C19 Who Was More Powerful than the Lawyer?

All eyes converged on the entrance of "Old Liu's Provisions Shop," where three stunning women stood, each too dazzling to ignore. With their varying allure—whether seductive, languid, or valiant—their distinct auras had the men present fixated.

"Excuse me, ma'am, could you clarify what you meant by your earlier remarks?" The lawyer in the black suit maintained his smile as he adjusted his glasses, though a sharp glint betrayed his calm demeanor.

"Let me ask you, who gave you the audacity to pull such stunts? Bold enough to meddle in a stabbing, and even to handle the dirtiest of deeds. Alright, you've got nerve. Now, tell me, which law firm do you hail from?" Guo Xin stood with her left hand on her hip, puffing on an unusual green cigar in her right, her words cutting directly to the black-suited lawyer.

The lawyer, taken aback by the short-haired woman who seemed vaguely familiar, hesitated. Yet, he didn't hesitate to declare, "I am Zheng Qifeng from the premier law firm of Lu Province. And you are?"

"Pfft, I thought some deity had emerged, but it's just a sewer rat daring to stir trouble," Guo Xin scoffed, pulling out her phone to make a call.

While Guo Xin was on her phone, Loo Meiya's eyes, heavy with a lazy charm, remained fixed on the lawyer. She drawled, "You just claimed he was falsely accused of stabbing someone and that your esteemed gentleman stole your formula. Would you care to repeat that accusation?"

For most, repeating such a statement would require careful consideration, as it could become incriminating evidence, leading to a messy situation.

But who was Zheng Qifeng? He might not claim to be among the elite of Lu Province's commercial lawyers, yet he was a force to be reckoned with in the legal circles. Were it not for those at the top with influential backgrounds, he, Zheng Qifeng, would boldly claim the title of a heavyweight in the business law community of Lu Province.

Of course, such claims were somewhat boastful and only whispered in his own mind. Despite not recognizing these women, their familiarity gave him pause. Still, it didn't deter him from posturing as a formidable player in front of his peers. Oh, but wait—he was, after all, the chosen representative for this case.

He puffed out his chest and reiterated his earlier statement. Loo Meiya nodded, her smile as comforting as a gentle spring breeze. "Alright, if you're that confident, then fine. A Qiong, go inside and pack up the meat. Meiya and I will handle things out here."

Guo Xin scoffed. "No need for your help. I can deal with this kind of dimwit in Lu Province myself. I'll call on you if I run into trouble outside the province."

As she spoke, a hint of irritation crept into Guo Xin's voice. Loo Meiya couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for Zheng Qi Feng, knowing all too well the clout Guo Xin's family wielded locally.

Whirling around, Guo Xin brandished her phone and spoke loudly into it, "You heard what he said, right? Okay, I'm sending you the address on WeChat. Get someone over here fast. They're trying to push us around, including my best friend. The quicker, the better, or I'll be so mad I might just die. Then you can go ahead and marry thin air next year."

Laughter erupted from the other end of the line. "What are you thinking? You think I'm unaware of the bodyguards dad has trailing you? This is too trivial for them. Just give it ten minutes; my people will be there soon. Is this just a contest to see whose lawyer is tougher? Zheng Qifeng must be blind to strut around in front of you. I'll have him ousted from our circle—just watch."

"Mmm, I knew you'd come through, darling. Mwah! Oh, and this new guy I met? He's a whiz in the kitchen. You should try his cooking sometime. And he's got these cigarettes—smooth, not harsh at all. I'll pick one up for you; they're a real treat."

The crowd was dripping with sweat, their faces a mix of disbelief and exasperation. There they were, in the midst of a standoff, and here she was, cooing over the phone about love and cigarettes. Could she not?

Sensing the tension in the air, Guo Xin's cheeks flushed as she let out a few awkward chuckles and hung up the phone. She turned to Zheng Qifeng and said, "You must be Attorney Zheng. Could I ask you to wait just a moment, please? Besides, I don't think the local law enforcement would allow you to just take someone away like this. You're a lawyer, not a national law enforcement officer. Professor Soong Jingang here is currently a suspect in an assault case. If you take him away without due process, these officers would be neglecting their duty, right, officers?"

Bao Guo silently applauded her, giving her a mental thumbs up. With just a few words, she had managed to put the indecisive police officers on the spot. They had no choice but to step up.

The lead officer chuckled and reeled Soong Jingang back in, who had already taken a few steps away. "The lady makes a good point. The evidence we have is not in your favor. We need to take it back to the station for fingerprint analysis. The victim is here too, and he's identified you as the assailant. We can't simply release you based on a lawyer's say-so. There are procedures to follow. Get in the car. And you, the injured party, need to head to the hospital for treatment. We'll come to take your statement later. The rest of you, disperse, please."

As the officers got into their vehicle, they cast a lingering glance at Guo Xin. It wasn't the usual interest sparked by beauty, but rather a curiosity about her identity, particularly after she dashed to her bright green sports car and emerged with a box full of cash. His heart leapt at her audacity; with so many onlookers, she was brazenly handling a box of cash. She was certainly stirring the pot.

With a sigh, the officer reluctantly left a temporary officer behind to keep order at the scene, hoping to avoid any further complications.

...

"Hey, was all that drama necessary? You actually came to the hospital to put on a show. Remember how you stabbed yourself in the thigh and a splash of alcohol healed it in just ten minutes? What's happening today? Why hasn't it healed yet, and why are you in so much pain?" Guibao was at the hospital with Bao Guo, popping a slice of orange into his mouth. The doctor had informed them that Bao Guo's shoulder wound was serious but not life-threatening, and he would be in discomfort for a few days. A two-day hospital stay was recommended to prevent infection, after which he could be discharged.

But Guibao knew better. The wound medicine concocted with white wine had a formidable effect. Bao Guo was definitely up to his old tricks again.

With a sly grin, Bao Guo whispered, "The bottle I gave you was diluted—gotta scam those guys ruthlessly. If we don't put on a convincing show, how can we expect the police to lend us a hand?"

As he spoke, the door to the special care ward swung open, and Luo Yuqiong entered, arms laden with fresh flowers and a fruit basket. "Oh, you look a bit pale. Are you still in pain? Should I call the doctor back? Maybe we should get you another pain relief patch?"

Basking in the concern of the beautiful woman, Bao Guo couldn't help but feel comforted. "No need, thank you. Without you two today, I think we would have been in a world of hurt."

Luo Yuqiong offered a knowing smile and a shake of her head. "Now, it's their turn to suffer. Who would've thought Jin Shaozhong and Jin Shaocheng would turn traitor and side with Chen? Now that all the pieces are coming together, I've got the full picture. They weren't just after you; they were targeting me as well. But enough of that. Here, take this—the agreement is in effect. I expect your raw materials to be ready by the time the factory equipment is set up. Remember, you're the largest shareholder in the plant."

Recalling the moment he had signed the agreement, Bao Guo felt a wave of dizziness. In his panic, he had passed the responsibility to Guibao, instructing him to sign on his behalf and simply list him as a shareholder. The agreement, already detailed by Luo Yuqiong, now included additional clauses, mainly stipulating the timing and quantity of Bao Guo's raw material supply.

But Bao Guo wasn't worried. Krod had assured him that after a rainfall, the bean pods they needed could flourish overnight, thriving with ease. Should he require a large quantity, Krod was prepared to have the villagers clear a patch of land and cultivate the crop with their special fertilizer. All Bao Guo had to provide in exchange was salt.

About to express that these terms were perfectly manageable, Bao Guo was interrupted by the door opening once more. This time, a police officer entered—the same one who had brought his wife for a dental cleaning at Bao Guo's clinic.

"Hey, Bao, it is you! How's the injury? All good?" The officer removed his hat and settled in next to Bao Guo, a friendly grin on his face.

"Cough, Officer Wang, looks like I'm in your debt again. Ready to take my statement? Just ask, and I'll spill everything."

Officer Wang had been in awe of Bao Guo's "skills" ever since he witnessed them firsthand. They'd swapped numbers and kept in touch, chatting now and then. When Wang heard Bao Guo was injured, he volunteered to record his statement and dropped by to check on him.

"Statement? I've already drafted it for you on my way over. The investigation's wrapped up. But between us, who's that short-haired beauty who vouched for you? What's her story? Soong Jingang got shuffled off to the inspection agency—that's quite the spectacle. And it seems Lawyer Zheng's caught up in something too. Whoever's behind this has some serious clout."

Bao Guo's gaze sharpened as he glanced at Luo Yuqiong peeling an apple. With a smile, he said, "It's no big deal, just a partner in business. Speaking of which, Brother Wang, I'm planning to start a small toothpaste factory. I'll make sure our bureau gets the first batch of toothpaste. It's the least I can do to show my appreciation for everyone's hard work."

"Wow, that's fantastic! Thanks in advance, and best of luck with your venture. I've got to run, but if you need anything, give me a call. Take care." Guibao escorted Wang Fushun out, leaving Bao Guo to pose a question Luo Yuqiong couldn't answer.

"What's the deal with Guo Xin and Loo Meiya? They're both my business partners. Can you tell me about their backgrounds?"

Luo Yuqiong's knife nearly nicked her finger. She knew all about their backgrounds, but she'd been explicitly instructed not to inform Bao Guo just yet. What to do?

Right then, Bao Guo's phone rang.