CHAPTER 499: CHAPTER 205: THE SU FAMILY DEFENSIVE BATTLE (PART 3)

The trial continued, and Lawyer Chen’s thoughts lingered on what Su Ziceng had just said. Her answer was ingenious, but even with his frequent court appearances, Chen Jiachun couldn’t think of any other way to respond.

After Su Ziceng gave her statement, the judge finally signaled that she could leave the stand. It was only when she stepped down from the witness box that Su Ziceng realized she was drenched in sweat.

As Chang Chi passed by her side, she did not look at her, but just walked by on her own. Su Ziceng reached the public gallery and exchanged a glance with Chang Mei in the defendant’s dock.

Chang Mei looked at Chang Chi, who was now on the witness stand. Due to being dissatisfied with the judge’s opening statements and doubting Chen Jiachun’s competence in controlling the defense, Chang Chi had not practiced her testimony as Su Ziceng had done. But Chang Mei believed that Chang Chi should be able to deal with such a situation with ease.

The prosecuting attorney started off aggressively as soon as he took the stage: "Miss Chang Chi, may I ask, have you been the Su Family’s financial deputy manager for the past few years?"

"Yes," according to the job positions, it should have been Pello, the actual financial manager, to appear in court earlier, but Pello joined the Su Family business later on, and the period in question regarding the case was even further back, so Chen Jiachun arranged for Chang Chi to testify first.

"Then do you have knowledge about the Su Family’s mining operations?" the prosecuting lawyer asked again.

"Yes," Chang Chi wanted to end this interrogation as quickly as possible. In her view, Su Ziceng’s response earlier had already thrown Chang Mei into prison.

"Do you know if, during this process, any personnel from the Su Family are suspected of improper operations that led to this mining disaster?" the prosecutor led the questioning, and the records showed that Chang Chi and the defendant were mother and daughter; she was presumed to be the most easily shaken among them.

"I do," Chang Chi’s response startled everyone in the courtroom.

Su Ziceng, who had just calmed down, felt her heart being wrenched again. What did Chang Chi want to say? Could she have discovered something new, and why did she not inform Lawyer Chen beforehand?

"The mining disaster was orchestrated by Su Qingzhang and his daughter Su Ziceng. They cut costs on safety equipment to save company expenses, and they also concealed the news of the disaster, leading to delays in addressing the incident," Chang Chi’s words once again put Su Ziceng in the crosshairs, and even those from the Su Family in the public gallery looked at Su Ziceng with angry eyes.

With Su Qingzhang not present, all the rebukes and suspicions were directed at Su Ziceng. She looked at Chang Chi, her complexion changed slightly, and she was speechless.

The most shocked person in the courtroom was not Su Ziceng, nor Chen Jiachun, who was struggling to maintain composure. "Shut up," Chang Mei erupted from the defendant’s dock, more agitated than she had ever been before, "You shut up."

After Chang Chi had spoken, just as she was about to cut down Su Ziceng’s response, Chang Mei’s reaction turned out to be more violent than Su Ziceng’s. Chang Mei, following Chen Jiachun’s advice, had specially asked the police station for help arranging her hair before the trial and had changed her clothes—all in order to make a good impression on the judge and jurors.

But all of it was ruined. With those words that Chang Chi spoke, Chang Mei felt darkness before her eyes; it was like the whole world was collapsing.

"Mom," Chang Chi was also scared by Chang Mei’s intense reaction. She was helping her mother; why would Chang Mei react like this?

The court officers restrained Chang Mei, and Chen Jiachun also stepped forward to console her. The courtroom was in some disarray, and given the new developments, Chen Jiachun requested a temporary adjournment.

The judge agreed to the request. The prosecuting attorney’s expression was one of glee; unexpectedly, they had thrown the opposing camp into disarray with little effort.

Chang Chi quickly walked down from the witness stand. She needed to leave quickly; Shang Yin was still waiting for her outside, she didn’t want to stay and face the reproach from Su Ziceng and others.

Su Ziceng did not step forward to stop Chang Chi, nor did Chen Jiachun move forward to question her.

A figure broke free from a court officer beside her; Chang Chi was stunned by a sudden slap. Shang Yin, who had just entered the courtroom, rushed forward, blocking Chang Mei, who was about to continue her assault.

Everyone who was leaving turned back to watch the dramatic confrontation between mother and daughter.

"What are you doing? She’s helping you," Shang Yin took off his sunglasses, the scar on his face looking somewhat grim.

"I am disciplining my daughter. No one is to hold me back," Chang Mei glared at Chang Chi, who was now hiding behind Shang Yin.