Too Bad I Take Things Seriously-Chapter 586 - 229 Judgment Chief Scolds in All Directions!_3

Put simply, supporting the elderly requires spending money and time.

"Now, please each party state your family circumstances and the extent of support responsibility you plan to assume."

Next, Zhou Quanmin did not first establish a so-called "lead person," but instead directly asked Jiang Daping and his three siblings to state the extent of support they were willing to assume.

Generally speaking, in support agreements, there is a "lead person" role. The lead person is, in effect, the one primarily responsible for the elder’s care. However, this system is typically for families who are filial and willing to take on such responsibilities. Having a lead person can ensure better coordination of support. But in Feng Cuihua’s family... it was clear to anyone that even with a lead person, it would be pointless. The only solution was to impose mandatory terms.

Soon, Jiang Daping’s defense attorney was the first to stand up and state, "Judgment Chief, my client is willing to give Elder Feng Cuihua financial support of 500 yuan per month."

"My client’s family is an ordinary, middle-class household with a per capita annual income of less than 20,000 yuan."

"500 yuan per month is already a significant expense."

"Moreover, my client has numerous grandchildren requiring constant care, so they cannot afford to dedicate much time to Elder Feng Cuihua. However, they can ensure they call Elder Feng Cuihua once every three months..."

Before the court, this defense attorney stated Jiang Daping’s terms. The reasons provided were fairly compelling: a lack of income and a lack of time.

In essence, they were only willing to give 500 yuan a month and made no mention of visits or taking her into their home for care.

His remarks once again infuriated Zhang Qingyuan and the other onlookers in the gallery.

"My goodness! To say such things! 500 yuan a month? Who are they trying to fob off? Our nursing home fees are 3,000 to 4,000 a month!"

"And to top it off, only one phone call every three months? What did I raise this son for?"

"Not a single word about taking her home to care for her. And what if Cuihua has an accident? He didn’t say anything about medical expenses either."

"Do they think they can just get away with 500 yuan?"

"..."

Unable to control their emotions, they erupted. Their blood pressure soared, and they no longer controlled their voices. The commotion reverberated through the courtroom, causing the bailiffs’ expressions to change dramatically. The bailiffs hastily stepped forward to restore order.

Zhou Quanmin frowned and slammed the gavel. "Order! If anyone in the gallery causes further disturbance, the bailiffs have the right to expel them from the courtroom!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Qingyuan and the others, their faces flushed with anger, immediately fell silent. Although the scene had them worked up, they were more eager to hear the final judgment. If they were "asked" to leave midway, it would be a huge loss.

Seeing this, Qin Mu couldn’t help but twitch the corners of his mouth.

In fact, it wasn’t surprising Zhang Qingyuan and the others reacted this way. They had seen many trials and were generally very disciplined. However, the support plan proposed by Jiang Daping’s defense attorney was indeed infuriating. The responsibility of providing support was being treated as a negotiation. And only one phone call every three months. It was as if familial affection could be completely quantified.

"Judgment Chief, judges, jurors, our plan..."

Next, Jiang Erping’s defense attorney also came forward and presented their support plan. "Our party will give Elder Feng Cuihua a support fee of 400 yuan per month and, additionally, will proactively visit the elder in the nursing home every six months."

The plan made no mention whatsoever of taking the elder home for care.

Jiang Sanping’s defense attorney similarly stepped forward and said, "Judgment Chief, my client plans to provide Elder Feng Cuihua with a monthly support fee of 300 yuan."

"Among the four brothers, my client’s family situation is the worst, and their financial capacity is limited. Furthermore, my client has a son who will soon be taking the college entrance exam..."

Arguing from the perspective of financial capability, he sought to minimize his client’s support responsibility. His client would only contribute a monthly support fee of 300 yuan. As for anything else, his client would assume no responsibility whatsoever.

From the defendants’ table, Jiang Siping’s defense attorney also stepped forward and said, "My client is willing to provide the elder with a monthly support fee of 300 yuan."

"Ideally, the elder would be brought home to be cared for. However, my client’s mother-in-law is also elderly, has mobility issues, is bedridden, and requires even more care..."

This defense attorney went even further, introducing a new point: his client also had to support another elderly person and therefore had no time to spare for Feng Cuihua.

One by one, they all presented seemingly well-reasoned arguments and found various ostensibly legitimate excuses.

In the gallery.

"Old Zhang, I can hardly hold back anymore. It’s not surprising that Cuihua’s good-for-nothing sons are saying these things, but how can these lawyers say them too?"

"They have absolutely no shame! Four sons, and between them, they’ve only scraped together 1,500 yuan a month."

"1,500 yuan isn’t exactly a pittance, but they don’t say a word about caring for her at home. Cuihua is in her seventies or eighties; surely she can’t live alone?"

"They don’t want to spend time caring for her, nor do they want to spend money. Where in the world can you find such a convenient arrangement?"

"..." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Zhang Qingyuan, Li Weiguo, and the others exchanged glances, almost unable to stop themselves from cursing aloud again.

These lawyers... For their clients, they were indeed doing their utmost. But their actions and words completely shattered everyone’s sense of decency.

Four sons, and only 1,500 yuan a month between them. No phone calls, no one by her side to care for her...

And all this while Feng Cuihua’s health was steadily declining; her mobility was limited, and she walked slowly.