Are You Crazy? He’s only an Intern Lawyer?
Chapter 122 - 121: This son, might as well not have him!

Chapter 122: Chapter 121: This son, might as well not have him!

The courtroom during a trial.

The cross-examination was still ongoing.

Under the hypothetical questioning of Zhang Wei, Captain Liu fell into a brief silence, followed by a response that did not surprise Zhang Wei.

"Captain Liu, based on your answer, may I infer that when your son tells you something, you tend to believe that what he says is the truth?"

"Yes!"

"All right, let’s entertain a second hypothesis: if you knew my client Zhuo Xiaoting to be as honest as your son and there was no evidence to prove that she was lying, would you still believe she has no connection to the stolen goods or money and proceed to arrest her?"

"This..."

Upon hearing this hypothetical question, Chief Liu fell silent.

He glanced at Xiao Baihe, who made a slight, dismissive hand gesture.

The unspoken message of this gesture: Judge Wang’s attitude has already been made clear; my opposition would only be a waste of breath. In the end, you’ll still have to answer the question.

"Regarding the hypothesis posed by Lawyer Zhang, I’m confused. In fact, I don’t know what I would choose..."

Hearing Chief Liu’s response, Zhang Wei smiled again.

"Thank you once again for your honest response!"

He approached Chief Liu, pointing to Zhuo Xiaoting, and asked, "So, let’s return to the current case. Did you see any physical evidence at the scene, or hear any witness testimony, or any other circumstantial evidence that could prove Zhuo Xiaoting was lying?"

"I think not!" Captain Liu shook his head instinctively.

"So you are saying that if it were your son in the same situation with the same evidence in this case, we might not even need to have this trial, nor would we have a case against my client, Zhuo Xiaoting, right?"

Once again, Captain Liu sank into silence, eventually nodding after a long while, "Perhaps, indeed there wouldn’t be..."

His tone was also filled with uncertainty.

"Thank you for your response, Chief Liu; my questioning is over," said Zhang Wei, confidently walking back to the defense bench.

Chief Liu’s reaction was clearly observed by everyone in the courtroom.

The jury members were lost in thought, and there was a slight stir among the spectators.

Even Judge Wang on the bench looked at Zhang Wei with a touch of surprise.

This young man’s line of questioning had somehow managed to shake Captain Liu’s confidence. He really had some tricks up his sleeve!

"Sister Baihe, what should we do? It seems we are at a disadvantage now!"

Tan Yingying dare not look at Zhang Wei, but she also noticed the change in the tide.

Whether it was the judge’s expression or the jury’s speculation, she, as a prosecutor, captured it all clearly.

"You don’t need to tell me; I already know!" Xiao Baihe interrupted Tan Yingying’s anxiety coldly, standing up and saying, "The prosecution would like to ask additional questions!"

Without regarding the judge’s reaction, she walked up to the witness stand again.

"The defense attorney’s recent questions were just a series of clever hypotheticals, not the reality of the situation," she said.

"Chief Liu, are you aware of whether our client Zhuo Xiaoting is as honest as your son?"

Chief Liu didn’t take long to think before responding, "No, I do not know that!"

"When she denied any involvement with the stolen goods or money, did you believe she was innocent?"

"I did not believe that either!"

Xiao Baihe nodded and then turned her gaze to the jury, gradually intensifying her tone: "Based on the situation at the scene and your 30 years of experience in the Martial Association Investigation Department, can you make a judgment about Zhuo Xiaoting’s trustworthiness?"

"At that time, I indeed thought she was lying," Captain Liu answered immediately, and then added, "Because those ill-gotten funds and goods wouldn’t have been in your home just for a day or two. If you knew such calamitous items were in your house, why didn’t you report them to the Martial Association? You say you were unaware, which gives me full reason to believe you were lying!"

With these words, the jury also nodded in agreement.

Captain Liu’s statement was indeed not without reason.

"Thank you for your response once again!"

Xiao Baihe’s face showed a smile; this time, she had the upper hand.

As she prepared to return to the prosecution bench, Zhang Wei stood up again.

"The defense also requests additional questioning!"

Zhang Wei, unconcerned about the judge’s reaction, approached the witness stand again.

"Chief Liu, since you’ve said so, then combining your earlier response, under the same conditions, you would unconditionally trust your own son!"

"No, no, no, Lawyer Zhang, you know what, maybe I misspoke earlier!"

Chief Liu’s expression became serious this time, and he looked at Zhang Wei, replying with a slightly somber voice, "If I saw my son holding something dangerous, holding a weapon, holding a knife, even holding a gun!"

"Of course, I would naturally tend to trust my son, but if the stolen goods or cash, even the weapon was indeed in his hands, I must admit that I would suspect him of actually having committed a crime!"

Upon hearing this statement that echoed ’justice before family’, the corners of Zhang Wei’s mouth twitched unwittingly.

"Is your son an honest person?"

"Yes, but I’ll repeat what I said, if the weapon or stolen goods are in his hands, then I wouldn’t trust him without giving it a second thought, I must speak according to the facts!"

Zhang Wei narrowed his eyes and asked, "Then what would you do?"

"If in the end my son really did commit the crime, and it’s a criminal case..."

"This son, might as well not have!"

Hiss~

Not only did Zhang Wei feel the situation was tricky, but some of the jurors also involuntarily gasped.

This statement was indeed too much of ’father’s kindness, son’s filial piety’.

Judge Wang was also leaning to one side, mouth slightly agape, looking at Chief Liu with a touch of surprise.

Old Liu, is this really appropriate?

Your son might be following the text broadcast of this trial. If he knew your responses, how could you continue to be a father?

"Worthy of being Chief Liu, your response has deeply shaken me!"

Zhang Wei also had to admit, Chief Liu was indeed ruthless, and his answer truly refreshed his understanding.

"But I think, if you can’t even trust your own son, how could my client possibly refute the accusations?"

Chief Liu did not answer this question, and Judge Wang did not remind him that he had to.

Zhang Wei glanced at Chief Liu and finally let out a sigh.

"My additional questioning has concluded. Thank you for your testimony!"

He walked back to the defense bench and took his seat directly.

The atmosphere in the courtroom became tense all of a sudden.

Judge Wang opened his mouth several times, but did not speak any further.

The jury was silent, and the murmuring in the observer’s gallery had stopped as well; everyone held their breath.

They were all waiting for the prosecution’s second witness because it was still the prosecution’s phase of presenting the case.

"The defense calls the second witness to the stand!"

Following Xiao Baihe’s announcement, the second witness took the stand.

This was a woman, in her forties, dressed in a black suit, hands crossed, carrying herself with an air of arrogance.

And her gaze towards the defense bench had a hint of malice.

"Madam Fan, hello, previously you personally called our office, saying you wanted to testify in court!"

"Yes!" The woman responded succinctly, speaking quickly.

"So please tell us why you want to be involved in this case!"

"Hmph, those pornographic books and magazines for sale have had a huge impact on my son’s mental health, of course I had to be involved in this case!"

The woman’s response wasn’t unexpected to Zhang Wei.

She clearly came to the stand charged with anger, considering the nature of the case, it likely meant someone in her family was affected by indecent materials.

And usually, adults have self-control and wouldn’t experience any severe issues, so the one who could be influenced would be...

"My son is in high school, an excellent student ranked at the top of his class, a star pupil in the key class, and he is absolutely going to get into a prestigious university!"

"But then his grades plummeted during his final semester of high school. I inquired at the school, and the teachers were clueless. Lastly, after talking to him, I learned that he had been surfing that unhealthy content, which is just infuriating!"

"You’re saying a good student, once outstanding in both conduct and academics with a bright future, could have his prospects ruined by that unhealthy material!"

"Those damned people deserve to die!"

"Madam Fan, please calm down!"

Seeing the woman become more and more agitated, even crossing the line, Xiao Baihe hurriedly interceded.

However, on the jury, many seniors seemed to agree with the woman’s words.

Clearly, they were also parents.

This was also a result deliberately filtered by Zhang Wei, leaving those who value family behind, and they would inevitably be influenced by this parent on the witness stand.

Under Xiao Baihe’s questioning, the woman then began to narrate how her son was influenced by harmful information, and her words grew increasingly intense.

"I only have this one son, and I watched as he nearly got ruined by those things; naturally, I couldn’t bear it. That’s why I am standing here today, to tell everyone that those people are utterly inhumane. For the sake of money, they actually harm our children, our next generation. We must not let them off easily; we have to send them all to jail, to have them sit in prison for life!"

"Thank you, Madam Fan, for your response. My questions are finished."

Xiao Baihe looked at the woman, sighing inwardly, and could only return to the prosecutor’s bench.

"Sister Baihe, this witness’s testimony is very effective!" Tan Yingying, standing nearby, immediately chimed in.

"I know, but this witness is too extreme; actually, I didn’t want her to testify in court initially!"

Xiao Baihe looked at the woman, with a sense of helplessness.

She knew this witness, because after the woman first called the Procuratorate Headquarters office, Xiao Baihe was the one in charge of receiving her.

But she did not choose the woman as a witness, because the woman’s words were too extreme. She originally planned to select another parent with a comparatively more gentle demeanor.

However, in the end, Zhao Chunming intervened and chose this woman.

And he told Xiao Baihe that the trial needed a powerful witness, one who could provide impactful testimony.

This witness clearly met the criteria.

"A powerful witness, huh? The testimony is certainly strong, but whether it’s powerful is another matter..."

Looking at Zhang Wei approaching the witness stand, Xiao Baihe couldn’t shake off the feeling that this witness might bring some undesirable effects.

"Hello, ma’am!"

"Hello, what good? I have nothing to say to you!" the woman answered sharply, with a rude attitude.

"Judge Wang, may I categorize this witness as a ’hostile witness’?"

"Lawyer Zhang, a hostile witness is required to make an adverse statement against the summoning party, and since you’re not the summoning party, how can that be possible?"

Judge Wang countered, but warned the woman, "Witness, please answer the questions properly, or I will hold you in contempt of court, and you will end up in prison!"

This warning was evidently more effective than Zhang Wei’s words, as the woman uncrossed her arms and her posture slightly softened.

Zhang Wei took a moment to assess the woman from top to bottom, then asked with a smile:

"Madam Fan, you’re divorced?"

"How did you know that?"

The woman was somewhat surprised; her background information had apparently been investigated by the other side.

"I noticed the ring mark on your finger, but the mark has faded a bit, which suggests you’ve been divorced for a few years now, right?"

"So what?"

"Then, my second question, may I ask what you do for a living?"

Zhang Wei asked with a slight smile, promptly following up with his second question.

"I am part of the management at a mid-sized foreign-owned company, ’CHO’—do you know what that is?"

"If I’m not mistaken, that’s the acronym for ’Chief Human Resources Officer,’ correct?"

"Correct!" The woman, seeing that Zhang Wei had explained it, lifted her head proudly again.

But hearing her position, although Zhang Wei looked calm on the surface, inside he was ecstatic.

Goodness, this woman is practically a gift from the prosecution!

"So, you mean to say, you’re in charge of the entire company’s human resources system, and you are one of the top decision-makers?"

"Hmm, you could say that!"

Seeing that Zhang Wei’s demeanor suddenly became somewhat "humble," the woman naturally enjoyed replying.

"Then, in the whole company, the work involving employees’ promotions, human resource allocation, job transfers, are all decided by you?"

"Indeed!"

"The promotion and demotion of employees below you are also dictated by you?"

"No doubt about that!"

"If there are employees who want to be promoted and get a raise, would you agree to that?"

"Of course not, we conduct strict reviews, and if they’re not capable, promotion and salary increase are out of the question!"

"Strict reviews, huh? You must be very busy with your work then?"

"Of course, I’m busy. With several hundred people in our company, plus branch offices, managing so many people, how could I not be?"

"Oh, I see, quite the leader indeed!"

Zhang Wei smiled faintly, then turned to look at the jury box.

Many of the jurors looked at the woman with displeasure on their faces.

The reason being, they were reminded of the times they were treated poorly by their superiors at their companies, especially when they sought raises or promotions and were repeatedly turned down.

It was because of leaders like this woman that they couldn’t get promotions or raises, or secure a position in an office.

After all, there are many employees these days.

And among those employees, the ones who are grateful to their bosses and leaders are, after all, in the minority.

Which capitalist doesn’t exploit their subordinates? And the woman is such a capitalist’s hand.

Seeing that many people in the jury held animosity towards the woman, Zhang Wei knew this wasn’t enough yet.

"I would like to ask the witness, since you are very busy, how many days in a year do you spend with your child?"

"This..."

This question seemed to hit the woman’s sore spot, and she fell silent.

"I’d guess not many days, because businesses all focus on efficiency. Since you are able to fill the CHO position, I don’t think your company would let a home-oriented woman sit in that spot, right?"

"Objection!" Xiao Baihe could no longer hold back and objected.

"The witness’s job has no connection to this case at all!"

"Your Honor, I think the witness’s job is greatly connected to this case. It’s precisely because the witness is preoccupied with work, neglecting family education and the child, that her son was influenced by harmful information. Although the child himself did nothing wrong, if the parents had been willing to spend more time with him, then the tragedy might not have occurred."

Hearing Zhang Wei’s explanation, Judge Wang nodded.

"Objection overruled, the defense lawyer may continue the questioning."

"Witness, how many days do you spend at the company and how many days at home with your child—I only want to ask this question, please answer me, thank you."

This time, Zhang Wei’s tone was relatively calm and not aggressive.

"I..." The woman couldn’t answer the question.

Because the number of days in a year she spent with her child were very few.

"I hired a nanny, I give my child a lot of living expenses every month, and with all the expenditures, I spend more than ten thousand on my child every month!"

"But you haven’t answered my question. How many days a year do you spend with your child? Is that so hard to answer?"

Zhang Wei’s tone remained calm, but the question was unchanging.

"About... twenty days, I guess..."

"Twenty days?!"

Hearing this response, Zhang Wei was surprised, and his expression exaggerated.

He walked up to the woman and asked in astonishment, "There are 365 days in a year, yet you spend less than a tenth of them with your child?"

"But I have to work, otherwise who will earn the money to support the family?"

"So you don’t look for problems in yourself, you blame others instead?"

The woman’s counter-arguments were met with cold laughter from Zhang Wei.

"I think that if you had taken a little more time to be with your child, this tragedy would not have happened, or at least, if you had paid a little more attention and observed him more, you could have noticed the problem earlier, right?"

"But I..."

"Madam, you are unable to answer because I know you cannot answer!"

Zhang Wei looked at the woman and lectured her in the tone of an elder: "Sometimes, parents are the best teachers for their children, who yearn for their company. Yet you chose to ignore your child’s feelings for the sake of your career, refusing to be with them. Do you know how much pain your son carries inside him?"

"I believe your son did not intentionally seek out those harmful messages but did so due to a lack of guidance from you as a mother. So as for your son’s situation, I think you bear more responsibility."

Zhang Wei’s words were mild but made the woman lower her head.

Zhang Wei then looked towards the jury and concluded, "Sometimes, while the bad guys are at fault, it’s also the parents’ responsibility to educate their children to recognize bad people and unhealthy information. You say you’re busy with your career, busy with work, but you’ve neglected the most precious thing!"

"I believe that all the parents here should reflect on why every time there is a problem with their children, you find excuses and place blame elsewhere. You blame the violent content on TV, the poor teaching by teachers, the wrong school atmosphere, but have you ever thought that it is you, neglecting your child for the so-called career, who are the biggest problem?"

Zhang Wei’s words led many people to hang their heads, their expressions slightly reflective.

Clearly, these words struck a chord with many of them.

As parents, they indeed should guide their children on the right path, rather than simply relegating them to teachers, to schools.

At the prosecutor’s bench.

Xiao Baihe looked around in a daze, feeling that something was off.

Aren’t we at a court trial? Why do I feel like I’m listening to a lecture at a Children’s Education Seminar?