Chen Wei

Biodata

Appearance

Chen Wei is a thin man in his thirties, with gaunt cheeks and prominent cheekbones 11.

• Wears glasses, described at trial as gold-rimmed 12 23.
• Arrives at the police station neatly dressed and carrying a briefcase 12.

Personality

Chen Wei prizes fees and victories over the circumstances of the people affected by his cases. He takes on Li Erniu’s family after three other firms turn them away, intending to use Wang Qiang’s prosecution to pressure Wang Mei into giving up custody of her son 11.

He initially dismisses Xu De as an inexperienced opponent. When Xu turns Chen’s courtroom concession against him, that confidence gives way to anger and fear for his reputation 16 27 31.

Abilities & Skills

Negotiation and Pressure

• Offers a letter of forgiveness for Wang Qiang in exchange for Wang Mei surrendering custody; Xu De rejects the proposal 12 17.
• Recognizes that public opinion may affect the judge’s discretion and checks newspaper coverage before trial 19.

Litigation

• Presents a civil compensation claim of 218,343 yuan on behalf of Li Erniu’s family 24.
• Collects statements in Li Family Village, but relies heavily on witness accounts that Xu De later challenges 22 29.
• At the later hearing, questions witness Li Li and attacks the reliability of her changed testimony 47 48.

Relationships

• Li Youcai and Liu Cui — Clients and Li Erniu’s parents. Chen pursues punishment, custody leverage, and compensation for them; they later sign a settlement and forgiveness letter without telling him 11 16 48.
• Xu De — Opposing defense lawyer. Chen’s proposed custody bargain is refused, and a concession he makes during the first hearing helps Xu reframe the case 12 26 27.
• Sun Hao — Former classmate who secretly gives Chen a disparaging account of Xu De. After the first hearing goes badly, Chen blames Sun for misleading him and attacks him at Yang Teng Law Firm 16 30 31.

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Taking the case: Chen agrees to represent Li Youcai and Liu Cui and approaches Xu De with a proposal tying Wang Qiang’s prospects to Wang Mei’s custody rights 11 12.
• First hearing: Chen seeks civil damages and challenges Xu’s claim that Wang Qiang acted bravely. Xu uses Chen’s response to connect the confrontation to Wang Mei’s trafficking case; the hearing is adjourned for further investigation 24 26 29.
• After the adjournment: Fearing that newspaper coverage will damage his career, Chen confronts and beats Sun Hao over the misleading pretrial information 30 31.
• Later hearing: Chen challenges Li Li’s revised testimony, then learns in court that his clients have already accepted a 9,000-yuan settlement and signed a letter forgiving Wang Qiang 47 48. Wang Qiang is subsequently acquitted 50.