What's wrong with this lawyer?!

Bright District Court. Old Zhou, in charge of this case, looked at the news on the Court Open Trial Network and felt like his head was spinning.

Why do they say being a judge is tough? Because the court is the last place to solve problems. Other departments can fob you off with, "We suggest you resolve the issue legally."

But the court can't say that, no matter how difficult the case is, you have to come up with a verdict.

So, some cases are like roasting the judge over a fire just to see if they can withstand the pressure.

He had hoped to mediate in court and then get both sides to sign a confidentiality agreement or something. But now, well... that's out the window. Just go through the trial obediently...

As the court date approached, Fu Xiaoyu had fully adapted to the internet celebrity lifestyle, earning more money by streaming daily than from a regular job.

As for the lawsuit, she and her lawyer Hua Guangxia had discussed it in detail and believed there was no issue at all.

However, there was one thing: her husband, Peng Yonghao, didn't seem very supportive of her being a streamer, but Fu Xiaoyu didn't see it as a problem.

Then today, just after she finished a livestream, she saw Peng Yonghao sitting on the couch with a dark expression, and some documents laid out on the coffee table.

"What's this?"

Peng Yonghao, with a dark face, said, "A lawsuit, dammit, that Li Wanting really sued me, claiming defamation and infringement of her right to reputation, damn it!"

Just for such a trivial issue, to actually file a lawsuit, that's freaking annoying!

Hearing this, Fu Xiaoyu said, "Don't worry, Yonghao, it's just a lawsuit. We'll have Lawyer Hua take care of it."

Now that she was earning more money, she didn't think it was a big deal.

Peng Yonghao opened his mouth but said nothing. His wife becoming a streamer, facing so many men online, and saying all sorts of things...

And there were quite a few men trying to add his wife on WeChat; he was somewhat losing his patience...

Three days flashed by, and the day of the court session arrived quickly.

Old Tang picked up his briefcase and, unusually, donned his lawyer's robe and pinned on his badge, dressed formally for once as a trial lawyer.

So much so that when Wang Qingqing arrived at the office, she was taken aback by his attire.

"Brother Tang, you actually have a lawyer's robe?" Wang Qingqing said with a smile at the door.

Old Tang responded, "I'm a lawyer. Isn't it normal to have a robe? Alright, let Wan Ting know we're heading out."

This case was special, he couldn't afford to leave any loose ends.

Soon, Old Tang and Li Wanting arrived at the Guangming District Court, where numerous self-media were already waiting.

Seeing Tang Fangjing dressed in a lawyer's robe sparked their curiosity because it was the first time he had worn it... after all, it's really rare these days, as lawyers usually just wear a suit to court.

Old Tang, with Li Wanting by his side, didn't say a word, and headed straight into the court, where they ran into Fu Xiaoyu and her husband, along with lawyer Hua Guangxia, at the entrance to civil court No. 2.

Seeing Li Wanting, Peng Yonghao couldn't help himself and blurted out, "So you really did sue, huh? Alright then, it's just money, right? I'll pay, damn it..."

As the other side started cursing immediately, Li Wanting subconsciously wanted to step back. She wasn't fond of arguing, especially on such an important day.

But just then, a voice next to her chimed in, "Hold on, what's this about paying or not? The court hasn't made a ruling yet. What's the rush?"

"Besides, it was me who decided to sue. Didn't you notice I'm the agent? And it's not about the money. The point is, once the court makes its determination, I can go to the police. Defamation is subject to administrative detention, you know that, right?"

Li Wanting turned around and noticed that Tang Fangjing had somehow made his way to the front. His shoulders weren't very wide, but he unexpectedly gave off a sense of security.
Discover hidden tales at empire

Meanwhile, Old Tang was already throwing shade, "For someone as foul-mouthed as you, I have no other thoughts except to have you sit in a cell for a few days. You understand what I mean, right?"

Peng Yonghao, looking at Tang Fangjing with a face red with anger, took a few steps forward, grabbed Old Tang by the collar, and yelled, "Who the hell are you, coming out of nowhere like this, motherfucker, you got a death wish or what?"

"If you've got a death wish, let me know, damn it..."

Hot-tempered people are like this, thoughtless when enraged, akin to a Sword Master unleashing an ultimate to slay four foes, or Nasus cleaving down four enemies...

Then, Peng Yonghao saw that the young man across him remained utterly unflustered, and deftly pulled out some kind of identification from his breast pocket.

"I am Tang Fangjing, and I do want to live, indeed. The key point is that I don't have much longer to live. Take a look—late-stage cancer diagnosis confirmation, just done this month, fresh off the press."

Peng Yonghao glanced subconsciously and was shocked to see a few words written on the document: psychiatric certificate.

Fuck, he instantly released the collar and stepped back two paces. He's that Tang Fangjing?

But it made sense, if memory served, he was the agent for this case...

However, on this end, Old Tang was murmuring, "Ah, I grabbed the wrong one again—having a bad memory is indeed problematic."

He then took out another document: "This time it's correct."

The visual impact of mixing up psychiatric illness and late-stage cancer, coupled with the other party's pale face and his indifference towards his own life...

Peng Yonghao shut his mouth and didn't dare say another word.

Old Tang nonchalantly put away his documents. Sigh, he would have fewer and fewer occasions to flash his credentials in the future; each one was worth savoring.

The atmosphere was awkward. Hua Guangxia had also intended to say something, but she firmly kept her mouth shut at this point...

Fortunately, the clerk arrived swiftly, opened the door, and everyone went in and took their seats.

With that scene fresh in mind, Peng Yonghao still ventured to ask, "Lawyer Hua, about that Tang Fangjing, can we really win against him?"

Upon hearing this, Hua Guangxia confidently responded, "Don't worry. Tang Fangjing is just a lawyer, after all. We will surely win on our side."

She was, of course, aware of Fu Xiaoyu's situation. Pregnant women are entitled to special treatment; if they feel unwell and cannot go to work, there really isn't anything one can do.

Even if netizens knew she worked only a few days a month, so what? That's not a reason for the company to dismiss a pregnant woman. With such overwhelming public opinion now, it would be strange if we lost.

This was also the common belief—that being in the third trimester was like having a 'get out of death free' card, ensuring safety regardless of the circumstances.

Old Zhou arrived, and as usual, everyone stood to welcome him. At the same time, online signals were connected, and the netizens began to pour in, curious to see how Tang Fangjing would handle this case.

The tribunal asked routinely if the parties wanted to mediate, and Tang Fangjing's side simply refused.

Immediately after, the trial began!

First, Old Tang made his statement. As he spoke, some netizens were blatantly confused.

"So this pregnant woman only worked a few days in a month, huh? Even though she is indeed pregnant, I still think there's something wrong with that..."

"The person above, what's the problem? Should a pregnant woman who's not feeling well still force herself to work? Dismissing her under such circumstances is clearly discrimination against pregnant women!"

"Exactly, all you people who have never been pregnant just shut up, alright? The early stages of pregnancy can be really harsh, totally unbearable; one needs to rest at home!"

And Old Tang's approach was simple, or better said, it was something anyone could have thought of.

"According to Article 39 of the Labor Contract Law, if an employee is proven during the probation period to be unfit for the position, the employer may terminate the contract!"

It was the same old rhetoric, but setting aside the pregnancy, her attendance record proved something: she was unable to provide Phoenix Company with the regular labor ability!

This is the prerequisite for both parties to execute the labor contract, and also one of the conditions for Phoenix Company's hiring of Fu Xiaoyu. Thus, if Fu Xiaoyu was confirmed to lack this capability during her probation period, the employer had the right to terminate the labor contract.

Basically, the other side was too anxious, even too impatient to wait out the probation period...

This was definitely not a dismissal. Phoenix Company's legal affairs, in Old Tang's opinion, were simply incompetent—terminating for non-qualification during the probation period and calling it dismissal...

Of course, these were all theoretical arguments. The most important point was that all the other party's medical leaves did not have any diagnosis certificates issued by a hospital, so they had to bear the responsibility of being unable to provide proof.

That is to say, indeed you are pregnant, but whether your pregnancy renders you unable to work or even show up is a separate issue!

This is why we say we have to set aside the pregnancy...

Old Tang's statement left Hua Guangxia stunned; she wanted to say something. That Tang Fangjing, he was damn well playing chess!