Chapter 4 - The Last Letter (2/2)
When Zhang Meng and others got to the house of Zhang Family, there had been forty or fifty people in the hall. Actually, all the upper-class people were on the list of invitation – gentlemen, entrepreneurs, and even confidants of the governor of Hong Kong. The reunion dinner of the Spring Festival in Zhang Family was just like the party for the upper-class people in Hong Kong, which reflected a terribly amazing social relation. No wonder Zhang’s Family could still be the dominant merchant force in Hong Kong, even though they had parted from a great leader of the communist party in mainland China.
Seeing Zhang Meng, people in the hall stood up and held up their glasses to show their respect to him one after another. However anxious he might be at that time, Zhang Meng couldn’t afford to offend those guests, for all of them were important friends of Zhang Family; therefore, he drank a toast to those guests one by one. Crispy red-faced and light-headed, Zhang Meng had already been drunk after almost half bottle of wine when he went up to Zhang Shaohong.
“You are late! Zhang Meng, Zhao San, take your seat quickly!” Zhang Shaohong said softly with a stern face. Actually, according to Zhang Meng’s memory, his elder uncle, though very rigorous and serious, always pushed him to study and took care of him very carefully. He was also the clan chief of Zhang Family then. At the table, two gentlemen sitting on the left side and the right side of Zhang Shaohong bore some resemblance of him. They were Zhang Shaotu, the second uncle of Zhang Meng, and Zhang Shaoba, his third uncle.
Zhang Meng couldn’t stand any longer. With his eyes reddening out of weeping, he whispered to his elder uncle about his father’s death. Hearing the news, Zhang Shaohong was so shocked that he felt his body frozen at that moment. With a glimmer of sadness in his eyes, he held back his emotion. Meanwhile, Zhang Shaotu and Zhang Shaoba also heard about the news from Zhang Meng, and their eyes turned red immediately because of sadness. If there were not so many celebrities, they would have jumped up.
Although everyone was in silence, their slightly shaking shoulders revealed their great curiousness and enthusiasm towards things that happened in Zhang Family. Some sensitive people had already felt the change of the atmosphere. Even in such a short period of time, some guests had already gossiped about that.
“Something must have happened in Zhang Family. I guess Zhang Shaoye is in trouble in mainland China!”
“Those four brothers in Zhang Family are all tough guys! I’m afraid that the death of Zhang Shaoye will bring a catastrophe!”
…
Suddenly, Zhang Shaohong walked on the stage, silencing the gossip of those guests, and no one dared to interrupt his speech. He said, “Ladies and gentlemen, let’s enjoy our dinner together or the dumpling will turn cold. I feel happy today… because… because my brother has come back home…I feel happy indeed.”
Returning to his seat, Zhang Shaohong looked at Zhang Meng. “Sit down…” he said in a peaceful but firm tone which was more likely to make his order irresistible and brought Zhang Meng a feeling of awe. These words made Zhang Meng calm down a lot, like a basket of ice water pouring down on his head. He knew clearly that he would never get an answer from a man like Zhang Shaohong.
“Stop crying! Be happy…Shaoye has come back home! We can have a reunion dinner together this year… Zhang Meng, fill the bowl for your father!” Zhang Shaohong said with peace. His words revitalized the dinner, and everyone sitting at the table was no longer quiet. Picking up several dumplings, Zhao San intended to say something, but he didn’t know where to start. Till then, this dinner was the hardest to bear for Zhang Meng, where he remembered nothing but the figure of his father. The man, who had taken care of him since he was a little boy, died for no reason.
Within half an hour, those guests started to leave. They soon perceived that there must be some misfortune in Zhang Family. Besides, they were smart enough to know that it was disturbing to stay here any longer.
When every guest had left, Zhang Shaohong said with a low voice, “Zhang Meng, read the letter.”
Zhang Meng handed over the letter to Zhang Shaotu and he read it softly.
Hearing the name of the Demonic Shrine of Marquis Wu, Zhang Shaotu was so terrified that, with his hands shivering, he couldn’t read it anymore.
“How come Shaoye investigated the Demonic Shrine again? Didn’t we tell him not to do that anymore?! He must be mad!”
“Clap!”
Zhang Shaohong thumped on the table furiously, which shocked Zhang Meng deeply. Taking care of Zhang Family for so many years, Zhang Shaohong always came over as unpredictable and enigmatic. It seemed that nothing could disturb him. Zhang Meng thought there must be something hidden behind that.