Chapter 375: Have We Encountered a Tough Nut to Crack?

"County Magistrate Tang, that remark of yours is quite unpleasant." Cao Jin suppressed the displeasure in his heart and pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses. "As a lawyer, upholding the interests of my client is my sacred duty. To be entrusted by others and to be loyal to their affairs—this is a professional requirement."

He knew clearly the network of relationships behind Tang Ye.

Playing dirty in the shadows was one thing, but he did not want to escalate the conflict completely.

Tang Ye curled his lips into a cold sneer, his gaze like a torch: "For the sake of a few legal fees, you can abandon your conscience and invert black and white? Attorney Cao, your calculations are certainly shrewd."

"County Magistrate Tang, please mind your tone!" Cao Jin stiffened his face, his voice rising sharply. "I have no intention of being your enemy, but I will not allow you to slander me at will. As a major taxpayer in Suiyuan, how much employment has Guangtai provided for the county, and how much tax revenue has it contributed? Do you intend to force such an enterprise away and cause the Suiyuan economy to suffer a major blow?"

Tang Ye did not back down. "The Government certainly will not ignore Guangtai's contribution to Suiyuan. But the harm it has caused must not be forgotten! Thirty children have lead poisoning, and several children have even suffered permanent damage. Not only does Guangtai refuse to take responsibility, but it also attempts to cover up the data. Now that the matter can no longer be hidden, you use the law as a weapon to intimidate the victims' families. Is this the sense of responsibility of a large enterprise?"

Liao Guosheng, standing to the side, could no longer hold his composure.

"County Magistrate Tang, this matter of data concealment has nothing to do with Guangtai. We have already dealt with the relevant responsible persons severely!"

"Secretary Liao, that move of yours—sacrificing a pawn to save the knight—is quite elegant!" The corners of Tang Ye's mouth curled into a mocking smile. "The Deputy Township Head who was disciplined was only just promoted last year; at the time of the incident, he was merely a common Staff Member. I heard that he had previously questioned your management style in public several times. Is this a punishment? It is clearly using the situation as an excuse to settle a personal vendetta, isn't it?"

These words were like a heavy hammer. Beads of sweat instantly broke out on Liao Guosheng's forehead, and his voice became thin and unsteady: "County Magistrate Tang, you can eat whatever you want, but you cannot say whatever you want! I handle everything according to rules and regulations, and I have a clear conscience!"

Anger rose in the depths of Cheng Lin's eyes, each word like an unsheathed ice pick: "Hearing 'clear conscience' come out of your mouth makes one feel sick!"

Liao Guosheng had long known that Cheng Lin held deep prejudices against him, yet he still put on a bitter smile: "Secretary Cheng, I am trying to put out a fire here! Our township relies on Guangtai to save face; if the enterprise moves away, how will the economic indicators be met? If you insist on undermining me, I will have no choice but to report the truth to my superiors."

Cheng Lin sneered: "Stop using economic indicators as a shield! Search your own conscience. In this matter regarding Guangtai, have you not been an accomplice to the evildoer?"

Seeing Liao Guosheng rendered speechless by the retort, Cao Jin hurriedly spoke up to support him: "We are not refusing compensation; we are only negotiating a reasonable amount for the compensation..."

"This is a hospital, not a courtroom, and certainly not a vegetable market—it is not a place for bargaining!" Cheng Lin turned to look directly at Cao Jin. "Please leave if you have nothing else to do. Whether to file a lawsuit or how to conduct it is not for you to decide."

Cao Jin stared at her with a sinister look: "We certainly cannot decide the direction of the lawsuit, but we can decide when the treatment funds arrive. I advise you not to make empty promises to the families. Could it be that Secretary Cheng wants to pay out of her own pocket?"

Just as the atmosphere became tense, Xia Ge gave a light cough and handed her business card to Cao Jin: "This is my business card. The Chunyu Foundation officially announces that it will cover all treatment expenses and litigation agency fees for the injured children. We have partnerships with many top-tier law firms across the country, and I believe many renowned lawyers will be willing to provide free legal aid to the children."

The moment Cao Jin's fingertips touched the business card, his pupils shrank.

He knew the weight of the Chunyu Foundation all too well.

This national public welfare organization with a red background possessed energy far exceeding that of an ordinary commercial institution.

"Secretary-General Xia, I have long admired your name!" Cao Jin pinched the business card with his fingertips, his tone suddenly becoming much more respectful. "It is getting late. Guangtai's stance has already been made clear to the families, so I will not continue to disturb you."

Having said that, he shot a fierce look at Liao Guosheng.

Although Liao Guosheng was completely bewildered, he still hurriedly stood up and followed Cao Jin outside.

"Attorney Cao, looking at your expression, have you encountered a tough nut to crack?"

Cao Jin sighed deeply: "The background of the Chunyu Foundation is unfathomable. If we really let them find legal aid, this matter will be troublesome."

Liao Guosheng furrowed his brows: "You aren't thinking of backing out, are you?"

Cao Jin tugged at his tie and revealed a helpless, bitter smile: "In our line of work, one must consider everything thoroughly in advance. We must prepare for the worst. However, rest assured, as long as the case is still being tried within the borders of Hanzhou, even if you invite the top lawyers in the country, I have ways to make them hit a wall."

Upon hearing this, Liao Guosheng breathed a sigh of relief.

The saying "a mighty dragon does not crush a local serpent" is an ironclad rule in the judicial circle.

Even if an outside lawyer has heaven-reaching abilities, they are no match for the intricate local network of connections; a moment of carelessness and they will be stuck in a quagmire, achieving nothing.

After Liao Guosheng and Cao Jin left.

Tang Ye turned to the victims' families and solemnly introduced Xia Ge's identity once more: "Grandma Yang, you heard it just now; what Secretary Cheng says will count. You don't need to worry about your granddaughter's medical expenses; Secretary-General Xia will be responsible for the entire process. The foundation will also hire professional lawyers to help you defend your rights. You only need to focus on taking care of the children now; leave the rest to us."

Grandma Yang's eyes instantly turned red, her voice choking: "Thank you, Secretary Cheng, thank you all... I had already prepared for the worst. With these people colluding between officials and businessmen, there is simply no way for the common people to survive..."

Tang Ye said sternly: "The likes of Liao Guosheng cannot represent the Government. There are many excellent cadres in the ranks who are passionate about justice."

"That's right, you and Secretary Cheng are both good cadres. With your help, we have the confidence now!" Grandma Yang wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, a look of determination appearing on her aged face. "This time, we will not back down no matter what; we must seek justice for the children!"

Afterward, Tang Ye accompanied Xia Ge to visit the hospital rooms one by one.

Among them, the two children with the most severe conditions had already suffered irreversible neurological damage.

Even with long-term treatment, it would be difficult for them to return to the functional level of a normal child.

"According to the plan proposed by Cao Jin, these two children are only being offered a total of thirty thousand yuan in compensation, while the other children are only receiving one thousand yuan each as humanitarian aid." Tang Ye's tone was heavy.

Xia Ge gazed at the weak children on the hospital beds, her eyes full of pain and pity—though she had known the situation was serious, she had not expected the harm to be so profound.

"Secretary Cheng, County Magistrate Tang, please rest assured. I will coordinate the funding approval overnight and simultaneously recruit a team of the nation's top lawyers. This case is infuriating, and I believe many great lawyers with a sense of justice will be interested."

Cheng Lin said in a deep voice: "Secretary-General Xia, please rest assured. Within the borders of Suiyuan, we will certainly escort the cause of justice and will never let judicial fairness become a sacrifice for morally corrupt individuals!"