Sent to the countryside, I turned the health center into a top-tier hospital.

Officer Gao raised his hand and pushed open the door to the mediation room.

A couple in their fifties were sitting inside.

The man was wearing a dark jacket, his hair was neatly combed, he was holding a thermos in his hand, and his back was straight. He looked like someone who was used to sitting in an office and being fawned over.

The woman had curly hair, a pearl necklace around her neck, her arms crossed, her chin held high, and she glanced sideways at the person who entered.

"Oh, you've finally arrived?"

Cao's mother spoke first, her voice shrill and sharp, "The perpetrator's workplace leader, is that it? I thought you were too scared to show your faces."

Officer Gao quickly tried to smooth things over: "Calm down, everyone, sit down and talk it over."

"This is Chen Ping from Siping Township Health Center, Wang Tao's mentor and also the head of the unit. This is Lawyer Lin."

"Master?" Cao's mother scoffed. "How could a master teach such a disciple?"

"You're even hiring a lawyer? That's laughable. Even if you brought in the King of Heaven himself, it wouldn't make a difference."

Chen Ping and Lin Xiaoran ignored them, pulled out chairs and sat down, calmly watching the couple opposite them.

With audio and video recordings, they were already confident of success.

Now it's up to these two to put on a show.

Mr. Cao placed the thermos on the table, cleared his throat, and spoke in a very official tone: "Now that everyone is here, let's get down to business. Let me state my position first: our family's stance on this matter is very clear."

"First, no reconciliation. Your people committed the crime while intoxicated, beating my son so badly. They must be dealt with according to the law. Those who should be detained should be detained, and those who should be sentenced should be sentenced. No procedure should be omitted."

"Secondly, compensation. Medical expenses, lost wages, nursing expenses, nutrition expenses, and compensation for mental distress—we've made a preliminary estimate of 500,000 yuan, not a penny less."

"Third, your health center must dismiss him, report it in writing, and revoke his medical license. It is a disgrace to the medical profession to keep such a person in the workforce."

He spoke each point with conviction, then leaned back in his chair, picked up his thermos, and took a sip.

Cao's mother chimed in from the side, "From the time my son was born until now, we have never laid a finger on him."

"You country bumpkins beat me up like that? This isn't over!"

"Our Xiaoyu is a full-fledged doctor at the Provincial People's Hospital, and he has a bright future ahead of him."

"If this brick causes any lasting damage, can you afford to compensate for it?"

"If you ask me, what kind of good people can you find in a place like a township health center?"

"A bunch of unqualified and incompetent people just banding together. These kinds of people should be thoroughly investigated to see how they even got into the medical team!"

The insults were so harsh that even Officer Gao frowned.

He's been in this line of work for over a decade and has mediated at least a thousand or eight hundred disputes. He's seen plenty of situations where the one who started the fight was begging for forgiveness while the one who was beaten was unforgiving. But he's rarely seen someone pointing their finger at him and cursing like this.

"Gentlemen, don't be so sure of yourself. When young people get into a fight after drinking too much, it's possible that both sides share some responsibility..."

Officer Gao pressed down further.

If this couple is allowed to act arrogantly, the mediation will most likely fail.

Moreover, if someone insults someone too harshly and bullies an honest person to the point of being pushed too far, it's not something that can be fixed with just six stitches.

Having been a policeman for over a decade, he had seen countless cases where honest people were driven to desperation.

"What's possible?"

Mr. Cao slammed his cup down on the table. "Officer, we've consulted a lawyer."

"The injuries are there, there are eyewitnesses, and the facts are clear."

"We won't make things difficult for you investigators. Just one sentence: handle the case according to the law, and do what needs to be done."

"Yes! Handle the case according to the law!"

Cao's mother chimed in, "Don't think you can fool us by hiring a lawyer. My husband and I have worked in the health system for thirty years. What haven't we seen?"

"No matter what you say, the person who did the hitting must be punished!"

Officer Gao was speechless, turned to look at Chen Ping, and gave him a wink, meaning it was time for him to make a statement and say something conciliatory.

All eyes in the room were on Chen Ping.

Chen Ping slowly picked up the paper cup on the table, took a sip of water, and put it down.

"I completely agree with what you just said," Chen Ping said, pointing to Cao's father.

Cao's father was taken aback: "Which sentence?"

"Handle cases in accordance with the law."

Chen Ping looked at him and said, slowly and deliberately, "Do whatever needs to be done, without skipping a single procedure."

There was a two-second silence in the mediation room.

Cao's mother realized what was happening and sneered, "Oh, you're quite sensible. Since you agree to handle the case according to the law, then sign it. Sending your apprentice in as soon as possible will save everyone time."

Officer Gao was also stunned. In all his years of handling cases, this was the first time he had ever seen the family of the party who committed the assault take the initiative to request that the case be handled in accordance with the law.

He leaned closer and whispered, "Mr. Chen, are you sure you're not mistaken? Your apprentice injured someone first. If we go through the proper procedures, it won't do your apprentice any good."

"No mistake."

Chen Ping nodded. "Officer Gao, I not only agree to handle the case according to the law, but I also demand that we investigate to the end and find out the whole story from beginning to end last night."

Cao's father stared at Chen Ping for a few seconds, feeling inexplicably uneasy.

It doesn't suit my taste.

Normally, when the person who committed the assault comes to your door, they either plead poverty or beg for leniency, not rush to demand a thorough investigation.

"What do you mean?"

Mr. Cao narrowed his eyes. "Stop playing tricks. I'm telling you, your tricks won't work. The fact is, your doctor hit my son."

"Investigate if you want; if you're upright, you have nothing to fear."

Chen Ping smiled but didn't answer. He turned and glanced at Lin Xiaoran.

"A straight body casts a straight shadow."

Lin Xiaoran, who had been sitting silently to the side, stood up at this moment.

She placed her briefcase on the table, opened it, and took out a voice recorder and then her cell phone, placing the two items side by side in the middle of the table.

"Officer Gao, since both parties are here today, let's formally file a police report."

"We are going to sue Cao Yu for attempted rape."

The moment those words were uttered, everyone in the room was stunned.

The smile on Cao's mother's face froze. She stood there stunned for a good three or four seconds before screaming, "What nonsense are you spouting! You're making false accusations!"

"Whether it's slander or not, you'll know once you hear it."

Lin Xiaoran reached out and pressed the play button on the recorder.

The recorder first emitted a rustling noise, followed by Cao Yu's voice, tinged with smugness.

"Last night I just chatted with Zhou Jie a bit more, trying to build a closer working relationship, and I even touched her arm casually..."

"I just hugged Zhou Jie, and she didn't say anything, but Wang Tao got all worked up..."

In the recording, Lin Xiaoran's voice subtly guides the conversation, while Cao Yu's words become increasingly explicit.

"I could win over a country girl like that in a few days, but I drank a bit too much last night and touched her directly, which probably scared her..."

"Of course I'm going to play along. Otherwise, why would I spend money to treat them to dinner? It's just to find an opportunity to play with Zhou Jie."

After the last sentence was played, the mediation room fell into a deathly silence.