Me! A disgraced celebrity! Starting by seeking justice for impoverished students.

Chapter 23 says he's pleasure-seeking? But he's ranked number one overall!

Jiang Chen's words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples to spread outwards in circles.

Some people in the audience were stunned, while others had tears in their eyes.

The live stream chat exploded with comments!

Well said! What did he do wrong?

Why is it considered extravagant for a child to buy a phone with money they earned themselves through part-time work?

Students from impoverished families are human beings too! They also have the right to live a normal life!

[Support Jiang Chen! These words resonate with me!]

Fang Yuan's logic treats impoverished students as second-class citizens!

I was also a student from a poor family when I was in school. Because of this, I was completely afraid to play games or go out for food and drinks, for fear of what people would say!

Finally, someone is speaking up for students from impoverished backgrounds!

In the audience, a middle-aged woman wearing glasses looked moved and clapped her hands.

"Slap, slap, slap..."

The crisp applause was exceptionally loud.

Then, several more people joined in and clapped.

The applause grew louder and louder, and more and more people joined in.

Presiding Judge Zhang Zhengyang frowned and struck the gavel.

"Thump!"

"Please be quiet in the gallery! No noise allowed!"

The applause gradually subsided.

But the people in the audience still had excited expressions on their faces.

Jiang Chen continued speaking only after the courtroom had completely quieted down.

"Presiding Judge, Judges."

"I would like to ask the court to consider a question: when we talk about students from impoverished backgrounds, what are we talking about?"

"Is he/she someone who can only eat steamed buns and pickled vegetables, wears patched clothes, uses an old-fashioned mobile phone, and has no spiritual needs?"

"If that's the case, then what is the purpose of the government establishing student financial aid?"

"Is it to allow the poor to live, or to allow them to live like human beings?"

The three judges on the bench fell into deep thought, Jiang Chen's words echoing in their minds.

Although he was speaking on behalf of the plaintiff, in their eyes, Jiang Chen was speaking on behalf of millions of impoverished students!

They shouldn't be the way the world portrays them!

"The national poverty alleviation campaign and the pursuit of common prosperity are not about confining impoverished groups and telling them, 'You can only live the hardest of lives.'"

"It's to ensure that everyone can enjoy basic dignity in life and has the right to pursue a better life!"

"For a student from a poor family, playing video games in their spare time after completing their studies isn't considered extravagant; it's a normal life!"

"If we deprive a student of all their basic needs as a normal person simply because they are from a poor family, then are our scholarships helping them or punishing them?"

Jiang Chen's voice grew louder and louder.

As for the defendants, their expressions all became rather unpleasant.

Fang Yuan, in particular, gradually turned ashen-faced.

He had thought Jiang Chen's counterattack wouldn't be too strong, but... it exceeded his expectations!

"The defendant's lawyer said that impoverished students should spend their money wisely, and I agree with that."

"But what is a blade?"

"Learning is a double-edged sword, and so is life!"

"An 18-year-old worked on an electronics factory assembly line for two months, earned 6,000 yuan, and bought himself a working mobile phone. Is that wrong?"

"If even this is wrong, then I ask you, what kind of life should impoverished students be living?"

"Does this mean we should only eat the worst food, wear the worst clothes, and use the worst things, and are not even entitled to a little happiness?"

Jiang Chen looked directly at Fang Yuan, his tone questioning.

"Defendant's representative, can you answer me?"

"Don't students from impoverished families deserve it?"

The courtroom was deathly silent.

Fang Yuan's lips moved slightly, his expression turning ugly.

He avoided eye contact with Jiang Chen.

Who would dare to answer this question directly?

Netizens were also deeply moved by Jiang Chen's words.

[Well said! Students from impoverished backgrounds are human beings too!]

Jiang Chen's words really touched me; I cried!

[Isn't the purpose of national poverty alleviation to help everyone live a better life? How come some people say that impoverished students should live like beggars?]

Fang Yuan didn't dare to reply! He felt guilty!

That's vision! Jiang Chen's vision is ten thousand times greater than Fang Yuan's!

Jiang Chen did not stop.

He took a deep breath, his tone becoming increasingly firm.

"I'm not just representing one case; I'm representing millions of impoverished students like Lin Xuyang!"

"They dare not buy better computers, for fear of being called extravagant."

"They even have to carefully hide all their normal needs when applying for financial aid, because if people find out that they don't live like poor people, they will question their eligibility."

"This isn't right...this isn't fair!"

"This is not the original intention of the government in establishing student financial aid!"

The courtroom was silent for a few seconds.

Then, Fang Yuan finally couldn't hold back any longer.

He sat up abruptly, his face contorted with anger.

"Your Honor, I have something to say!"

The presiding judge glanced at him: "Please speak."

Fang Yuan took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down.

"The plaintiff's lawyer spoke eloquently, but he failed to answer a fundamental question."

"Lin Xuyang bought the phone to play games; he admitted it himself."

"Is playing video games just about seeking pleasure?"

"Shouldn't university students prioritize their studies?"

"What right does a student who spends their time and money on games have to apply for financial aid?"

Fang Yuan's chest heaved as he stared intently at Jiang Chen.

The comments section started flooded with messages from netizens again:

Fang Yuan has a point... University students should indeed prioritize their studies.

Does playing video games conflict with studying? Even top students play video games!

The question is, what are Lin Xuyang's actual grades like? If he's a poor student, that really doesn't make sense.

Actually... people who play video games frequently don't tend to have very good grades.

[Fang Yuan is really amazing, he managed to find a flaw in this!]

Jiang Chen's lips curled up slightly.

He was ready all along!

Jiang Chen took a document out of his briefcase and slowly unfolded it.

"Your Honor, we have additional evidence to provide."

He handed the documents to the bailiffs.

"This is the midterm exam transcript for the Artificial Intelligence major in the School of Information Science and Technology at Dongning Normal University, for the first semester."

"Out of 120 students in the entire major, Lin Xuyang ranked first overall."

The courtroom fell silent once more.

Fang Yuan's pupils suddenly contracted.

Jiang Chen stared intently at him and spoke slowly and deliberately.

"Defendant's representative, you just asked what qualifications a student who spends time and money on games has to apply for financial aid?"

"I'll answer you now: he's ranked number one in his field!"

"He scored above 90 in every single one of his classes!"

"He plays video games, but his studies haven't suffered!"

"He bought the phone with the money he earned from his part-time job, without spending a single penny of the government's money."

"Does he deserve it?"

Fang Yuan's hands trembled slightly, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

What's going on?