Guild war

"Hello, can I register a trademark here?"

"A trademark?"

"Yes, can't your Industry and Commerce Bureau register trademarks?"

"Well, sorry, but trademark registration can only be done at the Trademark Office. We don't offer trademark registration services here in Xinfeng."

"Where is the Trademark Office? Is there one in Ganzhou?"

"No, there's only one Trademark Office, and it's in the capital city. If you want to register a trademark, you can either go to the capital or the provincial capital, where they handle trademark registration services."

"The capital and the provincial capital... they're both quite far."

Since the last time he mentioned trademarks to his parents, Chen Yu had planned to register one. However, when he inquired at the Xinfeng Industry and Commerce Bureau, he was surprised to learn that registration wasn't possible there. To register, he'd have to travel to the capital or the provincial capital, and both were quite distant.

This left Chen Yu with a headache, and he asked, "Um, is there any other way?"

"You could try a law firm. They might be able to represent you," the officer suggested.

"Thank you."

After leaving the Industry and Commerce Bureau, Chen Yu went to a nearby law firm.

"Hello, are you looking to hire a lawyer?"

"Yes, I'd like to consult with a lawyer about registering a trademark."

"Registering a trademark?"

The person who greeted Chen Yu was a woman in her thirties. Just like the staff at the Industry and Commerce Bureau, she seemed surprised by Chen Yu's request to register a trademark in this small county. It seemed they hadn't expected anyone in such a place to want to register a trademark, especially someone so young.

However, they were lawyers, and while it was unusual, they had dealt with such matters before.

"Hello, please have some water."

"I'm surnamed Yang, here's my business card."

"Hello, Lawyer Yang. I want to register a trademark, but there's no place for that in Xinfeng. To register, I'd have to go to the provincial capital or the capital city. I don't have much time, so I wanted to ask if your firm could help with the registration."

"That can be arranged. You just need to provide us with an authorization letter, and we can handle everything for you."

"So, it's that simple?"

Chen Yu smiled and said, "I thought I had to go all the way to the provincial capital."

"Going to the provincial capital is quite troublesome. In fact, our law firm can handle many types of matters besides legal cases, including trademark registration like yours. We've dealt with such trademark registrations before, although they are usually for businesses. May I ask if your family runs a factory?"

"No," Chen Yu shook his head. "My family runs a small restaurant called Snail Beauty. I want to register 'Snail Beauty' as a trademark to protect our brand."

"Snail Beauty? I can't believe your family runs Snail Beauty. I actually had your restaurant's snail dish a few days ago."

"Haha, thank you for dining at our restaurant."

"Hehe, your snail dish is delicious. But I didn't expect you to want to register 'Snail Beauty' as a trademark. It seems like your restaurant is destined for great success in the future."

"In that case, thank you for your kind words, Lawyer Yang."

The two of them exchanged pleasantries, and then Lawyer Yang spoke, "By the way, do you have your ID with you?"

"Yes, I do."

"Is this your parents' ID?"

"Yes, I'm not yet 18, so I think I can't register on my own."

"That's correct; minors can't register trademarks. But it's not a problem. You can use your parents' IDs for registration. However, your parents will need to sign and leave their thumbprints. I can prepare the authorization letter, and when you go back home, have your parents sign it."

"Alright."

With a lawyer's assistance, Chen Yu naturally felt at ease.

After paying the 300 yuan registration fee and the 700 yuan agency fee, everything was settled.

"Yang Lan, did you just handle a big case?"

"What big case? It was just a business for authorizing trademark registration."

"Trademark registration? Which company was it for?"

"It's not a company; it's a small restaurant in our area."

"A small restaurant registering a trademark? Which restaurant is it?"

"We had a meal there a few days ago, Snail Beauty."

"Oh, that one."

After Chen Yu left, a colleague walked into the office.

"That Snail Beauty had delicious snails, but why are they registering a trademark?"

"Maybe they want to expand their business."

"Hehe, are they thinking about franchising?"

Yang Lan's colleague chuckled, "It's just a small place. They might do fine in Xinfeng, but once they step out, there's not much room for growth. I think they're just wasting money."

"It's not necessarily the case. Many brands started from small places. I have a feeling that Snail Beauty has potential. As long as they manage it well, it might become a recognized brand."

"In that case, you should go start a 'Spicy Hotpot Beauty' tomorrow. How about that?"

"Don't tease me. I don't have that culinary skill. I'm fine being a small-time lawyer."

Yang Lan tidied up her documents.

The reason she had high hopes for Snail Beauty was partly due to its unique characteristics.

On the other hand, she had great confidence in Chen Yu.

Although Chen Yu was young, Yang Lan felt that this young man had a unique vision and was incredibly intelligent.

Take this trademark registration, for example. She had a hunch that it was the young man's own idea, not his parents'.

To have such thoughts at the age of sixteen or seventeen was far beyond what most people of his age could conceive.

...

"Merchant Brother, are you free tonight?"

"Why?"

"I need your help."

"Help with what?"

"We have a guild battle tonight at 9 o'clock, and we're understaffed."

After returning from the law firm, Chen Yu persuaded his parents to sign the authorization letter.

That same evening, Soul of the King, who had been sponsoring their business all along, sent Chen Yu a QQ message.

"Damn, Soul of the King, you bought over 200 skill books, and you still can't hold them off?"

"Even though we gained a lot of strength with those 200 skill books, those bastards actually formed an alliance and launched an attack on us with five guilds."

"Weren't there only three?"

"They probably thought that three guilds would be enough."

"That's right, Soul of the King. If you can hold up against this wave, you'll be amazing."

"That's why I need your help, my expert friend."

"What use is an expert?"

Chen Yu shook his head, "Guild battles don't require much skill; it's all about numbers and equipment. Even if I'm skilled, I'll still die several times in a guild battle."

"Don't be so modest, expert. I know you have an amazing piece of equipment."

"How do you know?"

"Never mind how I know. Can you help out?"

"Um, Soul of the King, it's not that I don't want to help, but I don't have time that day."

"5,000 yuan."

"Why didn't you say so earlier?"

"You swindler!!!"

Soul of the King cursed, "It's settled like this. I've already transferred the money to your account. If you don't come, I'll destroy you."

"Don't worry, I operate with integrity, and I don't deceive the elderly or the young."

Chen Yu quickly took out the U-disk he had prepared earlier, which was the Industrial and Commercial Bank's online banking device.

After logging into the official website, he found that 5,000 yuan had been deposited into his account.