"Frozen the same year as you," Nie Yangping said. "Except I was defrosted decades earlier, which is why our age gap appears. Cryogenic freezing technology wasn't mature back then. My cryo-pod malfunctioned, causing my digestive system to start digesting itself, forcing an early thaw."
"Perhaps it wasn't a bad thing. My cryo-pod had no issues, but I was sent to a colony planet. That place was a desolate land with many bandits. I nearly died in the wilderness countless times. You, however, came to such a relaxed and pleasant planet to serve as the chief judge, enjoying high status and everything you could desire. It can be considered a blessing in disguise!" Jiang Ye chuckled.
"You are now a fleet commander, possessing an entire planet and immeasurable assets. I, this planet's chief judge, live in constant fear, like a blind man riding a blind horse, walking on the edge of a cliff in the dead of night, with storms raging in the valley below."
"Oh?" Jiang Ye was taken aback.
"Minor cases don't reach me. What comes to me are sensational, society-shaking major cases, peculiar cases recorded in legal history, and difficult dockets hotly debated in the industry. Often, the defendants and plaintiffs are of immense standing, people no one can afford to offend. I'm not afraid to admit it, I've nearly been killed several times. Many brands wouldn't sell to me, and my name appeared on the blacklists of major super corporations. I used to have to ask friends to buy shampoo for me. Surrounded by wolves and tigers, trapped with no way out!"
"And you proceeded according to the law?" Cen Yemeng interjected.
"Cases with clear legal provisions are naturally easy. But for a case like yours, there are no explicit laws or regulations. Art law only states that artwork created by humans or through legal procedures is protected. This 'intelligent fungus' is a first. The Alien Species Contact Code only mentions artworks created by alien civilizations registered within the Galactic Empire, and there's no provision for intelligent fungi." Nie Yangping's smile was bitter. "The industry calls such cases 'coin flip cases,' meaning you could flip a coin to decide, and no one could find fault."
Jiang Ye and Cen Yemeng were stunned.
Li Nannan narrowed her eyes, her brow furrowed slightly.
"Of course, the term 'coin flip case' is just a joke. In this position, one must maintain professional integrity and judge according to reason. Otherwise, the industry will mock you, and your conscience will be uneasy." Nie Yangping calmly poured tea for everyone.
"That's only natural. For you to have reached your current position, your past judgments must have been reasonable and just," Jiang Ye said. "I am ignorant of the law and have some naive ideas. Please don't laugh at them."
"Please, go ahead."
"If the relevant statutes for this case are a blank slate, and traditional morality is difficult to apply, perhaps we can consider it from a socio-economic perspective." Jiang Ye pondered for a moment. "Have you heard of the horse manure case?"
"The horse manure case?" Nie Yangping blinked. "Haslem v. Lockwood, right?"
"That seems to be the name," Jiang Ye said. "A person painstakingly collected a large pile of horse manure from the street and left it by the roadside, going home to find a horse-drawn carriage to transport it. Just as the collector left, another person passed by, was surprised to find a pile of manure there, waited for a long time, saw no one coming, and decided to pick it up and sell it."
"The case went to the judge. The manure collector claimed that the manure he collected from the road belonged to him, and the other person was stealing. The person who picked up the manure said that horse manure is not property; it's like mud stuck to the road, and the collector only had temporary possession. Whoever took it and sold it should get the money."
"If the judge ruled that the pile of manure belonged to the collector, everyone would know that labor for profit is protected, and taking shortcuts is not. Over time, more hardworking people would emerge in the region, and society would prosper. But if the judge ruled that the pile of manure belonged to the person who picked it up, people would think it's better to squat by the roadside and wait for opportunities than to work hard collecting manure. Fewer laborers would mean the region would fall into poverty."
Nie Yangping narrowed his eyes. "When I studied this case, they didn't explain it this way."
"It's just an example," Jiang Ye smiled and continued.
"This lawsuit between me and the Big Three, or rather, the sixty-four music companies, is also a horse manure case. Whoever the money earned by the intelligent fungus's compositions is awarded to is acceptable, but different judgments will have different long-term impacts."
Nie Yangping's expression turned serious, and he stared intently at Jiang Ye.
"The intelligent fungus's songs have become immensely popular, now earning an average daily profit of over eight billion, and all its compositions are widely acclaimed, with not a single failure. This is a brand new art form, a new market landscape. If you rule in favor of the intelligent fungus, the entire music market will become more prosperous, with greater profits. It will also encourage more diverse creative forms, which is a great good."
"But if you rule in favor of the Big Three, it will lead from a good extreme to a bad extreme."
Jiang Ye paused, took a sip of tea, and subtly observed Nie Yangping's expression. He was clearly contemplating, indicating that he had been momentarily drawn into this narrative.
"Firstly, it defaults to the Big Three's monopoly over the music market. Currently, the top one thousand spots on music charts are almost exclusively the Big Three's internal rankings, with very few newcomers surviving on these charts for more than six months. While it appears prosperous with a constant stream of new songs, it is, in reality, long stagnant and completely controlled. Talented musicians without connections will continue to sweat in factories, singing divine melodies in roaring workshops, while the Big Three's families will continue to feast and revel, building mountains of gold with their derivative songs and mindless promotion."
"Secondly, it desecrates the sanctity and solemnity of the Asak Star Court, reducing it entirely to a small room in a merchant's house, a stage for the entertainment of the children of the wealthiest. And you, in turn, will be reduced to a mere piece of thin shadow puppetry. I believe this trend will spread from music companies like the Big Three to other industries, permeating the entire economic environment and bringing about immeasurable and perilous consequences."
"Thirdly," Cen Yemeng suddenly interjected, "Esteemed Judge Nie, before we departed, my husband and I prepared a luxurious mansion for you in Music City. The furnishings are made of gold, jewels, and precious hardwoods. It faces the sea, is elevated three feet from the ground, warm in winter, and free from dampness in summer. It's conveniently located near the bustling commercial district and seaside scenic areas, a prime location, and comes with permanent ownership. If the Big Three win, this mansion will have to be used to curry favor with representatives of the noise companies, begging them to share a portion with the intelligent fungi."
Silence suddenly fell upon the room.
Jiang Ye and Cen Yemeng had finished speaking and waited nervously.
Nie Yangping's gaze lingered on each face in turn, then he burst into laughter.
"You two have such eloquent tongues, speaking like you've rehearsed it beforehand. While your words are pleasing, there are too many flaws, and you cannot convince me!" Nie Yangping said with a smile.
Jiang Ye's expression changed slightly.
Damn it, how could there still be a variable?