Chapter 35: Finding You a Lawyer

Tian Huasheng took a sip of his drink, wiped his mouth, and began to speak.

He told Yao Jia and Meng Xingzhe, “I’m from the neighboring city, as you both know. But my family didn’t always live in the city. My parents were from the countryside, and I grew up there too. They worked tirelessly their whole lives, farming, selling grain, and taking odd jobs to save some money. When I was in middle school, they planned to use their savings to buy a house in the city.

“It just so happened that my uncle worked in the city at the time, and his company was building housing. Employees had the opportunity to buy at a discounted rate, much cheaper than the market price.

“My aunt and uncle had already bought a house and couldn’t afford a second one. Since my family wanted to buy a house in the city, my aunt suggested that they let us use my uncle’s purchasing quota. We would buy the house under my uncle’s name, but the money would come from us, and we would live in it. It was essentially our house.”

At this point, Tian Huasheng’s expression darkened, as if foreshadowing a stormy development.

Yao Jia poured Tian Huasheng a drink, and they shared a silent toast, a wordless comfort in their clinking glasses.

Meng Xingzhe, not part of their toast, looked down at his bowl of wine. “…”

Tian Huasheng sighed and continued.

“Later, housing prices skyrocketed, and I suspect my uncle started having second thoughts. But at the time, my dad was still around, so my uncle didn’t dare to make any demands. The house from my uncle’s company could be transferred to my parents’ name five years after we got the deed. But just when the five years were up, my dad fell ill and passed away.”

Hearing this, Yao Jia felt a sting in her nose.

All her life, she had longed for her father’s approval. Even if she tried to numb herself to it, she knew her desire for validation was really a longing for fatherly love.

Thinking about it, even though Yao Bingkun often yelled at her and put her down, at least her father was alive. At least she still had a chance to earn his approval and love.

But Tian Huasheng no longer had that chance.

She sniffed hard. This time, it was Tian Huasheng who poured her a drink.

After they drank, Tian Huasheng patted her shoulder. “Jia, you don’t have a dad either? Don’t be sad, you’ll get through it!”

Yao Jia: “…”

Meng Xingzhe chimed in with an unusual tone in his voice, “You don’t have a dad either?”

Yao Jia turned to look at Meng Xingzhe and was surprised to catch a hint of… sympathy in his eyes?!

She was almost shocked. Sympathy was something she never expected to see in Meng Xingzhe, the epitome of a straightforward guy.

She must have been mistaken.

“I have one, and he’s alive, thank you!” Yao Jia said loudly.

Tian Huasheng joined in loudly, “Yes! Our fathers will live forever in our hearts!”

Yao Jia: “…”

Why did the somber atmosphere suddenly change so drastically???

“My dad is actually alive!!!”

Tian Huasheng paused, then quickly apologized, “Sorry, sorry. I thought since I mentioned my dad was gone and you looked so upset, that your dad might be gone too and you missed him! Okay, let me continue!”

He quickly steered the conversation back to avoid the awkwardness caused by his misunderstanding.

“After my dad passed away, my mom was heartbroken for a whole year and didn’t have the mind to deal with the property transfer. When she finally recovered and wanted to handle it, my aunt fell ill and passed away. With no more reservations, my uncle laid his cards on the table and told us the house was his. Since it was built by his company, he got the quota, and it was under his name. Even if we went to court, the house would legally be his. He demanded we either pay him the current market value or move out.

“I felt this was unfair. We had agreed the house was ours, so how could he just change his mind? I refused to move or pay him the difference. He tried to evict us. Of course, I wouldn’t back down! I’m a big guy, I wasn’t going to be intimidated! I fought with the people he brought, but… I lost the fight and ended up on the ground. My mom and I were kicked out.”

Tian Huasheng recounted his tragic story with such humor that Yao Jia didn’t know whether to laugh or feel sad.

Tian Huasheng looked dejected. He pounded the table, his voice filled with frustration, “I should have learned martial arts when I was a kid. What’s the point of being this big if I can’t fight?”

Meng Xingzhe asked, “What happened next?” Yao Jia noticed he was listening intently.

Tian Huasheng continued, “I couldn’t win the fight or argue my case. If it were just me, I’d risk everything, but I have to take care of my mom. Her health isn’t great, worn down from years of hard work. I need to ensure she has a good retirement. So, in the end, I accepted that we couldn’t reclaim the house. I put my mom in a nursing home and went out to find work. I originally worked in the neighboring city, but then got transferred here to work as a customer service representative. When the company went under, I stayed and found a new job here.”

Hearing this, Yao Jia understood what Tian Huasheng meant when he said he had some difficulties at home. It turned out he and his mother had been driven out by their own relatives. Tian Huasheng had been working hard to earn money to pay for his mother’s nursing home.

So it turned out that despite the troubles at home, he still went to work cheerfully every day, never losing his temper even with the most difficult clients. Perhaps because nothing seemed worse than what he was already going through.

“I was originally planning to find a nursing home here and bring my mom over,” Tian Huasheng continued, “but just a couple of days ago, my uncle went to the nursing home to find her. He’s completely out of his mind. Do you know what he did? He first tricked my mom into telling him where I work, then claimed the house was his and that we’ve been renting it all these years. He demanded we pay him back rent, or he’d take us to court and make sure I lose my job!”

Hearing this, Yao Jia was furious.

She slammed the table and demanded, “How can there be such shameless people in this world?!”

Not only did Tian Huasheng jump in surprise, but Meng Xingzhe, who was quietly about to sip some wine, also flinched. The bowl of wine he had just lifted an inch off the table wobbled with his arm, nearly spilling.

Meng Xingzhe quickly put the bowl back down, worried that someone might suddenly notice and scold him for being careless.

But Yao Jia didn’t turn around; she was focused on Tian Huasheng’s situation.

This left Meng Xingzhe feeling a bit… strangely dissatisfied with not being the center of attention.

Yao Jia angrily suggested, “He’s such an old scoundrel! Don’t worry, Xiao Tiantian, we’ll fight fire with fire. If he dares to demand money, you should go to his workplace and talk to his boss!”

Meng Xingzhe chuckled, “Did you just graduate from kindergarten? Running to the teacher when you get into a fight? What boss cares about personal family squabbles these days?”

“Doesn’t he care about the bad influence?” Yao Jia turned to glance at Meng Xingzhe.

“When have bad people ever worried about bad influences? If they did, they wouldn’t do bad things in the first place,” Meng Xingzhe replied.

Tian Huasheng added, “Yeah, his boss wouldn’t care, and he’s already retired, so he doesn’t fear any repercussions at work.”

“What a thug!” Yao Jia was livid.

Sometimes she really couldn’t understand why, in a society praised for its economic development and progress, some people’s moral standards seemed to sink lower and lower.

Tian Huasheng sighed, “I didn’t come back to cook yesterday because I went straight to see a lawyer after work. I wanted to find out what would happen if I didn’t pay my uncle the back rent.” He sighed again.

“What did the lawyer say?” Yao Jia finally understood why Tian Huasheng had rushed off last night.

“Ugh,” Tian Huasheng looked defeated, “the lawyer said if it goes to court, I have little chance of winning. He also said I’m likely going to have to pay the rent to my uncle.”

Yao Jia slammed the table again in anger, “This is outrageous!”

Tian Huasheng wiped his face and said, “I really don’t know what to do now. If I have to pay my uncle all those years of rent, I might just die from anger!” As he spoke, he became agitated and started coughing.

Yao Jia quickly said, “Hey, Xiao Tiantian, don’t worry. We’ll figure something out together!” She suddenly turned her gaze, sharp as lightning, to Meng Xingzhe. “Aren’t you the Awesome Sect Master? Quickly, think of a solution!”

Yao Jia was just trying to get Meng Xingzhe to say something to lighten the mood and calm Tian Huasheng down. She didn’t actually expect Meng Xingzhe to come up with a real plan.

But Meng Xingzhe took it seriously.

He pondered for a moment and said to Tian Huasheng, “I suspect that if you consult a top-notch lawyer, you can’t afford their fees. And the lawyers you can afford might lack experience and skill, desperate for cases. So they might tell you your case is hard to win to justify charging more.”

He paused, organizing his thoughts clearly, “As it stands, it’s unlikely you can resolve things with your uncle through friendly negotiation. After all, he’s a shameless rogue. A lawsuit is inevitable, either you and your mom suing him to reclaim the house, or him suing you for back rent. But if you wait for him to sue, you’ll be on the defensive.”

Hearing his logical analysis, Yao Jia and Tian Huasheng couldn’t help but follow his line of thought.

“So what should Xiao Tiantian do now?” Yao Jia asked.

“First, find a lawyer to represent him. Then sue his uncle,” Meng Xingzhe suggested.

Tian Huasheng immediately said, “But I really can’t afford a lawyer, not even a mediocre one!”

“Then I’ll introduce you to one…” Meng Xingzhe began, but Yao Jia’s voice cut him off.

“I’ll introduce you to a lawyer!! Someone you can definitely afford!”

Yao Jia suddenly thought of her timid friend Ling Xiaoxin—who, despite having her law license, was too scared to take on cases or go to court, always hiding behind paperwork.

Yao Jia thought this might be a perfect opportunity to kill two birds with one stone: she could help Tian Huasheng with his lawsuit without charging too much, and at the same time, give Ling Xiaoxin some courtroom experience, bringing her from behind the scenes to the forefront. Although Ling Xiaoxin’s abilities were limited, the law firm backing her was strong. If she encountered any issues, she could consult her mentors, so there shouldn’t be any major problems.

“Wait here, I’ll call my best friend. She’s a lawyer!” Yao Jia said as she picked up her phone to call Ling Xiaoxin.

Tian Huasheng, rubbing his hands with a mix of anxiety and guilt, said, “Hold on, Jia, don’t call her yet. I might not be able to afford your friend’s lawyer fees. It’s not right to have her work for free just because she’s your friend!”

Yao Jia didn’t pause her dialing. Before the call connected, she reassured Tian Huasheng, “Don’t worry, I’ll cover the cost for you first!”

She had a small handbag she hadn’t planned to sell. Worst case, she could sell it and get back eighty to a hundred thousand.

The call went through, and Yao Jia directly told Ling Xiaoxin, “I’ve got a case for you. Come over and let’s discuss it.”

Ling Xiaoxin replied softly, “Huh? I don’t think I can handle a lawsuit…”

Yao Jia cut her off, “I’m having hotpot in the dorm right now. Come join us.”

Ling Xiaoxin immediately responded, “Sure!”

Yao Jia sighed, “I’ll send the address to your phone.” After a moment’s thought, she added, “Oh, and bring some chives with you. I forgot to buy them for the hotpot.”

Ling Xiaoxin’s puzzled voice came through the phone, “Chives for hotpot? What kind of taste is that?”

Yao Jia mimicked Tian Huasheng’s tone, “It’s an amazing and bold flavor!” Then she loudly added, “Stop arguing, will you? It’s almost dawn! Hurry up and buy the chives and get a cab over here. Don’t forget who helped get your computer fixed, even losing her private bathroom and master bedroom for it! You can’t refuse such a big favor!”

After laying a heavy moral obligation on Ling Xiaoxin, Yao Jia hung up. Turning around, she was startled to find Meng Xingzhe squinting at her.

“What are you looking at? Never seen such a talented and vocal beauty before?” Yao Jia, slightly tipsy, spoke with a bit of edge.

Meng Xingzhe chuckled, “No, I’m just curious about what kind of family you grew up in. How do you live so roughly? Eating chives, drinking beer, and calling it bold?”

Imitating her words, Meng Xingzhe laughed heartily, tilting his head back.

Yao Jia felt her temper rising. Rough? She called it living down-to-earth!

Suddenly, she noticed Meng Xingzhe’s empty bowl in front of him.

“Weren’t you the one who said you wouldn’t drink this cheap beer? Why is your bowl empty? Are you not a donkey?”

Meng Xingzhe retorted, “It’s empty, but how do you know I drank it? Did you see it? If you didn’t see it, you’re just guessing, and guesses don’t count.”

Yao Jia huffed, “Your behavior, denying what you’ve done, is just like Tian Huasheng’s shameless uncle!”

“What did I do that I’m not admitting to?”

“You said you wouldn’t drink this low-grade beer, yet you drank it all!”

“Did you see it? If you didn’t see it, it doesn’t count.”

“…”

They argued in circles, back and forth. Watching them, Tian Huasheng felt his gloom lift. He finally chuckled.

“My dear Xiao Tiantian, you’re finally smiling,” said Yao Jia, raising her glass to Tian Huasheng, “Here’s to not arguing with a donkey for nothing!”

Tian Huasheng drank, feeling warmth in his heart.

He noticed Meng Xingzhe glancing at Yao Jia, his expression shifting from confusion to understanding.

It seemed he realized that Yao Jia’s purpose in arguing wasn’t just for the sake of winning; she wanted to cheer up someone who had been feeling down by providing some lively entertainment.

This realization made Meng Xingzhe’s gaze towards Yao Jia deepen.

******

After a while, there was a knock at the door.

Eager to open it, Yao Jia stumbled slightly over something but quickly steadied herself, running to the door without looking back. She didn’t see Meng Xingzhe nervously reaching out as if to catch her.

Meng Xingzhe’s eyes met Tian Huasheng’s.

…He awkwardly clapped his hands together in mid-air, saying, “I’ll go check the door.”

He stood up and walked towards the entrance.

The awkwardness was palpable; refusing to feel awkward himself, he left Tian Huasheng feeling a bit embarrassed on his behalf.

Tian Huasheng quickly stood up as well, “Then, I’ll go too!”

…And so, in a rather absurd manner, they created a grand welcoming scene for the guest.

As Yao Jia opened the door, she wondered why the usually aloof Meng was being so accommodating, even getting up to greet a guest.

The door swung open, revealing Ling Xiaoxin standing shyly outside. Seeing the three of them inside, she nervously and softly said, “Hi.”

Noticing her empty-handed, Yao Jia raised her voice, “You came alone? Where are the chives?”

Ling Xiaoxin pursed her lips and walked inside. Behind her appeared a tall, handsome man, standing at least six feet tall.

Yao Jia was startled.

She squinted, feeling that the person looked familiar, as if she had seen him somewhere before.

The handsome man was holding a bunch of chives in his arms, cradling them with the reverence and care of a little attendant beside the Bodhisattva Guanyin holding sacred herbs.

With his chin raised, the handsome man looked past Yao Jia, engaging in a conversation over her head with Meng Xingzhe behind her. “Hey, it’s me!”

From behind, Meng Xingzhe responded with a less-than-friendly tone, “Why is it you again? What’s going on? What are you doing here? How did you get here? And how come you’re with her best friend?”

He sounded like a never-ending question machine.

Yao Jia invited him inside and listened to his self-introduction. “So, you’re Yao Jia, right? And Xiao Tiantian, correct? I’m Meng Xingzhe’s childhood friend, Bei Luonan. Nice to meet you!”

Yao Jia remembered. She had seen him at the entrance of a fried chicken shop, standing with Meng Xingzhe.

But she was immediately filled with the same curiosity as Meng Xingzhe. “How did you end up coming with Ling Xiaoxin? Do you two know each other?”

Ling Xiaoxin, beside her, clung to her arm and swayed. “He’s the guy you found to fix my computer! How could you not know?”

Yao Jia slapped her forehead.

She had asked Meng Xingzhe, who then got his childhood friend to fix Ling Xiaoxin’s computer. It all made sense.

But…

“Your computer broke again?” Otherwise, why would Bei Luonan be here again?

Ling Xiaoxin blushed slightly and nodded. “Yes, it breaks every other day.”

“When I get paid, I’ll buy you a new one,” Yao Jia said.

“No need!” Bei Luonan replied quickly. If the computer didn’t break, what excuse would he have to be around her?

Yao Jia turned around and, realizing something, smiled apologetically. “Sorry, didn’t mean to cut off your source of income!”

Ling Xiaoxin looked like she wanted to roll her eyes. “He doesn’t charge me for fixing it!”

Yao Jia, not very savvy in matters between men and women and having had a bit to drink, was momentarily confused, her face full of puzzlement.

Tian Huasheng quickly smoothed things over, inviting the two guests to sit and went to the kitchen to fetch two sets of bowls and chopsticks along with two cups.

Yao Jia had Ling Xiaoxin sit next to her, while Bei Luonan sat beside Meng Xingzhe.

Meng Xingzhe turned his head, glancing at Bei Luonan, muttering through barely moving lips, “So, why are you here?”

Bei Luonan replied in the same manner, “Her computer broke. I was fixing it when your creditor called her to come for hot pot. Since I know you, I figured you were inviting me too.”

Meng Xingzhe grumbled, “I didn’t invite you. Get lost.”

Bei Luonan muttered back, “Not leaving. What can you do about it?”

Yao Jia couldn’t take it anymore. “Do you two think we can’t hear you?”

Meng Xingzhe glared at Bei Luonan, who then gave Yao Jia a warm and apologetic smile. When his gaze shifted to Ling Xiaoxin beside her, he raised his eyebrows, causing Ling Xiaoxin to blush and lower her head, a smile forming at the corners of her mouth.

Yao Jia didn’t notice their silent exchange and, along with Tian Huasheng, busied herself with serving meat and vegetables.

The atmosphere was lively yet tinged with an awkward tension.

When Yao Jia suggested everyone raise their glasses for a drink, Meng Xingzhe silently picked up the bowl of liquor in front of him.

Bei Luonan was immediately surprised, his hand trembling so much that he nearly spilled his drink.

“What the heck, how did you become so rough?” This guy, who usually had all sorts of rituals for drinking wine at home, from the glass to the temperature to his mood and posture, was now drinking from a bowl? Seeing this, Bei Luonan was genuinely shocked.

Meng Xingzhe glanced sideways at Yao Jia. “It’s all thanks to this rough girl.”

Yao Jia couldn’t be bothered with him. After setting down her glass, she began discussing serious matters with Ling Xiaoxin.

Before starting, she said to Ling Xiaoxin, “Let’s play a game. Whoever says ‘no’ has to drink.”

Ling Xiaoxin agreed.

“I found you a case,” Yao Jia said.

“You know I can handle paperwork, but I’m too scared to go to court!” Ling Xiaoxin replied.

She said ‘no.’

Yao Jia poured her a drink. Ling Xiaoxin, without hesitation, raised her head and drank it down. Her drinking posture was a stark contrast to her usually shy demeanor.

“You have to try. Can you really spend your whole life just doing paperwork?” Yao Jia said.

“But I’m just too scared.”

Yao Jia poured her another drink. Ling Xiaoxin drank it down again.

“This is my dear Xiao Tiantian. His house has been taken over by some rogue relatives, and they’re even demanding rent from him. You need to help him with the lawsuit and deal with those relatives!” Yao Jia pointed at Tian Huasheng and said to Ling Xiaoxin.

“I can’t, I really can’t!” Ling Xiaoxin waved her hands repeatedly.

Yao Jia poured her another drink. Ling Xiaoxin drank it without a word.

Bei Luonan, watching anxiously, reached out his arm. “How about I…”

Before Ling Xiaoxin could finish saying “I’ll drink,” she interrupted herself, her voice suddenly much louder than before. “No need! I can drink it myself! I don’t need your help!”

Hearing her raised voice, Bei Luonan began to understand what Yao Jia was up to.

She was using alcohol to bolster courage.

Yao Jia poured herself a glass of wine first, then turned to Ling Xiaoxin. “Xiaoxin’er, you need to be brave and give it a try. Can you really avoid going to court your whole life?” As she finished her sentence, she downed the wine in front of her.

She filled her glass again.

“Do you think your law firm will keep a lawyer who never goes to court for life?” She finished speaking and drank the wine once more.

She refilled the empty glass.

This time, Meng Xingzhe couldn’t sit still. He casually reached out to grab the glass in front of Yao Jia.

Yao Jia slapped his hand away. “What are you doing?”

Meng Xingzhe, with a stern expression, said, “Can’t I use your glass? Do I have to keep drinking from a bowl?”

— Translator’s Notes —

– Bodhisattva Guanyin: Guanyin (also known as Avalokitesvara) is the Buddhist bodhisattva (enlightened being) of compassion and mercy, often depicted in Chinese art with attendants carrying items like a vase of sacred dew or herbs.