Chapter 1724


    Although they had been sitting for over thirty minutes, none of the Zhou family members came to


    greet Quin and Fade.


    Both of them were able toe to grips with the situation. After all, they were not locals to begin


    with, nor did they have a close rtionship with any of the Zhou family members. Not only that, they


    were not as socially prominent. Hence, it was a given that the Zhou family members did not give


    them any attention.


    Fortunately, that did not bother Quin and Fade. Their main objective had been to express their


    gratitude to Taegan. After sitting for another ten minutes or so, they bid farewell to the Zhou family


    members.


    Although the Zhou family members smilingly coaxed them into staying a little longer, Fade and Qiun


    knew that they were merely being polite. Therefore, they did not stay but instead left for the hotel.


    By the time they were in their hotel room, the whirlwind of visitations at the mansion had subsided.


    In the backyard, Taegan could be seen sitting on a mahogany chair and holding a dragon- headed


    walking stick. Younger members of the Zhou n were sitting in the lower deck, each taking turns to


    report the details of the reception.


    "Dad, we had guests from a total of 135 families today. Most of the movers and shakers in East


    Stream City turned up too. These included members of the Xu family, members of the Chu family


    and some business associates. Representatives from the municipal government were here too."


    "Some major suppliers from neighbouring provinces sent representatives over too. We have duly


    weed them as they are waiting for the actual birthday party which will be held in two days’ time.


    After that, they’ll leave."


    "Invitations have been sent out to your friends and rtives. Half of them turned up. As for those


    that did not, some of them had already lost touch with us over the years while the rest of the


    invitees are out of the country. Be that as it may, they have called up to rify and sent over the


    gifts."


    As the younger members reported the details of the reception, Taegan listened and nodded


    nonchntly, as if he was not taking the details to heart. Instead, he asked, "What about the Tao


    family?"


    A middle-aged man, in his forties or fifties, stood up. He was Holden Zhou, Taegan''s only son in the


    family. He was also the present head of the Zhou household.


    Holden beamed as he rified, "Dad, no worries. We''ve contacted the Tao family. Loren and


    Eudora''s engagement has been set. Both families agree to announce the engagement officially at


    your birthday party. This will surely be a joy to behold."


    Taegan nodded and said, "Good arrangement. With everyone present, it''ll be more convenient."


    As he said this, he directed his gaze at a young man who looked like he was twenty-five or twenty-


    six years old and said, "Loren, you''re not young anymore. Once you'' re engaged, be sure to get


    along well with Eudora. Carry yourself well and don''t mess around any longer. You should start


    developing yourself and make ns for the future of the Zhou Family."


    That young man was Loren Zhou, Holden''s son and Taegan''s grandson. Hearing this, he stood up


    and nodded, "Grandpa, don''t worry. I''ll work hard to expand the family''s business empire."


    Taegan nodded and said, "Okay, it''s good that you have such determination. Remember not to


    repeat your past mistakes."


    Samantha Xu, who was Holden''s wife, beamed and said, "Rest assured, Dad. Soren is now a


    mature adult and won''t be up to any mischief anymore."


    On the other side of the backyard, a young girl aged eighteen or neen came forward and


    reassured smilingly, "Grandpa, no worries. Once my brother is engaged to Eudora, he''ll stop fooling


    around."


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    "From what I have heard, Eudora is a martial artist who has been epted into Ice Lake n. If my


    brother has the audacity to mess around with other girls, Eudora will beat him to death."


    "Shut up, Annie. Why do you speak ill of your brother?" Samantha glowered at her daughter before


    looking at Taegan and said, "Dad, what Annie said about the Tao family learning martial arts is true.


    I''ve arranged someone to probe into it. Eudora has been learning martial arts for three years in Ice


    Lake n. She has befriended many people there. Many teachers like her too."


    "The Tao family has been informed that Ice Lake n will send representatives over to the


    engagement party too. This''ll bring great honor to the Zhou family."


    Upon hearing this, the members of the Zhou family burst with excitement and started to talk about it.


    "The Ice Lake n is a true-blue martial art sect. Having theming over to the engagement


    party will elevate the status of the Zhou family in East Stream City and even in East Lake District


    itself."


    "That''s right. A powerful martial artistmands high status. Our connection to the Tao family via


    Soren''s marriage is therefore a powerful alliance. Surely, the Zhou family will continue to flourish in


    the future."


    "Not only that, I''ve got wind of the many panaceas and elixirs kept by the sect. Once Soren is


    engaged to Eudora, let''s get him to ask her if she can solicit some elixirs that can help in boosting


    Old Master''s health and longevity."


    Still in euphoria, the members of the Zhou family continued talking endlessly.


    At this moment, Taegan skimmed through the guest list. As he chanced upon a guest name, he


    stopped browsing. "Quin Lin, Bay City!"


    "Dad, are you alright?" Holden asked as he noticed his father''s unusual expression.


    Taegan asked, "Were Quin Lin and Fade Chen from Bay City here today?"


    After asking one of the servants, the butler replied, "Master, two guests by the name of Quin Lin and


    Fade Chen were here. President Lin imed her father was a friend of yours and that she was here


    on behalf of him."


    "On behalf of her father. Bay City. She must be the daughter of Daniel Lin. Where is she? Is she still


    around?" Taegan asked agitatedly.


    The butler paused for a moment and said, "Erm... President Lin left shortly after sending over the


    gift."


    "Why didn''t you give her a hospitable reception? She''s the daughter of Daniel Lin, I..." Taegan


    seemed to be a little ruffled.


    The moment Holden and Samantha heard about a certain Daniel Lin, their expressions changed


    instantaneously.


    "Dad, you''re still in contact with the Lins. Haven''t they brought enough harm to our family?"


    "That''s right. If it wasn''t for him, the Zhou family wouldn''t have been ground down by the Lin family


    in Capital City, causing our business empire to reduce in worth to the tune of an amount that


    took us ten years to umte. It wasn''t until recently that we were able to bounce back."


    Upon hearing this, Taegan stabbed the floor with his walking stick and hollered, "Nonsense. Keep


    your mouth shut." "All you can remember is Daniel bringing trouble to our family, but you forgot that


    it was me who befriended him in the first ce. It was with the help of the Lin family that we were


    able to prosper."


    "Come to think of it, our family''s current social status should be credited to Daniel’s support. Even if


    we are impoverished, you have no right to hate him."


    Hearing this, Holden and Samantha did not rebut. Instead, they pursed their lips disapprovingly.


    Although Soren and Annie were quite young, they understood that Taegan had had a close


    friendship with Daniel. They knew about this, but not quite the details of their friendship.