He stepped out of the bedroom.
He found his father, Wan Zhongyuan.
"Dad, I want to talk to you about something."
Wan Zhongyuan, who was watching the legal channel, frowned and looked disdainfully at his son.
"Speak."
Wan Feizhang swallowed nervously. Leaning on his crutch, he moved three meters away, maintaining a safe distance.
Then he said, "Dad, itâs like this... could you please drop the lawsuit?"
Wan Zhongyuan, with a stern face, asked in a deep voice, "Why should I drop the lawsuit?"
His 1.08 million had already gone down the drain. He had only just gotten a way to recover the bride price from Qin Mu. But his own son... had been dragging him down all along.
"Lele... Lele just told me her family asked for such a large bride price mainly because her brother is getting married. She said she wanted to help her brother, which is understandable..."
Wan Feizhang clenched his teeth and blurted it all out.
At the same time, he was fully focused, ready to flee at any moment.
"Her brother... is getting married?"
Upon hearing this, Wan Zhongyuan just sat on the sofa, motionless.
He coldly questioned, "What does her brotherâs wedding have to do with you?"
Wan Feizhang swallowed nervously, feeling the atmosphere grow even more tense. But still, he plucked up his courage and argued, "Weâre already married; weâre one family now. Shouldnât we help out?"
"Then you help. Why should it be my money?" Wan Zhongyuan sat still, his tone becoming even colder.
"I... I donât have any money..."
A dejected Wan Feizhang finally realized something was amiss. Hurriedly leaning on his crutch, he turned around and prepared to escape back to the bedroom.
However, Wan Zhongyuan was faster than he had imagined. Out of nowhere, he brandished a baseball bat, closing the distance in large strides. He caught up to Wan Feizhang and struck his other healthy leg mercilessly.
"You unfilial son!"
"Someday youâll be the death of me!"
"This is clearly a Voldemort!"
"I earn some money with great difficulty, just for you to squander it!"
"Iâm not running a charity here! Why should I help her brother?"
"Why should I pay for her brotherâs wedding?"
"Youâre driving me to my grave..."
In the living room corridor, Wan Zhongyuan swung the baseball bat, cursing with each hit.
His rage exploded after hearing his sonâs words! Such a Voldemort, mentioned in rumors, had actually come to him! All those lessons about Voldemorts on the internet... were brutally clear! Once entangled, thereâd be no more family harmony, and daily life would be ruined. Anything in the house... would be taken back to her parental home to support her brother. This so-called mutual help within the family... but in reality... it was bloodsucking under the guise of kinship, one family leeching off another! Once there was a precedent, they wouldnât stop until everything was drained! Saying she wanted to help her brotherâif she wanted to help, she could earn her own money. Why should that burden fall on their family?
"Let me tell you!"
"Iâm going through with this lawsuit, and if you ever speak for their family again, Iâll disown you!"
After the beating, Wan Zhongyuan was still seething with anger and issued a grim warning.
And Wan Feizhang was lying on the ground, clutching both legs and screaming in agony.
He wanted to cry, but no tears came; his heart was filled with intense regret.
ăThe next day.ă
In the nursing home, Qin Mu kept the elderly company, playing chess and ball as usual. Life was comfortable and relaxed.
These past few days, Wang Dachui still hadnât shown up for work. However, Wang Dachui had informed him via WeChat about the process for obtaining a lawyerâs certification. This certificate, unlike others, wasnât strictly bound by professional fields. One simply needed to pass the judicial examination. The judicial examination took place at a set time each year. The content of the exam was relatively simple, with a pass rate as high as 30%. It wasnât too difficult.
But even if one passed, employment in this line of work was difficult. Or, to put it another way, it was difficult to make money in this field. Without enough fame, it was possible not to receive even a single case in a year!
ăIn the afternoon.ă
Qin Mu was working when he suddenly heard someone was looking for him.
When he saw who it was... he jumped.
"Uncle Qin, save me, please save me..."
The person in the wheelchair was none other than Wan Feizhang. Upon seeing Qin Mu, he broke down and cried, tears and snot running freely.
"You... were you in a car accident?" Qin Mu asked, startled.
In his view, without a car accident, there wouldnât be casts on both legs.
Wan Feizhang slowly raised his head. On mentioning it, he was overwhelmed by grief. With immense frustration, he accused, "If it were a car accident, it might be better. But this... this was entirely my father beating me..."
Then he recounted everything that had happened at home over the past few days. Whenever he spoke a word in favor of Wen Leâs family, heâd be cursed at for a minor offense, or beaten for a more serious one.
"My dad has gone mad, truly mad! Now heâs set on suing their whole family, and he even ran to Lawyer Qiâs office this afternoon..." Wan Feizhang kept accusing Wan Zhongyuan of his "atrocities."
At the same time, he explained his purpose: "Uncle Qin, Iâve heard that your professional skills are excellent, and now youâre the only one who can help me."
"I canât stand to be in that house for another second. Can you... help me put my father behind bars?"
Qin Mu was stunned for a moment. He couldnât help but stare, wide-eyed, at Wan Feizhang, who wore an utterly serious expression.
My god, âput him behind bars.â This father and son pair... truly exemplified fatherly love and filial piety. Wan Zhongyuan, in a fit of rage, had beaten his son until he needed a wheelchair. And Wan Feizhang sought him out, attempting to have his father locked up.
"Ahem, your situation is quite special. In cases of familial injury, the judgment generally takes the relationship between both parties into consideration," Qin Mu coughed lightly and explained briefly.
In cases of injury like this, the prosecuting authorities would usually file charges upon verification. But given that itâs between father and son, the usual practice for prosecuting authorities is to mediate the relationship between the two, not to prosecute on their behalf.
However, if the victim insists on pressing charges, the court does permit filing a case. Nevertheless, the injury assessment must qualify as at least a minor injury to be eligible for a case to be filed.
"If youâre intent on prosecuting, youâd best get an injury assessment done," Qin Mu said, gazing at Wan Feizhangâs two plaster-covered legs.
"What would happen if itâs a serious injury?" Wan Feizhangâs expression brightened, as if possessed by a spirit of righteous indignation against his kin.
Qin Muâs lips twitched, but he still responded, "For the crime of intentional injury, causing serious harm usually results in a sentence of three to four years in prison, while for minor injuries, the sentence is six months to one and a half years."
Having said that, he looked at Wan Feizhangâs legs, bound in plaster, and said seriously, "However, I donât think youâre badly hurt; itâs probably just minor bone fractures. This type of injury is classified as a slight injury."
The smile on Wan Feizhangâs face instantly stiffened. The joy he had felt moments ago vanished without a trace.
"Iâm... in a cast and itâs still just a slight injury?"
He could not accept this outcome at all.
Qin Mu nodded. "Slight injuries refer to those that do not affect the normal function of organs. You mentioned earlier that it was just a fracture in the lower leg; it wonât have any permanent effect on your body after recovery."
Over these days, he had used his "Photographic Memory" skill, delving into books from various fields. He had gained a deep understanding of forensic science as well.
Similar cases of brawling, where one punches another and causes bruising, would count as slight injuries. After recovery, there would be no effect on the body. And a fracture of the lower leg, while seeming severe, would still allow normal walking after recovery, with no lasting effects. Therefore, it was also classified as a slight injury.