Chapter 12: A Small Meeting of the Singing Group

Jenny was angry and anxious.

She finally got her wish and was admitted to the Barrow Singing Group, and was qualified to study and sing there.

Her long-term hard work paid off.

She never thought that her mother would go back on her promise of a reward.

Tonight's banquet was very important to her.

If she could get the attention of the seniors in the singing group, she would have the opportunity to perform on stage in advance.

"It's just three pounds!"

Jenny sniffed, her eyes reddened.

"At worst, I can pay you back when I make money. Do you want me to make a fool of myself in my first banquet?"

"Others are dressed up beautifully, but your daughter is wearing ragged clothes and being laughed at by others?"

"This is three pounds, not a small amount." Mary also looked embarrassed: "And joining the concert is just the beginning. There are still many places waiting to spend money. Newcomers can't make money in a short time."

"You are just an apprentice now, and there is no need to dress up so beautifully. A similar dress will do."

If it was one pound, or even two pounds, she might have gritted her teeth and agreed.

But this is three pounds!

How long will it take for her to earn three pounds?

How long can this money support the family's expenses?

Mary was not unwilling to buy a dress for her daughter, but the price of three pounds was indeed beyond her expectations.

She knew that things on this street were not cheap, but she did not expect that any dress would be so expensive.

If she did not agree, her daughter would look aggrieved.

If she agreed, the family would face financial difficulties.

For a moment, Mary was also struggling.

"What a coincidence."

At this time, a familiar voice sounded.

"Landlady, Jenny, you are also shopping here."

"Karl!"

"Baron Karl!"

The mother and daughter turned around and saw Karl in the uniform of the inspector coming out.

"Yes."

Mary smiled with a forced smile and said: "I brought Jenny to see it."

"I heard that Jenny was admitted to the Barrow Singing Group?" Karl smiled and said: "Congratulations!"

The Barrow Singing Group is qualified to sing gospel hymns. If Jenny can perform on stage, she will definitely become a VIP at many banquets."

Whether or not a singing group can sing "gospel hymns" is an important distinction in judging the status of a singing group.

If they cannot sing, they can only hang out among the common people.

Many women in that kind of singing group even become prostitutes, and their reputation is getting worse and worse.

The opposite is different.

Singing gospel hymns requires singers to maintain physical purity, otherwise they will be judged as disrespectful to the gods. Only this kind of singing group can be accepted by the "high-class halls".

"Thank you."

Jenny lowered her head and covered her red eyes.

"I just joined the singing group. I have to learn for a long time. I don't know when I can go on stage."

"Your voice is very distinctive. I believe you will be able to perform officially soon." Karl said politely, and then looked at the dress on display.

"This dress is nice."

"Yes."

Jenny's eyes lit up and she hurriedly said: "I think so too. Mom is planning to buy it for me."

As she said that, she pulled Mary's sleeve.

"You..."

Mary's eyes were flustered. She really didn't want to buy it, but it was not easy to directly refuse her daughter at this time.

Jenny also saw this and took the opportunity to "coerce" her with words.

"Really?"

Karl said with a smile.

"Jenny got into the singing group, and I haven't given her a gift yet, so why not let me buy it for you."

"Ah!"

Jenny's face was filled with ecstasy, and she covered her mouth with her hands: "Really?"

"Of course." Karl nodded, waved to the clerk: "How much?"

"Three pounds!"

"Here you go."

"No." Seeing Karl take out his wallet to pay, Mary finally came to her senses and hurriedly said: "I'll buy it."

"It's okay." Karl shook his head: "I was just worrying about what gift to give."

"Jenny, go try on the dress first. If there's anything wrong, ask them to alter it. It'll be quick."

"Okay."

Jenny shook off Mary's arm, smiled and took the dress and walked to the dressing room.

"I'm so sorry."

Seeing that things had come to this point, Mary could only apologize helplessly.

"I'm sorry for costing you money."

Karl waved his hand.

He had just heard the quarrel between the mother and daughter, and he really planned to give a gift, so he simply paid for it.

Three pounds was nothing to him, but it was a considerable sum for an ordinary family. Even though a carriage ride cost three or five pence, it was not an expense for an ordinary family.

Mary counted every penny carefully.

"Baron Karl."

Jenny, who walked out of the dressing room in a gorgeous dress, made an invitation: "Tonight, the seniors of the concert are holding a banquet for the newcomers. Can you accompany me?"   

"Can I?"

"Of course!"

Jenny said enthusiastically: "It's our honor to have a noble attend the banquet."

Mary, who was standing by, opened her mouth, hesitant to speak, because she had agreed to accompany her to the banquet. (The betrayal…)

"Okay."

Karl nodded:

"I will definitely go when the time comes."

…

"Your uncle's neighbor has a carriage, he will take you to the banquet, remember to be polite."

In the room.

Mary helped her daughter to dress up.

"Karl will go after work, I don't know when he will arrive, if he doesn't go, don't blame him, after all, the inspector has a lot of things to do."

"Got it."

Jenny shook her sleeves and said impatiently.

"I'm leaving."

"Take the money." Mary stuffed the prepared wallet into her hand and said gently: "You are grown up now, you can't go out alone without money."

"Thank you, mom."

Jenny smiled and kissed Mary's cheek, waved her hand, and walked out with her skirt in her hands.

This was the first time she officially attended a banquet after she became an adult, and it was a banquet of a singing group, she was already a little impatient.

Arriving at the banquet venue, there were already many people waiting.

"Oscan!"

"Prey!"

"Jenny!"

"..."

Several newcomers greeted each other, praised each other's dress, and waited for the arrival of the seniors.

Soon.

Senior Percy!"

"Senior Oberon!"

"..."

Several seniors from the singing group came one after another.

Compared with the green newcomers, these people were not much older than them, but their manners were more sophisticated.

Banquet.

It was very strange for the newcomers, but it was common for them.

However, only the relatively marginal members of the team came. The real core members did not participate in this banquet. Thinking that it was because the status of the newcomers was not high enough.

"Jenny, your dress is nice." Percy, the backup lead singer of the team, came to Jenny and asked with a smile:

"It shouldn't be cheap, right?"

"Not bad." Jenny was a little reserved: "Three gold pounds."

"Oh!" Percy raised her eyebrows: "I remember that your family's conditions are not very good."

"Yes." Jenny blushed: "A friend gave it to me."

"A Friend?" Percy frowned subconsciously: "Male friend?"

"..." Jenny lowered her head: "Yes."

"He is willing to spend so much money on you, it seems that he is thoughtful." Percy sighed and continued.

"But I remind you that if you want to be the lead singer of the team in the future, you can't touch the affairs of men and women."

"Without a pure body, many programs cannot be performed."

Jenny's face changed slightly.

"Who is Percy?"

Just as the two were talking, a loud voice rang out.

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw a team of men in police uniforms walking over, with a fierce momentum.

"That's me."

Percy raised her hand hurriedly: "Something?"

"Yes." The leading police officer nodded: "There is a case that may be related to you, come back with us to investigate."

"Ah!"

Percy's face changed drastically.

"At this time? Can I not go?"

"What do you think?" The police officer frowned and said impatiently: "I know you are members of the Barrow Singing Group. If there is no problem, you can go back tomorrow."

"But..." Percy turned back, her eyes full of help.

However, the expressions of other people were different. Even a few good members of the group were avoiding their eyes at this time, and they obviously did not intend to help and say a few words.

"What's wrong?"

Karl just got off the car and saw this scene in front of him:

"Ham, long time no see."

"Baron Karl."

The police officer named Ham had a stern face and a majestic look. When he saw Karl, he immediately smiled:

"What a coincidence, you are also here to attend the banquet?"

"Yes."

Karl nodded and asked back: "What are you doing here?"

"This..." Ham hesitated for a moment, and then said: "It's a small matter."

...

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