Chapter 38

Concerned for Wei Xue’s well-being, Lin Shu stayed with her through the outpatient abortion procedure. Thankfully, everything went smoothly. Wei Xue, being young and healthy, would likely recover quickly.

Since Wei Xue couldn’t stay in her rental apartment, she contacted a female classmate who kindly offered her a place to stay and take care of her for a few days. After Lin Shu dropped her off safely, he and Xu Shijia left.

On their way back to the firm, Xu Shijia reflected on the case. “I didn’t expect her to be so resolute about not keeping the child.”

Lin Shu understood why he was struck by this. When they first took on Wei Xue’s case, her initial goal was to secure a dowry payment of 120,000 yuan for her younger brother—a sum trivial compared to the inheritance now within her reach.

“People are complicated,” Lin Shu responded. “Sometimes, disputes arise over the smallest amounts, even leading to violence or worse. Other times, people turn away from large sums for reasons that seem insignificant.”

She glanced at Xu Shijia. “I know you were initially reluctant to take on Wei Xue’s case, thinking it wasn’t high-profile—no big commercial dispute, just grassroots civil bickering. But handling civil cases often develops a lawyer’s skill set in a comprehensive way.”

“Clients from legal aid cases usually don’t have high levels of education or economic status. Misunderstandings or rigid beliefs can make communication difficult. But if you approach them as equals and show genuine intent to help, the outcome is often positive.”

She continued, “In cases like Wei Xue’s, lawyers can’t singlehandedly address the inequalities in marriage or eradicate deep-seated preferences for sons. But we can extend a hand to the victims of these wrong beliefs, helping them rise from their struggles.”

“People can’t choose their birth circumstances; not everyone, like you, is born with privileges. Some come into the world adrift in hardship. We can be that lifeline in their despair,” Lin Shu smiled. “Of course, not everyone can grab hold, but saving one person still has meaning.”

“That’s the value of legal aid,” she added. “A lawyer can change lives and make this a truly meaningful profession.”

In a fitting twist, as Lin Shu and Xu Shijia returned to the firm, they found a lively crowd gathered at the entrance, turning the place into a makeshift marketplace. Not long ago, Zhang Tao and Wang Juan had surrounded the office, and now another case had apparently led to a similar scene.

But as Lin Shu approached the crowd, she quickly realized this time was different.

The crowd hadn’t come to cause trouble; they were there to deliver a banner of gratitude.

At the center, struggling to communicate through sign language, was Liu Xuhui, his face a mix of bemusement and embarrassment as he gestured frantically. Those around him excitedly signed back, but their hands moved too quickly for Liu Xuhui to respond clearly.

Seeing Lin Shu, he looked as if he’d been rescued. “Lawyer Lin, please help me explain that, aside from legal fees, we can’t accept personal gifts from clients.”

With some effort, Lin Shu, Xu Shijia, and Liu Xuhui managed to convince the group to disperse, using both gestures and written messages.

“They’re deaf friends I helped through my sign language legal aid account,” Liu Xuhui explained sheepishly. “Most were just small things I clarified in sign language, but it ended up meaning a lot to them.”

“Lawyer Lin, you were absolutely right. These friends in the deaf community have nowhere to turn when they face legal issues. A small issue can quickly become an overwhelming burden for them,” Liu Xuhui remarked.

“These friends connected through my sign language legal aid platform and insisted on coming by today to thank me, bringing all sorts of gifts.”

While his tone carried a hint of helplessness, his eyes were smiling.

They returned the gifts, but kept the banner that read, “Bringing Justice to the Silent World.”

Looking at those words, Lin Shu was genuinely happy for Liu Xuhui. “Hang that banner up right away!”

But Liu Xuhui felt embarrassed. “Isn’t that a bit over the top? I think I’ll just keep it to myself.”

How could he not hang it? This was a fresh start for Liu Xuhui’s career and a rejuvenation for Lin Shu’s team.

Just as they finished putting up the banner, someone else arrived to see Liu Xuhui. This time, it was journalists.

“Attorney Liu, could we do a quick interview about your sign language legal aid platform?”

“Is there any truth to the rumor about a personal dispute between you and Bai Feng of BaiRui Tech?”

…

Naturally, Liu Xuhui declined the interviews. After seeing the reporters out, he seemed a bit lost.

“It’s strange,” he mused. “A high-traffic social media account recently discovered my sign language legal aid platform and publicized it.”

Puzzled, he continued, “Not only did they share the platform, but they also dug up details about my history with Bai Feng. It’s sparked a lot of conversation.”

He gave a wry smile. “To be honest, it’s something I could never fully get past. Bai Feng loves to advertise his ‘perfect’ love story with my ex-wife, and every time I see it in the news, it disgusts me.”

“I’ve tried for years to clear things up, but no one ever listened. Now, without intending to expose Bai Feng, my sign language platform has brought the truth to light.”

“People used to admire his so-called touching love story and how socially responsible he seemed. Now that his facade is falling, the backlash is intense.”

As he mentioned this, Liu Xuhui smiled with a hint of self-deprecation. “I thought I’d feel vindicated, maybe even ecstatic, but honestly, I just feel calm.”

“Because of this media exposure, Bai Feng’s reputation is in serious decline. Under pressure, he’s agreed to sever his public association with Bai Fan and even promised to provide a stipend for his living expenses.”

His face lit up with genuine relief. “Bai Fan’s case is moving in the right direction. Since there’s no clear evidence and Bai Fan denied involvement, the police are reinvestigating. His innocence is finally protected—one good outcome from the media frenzy.”

Seeing Liu Xuhui so thrilled about a positive outcome for his deaf client was heartwarming. But that wasn’t his only bit of good news—

“By the way, Lawyer Lin, Shijia, are you free next Saturday morning?”

He looked slightly embarrassed. “It’s the university’s anniversary celebration, and they’ve invited me as an honorary alumnus guest speaker.”

“I’d never have expected to be chosen for this—normally, only high-profile alumni are selected. But because of recent news about my work with the deaf community, the university’s law students saw it and reported it to the administration. They reached out, wanting to feature my story for the law school. They also asked me to give a talk on the motivations behind serving the hearing-impaired and speak about career choices.”

“They let each speaker bring guests. I’d really like you two to come along.” His expression was hopeful. “I invited Tie Niu as well. I feel like we’re a team, and I wouldn’t have this chance without everyone’s support. Besides, the celebration will have lots of fun events—it’s a good way to unwind.”

Lin Shu was genuinely happy for him. “I’m free, I’ll be there.” She looked over at Xu Shijia, “How about you?”

Xu Shijia cleared his throat. “I don’t have anything pressing, and since I graduated from that law school too, I should go if I’m free.”

Liu Xuhui’s face brightened. “That’s great! I’ll wrap up a few of my deaf clients’ cases before Saturday!”

He went back to his desk with a renewed sense of purpose.

Since starting to serve the deaf community, Liu Xuhui’s daughter had become fully involved as well, helping to edit content, choose topics, and schedule posts for the platform. The work had become her passion; now, instead of wanting her father’s constant company, she encouraged him to work even harder to help others like her.

Thanks to this, Liu Xuhui had abandoned his flexible schedule, arriving early and often working late, driven to make a difference.

Liu Xuhui’s daughter had become much more cheerful, no longer fearful of the outside world. Lin Shu had seen the young girl visit the office several times to bring food for her father. Even though they couldn’t communicate verbally, they conveyed warmth and happiness through their gestures in sign language.

Things were heading in a positive direction.

In addition to Liu Xuhui’s impressive work progress, Xu Shijia was also doing well. He quickly initiated a lawsuit over the inheritance dispute, and the first hearing had already been filed. The facts were clear, and while they still had to wait for the trial, the verdict could be anticipated.

However, since the future judgment was predictably leaning toward Wei Xue, Zhang Jianyi’s parents were unable to accept this. Especially after learning that Wei Xue had terminated her pregnancy, Zhang Tao and Wang Juan had gone nearly insane.

This odd couple couldn’t find Wei Xue and had come to the law office several times to confront Lin Shu, but Xu Shijia had skillfully dealt with them.

After a while, however, the couple suddenly quieted down.

While passing through the main office area, Lin Shu asked Xu Shijia, “Why haven’t Zhang Tao and Wang Juan shown up recently?”

These two didn’t strike her as the type to suddenly have an epiphany and mend their ways. Lin Shu felt that they were probably concocting something even more disgusting.

But the answer this time surprised Lin Shu.

“Wang Juan has lost her enthusiasm for causing trouble,” Xu Shijia shrugged. “She’s too busy dealing with Zhang Tao’s issues.”

“What happened to Zhang Tao?”

“Oh, him,” Xu Shijia said with a hint of sarcasm. “His son is dead, and his lineage is cut off, but the Zhang family isn’t necessarily doomed; he’s still alive, isn’t he?”

Lin Shu paused, wondering if…

Xu Shijia quickly confirmed her suspicion: “Just as you thought, Zhang Tao was devastated after his son died and Wei Xue terminated her pregnancy, so he started looking for alternatives. Wang Juan is too old to have children, but Zhang Tao can find another woman to bear him a child. He’s gone off to find a younger woman, and now I hear they’re actively trying to conceive.”

Wang Juan had only just realized this, but it was too late. Zhang Tao was determined to leave an heir for the Zhang family, and that young woman was ambitious, insisting on giving birth to a son for him. Wang Juan was now crying and fighting to save her marriage, completely losing interest in entangling herself with Wei Xue.

Had it not been for Xu Shijia’s account, Lin Shu would never have imagined things could develop this way.

When Wei Xue was with the Zhang family, she was often attacked by Wang Juan for not providing an heir. Lin Shu recalled their first meeting when Wang Juan incessantly referred to “the roots of the Zhang family.” Now, the tides had turned; the family she had fought to defend had ultimately tripped her up in a bizarre twist of fate.

Lin Shu couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.

The heavy rain that once poured down on Wei Xue was now soaking Wang Juan.

Xu Shijia glanced at Lin Shu. “Interestingly, while Zhang Tao and Wang Juan have been quiet, Wei Xue’s mother, Huang Meifeng, has come to the office a few times to make a scene, just when you were out.”

Lin Shu was taken aback; she had forgotten about Huang Meifeng.

Huang Meifeng’s fiery temperament was equal to or even greater than Wang Juan’s, and Lin Shu felt concerned. “Does she know you’re Wei Xue’s attorney? Has she done anything extreme toward you?”

Xu Shijia replied calmly, “It’s nothing; I’ve already handled it, and she won’t be coming back.”

Just as Lin Shu was about to breathe a sigh of relief, she noticed Tie Niu, who had been quietly working, suddenly look up.

“How could it be nothing, Lin? Don’t let Xu Shijia’s calm demeanor fool you. Huang Meifeng is extremely difficult to deal with. She brought several loud relatives with her, and when they came to the office, they shouted that Xu Shijia had harmed her grandson, cursing her and demanding compensation.”

“A few days ago, while you were at a meeting, Huang Meifeng even unfurled a banner at the office entrance and berated Xu Shijia through a loudspeaker, calling her a heartless fraud.”

Women like Huang Meifeng were known for their antics. After draining Wei Xue for years, she wouldn’t easily give up the blood she had drawn.

Before Lin Shu could ask what happened next, Tie Niu cleared his throat and continued, “Huang Meifeng was quite powerful, and her relatives were all big and brawny. Even I wasn’t a match for them at that moment. Thankfully, Xu Shijia stepped up, wielding justice and authority to win a verbal duel, not only showcasing our team’s dedication but also boosting our law firm’s professionalism. She handled Huang Meifeng’s mess beautifully.”

Xu Shijia looked modest; it seemed he hadn’t wanted to elaborate but felt obliged to respond to Tie Niu’s praise. “Brother Tie Niu, stop it. This was just part of my job.”

But Tie Niu was full of enthusiasm as he looked at Lin Shu, narrating like a storyteller: “Even though Huang Meifeng claimed she was seeking justice for her grandson, Xu Shijia saw right through her real motives. He and I analyzed it sharply together, realizing she must be feeling cut off from Wei Xue and was worried about not getting any benefits in the future, which is why she came to stir up trouble.”

“Lin, to be honest, I didn’t believe it at first, but Xu Shijia’s subsequent actions completely stunned me and changed my impression of him.”

Tie Niu’s voice rose and fell dramatically. “In the midst of that chaos, Xu Shijia remained calm, pulled out his phone, and showed Huang Meifeng a video. It turned out to be footage of Wang Juan berating Wei Xue during the commotion in the hospital. In the video, Wang Juan was mocking Huang Meifeng, claiming she didn’t care about Wei Xue and saw her merely as a tool for making money.”

Lin Shu remembered Wang Juan’s insults at the hospital and was surprised. “You recorded that?”

“Yeah,” Xu Shijia nodded, his demeanor unfazed. “As a lawyer, keeping evidence is just a habit.”

Lin Shu recalled the chaotic scene in the hospital; it was impressive that Xu Shijia managed to stay focused enough to preserve evidence. That truly deserved commendation.

At this moment, Xu Shijia seemed completely uninterested in seeking praise, maintaining a demeanor of calm and indifference.

Tie Niu spoke with admiration, “Lin, I often forget to do this. Although I’ve worked more years than Xu Shijia, I’m still not as experienced as him. I lack his ability to adapt and haven’t developed the habit of preserving evidence.”

Tie Niu seemed quite sentimental about this: “Lin, at that moment, Huang Meifeng was initially furious and looking to confront us, but when she saw the video Xu Shijia showed her, she turned all her anger and accusations toward Wang Juan. She started cursing, saying no wonder Wei Xue wouldn’t contact her; it was all Wang Juan stirring up trouble between mother and daughter. It must be because Zhang Jianyi died, and Wang Juan wanted to win Wei Xue over, making her cut ties with her family to deceive her. Huang Meifeng cursed wildly, demanding that no matter what, Zhang’s family had to pay back the betrothal gifts they hadn’t given yet. With that, she stormed off to confront Wang Juan!”

Huang Meifeng was indeed an impulsive and aggressive woman. She prioritized her interests, and now that Zhang Jianyi was dead, Wei Xue was about to receive a significant portion of the inheritance. She only thought about reconciling with her daughter and sucking blood from Wei Xue once again.

As for why her daughter suddenly ignored her, she didn’t think deeply about it; she simply concluded it was because Wei Xue had been incited by others.

People often project their own values onto others. Huang Meifeng, who valued money and benefits, naturally believed that those encouraging Wei Xue were also after money and benefits, and Wang Juan’s motivations were indeed much more significant than a lawyer’s.

Xu Shijia skillfully redirected Huang Meifeng’s anger onto Wang Juan with that simple video.

Tie Niu clapped Xu Shijia on the shoulder, praising him loudly, “Lin, Xu Shijia is really great! Truly outstanding! His ability to learn is astonishing! He’s surpassed me and is a model for me to learn from! I feel honored to work in the same team as Xu Shijia!”

Lin was a bit puzzled.

What was up with Tie Niu today?

He usually didn’t talk this much! Today he seemed so emotionally charged, speaking in long segments at a much quicker pace than usual, and he was more eloquent than before.

But emotional fluctuations are normal, and his smooth speaking might just indicate that Tie Niu’s communication skills had improved lately, which is a good thing.

But did he have to praise Xu Shijia this much?

Although Tie Niu struggled with a psychological condition that prevented him from “seeing clients,” his professional skills were not lacking. He was meticulous and detailed in his work, and his level was not inferior to Xu Shijia’s; in fact, he was much stronger than Xu Shijia, who had only recently started working. If Tie Niu genuinely admired Liu Xuhui, that would be understandable, but his heartfelt praise for Xu Shijia seemed a bit strange.

That said, Xu Shijia’s performance in closing this case was indeed commendable.

Regardless, Tie Niu’s praise for Xu Shijia demonstrated that the atmosphere between them was harmonious and their relationship cordial. The team’s cohesion was visibly improving. After all, if an honest person like Tie Niu was so enthusiastic in his praise, it indicated that Xu Shijia’s change in work attitude had earned Tie Niu’s recognition, reflecting mutual respect among colleagues in the same team.

As for Xu Shijia, he handled Huang Meifeng’s disruption without seeking credit from Lin, and even in the face of Tie Niu’s enthusiastic praise, he remained calm and composed, neither proud nor ostentatious, displaying restraint. He even attempted to interrupt Tie Niu’s compliments several times, assuming that this was just part of his job.

Lin felt gratified, and her gaze toward Xu Shijia was filled with unmasked approval.

“Xu Shijia, you did very well in this case.”

In response to Lin’s recognition, Xu Shijia remained composed and indifferent: “It’s nothing. There are still areas for improvement. I’ll review and study it.”

Xu Shijia had truly changed.

He was no longer impetuous or overly self-satisfied; instead, he became grounded, practical, humble, and genuine.

Lin felt it was necessary to share Xu Shijia’s progress in “transformation” and the significant results of this “transformation” with Wang Yannian. Given Xu Shijia’s current humble and studious attitude, she could even persuade Wang Yannian to ease his “economic sanctions” against Xu Shijia.

However, Lin changed her mind about this ten minutes later.

She had originally scheduled a meeting with a client, but just as she reached the underground parking lot, she received a call from the client apologizing for a sudden illness and rescheduling the meeting.

Thus, Lin had to return to the law firm. While walking back to her office, she heard voices coming from the break room.

First, she heard Tie Niu’s voice—

He sounded very proud, filled with a sense of seeking praise: “How was it? I recited quite fluently just now, right? I performed very naturally, without any sign of it being rehearsed!”

Then came Xu Shijia’s critical voice.

He remained as difficult to please as ever: “You missed a section. I had also written a part about how Huang Meifeng made things difficult for me, how she caused a scene in the law firm, even threatening to chase Lin down and not give up, but you completely forgot to memorize that! You forgot entirely! Brother Tie Niu, were you even paying attention? How could you miss such an important line?”

Tie Niu’s voice turned a bit awkward: “That part isn’t important; it made things too convoluted and not concise enough.”

“How is that part not important? It’s crucial! Only by specifically describing how difficult Huang Meifeng was can it better highlight my capabilities and the effort I put into this case.”

“And we agreed that you’d highlight the fact that a person of my status endured being insulted by someone like Huang Meifeng for ten minutes? That’s what showcases my tremendous sacrifice and the changes I’ve made!”

Tie Niu was unhappy: “Xu Shijia, I was self-deprecating to elevate you! I even recited such exaggerated lines! The sacrifices I made were significant too!”

Xu Shijia wasn’t pleased with this: “Brother Tie Niu, what do you mean by exaggerated lines? Isn’t everything I said a fact? Am I not formidable enough? Those lines were realistic, not exaggerated at all! I even chose my words carefully to emphasize my low profile, downplaying my own excellence.”

“Moreover, what do you mean by self-deprecation? Am I not as good as you? That’s not your self-deprecation; it’s just you realizing your shortcomings in comparison to me!”

Tie Niu was a bit angry but still tried to remain calm: “I won’t argue with you about this. After all, this is our first collaboration, and it’s off to a good start. Did Lin just now not sincerely praise you? This shows that I, Tie Niu, played a significant role in making it happen. In the future, where we need to cooperate, I’ll certainly become more skilled and experienced, and my lines will be memorized better and better.”

Xu Shijia also seemed to regain his rationality: “Fine.” He continued, “In the future, you’ll present the facts and praise me, I’ll earn Lin Shu’s appreciation, and we’ll get more commissions and bonuses, significantly increasing our income. After I get the money, I’ll give you 5% of my commission as a rebate, achieving a win-win situation for both of us.”

“Okay. But 5% is too little; I want a 10% rebate. Your lines are always too long and too many! It’s a hassle to memorize them!”

…

Lin Shu really didn’t want to hear any more of the bargaining about rebates.

With a blank expression, she walked back to the office.

Fortunately, she hadn’t had a chance to report Xu Shijia’s “transformation” results to Wang Yannian yet.

This person was like a criminal caught and sent to prison, initially expected to reform well in jail. Instead, Xu Shijia, this criminal, not only didn’t change his bad habits but actively “learned” the “advanced techniques” of his fellow inmates, exchanging ideas, and ultimately ended up with even more flaws.

She had originally hoped that Tie Niu would mentor Xu Shijia, but now… Tie Niu had also been led astray by Xu Shijia.

The honest man had even started discussing rebates!

As for Xu Shijia’s humility and groundedness?

That didn’t exist.

The team’s harmony and cohesion?

Even less so.

Xu Shijia’s phase of transformation was declared a failure, and the economic sanctions could not stop; the societal discipline had to continue.