Chapter 147 Old Chen's Birthday Banquet and an Unexpected Guest
Time flies, and another ten days have passed.
In the dead of night, Su Wantang lay in bed with her eyes open, unable to fall asleep.
Lu Jingyan has been gone for twenty-six days.
The room was so quiet that you could hear your own heartbeat.
She reached under her pillow and pulled out the cold Type 64 pistol, her fingers tracing the rough texture of the gun. It was a keepsake he had left for her, carrying his warmth and the scent of gunpowder.
I miss him.
Once this thought pops into your head, you can't stop it.
Having lived two lives, this was the first time she had ever tasted this feeling.
"Young Miss, are you still awake?" Wang Ma pushed open the door and came in, carrying a glass of warm milk.
"I can't sleep." Su Wantang put the gun back under her pillow and sat up.
"Old Chen sent someone to deliver the invitation," Aunt Wang said, handing over a red invitation card with gold lettering.
"The day after tomorrow is Mr. Chen's 70th birthday. He will be having a family banquet at home, and all the guests will be his closest younger relatives. You are on the guest list."
Su Wantang accepted the invitation, her eyes quickly softening before being replaced by a sharp, calm glint.
This dinner party hosted by Old Chen was no ordinary meal. Those invited were all rising stars from the core of Beijing's power circle. It was an excellent opportunity to expand connections and pave the way for Haitang Technology.
She can't miss it.
"Wang Ma, I understand. Go and prepare a congratulatory gift."
What should we prepare?
Su Wantang's gaze drifted to the window, a mysterious smile playing on her lips: "Prepare a birthday gift that no one else can give."
Two days later, Mr. Chen's courtyard house was brightly decorated and filled with guests.
Those who can come here are all either rich or powerful. When Bai Shu arrived in a low-key Volga sedan, Chen Dong, the grandson of Old Master Chen, who was in charge of reception at the door, personally came out to greet him.
"Sister Bai, you've finally arrived! Grandpa has been talking about you for so many times!" Chen Dong warmly led her inside.
Bai Shu wore a moon-white modified cheongsam today. It didn't have any fancy embroidery; it was just the simplest cut, yet it perfectly outlined her figure, which had become even more stunning thanks to the nourishment of the spiritual spring.
Her waist was so slender it could be grasped in one hand, and below it was a breathtakingly beautiful, pert curve. As she walked, her long, straight legs were faintly visible through the slit in her skirt.
As soon as she entered the courtyard, she attracted everyone's attention.
Several young men, who considered themselves accustomed to seeing beautiful women, stared wide-eyed, almost dropping their wine glasses.
"Bai Shu, come here." Old Chen, who was in the main seat, saw her and immediately waved happily.
Bai Shu smiled and stepped forward, opening an exquisite sandalwood food box: "Old Chen, I know you lack nothing, so I brought you a few peaches that you grew yourself. I wish you boundless happiness and longevity."
Inside the food box were six fist-sized longevity peaches, plump and pink, with a layer of fine fuzz naturally growing on their skin, and a refreshing fragrance instantly filled the air.
Those who knew their stuff immediately gasped in astonishment.
"My God! This appearance, this aroma, could it be made from the legendary monkey wine?"
"I've only ever seen descriptions of these peaches in ancient books! This...this is priceless!"
Old Chen was both surprised and delighted. He picked one up, smelled it just once, and felt completely comfortable. He praised it repeatedly:
"Good! Good! Good! You always manage to surprise me! I'll accept this gift!"
He immediately instructed his guards to carefully put the peaches away, treating them with the same care and attention he would show to antiques or paintings.
This move instantly increased Bai Shu's standing in everyone's eyes.
At the banquet, Bai Zhu behaved appropriately and spoke eloquently.
Whether discussing future industrial planning with Deputy Director Liu of the Ministry of Industry or talking about financial support policies with President Wang of the bank, she always hit the nail on the head, demonstrating Haitang Technology's ambition while also aptly addressing the needs of these important figures.
After several conversations, the way the high-ranking figures present looked at her changed from simple admiration to genuine respect.
The future of Haitang Technology is undoubtedly limitless.
The banquet was halfway through, and the atmosphere was in full swing.
Chen Dong then led another guest in.
He was a middle-aged man in his forties, dressed in a smart Zhongshan suit, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, with a refined face and a composed gait, exuding an air of scholarly refinement.
"Grandpa, Uncle Qian is here."
Old Chen was delighted to see the visitor and stood up, saying, "Weiguo, you're finally back. How are you settling in at your new workplace?"
"Thanks to you, everything is fine." The man smiled, his voice gentle and warm.
"I just got back from another place, and I have a lot to do. I'm late, please forgive me, Mr. Chen."
"What are you saying? Sit down."
Bai Shu held his wine glass, his gaze fixed on the man, but a storm raged within him.
Qian Weiguo!
The ledger left behind by Su Yuting clearly records that Qian Weiguo, an auditor in the project review team that year, questioned several data points raised by Lu Wenbo in the review report.
Not long after, he was transferred to a remote, desolate place in the Northwest, and disappeared without a trace.
The note in the ledger reads: This man is upright and incorruptible, usable, but now rendered useless.
What's he doing here? And why is he so familiar with Old Chen?
Bai Shu's heart was filled with alarm bells, but he remained calm on the surface, simply sitting quietly in the corner, observing.
Qian Weiguo exchanged pleasantries with everyone, and finally, his gaze landed precisely on Bai Shu.
He walked over with a smile, holding a wine glass, and offered his hand.
"This must be Miss Bai Shu, right? It's true that seeing is believing, you're so young and promising."
Bai Shu stood up and gently shook hands with him.
His palms were warm, dry, and strong.
"Hello, Uncle Qian."
"Don't call me uncle, it makes me sound old." Qian Weiguo chuckled as he released her hand, his eyes behind his glasses looking at her gently.
“I’m an old friend of Lu Jingyan. That guy has mentioned you to me quite a few times in his letters. He says you’re the smartest and most beautiful girl he’s ever met.”
His words were impeccable, both intimate and flattering.
People around him smiled kindly.
Bai Shu felt a chill in his heart.
She had read every single one of Lu Jingyan's letters, but they never mentioned her, nor even the name Qian Weiguo!
This person is lying!
Moreover, deep within his seemingly gentle eyes lay a subtle, almost imperceptible scrutiny.
"Really?" Bai Shu smiled, her peach blossom eyes curving into crescents, pure and harmless.
"That's just how Jingyan is. He always likes to praise people behind their backs, but he's like a silent gourd when they're in front of you. Uncle Qian, you two are such good friends, how come I've never heard him mention you? He's really good at keeping secrets."
The seemingly gentle yet barbed remark caused Qian Weiguo's smile to freeze for a moment.
The surrounding air seemed to stagnate for a moment.
"Hehe, we've known each other for years." Qian Weiguo quickly regained his composure, asking as if it were unintentional.
"I've heard that Miss Bai's Haitang Technology has recently gained a great reputation in Beijing. With such a large investment, Miss Bai must be very wealthy, far beyond the reach of ordinary people like us."
They've arrived.
Atractylodes macrocephala's Heart Path.
"Uncle Qian is joking. I don't have any family wealth. I was just lucky to meet some elders in Hong Kong who were willing to invest. They were optimistic about the development of the mainland, so I came back to test the waters. In the end, I benefited from the country's policies."
She attributed everything to the fictitious "Hong Kong businessmen" and "policies".
"Oh? An investment in Hong Kong?" Qian Weiguo's interest grew even stronger.
"As far as I know, you are working on a high-tech semiconductor project. Western countries are very strict about protecting us in this field. Miss Bai must have considerable influence and connections overseas to be able to obtain the equipment and technology."
This problem isn't just tricky, it's malicious!
In a single sentence, they wanted to pin the label of "colluding with foreign powers" on her!
Bai Shu's smile remained unchanged, but in his heart he had already sentenced this person to death.
She sighed softly, revealing a helpless expression that said, "You don't know."
"Uncle Qian, you've really wronged me. You have no idea how much I've worried about this batch of equipment. I begged and pleaded, I almost knelt down. In the end, it was only thanks to the patriotism of an elderly overseas Chinese in Germany that we were able to gather the first batch."
"As for the technology, let's not even talk about it. It was all thanks to patriotic scientists like Professor Zhou Jimin who worked day and night to achieve it. I'm just a businessman, what do I know about technology? I only know that our country can't always be held back by others. I can afford to pay for this! I'll sell everything I own to build a future for our country that won't be held back by others!"
These words were spoken with sincerity and righteous indignation.
Upon hearing this, the other leaders couldn't help but nod repeatedly, their gazes towards Bai Zhu filled with even greater approval.
"Well said! We need more entrepreneurs like Ms. Bai who are responsible and patriotic!"
She blocked all of Qian Weiguo's attempts with a shield of patriotism.
He looked at the smiling, yet impeccably composed young girl in front of him, and his gaze behind his glasses finally darkened.
Bai Shu met his gaze and continued to smile.
She was 100% certain that this Qian Weiguo was not as simple as the account book suggested.
His presence here today is a precise test aimed at her.
The "Candle Dragon" project... Lu Wenbo... Eagle's Nest...
A clue that she had temporarily shelved reappeared before her in an unexpected way.
The chessboard was more complex than she had imagined.
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