Chapter 51 The Screw Fell Off
The Zhang family may not believe what Mao Mao and her three older brothers said, but they cannot ignore Lou Fengju's words.
He was the young marshal of the Lou family, holding an important position in the military and political department, wielding considerable power, and the successor on whom the eldest marshal of the Lou family placed the most hopes. Compared to his other younger brothers, who were either doctors or young and unemployed, his words carried far more weight.
Even though Zhang's father is the president of the Haicheng Chamber of Commerce, he still has to give Lou Fengju some face.
After all, there will be many more places we need to interact with in the future.
Zhang's father gritted his teeth and made up his mind: "Alright, since the young marshal said he would take responsibility, then after everything is over, please give me an explanation!"
By the end, Zhang's father's voice was tinged with anger.
Today is his daughter's birthday, and the banquet is so grand. He also specially announced that he would choose a good husband for his daughter today. All the celebrities in Haicheng have been invited by him. He wants people to come dressed in their finest clothes and leave without explanation. It's like slapping the Zhang family in the face!
All of this was just for the absurd claim that "there's something wrong with the light"?
If nothing is found in the end, then the Lou family and the Zhang family will be sworn enemies for good!
Lou Fengju said in a deep voice, "Mr. Zhang, rest assured, I, Lou Fengju, will keep my word."
Mr. Zhang took a deep breath and said, "Jing Shu, you..."
"Wait, Dad." Zhang Jingshu stopped her father in time, interrupting him: "There's no need to clear the area yet."
"What's the meaning?"
Zhang Jingshu tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Although she still couldn't figure out what had happened, she had already come up with a solution in the short time.
“Since it’s just a problem with the lights, we don’t need to send the guests away beforehand.” Zhang Jingshu quickly walked to the side, pulled back the heavy curtains to reveal a bright window behind it, outside which lay the mansion’s tranquil garden. “We just need to invite the guests into the garden.”
Haitang Mansion is a large villa with a European-style courtyard design. It has spacious open spaces in the front and back, planted with flowers, trees, and large green lawns. In order to entertain guests, the garden outside is also lit up, allowing guests with leisure time to stroll.
“The weather is perfect tonight, we can call it an open-air dance party. We can invite the guests to the garden; it's spacious enough to accommodate everyone.” Zhang Jingshu looked at Mao Mao, then asked uncertainly, “Will this be alright?”
Mao Mao nestled obediently in her brother's arms, showing no sign of resistance.
Lou Fengju withdrew his gaze and nodded: "No problem."
"Good, good." Mr. Zhang was overjoyed and said repeatedly, "Let's do it this way. Have someone decorate the garden right away."
At a single command, all the servants in the mansion sprang into action.
Without disturbing the guests, they quickly set up the garden, moved out tables, chairs, and drinks, and brightened the outdoor lights.
The Western orchestra's performance was stopped. Mr. Zhang tapped the side of his cup with a spoon, making a clinking sound. The guests who were moving to the rhythm of the music in the dance floor stopped in confusion.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Mr. Zhang said with a smile, "Next, we have prepared an open-air dance party for you in the garden outside. Please move to the garden."
"An open-air dance party?"
"That's really strange."
"I heard that Miss Zhang returned from studying abroad; it's probably an idea from the foreigners."
"Perfect timing, there are lots of stars today, we can go outside and enjoy the scenery."
Unaware of what was happening, the guests, holding their wine glasses, strolled gracefully into the garden, guided by the servants.
The crowd gradually left, and soon, the once bustling hall was left with only a few people. The glittering light of the crystal chandelier quietly illuminated every corner of the hall.
Lou Fengju looked around to make sure nothing was missed before turning to Mr. Zhang and saying, "Chairman Zhang, please begin the inspection."
The crystal chandelier hangs at the very top of the roof, out of easy reach. A long ladder needs to be brought in for a specialist to inspect it.
To prevent the chandelier from falling, everyone moved away from the chandelier and stood in a corner, waiting for the inspection results.
Mao Mao sat obediently in her brother's lap, while Lou Yansui played with her little hands, kneading and pinching the soft flesh of her short hands like dough.
Xia Xiaoxiang stood to the side, watching this scene, her palms sweating and her chest pounding. She was too inexperienced to be as calm as the others.
If Mao Mao's premonition was wrong and the lamp was fine, wouldn't they be offending the president of the Haicheng Chamber of Commerce?!
The banquet suddenly took an unexpected turn when several young men and women in formal attire walked in from outside: "Dad, what happened? What open-air dance party? I've never heard of it before?"
They bear a resemblance to Chairman Zhang and are Zhang Jingshu's half-siblings.
"Jing'an, Jingyuan." Zhang's father looked at his children and said, "You've come at the right time. Help us greet the guests outside and tell them not to come near the hall."
He pointed to the crystal chandelier above his head, a cold smile playing on his lips: "Young Marshal Lou assured me that this chandelier would fall down."
"The light fell down?!"
Several young men and women unconsciously grinned, wanting to laugh, but they quickly suppressed their smiles because of Lou Fengju's crisp, hard military uniform and the badges on his shoulders.
"This chandelier has been hanging here for so many years, when has it ever had an accident?" said the eldest man in the group, named Zhang Jing'an. "I see it hanging there perfectly fine, Young Marshal Lou, is there some misunderstanding?"
Lou Fengju said coldly, "Just wait and see."
Zhang Jing'an then looked at Zhang Jingshu: "Second sister, this is your birthday banquet, aren't you going to say something?"
Zhang Jingshu swept her long, wavy hair that hung down her neck behind her back. "Didn't you hear what the young marshal said? He told you to wait and see, so you just wait obediently."
Compared to her harmonious relationship with her half-brothers, she had a very poor relationship with them. At this time, she didn't mind saying a few sharp words.
Zhang Jing'an shrugged nonchalantly and then reminded her, "Second sister, there are so many customers outside, all here for you. Among them are many of the Zhang family's business partners. If you neglect them, it won't look good. Father has entrusted part of the business to you, so don't embarrass him."
Zhang Jingshu sneered: "Don't worry, I will never let those businesses fall into your hands."
Mr. Zhang tried to smooth things over: "Alright, you two stop arguing."
The brother and sister turned their heads away and each put some distance between themselves.
"I'm doing this for my second sister's own good." Zhang Jing'an said with a sneer, "There's something wrong with the chandelier? Ha, could it be a scheme you put on with Young Marshal Lou?"
He then looked at Zhang's father: "We siblings have put in a lot of effort for Jing Shu's birthday banquet. Dad, is she going to accuse us of harming her the next second? I was the one using this mansion last time."
Mr. Zhang: "Alright, let's keep our mouths shut in front of outsiders."
Zhang Jingshu looked at him with the same sarcasm: "Big brother, I'd rather believe Mao Mao than your good intentions."
Mao Mao stared at the two of them with her bright, dark eyes.
Just as the brother and sister started arguing, Lou Yansui covered her little ears.
As they were talking, the inspectors had already approached the crystal chandelier.
Compared to a human body, the crystal chandelier on the ceiling is a colossal object, so large that even the wind cannot move it, and it has stood in this mansion for many years. Not long ago, it was dusted off in preparation for a banquet.
But just as the worker's hand touched that enormous crystal chandelier—
"Squeak—" "Crack—"
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the magnificent crystal chandelier swayed back and forth twice, emitting a teeth-grinding creaking sound. The crystal ornaments on it rattled and collided as if they had just weathered a catastrophic storm.
"Clang".
Something fell down and landed on the ground.
Lou Fengju bent down to pick it up, and his expression changed slightly.
He turned to face everyone and opened his palm, revealing a screw for fixing!
As the screw fell, it was like the last straw that broke the camel's back. The crystal chandelier on the roof suddenly sank heavily with a loud crash, revealing the wires at the top!
"Everyone, get out of the way!"
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