Chapter 13: Surging
Lawyers make money with just one mouth, but the skill gap between mouths is huge.
Once out the door, Mr. Wolf exclaimed, “Gu, you’re amazing. Forget about him—I was convinced by you too. Before coming, I really didn’t expect there could be so many angles to approach from.”
International situation, Shanghai responsibility, personal friendship—upper, middle, and lower strikes from all sides. As long as one of these three entry points hits home in Hase’s heart, it’s a complete victory. Now, it’s total encirclement.
“You’ll see even more exciting things later. Now, let’s work for our remuneration.”
“Right, get in the car!”
Danwen Law Firm.
“Susan, has anyone from the French Consulate been here?”
“They have.”
“People from the Japanese Consulate will arrive soon. When they do, have Miss Mery sign the contract and collect the payment.”
“Got it. Looks like you two had a big haul today. So, afternoon tea?”
“Order whatever!”
Mr. Wolf, flush with sudden wealth, was generous. He went to the office to find Miss Mery: “Time to work. Someone will come later to sign the contract and pay. Arrange it—have people collect all newspapers on the market. I mean all of them. Buy two copies of every one sold today!
Also, for any that published content targeting France today, get the newspaper company’s background, sales regions, which editor wrote the article, who the editor-in-chief is, the editor and editor-in-chief’s backgrounds and resumes—all of it. I don’t care how you do it. I want the information, all the information.”
“Got it, Mr. Wolf.”
“As soon as possible! Uh, buy tomorrow’s too. Some tabloids might be slow with news, publishing on the second day. Their delay isn’t our fault, but we can’t let it slide either. Our client wants everything.”
“Got it.”
“Go.”
When getting to work, he was swift and decisive. With so many young lawyers at the law firm, he could mobilize them all.
Watching his assistant Miss Mery assign investigation tasks to the young lawyers, Mr. Wolf patted Gu Yansheng on the shoulder and smiled, “I can even handle basic work like collecting information for you. But what about the core strategy? This case won’t be easy to win.”
The newspaper company is innocent. Getting them to apologize won’t be easy.
And for a lawyer, the most important thing is the core strategy—the one decisive move, the key evidence.
“The solution lies on the surface of the puzzle; the one who tied the bell must untie it.” Gu Yansheng smiled: “It’s time to meet the core figure in this case. Want to go?”
“What core figure? Those arrested people?”
Mr. Wolf’s confusion lasted only a few seconds. With a slight think, he reacted quickly and suddenly understood upon the reminder.
“The three parties in the incident: the police station, Japanese gendarmes, and those arrested—this is the source. If we just sued the newspaper company, getting the Frenchmen’s money would suffice. But you insisted on involving the Japanese, and now you’re going to these people. You want the three parties’ confessions to align, all turn against the fourth party and crush them?”
Mr. Wolf was shocked by the clarity of the strategy.
The Japanese they were originally going to persuade had become their clients. The hardest part was solved. They just needed to persuade the easiest group now—the imprisoned suspects—and the whole thing would be resolved?
Gu Yansheng just straightened his suit to look more solemn. “When immortals fight, wild boars suffer. Japanese gendarmes fighting Chinese agents—with the French just joining the fun, since they sponsored the venue. But reporters meddling—what’s that about? They didn’t even buy tickets.”
“Hahaha, got it, I totally get it. Gu, this design is genius. You picked the weakest of the four sides to fight, and got paid by the two richest ones. Unbelievably brilliant!”
“Mr. Wolf, you’re wrong about that. It’s not just brilliant—we, we picked the weakest of the four sides to fight.”
“Ha, right, right, we did.”
“Lend me the car. You stay here. We still need the information—investigate their backgrounds thoroughly.”
“OK, leave it to me. Here, the key.”
“Thanks.”
Gu Yansheng took the key to find the driver, returned to the office—huh, the driver wasn’t there. But there was a note on the desk.
“Mr. Gu, I’ve gone to investigate these people’s background information. I’ll return as soon as the investigation is done.”
Gu Yansheng raised an eyebrow. Good—this showed initiative, not just sitting around waiting.
Without a driver, he’d have to drive himself.
Fortunately, he’d done basic vehicle driving training in Yan’an.
French Concession, Xuehuali Road, Central Police Station.
The French Concession’s area isn’t large. Mailan Police Station has few cells, so those arrested that night were transferred to the Central Police Station.
There’s a whole floor that’s the French Concession’s largest detention center. In fact, the court and police headquarters are all in this complex—small space, all close together.
When the Mercedes-Benz 540K pulled up at the Central Police Station entrance, Gu Yansheng stepped out in his crisp suit, and everything in sight seemed to soften in color.
The Indian constable at the door with his baton didn’t even ask questions—he let Gu Yansheng in and bowed deeply.
“Which department is handling the group caught at the tea house yesterday?” Gu Yansheng asked casually at the inquiry desk.
“Criminal Division Two. You are—”
“Which floor?”
“Second Floor. Hey, hey—”
Security was nonexistent. Gu Yansheng strode ahead briskly; the front desk officer clutched his hat but didn’t dare stop him.
But two men sitting on benches in the lobby saw it. Two plainclothes men put down their newspapers, exchanged a glance, and one followed.
Gu Yansheng didn’t care about the tail behind him. He’d come boldly, ready to make a show for the world.
Upstairs to the second floor, he found the door with the Criminal Division Two plaque and pushed it open.
“Eight of Circles.”
“Mahjong! Haha! Pay up, pay up.”
“Damn, Liu Da Naodai, did your wife have her period last night? Your hands stink—go wash them, will you? You made me lose money again.”
“Brother Wang, someone’s here.”
“Who is it!”
Wang Defa, cursing under his breath with a cigarette in his mouth, sized up Gu Yansheng. Maybe seeing the nice clothes, he didn’t curse outright, just grumbled: “Who you looking for?”
“Are the people caught at the tea house yesterday in your custody?” Gu Yansheng asked.
The few sorting mahjong tiles froze in unison.
Wang Defa narrowed his eyes. “What do you want?”
“Lawyer.”
“Damn! I thought it was some big shot. You in your fancy suit scared me.”
“Haha, I thought some bigwig had arrived.”
“The case is still under investigation—no bail. You can go.”
The mahjong tiles started sorting again. Wang Defa turned back casually and tossed out, “Being a lawyer doesn’t make you special. This is a police station! Remember to knock next time. We’re busy now, or we’d arrest you for eavesdropping on confidentials! Out, out—close the door.”
“Damn, don’t know what those guys downstairs are doing. Letting any tomcat or dog up here. Brother Wang, when you see Director Liao later, report them. One Bamboo.”
During training in Yan’an, he’d heard the French Concession’s law enforcement was lax—a good hiding spot. Seeing this now, Gu Yansheng thought it made sense.
Instead of leaving, he stepped forward and picked up the phone on the desk to dial.
“Hey, hey, what are you doing? Looking for trouble?” An officer stood up, pointing and cursing.
Gu Yansheng finished dialing, one hand in his pocket, the other holding the phone, just staring at him.
Wang Defa sensed something off, stopped the officer about to lunge, and chose to hold still—let’s see who this call was to.
Gu Yansheng obliged him. Once connected, he said: “Hello, consulate? I need Consul Richard. I’m the lawyer who came yesterday. My surname is Gu. I’m at your Central Police Station now, and the police seem a bit uncooperative…”
Smack! A lunging hand slammed down hard on the phone’s hang-up button—the motion incredibly swift.
Wang Defa’s face, fierce when not smiling, now looked up at Gu Yansheng from below, his lips slowly curving into a full smile.
“So it’s Lawyer Gu. I’ve heard so much about you! I didn’t recognize you earlier. Have we met somewhere? Of course, even if not, first time’s icebreaker. Here on business, right? Tell me, what can we do for you? Tea, tea—does Lawyer Gu prefer coffee or tea?”
You don’t hit a smiling face. Gu Yansheng was here for business and smiled: “Coffee’s fine, thanks.”
“Got it. One top-quality Blue Mountain coffee, quick! Lawyer Gu, this way please.”
Wang Defa smiled and gestured to the small office on the side, ushering Gu Yansheng in while signaling upward to his subordinate with his eyes.
The subordinate got it instantly, nodded, and headed straight out to the French Concession chief constable’s office upstairs.
