Chapter 7: Reporting Up
On the other side, the editor-in-chief of Nichinichi Shimbun directly called the Gendarmerie Headquarters.
The gendarme captain on duty could not ignore the importance of this information, neither out of duty nor reason. The anonymity added some credibility to the news leak. Even if it were false, it would only be a trip to verify.
“Assemble!”
As for the other newspaper companies, they were no different from intelligence stations. Each had its own benefactor behind it. When information was provided, it was for the public. Privately, their mission was to uncover the truth.
Several groups of people, disguised and in reconnaissance, followed closely behind the Japanese, their target: the French Concession police station.
Gu Yansheng was not too concerned about the developments at the police station. As long as one newspaper company’s publication featured this news tomorrow, his objective would be achieved.
For now, it was still most important to finalize his identity.
Danwen Law Firm indeed had considerable influence in the Concession.
Gu Yansheng, working with Miss Mery, could feel the speed of their progress. Whether it was the service window of the Public Works Bureau’s Household Registration Office, or his familiarity with those who rented houses and local agents, they were at least warm and friendly.
When people heard they were renting a house for the lawyers of Danwen Law Firm, they even offered a discount on the rent.
However, even with a discount, for lawyers to maintain their image, the rented houses could not be cheap. This was a matter of face; they couldn’t possibly live in a small attic room costing two silver dollars.
“200 silver dollars a month? Too expensive.”
The agent initially introduced Gu Yansheng to a detached villa, but upon hearing the price, Gu Yansheng felt that this pretense of status was not essential.
200 silver dollars, and not even in a prime location. Prime locations were over 500. Thinking of the three small yellow croakers that the organization had given them as principal, which converted to at most 120 silver dollars, how could they afford to live in such a house?
In the end, Gu Yansheng chose an apartment for 80 silver dollars, a two-bedroom, one-living room unit, similar in layout to modern apartments. It even had a telephone, which was enough to maintain the law firm’s image.
In the Concession today, having an independent residence, not shared or rented out, was considered a sign of high income.
It was likely only groups like businessmen, government employees, lawyers, and doctors who could maintain such a lifestyle.
However, lawyers were divided into different tiers.
As he went about his business and chatted, Gu Yansheng clearly understood the reasons why lawyers were struggling so much now.
Originally, all of Shanghai and the entire nation needed lawyers. Those who did well lived in luxury, and those who did poorly still had enough to eat. Now, with the war, it was over; the military did not listen to lawyers.
Outside the Concessions, even throughout the entire country, there were only a limited number of places where lawyers could still be of some use.
Consequently, Shanghai alone, with its large number of lawyers, was a burden the Concession could barely digest.
This led to intense competition, which in turn led to low case prices. People then changed professions; those who couldn’t change professions sold themselves for whatever price they could get. It was a tragic situation beyond description.
Three hours later, all the matters were concluded. Gu Yansheng treated Miss Mery to dinner, and then returned to his apartment building.
He surveyed the apartment. Servants had been hired to clean it, and the bedding had all been replaced with new ones. When the lights were turned on, there was a sense of peace.
It was the first day in Shanghai, and after all the running around, he had finally secured a place to stay.
The Good Citizen Certificate from the occupied area allowed him free passage there, while the Household Registration Book from the International Settlement granted him protection under British and American consuls.
The most important thing, however, was his lawyer’s license.
Gu Yansheng took out the expedited business card holder from his small leather bag, containing 100 newly printed business cards.
To the touch, the paper for business cards nowadays was rather stiff, but those who used them were either wealthy or influential, so the texture felt acceptable.
The content was simple: the law firm’s letterhead, lawyer Gu Yansheng’s name, and contact information, which was the law firm’s telephone number.
“With this, contacting police station cases won’t seem out of the ordinary.”
With his identity secured, the next step for Gu Yansheng was to find a client to hire him for this case.
He wondered how Lu Bowen and He Yun were faring at the police station. He needed to hurry; this client had to appear tomorrow.
Ring ring, ring ring.
The sudden ringing of the telephone startled Gu Yansheng. He had just moved in; how could there be a phone?
Gu Yansheng answered the phone, and on the other end, he heard the voice of Susan, the beautiful receptionist.
“Is this Lawyer Gu’s residence?”
“Miss Susan, you have my phone number already?”
“I got your number from Mery.”
“Uh, alright, what is it?”
Susan complained, “Did you forget something? If you don’t come soon, I’ll have to get off work.”
Gu Yansheng suddenly realized; it was his fault, he had completely forgotten about his dear interview candidates. He imagined those five people still waiting expectantly.
He felt a pang of guilt.
“I haven’t forgotten.”
Gu Yansheng, not wanting to lose face, thought quickly and smiled, saying, “Beautiful Miss Susan, this is tonight’s interview content, and there’s only one criterion for passing: whoever waits until the very end, I’ll hire them.
Beautiful Miss Susan, could you help me with this? An assistant is a very important hire, and I’ll treat you to afternoon tea tomorrow.”
“Then I’m going to eat you up!”
“My pleasure.”
The next morning, Gu Yansheng woke up and went out for breakfast. There were already newsboys shouting by the roadside.
“Papers, papers! French bribed by Japanese, French Concession no longer safe. Papers, papers! Major event, French Concession succumbs to Japanese might.”
“One, please.”
“Here you go, boss.”
Business was good. Gu Yansheng saw many people buying newspapers from the newsboy and squeezed in to buy one.
Wow! This headline: French Concession secretly hands over law enforcement power to the Japanese.
Wow! This accompanying photo: A reporter captured secret arrests in an alley next to Mailan Police Station, photographed on the spot. It emphasized that although the arresting officers were in plainclothes, their shoes were standard Japanese Army leather shoes.
The person arrested was also a disguised reporter. After identifying himself, facing the cameras outside, the Japanese left behind that precious image – a picture of a fierce yet slightly off-putting big face.
“Tsk, truly photogenic.”
Gu Yansheng praised with a smile and looked around the newsstand. Without exception, every newspaper company he had called had published news. Except for Shen Bao, which praised and criticized ambiguously, acting as a hypocrite, all other newspapers were directly condemning them.
Regardless of whether the news was true or not, there was no harm in scolding the Japanese first. As for the French, they had lost all pretense of shame and were scolded even more severely.
It was Gu Yansheng’s behavior of just looking and not buying that earned him disdain from the newsstand owner. If he hadn’t been wearing a sharp suit, he would have been scolded too.
He had already bought one copy; he wouldn’t buy the rest. He didn’t consider copper coins insignificant and saved the money for the organization.
After breakfast, he also listened to the reactions of the public in the tea house regarding the incident, and then headed to the law firm for work.
As soon as he entered, he met Susan’s meaningful gaze. Her lips were smiling, but her eyes were angry.
“You should have told me in advance.”
“If I had told you in advance, it would have been a matter of business, and I would have had no reason to treat you to dinner,” Gu Yansheng said with a thick skin, stepping forward and meeting her gaze with a smile.
Susan immediately laughed, “Gu, you really don’t act like a typical reserved Chinese man.”
“Then I am indeed not a typical person.”
“Mr. Wolf has already arrived. He asked me to inform you to find him upon arrival. He will introduce you to the other partners of the law firm.”
“Thank you.”
“Your assistant is waiting for you at the office door. He arrived quite early.”
This made Gu Yansheng, who was already heading towards the office, turn back and praise, “Miss Susan, if I become the boss, I will definitely make you my secretary. You are very professional.”
Turning the corner in the hallway led to Gu Yansheng’s office. Gu Yansheng saw the assistant at the office door.
He looked to be in his 40s and was the oldest among the five people from yesterday. His suit was slightly worn, and he was carrying a bag, waiting quietly.
Regarding the current stage of legal development in China, being older did not necessarily mean more experience. They were born with queues, and in adulthood, they advocated for reform. The collision between the old society and new ideas meant that those who moved upward were pioneers, while those who went downward were considered relics.
