Chapter 1197: 1198: Three Conditions
Chapter 1197: Chapter 1198: Three Conditions
Song Xiaodong said indifferently, “Go on, tell us all the conditions, and we’ll see if we can agree to them.”
Liu Jinming originally intended to make these students kneel first, but seeing Song Xiaodong speak like this, he knew that wouldn’t work. This teacher was evidently more composed than the students, so he rolled his eyes and said, “The second condition, you injured our people, so you have to pay for the medical expenses, right?”
“How much?” Song Xiaodong asked.
Liu Jinming immediately said, “Our guy’s bones are broken, and others were beaten so badly, so we’re asking you for two hundred thousand, which isn’t much, right?”
“Two hundred thousand?” The four male students exclaimed in shock. For incidents like this, most students wouldn’t dare to tell their families, so even if they had to pay compensation, they could only save up from their living expenses, and each person could at most gather a thousand or two. Even if all the classmates chipped in, it might not exceed fifty thousand.
Wang Tao immediately feigned kindness and said, “With injuries like this, two hundred thousand is indeed a bit much. Moreover, they’re still students; I think it should be a bit less.”
Liu Jinming said, “I’ll give your director some face, then one hundred and fifty thousand.”
Wang Tao shook his head and said, “Forget it. To be fair, let’s say a hundred thousand. Students don’t have that much money, and making them come up with so much will surely affect their lives.”
Liu Jinming snorted and said, “So will they choose to get arrested, or tighten their belts for a few months?”
The students exchanged looks. Although it seemed like a lot of money, borrowing a bit from friends and raising it with the whole class was still doable. They could pay it back month by month later.
The main thing was that almost the entire class was involved in this incident, so although the sum was large, everyone felt it was bearable. It was even more tolerable than being forced to kneel before, which was more humiliating.
Song Xiaodong didn’t say whether it was okay or not, and directly asked, “Is there anything else?”
Wang Tao’s lips suddenly formed a sleazy smile and said, “There’s one last condition, and that’s her…” he pointed at Lu Yaobing and said, “She’s the main one who hit us, so she has to drink with us until we’re happy, and then the matter will be settled.”
Lu Yaobing’s face turned extremely cold, her gaze as if she could kill someone.
The four male students’ faces also changed dramatically. This condition completely touched their bottom line. Why did they fight? Wasn’t it because a female classmate was harassed? Now, if Lu Yaobing had to go drink with these people, then what was the point of them fighting at all?
Wang Tao frowned and said, “Such a condition…”
Liu Jinming waved to interrupt Wang Tao and said forcefully, “These are my three conditions. If just one isn’t met, then there’s no discussion, and they can wait to go to jail!”
Wang Tao felt Liu Jinming’s final demand was really excessive. If it were someone else, he would have been angry, but Liu Jinming was the nephew of the deputy director of the sub-bureau, who clearly intended to protect him, so Wang Tao, as a deputy director himself, had no choice but to cooperate with Liu Jinming.
Song Xiaodong looked at Wang Tao and said, “Deputy Director Wang, what do you say?” Song Xiaodong wanted to see Wang Tao’s final stance, which was also giving Wang Tao a chance. His choice would determine his own future.
Wang Tao’s mouth twitched, and he finally hummed, “Because they’re the victims, whatever conditions they set is their business. Whether you can accept them is yours. If you can come to an agreement, that’s best. If not, I’ll have to handle it by the book.”
Although his words seemed fair, it was very obvious he was siding with Liu Jinming.
Song Xiaodong stared at Wang Tao and said, “Deputy Director Wang, he’s asking my student to drink with them. Do you think that’s within normal negotiation bounds?”
Wang Tao coughed and said, “Apologizing through drinking is quite normal. This is a private matter between you, not for our police station to manage. Of course… if they force this young lady into any inappropriate relations, she can file a police report, and we will definitely bring them to justice.”
Lu Yaobing was enraged upon hearing this and said, “So you’re saying, before I’m assaulted, you can’t do anything?”
Wang Tao’s face sank, “Words require evidence; drinking and eating don’t equate to sexual assault. If you don’t agree to his terms, negotiate with him. Decide amongst yourselves, and if within twenty minutes, you haven’t settled on a compromise, then I’ll proceed according to normal procedures!”
After saying this, Wang Tao stood up and walked out.
As soon as Wang Tao left, Liu Jinming became even more arrogant, lighting a cigarette, and letting his gaze sweep unabashedly over everyone, finally resting on Lu Yaobing.
“Let me make it clear, there’s no need to haggle with me. If you don’t agree to these terms, you’ll bear the consequences.”
One of the male students gritted his teeth in anger, “You’re truly shameless. Don’t think you can bully us just because we’re students. We know the law and are ready to go to court if necessary.”
“Going to talk law with me?” Liu Jinming laughed, then told his companions, “Did you hear that? These guys dare to talk law with me!”
“Haha, yeah, Brother Ming, these guys really don’t know the heights of the sky or the depths of the earth.”
“You really don’t know who Brother Ming is, do you?”
Liu Jinming didn’t stop them. With Wang Tao here, he couldn’t be too arrogant, but without Wang Tao, he wanted to flaunt his connections and intimidate Song Xiaodong and the others into submission.
Song Xiaodong chuckled indifferently, “And who are you?”
“Our Brother Ming’s uncle-in-law is the deputy director of this sub-bureau. You talk law with him, and the fact he didn’t have the police express lock you up from the start is giving you face.”
“Exactly, negotiating with you now is really giving you a chance. Little girl, being asked to drink with Brother Ming is a small favor, but if you get sent inside, you won’t know how terrifying a place prison is. Even the best of people are ruined once they get there.”
“Haha, you’d better agree obediently. Otherwise, if Brother Ming gets serious and stops negotiating, you won’t be able to study, you’ll spend a lot of money, and you’ll still end up in jail.”
Liu Jinming relaxed on the chair, blowing a smoke ring with a look of complete control. In his mind, these people were already as good as caught fish with no way to turn things around.