Chapter 106 The downfall of the Zheng family began with Zheng Tian's return.

Inside the café, Mrs. Zheng frowned after listening to the lawyer's explanation.

"So you're saying there's a real possibility that this involves attempted coercion?"

When Mrs. Zheng spoke, her tone was filled with disbelief.

Hearing this, the lawyer nodded.

"Yes."

"Because the current evidence is very disadvantageous for us."

"Now, the other girls who were present all say that Young Master Zheng started it... So if we go to court, the possibility of an attempted coercion charge is very high."

Mrs. Zheng found it hard to accept this answer.

"But my son and Su Qiaoer are a married couple. How can there be a charge of attempted coercion between a married couple?"

Hearing this, the lawyer looked up.

"The charge of coercion is quite unique. As long as they are of the opposite sex, it is possible to satisfy the requirements for this charge. Even between a married couple, in a marriage, if the wife does not consent and you force her to do the act, that is the crime of coercion. Therefore, if the Su Family really files a lawsuit, it would mean imprisonment of less than three years, likely around one year."

"One year?"

"Yes, exactly one year."

Mrs. Zheng took a deep breath after hearing the lawyer's words.

"So that means you are also recommending negotiating with the Su Family? Is that right?"

The lawyer hesitated a bit, but after thinking for a moment, he nodded.

"As of now, negotiation is the best option. Although the police have ruled it as self-defense, we have effectively lost our initiative. If we sue, the other side will file a complaint against Zheng Tian for coercion, and both sides will end up mutually destroyed. Therefore, I think we should consider negotiating: accepting a smaller compensation from them in exchange for Zheng Tian's safety."

"Of course, this is just my opinion for now. In reality, the final decision still requires you to communicate with Young Master Zheng."

Often, the role a lawyer can play is quite limited, as is the case with this lawyer right now. Hearing this, Mrs. Zheng took a deep breath.

Clearly, Mrs. Zheng was conflicted; she didn't know what choice to make now.

"Alright, I understand. If there is anything else, I will contact you."

"Very well. If we discover anything on our end, we will definitely inform you immediately."

After ending the meeting with the lawyer, Mrs. Zheng returned to the Hospital. Although it was a private room with a bed for family members to rest, it was still a Hospital, and the atmosphere was quite oppressive. Therefore, Mrs. Zheng hadn't been sleeping well during this period. However, Zheng Tian's injuries hadn't fully healed; according to the Hospital, he would need at least another two weeks before he could be discharged. For the sake of her son, Mrs. Zheng had no choice but to force herself to stay there, even though she wasn't accustomed to the situation in the Hospital.

"Mom, how is the situation?"

Seeing Mrs. Zheng return, Zheng Tian's tone was full of curiosity.

"Son, the situation is different now. The relevant authorities have ruled it as self-defense."

"Self-defense? But I've ended up like this—how can it be self-defense for Su Qiaoer?"

When speaking, Zheng Tian's voice was noticeably louder; the guy was having a bit of a breakdown.

"There's no other way; that's how they've ruled it. We can appeal, but when I was out today, I saw the Su Parents, and they want to negotiate with us?"

"Negotiate? What kind of negotiation?"

Although she really didn't want to say it, Mrs. Zheng hesitated for a moment before explaining the current situation.

"If we sue, they will sue you for attempted coercion. I have already consulted the lawyer; the possibility of this charge sticking is very high. If it really becomes this charge, it would mean a one-year prison sentence."

Zheng Tian had been to the Detention Center before, and he knew very well what it was like inside. It is no exaggeration to say that going in there is worse than death. There is no freedom at all. It is very difficult to get any time in the yard, and even then, it's only for a short while.

"Son, I think we should negotiate. What is the value in us continuing to fight internally with the Su Family? If you end up going in there again, I'll be all alone on the outside."

When speaking, Mrs. Zheng's tone was full of helplessness.

Father Zheng was already in the Detention Center, and barring any surprises, that would mean a prison sentence of over ten years. If Zheng Tian went in now, she would be left all alone. Thinking about that scenario, Mrs. Zheng felt like she was on the verge of a breakdown.

"Let me tell you my thoughts."

"My idea is to negotiate with the Su Family. We can agree not to sue over the partnership with Su Chemical, and they won't sue you for attempted coercion."

Zheng Tian listened and widened his eyes.

"Mom, how can that be? That's billions! If we don't ask for any of it, we'll lose out big time."

"Yes, I know, but Mom doesn't mean we shouldn't take any. I mean we should let them pay a little less—for example, if the compensation is 4 billion, we ask for 3 billion, something like that."

At this moment, Zheng Tian took a deep breath.

If it were like this, it wouldn't be completely unacceptable.

"But I just feel unwilling to accept it."

Mrs. Zheng sighed after hearing this.

Who would be willing?

So much money.

But there's no choice; who told her son to cause such a huge incident?

Actually, Mrs. Zheng was truly dissatisfied with Zheng Tian.

He was already at this age, yet he did and said things without thinking. He had already suffered one loss, but who could have imagined he would suffer another?

The last time he suffered a loss, they lost 40% of the shares in the Zheng Group. This time, it left them completely passive. Besides the financial loss, this time it also turned Zheng Tian into a eunuch, making it impossible for him to live as a man in this world in the future. He even had to bring back those two black children from abroad, making them the complete laughingstock of the circle.

It is estimated that the entire circle is mocking them behind their backs. Thinking of this, Mrs. Zheng felt that all the reputation the Zheng Family had accumulated over so many years was gone.

In reality, their reputation had long been gone. When Zheng Jie took the position of Chairman of the Zheng Group, the reputation of these people had already been thrown into the trash heap.