Stubbed the Toe
The troublemaking man was indeed a frequent visitor at the police station here. Previously, there had also been incidents where small stall vendors set up stalls near that research institute, had their stalls overturned by the troublemaking man, and then the matter was brought to the police station. After mediation, the result was just as the troublemaking man said; a compensation of one or two thousand yuan settled the matter.
After all, in reality, the small stall vendors didn’t have anything significantly damaged. He always acted with a certain measure, just making it so that the raw materials for the items being sold that day fell to the ground and could no longer be used. Therefore, the compensation given was not high. Besides, many vendors couldn’t earn one or two thousand in a day anyway; they would take the compensation and leave, at most just never coming to set up a stall here again.
Furthermore, there were often many issues with the small stall vendors themselves. For example, many lacked the proper certifications, and the stall owners often didn’t even have a health certificate1. Even if the other party wanted to be tough and refuse to compromise, the troublemaking man was very clear about the rules of street vending and would say directly: “Still threatening me with no mediation? You should take a look at yourself, setting up a stall without even a health certificate. This is unlicensed operation to begin with. Police-shushu2, first impound his food cart!”
After a maneuver like this, the stall owner would also realize they were in the wrong and give up the idea of refusing mediation.
Over time, no small stall vendors would come to set up stalls at the entrance of the research institute anymore.
That young lady was probably new and didn’t understand the ins and outs of the situation here, so she was being troubled by this contractor3 again. Subjectively, the police actually felt sorry for the young lady; after all, it’s truly not easy for someone so young to work from dawn till dusk every day just to earn money. Moreover, this contractor before them was truly detestable, making one’s teeth itch4 with hatred.
Objectively, however, they had to maintain a neutral position. Even if they felt the contractor was more at fault, they still had to say what needed to be said to placate the situation. They also had to explain clearly to Sun Miao that even if she didn’t accept mediation, the other party wouldn’t receive much of a punishment. On the contrary, if she pushed the matter, as a mobile stall owner, she could be reported by him in retaliation and get into trouble herself.
When the policewoman returned, she persuaded Sun Miao with a bitter mouth and a grandmother’s heart5 like this.
“Of course, the choice is still in your hands. Right now, he is the one who caused damage to your property, so he is definitely more in the wrong.”
The policewoman also praised Sun Miao: “Little sister, you were also very brave. You weren’t impulsive, you used the knife to protect yourself and prevent the situation from escalating, and you remained calm and didn’t fight back the entire time.” However, she still had to offer criticism where it was due: “But about holding a knife, let’s not do that next time. After all, it could escalate the conflict, and if you act impulsively, the consequences could be truly irreversible.”
Sun Miao nodded, indicating she understood.
In fact, these days, getting physical rarely leads to a good outcome. She had once come across a video online.
A blogger6 was eating in a restaurant, and at the next table, a large group of elderly men and women were smoking as if no one else was around, even after staff members tried unsuccessfully to intervene. There was even a pregnant woman at another nearby table. Faced with this situation, the blogger stood up and reprimanded the elderly people.
As a result, after the meal, the group of elderly people came looking for trouble with the blogger, even getting physical and starting to push and shove him. The blogger recorded the entire incident for evidence and did not fight back at all. In the middle of it, an old lady slipped and fell while chasing the blogger, even fracturing a bone.
Afterwards, the elderly man and woman who had hit the blogger each had to compensate him ten thousand yuan. However, if the blogger had fought back, the nature of the incident would have changed to ‘mutual combat,’ and depending on the other party’s condition, the blogger might have even had to pay their medical expenses in return.
So… when it’s necessary to endure, one must endure. The moment you fight back, the nature of the situation changes.
Of course, if the other party is coming at you with lethal intent, then it’s better to put them in the hospital and pay compensation yourself than to be the one lying in a hospital bed. You must defend yourself.
While the policewoman and Sun Miao were talking, the lawyer Su Ruixi had hired and her assistant arrived.
Sun Miao was about to tell the policewoman directly that she would not accept mediation, but Su Ruixi stopped her and said to the officer, “Our lawyer is here. We’d like to speak with her first.”
“Alright.” The policewoman checked the lawyer’s credentials and then added a reminder, “Because you have hired a lawyer, procedurally, the other party also has the right to hire one. If he doesn’t, our station has lawyers who can provide him with legal aid. I need to inform you of this beforehand.”
Sun Miao and Su Ruixi both nodded, indicating they understood.
After the policewoman left, the lawyer first greeted Sun Miao. After getting an understanding of the specific situation, she said to Sun Miao, “Actually, this case isn’t very complicated, because you didn’t fight back and there is physical evidence. I just asked; the witness has already left after giving their testimony, and the video has been submitted to the police station.”
“So whether you want compensation or refuse mediation, we are in a favorable position.”
She pushed her glasses up slightly with a finger and continued, “The only tricky part is that because Miss Sun is a mobile vendor, if your paperwork isn’t complete, you might face retaliatory reporting later.”
“My recommendation would be to accept the mediation and compensation. You can probably get more that way.”
It could only be said that the lawyer was still operating under the assumption that ‘Sun Miao is CEO Su’s ordinary friend.’ The assistant beside her, however, had seen through much more. For instance, she was present at the previous meal, and she was a stall vendor; for Su Ruixi to be so dedicated, this Sun Miao was definitely Su Ruixi’s girlfriend.
The assistant could only sigh internally: Ah, lawyer, this is why you’re the lawyer and I’m the top assistant.
Indeed, just as the assistant had thought, Sun Miao shook her head. “I don’t want to accept mediation, but I do want compensation.” She found some photos on her phone, all of which were pictures she had taken of her various permits and documents. Sun Miao was a very cautious person and had photographed all her official papers, which now came in handy.
The main issue was that her food cart had been temporarily impounded and was in the police station’s backyard. It wasn’t convenient to ask the policewoman to help her retrieve the documents now; it would be better to get them later during the negotiation.
“These are all my permits. I have a complete set of documents for vending. Also, that area is permitted for stalls; I checked beforehand.”
Sun Miao said all this without her face flushing or her heart racing, but the System was cheering wildly in her mind: 【I prepared all of it! And the purchase receipts, take them out too! Make that guy pay!】
The lawyer took the phone and examined the documents Sun Miao mentioned. After a while, she handed it back to her. “Then you shouldn’t have to worry about any follow-up trouble. Now, back to the matter of mediation…”
Sun Miao searched through a shopping app again and handed the phone to the lawyer. “I took a brief look earlier; all of my equipment is damaged. Here is my proof of purchase. I want him to compensate me for the full price. I don’t want any other compensation, and I will not accept any other form of mediation.”
The lawyer took the phone again, her eyes widening in astonishment.
What? What kind of stall is this? A rice cooker for twelve thousand, and a blender for five thousand??!!
It wasn’t that the lawyer couldn’t afford these things, she just felt it was completely unnecessary. Her own rice cooker at home was considered expensive, and it cost two or three thousand. But a small street stall was using one that cost twelve thousand?!
“You… you use such an expensive rice cooker?”
“Mm.”
Sun Miao had nothing to be embarrassed about. In fact, the equipment provided by the System was even more expensive than what was sold on the market; it just wasn’t convenient to bring out. Those were all black technology7 products. If they were really to be smashed, Sun Miao would be heartbroken.
Normally, when she moved those pots, bowls, ladles, and basins, she was always extremely careful, terrified of dropping them, let alone having them pushed over directly like the troublemaking man did.
Fortunately, the System was reliable and had directly swapped out the items the moment the troublemaking man made a move to overturn her stall.
Although the lawyer found it somewhat unbelievable, what Sun Miao chose to use was her own freedom. Never mind twelve thousand; even if she used something worth one hundred and twenty thousand, it wasn’t the lawyer’s place to comment.
Su Ruixi didn’t find it strange that Sun Miao used such things either. She had witnessed Sun Miao’s dedication to food firsthand. What was wrong with her using a more expensive rice cooker? Besides, it wasn’t that expensive—only twelve thousand!
They carefully calculated the costs, and the final estimate for compensation at full price was around fifty thousand. They could start by asking for eighty thousand, an amount the other party would surely be unable to accept. At that point, they would refuse mediation, which would lead to him being detained while they still pursued the compensation.
After they finished their discussion, they called for the policewoman-jiejie and prepared to negotiate with the other party.
A police officer came in first and asked the lawyer and assistant to step outside. During the negotiation, only the involved parties could be present, with at most one additional person allowed to stay. After everyone was seated, the officer began to state some ground rules, such as the need for fairness and impartiality, and that the station would be making video and audio recordings of the proceedings.
Su Ruixi also picked up her phone, preparing to record a video as well.
The man opposite was clearly an old oil stick8 who had been to the station many times. “I accept the police station’s recording, but the other party is not allowed to record me.” He added, “Who knows what they’ll do. Maybe they’ll post it online and cause trouble for me.”
The troublemaking man’s imposing manner visibly deflated a bit, because sitting next to Sun Miao was someone with an even more powerful presence.
Sun Miao looked like an ordinary, pretty young woman, but Su Ruixi’s aura was on full display, so powerful that it made others take notice. She simply sat there upright, her gaze fixed straight ahead, and anyone who met her eyes would feel immense pressure.
The troublemaking man was inherently someone who bullies the weak and fears the strong; seeing the powerful aura of Su Ruixi, of course his own imposing manner would falter.
Su Ruixi let out a light, disdainful snort and placed her phone face down on the table. “Then I’ll record the audio.”
While he didn’t allow video, audio recording was permissible. The officer nodded and began to speak first. “I still think it would be best for everyone to take a step back and agree on compensation. I’ve asked him, and he is willing to offer 2,000 yuan. Can you accept that on your end?”
The officer had made an effort; the troublemaking man had initially only been willing to give 1,000, and it was only after a long talk that he raised it to 2,000. But the officer hadn’t expected that Sun Miao’s side had no intention of letting the man off easy. She opened with, “Not accepted. For my equipment and damages, I need at least 80,000.”
Just as they had discussed, the troublemaking man found this completely unacceptable. He shot to his feet, but before he could even speak, his face suddenly turned pale.
His movements were very large, and he also made a loud noise.
Even sitting opposite him, Sun Miao and Su Ruixi knew what had happened.
He——had stubbed his toe.
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