Taking the microphone from the waiter, he spoke with pride.
“Uncle Gerald, this is a piece my grandfather wrote.
It’s not some priceless art, just a way to congratulate you on your 60th.” Everyone knew exactly how much weight the old man of the Zhao family carried in this country.
My father‑in‑law immediately stood up, visibly excited, and took the scroll with both hands, his smile going from ear to ear.
“Derek, when you go back today, thank the old gentleman for me.
And please tell him that I, Gerald Shen, will visit with my family another day to thank him personally.” Now every guest present, including my mother, looked at my father‑in‑law with new respect.
Very few people in the entire country could receive such personal attention a handwritten calligraphy scroll from Old Zhao.
This honor could not be measured in money.
“Good brother, you really went to bat for me.” I clapped Derek’s shoulder hard.
He smiled back, pleased with himself.
Then I walked on stage.
Everyone looked at me with curiosity.
Derek’s calligraphy gift had already maxed out face‑giving; they wondered what I, the son‑in‑law running the whole event, could possibly add.
I first poured myself a glass of wine, toasted my father‑in‑law, and drained it.
Then I took out the expensive watch that Diana had prepared, personally fastened it on his wrist, and picked up the microphone again.
“Thank you all for coming today.
And, taking advantage of my father‑in‑law’s birthday banquet, on behalf of my beloved wife, I’d like to announce that Huida Group’s CBD project in Nanqiao has officially been signed and secured.” My short words caused a bigger sensation than Derek’s scroll.
Helping the family group secure that development zone in Nanqiao meant Huida was entering a new phase of high‑speed growth.
In the near future, it wouldn’t just be a star enterprise known throughout the four provinces of Jiangdong, but very likely a major name across the whole country.
Congratulatory voices rose again and again.
My father‑in‑law, exhilarated, patted my shoulder with satisfaction, and his smile remained fixed in place from that moment on.
After I stepped down, Nick stood up holding a gift box.
Remembering that gift box now, I can’t help a bitter smile as I look out at the calm sea.
If that damned black devil hadn’t returned to China, that birthday banquet would not have been the pinnacle of my life.
That day, Nick, with his sinister mind, had prepared a chain of schemes, one linked to another.
Just like the seemingly calm sea whose undercurrents are already raging, waiting to explode.
Nick walked up to my father‑in‑law with the gift box and raised his sharply‑featured black face in a sincere smile.
“Dad, this is a hat I brought you from America.
Happy birthday.” He flipped the lid off the box, pulled out a baseball cap with “Happy Birthday” printed on it, and placed it on my father‑in‑law’s head.
The whole room fell silent.
I suddenly noticed the complicated look on my mother‑in‑law’s delicate, charming round face.
Thinking back now, she must have felt both shame and anger.
Because Nick had just put a green hat on my father‑in‑law.
Under the green brim, my father‑in‑law’s face went from pale to livid and back again.
His lips trembled for a long time without any words coming out.
I stood there like an idiot, staring at that damned black man’s stunt.
It was my mother who recovered first.
She nudged Mother‑in‑law.
Mother‑in‑law quickly snatched the hat from Father‑in‑law’s head and flung it aside, then glared at Nick while soothing her husband and explaining to the guests with a forced smile.
“Everyone, you all know Nick’s lived in the States for years.
He doesn’t really understand our customs.
Please don’t mind him.” Nick put on an innocent, clueless expression.
Who could have guessed that he’d deliberately picked out that green hat to humiliate Father‑in‑law?
Seeing his in‑laws’ faces, he dropped his head, looking like a boy who’d realized he’d made a mistake, and slunk back to his seat.
Just as everyone thought the banquet would finally begin, the doors to the hall flew open and a group of police rushed in.
They froze for a moment, surprised to see so many VIPs gathered together.
“Leon Li, what the hell do you think you’re doing?
Do you want a suspension report written up?” After all these years, it was no accident that Derek and I remained friends.
He was fiercely loyal.
Even as just a deputy police chief in a county, he knew half the cops in the municipal system.
Seeing a precinct captain he recognized leading the team, he immediately stood and tried to shield me.
Captain Leon went rigid seeing Derek, then his eyes landed on my mother and cold sweat broke out on his forehead.
He knew he was in deep trouble.
Still, the intel he’d received was ironclad.
Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to snap back at Derek.
“Deputy Chief Zhao, you’re just a county‑level cop.
You don’t have jurisdiction over me.
I just got a tip that there’s large‑scale drug dealing going on in the Donglai Hotel ballroom.” Feeling like he’d lost face, Derek was about to retort when his wife tugged his sleeve and pulled him back down.
He gulped his wine angrily.
“What?!” “Nonsense!” “You think we’re that kind of people?
Trafficking drugs?
Are you insane?” “I think it’s time to clean up our city’s police force and get rid of idiots like you.” As the mocking comments from the guests rose, my mother tapped the table lightly with her slender hand.
The room instantly quieted, all eyes turning her way.
“It is every citizen’s duty to abide by the law.
Let the police do their job.
We won’t interfere.” Seeing her, Captain Leon practically had tears in his eyes.
He’d never been so grateful.
He glanced around and then, on his order, the officers started searching the hall.
Just then, a waiter carrying a tray walked up behind my father‑in‑law.
To everyone’s surprise, he suddenly lunged, swinging the tray at my mother‑in‑law.
From under the tray, a black Star pistol flashed into view.
The steaming hot soup was flung straight at Mother‑in‑law’s face.
She was frozen in terror, eyes wide, watching the boiling liquid flying at her.
I wanted to rush forward, but a large round table was between us, and my hand was tightly holding Diana’s.
In that split second, before anyone else could react, a tall figure stepped between Mother‑in‑law and danger.
The scalding liquid drenched the back of his white T‑shirt.
“Ahh!” “Fuck, I’m cooked!” Nick clenched his teeth, cursing, then turned to give my mother‑in‑law a goofy smile.
“Mom, are you alright?” “I’m fine, Nick.
What about you?
Hurry up, take off your shirt and let me see.” My mother‑in‑law, realizing she had been shielded by Nick’s big, strong body, frantically stood to examine his back.
“Damn it!” Bang!