Chapter 514 - 5: Sorry, I Previously Breached the Contract

Chapter 514: Chapter 5: Sorry, I Previously Breached the Contract

"Breaching the contract results in the confiscation of the leased land, and a ten-year ban on leasing land from the Agriculture Management Office."

"What!? There’s no penalty for breaking the contract? Dad! Were the terms really this good when you leased the land back then?"

Lin Yu chuckled after reading the contract and showed it to Leant Bates.

"Turns out you were right. The farm doesn’t actually belong to my family."

"Oh, what a shame. I spent a fortune rebuilding the house, and now it’s all for nothing. What a windfall for whoever takes over the farm next."

"I hear Kuang Tie Company is taking over the farm? Do me a favor and tell them to take good care of the property. That house wasn’t cheap to build!"

"Oh, right. Phantom, let all the Kuang Tie Company people go. It was all just a misunderstanding!"

Listening to Lin Yu, Leant Bates felt anger welling up inside him, and his face contorted involuntarily. "Lin Yu!"

He roared, "Your family didn’t default! You farmed there for over a decade while owing us rent. Now, we need you to pay the outstanding rent and late fees in full."

"Us?"

"No, I mean Kuang Tie Company wants you to pay the outstanding rent and late fees."

"Are you out of your mind? My dad signed a contract with the Xinjin City Agriculture Management Office. What does that have to do with Kuang Tie Company?"

"Hey... Qiu Xuan. You seem to have a solid grasp of the law. Did you study it?"

Qiu Xuan replied from a distance, "Mr. Lin, I’m a licensed lawyer, though only part-time."

"So you’re actually licensed? Not bad. Part-time is fine too! Come on over here. Help our Head of Security get a little refresher on the Empire’s contract law. Let’s see if his argument holds any water!"

Qiu Xuan hesitated for a moment before stepping forward.

"Mr. Leiant, if a party to a contract changes, the new party must provide written notice and get written consent from the other party to continue the original agreement. Otherwise, a new contract has to be signed."

"Mr. Lin Ye’s case is slightly different. After signing the contract, he was granted the right to use the land, on the condition that he paid the annual rent on time."

"He stopped paying rent 18 years ago. According to the contract, this means he was already in breach and therefore no longer the tenant of that land."

Leant Bates grew furious. "Bullshit! He obviously didn’t pay rent but kept farming there for more than a decade! How can you say he’s not the tenant?"

"Now that we, Kuang Tie Company, have obtained ownership of that land, we have the right to collect the rent he owes."

Leant Bates couldn’t be bothered to hide his connection to Kuang Tie Company any longer and roared in frustration.

"I’m sorry, Mr. Leiant, but even if you had inherited the original contract, the only consequence for failing to pay rent would be a breach of contract, resulting solely in the confiscation of the land."

"What’s more, your company neither inherited the original contract nor signed a new one with Mr. Lin Ye. Therefore, your unilateral demand for rent and late fees is unreasonable. If you’re unwilling to accept this, you can take the matter to court."

"Furthermore, let me point something out. If you wish to pursue legal action against the elder Mr. Lin Ye for illegal occupation of the land, that is also an option."

"According to Article XXX of the Imperial Land Law, illegal occupation of land requires the surrender of all illegal profits and is subject to a fine. The maximum penalty can be up to ten times the amount of said profits—which I imagine is significantly more than the ten thousand you’re claiming in rent."

Qiu Xuan concluded his analysis, his tone calm and steady.

"A lawsuit? There’s no need for that. I’m telling you, on Cuiwei Star, as long as I’m around, what I say is the law! I—"

Leant Bates glanced at Lin Yu’s men, who were glaring at him like tigers stalking their prey. He then looked at the men he had brought with him, compared the strength of the two sides, and decided to swallow his words.

"Hmph. Just you wait. We’ll see you in court! We’ll see about this!"

Leaving this parting threat, Leant Bates departed with his men.

After he was gone, Lin Yu shouted a helpful reminder, "Leiant, you should watch that temper! You’re getting on in years, don’t be so irritable!"