186: Wanjiang

As night fell, the banquet hall of the Peace Hotel was brilliantly lit, filled with the scent of perfume and the rustle of elegant clothes.

Celebrities from all walks of life, government officials, and foreign diplomats gathered together.

A high-profile banquet was being held to celebrate the 'Great Victory of Shanghai.'

Lu Fan attended alongside the radiant Sheng Aiyi, who was dressed in a royal blue velvet qipao.

He originally had no interest in such occasions, but Sheng Aiyi had insisted.

Currently, he needed exposure; he needed to appear in such settings, chatting and laughing, rather than mysteriously disappearing.

Appearing frequently under the spotlight was the only way to create the effect of 'darkness under the lamp.'

Lu Fan understood this was a necessary disguise and had no choice but to agree.

As the banquet began, several high-ranking government officials and representatives from various circles took turns giving speeches on stage.

They either highly praised the heroic fighting of the soldiers at the front or sang praises for the brilliant decisions of the leadership.

Their rhetoric was flamboyant and filled with unrealistic optimism, as if the Japanese had already been completely defeated.

Yet, the applause from the audience was like thunder, and every face beamed with the joy of victory.

Few, however, stopped to reflect on the tragic price behind this victory and the even more severe challenges ahead.

Lu Fan lacked interest and gathered in a group with Sheng Aiyi, Tang Li, and others who happened to be present.

In a relatively quiet corner, they formed their own small circle to chat.

At this point, the speeches on stage came to an end, and the performance switched to several popular singers.

They sang the sentimental songs popular at the time, with lyrics consisting of nothing more than romantic trifles and lover's talk.

Singing such songs against the backdrop of celebrating a victory caused Lu Fan to unconsciously frown slightly, a hint of disgust flashing in his eyes.

The observant Tang Li noticed his expression and asked in a low voice, "Brother Fan, you don't like these tunes?"

Lu Fan nodded and spoke bluntly, "Decadent music, soft and spineless. "

"With the nation in peril and the bloody battle barely over, singing these is inappropriate."

His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of Zhang Yunhua and others at the neighboring table.

He looked at Lu Fan, and the scene at the Western restaurant from two months ago instantly resurfaced.

In an instant, new and old grudges quickly took root and sprouted.

"Brother Yunhua, this person has a big background; he's someone you can't afford to offend."

This scene fell into the eyes of Fu Sinian, who had a history with Lu Fan. He seized the opportunity to fan the flames, hoping to kill with a borrowed knife.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yunhua's face darkened immediately, and rage rushed straight to his head.

Fu Sinian continued to stir the pot sinisterly from the side: "Come, come, let's drink. There's no point in getting upset with someone who doesn't understand music."

As soon as these words came out, Zhang Yunhua's eyes lit up as he saw the hope for revenge.

"Exactly, this Little Bastard doesn't know a damn thing about music. Right, then I'll use music to humiliate him."

Zhang Yunhua was naturally arrogant; thinking of this, he immediately felt he was capable.

Holding a glass of wine, he walked over to Lu Fan's table with a pretentious air.

With a fake smile on his face, his tone was full of provocation: "Oh~~ I was wondering who it was. Aren't you afraid of your tongue getting caught in the wind?"

"Since you look down on it, why don't you produce some music worth looking at? If you've got the skill, don't just talk big."

Lu Fan took a look—wasn't this Julie Chen's 'good' nephew?

The one from the Traitor's family, a weakling who was both incompetent and loved to show off.

Immediately, his eyes showed complete disdain; he didn't even want to give him a second glance.

Seeing this attitude, Zhang Yunhua's meager IQ was instantly washed away by his rage.

Fortunately, Fu Sinian whispered a few words in his ear. A cunning light flashed in his eyes, and his self-important intelligence regained the high ground.

Then Zhang Yunhua deliberately raised his voice and challenged: "Since you say this music is all trash, then you do it."

"Don't say I'm bullying you. As long as you can compose a complete song, you win."

Lu Fan didn't fall for it at all and said with a sneer, "Childish~~"

"You~~" Zhang Yunhua was exasperated by the rebuttal: "Just say if you dare or not. Whoever loses will donate two hundred thousand silver dollars to support the soldiers at the front."

Two hundred thousand silver dollars! That was a massive sum.

The surrounding people fell silent, their gazes focusing on them with expressions of watching a show.

Sheng Aiyi gently pulled Lu Fan's sleeve and whispered, "Don't fall for it. He's doing it on purpose to embarrass you."

At this moment, Tang Jifeng walked over quickly, glared at Zhang Yunhua, and said crossly, "pretty boy, why are you everywhere?"

"Forgot how your grandfather dealt with you before? Beat it~~"

However, to everyone's surprise, Lu Fan looked at the arrogant Zhang Yunhua.

He actually smiled faintly and spoke calmly, "It's a bet."

Everyone was stunned; even Zhang Yunhua and Fu Sinian hadn't expected him to agree so readily.

"Good~~ You said it."

Zhang Yunhua, fearing he would back out, announced loudly to the public: "Then we shall begin the contest. If you can compose a brand-new song, I'll donate two hundred thousand silver dollars. Otherwise, you'll kneel down, kowtow, and call me 'Grandfather' three times."

"So much nonsense! You can start preparing the money now!"

Lu Fan's cold gaze swept over him as he walked straight toward Tang Li's best friend, the cool and elegant star, Hu Die.

After leaning down and whispering to her, Hu Die nodded solemnly. He then officially responded to the bet: "Give me fifteen minutes~~"

With that, he took Hu Die's hand and walked toward the inner hall.

In less than a quarter of an hour, under Zhang Yunhua's impatient urging and the curious gazes of the crowd...

Hu Die took a deep breath, walked to the center of the small stage, whispered a few instructions to the musicians, and signaled that she would sing a cappella.

Just as everyone was confused, Hu Die began to sing, her voice clear and infectious.

"The red sun rises in the East, its great path filled with rosy light."

"How fortunate I am to be born in your embrace."

"Carrying the flow of a single lineage,"

"Sharing hardships and blessings, standing with a straightened spine,"

"My nation of ten thousand frontiers, built on benevolence,"

"A faith that will never perish for a thousand years..."

The lyrics were magnificent and powerful, perfectly blending deep love for the country, national pride, historical weight, and an unyielding spirit!

It was worlds apart from those previous sentimental songs.

When the song ended, the entire banquet hall was so silent you could hear a pin drop.

Even though it was a cappella, everyone was shaken by this song they had never heard before, yet which struck directly at their souls.

After a brief silence, thunderous and prolonged applause erupted.

Many people even had tears of emotion glistening in their eyes.

This was the kind of singing that truly deserved this era and those soldiers fighting bloody battles.

Zhang Yunhua's face was as pale as paper, and he stood frozen on the spot.

His sentimental tunes were instantly made to look pale, weak, and vulgar in front of this song, 'ten thousand borders.'

The superiority was clear; they were as different as clouds and mud!

Fu Sinian's mouth also hung open, unable to say a word.

Tang Jifeng walked up to the deathly pale Zhang Yunhua and said flatly, "pretty boy, are you convinced?"

"Don't forget to donate those two hundred thousand silver dollars. I'm waiting for that money to support the front."

"If you try to back out, I don't mind going to your aunt to ask for it."

These words hit Zhang Yunhua's weak spot, making him both ashamed and angry. He subconsciously looked at Fu Sinian.

In contrast, Fu Sinian spoke with a serious face: "What are you looking at me for? You're the one who wanted to compete; if you lose, you have to take it!"

Having lost all face, Zhang Yunhua finally fled the banquet hall in a pathetic state.

Sheng Aiyi, Tang Li, and the others looked at Lu Fan, their eyes filled with wonder.

They hadn't expected that Lu Fan could not only create miracles on the battlefield and in the operating room...

But also crush an opponent so effortlessly in this social arena.

Lu Fan merely smiled slightly: "What are you all looking at? The charity donations are about to start."