Chapter 40

Jia Hongjian peeked through the gap in the corridor door into the studio, where he saw six people who looked like experts sitting on one side of the studio, surrounded by a crowd of two or three hundred audience members. The one who had just spoken was the first one, seated at the far end.

Jia Hongjian took a good look at the expert. The expert had a refined and dignified appearance, a man of talent and charm, and a middle-aged handsome man with a sage-like demeanor, which made Jia Hongjian think of Master Yue Buqun from *The Smiling, Proud Wanderer*.

After Professor Wang Changshou, who looked just like Yue Buqun, delivered his righteous judgment that Jia Hongjian was not a consumer, the audience members immediately fell silent, each one afraid of being labeled as a lawbreaker by Daoist Wang Changshou and thus dared not say a word.

"Alright, Professor Wang Changshou believes that Jia Hongjian is not a consumer. I wonder what the other experts think. We have Deputy Director Wang Shouren from the Dongcheng District Administration for Industry and Commerce in Beijing. Director Wang, can you share your thoughts on the behavior of Jia Hongjian, who knowingly bought fake goods in Shanghai?" Shui Junyi asked, moving to the second expert.

"Wang Shouren? What the heck, has Master Wang Yangming come back to life?" Jia Hongjian, hiding behind the corridor door, was greatly surprised. Hearing the name Wang Shouren, he immediately thought of Master Wang Yangming, the great Ming Dynasty philosopher whose real name was Wang Shouren. The characters "Yangming" were his courtesy name—Master Yangming! According to the traditional habits of literati, calling Wang Shouren by his name was an insult, while calling him Wang Yangming was a sign of respect. Master Wang Yangming was revered by Admiral Togo Heihachiro, the "God of the Navy" during the Japanese Meiji Restoration, who was said to carry a seal with the words "I bow to Yangming all my life"!

However, when Jia Hongjian saw the director's appearance, he breathed a sigh of relief. The director looked... very much like a director, basically the stereotypical image of a fat, jowly official that people would think of when they heard the word "director." "Thank goodness it's not Master Yangming come back to life to scold me, or I would be under tremendous pressure..." Although no one could see him, Jia Hongjian still made a cute, sarcastic comment to himself.

At this moment, the fat, jowly director cleared his throat and said, "This issue, of course, should be seen in the context of the current situation in our country, where there are a few counterfeit and substandard products. This phenomenon is a minority, and the vast majority of products are good, right? We haven't heard of fake toothbrushes, fake toothpaste, or fake cars, have we? However, we cannot deny that a few people do violate the law by manufacturing counterfeit and substandard products for huge profits. This phenomenon does exist, although it is a minority, and we must acknowledge it, right? We cannot be blinded by a single leaf and fail to see the whole mountain, nor can we close our eyes and say we haven't seen this phenomenon, right? We Chinese are very pragmatic..."

Jia Hongjian was truly impressed by the director at this moment. Indeed, he was a director! Just look at his speech, how director-like it was! Apart from the empty talk, his rambling speech could be condensed into one sentence: "There are counterfeit and substandard products in our country." What could be said in ten words, this director managed to ramble on for a long time. Sir, do you really think this is a meeting in your own backyard?

"Um, due to time constraints, please bear with us..." Shui Junyi, who could no longer tolerate the director's lengthy speech, interrupted him and moved to the third expert. "Ladies and gentlemen, the person in front of me is the general manager of Haibai Mall, Mr. Zhang Hongye. Let's hear Mr. Zhang's thoughts..."

"I think the basis for Jia Hongjian's claim for compensation by knowingly buying fake goods is not solid," said Mr. Zhang, who looked quite respectable. "I'm not criticizing Jia Hongjian from the perspective of the mall, really not. Let me explain why I think so. According to the Consumer Rights Protection Law, to claim compensation, there must be a fraudulent act by the mall towards the consumer. What is a fraudulent act? It is when the consumer is deceived and suffers a loss due to lack of knowledge. In simpler terms, the consumer did not know the product was fake when they bought it, and after purchasing a cheap fake product, they suffered a loss compared to buying a genuine product. Only in such a situation can compensation be claimed.

"But let's look at what Jia Hongjian did. Did he buy the goods without knowing they were fake? No! He bought them knowing they were fake! Did he suffer a loss after purchasing them? No! He bought them to claim compensation, not for use, so there was no loss. Therefore, the mall selling fake goods to Jia Hongjian is not fraud in a legal sense—since Jia Hongjian knew they were fake, can he claim compensation? Of course not!"

Jia Hongjian felt at this moment that his preparations for his speech were indeed correct! Look at these people's speeches; which one wasn't prepared in advance? Would a mall general manager study the Consumer Rights Protection Law so thoroughly? Would he understand the definition of fraud in such detail? Would he speak like a legal expert, analyzing the legal implications? This guy must have started researching Jia Hongjian's case long before the show. After learning he would appear on TV, he couldn't resist coming to proclaim that he wouldn't compensate for knowingly buying fake goods, right? He wanted to show how tough he was, didn't he?

"Next, we will hear from... the expert..."

"I think Jia Hongjian is deliberately causing the loss of state assets..."

"I think Jia Hongjian is not a role model. He is trying to exploit loopholes to make some dirty money..."

"I think..."

After all six experts had spoken, Jia Hongjian was surprised to find that all six of them opposed him! Was it really the beginning of the iron triangle of academia, business, and government? Were these "experts" from all three areas really colluding to make money at the expense of their conscience? At this moment, Jia Hongjian felt his blood boiling, not out of anger, but out of excitement to slap them in the face!

However, before Jia Hongjian's turn came, the host Shui Junyi noticed that the audience in the studio was buzzing with discussion, and everyone seemed to have a look of dissatisfaction on their faces. He decided to let the audience share their thoughts.

"Hello, Professor, and hello to all the viewers across the country. I'm from Shandong, and I'm a simple man. I haven't been to college, and I don't have much education. I just want to say, what's wrong with Jia Hongjian knowingly buying fake goods? His actions, although for his own profit, aren't they also combating counterfeit and substandard products? Don't you think so? And that big mall in Shanghai, being a state-owned mall, how can you have the nerve to sell fake goods? Aren't you cheating the people? Now Jia Hongjian is standing up for us, and you say he's not legal? What is the law for? Isn't the law of socialism supposed to protect us? Anyway, I'm a simple man, and I don't know what these experts are saying, but I think Jia Hongjian is doing a good job! I support Jia Hongjian!"

"Alright, please pass the microphone to the lady in blue over there. Yes, that's her. Lady, please share your thoughts."

"Hello, I'm from Shaanxi, and I'm a native Shaanxi person. I think Jia Hongjian's actions are fine, and I support Jia Hongjian. I think our society should have more people like Jia Hongjian! I think Jia Hongjian is like a Robin Hood from ancient times! Is Robin Hood legal? No, but do the people like Robin Hood? Yes! I don't know what these experts are saying, but I just want to tell Jia Hongjian, Jia Hongjian, go ahead boldly! We, the people of Shaanxi, all support you! No problem!"

"Great!" When the man from Shandong finished speaking, no one said much, but after the Shaanxi lady finished, the audience erupted in enthusiastic cheers! Everyone raised their hands to speak, each with a look of righteous indignation, like people cheering for a Robin Hood outside a court!

"Alright, please calm down, audience friends. Since everyone has different views on Jia Hongjian, let's invite Jia Hongjian himself to share his thoughts, shall we?"

"Great!" The audience erupted in cheers that almost lifted the roof of the studio, while the six guests looked displeased...

"Next, let's welcome Jia—Hong—Jian, who knowingly bought fake goods in Shanghai and instantly became the center of national attention, at the age of 15 years and 5 months!"

***********

Does it feel like it's getting heated? Please vote and collect!

{Piaotian Literature www.piaotia.com Thank you for your support, your support is our greatest motivation}

[Page Flip AD Start]

[Page Flip AD End]