Chapter 293: Are You Panicked Yet? |
They had it all figured out!
From the moment they decided to sue the General Police Bureau, Gu Ji and the other scholar-officials seemed to have grasped the underlying scheme.
In fact, this litigation was not entirely disadvantageous to them. As long as they handled it properly, they could also benefit from it.
Because they had money, power, and influence.
They could afford to play this game.
Take this traffic incident, for instance. The loss was merely a few dozen strings, which was nothing more than pocket change to them. But once it went to court, even if they had to pay the litigation fees out of their own pockets, it would be worth it.
Even if they lost, it wouldn’t matter much.
You had to understand that the Police Bureau was established because of traffic regulations, yet here their own cart had gotten into an accident. This would certainly be no small blow to the bureau’s image.
At the same time, they could embellish the story and manufacture public opinion.
You constantly clamor that there are too many carriages in the city and want to restrict license plates, yet you yourselves fail to set an example, driving carriages everywhere and rampaging through busy markets.
Fortunately, no one was hit. Otherwise, the Police Bureau should really be disbanded.
The so-called license plates were just a joke.
Gu Shaoqing also spread word outside that police violations should carry double penalties. They were pursuing reasonable compensation and absolutely could not let the police bureau get away with it.
Otherwise, they would never learn their lesson, and such incidents would happen again in the future.
Whether court officials or scholars, they all began to stand up and fiercely attack the General Police Bureau.
And their public opinion campaign achieved considerable results.
Whether wealthy merchants or small vendors, they all supported the Gu family.
Because similar incidents had happened before. It was common for public officials to accidentally damage private residences or injure citizens, and citizens would also seek compensation, but often failed to receive appropriate recompense.
From their perspective, regardless of whether this was an accident, they only knew that it was public officials who damaged private property. If there was no severe punishment, the next victim might be them.
As for who the real owner behind Spring Breeze Ten Li was, they didn’t need to know.
During this period, Zhang Fei, in order to set the stage properly, still went to negotiate with them once, but was naturally rejected outright.
Tomorrow he would go to the Bureau of Records to give Lu Jiawen the final answer.
Zhang Fei suddenly came to the law firm.
Seeing him suddenly arrive at the shop, and not in uniform, Fan Li could probably guess something. “This lawsuit—do you plan to handle it yourself?”
Zhang Fei smiled. “After not seeing you for a few days, Mogul, you’ve become increasingly perceptive.”
“Sigh, I knew it wouldn’t be good news,” Fan Li couldn’t help but sigh.
Zhang Fei looked puzzled. “I say, Old Fan, the Li family’s business is doing so well, with one lawsuit after another. How is it that you don’t seem anxious at all? Now we’ve finally secured a lawsuit, and you’re still sighing?”
Fan Li made a dismissive sound. “How much money can you make from litigation!”
Zhang Fei couldn’t help but look Fan Li up and down. “Oh my, have you struck it rich?”
Fan Li said, “You haven’t been to the shop recently, so you don’t really know. Our tax calculation and contract drafting services have both stabilized. As long as the tax calculation side doesn’t have any problems, we can earn substantial income every month. I don’t envy Mr Li at all now.”
Recently, Zhang Fei had been constantly passing lawsuits to Li Guozhong and the others. Although Fan Li didn’t know this, he hadn’t tried to compete for them either. The reason was simple: the law firm’s focus was now entirely on legal services, which provided very stable income that would only increase.
Litigation was no longer their core business.
The lawsuits the firm handled now were all small cases, used to give the pen-in-caps in the shop practice and let them earn some extra money on the side.
Fan Li was thoroughly enjoying his current life. He even felt that those major lawsuits from before had been completely worthwhile. Without the dark clouds pressing down like a city under siege back then, how could there be today’s bright sunshine?
Zhang Fei asked, “How much per month?”
Fan Li looked puzzled. “The monthly revenue reports are all sent to your house. Don’t you know?”
Zhang Fei said, “My wife manages the accounts at home now. How would I know?”
Feng Nanxi had gone to work at the Tax Bureau, and now Gao Wenyin controlled the household finances.
Fan Li said in a low voice, “Just from taxes and contract transactions alone, your monthly net income is three to four hundred strings.”
Zhang Fei said gloomily, “That’s all? It’s not even as much as my Authentic Books Store.”
Fan Li also became gloomy. There was no way to continue this conversation. With envy, jealousy, and resentment, he said, “Well, it can’t compare to that. Your little newspaper is selling for sky-high prices, and you don’t even have to write the articles yourself.”
“Hey! You can’t just say things like that.”
Zhang Fei quickly stopped him.
Fan Li blinked and said in a low voice, “Brother San, do you really not pay copyright fees?”
Zhang Fei glared at him. “There you go again.”
Massive profits! This was truly massive profits! For printing books, you had to pay copyright fees, but for printing newspapers, you didn’t even pay copyright fees. Fan Li was considering whether he should have a good discussion with Zhang Fei about investing some money in it himself.
“Zhang San! Zhang San! Are you there? This young master has arrived.”
They heard shouting.
Zhang Fei replied weakly, “I’m here.”
Before he finished speaking, Cao Dongdong and Ma Xiaoyi, those two young men, swaggered in. “Have you finished drafting the contract?”
“It’s finished. Just needs signatures.”
Zhang Fei placed the prepared contract on the table.
Cao Dongdong signed his name with a flourish, then stamped it with his official seal. “Zhang San, this time you must sue them to death. Don’t show any mercy. They’ve really gone too far.”
Fan Li, listening from the side, was somewhat confused. “Sue them to death? Young master, what do you mean? Aren’t we the defendants?”
Zhang Fei smiled. “Mogul, do I need to teach you the tactic of offense as the best defense?”
Fan Li asked curiously, “But how can we sue in this case?”
Zhang Fei chuckled. “Sue them for sticking out their foot and tripping me.”
The next day.
Lu Jiawen arrived early at the Bureau of Records, quietly waiting for Zhang Fei and Li Guozhong to come. From the public opinion outside, he already clearly understood Gu Ji’s thinking – this lawsuit could not possibly be settled.
But he never expected that Zhang Fei wasn’t coming to defend himself, but to file a lawsuit.
“Zhang San, what do you mean by this?” Lu Jiawen was completely bewildered. “You want to represent the General Police Bureau in suing Spring Breeze Ten Li?”
“That’s correct.”
Zhang Fei nodded.
Li Guozhong beside him was also confused. “On what grounds are you suing us?”
Zhang Fei smiled. “It seems Mr Li hasn’t investigated his employer’s background clearly. Spring Breeze Ten Li has serious street encroachment violations. It was precisely because of their street encroachment that our patrol police overturned, causing our goods, people, and horses and carts to suffer various damages, and even affecting our official duties and the reputation of our General Police Bureau. Therefore, I will formally file a lawsuit against Spring Breeze Ten Li on behalf of the General Police Bureau, seeking five hundred strings in compensation, and the other party must publish an apology in the newspaper. This is our complaint document.”
Truly, there’s always someone stronger among the strong, and there’s always a higher mountain.
Lu Jiawen accepted the complaint document, stunned.
Clearly it was your carriage that crashed into someone’s shop, yet you’re turning around to sue them for compensation.
Even bandits would have to respectfully call you “big brother”!
Li Guozhong was completely stunned and hurriedly said, “Judicial Administrator Lu, they’re clearly being unreasonable and playing tricks, trying to disrupt the Bureau of Records’ proceedings. This absolutely cannot be accepted.”
Zhang Fei said, “First, we have concrete evidence to prove that Spring Breeze Ten Li has serious street encroachment violations. Second, if you stick out your foot on the road to trip someone, you definitely have to pay compensation.”
Li Guozhong said, “How can this be considered the same thing? Their shop has always been there – it was your carriage that crashed into it.”
Zhang Fei argued, “By that logic, I could set up trip wires randomly on the street, and anyone who falls would deserve it? If there hadn’t been street encroachment, none of this would have happened.”
“Enough! Enough!”
Lu Jiawen waved his hand. “Since these two cases are about the same matter, and you’re both unwilling to back down, let’s try both cases together!”
Young Lu Jiawen suddenly became very interested in this lawsuit. This was truly very rare, and it was an unprecedented case that must be tried in open court.
Li Guozhong opened his mouth, wanting to ask Lu Jiawen to slow down a bit, but he had postured so tough earlier that he… he couldn’t bring himself to say it!
This was truly a dramatic turn of events.
What a surprise! How unexpected!
“What did you say?”
Gu Ji slowly stood up. “They’re actually making me pay compensation?”
As he spoke, his eyes seemed ready to devour someone.
Li Guozhong said sheepishly, “Zhang San claims that because Spring Breeze Ten Li had serious street encroachment violations, it caused this accident.”
“Street encroachment?”
Gu Ji was stunned and turned to look at the estate manager beside him.
With so many businesses in his household, how could he remember the details of every shop? Besides, street encroachment was very common – he hadn’t even thought about this aspect.
The estate manager quickly approached and whispered a few words in his ear.
Gu Ji’s expression became somewhat panicked, and he asked Li Guozhong again, “What’s the situation now?”
Li Guozhong replied, “The Bureau of Records has accepted the case. Both cases will be tried together.”
“What trial?”
Gu Ji said agitatedly, “Who told you to do this?”
Li Guozhong looked aggrieved. “Before I went, you repeatedly instructed me that no matter what conditions they proposed, I couldn’t agree to them, and I should also urge the Bureau of Records to begin the trial.”
Gu Ji said, “But now the situation has changed. You need to know how to adapt.”
Li Guozhong replied, “Director Gu, please calm your anger. Now they’re suing us, not just us suing them. This is no longer something we can control.”
Gu Ji frowned. “Then do you have confidence we can win this lawsuit?”
Li Guozhong hesitated for a long moment before saying, “To be honest with you, we’ve never encountered this type of lawsuit before. However, although street encroachment is a violation, it’s very common here in Bianjing. I think it’s winnable, but I dare not make any guarantees.”
He remained prudent, not daring to speak with complete certainty.
After hearing this, Gu Ji felt very anxious.
He had originally planned to spend a few dozen strings of cash to play along with them. He had expected that in the worst case, he would lose a few dozen strings, but now the nature of the situation was completely different – he had become the defendant.
This…
What happened to not being cannon fodder?
Gu Ji suddenly asked, “By the way! Zhang San is currently in his service period. Can he appear in court to litigate?”
Li Guozhong answered honestly, “That depends on the General Police Bureau.”
Gu Ji asked, “What do you mean by that?”
Li Guozhong sighed, “When runners are on rotation leave, they can still return home to handle their personal affairs. If the General Police Bureau approves his leave, he can appear in court to litigate.”
Do you think the General Police Bureau would approve Zhang Fei’s leave?
Gu Ji pondered with furrowed brows for a while, then said, “You go back first and study how to fight this lawsuit.”
“Yes.”
After Li Guozhong left, Gu Ji immediately instructed the estate manager, “Send a letter to Chief Recipient of Edicts Fang immediately.”
Zhang Fei’s surprise counterattack not only left Gu Ji dizzy and confused, but also stunned Cao Ping, who even began to have doubts.
“Dong’er, tell me honestly – did you plan this whole thing in advance?” Cao Ping asked with furrowed brows.
Cao Dongdong immediately became agitated and jumped up. “Father, how can you think of your child this way? They were clearly the ones being aggressive and bullying us too much. We had already humbled ourselves, but they still wouldn’t let us go. Now our patrol officers have to keep their heads down when they go out. Zhang San thought for a long time before coming up with this solution. Hmph, when we were suffering losses, Father didn’t come to help. Now you’re actually suspecting me.”
By the end, his eyes were filled with tears, as if they would fall at any moment.
“Nonsense!”
Cao Ping said, “How dare you speak to your father like that?”
“Your child knows his mistake.” Though he said this, Cao Dongdong still turned his head away in a huff.
Cao Ping stole a glance at his son, and a wave of guilt surged in his heart. The facts were indeed as his son said – in recent days, the entire Police Bureau had been under enormous pressure, and as Police Commissioner, he had simply thrown the burden on his son without saying a word.
Now, at the moment of counterattack, he had suddenly stepped forward to question his son. This seemed rather inappropriate, and if word got out, how could he continue to lead his troops?
“Dong’er! Dong’er!”
Cao Ping called out twice.
Only then did Cao Dongdong turn his head back around, puffing out his cheeks as he said, “What does Father wish to command?”
Cao Ping’s tone softened as he consoled him kindly, “I indeed should not have doubted you. You did the right thing – they were the ones who bullied you first. Father supports you.”
Cao Dongdong looked at his old man suspiciously, “Is Father speaking the truth?”
“It’s true.”
Cao Ping nodded, “Go ahead and file your complaint. I absolutely support you.”
Cao Dongdong immediately said, “Please rest assured, Father. This time I absolutely will not let them off.”
Ma Xiaoyi, standing nearby, looked at Cao Dongdong with admiration and respect, thinking to himself that no wonder his brother had done plenty of bad things but received far fewer beatings than he did.
Just then, a patrol officer entered the hall, “Reporting to the Police Commissioner, Chief Recipient of Edicts Fang requests an audience.”
Cao Dongdong immediately said, “Father, Uncle Fang must be coming to plead for them. You mustn’t agree!”
Cao Ping hesitated slightly before saying, “I know what I’m doing. You two go out first.”
“Your son takes his leave.”
Once outside, Ma Xiaoyi whispered, “Big Brother, your acting just now was truly amazing. Little Ma is impressed, impressed.”
Cao Dongdong chuckled, “This is natural talent – it can’t be learned. By the way, why didn’t Zhang San come today?”
Ma Xiaoyi said, “I don’t know either. Brother San said yesterday he would come.”
Cao Dongdong snorted, “With my acting skills, it doesn’t matter whether he comes or not.”
“That’s true.”
Not long after the two had left, the Chief Recipient of Edicts of the Imperial Military Commission, Fang Rui, arrived in the hall.
If even Cao Dongdong knew why he had come, how could Cao Ping not know?
After exchanging pleasantries, Cao Ping asked, “I wonder what brings Brother Fang here so suddenly? What advice do you have?”
“I wouldn’t dare! I wouldn’t dare!”
Fang Rui waved his hands, hesitating before speaking, “Actually, I came today because of, well…”
Cao Ping cut to the point, “Could it be that you’ve come as a mediator for Gu Ji’s matter?”
Fang Rui nodded.
Gu Ji’s bottom line was just a hundred strings of cash or so. He didn’t want to become cannon fodder, and seeing that a hundred strings couldn’t resolve this, he figured he might as well forget it.
There was no need to take such a risk.
Seeing Cao Ping remain silent, Fang Rui said, “I know that Gu Ji indeed acted improperly, but Gu Ji absolutely wasn’t targeting you – he just couldn’t stand Zhang San. Moreover, regarding this street encroachment matter, everyone is somewhat involved. If this gets blown up, it won’t look good for anyone. Why don’t we all take a step back and let the matter rest?”
Cao Ping laughed, “Targeting Zhang San? Ha! Zhang San is merely a runner who will pack up and leave in a few months. This matter has nothing whatsoever to do with Zhang San. Gu Ji was targeting my Police Bureau. My bureau was just established – we haven’t even hung up our plaque yet, and he wanted to give me a show of force. If I retreat even half a step in this matter, how can I continue as Police Commissioner?
However, since Brother Fang has come, I must give you some face. If Gu Ji is willing to publish an article in the newspaper apologizing to us, I can overlook the compensation.”
This condition was impossible for Gu Ji to accept – he might as well fight it out.
Did he care about that bit of money?
Fang Rui said, “I didn’t come for Gu Ji’s sake – I’m thinking of everyone. If it were any other crime, I wouldn’t bother with him, but this street encroachment involves too many people. You must consider this carefully.”
Cao Ping smiled, “How is street encroachment a big deal? I’ll just have someone tear it down immediately. But if this matter isn’t handled well, I might not be able to continue as Police Commissioner. Why don’t you go ask Gu Ji whether he’d prefer to demolish his shop or accept a demotion?”
“Sigh, what a mess this has become!”
Fang Rui sighed and said, “Fine, just pretend I never came.”
The Cao family certainly had street encroachment violations, but given how harshly they had been criticized before, if this wasn’t handled properly, it would directly affect Cao Ping’s official career.
Comparing the two, would Cao Ping care about those few bits of land?