Yang Jianguo’s face was grim as he hurried home on his motorcycle. Once he learned the full story, he was so furious he saw stars. He rushed to the detention center to visit his mother.
When Zhang Xiufang saw him, she was a mess of snot and tears. “Jianguo, your father is heartless; he’d rather I die here than come to save me.”
“Jianguo, you’re my son; you have to save me. I don’t want to go to jail. The food here is bad, the sleeping is bad, the clothes are bad…” Zhang Xiufang wailed throughout the visit.
Yang Jianguo was seething, but he couldn’t bring himself to scold his mother. “Are you thick in the head? You just jump at whatever rumor people whisper in your ear.”
“I told you not to bully Han Xiaorui. She’s a woman alone with children; it’s not easy for her. You just have to make a scene—do you think Han Xiaorui is someone easy to mess with? If she were, could she have walked away with so much from our house?”
Zhang Xiufang was flushed with embarrassment. Afraid of prison, she pleaded, “Son, Mom was wrong. Please go beg Han Xiaorui to forgive me; otherwise, I’m really going to be stuck here pedaling a sewing machine.”
Yang Jianguo’s face darkened as he thought of his associate professor candidacy—he was even angrier. “I’m at a critical stage for my promotion. Han Xiaorui had her lawyer go to my university and play recordings of you cursing at her. The impact was disastrous—it’s all over.”
Zhang Xiufang patted her head in remorse. “I heard the yellow croakers sold for over seven thousand yuan and that your father gave it all to Han Xiaorui. I didn’t think clearly!”
“Who would have thought that thin, frail Han Xiaorui could actually cast a net and catch so many large yellow croakers?”
Yang Jianguo was surprised as well; large yellow croakers weren’t easy to catch. “Just make sure you don’t curse anyone while you’re in detention. Keep a good attitude, admit your mistakes, and repent so you can get a lighter sentence. If you stay stubborn, no one can save you, and you’ll drag me down with you.”
Zhang Xiufang nodded frantically. “Son, I understand. Go find Han Xiaorui; she’ll listen to you.”
Yang Jianguo rode his motorcycle back to the village and headed straight for Han Xiaorui’s house. However, there was a motorcycle parked out front, and standing beside it was the bothersome lawyer, Chen Nanyang. Yang Jianguo had prepared a speech to sweet-talk Han Xiaorui, but with an outsider present, he couldn’t bring himself to say it.
“Han Xiaorui, come out. I have things to discuss with you,” Yang Jianguo shouted at the closed door.
Han Xiaorui had spent the entire afternoon waiting for him. “Lawyer Chen standing by the door is my representative. I have already explained my demands to him.”
“Talk to Lawyer Chen. From now on, don’t stand at my door. If your pregnant mistress comes running here again to curse at my door, I’ll send her in too. Then you’ll be looking at two letters of forgiveness—the cost will be even higher.”
“Lawyer Chen, he’s all yours. Get as much compensation as you can. I’ll give you a ten percent commission.”
Upon hearing the word “commission,” the hulking Chen Nanyang sprang into action, shoving Yang Jianguo aside as he tried to knock on the door.
“Lecturer Yang, my client has made it clear: all matters are to be handled by me. From this moment on, if you continue to harass my client, I will issue a formal warning. If you still refuse to listen, don’t blame me for suing you.”
Yang Jianguo’s head spun with rage. He wasn’t legally ignorant like his mother. If Chen Nanyang sued him, even if it wasn’t a major crime, it would look terrible. And if the word “sexual” was attached to “harassment,” it would be considered “hooliganism”—a much heavier charge.
“Fine. Since you’re her representative, tell me: what will it take for Han Xiaorui to let my mother go?”
Chen Nanyang maintained a professional tone, correcting him. “Lecturer Yang, watch your language. It isn’t a matter of my client ‘letting your mother go,’ but whether your sincere apologies earn my client’s forgiveness.”
Realizing Chen Nanyang was no pushover, Yang Jianguo said, “Mr. Chen, let’s talk about this inside my house.”
“That won’t do. You might try to bribe me or buy me off behind her back, which would violate my professional ethics. We talk here. These are the terms drafted according to my client’s wishes. Take a good look.”
“If you agree, sign it, pay the amount, and follow through on the promises. If not, my client reserves the right to continue pursuing legal action against Zhang Xiufang.”
Yang Jianguo suppressed his fury and took the agreement. As he read it, blood rushed to his head.
“Fifty… fifty thousand? In compensation?” Yang Jianguo was stunned. “It’s just an argument, isn’t it? Is that much money necessary?”
Chen Nanyang corrected him sternly, “No, Lecturer Yang, you are mistaken. Your mother is suspected of defamation, intimidation, and extortion. While the extortion was an attempt, the defamation and intimidation have severely infringed upon my client’s legal rights and caused her significant damage.”
“I am not fear-mongering. In my experience, if this goes to court, your mother faces a sentence of three to five years. If you don’t believe me, go find another lawyer or ask someone who works at the court.”
Yang Jianguo wiped cold sweat from his forehead. “Xiaorui, can you…?”
Han Xiaorui refused. “No. I let Zhang Xiufang go once before. This time, I will not be lenient. I’ll give you three days; if you don’t agree to the terms, wait for the court summons.”
“Lawyer Chen, I trust your capability. I hope you can finish this work smoothly; I won’t skimp on your pay.”
Chen Nanyang was thrilled. With a 1,000-yuan lawyer fee and a 5,000-yuan commission, he was looking at 6,000 yuan—enough to cover his law firm’s rent for the entire year!
“Ms. Han, rest assured, I will put my all into this.” Chen Nanyang promised, his spirits soaring.
Seeing that staring Yang Jianguo down was useless, he took the agreement home to discuss it with his father.
After Yang Jianguo left, Han Xiaorui opened the door and let Chen Nanyang inside. “Lawyer Chen, come in for a meal; I have another matter to entrust you with.”
Chen Nanyang was excited. His firm hadn’t seen a case in three months, and Han Xiaorui was clearly his benefactor. “Ms. Han, what is it?”
Han Xiaorui asked, “I want to buy a storefront near the Maternal and Child Health Hospital, at least 60 square meters. Roughly how much would that cost? Also, what paperwork do I need to open a shop that sells ornamental fish?”