The term "waiqi" referred to the external forces needed for the family's growth, with those honored as the foremost.
Following them were individuals sponsored by the family who achieved high positions through their own efforts. As long as these people did not fall out with the family, they would always bear the mark of the family's external relations.
At this moment, a group of people, led by the old family head, were appraising Lin Tianai within the Zhou family.
"Not bad. The key is that after two years, they've only found one girl. It remains to be seen if my Zhou family's nightmare can be resolved in the next generation."
Old family head Zhou Haifeng nodded with great satisfaction, looking at Lin Tianai with admiring eyes.
For the Zhou family, nothing else mattered as much as whether the curse plaguing their bloodline could be lifted in the next generation.
After the events of two years ago, the old family head immediately realized the curse within the Zhou family bloodline.
Zhou Haifeng was born in a dark era. He had two brothers, but all three of them mysteriously died suddenly on their thirtieth birthdays. According to their father, every generation of the Zhou family was like this; who survived was purely a matter of luck.
Every generation of the Zhou family had three members who would inevitably die at the age of thirty, without exception.
This led to the Zhou family's lack of continuity, with either the elders or the very young.
However, Zhou Haifeng, who could single-handedly support the entire Zhou family to this day, was by no means ordinary!
Beside him, a person dressed in an old Daoist robe nodded, "This humble Taoist has divined the heavenly secrets. This girl can lift the Zhou family's curse. As long as you can allow her to complete the marriage, the Zhou family's curse can be suppressed by the auspicious event."
Zhou Haifeng nodded and cupped his hands in greeting, "Thank you, Master Ku E."
Master Ku E shook his head, "This humble Taoist travels the world to help all living beings. Zhou family head, there is no need for such formality."
Lin Tianai, witnessing all this from the side, struggled as soon as she heard the word "marriage." Unfortunately, her mouth was stuffed with cloth, and she could only whimper.
Zhou Haifeng then looked at those present and said, "Prepare the wedding between Bo'er and this young lady. Immediately invite various dignitaries. The wedding will be held tonight at our Zhou family mansion!"
"Yes!"
Master Ku E was clearly taken aback, and after a moment of silence, he said, "Zhou family head, forgive my bluntness, but Zhou Bo's destiny cannot support all of this. You, as one of the Eleven Kings of South Province, have this kingly destiny in your fate, and only then can you support the Zhou family's entire curse."
Zhou Haifeng was also stunned. He never expected that this matter would involve him, and a shiver ran down his spine.
"Alright, we will listen to the Master."
Lin Tianai never imagined that she would marry an old man, her eyes filled with resistance.
Zhou Haifeng looked at Lin Tianai and sighed slightly, "Young lady, you have been wronged. Rest assured, after this matter is over, the Zhou family will be your support, always. We will also arrange for someone from the King's department to specifically liaise with you. From now on, no one in South Province will dare to touch you. This is my promise, Zhou Haifeng!"
"Come, have someone prepare the wedding attire for Miss Lin. Tonight, we will host guests at our Zhou family and hold a grand wedding!"
Meanwhile, Ye Longlin, who had left the scene of the incident, also received the news and was stunned. Even with his experience of countless dark deeds, he had never heard of such a preposterous matter.
"This is what our informant within the Zhou family reported. The wedding is tonight. The Zhou family has already invited many guests, and the bride is Miss Lin."
Xuan Niao was also shocked when he first received the news. He couldn't believe that the Zhou family head, at ninety years old, would be getting married?
This is truly...
"Absurd."
In the end, Ye Longlin could only utter these two words.
Yes, if this wasn't absurd, what was?
A ninety-year-old man marrying a woman in her twenties. If this were to spread, it would shock everyone.
A cycle was twelve years; this was at least six cycles difference!
Ye Longlin felt speechless. After a long pause, he pondered for a moment, "I'll go again tonight. I also want to see the groom and toast to the happy couple."
Xuan Niao: "..."
Yuan Gang: "..."
Who would have thought that Lin Tianai would be married in just a few days, and to an old man at that? If they told Mu Hanqi, it would shock her for an entire year.
As soon as the Zhou family's invitations were sent out, the entire South Province was in an uproar. Looking at the invitations, everyone found them preposterous, yet no one dared to say anything. After all, no matter how absurd the Zhou family's actions were, in South Province, they could silence any gossip.
Among the Eleven Kings of South Province, excluding the long-gone Underworld King, there were ten remaining.
These ten were the pillars of South Province, each ranking at the pinnacle of South Province, not to be trifled with by ordinary people.
Besides, Lord Zhou's original wife had already passed away, and he was single. Marrying a wife seemed... not excessive?
With peculiar feelings, many people headed to the Zhou family's old mansion to attend this wedding banquet.
Although it was rushed, no one could deny that this wedding was grand, unprecedented.
From the Zhou family gate to the road leading up to it, a red carpet was laid out. Flower baskets were placed every meter along both sides of the red carpet. At the end of the red carpet, a giant archway appeared before everyone's eyes. Even the parking lot was covered in red carpet.
In front of the Zhou family gate stood six plane trees, which were over a hundred years old. The choice of this location was made because of these six plane trees when the clan was founded.
"Mr. Zhou, congratulations. Today, I pushed back my board meeting to come and witness the demeanor of Lord Zhou."
"Congratulations, Old Master, on your wedding today. May your longevity be full, and your wealth flow abundantly."
"Mr. Li, you actually came today. Didn't your assistant say you were going to the capital? You're back so soon?"
In the parking lot, figures alighted from cars, all dressed in suits.
Those who arrived found it incredibly strange but said nothing. For businessmen, emotional and facial control were mastery skills.
The person referred to as Mr. Zhou also felt helpless, spreading his hands, "Everyone, I am also very helpless. You all know about this curse of our Zhou family. All direct descendants cannot live past thirty. My son is already twenty-nine this year, and I don't want to be a white-haired person sending off a black-haired one.
Now that we have finally found such a suitable woman, our Zhou family naturally has to invite guests. Perhaps after today, the pattern of South Province will change. Hahahaha, who can say for sure."
Everyone looked at Mr. Zhou with shock, their eyes gleaming with a hint of brilliance.
Did they truly have the potential to shake those few?
Wasn't the Zhou family declining in recent years?
At this moment, Ye Longlin, who was approaching the Zhou family's old mansion, looked at the scene and felt speechless.
It was one thing to not do this kind of thing secretly, but to even host a banquet for many guests, what were they thinking?
Regarding this, he couldn't help but touch his nose, feeling a bit curious, "The Zhou family seems to feel... proud of it?"