Grassroots lawyers also have their day

"These two guitars are quite expensive, and they're both solid wood, so they need to be broken in. But you're a beginner now, so take it slow. Let me tune them for you first," Wang Chuan said with a smile.

Actually, there was something else Wang Chuan didn't say: Wei Ping was using this KOA piano to learn, which Wang Chuan felt was a bit of a waste.

"Here, take the big one. Now you have no excuse, right?" Wei Ping laughed. "I'll use the small one."

"Give it to me?" Wang Chuan immediately shook his head like a rattle-drum: "No way, this violin is worth tens of thousands of dollars. It usually sells for 5000 US dollars overseas. Besides, it's a new violin. It's too expensive. I dare not accept it."

"You're kidding, Wei Ping just gave away a violin worth over ten thousand yuan like that, but Wang Chuan wouldn't dare accept it so easily. If others found out, they'd definitely gossip about him, saying he was taking advantage of Wei Ping's lack of expertise and taking advantage of a colleague. Wang Chuan doesn't have that kind of thick skin."

Wei Ping seemed to have anticipated Wang Chuan's reaction, and said with a stern face, "What are you thinking? This fine instrument isn't just a free gift. I have three conditions!"

"Huh!? There are conditions! Tell me!"

Wang Chuan was overjoyed. He wasn't afraid of any conditions; an equal exchange was better. Even if he suffered a loss, it didn't matter.

To him, the Taylor 914 was like a sports car enthusiast seeing a top-of-the-line Lamborghini sports car. It was absolutely eye-catching!

Seeing the lingering reluctance in Wang Chuan's eyes, Wei Meinu had already guessed seven or eight parts of the story.

"My first condition is that you have to teach me to play the guitar every weekend until I learn it. I've heard that a typical guitar lesson costs around 100 yuan, though there are more expensive and cheaper options, but let's just say 100 yuan. I estimate it will take me one or two years to learn to play," Wei Ping said, her eyes darting around.

"Agreed, this one's approved!" Wang Chuan nodded hurriedly. It's just teaching Wei Meinu to play the guitar, easy!

If he knew that Wei Ping's sense of rhythm was "slow"—well, to put it another way, basically slower than a sloth's reaction time—he probably wouldn't have thought that way.

"The second condition is that in addition to teaching me to play the guitar each time, you also have to provide meals. Of course, I don't ask for much, four dishes and a soup are unnecessary, just a rice bowl will do." Wei Ping smiled, her big eyes narrowing into crescent shapes, making her look even more playful and cute.

"That's no problem either, I can afford to treat you to a meal," Wang Chuan said casually.

"It's not just one meal, it's meals provided every time you teach piano!" Wei Ping immediately corrected.

"No problem. Don't worry, your senior brother has enough money for food." Wang Chuan said generously, "So, what's the third condition?"

"A third condition?" Wei Ping scratched her head. "Okay, let's leave it at that for now. I'll tell you when I think of a third condition."

"Okay! I'll also state my position here: as long as you don't let me do anything illegal or criminal, I'll agree to your third condition as well," Wang Chuan said solemnly.

"Don't worry! I also studied law, I won't break the law knowingly," Wei Ping said with a smile.

Before long, four dishes and a soup were served. The two ate and chatted, and by the time they finished, it was past 2 p.m. Wang Chuan felt that his place was too shabby, so he took her to a small park near the neighborhood.

Sitting on a park bench, Wang Chuan began teaching from the very basics, while Wei Mei looked at him with adoration. Soon the sun had moved to the mountaintop, and the sky slowly darkened.

"Are you going to a bar today?" Wei asked, looking up.

"Well, it's getting late, let's call it a day. Shall we practice again tomorrow? I'll treat you to dinner!" Wang Chuan said, glancing at his phone.

"Okay! No need for dinner! I might go to a bar to listen to music tonight!" Wei Ping said, as her phone rang in her pocket.

After hanging up the phone, Wei Ping turned around and said, "My family is urging me to go home for dinner. See you tonight!"

Wang Chuan helped Wei Ping set up her instrument, and Wei Ping hailed a taxi on the roadside. In the blink of an eye, the taxi disappeared into the traffic.

Wang Chuan looked at the guitar in his hands. He wasn't stupid; how could he not understand Wei Ping's meaning? But he dared not think too much about it; poverty had stifled his imagination!

Although it was a new guitar, Wang Chuan played it for an afternoon and felt that the tone of this guitar was much better than the one in the bar. He hesitated for a moment, but finally decided to take this Taylor guitar to the bar to sing!

When Wang Chuan entered the bar, Sister Hong and her employees were having dinner, and many people saw the violin case on his back.

"Chuan'er, come here quickly, this is yours." Sixth Brother stopped eating and smiled, then noticed the violin case behind Wang Chuan: "You bought a new violin?"

"Sixth Brother, Sister Hong, you're both here." Wang Chuan sat down next to Sixth Brother, took out his guitar, and handed it to him.

Sixth Brother casually took Wang Chuan's guitar. In his opinion, all guitars were pretty much the same, as long as they could produce sound. He glanced at it and handed it to Sister Hong: "Wow! It's a foreign brand guitar. Sister Hong, do you recognize it?"

Sister Hong looked at the guitar in her hand, then at Wang Chuan: "Chuan'er, have you gotten a big job lately? Made a lot of money, right?"

"Sister Hong, you're joking. I'm just a lowly intern lawyer, where am I supposed to get big cases? I'm lucky if I can even make a living." Wang Chuan picked up a bowl of rice and ate it in big mouthfuls.

"If I'm not mistaken, this guitar should cost over 30,000 RMB. Even if you're buying it secondhand, you'd be getting a steal with a 95% discount for its condition," Sister Hong said to Wang Chuan.

Wang Chuan's heart skipped a beat: Holy crap, this guitar is so expensive! Looks like I underestimated its price! Should I try to return it?

"Don't tell me you picked up this guitar!" Sister Hong said, staring at Wang Chuan.

Wang Chuan is now quite famous on this street, and many of the bar's customers come specifically to hear his songs. Sister Hong mistakenly thought someone was trying to poach him, so she gifted Wang Chuan an expensive guitar as a token of her sincerity!

Wang Chuan looked a little embarrassed. After hesitating for a moment, he finally told the truth about how Wei Meinu had given him the piano as tuition.

Sister Hong breathed a sigh of relief. At least he wasn't poaching her. Looks like she'd have to win this young man over. Sister Hong looked at Sixth Brother: "Sixth Brother, there's not much going on at our bar during the day, and the weather's getting hotter every day. Why don't we have Wang Chuan come here to teach people how to play the piano? I can even audit some lessons myself."

Sixth Brother was worried about music therapy, but seeing that it would allow Wang Chuan and Sister Hong to have more contact, he immediately nodded in agreement: "Chuan'er, don't go to the park anymore, that's not a place to practice the piano! Come to the bar! There aren't many people there during the day anyway."

Seeing that Sixth Brother was winking at him, and that Sister Hong also wanted to come over, Wang Chuan nodded in agreement. The bar's atmosphere was definitely better than the park!

"By the way, I heard from Sixth Brother that you live in the basement. I suggest you store your guitar at the bar. The basement gets damp in the summer, which can affect the guitar. Maybe after a year, your guitar will be cracked!" Sister Hong suddenly said.