Grassroots lawyers also have their day

Houhai Bar Street is famous in Beijing, but the bars here are different from those in Sanlitun Bar Street and near the Workers' Stadium. They are not the usual "trendy" bars, there is no noisy shouting, and no dazzling lights that cause headaches.

The bars here take a "culture" approach, with melodious music conveying the sentiments of the post-80s generation. Inside, singers typically hold a guitar, sometimes singing softly, sometimes belting out songs, creating a mood-lifting atmosphere and showcasing a unique cultural ambiance of the capital!

The bar that Da Pang took Wang Chuan to was an inconspicuous little bar called "Past Events Like Smoke". The decor was simple but had a cultural atmosphere, making people feel very comfortable. It was the perfect place for a few friends to get together for drinks and chats.

When Da Pang and Wang Chuan entered, the bar staff were cleaning. Wang Chuan estimated that the bar was only about 100 square meters in size. At the front, there was a platform about 20 centimeters high, with several wooden stools casually placed on it, and a music stand placed in the corner.

"Hi! Sister Hong. I'm here!" the fat man greeted a young and beautiful woman in the distance.

"Fatty, you guys sit down first, wait for me a bit." Sister Hong looked up and waved to Fatty.

Wang Chuan looked in the direction of the voice and saw Sister Hong with shoulder-length hair simply tied back. She had a fair, oval face with delicate features, large, bright eyes, and light makeup. She looked to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old.

Wang Chuan estimated that Sister Hong was about 1.7 meters tall. She was wearing a white V-neck sweater and loose cotton casual pants, which looked very classy.

Hongjie exudes a subtle air of a strong, independent woman, yet retains a pure and innocent charm that is captivating, especially to men.

Da Pang and Wang Chuan casually found a place to sit down. After a while, the waiter brought over two glasses of lemonade and placed them in front of them with a smile.

Not long after, a waiter came over: "Fatty, Sister Hong wants you to bring the singer she recommended over for an audition."

Big Fatty hurriedly got up and led Wang Chuan to the front.

For a fleeting moment, Hongjie's eyes darted around when she saw Wang Chuan, but she quickly regained her composure. Seeing that Wang Chuan's hands were empty, she asked, "Do you need a musical instrument?"

"Could I borrow that guitar for a moment?" Wang Chuan glanced around and saw a guitar sitting against the wall.

Sister Hong waved her hand, and someone went over to get the guitar and handed it to Wang Chuan.

Wang Chuan felt a little uneasy. He hadn't touched a guitar for more than half a year and didn't know if his fingers were still working properly.

Wang Chuan walked to the front, casually sat on a wooden stool, tried strumming the guitar a few times, and then tuned it slightly. He used to carry a guitar and sing while busking next to the boss's food stall, so tuning the guitar was no problem for him.

After adjusting his tone, Wang Chuan shifted his posture, glanced at Sister Hong and the others in the audience, and softly sang a song that was once popular all over the country, Che Jiling's "The Furthest You Are My Closest Love".

The night is silent, to whom can I confide my secrets? Unwilling to turn back, all love has been missed…

As the prelude began and the singing began, Sister Hong's hand holding the wine glass trembled slightly. Her eyes were fixed on Wang Chuan, who was plucking the strings of the piano. She seemed to be lost in thought, or perhaps listening intently, her gaze somewhat vacant.

Wang Chuan's magnetic voice immediately attracted the attention of the busy waiters around him. Halfway through the song, many waiters were already waving their hands to the rhythm.

On stage, Wang Chuan fully expressed his emotions, making his singing even more flavorful.

Big Fatty glanced at Sister Hong and the people around him, secretly pleased. It seemed that Wang Chuan's part-time job was going to work out.

After the song ended, Wang Chuan looked at Sister Hong, seeking her opinion. But he saw Sister Hong staring blankly at the red wine in her hand. Wang Chuan didn't know if she was satisfied or... satisfied!

"Sister Hong... Sister Hong!" Big Fatty called softly.

"Ah! It's nothing..." Sister Hong was startled awake by Big Fatty, touched her face, and looked at Wang Chuan: "What's your name?"

"Wang Chuan! The Chuan in 'mountain and river'!" Wang Chuan hurriedly and cautiously replied.

"Our business hours are from 8 pm to 2 am. You can sing two shows a week, Tuesday and Thursday are yours. You can sing ten songs a night, and the fee is one hundred per show. You can try singing for a month first. If it's popular, I will give you more money." Sister Hong said to Wang Chuan.

"Okay. When do we start?"

Wang Chuan agreed without hesitation. He could sing two days a week, earning 100 yuan a day, which would add up to 800 yuan a month. With the law firm's subsidy, it would be enough to cover his daily expenses.

"Come over next Tuesday!" Sister Hong said in a businesslike manner. After speaking, she turned around and called out to someone not far behind her, "Sixth Brother, register Wang Chuan. Tell him the precautions."

After saying that, Sister Hong gave Wang Chuan a deep look and went to get busy!

"Sixth Brother, thank you for your help!" Wang Chuan followed the fat man to the side of the man called Sixth Brother, and the fat man bowed and scraped.

Sixth Brother was only 1.7 meters tall, with a strong build, a scar on his face, and a straight back. His eyes were as cold as stars. He glanced at Wang Chuan and nodded slightly.

"Kid, you sing well. Our bar has a retro vibe, and your song suits us perfectly."

"Prepare more songs next time. We're a quiet bar, so let's not play loud music. If a customer requests a song or leaves a tip, we'll split the cost 50/50. You don't mind, do you?" Sixth Brother asked.

"No problem, Sister Hong is already taking care of him by letting my brother come. Thank you, Sixth Brother!" Before Wang Chuan could speak, Da Pang had already taken over the conversation.

Wang Chuan later learned that the property in the bar belonged to Sister Hong. According to Da Pang, Sister Hong's family had a powerful background, but the specifics of that background were unknown.

All Da Pang knew was that Sister Hong had studied abroad and spent several years there. After returning to China, she worked in a government department for less than a month before resigning and opening a bar in Houhai.

As for Sixth Brother, Big Fatty warned Wang Chuan not to mess with him. Apparently, a few days ago, some thugs came to cause trouble, and he took down five of them by himself. They're still in the hospital now.

Wang Chuan nodded, keeping Da Pang's words in mind. He was there to sing for money, why fight for no reason! With the part-time job settled, Wang Chuan felt much more at ease.

After lunch on Monday, Wang Chuan went to the Chaoyang Court with his mentor, Niu Gongming, for a hearing. The two were handling a divorce case, and the client was the woman.

Wang Chuan only reviewed the case files that morning. It wasn't that he was irresponsible or cramming at the last minute; it was mainly because Comrade Lao Niu provided the materials late. Fortunately, the case was simple, and a morning was enough. In fact, ninety percent of the cases in the office weren't too complicated.

The woman in the divorce case is a company executive in her thirties. She appears very composed and exudes the beauty of a mature woman. The man works in computer software and is reportedly an engineer. He is a year older than her. The two were introduced by their families. At the time, they both felt they were getting old, but the other had a good job and education, so they agreed to the marriage.