CHAPTER 113: CHAPTER 113 HOW CAN YOU BE SO IRRESPONSIBLE

「That night.」

「Zhang Wei Law Firm.」

The fifty-six clients sought out Zhang Wei once again. Puzzled by Zhang Wei’s departure without a word after the adjournment, they began to question him.

"Lawyer Zhang, why didn’t you even notify us before leaving after the trial ended?"

"You’re our defense lawyer! How can you be so irresponsible?"

"Exactly! Even if there was an emergency, you should have at least informed us. We still have to face the court tomorrow!"

"Right, Lawyer Zhang! Today, I shifted the blame to my cousin. You *must* help me find evidence to prove my innocence. That’s part of your job!"

"..."

They packed in, three layers deep on the inside and three layers deep on the outside, surrounding Zhang Wei so tightly he couldn’t move.

In an instant, their true natures were exposed once again. They hurled accusations at Zhang Wei, complaining about his irresponsibility. It never occurred to them to find solutions themselves. They kept insisting that Zhang Wei, as their defense lawyer, was obligated to help them.

Zhang Wei was utterly infuriated. These people actually made him laugh from sheer anger.

"I’m your defense lawyer, so I need to help you prove your innocence?"

He raised his head and glared sternly at Jiang Lin and the others, rebuking them. "You didn’t inform me beforehand! Then, in court, you suddenly shirked responsibility and tried to evade guilt. Is that what a client is supposed to do?"

"Don’t you realize I couldn’t stop you in court?"

"Everything you did is in the court record and the clerk’s notes. It will significantly impact the final judgment!"

"I bought you three days. Go find the evidence yourselves!"

Disappointment etched his face, and his demeanor hardened.

But Jiang Lin and the others exchanged glances, still refusing to budge.

They complained, "We’ve paid the attorney fees!"

"You’ve taken our money, so you need to get the job done!"

"If we had the evidence ourselves, what would we need you as a lawyer for?"

"Just help us the way you helped Yang Lina before..."

Jiang Lin and the others felt completely justified, oblivious to their wrongdoing.

In their minds, Zhang Wei had found evidence for Yang Lina before. Their situation was identical. If Yang Lina could get away with it, so could they.

"You don’t have evidence?"

Zhang Wei looked up at Jiang Lin and the others. He laughed again, incredulously.

"Lying openly in court? Then you’d better prepare for an additional charge of perjury."

"Perjury refers to when a witness, expert, recorder, or translator, during an investigation or trial, intends to frame someone or conceal evidence for them by hiding or fabricating details crucial to the case."

"Your actions perfectly fit the definition of perjury. All elements are present."

"The courtroom surveillance footage and your conduct will serve as irrefutable evidence for the perjury charge!"

Looking at Jiang Lin and the others, Zhang Wei’s expression was icy, devoid of any pity.

These people... they actually still want me to help "gather evidence"? Wouldn’t that mean making me falsify evidence too? As a qualified criminal lawyer... I still clearly know what can and cannot be done.

That’s precisely why his classmates from law school had, one by one, ended up in prison, while he remained standing tall!

Indeed, criminal law is a high-risk profession. Unlike civil lawyers, criminal lawyers find it all too easy to end up incarcerated themselves. Simply advising a client in a certain way could lead them to act rashly, potentially constituting incitement to commit a crime. Presenting evidence to the court without thoroughly vetting it could constitute perjury on the lawyer’s part. There are at least a dozen such red lines.

For a young lawyer fresh out of school, it’s genuinely not advisable to practice criminal law. If not handled carefully... you can easily land yourself in prison.

"You’ll have to fend for yourselves."

After venting, he took a deep breath and looked at the more than thirty defendants whose cases had not yet been heard.

"I don’t know what you all were thinking. Thankfully, time ran out today before we got to your cases."

"If you still intend to improvise and go your own way, then find your own evidence. I will have absolutely no part in it."

"If you still believe in me, then do as I say."

As soon as he finished speaking, inside the law firm, the more than thirty defendants couldn’t help but swallow hard, their faces paling. They were terrified, a lingering dread washing over them.

Actually, after witnessing the actions of Jiang Lin and the others, they had, to varying degrees, entertained similar thoughts, planning to find excuses to clear their own names. Fortunately, the court had adjourned. Otherwise, they would have ended up just like Jiang Lin’s group, adding another charge to their names out of thin air.

"Lawyer Zhang, please save us, save us!"

"We didn’t understand before; we just thought we could use that method to get acquitted. Now we know we were wrong..."

"Lawyer Zhang, we can increase the legal fees! Just say how much, and we’ll add it!"

"You must save us! We’re not trying to evade our original charges, but at least don’t let us get an added perjury charge!"

"..."

Meanwhile, Jiang Lin and the nine others were so frightened they nearly collapsed. Their earlier self-righteousness had vanished. They grabbed Lawyer Zhang Wei’s arm and began to plead desperately.

Zhang Wei frowned. He said nothing more.

At this moment, he just felt utterly exhausted. First, there was Liang Shuqi, cursing the judge at a critical moment. Then came Jiang Lin and his brilliant accomplices, lying and committing perjury in court... Things were incredibly difficult for him.

「The fourth day.」

「Jin City Court.」

The court continued to hear the series of "major cases" initiated by Qin Mu.

This time, having learned a "bloody lesson," the remaining defendants were exceptionally compliant. They behaved perfectly, meticulously following Zhang Wei’s instructions. The efficiency of the hearings improved noticeably.

At four o’clock that afternoon, the hearings for all sixty people were concluded.

BANG—

Amidst the solemn sound of the gavel, Zhou Quanmin said in a deep voice, "After four days, this series of major cases has now been heard."

"Currently, the cases of Jiang Lin and nine others remain unresolved. They will be re-examined once the evidence is fully prepared."

"The verdicts for these cases will be announced in court three days from now."

Having said that, the day’s court session was then adjourned.

In the public gallery, Zhang Qingyuan and the others exchanged glances, their faces etched with disappointment. All of today’s defendants had been exceptionally compliant. They all chose to plead guilty without any attempts at sophistry. This left them quite dissatisfied, as no drama had unfolded.

"Let’s go. Back to the nursing home," Qin Mu said, shrugging and consoling Old Zhang and the others with a few words.

He had anticipated this situation. A lawyer like Zhang Wei, having practiced in Jin City for so many years, likely wouldn’t dare risk committing perjury or abetting a cover-up. He had likely given the remaining defendants some stern "counseling." That’s why things had turned out this way. However... Jiang Lin and his nine associates had unequivocally committed perjury. They had fabricated lies in court, attempting to evade their charges. Their actions perfectly matched all the constituent elements of perjury. Although not considered a serious instance, the penalty was still up to three years in prison. Combined with their original defamation charges, they would acquire an additional, brand-new criminal conviction.