"It is not scarcity that is to be worried about, but inequality."
For four sons to bear equal responsibility for supporting their parent was clearly inappropriate.
And each family’s situation was different.
So had heavier burdens, others lighter. So had higher incos, others lower.
Following that, the defense attorneys for Jiang Daping and the other three, in order to protect their clients’ interests, also joined the "negotiation."
"Legally speaking, although each child should bear equal support responsibilities, our client has a lower inco, which should be taken into consideration."
"If you’re going to say that, then our client’s ho is full of grandchildren! His children have left their own children in his care without providing a single cent. How can he afford such large expenses?"
"Our client’s mother-in-law is currently living with him and needs care. She frequently has to go to the hospital for dical treatnt, which is also a major expense."
"Our client can contribute more ti to caregiving, but his financial contribution should be reduced!"
The discussion among the four lawyers was relatively peaceful.
They were all discussing the legal aspects of the support obligations.
But between the lines, they were all trying to minimize their support responsibilities.
Their remarks were directly opposed to each other.
The courtroom suddenly turned into a marketplace.
The discussion about the support issue devolved into a heated, intractable argunt.
Zhang Wei watched this unfold, his lips twitching as he sighed softly.
Whether it was the eldest, the second, the third, or the fourth son, each felt that the proposed plan was unfair.
They all believed the others should bear more of the support responsibility.
The four of them discussed for what seed like an age, but they couldn’t agree on a plan acceptable to all four of them.
Having many sons could also lead to problems when it ca to providing support.
Human nature was simply like that.
Even if one was filial, it was upsetting to see oneself diligently caring for one’s parents while one’s siblings ignored their duties or were neglectful.
Worse still, thoughts like, ’She’s not my mother alone, so why should I be the only one to care for her?’ could arise.
Such things were common in everyday life.
Many old notions suggested that having many children provided security in old age, but this was often not the case.
Sotis, having many siblings was worse than being an only child.
At least an only child, having enjoyed all their parents’ affection, would naturally have to bear all the support responsibilities.
「Jin City Court.」
Second Criminal Court.
At the defendants’ bench.
Jiang Daping and the other three were still arguing, their faces flushed.
They had been discussing for two full hours, yet they still couldn’t co up with a suitable plan.
Every plan proposed by one was vetoed by the other three.
anwhile, in the gallery, Zhang Qingyuan and the others watched with great interest, listening intently.
Surprisingly, not one of them was dozing off.
"This is much more interesting than the free debate segnt."
"From what I see, they don’t really want to support Cuihua at all. They’ve been discussing for so long without any result."
"After all this discussion, the one most willing to contribute money turned out to be the eldest, offering up to six hundred yuan per month."
"And they still want Cuihua transferred to another hospital? On what grounds?"
While watching the discussion, Zhang Qingyuan and the others also started muttering their own comnts.
This part was indeed more entertaining than the dry legal debate.
As the four brothers talked, they started bringing up trivial everyday matters, complaining about each other’s faults, and constantly airing dirty laundry.
This greatly satisfied the onlookers’ love for gossip.
In just two short hours, they felt they had gotten to know all the ins and outs of Jiang Daping and his brothers’ characters and past actions.
BANG—
Finally, in the courtroom, Zhou Quanmin, unable to watch any longer, struck the gavel.
He stopped the four n’s discussion and announced sternly, "The discussion on support responsibilities is hereby concluded! Court is recessed!"
With that, he stood up and left the courtroom with all the mbers of the judicial panel.
"What’s going on? Why did he stop them from continuing their discussion?" Zhang Qingyuan, seeing this, looked perplexed and turned to Qin Mu.
Qin Mu smiled faintly and explained, "It’s probably because they couldn’t resolve it amongst themselves, so the court will have to make an official ruling."
In such cases, the court usually prioritizes letting the parties negotiate and discuss first. But Jiang Daping and his brothers were simply too unreasonable. Even in court, they couldn’t reach an agreent acceptable to all four of them.
Then, Qin Mu couldn’t help but look at Zhang Qingyuan and the others like Li Weiguo beside him, remarking with so emotion, "To be honest, I have to admire you all. You’ve been sitting for over four hours, yet you’re all still so engaged."
He had been sitting for so long himself that his backside was a little sore.
But Zhang Qingyuan and these elders, so in their seventies and eighties, were all sprightly.
They were neither sleepy nor tired.
He, a younger man, felt sowhat inadequate in comparison.
Just then, Feng Cuihua and Wang Dachui from the plaintiff’s side also approached him.
Wang Dachui exhaled with satisfaction and said to Qin Mu, "This should be in the bag this ti."
His expression was one of excitent.
In this court session, his performance had been outstanding. He had faced four opponents without falling behind and had, in fact, dominated the proceedings.
Feng Cuihua, however, seed conflicted and hesitant to speak.
Seeing this, Qin Mu looked at her and said seriously, "Court is recessed now. When it resus, the judicial panel will likely announce the verdict. You should carefully consider whether you want to withdraw the abandonnt charge. This is your last chance. Before the verdict is announced, you can still withdraw the private criminal prosecution."
Before Feng Cuihua could respond, Zhang Qingyuan interjected hastily, "Cuihua, you saw their reactions just now! They don’t have a shred of remorse! Don’t be soft-hearted. If you go soft on them now, things will only be worse for you later!"
User Comments
0 comments from readers