Chapter 975: Lame Master
Not long after Uncle Sun Shan settled in the city, news came from He Lixi that a legal advisor had been found for Sun Shan.
After receiving the news, Sun Shan ran over happily.
After searching for so long, I finally found one. Although it is half way to my target, it is still better than getting nothing.
This lawyer's name is Zhang Dingqiang, a native of Cantonese. He is forty years old, married to Ms. Xia, and has two sons, one daughter, and many grandchildren.
He was a student, but after failing the imperial examinations several times, he gave up the path of taking the imperial examinations and went to work in a pawn shop.
This Mr. Zhang used to be the shopkeeper in a pawn shop.
He Lixi said: "Manager Zhang is a cousin of Brother Qiang's daughter-in-law. He used to be the manager of a dental clinic. A year ago, he fell off a horse while out and survived, but his injuries were quite serious. After a year of treatment and recuperation, his body has recovered, but his legs are lame and he can no longer walk like a normal person."
After a pause, he added: "I still walk with a limp, but otherwise I'm no different from a normal person."
Sun Shan was stunned. Although being a legal advisor didn't require hard labor, being a cripple wasn't a good idea either.
What if I have to go to the countryside and can’t walk?
And if I encounter danger and want to run away, should I abandon my master? Or should I drag him along with me to increase the chances of being caught?
He Lixi looked at Sun Shan's expression and knew what he was thinking.
The look on his face clearly said: Your father-in-law is unreliable, introduce him to a cripple.
He Lixi continued, "The owner of the dental shop was not honest. When Manager Zhang was injured on duty, he was compensated with a few taels of silver and then fired. Manager Zhang also went to sue the official, but... if he could become a dental dealer, he would definitely have a large family and a lot of money in the future. Later, after coordination from many parties, he compensated some more silver, which was enough for the medical expenses and Manager Zhang was cured."
Sun Shan understood what He Lixi meant.
Shopkeeper Zhang had a lame leg and spent a huge amount of money on his medical treatment. In addition, he was unemployed and disabled. Even if he was not penniless, he was already strapped for cash.
But what does this have to do with him?
Sun Shan didn't understand what He Lixi meant by this.
He Lixi continued, "Manager Zhang was introduced by Qiang'er's father-in-law. When I first heard about this situation, I was not willing to join. But when I met Manager Zhang and found that he does have some skills, I will tell you about him. It's up to you whether you want to join or not."
He Lixi explained that Manager Zhang was an experienced manager of a pawn shop and had seen countless people. He was best at dealing with people and bargaining.
Moreover, because of his sales, Shopkeeper Zhang often comes in and out of the presence of high-ranking officials and has dealt with many of their managers. He is very good at observing people's words and expressions, understanding what others are thinking, and knowing what to say so that others like to hear.
Sun Shan had said before that he wanted to find someone who was good at navigating the relationship between the county magistrate, the gentry, and the common people.
Because of his experience in the pawn shop, Manager Zhang often came into contact with these three types of people, and he best met Sun Shan's previous requirements.
He Lixi continued, "After Zhang recovered from his illness, he wanted to go back to his old business, but his leg was lame, and he had a quarrel with his former employer over compensation, so it was difficult for him to go back to his previous business. It happened that Qiang's daughter-in-law told his family about it, and Zhang, who was visiting his relatives, heard about it, so he volunteered to be your legal advisor."
After a pause, he continued, "Manager Zhang wants to be your advisor. First, working for an official gives you a higher status. Second, it's hard to continue your old job, and it's even harder to start from scratch. Third, this is a rare opportunity to turn things around, so Manager Zhang wants to seize it. And you're an acquaintance, and it's better to work for an acquaintance than for a stranger."
A relative's relative is a relative.
Manager Zhang is the cousin of Miao's mother, and Sun Shan can be considered Miao's brother-in-law. Having Miao as a rope to lead you is better than being a rootless duckweed.
Nowadays, when looking for a job, people usually rely on internal recommendations, and there are very few opportunities to recruit people from outside.
Shopkeeper Zhang happened to hear what Miao said, so he quickly took the initiative and seized the clue.
If you succeed, you will be happy. If you fail, it’s just a failure and you won’t suffer any loss.
After hearing what He Lixi said, Sun Shan admired Manager Zhang for being so proactive.
No matter what you do, you have to grab opportunities yourself, it is difficult to have them come to you.
Jiang Taigong fishing is just a legend. Even if you encounter it, the probability is extremely small.
Might as well put out some bait and go fishing.
Old Master He San heard his son introducing a cripple to his grandson-in-law.
He said unhappily, "Brother Qiang's father, a cripple is not good. Although being a legal advisor does not require manual labor like doing coolies, it still requires physical strength. A cripple can't even walk properly, and it doesn't look good. If you take him out, Shanzi will be laughed at. Legal advisors also have to have good manners."
Old Master He San felt that his son was not serious about his work. He had been searching for so long, but ended up finding a cripple to take his place.
It seems that since the New Year is approaching, he just grabbed someone to make up the number so that everyone knows that he has completed his KPI.
He Lixi was unhappy, as if his father had deliberately found a cripple for Sun Shan.
Sun Shan was his son-in-law, and he wanted him to be well. If he was well, his daughter would be well too.
These days, I have been trying to find connections to help me find a legal advisor. I have invited many people to dinner and chatted with them for a lot of days. Spending money is a small matter. The main thing is the effort.
Why do I seem to have done nothing in front of my father?
He also wanted to find a mentor for Sun Shan who knew everything about astronomy and geography and was omnipotent.
The problem is that I can’t find it.
A good advisor not only charges a high price but also despises Sun Shan for his low position. A bad advisor not only asks for an exorbitant price but also has no performance.
Oh, he searched and searched, but it was such a hard search.
Dad doesn't look at the Sun family's financial situation, nor does he look at Sun Shan's potential.
I can't give much money, and as for the potential, it doesn't look like there is much potential.
Sun Shan was lucky. He passed three levels and defeated five generals, and finally passed all the levels.
Who knows if all his luck was used up in the exam, and he had no luck afterwards, and would have been a county magistrate in obscurity for the rest of his life.
Also, Sun Shan's image is not good. If he were handsome, tall and mighty, perhaps some lawyers would come to work for him.
But Sun Shan is not such a person. He is short, thin and dark.
It was only when Yun Jie'er was blind that she thought Sun Shan was a good man and was determined to marry him.
Well, she's married, and Sun Shan has done his best, but behind the scenes he'll have to trouble them to go to his wife's family.
Alas, children are debts from previous lives. He Lixi had no choice but to help Sun Shan with the work.
He Lixi said to Old Master He San, who couldn’t lose his temper: “Father, I have seen this shopkeeper Zhang and communicated with him. He is capable, so even though he has a lame leg, I recommend him to Ashan.
After all, Zhang is a student who can write. He has met countless people in his years as a shopkeeper, from rich people to peddlers. Ah Shan is a scholar and has no experience in the outside world. He asked Zhang to be his advisor to help him.
Old Master He San still wanted to argue with He Lixi.
Sun Shan couldn't bear to let them quarrel, so he immediately said, "Grandpa, father-in-law, I want to meet Zhang the shopkeeper. Only after meeting him can I know whether he is suitable for me."