"Dad, you can't just abandon me."
"Dad, I don't want to go to jail."
Zhang Guo'er pleaded, tears streaming down her face.
But after causing trouble repeatedly, and Zhang Guodong having bailed her out a few times, his patience was utterly exhausted.
"Hmph, you're on your own now."
Zhang Guodong hardened his heart and left without looking back.
Zhang Guo'er panicked, her tears falling incessantly.
"Mom, what should I do? I don't want to go to jail."
Zhao Lan was still in shock from Zhang Guodong's departure.
"Guo'er, don't panic. We might not lose the lawsuit, don't worry."
"Your father won't abandon us, he's definitely going to figure something out for you, don't be scared."
Hearing this, Zhang Guo'er felt a little relieved.
"Right, we're related to Tang Xiaomin's family, Auntie definitely won't let me go to jail."
...
On the day of the trial, Tang Xiaomin sat indifferently on the plaintiff's bench. Zhang Guo'er sat on the defendant's bench.
Tang Xiaomin's side presented various pieces of evidence, proving that she had been maliciously slandered and defamed by Zhang Guo'er.
With the corroboration of Lu Sisi, Shu Ya, and many other witnesses, Zhang Guo'er's sophistry was futile, and the charge of defamation was established.
Tang Xiaomin's lawyer spoke sternly, "Your Honor, due to the slander and defamation, my client has suffered reputational damage, as well as severe psychological trauma, leading to severe depression, severe anxiety, and other conditions. This is a medical assessment."
The lawyer presented Tang Xiaomin's medical diagnosis, which clearly stated severe depression and severe anxiety, to the point where she was dependent on medication.
After reviewing the diagnosis, the judge pushed up his glasses.
"I have seen the medical diagnosis. What are your current claims?"
"We demand that the defendant compensate my client for the harm caused. According to legal provisions... we demand a total compensation of 1.08 million."
Hearing the demand for such a large sum, Zhang Guo'er immediately lost her composure.
"Why? Why should I compensate so much money? This isn't fair!"
Bang bang bang!!!
The judge impatiently banged his gavel.
"Order!"
"The plaintiff's claims are reasonable and legal. The defendant must make the compensation payment within one month. Failure to comply, or refusal to comply, will result in forced execution!"
Bang!
Everything was settled.
The final outcome was that Zhang Guo'er had to compensate Tang Xiaomin for a total loss of over one million.
Zhang Guo'er could not accept this result. Where would she get so much money to pay?
After the trial ended, Zhang Guo'er intercepted Tang Xiaomin outside the courtroom.
"Tang Xiaomin, you deliberately set a trap for me, didn't you?"
"I'm telling you, I will absolutely not pay. I will appeal indefinitely!"
Tang Ye shook his head.
"Are you done yet? Is it up to you whether you pay or not now?"
"Your house is worth something. When the court auctions it off, it should be enough to cover the compensation."
"You... you're just going too far." Zhang Guo'er broke down and cried.
Zhao Lan angrily scolded, "How can you bully your relatives? Paying so much money, don't your consciences ache?"
Her words were utterly speechless.
"When she falsely accused Xiao Min of being pregnant and tried to get her expelled, why didn't you say she was bullying people then?"
"Now that it's time to pay, you suddenly remember you're relatives. It's too late!"
Tang Ye said coldly.
Seeing Tang Ye and Tang Xiaomin's cold attitudes, Zhao Lan turned to Zhang Meiyu and poured out her troubles.
"Meiyu, we are relatives. Children quarrel, so don't be too petty, okay? You quickly ask Xiao Min to forgive Guo'er, and I'll have Guo'er apologize to Xiao Min, and we'll let this matter go."
"Okay?"
"Consider it my sister-in-law begging you. I've never begged you before, okay?"
"Auntie, please don't make me pay. I really know I was wrong,呜呜..." Zhang Guo'er also began to cry and play the victim.
Zhang Meiyu looked coldly at Zhao Lan and her daughter, unable to muster any sympathy.
"When you asked us to pay before, did you consider us relatives? Now it's your turn to pay, and you know about family ties. It's too late!"
Zhang Meiyu shook off Zhao Lan's hand, colder than a stranger.
Seeing Zhang Meiyu's cold attitude, Zhang Guo'er's expression changed, and she said angrily, "I'm your niece. You're actually making me pay so much money. Is this how an aunt behaves?"
Zhang Meiyu shook her head helplessly.
"I don't have a niece with such poor character. I'm not your aunt either. Don't call me that again, it's disgusting."
"You..."
...
"Let's go. Why waste words on them?" Tang Ye said.
At this moment, Tang Xiaomin stepped forward and said a profound truth to Zhang Guo'er.
"A word of advice for you. If you don't have the ability to clean up your mess, don't indulge your emotions."
"Also, you'd better transfer the compensation to my bank account within the specified time. If even a penny is missing, I will not let you off."
No matter what Zhang Guo'er and the others said, it was useless.
Tang Xiaomin got into Tang Ye's car and drove away.
Leaving behind a devastated Zhang Guo'er and Zhao Lan.
"Mom, how did things turn out this way? What do we do now?" Su Dan novel network
Zhao Lan was also flustered. She hadn't expected Zhang Meiyu to show no leniency at all.
"Since Zhang Meiyu isn't trying to persuade Tang Xiaomin, let's go back and discuss it with your dad and see what he says."
Returning home with hope, they went to find Zhang Guodong.
At this moment, Zhang Guodong was also waiting for them at home.
"Dad, the judge ordered me to compensate Tang Xiaomin, over a million. What should we do?" Zhang Guo'er said, on the verge of collapse.
Zhao Lan, on the other hand, looked furious.
"Husband, we're not paying this money. Let's see what they can do to us."
"That's right. If we pay, our family will be ruined. We absolutely cannot pay, Dad."
This time, Zhang Guodong was unexpectedly calm, showing no anger.
He didn't accuse Zhang Guo'er in a fit of rage like before.
Or rather, he was utterly disappointed and had nothing more to say.
He took out a document and placed it on the coffee table.
"Take a look."
Zhao Lan sensed that something was wrong, and her expression gradually became solemn.
"What is this?"
She picked it up and saw that it was a divorce agreement. Reading the contents, Zhao Lan's face turned even paler.
"You want a divorce? You don't want me and Guo'er!"
It was like a bolt from the blue, hitting Zhao Lan fiercely. Her mind went blank.
Zhang Guo'er took the agreement and was shocked after reading it.
"Dad... What... what does this mean? This... why?"
Zhang Guodong sighed, his eyes filled with disappointment and helplessness.
"I really don't understand why you had to make trouble for Tang Xiaomin. The last time Zhang Meiyu was willing to compensate was out of consideration for family ties."
"This time, you've caused such a big problem again, and I really don't have the ability to clean up your mess anymore."
"To prevent our house from being auctioned by the court, I can only do this."
"After you've read it, sign it," Zhang Guodong said to Zhao Lan.