Although Ying Zhi’an was very patient with her clients, she had zero tolerance for people blinded by love.
Yet, this person blinded by love was her best friend, so she could only proceed slowly. Thus, she brought up the case of Mr. Guan and Ms. Chen, particularly highlighting Ms. Chen’s situation.
“I just finished the hearing. Coincidentally, your husband, Jiang Chao, is the woman’s lawyer, and I am the man’s. After accepting Mr. Guan’s retainer, I also called and communicated with Ms. Chen. Don’t be fooled by the fact that Ms. Chen has the moral high ground; in terms of actual benefit, Ms. Chen is at a great disadvantage. Firstly, to quickly divorce, she never even thought of pursuing the money given to Gou Xiaoxiao as unjust enrichment. Nominally, she and her husband only own one house, with fifteen years of mortgage remaining. The other property is her husband’s premarital asset, currently lent to his relatives to live in. Although your husband’s revised petition included this premarital property, requesting the court to divide it, if we firmly refuse mediation and this matter is strictly judged according to the law, then even if the judge grants the divorce, Ms. Chen can at most receive a larger share of the marital property—that one house. But the problem is, if she chooses to keep the house, she still has to shoulder the mortgage, but she currently has no source of income, and the financial pressure might crush her.”
“Then can’t she choose not to keep the house? And don’t they have any savings?” Zhang Zhang’s words were so naive, as if age had never taken away her girlish innocence.
“If she chooses not to keep the house, she can ask Mr. Guan to compensate her for the difference in value, but then she will have no place to live. If she is granted custody, she and her daughter will need to rent a place. I inquired with my client: Ms. Chen’s parents favor sons over daughters and can offer very little help. Also, the industry Ms. Chen previously worked in relies heavily on work experience. The difficulty of returning to her premarital job is high. I know she is also afraid, and her biggest fear is that without a job and a source of income, the court will not grant her custody of the child.”
“How can the judge rule that way! The man cheated!” Although Zhang Zhang was somewhat naive, she was inherently a person with strong empathy, so she was very angry. “Zhi’an, why would you help a man like that!”
“I am his legal representative; that is my responsibility.” Ying Zhi’an gently advised, “Zhang Zhang, I never talk to you about the cases I handle. The reason I am telling you about this case today is to ask you one question.”
“What question? Does this case have anything to do with me?”
“No direct connection, but the underlying logic of many things in this world is interconnected. Today it is Ms. Chen. Who can guarantee that tomorrow it won’t be Ms. Chen for us?”
“Jiang Chao wouldn’t do that…”
“I’m not talking about Jiang Chao. I just want to ask you: after your college entrance examination, all the majors you filled in were in the normal school category. Do you remember yourself at that time?”
Ying Zhi’an’s voice came through the phone. Modern communication is advanced, without the “crackling” static of old phones. Despite the long distance, it sounded as if Ying Zhi’an was speaking right next to Zhang Zhang’s ear.
In a trance, Zhang Zhang felt transported back to her student days. Ying Zhi’an wore the typical obedient student’s short haircut, a standard that could be used as the school’s hairstyle benchmark.
In class, when Ying Zhi’an had something to say to Zhang Zhang, she would lean over like this, lowering her voice, which made her sound very gentle, whispering those small बातें that had long been forgotten.
Yet, as those memories drifted away, Zhang Zhang still remembered the college application guidance session, where Ying Zhi’an leaned over and asked her, “Are you sure you want to apply to all normal universities? Do you want to be a teacher that badly? What’s the point of being with children? Haven’t you gotten tired of school yet?”
A series of three consecutive questions. Finally, without waiting for Zhang Zhang to answer, Ying Zhi’an’s youthful face showed a hint of confusion. “But I still don’t know what I want to do in the future.”
Zhang Zhang remembered, and Ying Zhi’an remembered too. So, she continued on the phone, “You answered me at the time that you wanted to be like your mother. Even though she was an incompetent mother, she was definitely the greatest teacher. Do you remember?”
“I remember.” Zhang Zhang lightly touched her belly, as if greeting something or saying farewell. “Zhi’an, people change. I’ve changed my mind now. I don’t want to be a great teacher; I just want to take care of my child and my family, just as Jiang Chao said. I will be a competent mother, even if I can no longer continue to be a teacher.”
“I just hope you can think about it more…”
“I know, Zhi’an. I’ve thought about this for a long time. I won’t regret the decision I’ve made.”
If this were truly your own wish, why would I stop you? But Zhang Zhang had already decided on this path and would see it through to the end. Just as Jiang Chao said, Ying Zhi’an was equally aware of Zhang Zhang’s stubbornness. She let out a long sigh.
It seemed she really had to respect others’ destiny.
“Okay, I understand. By the way, did you look into the insurance I mentioned last time? Settle this before you give birth.”
But Zhang Zhang wasn’t exactly an “other.” Ying Zhi’an, having failed with one plan, immediately hatched another.
“So urgent?”
“Don’t delay it. Early investment means early protection.”
After a few more minutes of conversation with Zhang Zhang, Ying Zhi’an hung up the phone. What she was thinking was to label all the money Jiang Chao earned as marital community property. Be it insurance or financial management, at least Zhang Zhang couldn’t be like Ms. Chen, who was completely uninvolved in the family finances and was only told about her husband’s infidelity by the mistress.
Furthermore, buying more single-premium endowment insurance or health insurance, with Zhang Zhang or her parents as the beneficiaries, would also serve as a guarantee for the future.
Ying Zhi’an thought for a moment and then recommended a famous financial manager to a friend at Jiang Chao’s law firm. Ying Zhi’an believed Jiang Chao would be very interested in this manager.
Controlling the money would also serve as another chain on this marriage, locking down the restless husband and the foolishly innocent wife.
As for the rest, it truly was a case of “only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches.”
But even if this couple truly ended up divorcing, Ying Zhi’an wouldn’t let Zhang Zhang become Ms. Chen.
“Only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches.” Ying Zhi’an let out a long sigh, using this to comfort herself, yet the anger in her chest still wouldn’t subside. She couldn’t help but quietly curse again, “Back then! I should have tried every way to break them up! Who the hell wants to be the little guard dog for their marriage! Lunatics!”
Meanwhile, Mr. Guan, feeling humiliated in court, went back to his parents’ house and threw a fit.
Mr. Guan’s mother scolded him, “What a good woman Xiao Chen is. You didn’t cherish her, fooling around outside, and you have the audacity to come here and talk nonsense. I think you deserve to leave with nothing!”
“She didn’t earn a penny, so why should she divide so much money of mine? What good person is she?! She spends so much of my money every year, it’s a good thing she doesn’t know about the house I bought in another city.”
In front of his closest relatives, Mr. Guan was too lazy to keep up the act.
Mr. Guan’s father sat silently on the sofa, but Mr. Guan grew angrier and angrier, shouting, “Which big boss doing business outside doesn’t have a bevy of beautiful women around? Waving colorful flags outside while the red flag stays firmly planted at home! Why is she making such a big deal out of this small matter…”
“Get the hell out of here!” Mr. Guan’s father suddenly erupted, picking up a water cup and throwing it. “The Guan family does not have men like you! You are definitely going to suffer for this! Get out! Get out! Don’t bark at me!”
So, when Ying Zhi’an saw Mr. Guan again, he had a large purple bruise swelling on his forehead.
Ying Zhi’an commented on the matter, “Your uncle and aunt are sensible people.”
“Lawyer Ying, you are the lawyer I hired,” Mr. Guan said with dissatisfaction.
Ying Zhi’an nodded. “Mr. Guan, precisely because you hired me, I must be responsible for your case and tell you the truth. Your parents are normally cared for by Ms. Chen. Their hearts are made of flesh; of course, they will also feel for Ms. Chen. I think this is also one of the reasons you don’t want a divorce—you can’t leave the wonderful family Ms. Chen has managed for you. But Mr. Guan, you enjoyed the benefits of marriage, you must also maintain fidelity to the marriage. You cannot be childish and only possess rights without obligations.”
“Then what’s the use of saying all this now! I regret it too!”
“Therefore, you need to listen carefully to what I say next!” The professional smile on Ying Zhi’an’s face faded, replaced by an expression that was severely cold. The emotions she accumulated from Zhang Zhang also made her beautiful face appear exceptionally stern. “Who did you get to forge the fake divorce certificate? Did you use it for anything inappropriate, such as buying a house?”
Mr. Guan’s eyes widened, and he instinctively wanted to lie and deny it. “What does this have to do with the divorce…”
“Mr. Guan.” Ying Zhi’an stopped him with a low voice. “A divorce certificate is a document issued by a state organ. If you really did this, according to Article 280 of our Criminal Law, you could be charged with the crime of forging state organ documents! Why are you still squabbling about divorce or no divorce? If I were your wife’s lawyer, I would seize on this point. I could not only make you leave with nothing, but I could also send you to jail! And that Gou Xiaoxiao—I could absolutely have Ms. Chen claim unjust enrichment and make her spit out every penny you gave Gou Xiaoxiao. Fortunately, your wife’s lawyer does not have these plans so far, but Mr. Guan, the judge is not easily fooled!”
Ying Zhi’an scoffed. She found these clients who wouldn’t even tell their lawyers the truth the most annoying. “Lying to me is useless. I get paid to work, and I will only stand on your side, protecting your rights to the maximum extent. Your lies can only fool yourself; they fool no one else. And I saw the risks that you couldn’t see, the risks you ignored due to your arrogance, ignorance, and excessive self-satisfaction.”
Ying Zhi’an’s imposing manner was like a towering mountain. “Believe it or not, in a few days, the judge will contact Ms. Chen for questioning, not only to confirm the value of your marital community property but also regarding the fake divorce certificate she mentioned in court. When that happens, I won’t need to go to court; I’ll be going to the police station to see you.”