Are You Crazy? He’s only an Intern Lawyer?
Chapter 456 - 452 Are They All Losing Money? Disclaiming Involvement

Chapter 456: Chapter 452 Are They All Losing Money? Disclaiming Involvement

On the way back, Zhang Wei received a court notice.

"The pre-trial starts this afternoon, and the court session is tomorrow. Isn’t this a bit rushed?"

"Right, who’s the presiding judge?"

"Old Chen? How could it be him?"

Zhang Wei and Xia Qianyue looked at each other in dismay.

Choosing Old Chen as the presiding judge meant that the court clerk would be his own mother-in-law.

Had the city court stopped caring, not even worrying about him pulling strings through his mother-in-law?

But on second thought, what power does a clerk really have?

Li Qinghua couldn’t possibly influence Old Chen’s decisions.

And the trial, when it comes down to it, is about influencing the jury. Old Chen is just one judge after all.

"Looks like I’ll be squaring off against Old Zhao today or tomorrow!"

Muttering to himself, Zhang Wei stepped out of the subway station with Xia Qianyue.

"Zhang Wei..."

But as they were leaving the subway exit, Xia Qianyue suddenly grabbed the hem of Zhang Wei’s coat.

"You felt it too?"

"Mhm."

Xia Qianyue nodded and then looked behind them.

Zhang Wei also turned around and saw a group of young men standing there who looked like they were from the streets.

Clearly, they hadn’t expected Zhang Wei and Xia Qianyue to suddenly turn around.

Caught off guard, they could only look around and some even started whistling.

"Fellas, your acting is really awkward. Can you cut it out?"

Zhang Wei pointed at them and explained to the person beside him, "These guys, you can tell they’re from a gang, but they pretend to be ordinary passersby. Isn’t that just fooling themselves?"

"Are they dumb in the head?" Xia Qianyue was also speechless, a look of bewilderment on her face.

"Fuck!"

Already barely holding their act together after being called out by Zhang Wei, their expressions now truly couldn’t hold seeing as a girl was insulting their intelligence.

Suddenly, they were grabbing weapons and swinging fists, charging straight for Zhang Wei and Xia Qianyue.

"Simple-minded, go easy, don’t kill anyone!"

Seeing this group of obviously low-level thugs rushing up, Zhang Wei inwardly sighed in relief and told his companion.

"I’ll try..."

Xia Qianyue wasn’t so sure because these guys were just too weak. They might be good at street fights, but if they ever encountered a martial arts expert, their fate would be...

Smack, bang, thud!

Within three seconds, the group was already on the ground, crying out in pain.

"Guys, can I ask you a question?"

Zhang Wei approached one of the guys with dyed blond hair and asked with a smile, "Who sent you?"

The guy with blond hair glanced fearfully at Xia Qianyue and then, with eyes shifting around, said, "We are from Dragon Gate!"

"Oh, Dragon Gate, huh? Sounds so impressive."

Zhang Wei chuckled, seeing right through the made-up gang name they blurted out. Did they really think he couldn’t tell?

"Hey, what’s going on here? Someone reported a street fight?"

From a distance, a Martial Association field staff member came running over.

"Simple-minded, handle this."

Zhang Wei, resigned, quickly pulled out his bodyguard.

"Major Case Squad on a case, these people are suspected of provoking trouble and I’ve dealt with them!"

Xia Qianyue took out her ID, and the field staff member suddenly wasn’t calm anymore.

Damn, this young girl turns out to be from the Criminal Investigation Department’s Major Case Squad.

The field staff member quickly saluted, then pointed to the blond-haired guy and the others, "So, how do we handle them?"

"Provoking trouble without causing injury, of course it’s detention for fifteen days!"

Zhang Wei immediately chimed in, grinning.

"You are...?"

"I’m the boyfriend of this Major Case Squad officer, but you don’t need to care about who I am, just do as I say."

Zhang Wei said, then leaned closer to whisper instructions into the field staff member’s ear, "Later you do this and that... You got it?"

"Oh, I got it."

The field worker said, calling his colleagues to prepare and take away the blond-haired guy and the others.

Zhang Wei and Xia Qianyue naturally waved their hands at the field worker and the group, then quickly left.

It didn’t take long for them to return to the Lin Mansion.

Not only that, but the field staff had also made contact with Zhang Wei.

"Hmm, I understand, they are indeed from Fierce Tiger Hall, but just some peripheral underlings, not the main players."

After hanging up the phone, he let out a cold laugh.

Confirming the origins of Huang Mao and the others was simple, send them to the field branch, and then wait for someone from behind the scenes to bail them out.

They claimed to be from Dragon Gate, but in the end, it was Fierce Tiger Hall people who came to bail them out. Isn’t the answer clear now?

Zhang Wei made a special instruction to the field staff, telling them to notify him as soon as Huang Mao’s backers came to bail them out, thereby exposing the people behind them.

"Now we can confirm that there truly is the shadow of Fierce Tiger Hall behind Dongxing Securities."

Zhang Wei, while taking Xia Qianyue back to Lin Mansion, was plotting in his mind.

He evidently anticipated Fierce Tiger Hall’s attempt to attack the two of them.

Even more so, because of Fierce Tiger Hall’s involvement, a plan had formed in Zhang Wei’s mind!

However, he did not intend to implement this plan unless it was absolutely necessary.

"Let’s go, we need to prepare for this afternoon’s pre-trial!"

After returning, Zhang Wei and Xia Qianyue spent the morning in Lin Mansion, busy with pre-trial preparations.

In the afternoon.

At the courthouse entrance.

When Zhang Wei, driven by Zhang Xinyan, arrived at the courthouse with Xia Qianyue and the client Zhan Qingze, they saw a dense crowd of people gathered at the entrance.

There’s no need to say more, the banners they were holding were explanation enough.

"It’s the defendant Zhan Qingze!"

Someone with sharp eyes spotted Zhang Wei and his party getting out of the car.

Suddenly, a dense crowd surged towards them.

"Swindler!"

"Scum!"

"Rubbish!"

"Give back our hard-earned money!"

A group of people surrounded Zhang Wei and the others, furious and with menacing faces, almost ready to get violent.

In fact, Zhang Wei could feel that a few people had murderous intent in their eyes that they could not hide.

It seemed their own lives had been ruined, and they did not mind ruining others’ as well.

"Simple-minded, lead us in!"

With no other choice, Zhang Wei had to let Xia Qianyue escort Zhan Qingze into the courthouse.

They squeezed through the crowd under Xia Qianyue’s brute force and entered the courthouse.

In the preparation room.

The atmosphere was somewhat oppressive.

"Goodness, there are so many people outside the door!"

Zhang Xinyan looked at the people outside chanting and holding banners, his heart still racing.

"Lawyer Zhang, I feel that these people at the door are somewhat disadvantageous to me."

Although Zhan Qingze was not a defense attorney, he could tell that the group of people blocking the door would definitely affect the case.

"Indeed, their presence does have a strong inflammatory effect!"

Zhang Wei also pointed to the people at the door, his face showing he had anticipated this.

"However, I’m more interested in what’s happening with Old Zhao."

Old Zhao’s side, that is, the next room.

In the preparation room for the prosecution, Zhao Chunming was organizing files.

The person helping him was... Tan Yingying!

"Xiao Tan, make sure you have all these files ready. When it’s time for the court session, you must play them all for me!"

"Yes, sir..."

Tan Yingying almost tearfully accepted the instructions.

She was about to cry. Why was she an assistant again?

Despite there being quite a few newcomers in the Procuratorate Headquarters office, and her being considered to have seniority, the supervisor and others still preferred to treat her as an assistant.

This was so unfair! Extremely frustrating!

When would she ever escape the fate of being a tool?

Both the prosecution and the defense left the preparation room at almost the same time.

The two sides happened to meet each other.

Walking by Zhang Wei’s side was Xia Qianyue, and by Zhao Chunming’s side was Tan Yingying; the client Zhan Qingze was one step behind under the protection of Zhang Xinyan.

"Old Zhao!"

"Zhang Wei!"

The two had exchanged greetings, though Zhang Wei did so with a smile, while Zhao Chunming’s face was dark and gloomy.

Side by side, they walked toward the criminal court.

"Zhang Wei, I’ll ask you just once, if your client were to plead guilty, how many years could he accept?" Zhao Chunming spoke first.

"Old Zhao, when did you get the idea that my client would plead guilty?"

"Are you suggesting your client is innocent?"

Hearing Zhang Wei’s retort, Zhao Chunming laughed.

However, Zhang Wei nodded seriously, "That’s exactly what I think."

"Hmph, foolish!" Zhao Chunming sneered coldly, pointing to the document in Tan Yingying’s hand, "I have ample evidence to prove your client is guilty!"

"And just look around you!"

As he spoke, Zhao Chunming gestured towards the courtroom corridor, the waiting area, and the nearby hallway.

The countless gaze filled with dissatisfaction and hatred all focused on Zhan Qingze, as if they couldn’t wait to devour him.

"And yet you dare to claim your client is innocent?"

"I do dare to say that my client is innocent!"

Zhang Wei chuckled, choosing to completely ignore the reactions of the bystanders.

"You..."

This time, it was Zhao Chunming’s turn to feel at a loss.

"15 years!"

He stated his conditions first and added, "Originally, given the fraud amount reaching over tens of billions, your client should spend his life in prison, but now I’m giving you, Zhang Wei, some face. He can be out in 15 years."

Zhan Qingze hadn’t even reached 30 years old; in theory, he would only be in his forties after 15 years.

For a suspect in a major financial fraud case, this sentencing term was certainly a generous offer.

"Old Zhao, if you’re willing to do me, Zhang Wei, a favor, why not just drop the case!"

Zhang Wei waved his hand dismissively and took out a business card, "This is who you should really be going after!"

Zhao Chunming took the business card and saw it bore the name "Qian Moli" in large characters, with the title of CEO of Dongxing Securities printed below.

"Are you suggesting that I go after Dongxing Securities?"

"Isn’t that the case?"

Zhang Wei spread his hands, "Both you and I know that my client is just a scapegoat, the real culprits who swallowed the investors’ money are Dongxing Securities!"

"Hmph, you’re trying to shift the target, planning to drag Dongxing Securities down to clear your client’s name?"

"Old Zhao, I’m not joking with you, my client Zhan really is innocent."

"Heh..."

Zhao Chunming scoffed and decided not to talk any further with Zhang Wei, hurrying away with Tan Yingying.

Zhang Wei had no choice but to follow with his entourage.

...

The criminal court, the scene.

The prosecution entered first.

Zhao Chunming walked in with Tan Yingying.

As they passed the witness stand, they nodded to Xiao Baihe, Guo Wufeng, and others seated in the front row.

Every case from the Procuratorate Headquarters always attracted newcomers to observe.

This time the opponent was Zhang Wei, so naturally, quite a few people had come.

In fact, if Lan Zhengye hadn’t used being busy as an excuse, he and Lu Wenwen would have liked to attend as well.

But having made excuses before, there was no way they could now, lest they give themselves away, right?

The prosecution took their seats.

Then came the defense, with Zhang Wei and his group entering the scene.

After scanning the area, Zhang Wei spotted someone in the front row of the witness stand.

"Isn’t that Qian Moli’s secretary? What is she doing here?"

Zhang Wei naturally kept a close watch on the enemy, Qian Moli.

Although she wasn’t present, she clearly cared about the case and had sent her secretary to attend in person.

This side note also hinted that Dongxing Securities had something to hide.

Shortly after the prosecution and defense were seated, the pretrial session was set to begin.

"All rise!"

Following the court guard’s announcement, Old Chen and the clerk Li Qinghua entered,

although Old Chen, who usually wore a serious face, appeared quite relaxed today.

"What’s with Old Chen today, looking so cheerful?"

Seeing Old Chen’s demeanor, Zhang Wei was taken aback.

In the criminal court, among the three senior judges, Old Li was known as Calm Bro, Old Wang was always the object of his teasing, but it was Old Chen who was famously serious.

Why was something off today?

"Ahem, before we start the session, I have to announce something to the potential jurors."

After taking his seat at the bench, Old Chen spoken thus, "Among you, who has purchased eco-friendly, renewable resource, and environmental protection stocks recommended by Dongxing Securities, and then suffered financial losses?"

Many hands went up at once.

"So you are just like Old Wang and Old Li, huh? Alright, I’ve got it."

Old Chen nodded and said to Li Qinghua, "Clerk, disqualify these people from the jury panel!"

"Wow, so that’s how it is!"

Zhang Wei finally understood why Old Wang and Old Li, who were more suitable for court, didn’t take this case.

Turns out they had also lost money on investments.

Moreover, the stocks they bought were also recommended by Dongxing Securities; it would’ve been ridiculous for the city court to let them handle this case.

So by process of elimination, it was clear that Old Wang and Old Li couldn’t be in charge of the case, leaving no one but Old Chen to step in.

Zhang Wei had thought that the city court was unconventional in its personnel decisions, but it turned out they had no other choice.

Following Old Chen’s reminder, almost half of the potential jurors left their seats.

As they stepped down from the jury box, they looked at Zhan Qingze with a hint of hostility in their eyes.

After all, they had lost money and seeing the person who "caused" their losses naturally put them in a bad mood.

One could imagine that if these people ended up on the jury, how could Zhan Qingze possibly be found innocent?

"Alright, now please be quiet, everyone!"

Old Chen said, as he struck the gavel, "Please let the prosecution and defense state their claims for the court debate!"

"The prosecution will go first!"

As soon as Old Chen finished speaking, Zhao Chunming stood up.

"The defendant Zhan Qingze, a trader and project manager at Dongxing Securities. He had a bright future, but greed led him to a bold and daring act. By fabricating eco-friendly and renewable resource stock transactions, he defrauded investors through illegal fundraising, coaxing them to buy huge amounts of stock, leading to total loss of their capital. Colleagues from the Financial Bureau Investigation Department discovered that the amount involved in this case reaches as high as 20 billion yuan, constituting an especially huge amount in fraud, with a particularly negative impact on society."

Having said this, Zhao Chunming took a deep breath and intensified his tone, "The prosecution believes that the defendant Zhan Qingze should be sentenced to life imprisonment for financial fraud of an especially large amount!"

"Furthermore, the prosecution hopes the court will issue a confiscation order to help the defrauded savers recover all their swindled funds!"

"The court understands," nodded Old Chen, thinking to himself, Good gracious.

No wonder Old Wang and Old Li had lost their appetite for lunch these past few days; it turns out they were defrauded of a considerable sum.

billion yuan; this young man below had truly dared to be bold.

He could never earn so much money in his lifetime. Did the defendant just casually swipe on a computer and funnel this much money into his pocket?

Not only Old Chen thought this way, many in the audience also looked at the defendant Zhan Qingze with hostility in their eyes.

"What about the defense?"

Zhang Wei stood up without moving from his spot and directly said, "Judge Chen, and everyone else, my client is innocent. He had just taken over the investment project a few days ago—how could he have known about these matters? He was hoodwinked by Dongxing Securities, who made him a scapegoat."

While speaking, he looked around and sighed, "I know everyone has lost money and wants to find the person responsible for their loss, but I want to say that person is not my client Zhan Qingze. He’s just a securities trader and investment broker—how could he have the power to swallow 20 billion yuan?"

Zhang Wei pointed to the front row of the auditorium, at Qian Moli’s secretary, "It’s them, the people from Dongxing Securities!"

"It’s them, Qian Moli, the puppet master behind Dongxing Securities, who swallowed your money and then tried to pass the blame to my client, attempting to be off scot-free!"

"Objection!" The words from Zhang Wei angered Qian Moli’s secretary, who stood up to retort.

"Ahem, miss, what do you mean by objecting, when you aren’t even the prosecution?"

Old Chen frowned and his expression turned stern.

"Sorry, Your Honor, I just have an objection to the defense’s excuse, that’s all," the secretary quickly apologized but still stared at Zhang Wei with hatred.

"Whatever the defense wants to argue, that’s their prerogative. At worst, you could come forward as a witness during the court debate and rebut them. Now, please be seated!"

Old Chen said this and waved his hand to Li Qinghua to prepare.

Then he gave instructions to the sides.

"Court Guard, please bring in the jury candidates!"

The jury, which should have had 50 people, had nearly halved following Old Chen’s earlier questioning.

But Zhang Wei noticed that many of those remaining seemed to harbor hostility toward his client as well.

"There must have been some people who didn’t raise their hands just now; that’s not good!"

When Old Chen had asked earlier who had lost money to raise their hands.

Some people didn’t raise their hands, which doesn’t necessarily mean they weren’t affected by Dongxing Securities.

For example, their relatives or friends may have bought stocks and lost money, but if they didn’t buy themselves, does that mean they won’t feel hostile toward Zhan Qingze?

Clearly not.

So Zhang Wei knew that Old Chen’s questioning wasn’t comprehensive enough.

Next, he had to weed out those with hidden agendas from among these people and remove them.

At the same time, he also needed to find jurors favorable to the defense!

Additionally, he had to dissociate Zhan Qingze from Dongxing Securities, as only then would there be a glimmer of hope.