Chapter 246: Utterly Ruthless

Lin Qingmeng suddenly spotted some investigators next to the courthouse and shouted.

"These people are a threat to my safety! Please tell them to leave!"

These investigators were naturally impartial. Hearing someone cry for help and seeing several large men surrounding a woman, they couldn’t help but disapprove.

"What do you think you’re doing? Looking for trouble? If you want to attend the hearing, get inside. If not, get out of the way! If you dare cause a scene here, we won’t go easy on you."

One of the bodyguards said, "The Bar Association has already given you a heads-up. To prevent anyone from maliciously harming the lawyer, we must search the plaintiff for dangerous weapons and check for violent tendencies before they enter the courtroom! This is a legal right afforded to Lawyer Yang!"

Lin Qingmeng sneered, "You have no authority to search me. Do you have a warrant? And even if you did, is there a female officer present to conduct it? Why should I let you search me?!"

The investigators also found Lawyer Yang’s bodyguards to be ridiculously over the top, and they shot her a fierce glare.

"You’re being absurdly paranoid! She’s here for a lawsuit, not an assassination. What do you think you’re doing? Make another unreasonable demand like that, and we’ll arrest you for picking quarrels and provoking trouble!"

Chen Qingdi had been watching coldly from the side. In truth, he wasn’t worried at all about what these people might do to Lin Qingmeng. ’After all, when the critical moment comes, I’ll step in.’

’And with my status and position, one phone call is all it takes to make the developer, or any other party involved, vanish into thin air.’

’But I also want to see just how wicked these people can be. That’s why I’m holding back for now.’

Hearing the investigators’ words, he knew they were still acting impartially, so he didn’t intervene.

Hearing the investigator, the bodyguards said to Lin Qingmeng, "You got lucky, lady! I’m warning you, after the hearing, you are not to follow Lawyer Yang for any reason, and you’d better not be stopping at any hardware stores!"

Chen Qingdi couldn’t stand it anymore. He spoke in a cold voice.

"Lawyer Yang, with what you’re implying, can I sue you for defamation? You claim we’d follow you and go to a hardware store—I’d like to see your evidence. Without any proof, your words are nothing but false accusation, framing, and slander!"

"You..."

No matter how much law Lawyer Yang knew, Chen Qingdi’s group hadn’t laid a hand on her, nor had they said anything truly offensive. Faced with his accusations, she was at a loss.

"Fine! We’ll settle this in court!"

Chen Qingdi supported his godmother as he and his sister Lin Qingmeng walked toward the courthouse. Halfway there, Lawyer Yang—now wearing a safety helmet and surrounded by her bodyguards—blocked their path.

"As the legal counsel for the defendant, I am asking you now: will you accept an out-of-court settlement?"

At this point, Chen Qingdi took over as the representative. "And what kind of settlement are you proposing?"

"My client promises to guarantee the delivery of the building. In return, you will withdraw your lawsuit, cover all legal fees, and apologize to my client. Then we can consider this matter over!"

Chen Qingdi pressed on, "When will the building be delivered?"

"President Yang of Chongqing Anju Real Estate Co., Ltd. promises that the building will definitely be delivered in the year 2100!"

Chen Qingdi’s tone turned frigid. "Do you think my mother will live to see that day?"

The lawyer shook her head. "That is not our concern. We can only guarantee delivery on January 1st, 2100. As for whether Ms. Lin lives that long, that is the responsibility of her physician!"

Chen Qingdi shook his head. "We refuse to settle. Let us pass."

Yang Anna, seeing no other option, had to step aside and let them pass.

Yang Anna’s legal expertise was indeed extensive, and her "professional ethics" were so "high" that she argued eloquently in court. She spoke of broken supply chains, of operational challenges, of the weak real estate market—all reasons why continuing construction was difficult, and why she was requesting the court to grant them more time.

In the end, the court accepted their promise to guarantee delivery of the building by January 1st, 2100.

Lin Zhongxue asked the judge with a trembling voice.

"When... when can we move in?"

The assessor next to her, thinking the old woman didn’t understand legal matters or even basic math, decided to calculate it for her.

"If you have a one-year-old grandson today, he will be able to move into the building you bought when he turns seventy-nine! However, according to the current laws of Daxia, he will first need to pay a fifty-five percent inheritance tax! Then, considering a building’s lifespan is only seventy years, by the time he takes possession, it will be legally condemned. And since it will be demolished eight years late, he’ll also have to pay eight years’ worth of late-demolition fines. On top of that, he must completely pay off the debt to the Money Shop. Only then can he be considered a person with a clean slate!"

After hearing this, the old woman asked, "I don’t want the apartment anymore. Can I just cancel the contract? And cancel the debt, too?"

Lawyer Yang said coldly, "According to the current laws of Daxia, your purchase agreement and your loan agreement are two completely separate contracts with different parties. Therefore, even if you never get the property, the debt must still be repaid!"

Finally, the judge’s gavel fell.

"All claims by the plaintiff, Lin Zhongxue, are dismissed. The plaintiff shall bear all costs of this hearing!"

Upon hearing the verdict, Lin Zhongxue’s vision went black and she collapsed. Just as Chen Qingdi was about to take his godmother to get medical help, they were stopped by several court officers.

"The court fee is twelve thousand, five hundred eighty-four yuan and ninety-three cents. Cash or QR code?"

Lin Qingmeng’s face was pale with rage, but it was no use. If they didn’t pay the court fees, they could face enforcement action, including jail time.

Chen Qingdi stopped Lin Qingmeng, took out his phone, and paid the court fee.

Just as he was about to lead his sister away, several investigators suddenly approached and, without a word of explanation, handcuffed all of them.

"What are you doing?"

One of the investigators looked at Chen Qingdi apologetically.

"There have been several recent incidents of defendants’ lawyers being attacked with hammers. To guarantee the safety of the defendant’s counsel, we have to take compulsory measures and escort you home safely. Brother, talk to your mother. Lawsuits can be won or lost; don’t take it to heart. As long as you make your loan payments on time, you’re still law-abiding citizens! Just go home and live your lives. As long as you don’t cause any trouble for the defendant’s lawyer, everything will be fine!"

They were escorted home in handcuffs and only released once they were inside.

Chen Qingdi had to tend to his godmother himself. After a while, she came to, and he said to her,

"Mom, I don’t think you need to worry about buying an apartment anymore. Isn’t my place big enough for you to live in? As for that debt, don’t give it another thought. I’ll pay it all off for you!"

The old woman felt a great weight lift from her heart. She immediately wanted to go out and buy groceries to cook a meal for Chen Qingdi.