What's wrong with this lawyer?!

Kong Xiufang kept talking nonstop, already so scared she was about to faint, spilling everything she knew.

"Comrade, right comrade, Manager Bai also gave me five thousand yuan, but he had clearly promised me ten thousand before, and I haven't even touched that five thousand yet, comrade..."

What the hell? Hou, equally panicked, immediately turned towards Manager Bai. If he remembered correctly, he had given the other party twenty thousand, so this guy pocketed fifteen thousand for himself?

God damn traitorous teammate!

Hou might have had an average understanding of criminal law, similar to ordinary people, but having struggled in society for so many years, he understood one principle well: it takes more than one set of shoulders to lift a palanquin. If you want someone to work for you, you've got to pay them enough!

That was also the reason he had been able to keep working in the property management company at Yuefu Residential Complex; he never skimped on paying.

But he never expected there to be such traitorous teammates below him.

However, one thing puzzled him: why had the police come to make arrests? They had done this before, why had there been no issue then? They were just online posts; how had they become related to criminal law?

The most important thing now, though, was how to avoid getting involved...

Just as Hou's heart was racing, Manager Bai finally snapped out of it.

"I'm telling you, stop spewing nonsense, what... who told you to do it, I didn't, comrade, she's slandering me, she's slandering me!"

Manager Bai was babbling like he had found a lifeline.

Snort... A young policeman couldn't help but laugh out loud, and the lead policeman, Old Xiang, immediately turned his head around with a serious face.

The young policeman hurriedly bowed his head to stifle his laughter.

Old Xiang turned his head back, looking at Manager Bai who was still claiming "slander" and found it hard to keep a straight face himself. No, I must not laugh, I've been a cop for so many years and seen all sorts of things.

So, Old Xiang, struggling to restrain himself, turned his face red...

After Manager Bai had blurted out a few words, he turned to Hou again and said, "Hou, Hou say something, talk to them, I really didn't do anything, talk to them now!"

Ah, Old Xiang turned his gaze to Hou. They were originally just cooperating with the court to issue a summons, which was actually just about taking him back to ask some questions; it wasn't enough for detention or arrest.

After all, it was a private prosecution case, and if the court felt that the person wasn't a danger to the public while outside, it was rare to make arrests; most of the time, they would just summon them to inquire about the situation.

Because there was still the possibility of mediation.

Hou himself hadn't quite figured out what to do, but his mouth had already spoken for him, "Why should I say anything? Whatever you did, just explain it to the police officers properly."

He should not have any leverage against him; normally, he spoke in his office, and the money was always given in cash.

This wasn't because he was particularly knowledgeable about law, but rather out of habit. Cash is a good thing; the old-timers always deal in cash. Who would be foolish enough to make transfers?

"However, Old Bai, rest assured, the company will definitely look after you guys, and will make the greatest effort..."

He was still comforting when Old Bai couldn't bear it anymore.

"Hou Xiangyuan, you son of a bitch, wasn't it you who asked me to handle that matter? Now you're pretending you don't know anything, right? Comrade, I confess and ask for leniency; it was all his doing, he was the one who gave me the money!"

Dammit, I was at the company just to make money, and now you want me to take the fall for you?

More and more residents had gathered at the entrance of the complex, and those who had arrived later were unaware of what had happened. Some gossips had already started explaining.

"What? So the post in WeChat Moments that said Tang Fangjing was so eager because he was bribed, that was fake?"

"Isn't it? Otherwise, why would the police arrest them? When people turn bad, they're truly despicable!"

"He wasn't bribed, but then why would Tang Fangjing mess with the homeowners' committee? Anyway, I think he must be benefiting somehow; why else would he do it!"

Old Xiang turned to General Manager Hou, but before he could speak, the General Manager already started, "Comrade, he's obviously talking nonsense. How could I possibly do such a thing? He... he's slandering me!"

Poor Old Xiang, having held back for so long, failed to restrain himself. As he turned around, he vigorously rubbed his face and then said, "Alright, all three of you, come back with us for a bit. Let's talk things over at the station."

Soon, under everyone's gaze, the three people were neatly taken away.

Meanwhile, at that moment, the office's Secretary Tian also received the news.

"What? The general manager of the property, Manager Bai, and an employee were all taken away? What's the reason, slander? Alright, I got it."

After hanging up the phone, Secretary Tian was somewhat stunned; things had happened too suddenly.

She was aware of the slander, but who had these people slandered?

After some thought, Secretary Tian decided to consult a professional, even though the person's reputation seemed quite bad at the moment, but reputation and professional competence were two different things.

The phone call connected quickly, and Secretary Tian spoke up, "Little Tang, something has happened in our community. The property's General Manager Hou, Manager Bai, and an employee have all been taken away by the police, something about slander..."

Before Secretary Tian could finish, she heard a pleased voice on the other end of the line, "They've all been taken away, right? Then you've asked the right person, I am responsible for this."

Secretary Tian: "???"

All she wanted to do was to inquire about the situation with the slander, as many people didn't understand criminal private prosecution; in fact, many people didn't even know that you could file a private prosecution in criminal cases.

But unexpectedly, she received such an answer, leaving Secretary Tian momentarily at a loss for words.

"Secretary Tian, do you remember how I got removed from the organizing committee before?" Tang Fangjing spoke up, "There was an article on social media saying I had taken advantages from another property management company, and then someone reported me."

"Of course, I remember. So afterward, you decided to take up this private prosecution?" asked Secretary Tian, quite curious.

To her, this matter, big or small, was also a matter of amusement for the community secretary.

"Yeah, I disappeared for a month after leaving the organizing committee, right? That was because I went to Shenzhen Court and sued Tencent, got the information of the person who wrote the article from them, and then came back to initiate a criminal private prosecution..."

Secretary Tian asked many questions, and Tang Fangjing answered them all.

"Oh, now that you've explained it, I understand. But, Little Tang, you've paid such a big price just to get the person who wrote the article imprisoned? You've said it yourself, it might just result in control or detention."

Over the phone, Tang Fangjing's voice rang out again, "Secretary Tian, getting them imprisoned isn't my goal at all. My goal is to let everyone in the community know that I didn't take anyone's money."

"Plus, Secretary Tian, haven't you noticed? This kind of clarification is much more effective than if the community committee were to step in and clarify!"

Indeed, it was more effective... Secretary Tian had to admit that point.

She suddenly thought of a result and hurriedly said, "So what you're actually after is..."

"Right, I want to rejoin the organizing committee and establish the owners' committee!"

Although it felt good to see them taken, his life was more important than feeling good.

Secretary Tian was at a loss for words. After paying such a great price, it was still for the owners' committee, and even if he became the chairman of the owners' committee, he wouldn't get much in terms of salary. The residents would never agree if it was too high.

What exactly was he after...

Inside Tengda Law Firm, Tang Fangjing hung up the phone and said to Old Song and the others, "It's settled, from the general manager to the staff handling affairs, they've all been summoned now."

"So next up, Wan Ting, and Wei Long, you both get ready. We're going to continue with the owners' committee work. I've said it before, let the bullets fly for a while; such small matters are easily resolved."

Having said his piece, Old Tang walked out, habitually humming, "I am but a carefree man from Wolong Ridge..."