Chapter 3 - 2: This Lawyer Is Very Unethical

But he quickly paused, let out a sigh, and shook his head.

"I’m currently living in a property owned by my father, so I don’t pay rent."

’With an extra expense like rent, the amount I’d have to pay her would be even less—under three hundred.’

But Zhang Hu didn’t have to worry about rent...

"No, you can choose to take on that burden!"

A smile spread across Xu De’s face as he spoke again, his words like a devil’s whisper:

"You can have your father charge you rent."

Zhang Hu: ?

The single sentence made Zhang Hu’s mind go blank. He looked up at Xu De, his face a mask of astonishment.

’Have his dad... charge him rent?!’

"Wait... this... this..."

Zhang Hu was stunned. He hesitated, at a loss for words.

"Is that even legal?!"

’That sounds a little... strange...’

’And... isn’t this method a bit too blatant?’

’This kind of naked retaliation... won’t the court come down on me for it?!’

"Mr. Zhang, I’m a lawyer. Naturally, what I say is legal!"

Xu De’s expression turned serious. He knew the law backward and forward; how could his advice not be legal?

"There isn’t a single law that says a father can’t charge his son rent!"

"Of course, you must sign a compliant lease agreement."

Zhang Hu’s mind went blank again.

’It seems... there really isn’t a law that says a father can’t charge his adult child for rent!’

’It’s just...’

"But my salary is still very high. I own a food company."

Zhang Hu suddenly sighed again, a bitter smile on his face.

The amount he had to give was based on a percentage of his base salary, and his salary was quite high...

"My income is a combination of ’salary + business operations,’ so my monthly income is..."

He hadn’t finished his sentence

when Xu De interrupted:

"Mr. Zhang, you are the owner of the company."

"You can give yourself a pay cut."

Zhang Hu: ?

The corner of Zhang Hu’s eye twitched, and his eyes widened.

He then heard the other man slowly add:

"For a reasonable cause, you can cut your own salary to a thousand a month, or even just one yuan... though I wouldn’t recommend one yuan. That would be too arrogant."

Salary too high? That was an easy fix.

Just give yourself a pay cut!

Zhang Hu’s head was buzzing.

’What does he mean, he doesn’t recommend one yuan because it’s too arrogant?’

’Isn’t dropping it to a thousand just as arrogant?!’

When he came back to his senses, Zhang Hu stared at Xu De in utter disbelief. After a long moment, he stammered:

"What about... the company shares..."

"Judging by your age, your company was likely established before your marriage."

Xu De spoke slowly, demonstrating his professional expertise.

"Premarital assets are considered personal property and are not included in marital assets."

"However, if the business appreciates in value after marriage, the difference in value from that appreciation, as well as subsequent dividends, are considered marital property."

For example, if you bought stock worth 1,000,000 before marriage, and after marriage it appreciated to 1,100,000, that extra 100,000 is marital property.

"But!"

"You can sell your shares."

Xu De continued to strategize, "You can sell them to your father for a reasonable market price—say, 900,000 or 1,000,000—and liquidate all your shares. The money from that sale would be considered premarital property."

"Then, your daily expenses can be reimbursed by the company."

"Any funds you need can also be ’personally gifted’ to you by your father!"

"This way, you become a low-income individual with a monthly salary of two thousand, or even one thousand, who also has to pay rent."

Zhang Hu’s eyes went wide. He shot to his feet as if struck by lightning, his world turned completely upside down.

’A single conversation with you is better than ten years of study!!!’

’What was that about a father charging his son rent?’

’And what was that about giving himself a pay cut?’

’And what was that about selling his appreciated, premarital shares to his father for their original, pre-appreciation price, with the proceeds still counting as premarital property?!’

Zhang Hu swallowed hard, his voice trembling slightly as he looked at the lawyer before him.

"Is... is this really not illegal?"

He felt this was all a bit... audacious!

’Is the judge seriously not going to take a belt to me for this?!’

"It’s perfectly legal."

"Of course, this is all on the condition that your reasons for these actions are ’normal.’ Otherwise, it could be deemed concealment of assets."

Xu De also stood up, looking gently at his client.

"If you do all this, you will only need to give your wife three hundred yuan a month. And for how long..."

"That depends on when you decide to file for divorce."

In other words... as long as Zhang Hu didn’t decide to divorce her...

...his wife, assuming she didn’t work, would be stuck with only three hundred yuan a month—not even enough for a decent meal!

If she tried to latch onto some other rich man... as long as Zhang Hu refused the divorce, she would never be able to "come ashore" for the rest of her life!

Furthermore, if she cheated again, it would provide more leverage for the eventual divorce, allowing him to give her a smaller share of the assets, or even none at all!

"This... this... this..."

Zhang Hu felt as if he had just pushed open the door to a strange, new world.

’That’s right.’

’This is the way to do it!’

’A divorce? No, she deserves a few years of economic sanctions first!’

Seeing his reaction, Xu De asked:

"Mr. Zhang, do you have any other questions?"

Zhang Hu snapped back to reality and looked at him excitedly.

’I thought I’d run into some wet-behind-the-ears young lawyer and would be out of options.’

’But it turns out... this lawyer really has some tricks up his sleeve!!!’

’Although something still feels a little off...’

’But who cares? It’s all legal and by the book, so what can anyone do?!’

Zhang Hu excitedly grabbed both of Xu De’s hands.

"Satisfied? I’m more than satisfied! My only regret is not meeting you sooner!!!"

Xu De said:

"In that case... shall we head to the finance office to settle the contract?"

"Of course!" Zhang Hu said, ecstatic.

"Excellent."

With that said, Xu De walked to the side, finished writing up the "Drafting Guide" and a "Fee Notice" for his client, and then led the man out.

The method he proposed was rather risky.

But if Zhang Hu followed his drafting guide to the letter... it would be completely secure!

CREAK~