Are You Crazy? He’s only an Intern Lawyer?
Chapter 523 - 518: Using Your Tricks, The Secretary Goes to Court

Chapter 523: Chapter 518: Using Your Tricks, The Secretary Goes to Court

What was Zhang Wei’s tactic?

He had Yang Chunyuan come up to tell her story, to play the sympathy card, to appeal to the jury’s emotions.

The effect was quite good.

At least quite a few people were moved to tears.

But this move had a fatal flaw.

That is, playing the sympathy card works fine, but if others find out you have a good life and make a lot of money, then it becomes pointless to seek sympathy.

A poor person’s sob story can elicit sympathy.

But when a rich person’s child does the same, it’s seen as pandering for attention, deceiving others as if they were fools.

Unfortunately,

Yang Chunyuan might seem quite pitiful in Zhang Wei’s eyes.

But her family’s financial situation, her job benefits, and so on, are actually considered top-tier by most people.

And Prosecutor Zheng Fenyong simply laid out these harsh realities directly.

You’re weeping about your hardships, right?

I’ll let others see just how tough you really have it!

Some people work themselves to the bone, barely scraping by on a few thousand yuan a month.

You, on the other hand?

You put in overtime and say it’s arduous, even have to stay overnight at work.

But the salary and subsidies you take home each month are several times what the average person earns, and you still say you’re living a hard life?

You’re blatantly lying while pretending to cry about your hardships!

Now, all these issues had been brought up by Zheng Fenyong.

The atmosphere in the courtroom became somewhat delicate.

On one hand, jury members who were just moved by the story were now angry upon discovering that the person they sympathized with lives a much better life than they do.

On the other hand, those who hadn’t been moved in the first place were now envious and jealous of Yang Chunyuan’s favorable treatment.

The mood in the courtroom changed in an instant.

It was over such realistic issues — just a straightforward matter of benefits and income, a few simple numbers — that the jury easily changed its perspective.

No wonder many lawyers say that a jury is like a reed that bends with the wind.

And now, these reeds felt the wind blowing straight at them and instantly leaned toward the prosecution’s side.

But Zheng Fenyong wasn’t about to let Yang Chunyuan off the hook.

"Forensic Yang, let me ask, where do you live?"

"I..."

"No need for you to say, I know the answer, you live in the villa area downtown, right?"

Villa!

This simple word touched the hearts of many in the room.

Everyone hoped to live in a villa, but they soon found out that even if they scrimped and saved all their lives, they wouldn’t be able to afford a villa in Dongfang Capital.

Even buying a house was a struggle for many of them.

The house prices in Dongfang Capital were just too high.

Because of this, when they learned that Yang Chunyuan could afford a villa, and even one located downtown at that, the nature of the matter changed.

You can actually afford a villa and still sneakily tricked us into wiping away tears; that’s just despicable.

"Forensic Yang, a 300 square-meter townhouse in the city center, with a lawn, a garden, and a basement, right?"

Seeing this, Zheng Fenyong twisted the knife further.

A 300-square-meter townhouse downtown, with a garden and a basement!

That must cost around 50 million, right?

A number of the jurors could not hold it together anymore.

million — emptying their wallets at home, even with their children and grandchildren helping to pay the mortgage, they probably wouldn’t earn that much money.

If they can’t earn it themselves, why should they sympathize with those who do, or even those who get to enjoy it in advance?

The clown turned out to be myself!

Rage!

The anger from being deceived soared to its peak!

The jury was truly angry now.

"Forensic Yang, you weep and lament to us, but your status, your treatment, is something many of us can only dream of. What’s the point of your lamenting?"

Zheng Fenyong sneered, turned to the judge, and said, "We have no more questions for Forensic Yang."

The cross-examination was over.

But Zheng Fenyong’s goal had been achieved.

Against Zhang Wei’s strategy of playing the victim, Zheng Fenyong adeptly caught the flaw and magnified it greatly.

Now, the entire courtroom, everyone knows Yang Chunyuan was only pretending to be pitiful.

She might consider herself to be pitiable, but for the average person, her circumstances are certainly not pitiable.

Even more, if you continue to use playing the victim as an excuse, it will only backfire!

When Yang Chunyuan stepped down from the witness stand, she also noticed the hostile gazes from the jury, and even those in the hearing gallery.

She felt somewhat disappointed and helpless.

She had thought her sincere emotions would win everyone’s understanding.

But to her surprise, the jury turned out to be such shallow people, who became antagonistic towards her simply because she had a villa and received such a substantial subsidy and salary each month.

I’m working hard too, why can’t you understand?

Yang Chunyuan felt rather helpless and could only return to the defender’s bench.

"Forensic Yang, Classmate Mo, don’t mind it, the real drama is just about to start!"

Zhang Wei hurriedly offered comfort.

Unfortunately, Yang Chunyuan’s expression did not improve much, leaving Mo Yuzhu to hold her mother’s hand, whispering words of comfort.

"Lawyer Zhang, we are counting on you."

Yang Chunyuan forced a smile and thanked Zhang Wei.

"Don’t worry, I’ve got this!"

Zhang Wei nodded and then stood up.

"Judge Liu, our side would like to summon an emergency witness. Of course, this witness was already specified in the tripartite motion I mentioned yesterday, along with the purpose of the summons, and the court has accepted our request!"

"Correct, the court has approved it!"

Judge Liu nodded, then turned to the jury to explain, "This witness has already been agreed upon in advance with both the prosecution and defense, and the court has granted permission to summon them to testify!"

Zhang Wei immediately announced, "Our side summons Secretary Zou from the city council speaker’s office to testify in court!"

As soon as Zhang Wei made the announcement, the doors of the courtroom were forcefully pushed open.

Upon the doors opening, two figures walked in.

The figure in front, wearing a professional suit but looking rather haggard, was the secretary who had attempted to leave Dongfang Capital yesterday.

The person behind her was Xia Qianyue, the officer from the Investigative Division responsible for escorting her to court.

In fact, after the secretary had been detained by the Investigative Division yesterday, it was Xia Qianyue who took charge of receiving her.

The secretary was held up by the airline for carrying dangerous goods, but she adamantly denied that the dangerous item was hers.

After testing by the Forensic Division, the so-called "dangerous goods" turned out to be a bottle of fluorescent paint.

Unexpectedly, it was all a misunderstanding.

Eventually, the matter naturally came to naught.

But similarly, the Investigative Division still detained the secretary and directly slapped the court subpoena onto her face.

This Secretary Zou knew she couldn’t escape and had to resign herself to her fate.

And here she was, present today.

After Xia Qianyue had seated the secretary in the witness stand, she nodded to Zhang Wei and then took a seat in the defender’s witness area.

On the witness stand, Secretary Zou was ready.

"Hello there, Secretary Zou."

The secretary didn’t speak. She completely ignored Zhang Wei’s greeting.

"Secretary Zou, could you please inform the court of your identity?"

"I am the assistant secretary in the office of the city council speaker, responsible for the overall coordination of daily affairs in the speaker’s office. I am a direct subordinate to Councilor Head Zhang!"

As she answered the question, the secretary involuntarily raised her neck, wearing an air of arrogance, like a proud peacock.

After all, she was Zhang Tianlong’s secretary, a direct subordinate of the city council speaker, indeed one of Councilor Head Zhang’s people.

And in Dongfang Capital, the city council speaker was akin to the sky!

"Secretary Zou, it’s enough to state your identity. There’s no need to mention your daily work as well."

How could Zhang Wei not see right through this woman’s boastfulness, as if being Zhang Tianlong’s secretary made her all-powerful?

Did you even bother to ask for my, Zhang Someone’s, agreement?

The secretary snorted coldly, her attitude showing complete disregard for someone.

Zhang Wei did not mind, but instead, he looked meaningfully at the prosecutor’s bench.

At that very moment, due to Secretary Zou’s arrival, Black’s complexion had a hint of panic.

"Feeling guilty as a thief, aren’t you?"

Seeing that expression, Zhang Wei knew he had indeed found the right person this time.

He then shifted his gaze from Black and locked it onto Zheng Fenyong.

Zhang Wei smiled at Prosecutor Zheng, causing his complexion to change.

Zheng Fenyong couldn’t shake the feeling that the young man in the courtroom was scheming some distasteful plan.

"Ahem, Secretary Zou, since I’ve summoned you to court, I have a few questions I’d like to ask you."

Before the secretary could reply, Zhang Wei raised a finger, "Excuse me, Secretary Zou, you’re Councilor Zhang Tianlong’s person, right?"

"How dare you! You actually have the audacity to call the councilor by his name!"

Secretary Zou was extremely displeased with Zhang Wei’s impoliteness and scolded him directly.

"What’s this? This is a courtroom. Even if this esteemed councilor were to come here, he would be witness Zhang Tianlong, defendant Zhang Tianlong, or plaintiff Zhang Tianlong. Can’t I call him by his name?"

"Witness, please correct your attitude. In a courtroom, everyone is equal; there is no distinction between high and low status!"

Judge Liu also warned sternly, with a very severe tone.

Seeing this, the secretary frowned slightly, her face showing annoyance, but after thinking it over, she dared not explode.

After all, this wasn’t the City Council, which wasn’t her home field. Her status couldn’t be flaunted here like it could within the internal City Council.

"Secretary Zou, I’ll take it that you’ve answered my previous question affirmatively."

Zhang Wei muttered to himself, then after a brief pause, he questioned, "Before I ask the key question, I’m curious about something. As the City Council speaker, what is Zhang Tianlong’s monthly salary?"

"Objection, the question is irrelevant to the case!"

Zhang Wei’s question immediately drew an objection from Zheng Fenyong.

"Prosecutor Zheng is overreacting. I’m just purely curious. Besides, these details are reported on the City Council’s official website. I believe Secretary Zou should have no problem answering such a simple question, right?"

Zhang Wei quickly waved his hands and laughed it off.

"Telling you won’t hurt. Councilor Head Zhang’s annual income is about 100,000, which means his monthly salary is less than 10,000!"

"Oh, so his monthly salary is just under ten thousand. That’s Councilor Head Zhang’s income!"

Zhang Wei nodded his head, but then immediately followed up with another question, "So where does Councilor Head Zhang live? Do you know?"

"He lives in the dormitory arranged by the municipal government!"

"Is that so? But why have I heard that Councilor Head Zhang never stays in the dormitory and instead travels to and from a luxury villa district in a business car every day?"

Luxury villa district!

These four words once again caught the attention of the jury.

"Secretary Zou, please tell me, have you ever been to Villa No. 1 in the Bi Hai High-end International Community along the Dongjiang coast?"

"This..."

The secretary’s eyes widened in shock when she heard Zhang Wei reveal an address.

She knew this place all too well.

Because it was where Zhang Tianlong actually lived.

Of course, this was a secret. The official place where Zhang Tianlong was said to live was a normal dormitory arranged by the municipal government.

But he had never actually stayed there, even once.

Even when the media came for photographs and interviews, it was just for Zhang Tianlong to put on a show.

"Objection, hearsay evidence!" Prosecutor Zheng immediately stood up from the prosecution’s bench.

"Judge Liu, the question I asked was whether Secretary Zou had been to that place, I never said that villa was where Councilor Head Zhang lived," Zhang Wei said with a slight smile, offering his prepared rebuttal.

"This... objection overruled!"

Judge Liu, with reluctance, declared Zhang Wei’s question valid and looked toward the witness stand.

"Witness, please answer the question!"

"I... I..."

Secretary Zou seemed to be at a loss for words.

"Secretary Zou, this question shouldn’t be hard to answer, right? I have several photos of you appearing in the Bi Hai High-end International Community, and in one of them, you are clearly seen coming out from Villa No. 1. Do you still deny it?"

As he spoke, Zhang Wei took a few photos from Mo Yuzhu and displayed them directly on the projection screen.

The secretary was visible in the photos, with a stand-alone villa in the background. The villa had a large garden with a stone fountain in front, and the entire property looked very high-end and classy.

"The Bi Hai High-end International Community, especially Villa No. 1, with a land area exceeding 3,000 square meters and just the surrounding garden alone being 2,000 square meters. I’ve heard that the fountain at the entrance, designed by a famous foreign designer, is worth several million alone."

Zhang Wei pointed at the fountain in the photo and couldn’t help but smack his lips.

An area exceeding 3,000 square meters with just the garden accounting for 2,000 square meters.

These numbers directly shocked not only the jury but also everyone in the auditorium.

A Dongfang Capital high-end villa with a land area of 3,000 square meters would be worth around 500 million in total, right?

What a piece of work!

Indeed, what a piece of work!

Everyone’s gaze turned towards the secretary, filled with doubt and distrust.

Yang Chunyuan’s house was previously valued at around 50 million, but you guys went and multiplied it by 10 times!

"This villa is not Councilor Head Zhang’s!"

Seeing the courtroom’s mood turning against her, the secretary quickly tried to defend.

But as soon as she finished speaking, it was as if she realized the problem with her statement.

"Whoops, Secretary Zou, I don’t recall asking you whose villa it was, yet you suddenly denied it. Why is that?"

Zhang Wei spoke at just the right moment, his face a blend of smiles and sarcasm.

"I object, the question is irrelevant to the case!"

On the prosecution’s bench, Zheng Fenyong sensed the shift in the court’s mood and hurriedly interrupted.

"Judge Liu, what is the prosecution objecting to? I haven’t even asked a question yet; how can it be irrelevant to the case?"

Zhang Wei wore a look of incomprehension on his face, and sarcastically spread his hands in a show of innocence.

You can object all you want, but I haven’t even asked a question. What exactly are you objecting to?

Besides, Secretary Zou just blew the whistle on herself, and I didn’t have to ask anything.

"Objection overruled!"

Judge Liu, left with no choice, could only sigh and shake his head at Zheng Fenyong.

You can object, but you have to wait until Zhang Wei asks a question. He hasn’t even asked anything yet, so what’s the point of your objection?

"Secretary Zou, although I’m surprised you outed yourself, the way you steadfastly defend your boss is really quite commendable. If I were Zhang Tianlong, I might even thank you!"

As Zhang Wei spoke, he took out another photograph and placed it on the projection screen.

In the photo, the background was still that same villa, but there was now a figure at the entrance.

It was a man, in a sharp suit, impeccable in every detail.

His photograph had been seen on television by almost everyone in Dongfang Capital because the man was none other than the city council head, Zhang Tianlong.

"Secretary Zou, do you have anything else to say?"

After showing off the photograph to the entire courtroom, Zhang Wei looked tauntingly at the secretary.

"I..." Secretary Zou was at a loss for words.

Although the villa in the photograph wasn’t officially owned by Zhang Tianlong, it now seemed pointless to deny it.

In the eyes of the entire courtroom, it seemed only natural for Zhang Tianlong to possess a villa worth 50 million.

Even the jurors who had previously been hostile towards Yang Chunyuan now seemed to care less about her situation.

Comparatively, Yang Chunyuan’s family villa worth 50 million seemed trivial next to the one owned by this high-ranking official.

"Clever kid, so that’s your move!"

On the prosecution’s bench, Zheng Fenyong’s eyes widened; he was nearly unable to stay seated.

He had never imagined that his own tactics would be borrowed by Zhang Wei.

Turnabout is fair play!

This Zhang Wei should not be underestimated.

However...

Zheng Fenyong was not panicked!

Because even if it’s proven that the city council head of Dongfang Capital was corrupt, and that Zhang Tianlong might have some conduct issues, or hidden assets of unknown origin, so what?

The crux of the case rested on Yang Chunyuan. As long as Zhang Wei couldn’t prove that Yang Chunyuan was innocent, was framed, or another plausible issue had led to the investigation, then he would lose.

As for the matter of Zhang Tianlong, the internal affairs would handle it, which had nothing to do with the current case!

In the courtroom.

Seeing that the atmosphere had been sufficiently stirred up, Zhang Wei decided not to dwell on the villa issue.

"Secretary Zou, we may have gotten sidetracked discussing the villa, but I’m just curious, who was it that generously gave Councilor Head Zhang such a grand villa to live in? I wonder if I could meet such a kind person?"

After his sarcastic remark, Zhang Wei chuckled and asked, "Secretary Zou, may I ask, is there any conflict between Zhang Tianlong and my client Yang Chunyuan?"

"No!"

The secretary’s answer was decisive and straightforward.

"Hmm, I thought so. After all, they are from two different systems. One is the head of the city council, and the other is the head of the forensic office. They couldn’t possibly cross paths."

Zhang Wei nodded thoughtfully, but immediately followed up, "So, does Zhang Tianlong have a conflict with my client’s husband?"

"This..."

At these words, Secretary Zou was once again lost for words.

Yang Chunyuan was with the forensic office and wouldn’t have intersected with the city council.

But it was different for Mo Juren; he was also part of the city council and even one of the councilors.

You certainly can’t claim there was no interaction between them, can you?

And as for so-called conflicts, considering they encountered each other in their daily routines, there could indeed be conflicts, right?

"Secretary Zou, what’s wrong? Can’t you answer?"

Zhang Wei asked with feigned curiosity, but he soon smiled, "No matter, if you can’t answer, I can do it for you."

"Secretary Zou, please tell me, did my client’s husband, Councilor Mo, ever join forces with several other council members to orally agree on a motion to impeach Zhang Tianlong?"

Upon this revelation, the courtroom erupted into commotion.

Nobody expected there to be such a development within the city council.

Hearing this question, Secretary Zou was utterly flabbergasted.

She never imagined Zhang Wei would know even this!