Chapter 97: A familiar recipe with a familiar taste

'Damn it! This is a really vicious tactic on their part. It's obvious that they're the ones who framed us for fraud, but they're creating a public outcry as if it were the truth. And they're outnumbering us, constantly causing trouble and protests, and even putting pressure on the company's employees to force them to resign from the company. What they're doing is downright thuggery!'

When Zhou Ming hung up on Julie, Lin Muqing's dissatisfaction and anger exploded from her mouth.

But scolding is scolding, and this does not solve any practical problems at all. Lin Muqing also understands this very well, so she asked Zhou Ming again, 'What are we going to do now? We can't just let them spread rumours like this. How about we call the police?'

Lin Muqing was also very unconvinced of the idea of reporting to the police, because the current situation was caused by reporting to the police before. If she reported to the police again, she couldn't tell if it would make the situation more chaotic and unbearable.

Zhou Ming shook his head and said, 'It's useless. Of course, the current situation can't get any worse, but Muqing, don't forget the freedom that the United States prides itself on. What's being broadcast on TV right now, and what the rioters outside are saying, are all their freedom. Neither we nor the police have the power to intervene. If we insist on intervening, it will only give the TV station more excuses to play up the situation.'

At the end of the day, Zhou Ming gave a bitter smile: 'In fact, we don't have the ability to do anything at all right now. If they are even a little bit more cunning, they will just wait for us to call the police, and then they will force their way in. Then we will be in even more trouble.'

Zhou Ming's words made Lin Muqing's heart tremble. Obviously, she had also thought of this malicious possibility, especially since Christo, who was manipulating things behind the scenes, was very likely to do so.

It was precisely because she had thought of this that she became even more irritated: 'Zhou Ming, if we can't even call the police, is there really nothing we can do?'

Zhou Ming, however, shrugged and said, 'My dear Muqing, I didn't say that, because I don't think it's to the point where we have no way out. I just don't think the other party has finished their tricks yet, and I want to see what follow-up actions they have.'

Lin Muqing stared at Zhou Ming with wide eyes, a little surprised by his words. She believed that Zhou Ming would find a way out, but as for what follow-up actions there might be on the other side, she felt a little scared. Could it be that it wasn't over even after coming this far, and there would be even more oppressive actions on the other side? But now that she was in this situation, what else could they do? Or was Zhou Ming just saying that to scare her?

Zhou Ming knew that Lin Muqing had started to imagine things, so he said to her, 'Okay, Muqing, let's not think about these things anymore, let's just do what we were supposed to do in the first place.'

Facing Zhou Ming's words, Lin Muqing was first stunned, and then she reacted, "Zhou Ming, do you mean we should go find a lawyer first?'

Zhou Ming smiled and said, "Of course.' From Lin Muqing's question, it can be seen that she is still very smart, but she was just confused a moment ago, so she became a little uncalm.

When it was time for lunch, Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing went to the Garden Restaurant in the city centre together. This was the place they had already agreed with Alan. After all, the TV station had spread such a big rumour, so they could not remain indifferent. Perhaps the TV station was very powerful, or perhaps Christo had already thought of this and made preparations behind the scenes, but they had to fight back somehow and could not just let others take advantage of them.

However, at this time, Christo very treacherously stabbed the law firm in the back, and this action even interfered with Alan's lawyer's license. Therefore, Zhou Ming had to ask Alan to help find another lawyer.

At the entrance to the garden restaurant, Zhou Ming, Lin Muqing and Alan met. Alan did indeed bring a middle-aged lawyer.

'This is Lawyer Holder. He was my university classmate and now runs his own law firm. He is very good at libel lawsuits in the business field and has even won a lawsuit against Northeast TV before, so I believe he can be of great help to you, Mr. Zhou Ming,' Alan introduced Zhou Ming.

'That's really good news!' Lin Muqing said, "but please forgive me for asking, but does Attorney Holder have any connection to the Adams family?'

After Lin Muqing had said this, she also thought that it was inappropriate, so she immediately added, "Attorney Holder, I'm not saying this because I don't trust your professionalism, it's just that we need to be sure of some things...'

Before Lin Muqing could finish speaking, Holder told her, 'This lady, please be assured. Ellen has already told me before. To be honest, I am very proud that you can challenge such a powerful family as the Adams. For this reason, I am also worried about your current situation. Therefore, I will definitely do my best to help you win this lawsuit!'

Lin Muqing finally let go of her worries. Zhou Ming also raised his eyebrows and glanced at Holder. Then they walked into the garden restaurant together. Zhou Ming ordered a very good vineyard restaurant.

Under the specially made grape trellis, Zhou Ming, Lin Muqing and Alan Holder raised their glasses together and drank a toast. Then Zhou Ming said to Holder, 'Lawyer Holder, in fact, the essence of this case is very simple. It is that the reporters from Northeast TV filmed the footage of the rioters in front of my company's door, but not only did they not report it truthfully, they even deliberately spread rumours that Wharton was suspected of fraud and portrayed the graffiti of the rioters as the tragic scene.'

Houlder nodded as he listened: 'Mr. Zhou Ming, don't worry, I understand what you're saying. But there is a bit of a problem with this case.'

Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing looked at him in confusion, and Houlder continued to explain: "It's very simple. You say that Northeast TV is spreading rumours, but we simply cannot produce any hard evidence to prove this.'

'Why can't you prove it? There's the footage from the scene and the TV station's report, isn't that enough?" Lin Muqing asked in surprise.

'Of course not,' said Holder. "Because the TV station can completely circumvent it with one-sided reports. In this regard, any experienced lawyer can easily defend it, unless there is more compelling evidence or a situation that is more favourable to us.'

Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing looked at each other: "What more compelling evidence and situation?'

Holder thought for a moment and said: 'If I remember correctly, Mr. Zhou Ming, you just said that the TV station also reported that you colluded with the police, right?'

Zhou Ming nodded and said yes. Holder said, 'That's right. Generally speaking, for this kind of thing, the TV station is responsible for verifying the facts. We can use this report to drag the police station into the lawsuit together, and then force the police station to stand on the same side as us. In this way, whether it is finding evidence or the strength of our litigation team, it will make the lawsuit easier.'

'That's true,'

Zhou Ming said. Not long after he finished speaking with Holder, Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing left the garden restaurant, because they had received another phone call. So Zhou Ming had no choice but to end his meal with Alan Holder in a hurry.

On the way, Lin Muqing asked, 'Zhou Ming, do you really think that Holder can be trusted? I always feel that he is someone sent by the Adams family to deliberately cause trouble for us.'

Zhou Ming laughed: 'I say, Muqing, you're paranoid. Although I admit that there is no denying the possibility you're talking about, right now we don't have the energy to guard against this and that. Besides, this Holder was hired by Allen, and I'm sure Allen is not someone without a brain. He must have thought it through carefully.'

Lin Muqing nodded silently. She turned her head and looked out the window, where she saw a lot of people handing out flyers at the intersection, and others holding up banners high in the air, denouncing the words of Wharton Insurance.

'These villains are really everywhere!' Lin Muqing said angrily.

'Are they hoping to incite those insured to cause trouble like a bank run? But this is the United States, where everything has to be done according to the law. We have signed formal contracts with all the insured, so how can we just withdraw from them?' Zhou Ming sighed, 'But it seems that the Adams family's energy is really extraordinary, they can actually create such a big stir. It's just that they are also changing the soup but not the medicine, it's still the same old recipe.'

Shaking his head, Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing did not think about these things. They just rode in the car all the way to the Harvard dormitory. Chen Yesen and Li Yang, the three class representatives of the finance class, were waiting at the door. When they saw Zhou Ming and Lin Muqing get off the car, they immediately came up to them.

'Teacher, we're in trouble. Our dormitory convenience store can't stay open!' Ye Ning said.

'Don't be anxious. What exactly happened? Take your time and tell me,' Zhou Ming said.

Zhou Ming's calmness calmed Chen Shu, Ye Ning and Li Yang down. Then Li Yang, as the person in charge of the dormitory convenience store, stepped forward and spoke to Zhou Ming.

In fact, the matter of the convenience store was not complicated, and it was even very familiar to Zhou Ming. In the afternoon, many people came to their dormitory convenience store to protest, saying that they were selling fake goods in the convenience store, which resulted in some people being hospitalized with diarrhea. They demanded that such unqualified convenience stores be shut down immediately and that the victims be compensated.

'This must be another plot by the Adams family!' Lin Muqing said. "Li Yang, I'm asking you, did someone follow the reporters during the protest?'

Li Yang nodded and said yes. Lin Muqing said, "Sure enough, he was waiting for us to make a move, and then went to the news to slander us. That's what they did to Wharton Insurance Company. What a bunch of shameless people!'

Zhou Ming also frowned: 'Li Yang, then what did you do? You didn't have any conflicts with them, did you?'

Li Yang replied: 'Of course not. We all remember what you said about this being an extraordinary period of time, and you also mentioned the Wharton Company. I was on my guard, and I didn't have any conflicts with them, nor did I call the police. I just asked the school to intervene. But they wouldn't let up, and in the end they surrounded the entire principal's building, just to force the school to shut down our convenience store.'

'What was the final result?' Lin Muqing asked anxiously.

Under Lin Muqing's persistent questioning, Li Yang lowered his head: 'The school had no choice but to suspend the convenience store.'

Neither Zhou Ming nor Lin Muqing were willing to accept this result, but they didn't say anything because at the moment, Li Yang didn't have any other options. Although this option was very frustrating and depressing, it seemed to be the only way.

However, this suffocation was not the end. Chen Shu then said, 'Teacher, in fact, although the convenience store was our first pot of gold, it is not important now. The reason we were in such a hurry to call you is because there is another more important matter. Our stock account has been frozen by the brokerage company, and we are unable to perform any financial operations.'

'According to our inquiries with the brokerage company, the reason is that there is a problem with the linked bank account,' said Chen Shu.

'How could this happen? Could this also be the work of the Adams family?' Lin Muqing exclaimed in surprise.

Zhou Ming, on the other hand, sneered, 'It seems that they really spared no effort, launching such a comprehensive attack on me. Although these tactics are all familiar, the goal is to knock me out in one fell swoop, so that I won't have any chance of turning things around.'