clues!
After a moment's reflection, the staff spoke:
"I will apply for a...."
Before he finished, a loud shout echoed from afar.
"Been looking for you all day!"
The staff paused, turned to look.
It was Wang Chao, panting, now looking at Chen Hua with surprise.
Chen Hua paused, glanced around, not knowing why the other party was looking for him.
Though he didn't know, it wasn't important.
Wang Chao took two steps at once, reached Chen Hua's side, grabbed his arm, and pulled him out.
"Let's go!"
Chen Hua instinctively furrowed his brows, feeling tense, wondering if what he planned was discovered.
He wanted to break free, but alas, Wang Chao's grip was like steel rods, impossible to shake off.
When he regained composure, he realized he had left the police station.
He sharply turned, looked back at the holding room.
Chen Jian was still inside...
Seeing Chen Jian getting further away, Chen Hua's heart sank, seizing the opportunity to break free, standing there with a grim expression.
"What are you up to?"
Wang Chao remained thrilled, turning to grab him again.
This time Chen Hua showed a hint of anger.
But before he could fire up...
"Do you want a reduced sentence?" Wang Chao said.
"What?"
Chen Hua paused.
"I mean... do you want Chen Dong to have a reduced sentence?"
Chen Hua was stunned. Initially that composed look now bore a hint of confusion, his mind blank.
When he regained his senses, he found...
He was already inside a car!
...
...
That night, at nine.
A pair of headlights pierced the night, the engine's roar shattered the quiet.
The car sped along the road until it stopped.
"Screech～!"
The bike stopped at Hongfu Street, inside the only law office with lights.
Without waiting to turn off the engine, the car door opened.
"Bang!"
"Brother Liang, Brother Liang, I brought him!"
Wang Chao pushed open the lawyer's door, yelling with excitement.
A soft voice responded.
"Why shout!?"
In the lobby, Yang Ruoxi, who had been dozing off, was jolted awake, looked at Wang Chao with discontent.
"Do you have a death wish!? Don't even check the time!"
Wang Chao grinned sheepishly; he always feared his sister.
Now he turned to Xu Liang beside him, speaking excitedly but in a lowered voice:
"Brother Liang, he's here!"
Xu Liang, seated at the reception, raised his head, his gaze passing over Wang Chao, landing on the anxious Chen Hua.
After days apart, Chen Hua's figure seemed even more hunched; his thin form like a wild monkey from the mountains, at forty, emitting an aged aura.
"Xu..."
Chen Hua looked at the person who personally put his son inside, opened his mouth, unsure of what to say.
Xu Liang gestured for him to speak.
"Do you want a reduced sentence?"
Chen Hua paused. He wanted to say something, but upon opening his mouth, emotions suddenly flooded; his eyes turned red.
"Yes..."
Chen Hua suddenly cried, tears soaking the wrinkles.
These days, he heard too many words of dissuasion...
This was the first time someone asked if he wanted it, not whether it was possible!
"Fifty thousand."
Xu Liang's face was blank as he quoted a price.
"Fifty thousand yuan, and I'll take the case."
"Leave the second trial to me!"
As the voice faded, Yang Ruoxi's face was full of shock.
He took it...
Would he really dare to take this case?!
Not to mention the unclear reasoning, unaware of why the death penalty was given.
Just overturning the first trial's death penalty is a difficulty that ordinary people can't withstand!
Let alone, an offer of only fifty thousand!!!
There weren't many individuals like this, at least since Yang Ruoxi started studying law, she'd never seen such people, nor heard of them!
But now she had seen one...
Chen Hua burst into tears, crouched on the ground, covering his face with both hands, the crying full of complex emotions.
"I'll pay... I'll pay, I'll go sell..."
"Pay after the trial is over; then you'll naturally have money." Xu Liang said.
If the case is won, Chen Hua would receive life-changing compensation, including the demolition fund, so he wouldn't lack the fifty thousand.
If lost, he wouldn't have the face to ask for money.
Regarding how to win the case...
"First, answer me one question."
Xu Liang squinted, during the time before the other's arrival...
He found the breakthrough!
Zhang Cui's death offered no leads, no way to topple Chen Jian.
But the case hid a blade sharp enough to be fatal!
This issue was in plain sight, not on the scale, weighing no more than three or two kilos. But once on the scale...
Thousands of pounds couldn't stop it!!!
"Back when Chen Wei was in high school... did he take someone else's spot?"