Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies
Chapter 152 - 76 Yongzhou County Thirteen Trading Houses, A Visitor from the Zhou Family

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"It's truly a countryside place, not even receiving prior notice, lacking in etiquette."

An old servant, appearing as a middle-aged steward, jumped down from the carriage and walked to the young man's side, comforting him.

The young man said with dissatisfaction, "If it weren't for the great grandfather's sentimentality, we wouldn't care about their lives or deaths. In my view, it's better to let them fend for themselves."

"Although Zhou Dingwen is a son of a concubine, he is still the great grandfather's son. Now, with impending trouble in Taiping County, the great grandfather surely won't be at ease with his family. The great grandfather entrusts such an important task to the young master because he values your talent."

The young man snorted coldly and ascended the steps.

The old servant, who followed him, stepped forward and knocked heavily on the door knocker: "People from Yongzhou's Zhou Family are here, Lord Zhou, open the door."

The servant's voice was loud and powerful.

Even from a distance, it was heard clearly.

As soon as the old servant finished speaking, the Zhou Family's main door was opened moments later. A gatekeeper poked his head out, cautiously glancing a few times, and asked, "Might I know the names of the two honorable guests? Do you have an invitation?"

The young man, not annoyed, said with his hands behind his back: "Zhou Xintong from Zhou Family's main house, report my name, your master will naturally know."

Zhou Family's main house?!

The gatekeeper's spirit lifted.

Yongzhou's Zhou Family was one of the Yongzhou County Thirteen Trading Houses. Their silk weaving business reached into the Dragon Court, making them one of the foremost prominent families in Yongzhou County.

This Taiping County's Zhou Family was a branch of Yongzhou's Zhou Family, separated over thirty years ago.

Like the household registry of the Zhou Dynasty, the prominent families in civilian society of Great Zhou were also hierarchically distinct, with clear relationships of status and inferiority.

Apart from the main house branch inheriting the Zhou Family's estate, the other branches, to put it bluntly, were only slightly higher in status than the Zhou Family's servants.

The Taiping County Zhou Family could call the shots within this county, but in the eyes of Yongzhou's Zhou Family, they were nothing.

The gatekeeper was well aware of this, hurriedly bowed, and respectfully said, "Young Master, please come in. Please wait a moment in the living room, I will notify the master immediately."

After saying so, the gatekeeper hurriedly opened the main door, bypassed a screen wall, and led Zhou Xintong and his servant into the living room.

Zhou Xintong sat boldly in the main seat and reminded, "I have important business on this visit, let your master hurry up."

The gatekeeper promptly bowed, acknowledged, and then hurriedly made his way towards the rear garden.

...

In the rear garden of the Zhou Family, there was a pond of emerald water, shimmering with light.

Zhou Dingwen, the Zhou Family Patriarch of the Taiping County, dressed in an elegant Confucian robe, stood by the fish pond.

He held a handful of fish food in his hand, occasionally tossing it down, attracting countless big carp to scramble for it.

The jade-green water suddenly became much livelier.

A faint smile of calmness gradually appeared on Zhou Wenwang's face.

"Master, something's wrong, people from Yongzhou are here!"

Just then, a servant hurriedly arrived, breathless, breaking the serenity.

"Who came from Yongzhou?" Zhou Dingwen looked at the servant calmly and said steadily.

The servant bowed his head and said, "The fifth young Master of the main house, Zhou Xintong, has come!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Dingwen's hand trembled suddenly, and the fish food in his hand scattered like fine rain, falling in large swathes into the pond, startling the fish to scatter in all directions, causing ripples on the water's surface.

He turned around, eyebrows tightly knitted, and looked sharply at the servant, his voice tinged with a hint of unnoticeable tension: "Yongzhou's main house has come? What are they here for?"

The servant bowed and replied, "Master, they did not disclose specific matters, only mentioned that the situation is urgent and requested you to go to the front hall immediately."

Hearing this, Zhou Dingwen felt a bit uneasy.

Yongzhou was the residence of the main house of the Zhou Family, with the most prominent power and status.

His branch was not even fit to carry their shoes in comparison to the main house.

This time he received no prior notice; their sudden visit suggested a change of circumstance, and it was unlikely to be a good thing.

"Understood, you may withdraw, I will be there shortly," Zhou Dingwen instructed. Although his tone was calm, his speaking speed involuntarily quickened a bit.

He tossed all the fish food into the pond, patted his hands, tidied himself up, and immediately proceeded towards the front hall.

The Zhou Family's front hall exuded a luxurious aura amidst carved beams and painted rafters.

Zhou Xintong, seated on the mahogany main seat, meditated with closed eyes, his breathing was steady, three short and one long.

Upon closer inspection, there was a faint white mist around his nostrils, appearing and disappearing, strangely mystic.

Then, this rhythmic breathing was soon broken by a series of swift and strong footsteps.

"Fifth young Master, long time no see."

Zhou Dingwen's voice was transmitted from the entryway outside.

His presence not yet seen, but his voice was already heard.

Zhou Xintong leisurely opened his eyes and looked towards the door.

Zhou Dingwen stepped into the hall, his steps steady, and upon seeing Zhou Xintong seated in the main seat, a trace of displeasure flashed in his eyes, which soon transformed into a warm smile.

"What a rare guest indeed! I recall the last time I saw you in Yongzhou, you were just celebrating your tenth birthday. Time flies, and now you've grown so much."

Zhou Xintong stated calmly, "Lord Jiu, now is not the time for nostalgia. Disaster looms over Taiping County, and my great grandfather specifically instructed me to come and escort your family back to Yongzhou to temporarily avoid this unforeseen calamity."

Zhou Dingwen paused his stride in the center of the Zhou Family's front hall.

He looked up at Zhou Xintong, a flicker of surprise and confusion in his eyes, quickly replaced by gravity.

"Oh? What does the fifth young Master mean by this? Taiping County has always been peaceful. How could disaster suddenly strike?"

Faced with this sudden news, Zhou Dingwen found it hard to accept.

He even suspected that Zhou Xintong had other schemes in mind with this visit.

Zhou Xintong spoke with an irrefutable tone, "This matter is lengthy to explain, but one thing is certain it is no falsehood. The great grandfather is worried that this force might affect our Zhou Family, hence decided to have the clan members withdraw temporarily for safety."

"You need to swiftly liquidate the properties here. In three days, our Zhou Family's tower ship will sail upstream along the Yanshui River, mooring at the ferry terminal outside Taiping County. At that time, you will depart with me."

Zhou Dingwen's eyebrows were locked tight, a hint of skepticism flashed in his eyes: "Taiping County is protected by the government, having been peaceful for decades. Our Zhou Family has deep roots here; what threat could possibly endanger us?"

"The world's affairs are unpredictable; who can say for sure what will happen next?" Zhou Xintong shook his head, his tone carrying more of an undeniable element: "The great grandfather's notion is that safety comes first; better to believe than to dismiss. You know he values the family above all, and we cannot afford the slightest mishap."

"Furthermore, I am informing you, not soliciting your opinion. If Lord Jiu is unwilling to abandon the wealth and comfort here, then I, as a junior, shall take care of it on your behalf."

"The assets of the Zhou Family, even those of a side branch, are not something just anyone can touch."

Zhou Dingwen's face turned beet red, wanting to protest and refuse, but upon seeing the visible aura around Zhou Xintong, his spirit deflated.

He remained silent for a moment, seemingly weighing the pros and cons, and finally nodded slowly. "Alright, given it's the great grandfather's arrangement, I, as a member of the Zhou Family, will naturally adhere to the family's decisions. I will promptly arrange for the liquidation of assets these days, and have the household pack up and prepare for departure."

"Thank you, Lord Jiu, for your understanding." Zhou Xintong's face showed a hint of gratified smile, "I will arrange everything outside the residence to ensure you and your family's safe arrival in Yongzhou."

Zhou Xintong seemed to recall something and added, "By the way, I heard that I had a cousin who died at home at the hands of the Huang Tian Sect? "

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