"Hello, Mr. Zhou, our previous cooperation was very pleasant. As for the death of your dear friend, please accept my condolences."
"Hello."
Zhou Mo Sen was somewhat reluctant but still shook hands with this guy.
The bastard lawyer was named John Oden.
The original owner's memory gave Zhou Mo Sen a warning, and of course, there was a reason for that.
Previously, weren't the parents of the American Zhou Mo Sen killed in a car accident?
This involved the issue of inheritance tax.
The inheritance left by the parents of the American Zhou Mo Sen was indeed no small sum.
The big part was two properties.
What's even more frustrating is that it also involved legal issues.
An accidental death naturally left no will.
The laws in the United States regarding inheritance are really very detailed.
There was a legally valid will during their lifetime.
Then everything would be easy to talk about.
But, if there is no will, according to the spirit of American law.
The state court needs to draft a will for the heirs.
In other words, legal procedures must be followed, and a lawyer must be hired.
Someone would definitely say, isn't this like taking off your pants to fart?
But in the United States, it makes quite a bit of sense.
For example, Zhou Mo Sen, he first needs to prove one thing.
He is an American, holding American nationality.
You know, the peculiarity of America lies here.
This is an immigrant country, and each state's attitude towards immigrants is different.
Refer to Texas using cars to transport illegal immigrants to New York.
If he is not American, then in some states, he cannot inherit an American's estate.
No matter how direct a relative he is, it doesn't work!
It's really common for foreign relatives not to have the same nationality.
There's more to consider.
For example, is the family harmonious, is there no conflict, preventing family murder for inheritance...and these can't be self-proved.
In short, you must hire a lawyer!
But someone might say, since that's the case, make a will earlier.
That statement isn't wrong.
But, how to make a will?
Hire a lawyer!
Before death and after death, American lawyers corner you on both ends.
But, the homeless outside the church can testify, all lawyers are bastards.
The original owner found this lawyer, John Oden.
The previously mentioned over two hundred thousand dollars included this lawyer's fee.
In the original owner's memory, Attorney Oden's asking price was at least twenty to thirty thousand US Dollars higher.
Sure enough, a bastard!
The good news is, currently, the exemption threshold for inheritance tax is one million US Dollars.
This exemption threshold often changes, in 1999 it was still six hundred fifty thousand US Dollars.
In other words, spend over twenty thousand US Dollars to exchange for more than a million US Dollars of inheritance.
This deal isn't bad.
Now this lawyer came over himself, definitely not for the funeral.
At this time, the Monroe relatives were very arrogant.
"Monroe Clinic, isn't it obvious who should inherit it? Of course, it should be someone from the Monroe family!"
Attorney Oden laughed, "Then let me ask. Did Mr. Steve JR. Monroe leave a legally effective will before his death?
And does this will clearly define your right to inherit?"
The Monroe relatives were instantly dumbfounded.
Zhou Mo Sen felt like laughing.
Of course, there was no will.
Even if there was a will, it wouldn't favor these distant relatives.
Interestingly, the law that previously caused Zhou Mo Sen trouble.
Now became beneficial for Zhou Mo Sen!
The Monroe relatives, not understanding any legal issues, started cursing.
Oden was somewhat impressive, straightforwardly saying if they kept cursing, they would go to court.
Oden also said they're welcome to hire a lawyer to prove they can inherit Monroe Clinic.
Zhou Mo Sen was startled to hear this.
This lawyer is truly wicked.
A lawyer charges by the hour just for consultations, so the longer the lawsuit lasts, the happier they are.
Those Monroe relatives won't be stupid enough to fall into this trap, right?
"Just wait and see!"
After dropping a harsh remark, they left.
Clearly, the remark wasn't harsh, even laughable.
Only Zhou Mo Sen and Attorney Oden were left.
Let's chat.
This time, they quickly got to the point.
Attorney Oden smiled, "Mr. Zhou, you must be quite interested in Monroe Clinic, right?"
Hearing this, Zhou Mo Sen was intrigued.
"Of course, I'm a partner." His response was straightforward.
Attorney Oden gave a standard American fake smile, "Then the issue of the attorney's fee should be calculated separately, right?"
Could he make Monroe Clinic mine?
"You need to tell me the details."
This didn't surprise Oden; he continued smiling, "According to the law in California, if there is no heir, then the estate will be handled by the state government.
In other words, Mr. Monroe's estate, excluding other things, just the part about Monroe Clinic, is to be returned to the Government of California.
However, as I understand it, the clinic suffered damages and it was already operating under debt, with bank loans, correct?"
Zhou Mo Sen nodded, "That's right."
Hospitals having loans is very normal.
Someone once said, American doctors are actually working for Wall Street.
After hearing this expected answer, Oden's smile became even broader.
"You know, the state government itself cannot operate a clinic, and if it enters the auction process, this clinic is quite complicated.
We could reach an agreement with the state government through the state court.
If Mr. Zhou is interested in purchasing this clinic, then the payable amount should be.
Roughly the valuation of the clinic minus repair funds and liabilities.
As for the specific amount..."
Exactly how much, Oden didn't specify.
Zhou Mo Sen instantly understood.
This amount could be negotiated.
In fact, many cases in the United States result from lawyers 'negotiating' with judges.
Anyone who has watched "Seductive Lawyer" knows this.
Moreover, pay attention to the 'valuation,' the exact value of Monroe Clinic isn't stated.
Plus, this is an 'Iraq war damage level' clinic.
Thinking of this, Zhou Mo Sen thought...Damn!
This bastard American lawyer is kind of endearing.
But, Zhou Mo Sen immediately threw out another question, "You know, I don't have that much cash on hand."
This doesn't need to be hidden, nor can it be hidden.
Oden laughed and extended his hand, "Mr. Zhou, I believe banks across All America would welcome customers like you."
Zhou Mo Sen, being Chinese-American, is part of the community with the best financial credibility in America, and he is a doctor.
They shook hands again!
...
A week later.
Zhou Mo Sen received a call from Sheriff Doyle.
"Dr. Zhou, we have uncovered the details of the case. They are the Mexican cartel Bella Clan, who had a shootout while passing through a certain gang's territory.
As for the plastic surgery issue, it turns out Mr. Monroe owed a lot of money in Tijuana.
But we discovered that in the days leading up to the incident, you became a partner at this clinic. Do you have anything to say about this?"
Investigating me again?
Zhou Mo Sen responded very calmly, "I've been the lead surgeon at Monroe for the past few years; Dr. Kate and the clinic's nurses can vouch for me.
I should have become a partner long ago."
The black sheriff paused for about a minute before saying, "I hope you can understand; it's all a part of the investigation."
Zhou Mo Sen responded with an OK, then asked a question.
"Sheriff, you know the operational pressures of managing the clinic are high. There are many loans to repay and employees' wages to be paid.
I am eager to know when the clinic can reopen?"
Doyle's answer came quickly, "Actually, I called you, Dr. Zhou, to inform you that the clinic's caution tape has been removed."
So that's it.
After exchanging a couple of meaningless remarks, Zhou Mo Sen hung up the phone.
Then he went out and started the car.
He called Kate.
...
Half an hour later.
The two of them appeared at the clinic's entrance.
Sure enough, the caution tape was gone.
They exchanged smiles as they walked in and locked the door behind them.
Click clack...click clack...
Kate's high heels made a rhythmic clicking sound as they hit the clinic floor over and over.
She wore a white lab coat, her badge even sparkled a bit.
White shirt, black pencil skirt, black stockings...
Tall stature and two big guns.
A curvy Western girl doesn't lie.
The two quickly entered Monroe's office.
All the tropical fish in the tank were floating.
The oil painting, however, was unchanged.
Kate pulled on the painting, revealing behind it...
All Green Tickets!
The visual impact was even stronger than before.
When they were hiding the money, they didn't dare turn on the lights.
Now, the smell of dead fish pervaded the air.
Maybe it was the combined visual and olfactory stimulation.
They kissed passionately.
Then, Zhou Mo Sen pressed Dr. Kate onto the office desk...