MWC – Chapter 28 Old Friend (Part 1)

I AM DROPPING THIS NOVEL. IF ANYONE WANTS TO CONTINUE THEY CAN. IF POSSIBLE PLEASE SHARE THE LINK SO I CAN BINGE READ TOO.

Today, Wang Da’an went all out and treated everyone to a meal at Ji Chuan Shi, a Japanese restaurant.

Although the owners were obviously Chinese, the restaurant’s decor and the servers’ attire were distinctly Japanese. The round windows, low tables, and the simple yet elegant layout of the private rooms were all very authentic.

The Japanese, or the people of Yingzhou, formed the second largest federal entity within the Federal Empire. Like the Westerners, the Kingdom of Yingzhou was once a vassal state of the Zhongzhou dynasty. A thousand years ago, the Kingdom of Yingzhou conspired with the Westerners, betraying the Zhongzhou dynasty and together, they brought its downfall.

Of course, this history is still whispered about in the northern provinces, but in the southern regions, it has long been forgotten.

Despite the current laws of the empire that promote equality and prosperity among all races, and the considerable autonomy enjoyed by each federal entity, there are still insurmountable barriers among the different ethnic groups. Westerners hold the highest status, followed by the Japanese, then the Chinese. People from the Western City-States Alliance rank fourth, and the lowest are those from the Brave Chiefdoms of the South.

The Kingdom of Yingzhou is located on the eastern coastal islands, hence the Japanese are also referred to as “Easterners”.

The social hierarchy is also reflected in cultural preferences. For instance, Japanese cuisine is considered a high-end dining experience for the Chinese.

Currently, Lu Ming, Wang Da’an, Chen Qinghua, and Jiji were kneeling on the soft mats in a private room, around a low wooden table adorned with various raw seafood dishes.

Since Beiguan is a coastal city, local seafood is not expensive. However, Japanese cuisine comes with a hefty price tag. For example, salmon sashimi—while local salmon might retail for just 10 cents a pound, a few thin slices of sashimi, weighing maybe two or three ounces, could cost 50 cents.

This meal would cost over 4 yuan, which is quite extravagant for working-class people.

Jiji was experiencing Japanese cuisine for the first time, and her eyes were shining with excitement. However, she suppressed her enthusiasm, fearing she might be looked down upon. She diligently attended to everyone, pouring tea and water, and occasionally standing up to fetch condiments for Lu Ming. Her slender legs in black stockings caught Chen Qinghua’s furtive glances.

“Japanese food is said to be healthy and good for the body! It’s indeed light and appetizing!” Wang Da’an remarked enviously, “Our ancestors didn’t have such insights.”

Lu Ming smiled and took a sip of water. While he felt that the Chinese had a longer history of eating raw fish, it was always as a side dish, with steamed food being the staple—a better choice given ancient hygiene conditions. However, he saw no point in arguing about it here.

“Lawyer Wang, I disagree with you…” Chen Qinghua suddenly looked up, diverting his gaze from Jiji’s legs.

“Oh? What do you mean?” Wang Da’an was taken aback.

“Our ancestors had their merits. We, the Chinese, have a population of hundreds of millions. Do the Japanese have that many? If their diet was healthier, why don’t they have more people?” Chen Qinghua said, his neck stiff with conviction.

“The Yingzhou islands are not rich in resources, so their population is naturally smaller than ours!” Wang Da’an laughed, “You’re too young and naive. Just because I said something critical about our ancestors doesn’t mean I’ve betrayed them. It’s a fact, not some grave offense.”

“If our ancestors weren’t great, how could they have dominated the Westerners and Japanese for thousands of years? Back then, the Westerners were nothing but greedy white-skinned barbarians, and the Japanese were fickle traitors!” Chen Qinghua’s eyes widened, as if someone had stepped on his tail.

“Stop talking nonsense. Where did you get such forbidden books? Burn them immediately!” Wang Da’an glanced around nervously.

Chen Qinghua realized he had misspoken and shook his head, “I… I just heard someone say it…” He quickly took a swig from his cup, which made him cough violently.

Wang Da’an considered firing this troublemaker to avoid any potential issues for the law firm. But given that Chen Qinghua’s salary was paid by Lu Ming, he couldn’t bring himself to suggest it.

Lu Ming, however, looked at Chen Qinghua with appreciation. It was rare to see young people who hadn’t been completely overwhelmed by Western culture and who still held pride and respect for their ancestors.

“Wang Ge, I heard you’ve been taking on a lot of cases recently. Anything interesting?” Lu Ming asked, changing the subject.

“Nothing much…” Wang Da’an hesitated, “Just a murder case that’s a bit troublesome.”

A murder case? Lu Ming was surprised. Given Wang Da’an’s reputation and standing in Beiguan’s legal circles, even for legal aid cases, he shouldn’t have been assigned a murder trial.

“The defendant refuses to accept a plea deal and insists on going to trial. But my client adamantly denies premeditated rape and murder, which would mean the death penalty. How could he agree to that?” Wang Da’an sighed, “If we go to trial and lose, I’ll get another 10 points deducted. I’m at risk of losing my law license.”

Wang Da’an’s score was at -87 points. Losing a case would deduct 10 more points, putting him just one step away from disbarment.

Lawyers were assessed with a base score of 300 points, which tripled with each level. Negative 100 to 300 points was for junior defenders; 300 to 900 points, for intermediate defenders; 900 to 2700 points, for senior defenders, and so on. Every summer, a new level assessment was conducted.

Given his precarious score, Wang Da’an avoided trials and settled cases out of court. His legal aid cases mostly involved providing legal advice.

By mid-year, his diligent work on numerous legal aid cases would earn him extra points, pulling him out of the danger zone.

He hadn’t expected to be assigned a serious felony case that required a trial.

Lu Ming smiled, “Don’t worry, we might just win. I’ll help you look for any weaknesses in the case.”

Wang Da’an forced a smile, “Better not drag you into this. The opposing lawyer is not a prosecutor but the top attorney in Beiguan.”

Lu Ming was taken aback, “Liu Hanming? Really? He’s personally taking the case?”

“Yes…” Wang Da’an’s smile turned bitter, “He wants a perfect end to his career before he advances to the next level this summer.”

Liu Hanming, with a score of 2697, was currently a senior defender. If he earned just 4 more points before the summer’s assessment, he would advance to the next level and become a high-level attorney.

“He wants to win his final points by defeating you…” Lu Ming chuckled, a playful glint in his eyes, “Actually, he’s targeting me, right?”

Wang Da’an didn’t understand the gaming jargon Lu Ming used, but he agreed with his vivid description, “Lu Ming, you shouldn’t get involved. Let Liu Hanming vent his anger this time, and he won’t trouble us in the future.”

Lu Ming smiled, “If he wants to vent, it’s better he targets me. After dinner, I’ll review the case files.” Seeing Wang Da’an still hesitant, Lu Ming firmly added, “Brother Wang, leave it to me. Your score is too risky, and I started this mess. If he vents his anger on me, he’ll stop bothering us in the future, right?”

Wang Da’an thought for a moment and nodded, “Alright, you’re right.”

This young partner had a score of over 31 points. Losing 10 points wouldn’t matter much, and it would settle their grudge with Liu Hanming’s firm, which was a good outcome.

Jiji, listening to their conversation, breathed a sigh of relief. Her uncle had been tormented by this case, but with the capable young boss’s help, things should be fine.

She glanced at the young boss.

If her uncle couldn’t continue as a lawyer, she would be sent back to that cow-dung-filled countryside. After experiencing city life, she’d rather die than go back!