Chapter 321: A Miracle in Desperate Times (Part 1)

Three days passed quickly, and one morning three days later, Zhou Ming drove to the teahouse outside Chinatown. This time, it was lawyer Alan who arrived first. However, when Zhou Ming was guided by the waiter to the private room he had reserved, he found that the barrister was already there, sipping a steaming cup of milk tea. He even unknowingly recommended to Zhou Ming, 'Hey, Zhou, I didn't know you could add milk to tea. This milk tea tastes much better than before.'

Zhou Ming could only shrug helplessly in response: 'If you like it, that's fine.'

Zhou Ming sat down opposite Allen, and the waiter also brought him and his bodyguard ** each a cup of milk tea. Zhou Ming thanked the waiter and then asked Allen, 'What's the rush to get me here today?'

Alan put down his cup and said, 'Mr. Zhou Ming, I actually have two pieces of not-so-good news for you. The first is that Mr. Wharton has filed a lawsuit with the court. He is suing us for violating business regulations during the acquisition and is claiming damages for commercial fraud. The amount is two million US dollars.'

Zhou Ming laughed, 'Two million US dollars, this Mr. Wharton really has some nerve. I don't know who violated the law and business ethics. This matter is not that important, so what is the other piece of news?'

'Mr Wharton's case is indeed not that important, because whether it is according to commercial law or contract provisions, he is the one who violated the rules first. So this lawsuit is just a rookie lawyer who is new to the industry. I have 100% confidence that I can win against him even if I take the case to the Supreme Court!'

After saying this, Alan suddenly lost his momentum and continued, 'But the other matter is a bit more difficult. It is about the Brighton District Attorney's Office. They have decided to drop the charges against Little Brooke.'

'Drop the charges? Why is that, and who made the decision?' Zhou Ming asked.

'It was Deputy Attorney General Clark who made the decision. As for the reason, it seems that there was pressure from above. I just heard it from a friend at the prosecutor's office, and I haven't investigated it yet,' Alan said.

Zhou Ming said, 'I see. Then, Lawyer Alan, would you please make an appointment for me with Deputy Attorney General Clark? I think we need to have a good face-to-face chat with him.'

Alan nodded and said yes, and after the meeting was over, he made an appointment with Clark. This barrister Alan was worthy of being the most prestigious barrister in Massachusetts. In just two days, he had arranged an appointment with Clark. On the third day, they met at the sports centre in the centre of Brighton.

At 9am, Zhou Ming and Alan arrived at the sports centre's gym. In the lounge, Zhou Ming and Alan met the deputy attorney general.

'Playing basketball is a sport that requires a lot of physical strength and endurance, because when you play basketball, you need to keep running on the court. This is also the case in many court trials and lawsuits. Alan and I are prepared to face any lawsuit we need to face,' Ming asked Clark. 'But I heard that you, Mr. Deputy Attorney General, said that you want to withdraw the charges of fraud against Little Brooke brought by the prosecutor's office. Can you tell me why?'

'It seems that I need to check whether my office has been bugged by you guys, otherwise how would you know so quickly.' Clark was changing into sportswear at this time, and his tone was rather casual, "Yes, I am going to withdraw the charges against Little Brooke. The reason is very simple: there is insufficient evidence, and we cannot convict him, so there is no need for this lawsuit to continue.'

'So, Mr. Deputy Attorney General, are you planning to admit defeat to Senator Brooke?" asked Zhou Ming.

Clark laughed: 'Admit defeat? Mr. Zhou Ming, you have a strange way of phrasing things. Do you think there is a need to continue with this case? The only two witnesses you have have also been refuted by the other party, and a scandal has even been exposed. Although I don't care about the reputation of the university or its teachers, this case really has no basis in fact.'

'Is there no basis in fact, or are you, the deputy attorney general, being pressured from a certain party?' Zhou Ming asked again.

Facing Zhou Ming's question, Clark immediately stopped what he was doing. His eyes hardened as he stared at Zhou Ming, who returned the gaze without fear.

'Chinese, I should really sue you too, so that no one will cause me trouble,' Clark said.

'Indeed, by doing so, you, the deputy attorney general, can control the case alone, suing or dropping the charges as you please, and no one can interfere,' Zhou Ming said in response.

'Let me tell you, Chinese, I have a reason for doing this. Our procuratorate is using taxpayers' money to help taxpayers, and we cannot use our power for no reason on a case that we know is hopeless! Unlike your country of poisoned vegetables, where you can convict anyone you want, and a county magistrate can have the power to execute people!' Clark pointed his finger at Zhou Ming menacingly.

Zhou Ming shrugged his shoulders and suddenly reached out and patted Clark on the shoulder, saying with a relaxed tone, 'Okay, my deputy attorney general, I don't think we need to argue like children over this issue. Let's just talk about what really happened.'

Clark was unprepared for Zhou Ming's sudden change in tone. He stood there for a while before saying, 'I really don't understand what's going on in that Chinese mind of yours, but never mind. Come with me over here.'

After that, Clark led Zhou Ming and Alan to the corner of the changing room, and then said to Zhou Ming, 'Chinese, I can tell you that just the day before yesterday, the mayor of Brighton called me to ask about this case. He was curious why a case with no evidence was still being prosecuted, and the city government was already preparing to investigate to see if there had been any irregularities on the part of the prosecutor's office.'

Clark immediately continued, 'But I did not withdraw the lawsuit because of the mayor's phone call, but because I believe that there is no hope of winning this case, not even one percent.'

'There was no physical evidence in the case, only a few witnesses, but these witnesses... Oh my God, when did I start to naively believe that a conviction could be based on witnesses alone,' said Clark. "Of all the evidence, witness testimony is the least convincing, because the defense lawyer can do everything in his power to question it. Any experienced lawyer can seize on any loophole and attack it relentlessly. You know, it's always easier to question than to answer.'

'So you backed down, Your Honor?" asked Zhou Ming.

Clark cursed and said, 'Chinese, let me say this for the last time. I'm not backing down, but there's no way Brooke Jr. can be convicted in this case. Do you understand? Because your witnesses have all been blown away by that Jew, just like you!'

'Deputy Attorney General, please don't get so excited. I'm still familiarising myself with your American law, but I'm here today just to tell you an old Chinese saying: 'Persistence is victory'. As long as you can persevere until the end, a miracle will happen. Don't you Americans believe in Lady Luck?' Zhou Ming said.

'Oh my God, why am I talking to a Chinese person about this? You don't understand the law at all,'

Clark, pulling his hair, looked a little frantic and said, 'Listen, Chinese, I don't care what grudges you have with Brooke Jr., and I don't care about any bullshit Chinese old saying. I only know that I am my own deputy attorney general, and this case is also handled by the prosecutor's office. It is a case that needs to be supported by evidence. Now that there is no evidence, the prosecutor's office naturally has to withdraw the charges.'

'And you,' Clark pointed at Zhou Ming, 'if you want to continue to pursue the lawsuit to the end for your revenge, then please go ahead. I will not accompany you, and I will not even applaud for you, because this is a very, very, very stupid thing. I know that in the end you will definitely lose the lawsuit, and the lawyer Alan in charge of this case will become a laughing stock, and you will even be counter-sued by the other party.'

'Finally, I just want to say to you, screw your persistence is victory, screw your miracles, and screw your lady luck. This case has nothing to do with me or the prosecutor's office anymore. You guys are welcome to be idiots if you want.' At the end of his speech, Clark added, 'And don't bother looking for me again, because I really don't want to see you guys again.'

After saying that, Clark turned around and left, leaving only Zhou Ming and Alan looking at each other on the spot.

'I should have thought of it earlier. Since Brook is a senator from Massachusetts and can have dinner with our presiding judge, he must have very different connections in Brighton. It's not that difficult to find the mayor and intervene through administrative means,' Alan said angrily.

Zhou Ming, however, said, 'I don't think we need to be angry, because this is inevitable. And if they hadn't gained the upper hand in the trial, I don't think even the mayor would have thought of intervening in the work of the judiciary.'

'Yes, it's all about the trial. If it weren't for this problem, even if the mayor wanted to interfere with the work of the judiciary, he would be impeached immediately and removed from office.' Alan sighed, "But the trial is a big problem. Can we really turn the situation around?'

Zhou Ming laughed: "Attorney Alan, why are you so unconfident? The Deputy Attorney General doesn't believe in me, which is understandable, but you know what I'm going to do.'

'But they now have the support of the judge and the mayor, and the witness statements have all been disproved. Old Brook is a cunning politician, and everything is quite against us. If Old Brook mobilises the media again...' Alan shook his head and said, "No wonder Deputy Attorney General Clark is eager to withdraw the charges.'

Zhou Ming patted Alan on the shoulder and said, "Okay, my barrister, don't think about this for now. You are my lawyer, and you won't want to lose again to Shapiro, will you?'

'Of course not,' Allen said subconsciously.

'So you just do a good job. Remember what I told you? A dead end can lead to a way out. Now we're at a dead end, so we can win!' Zhou Ming said, 'And, since we're here today, let's play a good game of basketball. I don't know how, so you teach me.'