CHAPTER 187: CHAPTER 187: SETTING A TRAP

Before he could finish speaking, the person on the other end hung up.

Li Xumin was stunned for a long moment, then a string of vicious curses burst from his lips.

Xu Jiayuan said, "We originally planned to be courteous before resorting to force, but this family clearly doesn’t value old ties. We don’t have to reason with them; just sue them directly."

Li Kuan and Li Xumin exchanged a look, both harboring their own schemes.

"Mom, you’re Li Hua and Li Qing’s biological mother, so it’s most appropriate to sue them in your name. You’re a better actor than both of us, and you can cry on cue in court. That will help curry favor with the judge."

Xu Jiayuan agreed without hesitation. "No problem. How much compensation should we ask for?"

"Twenty million," Li Xumin said.

His company urgently needed twenty million to resolve its current financial crisis.

"What can twenty million do? Dad, this is a unique opportunity; once it’s gone, there won’t be another. Li Hua and Li Qing are dead and won’t be able to make money for us in the future."

Li Kuan wanted to demand a large sum but was smart enough not to voice it himself. He decided it was best to let his parents handle these matters, ensuring he remained uninvolved. That way, if anyone were to be blamed in the future, it couldn’t be traced back to him.

Li Xumin shared this sentiment. They couldn’t handle these matters openly, as it would make them easy targets for revenge.

Li Xumin instructed Xu Jiayuan to arrange a meeting with a lawyer and the media outside.

Xu Jiayuan obediently did as she was told.

Lawyer Zhang understood the situation perfectly when he saw only Xu Jiayuan arrive.

The men of the Li Family were very cunning with their schemes.

They always pushed the women forward, letting them shoulder all the risks.

Instead of meeting Xu Jiayuan immediately, Lawyer Zhang called Li Yuan.

Years ago, Lawyer Zhang had assisted Li Yuan when she left the Li Family.

Li Yuan fell into a brief silence after hearing the news.

Then, she spoke with certainty.

"Please do me a favor, Lawyer Zhang. Record your entire conversation with Xu Jiayuan. Afterward, send the recording to Fu Bing and her team."

"May I ask why?"

"Given their shamelessness, if they don’t extort the money, they’ll target Fu Bing sooner or later. I want to provide her with the evidence in advance."

"Aren’t you afraid they’ll come after you again?"

"I’m a mother who has lost her children. After the ordeal twenty-odd years ago, I believe they lack the courage to bother me again," Li Yuan stated calmly.

Lawyer Zhang put down his phone, checked the recorder’s battery, and then walked over.

As soon as he sat down, Xu Jiayuan began to cry.

"Lawyer Zhang, you must help me. I’ve lost both my daughters; my heart is in agony."

Lawyer Zhang took out a pen, paper, and the recorder.

"Mrs. Li, for my team and I to study the case afterward and devise a plan, I need to record our conversation with your consent."

Xu Jiayuan hesitated, looking at the small recorder. "Do you have to record it?"

She had never been involved in a lawsuit before and didn’t know lawyers needed to record conversations.

"Not every case requires recording. Simple cases are easier to handle, and I can often provide a solution on the spot without discussing it with colleagues. However, the situation you described over the phone is too complicated. Without recording it to understand it thoroughly, I can’t guarantee I can achieve your goals."

"I don’t want to risk my reputation either. You should understand that taking on this case doesn’t help me at all; in fact, it could tarnish my reputation."

"I wouldn’t have taken this case if not for the series of blows you’ve suffered recently."

Xu Jiayuan had a bit of cunning, but not much.

She was intimidated by Lawyer Zhang’s professional attire and articulate speech, making her too embarrassed to refuse.

"Fine, go ahead and record."

Lawyer Zhang activated the recording pen and said gravely, "This conversation is being recorded with the consent of Ms. Xu Jiayuan. Ms. Xu, please begin your consultation."

Xu Jiayuan glanced at the recording pen, her hands nervously shifting their grip.

"My eldest daughter, Li Hua, died under mysterious circumstances. A few days ago, my son-in-law suddenly called to say Li Hua was gone and asked us to see her one last time."

"Did you go to see her?"

"We were too grief-stricken at the time, so we didn’t go."

"Did you see her afterward?"

Xu Jiayuan, dissatisfied with Lawyer Zhang’s deliberate probing, retorted, "What do you mean? Why do you keep asking such questions? Whether I saw her or not, she’s dead. What’s the point in seeing her?"

"I need more details to have a higher chance of winning. If you intend to mislead even your own lawyer, I’ll have to reconsider taking this case."

"If it weren’t for the Li Family back in the day, you wouldn’t have been able to stay at the law firm long enough to become a partner! Now it’s time for you to repay the favor. This is what you owe the Li Family."

"The person who helped me back then was Miss Li Yuan. Miss Li Yuan severed ties with the Li Family over twenty years ago. The Li Family means nothing to me. If you’re trying to coerce me by bringing up old favors, I must say you’ve miscalculated."

Having said that, Lawyer Zhang began to pack his things to leave.

Xu Jiayuan panicked.

She had contacted several prominent lawyers, but they hung up as soon as they heard her demands.

Only Lawyer Zhang had said that he would take the case, as long as the money was right.

Xu Jiayuan said, "I didn’t go to see my daughter in the end."

She was already dead; what was there to see?

Especially Li Hua.

She had finally married into the Su Family because she’d borne a son, only to be kicked out soon after.

If she had been a little smarter, the Li Family could have secured the Su Family’s backing long ago.

It was all because of Li Hua’s incompetence that the Li Family had been left in turmoil, unable to find peace!

Lawyer Zhang deliberately put on a troubled expression.

His face changed several times before he finally sat back down.

"How much do you know about Li Hua’s death?"

"I didn’t even see her body. How could I possibly know any other details?"

"If that’s the case, you can hire a private detective to investigate later. If you find that too troublesome, I can use my connections to look into it, but that would incur additional fees," Lawyer Zhang said, taking notes.

"Neither of us knows enough about Li Hua’s situation to discuss it further today. Let’s focus on Li Qing’s case. Tell me, what do you hope to gain from Li Qing’s case?"

Xu Jiayuan rubbed her eyes forcefully, but still, no tears came.

She said dryly, "My daughter died so tragically! I can’t let her die in obscurity. I want to sue the hospital and the club, and make them pay until they’re bankrupt!"

Lawyer Zhang recorded her words emotionlessly. "What is the amount of compensation you are claiming?"

Xu Jiayuan, inexperienced with lawsuits, asked uncertainly, "Do I state it myself?"

"Yes. Within a reasonable—"

Before Lawyer Zhang could finish, Xu Jiayuan eagerly interrupted.

"I want 150 million."

One hundred million for Li Xumin and Li Kuan to split, and she would keep fifty million for herself. That would be a perfect split for the three of them.

A sneer flickered in Lawyer Zhang’s eyes. He swallowed back his unfinished words about proposing a compensation amount ’within a reasonable range.’

Lawyer Zhang said, "You should be aware that the higher the compensation amount you claim, the higher the commission you’ll pay me. My team’s and my commission is 10% of the total compensation, which would be fifteen million."

"Before we formally go to trial, we need to sign an employment contract. This will confirm our professional relationship and also facilitate your payment of the deposit."

"Fifteen million?"

Xu Jiayuan’s face turned pale.

He just talks for a living, and he dares to ask for such an exorbitant price?