Gu Chen smiled.
Xue Qingqing said: "I haven’t asked the boss for a raise yet."
Gu Chen replied: "You can have a raise. I’ll increase your salary and settle overtime pay once we get back."
Actually, Gu Chen knows that the law firm has long since started making a profit...
The law firm began generating substantial income a while ago!
Every day, the firm is earning a considerable amount of money!
And this is despite Gu Chen rarely doing live streams or engaging in marketing through them.
If he did a shopping live stream, who knows how much he could earn.
But such activities are ones Gu Chen seldom engages in; he doesn’t enjoy doing live marketing. After all, he is a lawyer and should focus on what he needs to do.
If it’s about setting up a legal seminar, engaging in community service, or educating the public on law, or teaching students, Gu Chen is very willing to undertake those tasks.
Teaching students is entirely different from giving a lecture.
Gu Chen doesn’t do everything for money.
Money can be earned gradually, as the firm slowly expands, income will continue to increase.
Besides, Xue Qingqing has been a tremendous help during this time.
From the beginning of the firm recruiting staff, Xue Qingqing recommended many of her university classmates and graduate colleagues, who are all professionally skilled and capable of handling cases, and have since become employees of the Gu Chen Law Firm.
Later, the firm grew and expanded in Yun City, and then sought to establish a branch in Capital City.
Because Gu Chen still needs to go to Capital City, after all, he already has a position and needs to teach courses at Peking University every week, which is also very important.
As time goes by, his professional title might get elevated, perhaps even earning him a professorial title.
Xue Qingqing has always been utilizing her resources to assist Gu Chen, giving her a salary raise is just a small gesture.
Gu Chen said: "I’ve spoken to finance and HR about increasing your salary! Now your monthly salary exceeds forty thousand."
After all, Xue Qingqing is Gu Chen’s assistant, always following him around with barely any rest, working every day.
It doesn’t matter giving Xue Qingqing a bit more salary.
Actually, when Xue Qingqing initially worked at Fangda Law Firm, her monthly salary started at forty thousand, but it decreased when she joined Gu Chen’s firm.
That’s because Gu Chen’s firm was just starting and wasn’t growing rapidly yet.
Hearing about the raise, Xue Qingqing was somewhat happy, "Hee hee, thank you, boss!"
Gu Chen said: "So, dinner with the boss tonight?"
Xue Qingqing snorted softly, "Ah, boss, you’re really too much. Boo hoo, just got a raise and now expected to treat the boss for dinner."
Gu Chen laughed: "How about I treat you?"
Xue Qingqing said: "Alright, I’ll treat the boss for dinner, but you have to promise me to rest for a few days. At least for a few days, you shouldn’t take on any cases, otherwise, I’d have no way to rest either. I can’t work while the boss is off; what if you need help? I need to be there to assist you."
Gu Chen nodded, "Alright."
Actually, Gu Chen hadn’t planned on taking much of a break.
He’s just not taking cases for a short while, planning to resume later.
But during this time, he can visit the office, handle some matters, and do some live streams to educate the public about the law.
Gu Chen really feels the need for a break.
The recent cases have been exhausting and stressful, leaving him with no choice.
With one case following another, Gu Chen has been handling too much.
At last, this case is nearing its end, allowing him a bit of respite.
Seeing Xue Qingqing working diligently, Gu Chen felt somewhat moved.
Such a lovely lady always around, plus she came from Fangda Law Firm, which Gu Chen knows well.
It’s like Xue Qingqing gave up on one of the top three national law firms, along with high pay, to come here.
Fangda Law Firm’s director is her grandfather! If she were at Fangda, she could learn and work easily, earn well, and gain much, without having to come to Gu Chen’s firm and follow him for legal battles.
Yet, she chose to come here.
Xue Qingqing said: "Boss, what should we eat for dinner? I want Haidilao; I want meat."
Gu Chen laughed: "Alright."
Gu Chen and Xue Qingqing chatted happily, totally unconcerned about the case.
Now it’s still recess; once that’s over, this case will be almost adjudicated.
Xie Siyu said nearby: "Lawyer Gu, that means I won’t bear any legal liability, right? I’m still a bit worried, afraid they might pin all responsibility for the elder’s death on me."
Gu Chen said: "You won’t bear any legal liability, and the elder’s death doesn’t concern you. It’s their issue, nothing to do with you. They can sue the hospital if they want, but practically, the hospital didn’t do anything wrong. Without medical fees, how could the hospital operate on the elder? There’s no way. If they sue, they won’t achieve any favorable outcomes."
Gu Chen looked at Xie Siyu, saying: "Rest assured, I’ll fight for everything you deserve in this case; ensuring you’re not wrongly detained in a holding cell for so long. Good people shouldn’t bear these burdens and costs."
Xie Siyu nodded, "Thank you, Lawyer Gu!"
Gu Chen asked Xie Siyu: "If there’s a next time and an elder falls, will you still go to help them?"
Xie Siyu paused upon hearing Lawyer Gu’s question.
Xie Siyu hesitated briefly and quickly replied: "I will still help them because there are always genuinely needy people out there. Not everyone is a bad person, nor is everyone intent on extorting money through deceitful means."
"If an elder tries to scam money again, then I’ll come to Lawyer Gu! I’m sure with a lawyer like you, justice will prevail for me! I am definitely innocent!"
Gu Chen laughed: "Alright, come find me then, and I’ll represent you for free, won’t charge a dime."
Hearing this answer from Xie Siyu, Gu Chen felt gratified as well.
He hadn’t anticipated this kind of answer from Xie Siyu after experiencing this case.
Good deeds done by good people should be praised!
Xue Qingqing also gave Xie Siyu a thumbs-up nearby.
And at this time...
The recess ended!
The presiding judge, the panel of judges, all returned to the courtroom!
The presiding judge, Rong Liwei, struck the gavel!
"The session is now resumed!"
"Everyone in the court needs to be mindful of maintaining order! Anyone disrupting the courtroom will be held legally accountable by the court!"
"Now, this case has been fully investigated!!"