Chapter 30

Jiang Li did not act rashly. He knew that Zheng Wenbing, Yang Wu, and Zhang Yue's families also had considerable power. If he seriously injured or disabled them here, it would cause a lot of trouble. After all, although Manager Lei owed him a favor, this favor was not as solid as a rock.

People have already helped you enough.

"Zheng Wenbing, you just wait to go to jail."

After saying this, Jiang Li turned to leave.

"Wait!" Zheng Wenbing calmed down at this moment.

"What? Do you want to stop me?" Jiang Li turned around, his calm expression making the three of them feel a chill.

"Jiang Li, we don't have any deep grudges. Why must we fight to the bitter end?" Zheng Wenbing's tone softened: "If you want to use your means to have me arrested, I'll tell you it's impossible. My family has some influence. There's no need for a bitter end. We are all senior high school students with bright futures. It's not good for both sides to get into trouble. This time, I apologize. I will compensate you with a sum of money to settle the matter, how about that?"

"Settle the matter!"

Of course, Jiang Li did not want to settle the matter, but he wanted to hear what the other party had to say. His intention was to demand a large sum of compensation.

"Alright, I'll give you 10,000 star coins as compensation, and we'll call it even." Zheng Wenbing directly offered money, believing that this amount was tempting enough.

"10,000 star coins..." Jiang Li sneered: "Zheng Wenbing, do you really think I've never seen money? Are you trying to get rid of me like a beggar?"

"How much do you want?" Zhang Yue shouted: "Your family probably doesn't even have 10,000! How can you be so greedy?"

"Is that so?" Jiang Li slightly pressed his chip, and a voice came from it: "Your account balance is 19,000 star coins, this month's expenses are 114,000 star coins..."

"What?"

Zhang Yue, Zheng Wenbing, and Yang Wu almost jumped up when they heard the electronic statement. A monthly expense of 120,000 star coins was unimaginable to them.

"Do you think I care about your 10,000 star coins?" Jiang Li waved his hand: "Zheng Wenbing, you underestimate me too much. A little money can't get rid of me. It doesn't matter; I'm willing to fight to the bitter end. Even if the three of you have connections and don't go to jail, your records will be tarnished. I think you won't be able to apply to Starry Sky University, and I can ruin your futures."

"You..."

Zheng Wenbing feared this. If he fought to the bitter end with Jiang Li, it wouldn't be worth it. He was afraid of the trouble. This was the last year of the Starry Sky University exam, the most important time. Even if there were no problems, getting into trouble wasn't worth it.

"How much do you want? Give a number!" Zhang Yue stepped forward: "I know you want money."

"Hmph! You wait. I'll call my brother, Manager Lei, to see if I should let you go." Jiang Li walked out, leaving Zhang Yue, Zheng Wenbing, and the others staring at each other, their faces dark.

He should ask Manager Lei's opinion. After all, Manager Lei was experienced.

"What's up, Brother Jiang?" Manager Lei asked when he heard the call.

"Brother Lei, it's like this..." Jiang Li detailed what had happened: "I want to send them to jail, but they proposed a private settlement. Brother Lei, what should I do?"

"Ah... I understand, Brother Jiang. You really want to send them to jail, right?"

"Yes." Jiang Li nodded: "I even want to kill them; they crossed my line."

"Don't be impulsive." Manager Lei quickly said: "Actually, you can sue them through the proper channels, but I don't support it. First, the legal process is complicated and will cause you a lot of trouble. You should focus on your studies. Second, once the lawsuit starts, Zheng Wenbing, Yang Wu, and Zhang Yue's families will act recklessly. If they do something to the bitter end, it won't be worth it. Third, we have arrested the subsidiary's executives, but there's no direct evidence that Zheng Wenbing did this. Even if he did, he's an accomplice. Framing your parents might result in a few days of detention and a blemish on his record, but your parents weren't harmed. According to the rules, it's just a formal police inquiry. So, if you claim compensation for mental distress, the court will only support a small amount. I suggest a private settlement with a large compensation. I think they will agree. You have a bright future; don't waste time on these scoundrels."

"Thank you, Brother Lei. How much compensation should I claim?"

Jiang Li nodded inwardly. Manager Lei, being a senior manager, had a broad perspective and spoke realistically. His parents weren't harmed, and if pursued, the police would conduct a formal inquiry, with no loopholes in the procedure.

"300,000 star coins. Each of their families should pay 100,000 star coins as compensation. But be careful when you speak. Make sure they propose it to avoid them accusing you of extortion. I'll send a lawyer to negotiate with them."

"They might accuse me of extortion?" Jiang Li, reminded, thought it was possible. "I recorded a video just now, which can be used as evidence."

"Yes, remember to keep it. I'll send a lawyer to negotiate with them. Everything will be fine. From now on, don't mention compensation to them."

"Thank you, Brother Lei."

"No problem. Your hypnosis skills are so powerful; you can help my son in the future. He's in elementary school, and the competition is fierce."

Bang!

After the call, Jiang Li pushed the door open and entered. Zheng Wenbing stood up: "Jiang Li, what do you want?"

"Nothing much. Brother Lei said that you've involved the reputation of the Xue Family Group, almost causing a scandal. They want to sue you. But I said we're all students; why ruin each other's futures? Brother Lei's lawyer is on the way, about half an hour. You can negotiate with him." Jiang Li didn't mention compensation to avoid being accused of extortion. "I suggest you inform your families and discuss a solution together."

Zheng Wenbing's face changed: "Jiang Li, you're ruthless."

"Violence is for the reckless. Now it's a legal society. We'll follow the proper procedures and do what needs to be done." Jiang Li sat down calmly.

Yang Wu and Zhang Yue didn't call their families. They knew this matter couldn't be exposed, and calling their families would result in a severe scolding and even more embarrassment.

Half an hour later, the lawyer arrived.

He was a middle-aged man with glasses, polite and refined. He shook hands with Jiang Li: "Hello, Jiang Li. I'm the lawyer for the Xue Family Group."

"Hello, I'll leave this dispute to you. I don't understand the law, so you can negotiate with them." Jiang Li said.

"Alright." The lawyer turned: "You are Zheng Wenbing, Yang Wu, and Zhang Yue, right?"

"What do you want?" Zheng Wenbing stood up, his eyes tense.

"We have obtained evidence that you colluded with the subsidiary's manager to embezzle company assets, framed others' parents, and conspired with the black market boxing boss to sell people. This is a serious crime. We have enough evidence to sue you." The lawyer said confidently: "According to Article 3751 of the Citizen Law, if the victim forgives you, they can choose not to sue. Since this is not a public prosecution case, it can be privately resolved."

"After all that, you just want compensation. How much?" Zheng Wenbing understood the meaning: "This time, I admit defeat. 10,000 star coins, is that enough?"

"This time, the manager caused significant losses to our company, at least 300,000 star coins. Our company must recover this debt."

The lawyer said.

Jiang Li, listening, thought the lawyer was indeed a lawyer. He didn't mention the amount but talked about the company's losses.

This left no room for argument.

Impressive.

If he had negotiated, it would have been 300,000 star coins, which could be seen as extortion.

"300,000!" Zheng Wenbing, Yang Wu, and Zhang Yue almost jumped up: "You might as well rob us."

"I'm saying our company lost 300,000 star coins, and this debt must be recovered." The lawyer's tone was cold: "Did you collude with the subsidiary's manager and benefit from our company's assets? If so, I advise you to compensate us, and we won't sue. Otherwise, we will use legal means to recover the company's losses."

"You..." Zheng Wenbing found no flaw in the lawyer's words.

Yang Wu and Zhang Yue stared at Jiang Li and the lawyer, helpless.

"300,000, so be it!" After a long time, Zheng Wenbing made a decision: "I'll compensate. I hope this time we can reach an agreement and settle the matter."

"Once the company's losses are recovered, we won't sue." The lawyer took out a document: "Sign this, then transfer the money."

"Zhang Yue, Yang Wu, let's each contribute 100,000." Zheng Wenbing looked at the agreement and discussed it.

"Brother Ice, all my savings..." Zhang Yue felt like being cut by a knife. 100,000 star coins was a significant amount for him, all the living expenses and savings his family had given him. Although they were from wealthy families, the family resources weren't all piled on them.

Each of them could contribute 100,000, which was already a lot.

"Stop talking nonsense. Let's get through this first." Zheng Wenbing said.

"I need to borrow 50,000 from my brother." Yang Wu quickly called.

Jiang Li coldly watched the three of them gather the money, saying nothing. 300,000 star coins couldn't satisfy his hatred. He would find a chance to make them fall.

Soon, ding! The three of them successfully transferred the money. The lawyer had them sign the agreement and then transferred the money to Jiang Li. 300,000 star coins appeared in Jiang Li's account.

Jiang Li wanted to give the lawyer a tip, but the lawyer waved his hand: "You're Brother Lei's friend; how can I do that? Brother Lei asked me to do this, and I did my best. These three are just students, lacking social experience. Dealing with them was easy."

"Thank you, thank you." Jiang Li expressed his gratitude repeatedly.

"Damn! Damn! Now we're all broke!"

On the road, Zheng Wenbing, Yang Wu, and Zhang Yue were furious.

"Brother Ice, are we just going to be extorted like this? Can't we do anything?" Zhang Yue was unwilling.

"What can we do? I was going to talk to Jiang Li and make him name a price. Then I would lure him into saying something he shouldn't, so we could accuse him of extortion. But who knew a lawyer would come, leaving no room for argument!" Zheng Wenbing felt all his schemes were useless.

"What company losses! I think they're just extorting us."

"The company can easily create a flawless account. We know we're being extorted, but we can't do anything about it." Yang Wu's head was still spinning from the slap Jiang Li gave him, but he didn't dare to seek revenge.

"Wait! I will never forgive Jiang Li and his brother!" Zheng Wenbing clenched his teeth.