Chapter 130: Heard You Have a Great Reputation in the Industry!

Lawyer Wang Tiancheng felt that the advantage was with him this time, while on the other side, Wang Daoren, who had just emerged from a one-month state of Suspension of Practice, was swearing that he would absolutely, definitely never drink recklessly again.

He didn't know if he hadn't checked the almanac before going out, but he had actually gone drinking with such a person and had let his own affairs slip.

Actually, he had let things slip before when he was drunk, and he hadn't taken it to heart originally.

Because those people wouldn't go around shouting everywhere that, ah, this Lawyer Wang Daoren was practicing at two law firms at the same time.

But as it turned out, if you walk the night path often enough, you will eventually encounter a ghost; he, Wang Daoren, was backstabbed directly in front of the judge and was finished completely.

At the law firm, Wang Daoren waited for the client to arrive.

His friend in Luzhou had called him, saying he was introducing a client.

Now was the agreed-upon time.

Soon, people entered: three of them, a married couple, plus a young girl.

They were exactly Wu Tao's parents and Wu Tao's girlfriend, Hu Yan.

"You are Lawyer Wang Daoren, right? We were introduced by Lawyer Lao Li..."

"Yes, yes, I am Wang Daoren. The three of you, please sit down first and have some water."

"I heard from Lao Li earlier that it seems your son was arrested, right? What is the specific situation?"

Hu Yan spoke up and recounted the situation as she understood it.

At the end, she asked: "Lawyer Wang, I don't know exactly what he was doing, only that it was a Self-Media Studio, and they said they were making money by reposting other people's videos."

"But he was suddenly arrested."

Wu Tao's father, Wu Jianjun, said quite excitedly: "Lawyer Wang, we heard from Lawyer Lao Li that you are very capable in Jingzhou City; you must help us."

"Our little Tao was arrested for no reason. He was doing his business just fine, and we don't know who he could have offended."

Regarding his friend's act of bragging about him, Wang Daoren certainly wouldn't refuse; he would only say, please brag harder.

But after all, he was a lawyer; having heard the rough account, and excluding the nonsense like "my son didn't commit a crime" and "my son was set up by someone," he roughly knew the truth.

"The two of you, don't be anxious. Reposting other people's videos certainly cannot be a crime; I estimate it should be directly stealing other people's videos."

Seeing that the other party didn't seem to understand what he said at all, Wang Daoren changed his approach: "Actually, it's just downloading videos that others have posted, then posting them yourself, and using this to make money."

"Ah, why is that against the law? Isn't that adding traffic for the original creator?" Hu Yan asked curiously on the side.

Wang Daoren shook his head: "It's not what you think. You can repost other people's videos when you cite the source, but you cannot use other people's videos to make money without their consent."

"Do you understand what I mean by saying this?"

"However, I still need to understand the specific situation further. Do you have any plans to entrust me with the agency?"

The three looked at each other, and Wu Jianjun said: "This... since we have come to Lawyer Wang, we certainly want Lawyer Wang to represent us."

"It's just the issue of the fees..."

Wang Daoren took out the materials and said: "Regarding the issue of fees, we have a unified pricing here, with government guidance prices."

"But... but Lawyer Wang, we heard from others before that there is a method: don't pay first, and after you win the lawsuit, we will pay you. Look, can we..."

Wu Jianjun said this in a stuttering manner.

As for these things, it was during a meal that he heard a certain friend bragging.

Saying that if you go to fight a lawsuit now, you must not be deceived by the lawyer.

Those lawyers have shady fees, and they won't tell you if you can win, they will just take your money.

So, you have to do it this way!

Don't give him money first, sign a contract, and then the contract says that if the lawsuit is won, you can pay more, but if you lose, then there's nothing to be done.

He also said that this could avoid the problem of those lawyers not putting in their best effort during the lawsuit.

At the time, that friend bragged fiercely, saying that people in big cities now all fight lawsuits this way, and told them to remember it.

Wu Jianjun naturally remembered it, and on the way here, he had discussed it with his wife and Hu Yan, feeling that this was exactly how they should do it!

In the past few years, Wu Tao had earned quite a bit of money and had given a lot to the family.

It was just that the Wu Jianjun couple had now decided: they weren't afraid of spending money, they were only afraid of spending money for nothing.

Listening to the other party's words, Wang Daoren felt his head aching a little.

"What you are talking about is called a Risk Agency."

"Ah, it seems to be that, I don't know the specifics," Wu Jianguo said.

Wang Daoren hesitated for a moment and said: "I have to tell you, this Risk Agency is not an ordinary agency. Our kind of Criminal Case, in short, is very complicated."

"And for a Risk Agency, the money you agree to pay in the contract is much more than a normal agency."

Wang Daoren kept a guard up and didn't say anything else; anyway, he was just telling them it was very complicated.

"Lawyer Wang, that's no problem. As long as you can win the lawsuit, the money is really easy to talk about..."

This was against the rules, needless to say, but Wang Daoren hesitated again.

He had just gotten his practicing certificate back; if he did this and people found out, he would be finished again.

But they said the money was easy to talk about... this made one feel a bit conflicted.

After thinking for a while, Wang Daoren said: "What do you mean by winning the lawsuit? I must tell you first: in this kind of Criminal Case, your son has already been arrested, so wanting to do a Not Guilty Defense is basically impossible."

It is very rare, truly very rare.

Because normally, if key evidence is lacking, the Procuratorate would not approve the arrest in the first place.

And he himself didn't know the case details at all right now, let alone what they meant by winning the lawsuit.

So he had to ask clearly first.

"Cannot be not guilty? Then why are we looking for you!"

Wu Jianjun was already a bit anxious; he stood up and shouted.

Wang Daoren's head began to ache again. Why did they always feel that as long as they found a lawyer, they could be not guilty?

If one could be not guilty just by spending money to find a lawyer after committing a crime, then what would the law be for?

"Mr. Wu, please don't be anxious. Let me first understand the details of the case, and then we can discuss the matter of representation."

After saying this, Wang Daoren went out to start making phone calls; he naturally had his own channels for gathering information.

Not long after, Wang Daoren returned, looked at Wu Jianjun opposite him, and said, "Mr. Wu, I have roughly understood the situation. I can say now that a Not Guilty Defense is impossible, but we can pursue a Commutation Defense!"

In any case, there are only two types of Criminal Defense: either not guilty or a commutation.

As for attempting a Not Guilty Defense and ending up with a sentence of twenty years of Fixed-term Imprisonment, that sort of ridiculous operation belongs to special cases...

As for a commutation, any number of years reduced counts; as long as Wu Tao shows a good attitude toward admitting guilt and is proactive, a commutation is not too difficult.

After making some promises, the contract was signed, and Wang Daoren instructed the other party to keep the contract confidential.

Wu Jianjun stated that his lips were the tightest and he definitely wouldn't talk nonsense.

So, under these circumstances, Wang Daoren began to prepare for the meeting with satisfaction.

After going through numerous procedures, Lawyer Wang Tiancheng finally met his client, Peng Yu.

Upon seeing Wang Tiancheng, this young man who had only just reached adulthood not long ago burst into loud sobs.

"I, I really didn't know that was a crime..."

"Um, someone, someone contacted me and said he was the original creator of the video, telling me to credit the video source or something, and that it could let me earn money."

"I wasn't thinking about earning money at all; I just wanted to show off my skills to my friends, so I blocked him."

"I didn't touch the money I earned either; I don't need this money at all, it was all just for showing off... Lawyer Wang, save me, I really didn't know anything."

While comforting this man who looked like an adult but was actually just a child, Old Wang began to think.

This case was not very difficult.

For one, the other party was still young and his subjective malice was very small; for another, by proactively offering compensation and seeking forgiveness, perhaps he could be sentenced very lightly.

Of course, it was mainly because this parent was capable; he said directly that there was no need to worry about the money.

He told him to go ahead and handle it, as long as his son could get out sooner.

This formed a stark contrast with that previous couple.

On the other side, however, Wang Daoren's meeting did not go as well.

"What? You have many other accounts that are also stealing videos?"

Wang Daoren was a bit speechless; this was not quite consistent with the situation he had understood. What did this mean? It meant that the other party's illegal gains might have already exceeded the threshold for a "large amount"!

"Wait, have you mentioned this issue to the police during your interrogation?"

"Why didn't you say so? Remember, right now, whatever you have regarding this aspect, report it. You must, must cooperate and be proactive!"

"Only if you do this can we cooperate well."

Wu Tao looked at Wang Daoren, feeling a bit anxious: "Lawyer Wang, I will cooperate with everything. Tell me when I can get out; I'm just about to get married!"

Thinking of that girlfriend of his, Wang Daoren was silent for a moment.

"Don't consider those things for now; cooperate actively and strive for it!"

All five people had lawyers, and after the lawyers met to understand the case and obtain evidence, they basically all started contacting the victims.

At the same time, Old Wang, that is, Wang Tiancheng, learned the contact information and the name of the victim.

"Zhou Yi? This name sounds so familiar..."

With a trace of disbelief, Old Wang dialed that number.

Then, looking at the note on the phone, Old Wang gasped.

How could it be such a coincidence? It couldn't be, right? Could he be about to breach his contract again this time?

No, definitely not. Last time it was because of a "pig teammate," but this time I am like being fully equipped with American gear—I have the money, and I have the people!

Needless to say, the advantage is with me!

After calming down slightly, Old Wang dialed the number.

In the Imperial Capital, Zhou Yi, who was engrossed in dealing with a large lobster, saw the phone ringing. With his hands covered in oil, he shouted: "Fang Dazhuang, help me answer the phone!"

Fang Dazhuang picked up the phone and looked at the caller ID on it.

"Unlucky Guy? Zhou Yi, who is Unlucky Guy?"

While speaking, he had already answered the phone and held it to his ear.

Zhou Yi said casually: "Ah? Unlucky Guy? Do I have this person in my phone? I don't know... Eh, wait!"

Damn! Almost forgot, he had previously saved that Lawyer Wang who introduced Fang Dazhuang to him as "Unlucky Guy."

The other party really was an unlucky guy; one might not encounter a few such clients in a lifetime.

However, it was already too late. Fang Dazhuang answered the phone and said directly: "Hello, who is looking for Zhou Yi? He is busy and can't get to it."

Old Wang on the other end of the phone felt the voice on the other side was inexplicably familiar.

It wasn't Zhou Yi, so who was it? Someone with Zhou Yi, and even helping Zhou Yi answer the phone.

Wait, this voice...

"Old Fang?"

Fang Dazhuang on this end of the phone was also stunned and said: "Wang Tiancheng? Old Wang? Are you Old Wang?"

He took it down to look at the phone; it was correct, it was Zhou Yi's phone, it was the Unlucky Guy.

But why would it be Old Wang?

Could it be that in some place he didn't know about, Zhou Yi and Old Wang had some special friendship?

"It's me, it's me! Old Fang, why is Zhou Yi's phone with you? Are you with him?"

Old Wang had already started asking questions like a machine gun.

Fang Dazhuang said speechlessly: "Isn't this a business trip to the Imperial Capital? For that case of Zhou Yi's, investigating some information. Do you have something to ask him?"

"Yes, I do. Let him answer the phone."

Fang Dazhuang handed the phone to Zhou Yi and said: "Lawyer Wang Tiancheng, yes, that lawyer who introduced me to you before, says he has something to ask you."

Zhou Yi took the phone, turned on the speakerphone directly, placed it beside him, and said, "Hello, Lawyer Wang, long time no see. Is there something you need?"

"Zhou Yi, it has been a long time. I am looking for you... there is indeed something. Is it convenient for you to talk?"

Hm? Fang Dazhuang and Zhou Xinran both looked over at the same time.

Zhou Yi hurriedly said, "Convenient, it's convenient. Go ahead."

"It's like this, Zhou Yi..."

Old Wang began to explain the relevant situation. This time it was very simple: the other party was willing to pay compensation, double or triple was fine, they only asked for Zhou Yi to issue a Letter of Forgiveness.

"You're saying the other party is only eighteen? Are young people these days all this heaven-defying?"

Zhou Yi was a bit shocked. An eighteen-year-old youth, self-taught in web crawler technology, stole his videos just to show off.

This... just thinking about how the other party blocked him without hesitation, he felt a bit reluctant to forgive.

Seeing that there was no response from the other side, Old Wang said again, "Zhou Yi, if you feel the compensation isn't appropriate, we can actually discuss it further."

Can discuss it further?

Zhou Yi's hand trembled slightly; he felt that this time he might issue the first Letter of Forgiveness of his life...

Zhou Yi needed to consider the specifics, but here in the Imperial Capital, what Zhou Yi did not expect was that seven working days had already passed, yet the Company still had no reaction at all.

When he went to ask, he could only see the receptionist at the front desk; he couldn't see either General Manager Wu or General Manager Zhao.

"I have to make an appointment to see them? Then who can make decisions regarding this matter at the Company right now?" Zhou Yi asked.

The receptionist shook her head: "Sorry, sir, I am not clear on that either. Normally, General Manager Zhao is in charge, but he has been busy with meetings these past few days."

"No, then when will he be free? Is he planning to be in meetings all day today? What about General Manager Wu?"

The receptionist could only say: "Sir, I don't know either. You can leave your contact information, and I can help you make an appointment when General Manager Zhao is free."

"General Manager Wu has already gone on a business trip and is not at the Company these few days."

Looking at the security guards gathering from both sides, Zhou Yi shook his head. His temper had indeed improved a lot lately, and he had no intention of arguing at all.

Besides, the other party was just a receptionist.

So he said directly: "Fine, you help me make an appointment first."

"Alright, sir."

Turning to leave the Company, Zhou Yi looked at Fang Dazhuang beside him.

"What are they thinking? Do they think I will compromise if they drag it out like this? What should we do now?"

"It's fine. You stay here and don't move around; I will go contact the Court. Rest assured, I have seen plenty of these people."

"They always think you won't tear your face off with them."

It still comes back to that: after all, it is across provinces. If it were local, then everything would be easy to handle.

But this is the Imperial Capital. Contacting the Jingzhou Court and then getting a response from the other side, all of this takes time.

And as it happens, Zhou Yi is not short on time at all!