PDLP Chapter 2042 The Brocade Box is a Trick!
Chapter 2042 The Brocade Box is a Trick!
Qian Houjin spoke lightly of his words, "This is just a small gift, nothing to show of respect," but the red brocade box he held in his hands seemed to carry an invisible thorn in Li Xiangnan's eyes!
He made polite excuses, but his eyes keenly caught the barely perceptible head-shaking gesture of Song Ziming to his side.
Zi Mo is known for his meticulousness and keen observation skills. Moreover, he had already made arrangements in advance to keep a close eye on the ten hostile forces in Yanjing when they came to deliver gifts, in order to prevent any unforeseen changes. His smiling gesture was enough to set off alarm bells in Li Xiangnan's mind.
Is there a trap hidden in the brocade box?
Was it a bomb like the Mu family's water tower? Or a poisonous creature like the ice marrow leech?
Or is it some more covert tracking or eavesdropping device?
Given that the Qian family operates in a gray area and is known for its unscrupulous methods, it's not impossible that they might use gifts to manipulate things during such tentative contact!
They might not dare to commit the crime openly in public, but they are very likely to place items that could create chaos or be used for subsequent tracking and eavesdropping!
Perhaps I'm overthinking it, or perhaps Zi Mo is overthinking it, but as the saying goes, one should not have the heart to harm others, but one should not be without the heart to guard against others!
In a flash, Li Xiangnan's mind raced.
Directly refusing Qian Houjin's gift would not only be impolite, but could also alert him, making him realize that you are already on high alert!
But if you accept it rashly and there's a real problem, the consequences could be disastrous!
It must be checked!
And it has to be fast, done quietly and discreetly, right under the other party's nose!
"Mr. Qian, you've gone to too much trouble. Your presence is already a great gift!" Li Xiangnan continued, his words of refusal slowing down naturally. His face displayed a perfect mix of embarrassment and gratitude. At the same time, he turned to the side to guide the guest, his left foot seemingly taking a half-step forward unintentionally.
This subtle body language was one of the secret signals that he and his core partners, including Song Ziming and Wang Defa, had agreed upon long ago.
"The item is suspicious. Prepare to take over and inspect it!"
Song Ziming, standing to the side, sharpened his eyes and instantly understood.
Almost as soon as Li Xiangnan finished speaking, Song Ziming took a step forward, a warm smile on his face, and reached out as if to take the brocade box. He deliberately said loudly, "Brother Nan, Master Qian is very kind. Please accept it on behalf of your niece. It is a token of his goodwill and a blessing from Master Qian to the child!"
His interruption, so natural, instantly caught Qian Houjin's attention.
The moment Qian Houjin's gaze slightly fell upon Song Ziming, Li Xiangnan also shook his head with a wry smile, as if he had been persuaded by Song Ziming, or as if he couldn't refuse such kindness. Finally, he extended his hand: "Ah, Third Master Qian, you really... make me feel ashamed! In that case, on behalf of my daughter, I thank you for your kindness!"
He accepted the brocade box with both hands, his movements steady and slow.
Just as his fingertips were about to touch the box, Wang Defa, who had been waiting nearby, suddenly cried out in pain, as if he had accidentally slipped. His obese body stumbled and crashed between Qian Houjin and Li Xiangnan. The cigarette box he had just taken out of his hand accidentally fell to the ground, and several cigarettes landed right there on the ground.
"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry! Look at how clumsy I am!" Wang Defa apologized hastily, bending down to pick up the cigarette. His broad back blocked Qian Houjin and the brocade box, cutting off their view. His movement also attracted the attention of the Qian family, including Qian Shenquan.
At the same time, Yang Weidong, Hu Yinglong, and Lu Chen, who were originally greeting other scattered guests nearby, also seemed to have heard the commotion and gathered around. They asked, "Brother Wang, are you alright?" while their bodies cleverly formed a human wall. Some went to pick up the cigarettes, while others helped him up, further blocking the view from Qian Houjin and his entourage from other directions.
It all happened so fast, in just two or three seconds, that it looked like a minor accidental chaos combined with the concern of kind-hearted people.
In that brief blind spot, Li Xiangnan's hand had already steadily taken the brocade box.
It feels slightly heavy in the hand, and the box is cool to the touch; surprisingly, it's made of glass.
Instead of turning around immediately, he took advantage of the chaos and cover created by Wang Defa, and with a very light flick of his wrist, his fingertips quickly and discreetly explored and pressed the clasp and corners of the brocade box.
This is to check for any abnormal bulges, inclusions, or unusual weight!
In particular, he even tried to sniff the box to see if there were any explosive components similar to sulfur inside!
At the same time, using his body as cover, he quickly handed the brocade box to Song Ziming, who had straightened up and was standing right next to him.
Song Ziming took the brocade box, his smile unchanged, but he said, "Brother Nan, let me take it to the accounting desk for you and have Brother Zhang register it!"
After saying that, he turned and walked towards the accounting table. His steps were steady, but if you looked closely, you could see that his fingers, which were holding the brocade box, were pressing and listening hard on several key parts of the box. His ear was almost pressed against the gap of the lid.
He was also trying to determine if there were any unusual mechanical sounds or cavities inside the brocade box.
The reason he had a warning about the brocade box was because when Qian Houjin took the box from his attendant, his son Qian Shenquan gave it a rather gloomy look.
There was something off about that look in his eyes. Song Ziming thought that the kid either disliked the box or was wary of it. In any case, it was best to be careful with this box!
Qian Houjin's vision was obstructed by Wang Defa's bump and block, and he frowned slightly. However, seeing that Li Xiangnan had already accepted the gift and Wang Defa was apologizing repeatedly, he couldn't get angry. He could only suppress the slight unease in his heart and put on a smile again: "Brother, you're too kind. It's nothing!"
Li Xiangnan also helped Wang Defa up at the right time, smiling and smoothing things over, "Defa, be careful! Third Master Qian, please don't take offense, my brother here is just a warm-hearted person, a bit clumsy! Please come inside!"
At this moment, Song Ziming had already walked to the accounting table, with his back to the door, and quickly gave Zhang Jingyang a wink.
Zhang Jingyang understood and immediately stood up, seemingly helping Song Ziming place the brocade box on the table, but in reality, he used his body to block most of the view from the courtyard gate.
The two worked together seamlessly. The moment Zhang Jingyang opened the brocade box, Song Ziming had already taken out a small paper cutter blade that he carried with him and quickly ran it along the inside edge of the box lid, under the padding, to examine it!
There was no unusual sense of obstruction, no pulling of the metal wire like in a hand grenade, and no tactile sensation of electronic components.
Song Ziming shook his head slightly at Zhang Jingyang, indicating that the preliminary examination showed no physical danger.
Only then did Zhang Jingyang look into the box with relief.
But upon seeing this, he was startled and subconsciously glanced at Li Xiangnan.
Li Xiangnan had already led Qian Houjin into the back room, but after being looked at by him, he felt a strange feeling that he couldn't quite put his finger on.
how?
Could there be something extraordinary in that box?
Li Xiangnan's heart jumped into his throat...