Are You Crazy? He's only an Intern Lawyer?-Chapter 39 - The exhausted Tang Chunde finally chooses Zhang Wei

At least his cooking skills were enough to move a certain Miss Zhao of the Zhao Family.

As expected, the sound of footsteps “thudding” came from the staircase soon after.

Zhao Xiaoxiao came downstairs with her hair as messy as a chicken coop, wearing a Pikachu yellow onesie pajama, her eyes bleary.

“Hurry up and eat, hurry up and eat, so I can wash the dishes after!”

Zhang Wei didn’t even look at the girl’s appearance, as he had already gotten used to it.

He swiftly served a bowl of porridge and immediately passed the spoon to her.

“Remember to be careful, it’s hot!”

As he spoke, Zhang Wei scooped a spoonful of porridge to his mouth, blew on it to cool it down a bit, and then took a sip.

Zhao Xiaoxiao grabbed a chicken leg and started gnawing on it voraciously.

She hung her head, and with her messy black hair obscuring her face, Zhang Wei couldn’t even see her expression.

But Zhang Wei didn’t need to see; he could guess that she must have stayed up late again last night, probably sporting dark circles under her eyes too.

Pandas might be cute, but that’s because they are chubby and adorably clumsy, not traits that Zhao Xiaoxiao possessed, hence she was not cute.

Zhao Xiaoxiao finished the chicken leg and then started guzzling the porridge at a fast pace, even choking on it.

“Eat slowly, mind it’s hot, can’t rush when eating hot tofu.” Zhang Wei quietly reminded.

But Zhao Xiaoxiao didn’t listen at all, and even provocatively tapped her spoon against the porridge bowl, creating a sharp ringing sound.

“Rebellious phase!”

Seeing her reaction, Zhang Wei had an idea.

He couldn’t help feeling like an old father dealing with a rebellious teenage daughter all of a sudden.

No wonder Zhao Qingyan and Zhao Xiaoxiao were like this, it turns out that Zhao Xiaoxiao was in her rebellious phase.

Soon, Zhao Xiaoxiao finished her breakfast and threw the porridge bowl straight into the kitchen sink, then went upstairs without looking back.

“You little rascal, next time I’ll have to teach you to wash up after eating, it can’t always be me doing the dishes.”

Seeing this, Zhang Wei shook his head and said: “Do you remember the last time?

I was busy with a case and didn’t come home, and you didn’t even bother to clean up after eating takeout, the kitchen was full of that takeout smell.”

“Humph, mind your own business!” Zhao Xiaoxiao didn’t even turn her head.

She continued to grumble and complain, “I know, I know, you’re even more annoying than that guy, so bothersome~”

“This girl!” Hearing Zhao Xiaoxiao slamming her room door, Zhang Wei sighed in resignation again.

Although he had taken in a “daughter” who was rebellious, he didn’t find her loathsome; he was actually somewhat pleased.

The daughter he hadn’t had in his previous life, he never expected to have now.

Even though she was about his age, not exactly a sweet and considerate little cotton-padded jacket, Zhang Wei was still happy.

He didn’t mind washing dishes and tidying up the kitchen every day with a bittersweet feeling.

While cleaning up, he looked out the window.

“The weather is quite nice today; I might take a walk later…”

…

Meanwhile.

Tang Chunde was helping an elderly woman, making their way to the detention center of the Martial Association and meeting his younger brother, Tang Chunfeng.

Unlike the oily-faced Tang Chunde, Tang Chunfeng was a man with a slender build and a relatively clean look, in his thirties, and could be considered handsome.

If the two brothers were to stand together, no one would think they were related.

Fortunately, Tang Chunde had gotten used to it over the years and with the thick skin he developed working in the marketplace, he could easily ignore the stares of strangers.

“Mom, why did you come?” Tang Chunfeng called out anxiously when he saw the elderly woman.

The elderly woman was indeed Tang’s Mother, the mother of Tang Chunde and Tang Chunfeng.

“Son, how are you doing in there?

Have they been hard on you?”

“Mom, I’m fine.”

“That’s good, that’s very good.”

Upon meeting her younger son, Tang’s Mother naturally had a lot to say.

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However, this made Tang Chunde beside her very uncomfortable, especially when he saw Tang’s Mother clutching Tang Chunfeng’s hand without letting go, contorting his eyebrows once again.

“All right, enough, we can talk about these things later.

Let’s have the lawyer from our company ask about the situation first!”

Saying so, he hurried to the door of the detention cell, gesturing to a man in a suit outside: “Lawyer Niu, this is my brother.

Could you please take a look and help out?”

Lawyer Niu was from the legal affairs department of Tianxiang Network, and his position there was far from lowly; even Tang Chunde, being the manager of the market department 2, did not dare neglect him.

It had also cost him greatly to secure the help of this legal affairs department lawyer for himself.

Lawyer Niu, in his forties, had a square face and was dressed in a deep blue plaid suit with a red handkerchief in his breast pocket, appearing quite tasteful.

“You are Tang Chunfeng?

Tell me what you know about the situation.”

“I don’t know anything…”

Upon hearing Lawyer Niu’s question, Tang Chunfeng shook his head.

This caused Lawyer Niu to frown since what he heard seemed to differ from some other things he knew.

“You don’t know anything?”

“Yes, I don’t know anything.

The things the Martial Association said—I didn’t do any of that.

I’ve never even been to the victim’s neighborhood.

I’m just a dentist, how could I possibly kill someone?”

Tang Chunfeng quickly denied everything with a sincere demeanor that even conveyed some bewilderment.

If Zhang Wei had seen his performance, he likely would have believed in him, as his behavior did not seem deceitful.

But Lawyer Niu was different; he always felt that Tang Chunfeng was lying.

“The evidence provided by the Martial Association, along with DNA comparison records and eyewitness testimony, all point to you.

Yet, you claim you haven’t killed anyone.

Who are you trying to fool?”

Lawyer Niu slammed the table with a loud “bang.”

“With such conclusive evidence, you still believe you are innocent.

Do you think I’m a fool?”

Tang Chunfeng was so startled by this outburst that he trembled.

When Tang’s Mother saw this, she immediately pleaded, “Lawyer, my son isn’t that kind of person, he’s not that kind of person…”

“Lawyer Niu, ever since he was little, my brother has been honest.

He can’t even bring himself to kill a chicken.

That’s why he chose dentistry in medical school.

You’re going a bit too far,” Tang Chunde also quickly chimed in to defend.

However, Lawyer Niu seemed convinced that Tang Chunfeng was the murderer and coldly said, “There’s only one way out for this case now, and that’s to plead guilty and strike a deal!”

At this statement, Tang Chunfeng’s face fell as he shook his head urgently, “Why would I plead guilty to something I didn’t do?

I really didn’t do it, I am innocent…”

“Humph!” Lawyer Niu snorted coldly and scoffed, “Whether you’re innocent or not isn’t just up to you to decide; it’s up to the evidence, the jury, and the court to decide!”

He stood up abruptly, shaking his suit, “Tang Chunde, tell your brother that if he pleads guilty, he might be able to reduce his sentence to 30 or maybe even 25 years.

Otherwise, he’ll spend his entire life behind bars!”

After finishing his statement, Lawyer Niu left without looking back, seemingly unwilling to waste any more time in the detention center.

“Lawyer Niu, Lawyer Niu don’t leave, Lawyer Niu…”

Seeing this, Tang Chunde hurried after him, but returned after a few minutes with a look of utter disappointment.

It was evident that Lawyer Niu had left.

He had laid out his terms and was not inclined to waste any more time.

He just wanted Tang Chunfeng to quickly confess to hasten the end of the case.

Yet, Tang Chunfeng continued to insist on his innocence, and during the conversation with his mother and brother, his stance did not change.

The visiting time passed by in the blink of an eye.

After leaving the detention center, Tang’s Mother, her eyes filled with worry, grabbed Tang Chunde’s hand.

“Ade, what do we do now?”

“What do we do?

How would I know!”

Tang Chunde abruptly pulled away from his mother, his face clouded with frustration.

The lawyer from his own company’s legal affairs department had already spoken.

What else could he do?

He was not a lawyer himself.

If Lawyer Niu advised his brother to plead guilty, then they had no choice, unless another lawyer could help.

“If it comes to it, we’ll have to turn to that person from Blackfoot Law Firm!”

After pondering for a moment, Tang Chunde nervously picked up the phone.

Having been in Dongfang Capital for so many years, he had some connections and at least knew some formidable lawyers from the Top Ten Law Firms.

However, the mention of Blackfoot Law Firm gave him a headache.

The firm, although very capable in its business—otherwise, it would not have become one of the Top Ten Law Firms in Dongfang Capital—also had a notorious reputation for its extortionate fees.

In the Dongfang Capital Lawyer Circle, Blackfoot’s reputation was quite poor.

Several lawyers had even been investigated by the ethics committee.

But the thought of his mother’s face made Tang Chunde unable to harden his heart to refuse.

“Hello, is this Lawyer Hu…”

…

In Dongfang Capital, at Blackfoot Law Firm.

“I’ve heard about your case; it’s extremely difficult, especially since it’s handled by the Serious Crime Department of the Dongfang Capital Procuratorate Headquarters.

They’re no easy opponent.”

“An innocent defense is impossible.

No one can achieve that in the face of such evidence; I can only help you bargain for a reduced sentence.”

“The Dongfang Capital Procuratorate Headquarters charged with intentional homicide, and it’s very likely the sentence will be life imprisonment.

Most lawyers at best could help you reduce it to 30 or 25 years, but if I pull some strings, maybe I can get it down to 20 years.”

“Let’s talk about the fees.

It’s 100,000 a year, and you’ll need to pay me an extra 500,000 in connections fees.

If that’s alright with you, then sign this representation contract.”

Looking at Lawyer Hu in front of him, and the contract on the table, Tang Chunde and Tang’s Mother looked at each other, unsure of what to do.

“Lawyer Hu, are you sure we can’t make an innocent defense?” Tang Chunde still wanted to struggle.

The lawyer put down the pen in his hand, leaned back slowly, resting against the chair back.

His narrow eyes sharpened as he said, “Tang Chunde, are you joking with me?”

His last words almost came out as a shout while several men in black suits stood up around them, applying tremendous psychological pressure to Tang Chunde and his mother.

Seeing that the pressure was enough, Lawyer Hu abruptly stood up, stepped on the desk, and said in a piercing voice, “Tang Chunde, you’re just a small marketing manager at Tianxiang Networks.

Who gave you the guts to talk to me like that!”

“If you were a department head at Tianxiang Networks, I might give you some face, but you’re just a middle-level worker.

Why should I, Hu, give you any regard?”

Being pressed like this, Tang Chunde’s forehead began to show a few beads of sweat.

“Yes, yes, Lawyer Hu, you’re right.

I’ll discuss it with my mother, we’ll talk it over…”

Tang Chunde, with his mother, cautiously walked out of Blackfoot Law Firm.

“Ah De, what are we going to do now!”

Once they left the Blackfoot Law Firm, Tang’s Mother collapsed on the ground, in tears.

“Crying and crying, that’s all you know.

What’s the use of crying!”

Seeing his mother like this made Tang Chunde furious.

But in the end, he couldn’t bear it; after all, she was his mother.

“Let’s ask around other law firms.

Maybe some lawyer can help us…”

With no choice left, they visited several less renowned law firms.

“We can’t take this case!”

“I’m sorry, Mr.

Tang, we cannot accept this case.”

“For a reduced sentence, optimistically I can help your brother get 25 years, but that also depends on whether the prosecutor cooperates or not.

You’re talking about an innocent defense?

That’s a pipe dream!”

“Mr.

Tang, I suggest you go to a legal clinic or find a court-appointed attorney; maybe they can think of a way.

We truly can’t handle this.”

After a full day, this was the feedback they received.

Some lawyers, upon hearing the opponent was the Serious Crime Department of the Procuratorate Headquarters, immediately shook their heads in refusal.

Those who didn’t refuse and were willing to fight the case aimed only for a reduced sentence.

For an innocent defense, they all advised Tang Chunde to find a court-appointed attorney.

But Tang Chunde was well aware of the capabilities of court-appointed attorneys.

If the case was left to them, Tang Chunfeng was sure to get life imprisonment.

That evening, after sending his mother back to her place, Tang Chunde drove back to his own home on the outer ring.

The house wasn’t big, a two-bedroom with a living room, 80 square meters.

He bought it for 4.5 million and was still paying off the mortgage.

“Honey~”

The moment he entered, a glamorous woman pounced on him warmly.

But Tang Chunde was not in the mood.

He instinctively pushed her away and slumped onto the sofa with a dejected expression.

“Ah, to think after all these years, I, Tang, amount to nothing…”

“Honey, what’s wrong?” The woman leaned in, asking softly.

“Don’t ask.

It’s all because of my stupid brother.

He was always the favorite since he was younger, look at the mess he’s gotten into now!”

Talking about Tang Chunfeng, Tang Chunde felt angry.

This little brother had always been pampered by their parents for being born later.

Now that he was in trouble, their family members had to run around, and he also had to endure so much frustration because of it.

If it weren’t for the fact that he couldn’t let go of his elderly mother, he really would leave his brother to die!

Upon hearing this, the woman breathed a sigh of relief and muttered, “Oh, it turns out you’re worried about your family member.

I thought you were still hung up on that pretty girl…”

“Pretty girl!”

When Tang Chunde heard that, the image of Xia Qianyue surfaced in his mind, and then he suddenly remembered something.

“Wait, that note!”

Tang Chunde searched frantically around the house and finally found the note in the trash can.

“Criminal defense lawyer: Zhang Wei!” Seeing the note, Tang Chunde hesitated.

Because Zhang Wei was too young, he looked like a student and hadn’t even gotten his license yet.

If Zhang had his license, he would naturally have a business card, not a handwritten note.

“Should I find him?

That kid doesn’t look like he knows the ropes, but now I can’t rely on anyone.

Should I just make a last-ditch effort…”

After hesitating for a moment, Tang Chunde crumpled up the note and decided not to make the call.

“Forget it, let’s see what the appointed defense lawyer says tomorrow.

If that doesn’t work, I’ll look for that kid!”

The next day, bright and early.

Tang Chunde went to the detention center once again with his elderly mother, accompanied by Tang Chunfeng’s public defender.

“I don’t have much time for your brother’s case.

He should plead guilty quickly.

It’s better for both you and him that way; the Procuratorate Headquarters has made a condition—if he pleads guilty, he could get a 25-year sentence reduced.

I think the terms are quite favorable!”

The public defender spoke to Tang Chunde and Tang’s mother in a tone that was as emotionless as it was formulaic.

“Lawyer, is there really no way to make a not-guilty plea?” Tang Chunde was still hesitant.

“Not guilty, are you the lawyer or am I?”

The lawyer laughed coldly and said, “I have 17 more cases to handle.

Do you know what my clients say to me the most when I see them?”

Tang Chunde and Tang’s mother looked at each other in dismay.

“They say I’m innocent, I didn’t kill anyone, I didn’t steal anything, I didn’t hit that person…

Anyway, it’s all the same talk.

Is your brother any different from them?”

The lawyer waved his hand dismissively and said impatiently, “With the evidence as concrete as it is now, how can your brother be exonerated?

Why don’t you tell me?”

“This is the situation.

I’ve already told you the terms.

Either you choose to plead guilty, or find yourself another lawyer, because I’m not going to defend him as not guilty.

After all, a sure-loss case is not my business.

You might as well look elsewhere!”

With those words, he left without looking back.

Watching the defense lawyer’s departure, Tang’s mother wept bitterly while Tang Chunde’s face turned an iron blue.

“No, this can’t be.

I can’t swallow this injustice!”

Finally, Tang Chunde became furious.

After suffering so much these past days, even a clay figure would have a temper, not to mention him.

“Call this kid.

If he insists on pleading guilty, then I’m going to find a lawyer from out of town.

I refuse to believe today that no one dares to defend my brother as innocent!”

After spouting his angry words, Tang Chunde finally dialed a number.

“Sorry, the number you are calling is currently engaged.

Please try again later…”

Tang Chunde listened in shock to the busy signal on the phone, his expression more bewildered than ever before.

“Sorry, the number you are calling is currently engaged…”

“Sorry, the number you are calling…”

“Damn it, this brat has blocked my number!”

Tang Chunde had forgotten how he had initially demanded Zhang Wei’s number, so it was understandable that he was blocked.

With no other choice, he had to use the pay phone at the detention center to make a call.

“Hello, who is this?”

On the other end of the phone, Zhang Wei answered the call.

“Zhang mate, it’s me, Tang Chunde…”

“Oh, the one who delivered clothes the other day.

What’s the matter?”

“Nothing much, just wanted to ask if you’ve got any availability lately.

I’ve got a little problem and need your help with a small favor.”

“Is it a case or something else?

If it’s a case, I can help, but if it’s anything else, I’m hanging up!”

Tang Chunde’s mouth twitched, but remembering that his mother was still waiting, he took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

“It’s a case…”

“Fine, got it.

Give me the address, I’ll come over right away!”