Chapter 8: Boss
“Good morning, Mr. Gu. My name is Wen Yan. Thank you for giving me this job opportunity.” Wen Yan slightly bowed.
A 40-year-old man bending toward a young guy in his twenties might be psychologically hard to accept, but he didn’t show it at all on his face. First impression: not bad.
“The opportunity was earned by you yourself. The questions I gave were fair. Come in.”
Gu Yansheng used a key to open the door and walked to his seat to put down his bag.
“When people are restless, they amplify their own flaws. Last night’s long wait with no hope in sight could end up just being a joke, a malicious prank by an upper-class person in the concession on someone from the lower class. It’s inevitable that some would show irritation, even curse at me.”
Gu Yansheng smiled slightly at him: “You stayed until the end and even got Miss Susan to recommend you to me. This assistant position should be yours.
But I’m curious. You should be 40, right? Why did you stay for the last assistant position when you came to interview for lawyer yesterday? Can’t find other work?”
Wen Yan pursed his lips and nodded with a somewhat bitter smile: “Work is indeed hard to find, but not impossible. However, case sources in Shanghai nowadays aren’t that plentiful. Rather than struggling bitterly in a small firm, it’s more practical to follow a big firm and get some soup. I’m 37 this year, and I have a family to support.”
“Tsk, brutally honest.”
Gu Yansheng nodded. “What are your salary expectations?”
Wen Yan had clearly thought about it in advance. “50 silver dollars base salary. Commission based on case involvement, decided by you.”
“Looks like you’re very confident in your abilities?”
50 silver dollars base is a lot for ordinary people, but not high for the lawyer industry.
Wen Yan didn’t humble himself at this point. “I have some experience. I’m familiar with the basic processes and law, but my foreign language isn’t proficient. I hope you won’t reject me for that. I can help with everything else.”
Understood. In the concession legal circle, poor English means you’re inherently inferior. If the opposing lawyer and judge are speaking English rapidly, and your lawyer can’t understand, you’re screwed. He wouldn’t even know if the judge and opposing lawyer teamed up to screw him over.
Wen Yan said work is hard to find. Now it seems not just hard—unless he goes to a gang-type company to be a legal grandmaster’s disciple and scrape by on scraps, other law firms have plenty of choices right now and absolutely won’t want someone with poor English.
But Gu Yansheng doesn’t need him to know English. It’d be better if he doesn’t.
“I agree to your salary. I’ll also give you appropriate commission based on your ability, on the premise that you pass the assessment.”
Gu Yansheng took out a newspaper and spread it on the table, pointing at the headline. “You’re new, and so am I. You want money, so we need to find money. See the money? This is money.”
Wen Yan stepped forward to look at the newspaper and guessed: “I’ve seen this news. You want to proactively approach these people’s family members, get them to spend money to hire us, and rescue their relatives from the police station?”
Gu Yansheng didn’t confirm or deny. “I have a meeting. Give me a plan after the meeting.”
He went out to Mr. Wolf’s office to find Mr. Wolf, who was frowning with an unpleasant expression.
“What’s wrong?”
“Gu, there’s been a little accident. Regarding the partner contract I directly gave you, our boss Mr. Gu Bai has a different opinion. He thinks I was too casual.
It’s my problem. I’m convinced I didn’t misjudge you. With your performance, you absolutely deserve a partner contract, but…”
Mr. Wolf shrugged helplessly: “According to process, I should have consulted him and the other two partners before deciding. After all, he’s the boss.”
“Understood. So turn me into an ordinary lawyer? Oh, Mr. Wolf, no problem. I don’t mind. You can revoke the contract and sign a lawyer contract instead.”
For Gu Yansheng, there’s really not much difference. No need to make this generous Mr. Wolf, who lent him 500 silver dollars, lose face.
Who knew Mr. Wolf would be unhappy. With a stern face, he said: “You’re giving up too casually, Gu. You should try to convince him. He’s a stubborn American. I told him your abilities are outstanding. If you go to the competition because we broke the contract, it’s a huge loss and threat for us. I’ve already said the words. If you give up, I lose face. Gu, this is the effort I put in for you.”
“Hahahaha, I see.” Gu Yansheng thought for a moment, then smiled and nodded: “Alright, I’ll give it a try.”
“Come on, I’ll take you to him. You need to convince this stubborn American old man.”
The boss’s office is on the second floor of the law firm, with a good view and a large room.
“Gu Bai, I’ve brought him.”
The American old man in front of him was over 50, in a suit that was clearly expensive material, sitting there with an aura of authority that commanded respect without anger.
Only when he came out from behind the desk did he notice this American had a limp in his leg, leaning on a cane that looked like cherry wood with a golden eagle head handle.
“Mr. Gu Yansheng.”
Gu Bai’s Chinese pronunciation was extremely accurate, immediately switching to rapid English.
“Wolf has told me about your interview Q&A experience. On behalf of the law firm, I welcome your joining.
But the partner part was indeed Mr. Wolf acting without authorization, without going through the law firm senior meeting, so the contract must be revoked.
If you’re dissatisfied, you can use legal means to sue Mr. Wolf for fraud in concession court. He had no right to skip the senior meeting and make decisions directly for the law firm.”
Gu Yansheng shook his head as he listened: “Mr. Gu Bai, that’s not right. If I sue, of course I’d sue the law firm directly.
The contract I signed was with the law firm, stamped with the law firm’s seal, signed in the law firm’s formal setting, with plenty of witnesses.
And Mr. Wolf, as the founding partner of your firm, must have frequently represented your firm in the concession handling matters and taking cases. He has the qualification to express the firm’s intent.
Legally, I have no obligation to figure out how many people in your company need to approve before your seal is authentic and effective.
If an officially existing seal can’t represent the legal validity of contract formation, and it can be overturned just because a few people say they weren’t informed or didn’t agree, then at least 90% of contracts in the world could be voided with one sentence about someone being unaware.
A contract formally signed in a formal location—I really have no reason to sue just the individual and not the law firm.
Of course, I could sue both together.”
Thud. Gu Bai’s cane heavily slammed the floor, his eyes flashing coldly.
“Sue wherever you want! This is the concession. You, a Chinese, can’t win.”
“Winning or losing in court isn’t the point. Make a name for myself, step on your shoulders—I’ll have plenty of places to go. Your rival firms will be delighted to have me join. In other words, in the end, I win no matter what, and you lose no matter what.”
Gu Bai’s hawk-like gaze stared at Gu Yansheng for a good while, confirming Gu Yansheng didn’t avoid it at all, then walked to the nearby sofa. Passing Mr. Wolf, his tone softened as he said.
“Looks like your vision is pretty good.”
“Of course.”
Mr. Wolf breathed a sigh of relief. Things could have turned into a real confrontation just now.
Now that Gu Yansheng was recognized, Mr. Wolf looked much better, his tail practically wagging.
“Don’t underestimate Gu just because he’s young. The moment he opened his mouth in the interview, I knew his talent. My eyes are sharper than the eagle on your cane.”
“Officially welcome your joining. Please sit.”
“Thank you.”
Gu Yansheng sat down. Gu Bai got straight to the point: “Partner status is different from lawyer. As you said, to a certain extent, a partner represents the law firm’s will, while a lawyer is just a subordinate.
Danwen Law Firm, from its founding until now, every lawyer promoted to partner has handled brilliant major cases.
You, as a lawyer just arriving in Shanghai with no track record, will find it hard to gain others’ recognition and make outsiders think Danwen Law Firm’s partner status is cheap. That’s my concern. I have to be responsible for the law firm. Hope you don’t mind.”
Gu Yansheng smiled slightly: “Human nature.”
“Good.” Gu Bai nodded: “I agree to the partner contract taking formal effect, but the contract won’t give you US dollars. How capable a lawyer really is ultimately shows in the price others offer you. I hope you can quickly produce a shining record so that when clients come to us, I can give you a reasonable appearance fee.”
Gu Yansheng nodded: “I’ll do it as soon as possible.”
“Gu is also new to Shanghai. Gu Bai, how about splitting one of my cases to him to help him build a reputation quickly?” Mr. Wolf decided to help to the end.
Gu Bai didn’t object: “It’s your own case. You decide, as long as you can convince the client. I have no opinion.”
“I’ll try.” Mr. Wolf frowned slightly, thought about his cases, “Gu, you know, some clients come for me. Convincing them to trust you will take extra work from me. Might need a little time.”
Good guy, but Gu Yansheng doesn’t need it.
“Mr. Wolf, thanks for your help, but it shouldn’t be necessary. You two, seen this morning’s newspaper?
