Chapter 78: Chapter 78 Refusal to Compromise, Wu Xiaojun Rots in Jail!
That evening, at the detention center.
After receiving a call from Wu Xiaoli, Sun Dasheng rushed over. The two had only been apart for half a day, but their reunion took place in such a bleak setting, prompting an involuntary sigh.
Mother Wu had also come along. She was crying her eyes out, muttering incessantly, "How did my boy turn into what he is now? It’s all my fault. I’ve been too indulgent with him over the years."
When she saw Sun Dasheng walk in with a lawyer, her eyes brightened. She grabbed his hand and said excitedly, "Da Sheng, thank you for coming over so late at night for Xiaojun’s sake."
"You’re too kind, Auntie!" Sun Dasheng comforted her. "In my eyes, Xiaojun is like my own little brother. How could I not come when he’s in trouble?"
"Good, good boy. Auntie thanks you," she said, a flicker of hope in her eyes. "Is there still any way to improve Xiaojun’s situation? Can’t we just give the victim enough compensation and reach a private settlement?"
Sun Dasheng remained silent, glancing at the company’s retainer and lawyer, Fang Zhiguo. Fang Zhiguo shook his head, and the hopeful look in Mother Wu’s eyes dimmed.
"Based on the incident details I’ve received, the most troublesome aspect is the number of people involved," Fang Zhiguo explained. "The main issue is that an incident from the year before last caused a huge uproar, and now the courts are imposing stricter punishments for group offenses. Otherwise, since the victim only sustained a ’minor injury,’ the maximum sentence would typically be three years. If the compensation is sufficient and a private settlement is reached, it could even lead to a lighter sentence or an exemption from criminal punishment."
"So, you’re saying that even if we offer enough compensation and reach a private settlement now, it won’t have much of an effect?" Sun Dasheng asked the question that was on the minds of the mother and daughter before him.
"It will definitely have some effect, but it won’t greatly influence the final sentence," Lawyer Fang clarified.
"Since it has some effect, let’s actively offer compensation," Sun Dasheng said. Seeing the troubled look on Mother Wu’s face, he added, "If you can’t come up with the money, I can lend it to you."
"Oh, Da Sheng, we can’t let you spend your money! Xiaoli is so blessed to have a good classmate like you. It must be a fortune from a past life," Mother Wu said, a wide smile breaking across her face.
"Da Sheng, we’ll write an IOU for the money. We’ll definitely find a way to pay you back in the future." At this point, she would do anything to lessen her son’s suffering.
Sun Dasheng understood, but he wasn’t optimistic. On his way there, he had already received intelligence from both his cousin Wang Xin and Fang Sihan.
Hua Peng, the one who was most seriously injured, had his family fly over immediately upon receiving the news. They owned mines and weren’t short of money, so they naturally didn’t care about some compensation. They even made a harsh statement, insisting that the culprits rot in prison and refusing to accept any private settlement.
How the tables have turned! Back home, it was always our Hua family who bullied others. Now we’re the ones being bullied in Dahu City? Hua Peng’s face was literally swollen from the beating. If word of this got back home, we’d lose face in front of the other mine owners. We’d be a laughingstock, our prestige dragged through the mud.
The result was as expected. The Hua family arrived in force. Judging by their appearances, every one of them looked fierce and menacing, especially Hua Peng’s father’s generation. He had many brothers, all of them burly and imposing.
No wonder they could run a mining operation in that region. A family with few brothers wouldn’t stand a chance.
In the past, they could stir up trouble even when they were in the wrong. Now, with reason on their side, they were even more unforgiving.
"Compensation? Our Hua family doesn’t need that pittance."
"A private settlement? In your dreams!"
"Whoever dares to bully someone from the Hua family can wait to rot in prison!"
After spewing a string of threats, they left. If this weren’t Dahu City, even the stray dogs would have probably gotten a beating from them.
But in this unfamiliar big city, the imposing bodyguard by Sun Dasheng’s side and the extraordinary demeanor of the lawyer negotiating with them made them restrain themselves somewhat. They knew the other party wasn’t to be trifled with.
「The detention center, visiting room.」
After pulling some strings, a guard agreed to give them an hour, but with no more than three visitors. That was perfect. Wu Xiaoli, Mother Wu, and Sun Dasheng went inside.
Overnight, Wu Xiaojun had become much more haggard. Sun Dasheng sat to one side, letting the family have their moment.
"Xiaojun, look at the kind of friends you’ve been making! They’ve landed you in prison," Mother Wu said, her voice filled with disappointment. "It’s all my fault. I shouldn’t have been so hands-off. When your sister tried to discipline you, I even bad-mouthed her behind her back. It’s all this old woman’s fault." She was filled with remorse for not having raised her son better.
Seeing his mother crying so dramatically, Wu Xiaojun hurriedly tried to console her. "Mom, it’s all my fault, one hundred percent. Please don’t make yourself sick over it. Besides, it was just a fight. It’s not as serious as you’re making it out to be. At worst, I’ll be in here for a little while and then get out. Oh, and I heard from the guys inside that if you pay a large sum of money, you don’t even have to serve time. Mom, think of something for me."
As he spoke, his gaze drifted to Sun Dasheng, who was sitting to the side. This man was the ’key person’ who could save him from this hell.
The moment Wu Xiaoli saw his expression, she knew what he was thinking. She shot him a glare and said through gritted teeth, "You still don’t realize how much trouble you’re in? You still think money can get you out? I’ll tell you straight: you’re not getting out. You’d better get used to the idea of working a sewing machine in there."
BOOM!
His sister’s words struck him like a bolt from the blue. Wu Xiaojun’s eyes went vacant. He never imagined the consequences would be this severe. Wasn’t it just an ordinary brawl?
"Mom, is what my sister said... is it true?" The only person here who would never lie to him was his mother.
Seeing her nod while wiping away tears, he was completely stunned.
"How could this be?" he roared, unable to accept it.
"Calm down!" a guard ordered, pinning him down. "If you can’t get your emotions under control, this family visit is over immediately."
Wu Xiaojun stopped struggling. With a final shred of hope, he turned to his ’good brother-in-law’. "Brother Sun, is there really no way out of this?"
Don’t they say money can make even ghosts work for you? Brother Sun, you’re so rich, hurry up and get those ghosts moving!
"Xiaojun, you were terribly unlucky this time," Sun Dasheng said calmly. "The family of the young man you beat up owns a mine. They’re not short on cash, and they refuse to accept any compensation or settlement. There’s not much we can do."
"Do your time and reform yourself. It’ll only be a few years. Try to behave well, and you might even get out early."
He walked over, patted Wu Xiaojun on the shoulder, and whispered in his ear, "I’ll take good care of your sister and mother. Don’t worry about them while you’re inside."
Wu Xiaojun looked utterly bewildered. For some reason, that sentence sounded vaguely familiar.