Chapter 325 - Old Xiongs Plight (1/2)

Old Xiong's silent confirmation implied that what Linfeng said likely happened in the past.

Zhou Min's heart trembled. So it was like that...

Their family should have been freed since the early times, yet for the sake of the Xiong's family interest, they were used like bulls to toil the field. He, who had studied the joint family history, truly felt indebted to the Xiong's ancestors for saving his entire family from becoming homeless and scattered slaves during the ancient times.

Without their help, the Zhou family would not exist as one now. They would lose their identity, and the Zhou family surname would disappear.

But that was all in the past. Their ancestors had paid their debts more than enough during the first hundred years of hard work under the Xiong family.

Gratitude did not mean sacrificing everything for all eternity.

Zhou Min's generation, his son's generation, and the future descendants should be living their own free lives. Too many talents of the Zhou family had lost their chances to achieve their dreams. With the Zhou family's natural qualities and capabilities, they could have reached the heights of success since a long time ago.

Unlike now, when everyone looked down on them as mere servants and loyal dogs of the Xiong family.

Butler Zhou Min could not control these selfish thoughts that were full of blame towards the people who had hid the truth from everyone.

Anyone who worked hard while fully believing in the treaty would feel betrayed once they know of the truth.

Even the most loyal aide like Butler Zhou Min felt this way.

Old Xiong tapped on the floor with his cane a couple of times. Everyone looked at him, even the conflicted butler.

The old man had a somber expression on his face. ”We are not yet sure if the doc.u.ments you showed to me are true. I want to confirm it myself. Zhou Min—” Old Xiong looked at his butler solemnly.

Butler Zhou Min masked his inner turmoil and bowed respectfully. ”Master?”

”Investigate it. Use the most trusted men.”

”Yes, Master.”

Butler Zhou Min obediently retreated and went away to make a few calls.

Old Xiong watched Butler Zhou Min step away before he turned to the young man. His frowning eyes could not help but stare at the intertwined hands of the couple. This entire time, the two did not let go of each other. As he was so immersed and shocked at the doc.u.ments presented to him, he totally forgot about these pair's affair.

It was probably intended by this cunning young man, too.

Xiong Zhi and Linfeng stayed quiet while they waited for the old man to organize his thoughts.

The elder inhaled deeply to calm his nerves and closed his eyes to think.

The shock from the information shown to him, it was too much.

A more than three hundred years old treaty, a covenant they had thought to be unbreakable... it could possibly fall into shambles if the doc.u.ments that the young man presented to him was proven true.

No, more than possible, it was a definite fate.

He tapped his cane on the floor once more, slowly pacing around.

The Zhou elders would come at any moment now. Old Xiong knew that they would not be friendly when they come later. The Zhou family would not take it lightly.

How could they take it lightly when they were used for a few hundred years when in fact, their debt was supposed to be paid since the end of that dynasty, ages ago?

If that happened according to the Second Xiong Patriarch's intentions, perhaps the Zhou family would still feel indebted and help them out after regaining their freedom. Of course, they could also forget about it after time passed.

But that did not happen. The truth was hidden and disappeared eventually while the river of time went on ruthlessly.

If the Zhou family wanted to break the treaty, they could actually do it. No one could stop them.

In fact, Old Xiong knew that the Zhou family could still consider not immediately breaking off relations, given that all the businesses they have depended heavily on the Xiong Empire. If they break the treaty on impulse, not only the Xiong family would be hurt with this, even the Zhou family's status and wealth would decrease rapidly. They could call themselves as free men, however, they would be in dire straits.

Not to mention, other families whom both families had offended would definitely take this chance to step on them. Compared to the Xiong family who had at least built extensive power and connections, those enemies would likely jump on the Zhou family, the weaker of the two, as the Zhou family had not truly built up anything of worth under their name.