Chapter 48: Surveillance
The next morning, Gu Yansheng didn’t go to work, but came to the law firm first to find Wen Yan.
Wen Yan saw him with eyes full of surprise, “Mr. Gu.”
Wen Yan’s feelings these days were that he had finally seen a glimmer of hope, but the glimmer came once and was about to disappear again.
With Gu Yansheng there, he was the partner’s assistant, so he was highly respected in the law firm. If Gu Yansheng left, he would just be an insignificant little lawyer again.
People like him were plentiful in the concession, and the law firm wouldn’t value him.
“Wen Yan, I’m here to ask you for a favor. I remember in that case, there was a merchant couple preparing to do business in Shanghai, a manager from a car dealership, and a professor from Hujiang University. Help me contact these four people and have them come to the city government to find me at one in the afternoon.”
“Okay.” Wen Yan agreed first before asking, “But hasn’t that case already ended?”
“It’s unrelated to the case. Just tell them I need them for something, and they should come.”
“Alright, I’ll handle it right away.”
“Good, thanks for the trouble. Nothing else, I’m off.”
“Wait, sir.”
Wen Yan stopped Gu Yansheng.
Gu Yansheng paused his steps, “Something else? Just say it.”
Wen Yan hesitated a bit, then asked, “Is the sir planning to work long-term at the government?”
Gu Yansheng nodded straightforwardly, “I plan to do something for Shanghai’s judiciary. I probably won’t take cases as an individual in the short term.
Wolf will give me face and probably won’t fire you, at least not in the short term.
With Danwen Law Firm’s reputation backing you, as long as you work hard to find case sources, it’ll definitely be easier than before, and living in the concession shouldn’t be a problem.”
“I know, but I want to work for you. Do you still need an assistant?” Wen Yan asked.
“Hm?” Gu Yansheng was a bit surprised; this was something he hadn’t considered.
Gazing at Wen Yan, he said, “I have thought about taking you with me.
But your current situation is definitely much better than before. Not to mention the expected income level at the government, just working for the government might not be as comfortable as a free life in the concession.
Not everyone can understand why we’re helping the Japanese with things; it’s easy to face criticism.”
Wen Yan smiled indifferently, “What do I care about criticism? At my age, I’m more afraid of missing the chance for an old tree to sprout and bloom a second spring.
I know my own abilities. Although with your backing now, I’ll get by better, that’s about it.
I think following you gives me more prospects, Mr. Gu. I’m sincere. As long as you don’t mind, I’m willing to follow you always.”
“Have you thought it through?”
“Very clearly.”
Gu Yansheng turned to leave, “After the calls, wait for me at the door.”
No one in the secretary section knew him as well as Wen Yan did.
“Yes!” Wen Yan swept away his dejection, full of energy.
Wen Yan started as driver. The office had only two cars, and Gu Yansheng’s own car was much better than the office ones, so he didn’t take up the scarce vehicle quota.
Upon arriving at the office, he had Liu Xiaolou handle Wen Yan’s onboarding documents.
Liu Xiaolou’s expression made Gu Yansheng feel like the sky had fallen.
“This… this is your former assistant? Then what about me later…?”
Gu Yansheng knew what she was thinking, but no need to explain to her: “Notify the secretary section to arrange a position for him there. Notify general affairs to put an extra table at the door. How’s the report I had you write yesterday coming along?”
Liu Xiaolou recovered a bit, then said immediately, “It’s already finished.”
She picked up the prepared report from the table, “Please review it.
“Come in.”
Gu Yansheng looked down at the document, opened the office door, walked to his position, and sat down.
He casually picked up the coffee Liu Xiaolou had already brewed and took a sip, then continued looking at the document.
The document content was all what he had dictated yesterday; Liu Xiaolou only handled recording and polishing, so there weren’t many chances for errors, and overall it was fairly smooth.
As for the minor flaws, they were harmless.
Gu Yansheng leaned back in his chair and asked while looking, “Where do you live now?”
“Ah?” Liu Xiaolou was a bit surprised by the question, but answered immediately, “I live in Hengfeng Lane.”
“Where is Hengfeng Lane?” Gu Yansheng hadn’t heard of the place, but from the name, he could tell it definitely wasn’t in the concession area.
Sure enough, Liu Xiaolou said, “It’s near the girls’ high school. Do you know the girls’ high school? Out of the concession toward the train station, then about two kilometers further is the girls’ high school. There’s an alley by the street next to the girls’ high school called Hengfeng Lane; I live in an apartment there.”
“Oh~” Gu Yansheng nodded; based on the location, he had a vague mental map impression, and asked curiously, “Isn’t that far from work? Is rent near the city government very expensive?”
Liu Xiaolou smiled embarrassedly, “Rent is actually okay. The main reason I live there is it’s close to the concession. I like shopping, and sometimes after work I can go stroll the Bund and breathe the sea breeze. If I go near the city government, the round trip would be too late.”
Gu Yansheng smiled, put down the document, “There’s something I need you to do.”
“Yes.”
“I’m going to find you a neighbor. Find a way to rent the house next door to yours.”
“Ah?” Liu Xiaolou looked stunned upon hearing this, “Why?”
Gu Yansheng explained, “A couple will come this afternoon. I have something for them to do, but I don’t trust these two. It’s not that I’m afraid they’ll cause problems; I’m just not familiar with them, but I need them to help me with this matter.
So, I’ll arrange for these two to live next door to you. Your mission is to befriend them, keep an eye on them. The man is fine, mainly the woman—that woman must not disappear. You don’t need to care what else they do; it doesn’t matter, as long as they don’t disappear.
Basically, every evening when you go back, check if they’re home at night, like if the lights are on. Just that mission—can you do it?”
“Um.” Liu Xiaolou’s eyes darted as she thought, then nodded, “Should be no problem. But can I ask if there’s any danger?”
Gu Yansheng smiled, “No danger. You can think of it as I gave them some money to help me, but I’m afraid they’ll take the money and run, so I’m having you watch that woman. If really neither is home at night, then don’t I have time to react?”
“Oh~, I get it that way.” Liu Xiaolou smiled in realization, “Then no problem. Who are these two? Easy to get along with?”
Gu Yansheng nodded, “A merchant couple, around thirty, with some money. If you get along well, it’ll benefit you—at least if you become friends with that woman and go shopping, someone will cover your snacks. They won’t miss that little money.”
“Haha.” Liu Xiaolou laughed shaking, “Alright, call me when they arrive this afternoon.”
“Good, go out. Call Wen Yan in.”
“Yes.”
Gu Yansheng picked up the coffee on the table and took a sip. He intended to pull Lu Bowen and the others out of the quagmire, and now he had enough strength to do so.
But once they left the concession, there was a risk of losing contact. Whether No. 67’s people would go crazy wanting to grab them back for another round of interrogation wasn’t up to him, so no risk assessment, just necessary risk control.
By the time he finished sipping the coffee, Wen Yan came in.
“Mr. Gu.”
“Sit, Wen Yan. There’s something I need your help with.”
Gu Yansheng repeated to Wen Yan what he had just told Liu Xiaolou, except this time the protagonist was the manager from the car dealership.
Also moving, Wen Yan had no hesitation and nodded directly, “No problem. I’ll go look at the house tonight.”
“No need to be that urgent; anyway, the next few days are fine.”
Gu Yansheng put down the coffee cup, “You originally lived in Nanshi, right?
This manager lives in the International Settlement. Moving would mean a not-small rent expense, and concession houses aren’t cheap. You pay first; I’ll reimburse you later.”
“Mr. Gu, no need. After I move, I can rent out my own house; the price difference won’t be much…”
“I can’t have you help and make you pay. This matter is settled.”
Gu Yansheng thought and said, “Moving is a bit troublesome overall, but the concession environment is definitely better than Nanshi, so that evens it out. But you’re not single; you have a child to go to school. Moving to the concession makes schooling inconvenient.
Check if there are suitable schools in the concession for your child. Pick two, and I’ll find someone to help ask how to transfer in.”
“No need to trouble yourself. The child isn’t young; they can walk or take the tram.”
“You’re afraid they can’t transfer in, right?”
Gu Yansheng directly exposed his excuse. Concession schools were mostly run by foreigners; without money or connections, it really wasn’t guaranteed.
Gu Yansheng didn’t wait for his reply and picked up the phone to call Ling Xianwen right in front of him.
“Hello, Secretary-General, it’s Gu Yansheng. There’s something I’d like your help with. A friend’s child wants to go to a concession school. I’m asking if this is troublesome? Not troublesome, right? Thanks, Secretary-General. I’ll find you if needed.”
Putting down the phone, Gu Yansheng smiled at him, “No worries now, right? Pick schools freely. If the Secretary-General can’t handle it, I’ll get Wolf to speak for you. I don’t believe Wolf has no face in the concession to get into one school.”
What more could Wen Yan say? Mr. Gu always considered his child. Just this thoughtfulness made him know he hadn’t followed the wrong person.
“Thank you, sir.”
