Who Made Him a Lawyer?-Chapter 152 - 135: Bribing Xu Liang
Xu Liang spoke.
The two people in front of him were lost in thought, unable to see the deeper layer.
However, they didn't ponder for long.
In a daze, Xu Liang sat on the sofa, looked at Yang Ruoxi, and said:
"Do you know Director Zhou?"
Director Zhou?
Yang Ruoxi was stunned, then suddenly showed anger.
"Why mention that shyster!?"
She said through clenched teeth, looking rather displeased.
"Shyster?"
Xu Liang raised an eyebrow.
He had just returned to Hanhai for half a year. Though he was familiar with the law firm, he didn't know the lawyers well.
"Tell me about it."
"He's just a shyster... literally a shyster, without any sense of propriety, quite morally corrupt!"
"He'll do anything to win a trial, and there were many times I felt he was fabricating evidence!"
Yang Ruoxi spoke angrily.
"I once took a fall because of him!"
"During a wage-recovery case, Director Zhou directly used money to divide the claimants. With fewer people, the case was doomed..."
"Any more direct examples?"
Xu Liang thought for a moment, then asked again.
"There are!"
Yang Ruoxi recalled for a moment and indeed found a case.
"Last July, Director Zhou handled a commercial dispute, the case was Duan Group's illegal occupation."
"The plaintiff was determined, refusing mediation and compensation, just wanting Duan Group gone!"
"The evidence was clear, and it should have been an easy case to win."
Xu Liang listened, nodded, and then asked:
"What was the result?"
"The result..."
Yang Ruoxi paused, shook her head, and said:
"The resolute plaintiff withdrew the lawsuit and accepted the compensation."
"I found out that the victim's family was missing someone during that time, if nothing unexpected happened, it should have been Director Zhou's doing."
Kidnapping!?
Xu Liang sat up straight, becoming more serious.
"Threatening!?"
"I don't know, but the court and police felt something was wrong. After an in-depth investigation, they found nothing, and the missing person reappeared."
Yang Ruoxi shook her head.
"However, the plaintiff's reactions before and after differed greatly, and the missing person was suspected of being kidnapped..."
"That's why I say Director Zhou is a shyster!"
Using methods outside the law to resolve lawsuits....
Upon hearing this.
Xu Liang pondered deeply.
That's the real shyster!
Not caring about the correctness of the case itself, nor having any morals.
Not even caring about the means!
"Why are you asking about him?"
Yang Ruoxi curiously asked, sitting next to Xu Liang with an inquiring look.
"I..."
Xu Liang was about to speak.
Suddenly, there was a sound from the law firm's entrance.
"Knock knock knock~!"
"Is Lawyer Xu here?"
Someone outside was calling Xu Liang.
This voice...
Somehow felt oddly familiar.
Xu Liang and Yang Ruoxi frowned, while Su Yu instinctively went to open the door.
"Squeak~"
The door opened.
A skinny man walked calmly into the law firm.
He looked around, finally focusing his gaze on Xu Liang.
"Hello, Lawyer Xu, we meet again!"
This person is...
"Director Zhou?"
Xu Liang narrowed his eyes, suddenly straightening his back, and looked at the person.
Speak of the devil, and there he is!
Just finished discussing him with Yang Ruoxi, and the next moment he showed up...
Besides, he wasn't familiar with him, what was he looking for?
He gave Yang Ruoxi and Su Yu a look, the two girls nodded and then headed to the second floor, temporarily leaving the scene.
"Lawyer Zhou, nothing happens without a reason, what brings you to my firm?"
Xu Liang said with a hearty laugh.
Upon hearing this.
Director Zhou first sat down on the sofa without standing on ceremony, then said with some emotion:
"I've long heard of Lawyer Xu's reputation."
"As fellow lawyers, naturally, I should learn from you and visit you."
Lawyers usually wish ill upon each other, yet here he is seeking advice and visiting?
"Hehe, Lawyer Zhou, you're too kind."
Xu Liang calmly deflected the compliment and continued:
"I've only handled three cases in Hanhai City, by comparison, you're the senior!"
"Well, knowledge has no seniority, the accomplished are revered."
Director Zhou spoke quite politely.
Upon hearing this.
Xu Liang said nothing more, squinting and openly observing Director Zhou in front of him.
The other party didn't shy away, just sat there thick-skinned.
After a long time.
Xu Liang suddenly said:
"Lawyer Zhou, there's no need to beat around the bush."
"Let's be frank. Your visit... isn't just for a simple meet and greet, is it?"
"Feel free to speak directly."
As the words fell, Director Zhou squinted his eyes.
He then laughed heartily.
"Haha! Lawyer Xu, you are indeed wise!"
"But it's not a bad thing; in fact, it's a good thing!"
As he spoke, Director Zhou slowly pulled out a... bank card from his pocket?
Indeed, it was a bank card!
The rectangular shape was placed on the table.
"What does Lawyer Zhou mean by this?"
Xu Liang smiled.
"I heard from the police that a guest at the Jinjiang Hotel was frightened and suffered severe psychological trauma!"
"And since Jinjiang Hotel is a property of the Duan Group, as part of the group's legal department, I naturally need to address this matter."
Director Zhou spoke with a smile.
"The hotel policy clearly states that any consequences arising from security issues at the hotel are the hotel's responsibility!"
"The hotel manager told me that the frightened guest is named Su Yu, and the hotel should compensate her with 300,000 yuan!"
"I thought, why only compensate 300,000 for such severe psychological trauma?!"
"It should be at least 500,000!"
500,000?
That means this card contains... at least 500,000 yuan!
500,000 in 2005!
In those days, it could buy a couple of apartments in Upper City, and in ten years, it could easily become ten million!
"To show the sincerity of the Duan Group."
"I took it upon myself to raise the compensation from 300,000 to 500,000!"
"I then came personally to apologize and compensate."
As Director Zhou spoke, he pushed the bank card towards Xu Liang.
He said calmly:
"I just didn't expect the victim to be Miss Su, who is also the new lawyer you hired."
"Since she's your lawyer, this money..."
"Should naturally be at your discretion."
"Whether to give it to Miss Su or how much to give..."
Director Zhou hinted, without fully articulating his words.
Xu Liang did not take the card; he squinted, leaning back and scrutinizing the other party.
"I've stayed at Jinjiang Hotel many times too."
"How come I've never heard of cases where psychological damage leads to compensation of tens of thousands?"
Director Zhou replied:
"It was just added yesterday."
"The hotel is compensating all people from the past month."
Yesterday?
"From the past month, it wouldn't be just her who got hurt, right?" Xu Liang squinted.
"That's impossible."
Director Zhou smiled, "It's just that their injuries weren't as severe as Miss Su's, so the compensation was less."
"I see."
Xu Liang also smiled.
The two looked at each other, both with warm smiles.
But soon, Director Zhou spoke again:
"By the way."
"I heard that Lawyer Xu loves handling criminal cases, especially those details that shouldn't be there."
He began speaking.
Xu Liang listened silently.
"Truth be told, some cases aren't worth fighting."
Director Zhou continued.
"I heard from a colleague before, his clients were two beggars, homeless people."
"He labored on the case for months, earning nothing and almost couldn't afford food, relying on me to support him!"
"To me, there's no need to litigate for such homeless people."
"If they die, they die. After all, in a place like Eastern Country, many homeless people won't make a difference with one more or one less...."
"Though, for people like us, the elite of society..."
"Wasting time on such lower-class people isn't worthwhile."
As those words fell.
The smile on Xu Liang's face grew more pronounced.
"Lawyer Zhou, what are you trying to say with all this?"
"Nothing, just came to mind."
Director Zhou replied.
After those words.
He pulled out another card from his clothes.
"Lawyer Xu, this card contains 500,000."
"The Duan Group greatly appreciates your abilities and wants to invite your law firm to join the Duan Group's legal department, with a generous salary..."
"Even if you do nothing, there's a monthly salary of 200,000..."
Director Zhou smiled with eyes squinting, withdrawing his hand, and clasping them together.
"So... would you consider it?"
Consider it?
Two cards totaling one million, and even if he does nothing in the future, there's 200,000 a month, making it 2.4 million a year!
Very generous, incredibly generous compensation!
Xu Liang smiled brightly.
However...
Xu Liang's smile suddenly faded, gradually turning cold.
He stared intently into Director Zhou's eyes.
"Lawyer Zhou, do you think I am a..."
"Shyster?"
Director Zhou paused, gradually restraining his expression, locking eyes with him.
For a long while.
A voice echoed in the law firm.
"Lawyer Xu, what do you mean by this?"
