Defeated

Author: Jiang Jingsheng / Country: Mainland China
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-12-26
Features: As Xiao Qi handed over her lawyer's license, which was crudely bound with a bright red cover, and the entrance pass issued by the reception desk to the sternly expressioned People's Armed Police officer for inspection, she glanced into the courtyard. The heavily guarded Intermediate People's Court seemed mysterious to outsiders, but to Xiao Qi, it was familiar. She had been testifying here since she started as a legal assistant, and later worked as a trainee lawyer for a year. She could say that her understanding of this building was no less than her grasp of those tedious and complicated litigation provisions. At this moment, an unusual feeling suddenly surged in Xiao Qi's heart. Yet, she couldn't quite tell whether it was excitement, anticipation, or unease. Because today's case was different from any other—this was the first criminal case she had handled independently in her career. Many things in life are such that the first experience often differs greatly from what becomes routine afterward. Even a cup of hot coffee, the first sip often differs from the later ones. Of course, this unusual feeling was merely Xiao Qi's internal sensation, and it passed quickly. On her pretty face, however, there was still a hint of professional composure. Litigation was like publicly roasting a client's soul over a blazing fire. While lawyers are not the chefs, witnessing the smoke and flames daily and hearing cries of anguish constantly can hardly fail to harden even the most sensitive nerves. Therefore, staying calm under pressure and maintaining a composed exterior have almost become hallmarks of the legal profession. The special file room prepared for lawyers and other litigants by the court was tidy and simple. There were a few narrow wooden desks and over a dozen inferior wooden chairs inside. An old-fashioned ceiling fan moved slowly across the bare cement floor, spraying a slightly cool morning breeze around with a "cree-cree" sound. As Xiao Qi entered, the two men in the room lifted their eyes from their files. Xiao Qi, with her broad shoulders, elegant hair, and ethereal demeanor, instantly drew their attention, creating a fleeting spark. The older man slightly bowed, revealing a hint of an appreciative smile, while the younger one, with a full beard, kept searching Xiao Qi's gaze, hoping to make eye contact in the air. Xiao Qi gave a faint smile and said, "Hello, both of you," then sat down at the front desk. Xiao Qi, who wrote a beautiful hand, disliked being constrained by the black grid lines, so she often used the back of the paper to write. What followed should be simple. The clerk, who had received a call from the reception desk before Xiao Qi entered, would soon bring the case file. After she reviewed it, she would proceed with delivering the copy of the complaint and visiting the detention center to meet the defendant. These procedures, which seemed complex and unfamiliar to outsiders, were handled with ease and efficiency by those in the industry.
"Who is Li Minghui's lawyer?" With a slightly hoarse voice, Xiao Qi was surprised to look up. The man standing at the door, holding two case files with brown leather covers, was not the clerk Xiao Gao, with his baby face whom she had dealt with many times, but a young judge of medium height, fair-skinned, and wearing gold-rimmed enamel glasses. "I am," Xiao Qi said, standing up. "Hello, my name is Qian Xiaohua," the judge extended his hand. Although Xiao Qi had never met Qian Xiaohua directly before, she was familiar with the name. Xiao Qi knew he was a key case handler in the Criminal Division of the Intermediate People's Court and was known in the litigation circle as a "fast and heavy criminal case killer," and she couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. When their hands met, Xiao Qi noticed that the gaze he had been fixed on her suddenly shifted away. In truth, the initial meeting had not left Xiao Qi with any bad impression, but this reaction displeased her. The eyes are the windows of the soul; when shaking hands face-to-face, one should look straightforward to show sincerity. If one avoids eye contact, it’s like welcoming someone to one’s door while keeping the door behind tightly shut—making one’s sincerity.
"Thank you, for running the errand," Xiao Qi said, taking the case files with a polite and courteous tone. "It doesn’t matter," Qian Xiaohua pushed his glasses up, changing the subject: "I wonder if Lawyer Xiao is busy. I’ll be holding a trial in ten days."
"So soon? I don’t have many cases on my hands, but I’d like to handle this one carefully." In fact, Xiao Qi only had this case right now, but she didn’t want to say it outright, fearing others would underestimate her. A touch of vanity made her wording somewhat ambiguous.
"The case is too simple—it’s like a bowl of plain water. I’ve finished interrogating him, and he’s confessed everything. There’s no need to postpone the trial to avoid exceeding the time limit. Please, Lawyer Xiao, just hurry up." Qian Xiaohua’s gaze flickered as he spoke, maintaining a detached yet polite tone.
"I’ll do my best," Xiao Qi replied with a faint voice. Her personality had a strong independent streak, and she instinctively resisted others’ arrangements.
"Well," Qian Xiaohua had already noticed Xiao Qi’s clear displeasure and gave a light smile: "Who doesn’t want their first case to go smoothly? I understand." With that, he nodded slightly and turned to leave the file room. Xiao Qi initially paid no attention, but after flipping through a few pages of the case file, she suddenly realized the meaning of Qian Xiaohua’s last words—he knew everything about her! How did he know? They had only just met today—was it possible he had a hobby and ability for snooping into others’ details? At that thought, a surge of unease crossed Xiao Qi’s mind.