It seemed like there was nothing left to say. Clearly, the theft of the melons was their doing. There was video evidence and eyewitnesses, leaving no room for denial. Even if the whole town was buzzing with the news, what was spreading was the truth. The people spreading the news weren’t disseminating rumors, and no crime was committed. Therefore, they had no grounds to file a lawsuit.

"So we... just have to put up with this silently? There’s nothing we can do about them?" Zhao Dezhu’s face suddenly filled with defiance as he stared at Wang Dachui, asking with indignation.

Wang Dachui’s mouth twitched. He was somewhat speechless. Looking at Zhao Dezhu’s expression, those unaware of the situation might think he was the one being bullied. What damn nonsense about putting up with things silently. This was clearly a situation triggered by their own melon theft. After being reported to the police, they remained unrepentant and even sought revenge deliberately. To be honest, if the pumpkin field owner hadn’t found Qin Mu, it really wouldn’t have been so easy to resolve this issue.

Gazing at the group of elderly people with graying hair, Wang Dachui couldn’t help but remind them, "Actually, if you were to apologize and admit your mistakes now, there might be a sliver of hope for a turnaround."

He continued, "Although the case has already become a public prosecution and cannot be withdrawn, Hu Wenning, as the victim, could issue a letter of criminal forgiveness. During the trial, a lighter sentence would be considered based on the circumstances. Considering your ages, there’s a high probability you would be acquitted or not have to bear criminal responsibility."

However...

"Impossible!" No sooner had he finished speaking than a chorus of refusals rang out from the group.

Every elder was stubborn, unwilling to apologize.

"Why should we apologize? It’s just a few melons! She’s so rich, does she really need the money from these few melons?"

"It’s about saving face! We won’t apologize to her!"

"The ones spreading rumors and attacking our village must be them! We’re all in our seventies and eighties; should we apologize to these millennials?"

"Even if I’m sentenced, fined, or jailed, I won’t apologize or admit any wrongdoing to them!"

...

Including Zhao Dezhu, no one was willing to apologize.

Wang Dachui sighed lightly. "Then we can only proceed through the normal legal channels," he said, not insisting any further on persuading them.

It wasn’t just that the elders were unwilling to apologize. Even if they had apologized, he guessed Hu Wenning’s side wouldn’t issue a letter of criminal forgiveness anyway.

Then, Zhao Dezhu took a deep breath and asked, "Lawyer Wang, we have some relatives who are now detained in the detention center. Will they go to jail if you help with the defense?"

Wang Dachui paused for a moment. He couldn’t help asking, "Other elders?"

"No, just our younger family members. They helped us sell the melons..." Zhao Dezhu shook his head and recounted the melon-selling incident. These people were all their younger kin, ranging in age from their twenties to their fifties. They had stepped in to sell the melons because the elders had difficulty moving around, yet they were arrested.

Dozens more who sold melons? Wang Dachui swallowed hard again upon hearing this, his expression growing somewhat agitated.

"The crime for selling the melons is fencing stolen goods," he explained. "This charge, however, wouldn’t apply if the original thieves or robbers themselves sold the goods, as disposing of stolen property is considered part of their initial crime. But in this case, it was committed by your relatives. By continuing to sell the pumpkins, knowing they were illicitly obtained, they clearly committed the act of fencing. They could be sentenced to imprisonment of up to two years."

"What? They’ll also be sentenced to two years? What does this have to do with them?" 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

"One person should be responsible for their own actions! This is too unreasonable, isn’t it?"

"Just for selling a few melons, they also have to serve two years? Who will dare to sell pumpkins in the future?"

"Lawyer Wang, can’t you find a way to have their crimes put on our heads instead?"

...

The group of seventy- and eighty-year-olds, upon hearing this, became increasingly agitated. Those selling the melons were their descendants. They were old, but those selling the melons were from the middle and younger generations! In Zhaojia Village now, many homes were left with only children and a few law-abiding women. If the old, middle-aged, and young among them were all convicted, Zhaojia Village would basically collapse.

Wang Dachui gave a wry smile. "Their cases... are probably going to be tough." Thinking of the mastermind orchestrating things from behind the scenes, he felt a bit daunted. "For the crime of fencing, the culprits were caught red-handed with the stolen goods, and since the facts are undisputed, there’s no room for defense. As for a reduction in sentence, none of the melon sellers have any circumstances qualifying for a sentence reduction. It will be very hard to lower it."

He looked up. "However, for your cases, there is still a very good chance they could be converted to probation." Staring at Zhao Dezhu and the others, he patiently explained the concept of probation. "Although you are suspected of committing crimes such as robbery, theft, intentional destruction of property, provoking troubles, and disrupting social order, among others, there is still room for defense. As long as we defend vigorously, considering your family situations, there’s a decent chance to fight for probation. This means you’d have the opportunity to serve your sentences within the community, rather than in prison."

"As long as there’s no imprisonment, that’s fine. We’ll leave our village’s case in your hands, Lawyer Wang."

Finally, after two hours, Wang Dachui convinced the elders and secured the right to represent them in the case.

Immediately after, he began to tally up the number of his clients, arriving at a staggering total:

113 elderly defendants.

65 defendants who sold the melons.

A cumulative total of 178 people.

As each person’s situation was different, they each required individual defense and sentencing. Therefore, the legal fees were also for 178 cases!

Taking on this case, he thought, was like accepting 178 similar cases for their law firm!