Spy Wars: Red Shopkeeper

Chapter 5 Interview
British and American Concession, Danwen Law Firm.

"Hello, I'm here to apply for a lawyer position. What's your name?"

"Susan."

Gu Yansheng walked directly to the front desk, clicked on the recruitment information in the newspaper, and smiled at the British beauty Susan at the front desk.

However, the British beauty was a little unsure of the situation. She shrugged and gave him a helpless look. "You're a little late. I'm afraid it won't be your turn today. Why don't you come back tomorrow?"

After saying this, he nodded towards the five men in suits sitting on the stools nearby.

"Are you all here for an interview?" Gu Yansheng took a look and was a little surprised.

The ages of these people range from their twenties to their forties.

Lawyers and doctors were considered one of the few high-income elites in the Republic of China. I can’t believe that lawyers are doing so poorly nowadays. Or is it that the law firm he applied for is too famous?

"Hmm." Susan nodded. "Once they finish the interview, Mr. Wolf should be off work."

Gu Yansheng glanced at them. He didn't have time to wait.

He took out 20 French francs, placed them on the table and pushed them over.

Susan was stunned and a little amused: "Are you bribing me? And in front of so many people?"

Yes. "Of course not, beautiful lady, this is a law firm. I have a legal question I'd like to consult, so I paid 20 French francs to get an answer. I wonder if this is legal?"

Susan laughed heartily. "You're so funny! A consultation fee is obviously reasonable in a law firm, but if you want to use this 20 francs to get early access to Mr. Wolf's office, I really can't help you. It's not that I don't want to charge you, but I really can't."

As he said this, he pushed the money back with a cute expression.

You really are stubborn.
Susan's answer made the interviewees who were listening attentively on the other side of the benches obviously relieved.

This person is so shameless!

Why didn’t they think of such a good way to pick up girls?
Fortunately, it didn't succeed.

However, Gu Yansheng was clearly not ready to give up. He pushed the money back and said with a smile, "I think you misunderstood. My question is, if I were to get the opportunity to take this position, what qualities do you think I possess that Mr. Wolf would value most?"

Hiss~ A question shocked the interviewees and made them lean forward.

Susan didn't expect that this person's question was so interesting. Her eyes were a little bright and her smile became even brighter.

“To be honest, your performance surprised me. You have a very quick mind. If I were Mr. Wolf, I would definitely hire a lawyer like you as my future partner.

Unfortunately I'm not, haha, but I do know what kind of person Mr. Wolf wants."

Susan accepted the consultation fee and winked: "You can come over and I will tell you alone."

Gu Yansheng smiled in the direction of the interviewer, leaned forward and whispered softly into his ear.

"Mr. Wolf likes to ask some strange questions, which contain hidden mysteries. He is a righteous man who has compassion for the weak and fights against the powerful. I think, no matter what the question is, this is the answer."

"So that's how it is? I'm enlightened."

Gu Yansheng was exaggeratedly amazed.

The interviewees were all itching to ask, as the feeling of not being able to hear was too uncomfortable. Although a few of them still wanted to maintain their composure, some of them could no longer sit still and wanted to ask for advice.

"Next person."

At this time, a female assistant came out of the office, and at the same time, an outstanding young man who had just finished an interview also came out. He had a frown on his face, as if he was puzzled by some problem.

It seems that the interview is a bit difficult.

"No one's going? Then I'll go first. Listen more. It's helpful. It's worth the time."

Gu Yansheng told them seriously to go to Susan for advice, and walked towards the interview assistant without stopping.

The assistant didn't care who the people were. No one objected anyway. They were just curious why everyone in the queue walked towards Susan?
Question mark face?
Only Susan, who was surrounded by her interview partners, was shocked. She was actually being used. What a cunning and smart person she was.

Young and intelligent, she might consider leaving her contact information later. She couldn't help but smile, now even more optimistic about this person. Professor Wolf's interviews had been going on for a week, and because of the strange questions and the strict recruitment process, no one had ever passed Professor Wolf's assessment.

The reason is that lawyers play a role of justice, but whether it is legal justice or human justice depends on the individual.

I opened the door and entered the room, where a bearded Englishman was sitting.

"Hello Mr. Wolf, my name is Gu Yansheng, and I graduated from Peking University."

"Okay, let's stop talking nonsense."

Professor Wolfe raised his hand rudely to interrupt, saying expressionlessly, "You can see there are still many people queuing outside. If you are accepted, we will have plenty of time to learn about your past. If you are not accepted, I don't need to know either. Am I right?"

"Exactly. Ask your question."

When dealing with foreigners, avoid being servile. The lower you bend, the less people will respect you. Just be indifferent.

"sit down."

Professor Wolf raised his head towards the small bench and looked Gu Yansheng in the eye with scrutiny. "Three questions, the first one."

"In 1901, during your Qing Dynasty, a woman signed a contract as a child bride and married into a wealthy family. Now she wants a divorce, but the wealthy family disagrees and shows her the contract.

It clearly states that only the man can divorce his wife, not the woman. If the woman leaves without the man's consent, she must pay an additional compensation of a hundred times the five dollars gift money given to her. Five hundred dollars, how can you argue with that?"

Gu Yansheng said, "First, I will declare that the Qing Dynasty has fallen, and that its laws are automatically invalidated. The new laws should apply. Now, whether it is the laws of the Nationalist government, British law, or the laws of the concessions, none of them support this kind of child bride contract. Marriage is free, and the old laws should be invalidated."

Professor Wolf shook his head: "For ordinary civil contracts of the Qing Dynasty, the Republic of China government generally recognizes their legal validity, unless there are clear provisions that these contracts are no longer applicable in the Republic of China, but such contracts have not yet been declared abolished.

Child brides are an ancient custom in China, and public opinion supports this. Based on this, it is a typical Chinese thing and should be subject to the laws of the Republic of China. The concession recognizes the legitimacy of the Republic of China government.

Your advice is ineffective and you have failed.”

"That may not be the case." Gu Yansheng smiled slightly and paused before saying, "The second step is to find a foreigner to be the woman's fiancé and file a complaint with the concession authorities, accusing the woman's parents and the man's entire family of human trafficking."

Professor Wolf's mind suddenly clicked, as if he had thought of something, and he became interested: "Go on."

Gu Yansheng said loudly: "Whether it is the laws of the concession or the laws of the Republic of China, human trafficking is a serious crime. Once verified, both the buyer and the seller will be sentenced.

Without the woman's consent, her parents sold her, who was still a child at the time, to the defendant for 5 yuan.

The law does not have retroactive effect, but the premise is that the crime has been stopped. Although the incident happened before the founding of the Republic of China, the trafficking contract is obviously still continuing.

According to Article 241 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of China, anyone who seduces or abducts a man or woman under the age of 20 from his or her parental rights, guardian, or custodian shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than one year and not more than seven years.

Anyone who commits the crime as prescribed in the preceding paragraph with the intention of making a profit or with the intention of enticing another person to commit an indecent act or adultery shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not less than three years but not more than ten years and shall also be fined not more than one thousand yuan.

In past cases of this type, the most difficult thing to define is whether the transaction is complete, because the contract is often in the hands of the other party, the defendant will not produce it, and the plaintiff cannot get it either.

Because the main family is the party at fault, they will not support the woman's accusation for the sake of protecting themselves.

No one will admit to trafficking, and no one will admit to adultery.

But now, the most difficult part to define has been submitted to the court on my behalf by the opposing lawyer.

Even if the other party uses the founding of the Republic of China as a defense, the concessions were established before that, and British law predates 1901. Laws do not have retroactive effect and are completely inapplicable to the British Empire. I believe the criminal court in the concession will render a fair judgment."

"Why doesn't the Civil Court fight the Criminal Court?!" Professor Wolf couldn't help but applaud. His surprised expression was completely different from the indifference he showed when they first met.

"You might have been required to pay compensation, but now you don't have to. You've actually avenged the person involved, sending them to prison for at least five years. Brilliant thinking! Miss Mai Rui, give this to this person."

"Gu Yansheng."

"Make Mr. Gu a cup of coffee."

"Thank you."

(End of this chapter)