Chapter 61 The Banquet Turns into a Crisis
Three days later, at night.
The banquet hall on the top floor of the Peace Hotel was brightly lit, as bright as day.
Under the enormous crystal chandelier, almost all the prominent figures from Shanghai's business and cultural circles were present.
"Have you heard? It's a banquet hosted by the descendants of the Bai family."
Which Bai family?
"Who else could it be? The Bai family of Bai Xiuzhu from back then!"
"Hiss... Didn't she already... have a daughter?"
"Who knows? That's what it says on the invitation. Today's gathering might be a trap."
People whispered among themselves, their eyes constantly glancing towards the doorway, a mixture of curiosity, scrutiny, and anticipation.
Du Kangnian stood on one side of the hall, his palms sweating, more nervous than if he were getting married himself. He straightened his impeccably tailored suit and tie, his eyes filled with fervent admiration.
As the heavy wooden doors of the banquet hall were slowly pushed open, and a figure appeared before everyone, the noise and whispers in the room instantly fell silent.
Su Wantang just stood there.
She wore a top-quality Shanghai-style cheongsam in a begonia red color.
Under the light, the fabric of the cheongsam shimmered with a soft sheen, clinging to her shapely figure and perfectly outlining her slender waist and graceful curves—any more would be too plump, any less would be too slender.
The slit wasn't high; only when walking did a section of her fair, jade-like calf be revealed, sparking the imagination.
That face inherited seven parts of Bai Xiuzhu's classical Jiangnan charm, and added three parts of the sharpness of a modern woman.
Innocence and allure, these two extremely contradictory qualities, are perfectly blended in her to create a breathtakingly beautiful woman.
The entire banquet hall was completely silent.
"My goodness, this...this is the eldest daughter of the Bai family?" A young businessman almost dropped his wine glass.
"It's even more...exciting than the rumors suggest."
Ignoring the admiring or inquisitive gazes, Su Wantang gracefully entered the venue. Du Kangnian immediately went to greet her, his demeanor as respectful as a butler.
"Young Miss".
"Is everything arranged?" Su Wantang asked calmly.
"All set! Just you wait and see!" Du Kangnian nodded emphatically.
Just then, there was another small commotion at the door.
Zheng Kai has arrived.
He wore a well-tailored Western-style suit, gold-rimmed glasses, and a warm smile on his face. He was refined and elegant, showing no trace of the sinister nature of the man in black gloves.
Beside him was a female secretary with an extremely hot figure. Her bodycon skirt was so tight it looked like it was about to burst, and she swayed as she walked, attracting a lot of attention.
Following behind Zheng Kai was Lin Zihang.
He changed into a brand-new designer outfit, his hair was slicked back and shiny, and his face carried a sickly excitement. He pretended not to know Su Wantang, adopting the air of a distinguished guest from Hong Kong, greeting the people around him in broken Cantonese, while his eyes kept glancing at Su Wantang out of the corner of his eye.
Su Wantang's gaze lingered on him for a second before she looked away.
"Mr. Zheng, it's an honor to have you here! We're so sorry we didn't greet you properly!" Someone immediately rushed up to curry favor.
Zheng Kai smiled and made polite conversation, his gaze seemingly unintentionally sweeping over Su Wantang. When he saw her face, a barely perceptible look of amazement flashed in his eyes.
That's interesting.
The banquet officially began, and the atmosphere was lively.
As the host, Su Wantang only said a few polite words before announcing the start of the banquet.
One exquisite dish after another was served in quick succession. But everyone was distracted; they were waiting for the legendary main course mentioned on the invitation.
Finally, amidst everyone's eager anticipation, the emcee announced in an almost chanting tone: "Now, please welcome our grand finale tonight—the East China Sea Golden Yellow Croaker!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a group of waiters in uniform carefully carried a huge white jade platter and slowly walked onto the stage.
The moment the red silk was unveiled, gasps of shock filled the entire banquet hall!
On the plate was a huge yellow croaker, nearly a meter long, its entire body gleaming golden, reflecting a golden luster under the light.
An indescribable, exquisite aroma swept through the entire hall, filling everyone's nostrils and arousing their most primal appetite.
"Oh my god!"
"This...this is a real large yellow croaker?!"
"I've lived for sixty years, and I've never even heard of anything this big, let alone seen it!"
An old man with gray hair stood up shakily, staring intently at the fish, his eyes reddening.
"This quality... it's the real deal! It's a genuine piece that's been extinct for decades!"
The head chef personally sliced the fish into paper-thin pieces and served them to each guest.
Everyone carefully picked up a small piece of fish and put it in their mouths.
In that instant, it was as if a bolt of lightning had exploded on my taste buds. The fish melted in my mouth, incredibly fresh and delicious. The rich sweetness slid down my throat, seemingly nourishing every part of my body, making me feel so comfortable that I wanted to groan out loud.
"Delicious! So delicious!"
"I've never eaten anything so fresh in my life!"
"It was totally worth it! This trip today was so worthwhile!"
The guests were full of praise, and their gazes toward Su Wantang had changed from scrutiny to utter awe and admiration.
"The descendants of the Bai family truly live up to their reputation!"
"It's not just that its reputation is well-deserved; it's that the student has surpassed the master!"
Du Kangnian stood in the corner, his face flushed with excitement, his back ramrod straight. He knew that the young lady's move had succeeded!
She successfully announced her return in the most shocking and direct way!
The atmosphere of the banquet reached its peak at this moment.
At this climax, a discordant voice suddenly rang out throughout the venue.
"I object!"
Lin Zihang suddenly stood up, still holding a wine glass in his hand, his handsome face contorted with excitement.
"I have something to say!"
The entire room fell silent instantly, and all eyes were on him.
Su Wantang raised her eyes and looked at him calmly, the playful smile on her lips deepening.
It's finally here.
Lin Zihang seemed not to notice her gaze, strode to the center of the hall, pointed at Su Wantang with his finger, his voice trembling slightly with resentment:
"Everyone, don't be fooled by this woman!"
He took a deep breath, his voice suddenly rising, like a cuckoo weeping blood:
"She's not the eldest daughter of the Bai family at all! Her name is Su Wantang, and she's the daughter of Su Zhenhong, the former department store tycoon of Shanghai!"
The entire audience erupted in uproar!
The Su family? The Su family that was wiped out for corruption and sent to labor camps in the far northwest?
"She was kicked out of the Su family long ago because of her bad character!" Lin Zihang's voice grew increasingly agitated.
"She's a complete fraud! She got some weird fish from who-knows-where and dares to pretend to be from a prestigious family to deceive everyone!"
His gaze swept across the entire room, finally settling viciously on Su Wantang's face, where he hurled the most malicious and fatal accusation.
"After being kicked out of her home, she had an affair with an unknown man in the countryside to survive! She was promiscuous and shameless!"
"A woman as filthy as her doesn't deserve to stand here! She doesn't deserve to be called 'Bai Family'!"
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