Chapter 103: What's the catch?

After leaving Harvard University, Ming Zhou did not go to Lowell City right away, but instead went back to the dormitory to take a shower and change into some clean clothes. Since his classmates in the finance class had all moved out, those who had previously been interested in keeping him company no longer had any reason to do so, and they had all left. However, despite the short period of time he had been kept company, the dormitory had already become dilapidated, with many shocking signs of fire damage.

Facing this dilapidated dormitory, Zhou Ming reminded himself that he was still in constant danger. He must never let his guard down until his enemy fell, and he must persevere to the end no matter what, because no one knew what kind of accidents might happen, just as what had happened in Lawrence's office before.

Perhaps Zhou Ming had successfully acted the part throughout, but in reality Zhou Ming was still under very great psychological pressure. After all, Edward's phone call not only disrupted Zhou Ming's entire plan, it even pushed him into a dead end. Under those circumstances, Zhou Ming could not afford to say the wrong thing. The pressure was unimaginable, so much so that when he spoke, he dared not breathe heavily and could only hold his breath.

Zhou Ming still remembers that his hands and feet were shaking unnaturally while he was talking. Even when he finally got Lawrence's approval, he still couldn't let out a sigh of relief. Therefore, when he finally walked out of Lawrence's office, he could feel the cold sweat drenching his back.

If you have time to think carefully and ponder every second, perhaps everyone can become a millionaire. But more often than not, people usually don't have this opportunity, so what is needed is that kind of instantaneous reaction ability.

Zhou Ming didn't remember where he read this sentence, but now he believed it very much.

After changing his clothes, Zhou Ming got into the car and went to Lowell. On the way, Zhou Ming took the time to call Lin Muqing and told her what happened in Lawrence's office. When Lin Muqing heard the news that Edward had indeed called Lawrence, she was shocked. Later, when she heard that Zhou Ming had perfectly convinced Lawrence, she let out a sigh of relief.

Along the way, Ming kept thinking about Lowell: the city of Lowell is northwest of Brighton, a very distinctive city. It is the headquarters of the Lowell family and is also named after the Lowell family.

More than a hundred years ago, it was the centre of the textile industry and other light industries in Massachusetts. Later, due to the development of the times, the Brighton Consortium gradually became a financial-centred consortium, and Lowell, which had lost its competitiveness, gradually declined.

However, the Lowell family was after all an important member of the Brighton Consortium. Despite the decline of Lowell City, the Lowell family used their family's power to contact many universities and set up many university branches here. The more famous ones are the branches of the University of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard University here. In addition, Lowell has also introduced many technical training schools relying on abandoned factories in the past.

Therefore, it can be said that the whole city of Lowell looks like a university town.

After a two-hour drive, Zhou Ming and the others finally arrived in Lowell. It was already evening when they arrived. Due to the late hour, and the fact that he had expended too much energy during the day from Governor Edwards' vacation home to President Lawrence's office at Harvard University, Zhou Ming did not plan to directly find the Lowell family after saying hello in Lowell, but instead went directly to find a hotel to sleep for the night and talk about it later.

What Zhou Ming did not expect was that his idea was just an idea, because as soon as his car entered downtown Lowell, he was immediately stopped.

The people who stopped Zhou Ming were a few policemen. When Zhou Ming asked Zhang Lin to pull over, the policeman came up and said, 'Excuse me, are you Mr. Zhou Ming from Harvard? Mr. Louis has arranged a dinner for you at Auburn Castle. I hope you can come. If you are not familiar with the streets of Lowell, my brothers and I can take you there.'

'No thanks, I bought a map of Lowell before I came, and I don't think I can go wrong with such a famous place as Auburn Castle,' Zhou Ming politely declined.

After getting Zhou Ming's reply, the policeman there didn't say much and quickly left. Zhou Ming looked at their departing backs and suddenly felt that this trip to Lowell was not as simple as he had imagined.

Who cares, just deal with it as it comes. Even Lawrence has passed, what's there to be afraid of?

With this in mind, Zhou Ming told Zhang Lin to drive directly to Auburn Castle. He knew that the Mr. Louis mentioned by the police was the current patriarch of the Lowell family.

Looking out the window at the roadside trees that kept receding, Zhou Ming kept thinking. From the fact that the police had been sending him messages since he entered the city, it was clear that they knew he was coming. It was even more likely that Lawrence had called here. After all, as the controlling families of the two major universities of Harvard and MIT, their relationship was the closest to the Brighton Consortium.

Another point is that Zhou Ming saw what a city controlled by a large family was like.

This is not to say that the Lowell family is the absolute king of Lowell City. After all, the United States has long since entered the modern world, and as a beacon of freedom, they must have an independent political system. But no matter how good a system is, there are always loopholes.

As a large family, the Lowell family undoubtedly has considerable prestige in the region. At the same time, with the help of the Brighton consortium, they are also the wealthiest group of people. Then by running for office to control the council, and then allowing future generations to enter the executive and judicial branches, even if the mayor and council speaker cannot be from the Lowell family, it is still no problem to say that the Lowell family can control most of Lowell City.

It is also for this reason that the Lowell family was able to send the police to notify themselves. Zhou Ming knew very well that the Lowell family did this to make him believe. Because if a few people just ran out, he might not really believe it, but the police, the most basic trust is already there.

However, it sounds like a kind of transgression for this kind of private family to mobilise the federal police, but in Lowell City, it is nothing out of the ordinary.

Lowell City is not big, and at the same time, Auburn Castle is also a very conspicuous landmark in Lowell City, so Zhou Ming quickly arrived.

As before, there were several policemen waiting at the entrance to Auburn Castle, and there was also a police chief.

When Zhou Ming got out of the car, the police chief walked up and shook Zhou Ming's hand, saying, 'Hello, Mr. Zhou Ming, I am Chief Xial. I am also a member of the Lowell family. My uncle has been waiting in the castle for a long time.'

Zhou Ming thanked him and then, together with Zhang Lin, followed this Chief Xial to the main hall of the castle.

As soon as he pushed open the door to the main hall, the melodious music immediately came to his ears. Zhou Ming walked into the main hall and was amazed. He felt as if he had arrived at a noble castle in medieval Europe.

The carpet was covered with a thick red carpet, and there were several large round tables with white tablecloths and candles on them. In front of the tables was an open stage, and next to the stage sat a full orchestra. The melodious music undoubtedly came from here.

At this time, several round tables were already full of people, and there were only two empty seats at the round table in the middle.

'That is the place that your uncle has prepared for you, Mr. Zhou Ming. Due to my status, I can only see you off here. Goodbye.'

Sheriff Xiar left these words for Zhou Ming and left. Zhou Ming didn't have time to care about him, because when Zhou Ming walked into the main hall, a short, middle-aged man sitting in the middle stood up and said, 'Our distinguished guest has arrived, everyone, please give a round of applause.'

With these words, applause suddenly broke out throughout the main hall. Zhou Ming walked over to the applause, and the short, middle-aged man took the initiative to come over and shake Zhou Ming's hand and say, 'Mr. Zhou Ming, you are very welcome. I am Louis of the Lowell family. I think you have heard of my name. Our Lowell family is very hospitable, so we have specially prepared a dinner for you.'

Zhou Ming knew that the man in front of him was the head of the Lowell family. It seemed that this family had a consistent tradition of France, which was that the height was generally a disadvantage.

'Thank you very much, Mr. Louis, you are too kind. It was my uninvited presence in the first place, and you specially set up a dinner reception for me. This makes me a little overwhelmed,' Zhou Ming said.

After a few polite exchanges, Zhou Ming and Louis sat down at the head table. As they sat down, it was as if by magic, many servants came out from the side and served all the guests with cutlery.

'Everyone here today is someone in Lowell City who has a close relationship with our Lowell family. Although our Lowell family is an ancient family, we are not conservative. On the contrary, we pay great attention to absorbing fresh blood, because we know very well that only a family that can maintain its vitality can continue to prosper.'

As the tableware was laid out, Louis introduced it to Zhou Ming. As the tableware was laid out, someone else pushed a cart up, and the servants brought up one plate after another, covered with a plate cover, and placed them in front of each person in order, before uncovering them all at once.

'This is our world-famous French cuisine. Today, we have prepared lobster flown in from Australia, tender steak, and foie gras and caviar. These are the most nutritious and exquisite dishes.'

Louis introduced Zhou Ming to the dishes one by one, and then suddenly remembered something and said to Zhou Ming, 'Oh yes, there's also the best first wine from Chateau Lafite Rothschild. The grapes used to make the wine are picked from vines that are at least 40 years old, because only these grapes can produce the most outstanding wine. It's a pity that most vines don't live past 35 years, so they are very precious.'

As he spoke, Louis had his personal servant open a bottle of wine and poured a glass for Zhou Ming himself.

'This glass is for you, my guest. Let's clink glasses and make the most beautiful sound for tonight's feast,'

Louis said, raising his glass as well. Zhou Ming and Zhang Lin clinked glasses with him and then took a small sip each. While they were drinking, the servant serving them on the side very consciously cut the foie gras for them and paired it with the caviar.

'A sip of red wine, a piece of foie gras, and the finest caviar – that's a match made in heaven!' Louis said to Ming.

As Louis and Ming clinked glasses, people at other tables also raised their glasses and started drinking and eating.

At this time, Louis began to tell Zhou Ming about the prosperous history of the Lowell family: 'Mr. Zhou Ming, our Lowell ancestors came from France a long time ago. Although we have been away from France for more than 300 years, we have retained the oldest French customs... Mr. Zhou Ming, you may not know that in our Lowell family, there are actually many interesting customs. That is, when we eat, we will happily dance!'

As if to prove it, as soon as Louis finished speaking, a table of people got up and went onto the stage to dance, and the band next to them played a more suitable tune.

With the first table, there was immediately a second table, and Louis also extended an invitation to Zhou Ming: 'Mr Zhou Ming, why don't you go and have a dance? My servant will teach you.'

Zhou Ming shook his head and politely declined, but as he looked at the people dancing on the stage and all the arrangements that Louis had made for him, from the welcome to the preparations for the dinner, he wondered what was really going on.