Chapter 199: Court Case Resumes
Monday came and the court case between DreamScape Estates and its former workers continued. The Gu family, minus Gu Liang who had departed with the Shans for Beijing, arrived at the courthouse. Master Gu’s lawyer, Mr. Shi, had a proud smirk on his face. This was the day he would score a victory that boosted his reputation.
When Mr. Shi entered the courthouse, reporters swarmed him eagerly. One asked "Mr. Shi, are you confident you’ll win this case?"
Mr. Shi replied "As you know, the workers’ and manager’s stories conflict tremendously. These workers merely want to frame DreamScape Estates and milk money. But I won’t allow that."
Another reporter asked Master Gu "What will be your next steps after this case?"
Master Gu said "The workers will face justice because we know they stole materials, using cheap cement that caused the incident. Now they falsely accuse us."
Walking in, the Gu couple found Ao Junfeng and Brother Song talking. Master Gu and Madame Gu approached them.
Master Gu said to Brother Song, "Young man, you take our words very lightly."
Madame Gu added, "All you had to do was follow our lead and your family would have been spared."
Ao Junfeng retorted, "You are threatening my client Madame Gu, I don’t like threats."
Master Gu stated, "Listen, you won’t win this case, you might as well drop it and go back to your poor home."
But Brother Song refused. "I won’t drop this case, I will see the end of it to make sure you compensate us what is due to us."
Master Gu said "Suit yourself." He then took his phone and made a call. The phone rang with no answer, he then called again but still no answer. He frowned.
Madame Gu leaned closer and whispered, "What is going?"
Master Gu says "The men are not picking up."
Ao Junfeng scoffed and says "Master Gu you seem unhappy, things not going according to your plan?"
Master Gu scoffed in return and walked inside the courtroom with his family following behind. As they sat down, Gu Hua said "Don’t worry dad, maybe they are having fun with that woman, they will get back to you."
Master gu said "Yes you are right, let them have fun. Since that boy doesn’t want to drop this, he can’t blame me for what happens."
The judge walked in and everyone rose from their seats. After he sat down, they all took their seats as well.
The judge stated, "You may call in your witness, starting with the defense team."
Mr. Shi stood up and declared, "Your honor, I would like to call Mr. Lui, a former worker of DreamScape Estates, who worked with the team and was one of the injured employees in the incident."
Brother Song and the other former workers watching the case were shocked. They knew Mr. Lui very well - he had been their colleague and was eager for this case. But now it was clear he had betrayed them.
Brother Song looked at Mr. Lui clenching his teeth as the man walked to take his oath and sit down. The workers realized Mr. Lui must now be testifying for the defense rather than with them as planned.
Mr. Shi addressed Mr. Lui in the courtroom, saying, "Mr. Lui, please tell the court about your job description when you worked at DreamScape Estates." Mr. Lui responded, "I was a general worker."
Mr. Shi continued, "Can you tell us what happened on the days before the incident?" Mr. Lui hesitated before answering, "Well, you see, sir, to tell you the truth, I have been in construction for years, and I was the one who first noticed the cheap cement. But I chose to stay quiet about it, didn’t want to invite trouble for myself. That was until one day I saw something suspicious."
Mr. Shi urged him, "Please narrate for the court, Mr. Lui." Mr. Lui began, "I saw Brother Song was busy up and down, talking to the delivery people, and he seemed edgy, like trying to hide something. I saw him take out something from his pocket and giving it to the truck driver before he walked away with a smile."
Mr. Shi inquired, "What made you find that suspicious?" Mr. Lui explained, "That is because Brother Song was not the one responsible for receiving goods; Manager Pang was. So, seeing him act suspicious made me curious." The courtroom listened intently as Mr. Lui’s testimony unraveled the events leading up to the incident at DreamScape Estates.
Mr. Shi pressed further, asking, "Tell me, Mr. Lui, why didn’t you inform your superiors about your suspicions?" Mr. Lui sighed, avoiding eye contact with Brother Song, and replied, "I informed Brother Song, but he told me to mind my own business."
Mr. Shi continued, "What did you do after that?" Mr. Lui admitted, "Of course, I minded my own business. I needed that job. I was afraid he could get me fired."
Mr. Shi inquired about the aftermath, asking, "What happened after the incident?" Mr. Lui revealed, "I was injured, and I was bedridden for two months. Even now, I still have complications. When I was discharged, I went to Brother Song’s house to confront him, and he told me that I shouldn’t complain because I didn’t die. So, I left, feeling very angry."
Mr. Shi summarized, "So, you think Brother Song had a shady deal with the delivery people and exchanged cement?" Mr. Lui cautiously responded, "Well, that is my suspicion, sir." Mr. Shi turned to look at Ao Junfeng, and a smirk played on his face. The courtroom buzzed with murmurs, people pointing fingers at Brother Song. The tension rose as hushed voices filled the space, and Ao Junfeng attempted to calm down an enraged Brother Song by patting his shoulder. The atmosphere in the courtroom crackled with anticipation as the revelations unfolded.
Mr. Shi, with a steely gaze, continued probing, "Mr. Lui, your suspicion about Brother Song’s involvement in a shady deal could be crucial to this case. Can you provide any evidence to support your claim?"
Mr. Lui hesitated, aware that the weight of his words had set the courtroom on edge. He replied, "I don’t have concrete evidence, sir. It was just a gut feeling, and I feared for my job, so I remained silent."
As the tension in the courtroom heightened, Ao Junfeng leaned in and whispered something into Brother Song’s ear, who was visibly seething with anger. Meanwhile, the spectators and members of the jury exchanged concerned glances, sensing the gravity of Mr. Lui’s testimony.
Mr. Shi, undeterred by the charged atmosphere, turned back to Mr. Lui. "You mentioned confronting Brother Song after your recovery. Did he admit to any wrongdoing during that confrontation?"
Mr. Lui nodded solemnly. "He didn’t admit to anything. Instead, he callously dismissed my grievances, implying that my injuries were inconsequential."
The line of questioning intensified, "Mr. Lui, do you believe that the compromised cement led to the structural failure that caused the incident?"
Mr. Lui’s response hung in the air, echoing through the courtroom, "Yes, sir. I do."
Brother Song, unable to contain his frustration, stood abruptly and shouted, "This is absurd! Baseless accusations! I demand this to be dismissed!"
The judge, trying to restore order, banged the gavel. "Order in the court!"
The intensity in the room reached its peak as accusations flew, emotions boiled over, and the fate of the case hung in the balance.
The judge’s gavel echoed through the courtroom, temporarily restoring order. Brother Song, his face contorted with rage, glared at Mr. Lui. The prosecutor, sensing the impact of the testimony, seized the moment to further solidify the case.
"Mr. Lui, your suspicions align with the possibility of negligence that resulted in severe consequences. Can you elaborate on the conditions of the cheap cement you observed?"
Mr. Lui took a deep breath and began recounting, "The cement seemed subpar, not meeting the usual standards. It crumbled easily, and I knew that it couldn’t withstand the structural stress required for a building."
Mr Shi turned back to the court, emphasizing, "Ladies and gentlemen, we have a witness who, out of fear, stayed silent about a potential danger that ultimately led to tragedy. His silence was not due to consent, but rather the oppressive atmosphere created by those who prioritized profit over safety."
Brother Song, realizing the gravity of the situation, attempted to compose himself. Ao Junfeng, on the other hand, prepared to cross-examine Mr. Lui, aiming to cast doubt on his credibility.
