Chapter 60: Chapter 60 This happiness came too suddenly
According to the normal process, the procuratorate’s evidence collection this time would prioritize investigating several pieces of evidence Qin Mu mentioned in his lawsuit, such as the fabrication of false real estate listings and contracts suspected of infringing on the rights and interests of both buyer and seller. Then, responsibility would be assigned based on a three-party accountability model. Whoever had the greater fault and more violations would bear more responsibility for this dispute. Although he was the first to propose not selling the house, and had therefore breached the contract first, the responsibility he needed to bear was actually very small since Lin Zhen was primarily at fault. Besides, the real estate brokerage industry is a public domain, and the investigation would also extend to the agency behind Lin Zhen, causing a series of chain reactions.
"There are only six days left until the court hearing."
Qin Mu put down his cell phone and stretched lazily. During this time, he had been reading various types of legal codes and statutes. With the help of his "Photographic Memory" skill, he had already finished reading the statutes and regulations in areas such as economic law, contract law, and criminal law. He had also gained detailed knowledge about litigation and other procedures.
"Xiao Qin, someone’s outside looking for you."
「In the afternoon.」
Qin Mu was reading the latest clauses of the "Civil Code" when Zhang Qingyuan suddenly approached him. "It seems to be an elderly couple."
Qin Mu was taken aback for a moment. He quickly thought of the elderly couple who were buying the house and hurried out.
「Outside the nursing home.」
The elderly couple had been stopped by security and were standing there, anxious and uneasy. They looked distressed, sighing deeply. After Lin Zhen hung up on them, they had gone to the agency office to find him in person. Lin Zhen, however, had completely changed his previously amiable attitude and was very rude. He seemed to be under some kind of investigation and had driven them out of the office. Having no other option, they could only get Qin Mu’s address from Lin Zhen and found their way here. However, the couple was feeling very uneasy now. Lin Zhen had told them that Qin Mu was even more ill-tempered than he was and was determined not to sell the house.
"Uncle Yang, you... are looking for me?"
Soon after, Qin Mu walked out from the nursing home and saw the two worried-looking elderly people.
"Mr. Qin, hello. We... we came here mainly to ask why the house suddenly isn’t for sale anymore. Haven’t we already signed the contract?"
Uncle Yang and his wife exchanged glances, then quickly stepped forward. They looked at Qin Mu nervously, their eyes filled with concern.
"Is it that our money isn’t enough? We can add more. Our loan was approved a couple of days ago, so paying an extra ten or twenty thousand is not a problem..."
Beside him, Uncle Yang’s wife also stepped forward and asked anxiously.
"A loan?"
Qin Mu frowned, suddenly feeling that something was amiss.
He remembered what was written on the contract... It clearly stated a full payment of 750,000, so why would a loan be needed?
Moreover, Uncle Yang and his wife were both retired and without steady jobs. Normally, it would have been impossible for them to secure a loan.
"Yes, 300,000. Mr. Lin, the agent, helped us secure it. We have the money, and this school-district house is really important to us."
Uncle Yang quickly nodded. His expression carried a hint of pleading as he gritted his teeth and said, "A total price of 1 million... even if it’s more expensive by another twenty thousand, we can actually accept it..."
After their son and daughter-in-law died in a car accident, their grandson had become their reason to continue living. They were determined to raise their grandson to adulthood. And with a good high school in Jin City about to start, the enrollment slot that came with owning a house in the school district was very important to them.
As Qin Mu listened to Uncle Yang and his wife, his originally mild expression gradually turned cold.
He had never expected that Lin Zhen, this dishonest broker, had not only fabricated false housing information and drafted shady contracts but had also thoroughly deceived the elderly couple before him! On one hand, he pushed the price down on my side, getting me to sell for 750,000. On the other hand, he was exploiting Uncle Yang, bleeding them dry by leveraging their desperate need for a house, and selling it to them for one million!
"Mr. Qin?"
Uncle Yang, seeing the change in Qin Mu’s expression, mistakenly thought Qin Mu was unimpressed by the additional twenty thousand they had offered. He exchanged a glance with his wife and, gritting his teeth again, stated their bottom line: "If that’s still not enough, we’re willing to add another fifty thousand!"
This fifty thousand was already their limit. They had borrowed 300,000 yuan; after deducting the agency fee and the cost of the house (at the original increased price), they would have had some left over. But if they really closed the deal at 1.05 million, even putting food on the table would become a problem. However, for the sake of their grandson’s education, they had mentally prepared themselves before coming.
However, just as they were anxiously waiting for Qin Mu’s response, the previously silent Qin Mu suddenly laughed. He said gently, "Don’t be nervous. I didn’t say I wouldn’t sell the house, just that I wouldn’t sell it through the agency."
The couple was stunned for a moment, not quite understanding what Qin Mu meant. His next words baffled them even more. "Moreover, for this house you’re buying... someone has already paid for it for you. You don’t have to pay yourselves."
"Someone paid for us?"
Uncle Yang’s eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief. They didn’t know any wealthy friends. Besides, what kind of friend would be so generous as to buy them a house?
Seeing their confusion, Qin Mu continued to explain, "I originally priced this house at 750,000 yuan, but the dishonest agency manipulated the transaction—buying low from me and selling high to you—inflating the price to one million. I’ve already sued them, and the court has filed the case."
"And as the buyers, the agency’s actions also harmed your interests. You can absolutely demand double compensation from the agency, asking for 2 million yuan..."
Actually, I’m not the only one whose rights were violated in this case; Uncle Yang and his wife were too. In comparison, they suffered greater damages: they were victims of malicious price gouging and were also tricked into taking out a loan. They could absolutely sue the agency alongside me and take them to court. The potential compensation could reach up to 2 million yuan, which is 400,000 more than my own claim. Even if the court ultimately doesn’t award the full 2 million, they should at least be able to recover the amount they were going to pay for this house through the compensation.
"Two million yuan?"
Uncle Yang couldn’t help but swallow hard. From Qin Mu’s explanation, he gradually understood Lin Zhen’s despicable actions. But he had never imagined that Qin Mu would directly suggest they sue the agency and demand 2 million yuan in compensation! For a moment, he even forgot the original purpose of their visit.
"Let’s go. The sooner this is handled, the better. We’ll go into the nursing home to discuss this in detail. Let’s get the complaint drafted today and submit it to the court."
Qin Mu smiled slightly. Leading the dazed elderly couple into the nursing home, he found a study and began to help them write the complaint.
「An hour later.」
A brand-new complaint was ready, presented before Uncle Yang and his wife.
"This... Mr. Qin, can we really win this lawsuit?"
Uncle Yang held the complaint. Looking at the prominent "2 million yuan" figure in the claim request section, he couldn’t help but ask.
Qin Mu nodded. "The procuratorate has already begun its investigation. Once the court delivers its verdict, you should receive the money."
Uncle Yang swallowed hard and glanced at his wife. He increasingly felt that this whole situation... was somewhat unreal. This happiness had come so suddenly!