406: Lawyer Zhang actually refused!

Inside Axiom Law Firm, after Lawyer Zhang sent off his last scheduled consultant, he sat in his office and sorted through his complex thoughts. He remembered there was an additional consultation today; of course, after-hours consultation fees had to be doubled—this rule couldn't change. x33xs.com

He didn't care about this small consultation fee, but the other lawyers in the firm relied on consultation fees to make a living.

At this moment, Liu Xiaolin had already met Shi Yuer outside the Axiom Law Firm.

"Sister Shi, you arrived so early?" Liu Xiaolin saw that Shi Yuer looked like she had been waiting for a while.

"I just got here a moment ago," Shi Yuer said, though she had actually been there for an hour.

"Alright, let's go in then," Liu Xiaolin said, and followed Shi Yuer into the law firm.

It was a three-story white building. Lawyer Zhang was on the second floor. The two quickly found the office with the sign "Lawyer Zhang" and knocked on the door.

"Come in," Zhang Sanjian rubbed his temples, straightened his suit and tie, and called out, trying to lift his spirits.

Liu Xiaolin and Shi Yuer walked into the office and greeted Lawyer Zhang: "Lawyer Zhang, hello, I'm Shi Yuer. I made an appointment with you this morning."

"I know, please have a seat," Lawyer Zhang said, gesturing for Shi Yuer to sit down, while looking at Liu Xiaolin: "And this is?"

"Hello, I'm Liu Xiaolin, and Sister Shi and I are here for the same matter," Liu Xiaolin quickly introduced himself.

"I can only give you one hour for the consultation; I have other things after six o'clock," Zhang Sanjian nodded and said, "Which of you will explain the situation?"

"I'll do it," Liu Xiaolin eagerly said, "Do you know Haizhe Technology?"

"Haizhe Technology? Yes, I do," Lawyer Zhang raised an eyebrow, but a premonition of something ominous began to settle in his heart.

As a legal professional, he had heard about the case involving Haizhe Technology. He found it difficult to understand a case where a company sued its own legal representative, but the court had already rendered a judgment based on the existing evidence. Even if he had doubts, he wouldn't specifically inquire about it.

"We found evidence that Hai Zhezhe was framed, so we hope you can act as Hai Zhezhe's lawyer to file an appeal!" Liu Xiaolin continued.

"What did you say? You found evidence?" Lawyer Zhang asked, his eyes wide with surprise.

"Yes, we found the original invoice application form from Haizhe Technology at that time. The leader who signed and approved it was Cai Chenghan, not Hai Zhezhe," Liu Xiaolin said, taking out a file bag and handing a copy of the evidence to Lawyer Zhang: "Look, the invoice application form corresponds to the invoice details, fully demonstrating that tax evasion has no connection to Hai Zhezhe."

Lawyer Zhang took the evidence, examined it carefully, and nodded, saying, "This evidence is very important, but it's a photocopy and cannot be used as evidence for an appeal."

"We have the original. To protect the evidence, I've hidden it in a safe place," Liu Xiaolin said, "As long as you agree to be our appeal lawyer, I will hand over the original evidence to you."

"Although this evidence is very important, there's still one problem: what was Cai Chenghan's motive for framing Hai Zhezhe? Without a motive, this framing evidence is insufficient," Lawyer Zhang said.

"We also considered the motive for framing you mentioned, and we've found evidence for that too," Liu Xiaolin took out another copy of the material: "Director Tan, in order to falsely report output value and exaggerate his political achievements, instructed Cai Chenghan to issue false invoices."

"Director Tan?" Lawyer Zhang said, frowning.

"Yes, the former director of Yuhai City's Development Committee, now Deputy Mayor Tan," Liu Xiaolin said emphatically.

At this, Lawyer Zhang's expression changed: "Are you planning to sue Deputy Mayor Tan as well?"

"Yes, to cover up the fact that he exaggerated his political achievements, he used his connections and colluded with Cai Chenghan to forge a large amount of so-called 'sufficient evidence,' framing Hai Zhezhe as a tax evader. These evildoers, on the other hand, got promoted, became wealthy, and prospered," Liu Xiaolin said angrily, "We cannot stand by and watch Dr. Hai be framed, nor can we watch fairness and justice be trampled."

"Young man, don't get agitated," Lawyer Zhang stretched out his hands and vigorously rubbed his temples.

This case was not as simple as he had imagined. The influence of a deputy mayor was something neither he, a small lawyer, nor these two small figures in front of him could possibly contend with. If he took on this thorny case, his own law firm could be overturned!

Regardless of winning or losing, he would not be able to find a foothold in Yuhai City.

From the evidence currently available, Hai Zhezhe was indeed wronged. However, if the court insisted that this evidence was fabricated, how could they prove otherwise?

Lawyer Zhang thought it over carefully, then shook his head and said, "I'm sorry, I have to say I'm powerless regarding this case."

Shi Yuer and Liu Xiaolin were both astonished to hear that he actually refused.

Liu Xiaolin believed these pieces of evidence were very strong, so why would Lawyer Zhang refuse?

"Let me be frank with you!" Lawyer Zhang said, frowning, "If this bad deed was done solely by Cai Chenghan, then I would definitely help you appeal without hesitation. However, since it involves Deputy Mayor Tan, I dare not get involved. I still want to make a living in Yuhai City."

Lawyer Zhang's words were as clear as they could be: he couldn't afford to offend the Deputy Mayor! He still wanted to continue working in Yuhai City!

Shi Yuer's face was full of disappointment: "Then there's no way for us to save him?"

"I'm sorry, I can't help," Lawyer Zhang was also in pain. He was a lawyer, pursuing fairness and justice, pursuing justice under public law, but because he dared not confront the Deputy Mayor, he could only back down, casting fairness and justice aside.

Liu Xiaolin was also disappointed at this moment, but he understood Lawyer Zhang's concerns. As a native of Yuhai, he had various deeply rooted relatives there, and who knew which connection the Deputy Mayor might be holding onto?

It was normal to have concerns. Even Minister Cui was threatened by the underworld, just to prevent him from testifying in court, and at that time, Director Tan was only a director.

Now, Director Tan had transformed into Deputy Mayor Tan, with excellent political achievements and greater power; it was indeed very difficult to contend with him.

Liu Xiaolin was silent for a moment, then spoke: "Alright, since you don't want to step forward, we won't force you."

"Thank you. I won't charge for today's consultation," Lawyer Zhang, for the first time ever, intended to waive Liu Xiaolin and their consultation fees.

"No need. We'll pay as we should," Liu Xiaolin said, pulling out a wad of cash and handing it over: "We've taken up your time; we can't just leave."

Lawyer Zhang's eyes were full of conflict at this moment: "These two came to me with great hope, thinking I would definitely help them. As a result, my cowardice disappointed them. Alas..."

"I said I won't charge, so I won't. You two can go!" Zhang Sanjian pushed away the wad of cash, saying weakly!

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