Chapter 21: Just for one sentence, he's risking his life like this?

The punishment decision in his hands had not even warmed up when the court summons arrived, as if deliberately timed to make Old Guo feel they had coordinated their actions.

And since when did the Consumer Association of Handong Province become so eager to protect consumers?

The Consumer Association pursuing public interest litigation seemed more common in economically developed areas like Magic City and Guang Province. There had been public interest litigations in Handong Province before, but those were initiated by the Procuratorate.

One brought by the Consumer Association... he had never seen before...

So who exactly conducted this investigation, the Consumer Association? When did they become so abnormal!

Yet, as he looked through the indictment, Guo Qifeng spotted a somewhat familiar name.

"An intern lawyer named Tang Fangjing? Who's that..."

As he was pondering, his secretary reminded him in a low voice, "President Guo, this Tang Fangjing is the same person who sued our company over false...do you remember now?"

With a gesture from his secretary, Guo Qifeng finally remembered. A little while ago, a young man acted as if struck by a serious illness over such a trivial matter, dragging it to court, and wasn't it rather unpleasant later on?

But now that person had actually become a lawyer for the association... although an intern lawyer.

Guo Qifeng wondered if his supervising lawyer had a particularly strong background... He was used to thinking this way; encountering any problem, he'd consider the background first.

Just then, a staff member from the Market Supervision Department spoke up: "Alright, you better sign off on this quickly because I need to get back. Also, there's something else I need to tell you."

"The whole thing was kicked off by a real-name report, and all the evidence of false advertising was collected by the whistleblower. The whistleblower's name is Tang Fangjing. He said you should recognize his name."

Normally, the identity of a whistleblower is definitely confidential, but this case is special.

The whistleblower specifically asked for his name to be disclosed and made clear that the evidence was collected by him.

Although it's unclear what he was thinking, after much persuasion by the department, he still insisted on his view, so they dropped the matter.

Since the interests at stake were already made clear, they had to respect his wishes.

For Tang Fangjing, it was essential to let the other party know it was his doing, or else the completion of his tasks would not improve.

Besides, he still planned to release a video. The reason he hadn't done so yet was to avoid influencing the court's judgment through public opinion. If someone took issue with that and filed a report, he could very well say goodbye to his legal career.

Such behavior was actually somewhat risky, and the tasks he would need to undertake in the future were bound to be even more dangerous.

One didn't need to think too hard to realize that the tasks given by the system were definitely not easy ones... Therefore, he needed to make a name for himself online.

Of course, our society is quite safe. It's not like in America where one might end up 'committing suicide' with eight shots to the back... It's just a precaution, that's all...

In front of the staff member, Guo Qifeng was completely dumbfounded; the only thing left in his mind was the name: Tang Fangjing.

"Wait, he gathered all this evidence? What's he after, does he have some sort of issue? All for that little bit of attorney's fees?"

"Let's not even mention that he's just an intern lawyer, even if he were a fully-fledged lawyer, that's not a lot of money. Is it worth risking his life like this? Really, I'm *** dumbfounded, does he really need to go to such lengths?"

Although Guo Qifeng was usually hot-tempered, he would never erupt like this in such settings.

But now, the impact of this news was simply too great!

He had suspected the Market Supervision Department, the Consumer Association, but never Tang Fangjing, or rather, he had long forgotten this name.

What had he done at that time? Wasn't it just expressing his discomfort after mediation by saying a few harsh words? Doesn't everyone make threats sometimes? Was it worth it for him to go to these lengths to target me?

Oh no, wrong. Damn it, he's disrupted the entire real estate brokerage industry in Jingzhou, twenty-eight companies, some of which are subsidiary branches of listed companies; now they all have to be rectified...

The young staff member from the Market Supervision didn't respond at all. Inside the Bureau, the unanimous opinion about Old Tang was that he was a true idealist.

In front of such a person, talking about "cost" or "price" was absolutely futile.

Anyone put in that situation would think the same, pay such a high price just for one's own happiness? Who would believe that!

After confirming with the photographer next to him that he had captured everything, he left with the signed receipt in hand. The effect of this episode was really too good, it was definitely going to draw a crowd once released.

Next to him, a young man from the Jingzhou court likewise spoke up, "Hurry up and sign, I've got other things to do."

Guo Qifeng had no choice. Even if he refused to sign, the court would proceed with the hearing as planned.

Signing with a feeling as if he'd been screwed over, he waited for the court staff to leave before he started smashing things.

He just couldn't hold back, it would have been one thing if it was the market regulator or consumer association, but he never expected it to be this person who stirred up trouble...

At the same time, having received a call, Manager Wang and Qi Guang made their way to the head office.

"Weird, Manager, why did Boss Guo call us in today?" Qi Guang asked with a puzzled face.

Manager Wang shook his head, "Who knows, just be careful what you say later, and by the way, I went to a newly opened show apartment today and took some videos and photos, make sure to use them."

Those really nice photos came from seizing opportunities like this, the decor of a new apartment was bound to be good.

Qi Guang next to him nodded, no one thought there was anything wrong with this, it's not like they were deliberately deceiving people, the buyers would still get apartments, not like there weren't any apartments at all.

The two entered the boss's office with confusion, and immediately heard a voice, "Old Wang, do you remember that guy named Tang Fangjing who sued us, the one we went to mediate with a while ago?"

Manager Wang across from him nodded, "Of course, I remember that guy seemed a bit crazy."

Pausing for a moment and seeing Guo Qifeng was waiting, Manager Wang continued, "Back then I remember he accused us of deceiving people, and you know, that's how it is these days."

"Caught up in the moment, I said if he was capable, he should make all Jingzhou brokers use real listings..."

Old Wang hadn't finished speaking when he was interrupted, Guo Qifeng glared and said, "So you did say that, huh? What are you doing bringing up such words without any thinking, are you insane?"

As he said this, he threw over a copy of a penalty decision and a copy of the complaint, "Just look at this for yourself!"

"That Tang guy went through the housing listings of the entire Jingzhou City one by one and then with this evidence went on to file complaints and lawsuits. Now the whole intermediary industry of Jingzhou is going to be reorganized!"

What? Manager Wang was stunned, but quickly said, "No way, Boss Guo, just because of that thing I said, he took such action? That's impossible, who would do such a thing..."

"Then tell me, besides that reason, what could it be? Huh, tell me!"

Manager Wang, verbally beaten down and covered in shame, dared not speak, and Qi Guang on the side was scolded too, though not as much.

Guo Qifeng also knew that Manager Wang was in his thirties, with both elders and children to care for, and wouldn't dare quit on a whim, so after the scolding, it was over.

However, after his outburst, Guo started to worry, because now it really did seem like there was no other reason.

If word got out, what would the other "colleagues" in Jingzhou do? He didn't dare to think about it...

......

In Yuefu Residential Complex, Tang Fangjing looked at the woman in front of him and said, "Auntie Liu, let's sign the contract then. Once the bank disbursement is through, you can give me the keys."

The original owner of apartment 1601 in building 15 of Yuefu Residential Complex, Liu Minjun, upon hearing this said, "Little Tang, I've said everything I need to say, and you know the situation, so I won't say any more."

Tang Fangjing nodded without a word. In his eyes, except for life, nothing else was a problem.

If only this could trigger a mission or something... that would be even better...