Inside the Jingzhou City Library, Tang Fangjing stretched lazily after setting down a criminal law book.
Having worked in the field for so many years, my way of thinking has changed, always looking to pick holes when doing legal practice exams.
But there's no helping it, since I have a fondness for criminal law.
After preparing for so many days, I reckon passing the exam shouldn't be a problem, especially with a solid foundation.
I pulled out my phone to relax a bit and noticed that my account had received a lot of private messages.
This was a bit odd, so I hurried to check the contents of the messages and then I understood.
A case I was involved in had been posted online, sparking a discussion, and now there were those who believed that pursuing these kinds of lawsuits could seriously undermine the current economic development…
That's quite an overstatement. I just filed a lawsuit, how could I possibly impact economic development?
And do these people really think such lawsuits are easy to win, that sending a reply on WeChat would simply be deemed overtime work?
What an international joke. Based on facts and governed by law, replying to WeChat and performing substantial labor are two entirely different things…
However, looking at what that so-called expert Lin said, it just doesn't sit right with me!
If the company's gone, workers would lose their jobs, but why doesn't he mention that without the workers, the company couldn't exist either, since workers are also consumers!
And what does he mean by "Is replying to a WeChat message worth it?" and "Why on earth should they pay you that much money,"
After thinking it over, Tang Fangjing posted a few images on his account. One showed his chat history, still replying to messages after midnight. Another was a medical examination report from the hospital.
Of course, the report only indicated that Tang Fangjing had cancer, and it was terminal—how many days he had left was definitely not listed.
The remaining two photos were shots of the company boss's car, since all the employees knew what kind of car their boss drove.
He captioned the images with the following text: "I've been working hard every day for two years since I joined the company, replying to messages non-stop after midnight. As a result, I got cancer.
Meanwhile, my poor boss upgraded from a 1 million to a 3 million car over these two years. Thinking about it, it's truly pitiful, sigh."
The message was sent out and instantly, the various critical voices vanished.
Because the contrast was just too stark!
During the same two years, an employee had worked overtime to the brink of death, while the pitiful boss changed cars. When put together, the contrast was just too stark.
It also made many people realize that the 600,000 yuan overtime pay was not something you could get just by responding to a few messages.
At the same time, expert Lin's comment section started to fall. Netizens began bombarding it with comments.
The number of workers, of course, is greater, but previously many chose to remain silent. The majority online are still silent, many not wanting to comment lightly.
But now, they were provoked. The direct comparison was too emotionally resonant.
Like that video a while ago, on one side is "Only money earned through physical labor is reliable," and on the other a passing luxury Porsche Cayenne. This type of contrast really makes you want to vent.
As a result, expert Lin's comment section was besieged.
"Dongfang Hong": "Really, the bosses are so pitiful, providing us with jobs and a salary, sustaining our lives, paying taxes to the country. What kind of people are they? Saints!"
"Damn, I feel nauseous just saying this. Why the hell should they pay overtime? You tell me why. Damn it, why can't I get money for the work I put in? You tell me why!"
Dongfang Hong is himself an ordinary worker, and he too suffers from the trouble of after-work messages. Now, all he wants to do is rant!
"So, expert, why don't you come out and say something? The man is about to die, isn't that serious enough?"
In the face of all sorts of angry remarks, those who previously supported Lin Zhang no longer dared to speak.
Lin Zhang was woken up by a friend during rest time.
"What? That guy worked overtime so much he got cancer, and their boss even changed cars? Isn't this just an isolated case? Why doesn't he mention the numerous companies that have gone under?"
However, when Lin Zhang saw the plethora of comments in his section demanding he speak up, he got cold feet and deleted his account.
He was scared, figuring that since the other person had cancer, if he dared to say anything more, he might get a visit...
Since he was close to death anyway, he decided to let it go just this once.
The elites of society might look down on the so-called legally ignorant netizens, but in the hearts of these netizens lies a simple scale—no matter how sky-high you talk the so-called legal stipulations, right and wrong, black and white, everyone has their own opinion.
After all, if legal stipulations were strictly enforced, how could there possibly be unfinished buildings...
After posting the pictures, Tang Fangjing did not bother with the online situation any longer, as he was more concerned about when the enforcement would occur.
The appeal court's judgment takes effect on the day it is issued, so if the other party does not enforce it that day, you can directly apply for compulsory enforcement.
Clearly, Bluebird Company was planning to drag it out a few more days, which is why Tang Fangjing went to the Bright District Court the day after the second instance verdict, with all his documents, to apply for compulsory enforcement.
Indeed, no matter how far the lawsuit goes, the enforcing court is still the one from the first instance.
But even with a company's compulsory enforcement, it's not as many imagine—you apply today, and tomorrow the court shows up to enforce, seizing or freezing assets if compliance fails...
It's not that fast...
But Tang Fangjing was in dire need; the arbitration and both instances took one and a half months of his remaining four-month lifespan, leaving not much time!
He planned to have a "chat" with the enforcement judge from the Bright District Court's enforcement office.
The time came for the next morning, at the Bright District Court's enforcement office.
Tang Fangjing soon met the enforcement judge handling his case, a man in his forties named Li Qunfeng.
"Tang Fangjing, right? Your case file has just been transferred to me. I have many cases lined up, so you'll have to wait a... oh, what is this?"
However, the judge, Li, noticed that the young man across the desk had pulled out a piece of paper and placed it in front of him as he was speaking.
"Judge Li, this is my medical report, advanced liver cancer. When the doctor gave me the report, he said I had about two more months to live; now, I guess it's down to half a month?"
"Of course, if I pursued aggressive treatment, maybe I could live a few more years."
Judge Li was taken aback and immediately asked, "Then why aren't you undergoing aggressive treatment?"
"I don't have the money for treatment. Why else do you think I'm fighting this lawsuit?" sighed Tang Fangjing.
If he told the company directly about the terminal illness, they would give him money, but that wouldn't complete the system task.
Across from him, Judge Li was stunned, looking at the medical report and then at Tang Fangjing's age of twenty-five, he eventually let out a sigh.
"Hang in there, young man, it will be quick."
Of course, a terminal illness can be brought up, but not too soon; otherwise, some would certainly say the court ruled the way it did because he was about to die.
It's a different story when brought up during enforcement.
Walking out of the courts' enforcement office, Tang Fangjing was ready to head home when his phone rang.
"Hello, Manager Liu? Why are you calling me now... you're going to sue the company for overtime pay too?"