Chapter 2945 — Old Master Zhao's Decision

"It's no trouble at all—what's one meal? We can all eat together. What do we need waiters for?" Wei Zhao said with a laugh after hearing it. "Haha, Senior Lin, you needn't say anything more. It's only proper that the younger generation help pour tea and water," Old Master Zhao said with a chuckle, waving his hand. "Senior Lin, let Qitan pour the wine for you!" "Very well." Since Old Master Zhao had put it that way, Wei Zhao did not insist. This was the Hidden Zhao family, and Wei Zhao could hardly refuse Old Master Zhao face—after all, things were different now; the Zhao family had become a vassal family of Wei Zhao's. "Qitan will handle the wine, Qibing will handle the dishes. There are so many dishes—give Senior Lin a taste of each. Qitan, keep a close eye out; the moment Senior Lin's cup is empty, fill it at once!" Old Master Zhao instructed. "Yes, sir!" Zhao Qilei and Zhao Qibing answered in unison. "Senior Lin, since that is so, we won't stand on so much ceremony. What do you say—shall we begin?" Old Master Zhao knew Wei Zhao disliked those formalities, so he asked directly. "We may." Wei Zhao nodded. "Let's eat!" With that, Wei Zhao began to use his chopsticks, picking up a small dish before him and putting it into his mouth. Only after Wei Zhao had moved his chopsticks did Old Master Zhao and Zhao Guangyin pick up theirs and begin to eat. Zhao Qilei was not idle either, going back and forth to pour wine and tea for the three of them, while Zhao Qibing busied himself serving Wei Zhao and Old Master Zhao. Each time he served, he took two portions—one for Wei Zhao and the rest for Old Master Zhao; as for Zhao Guangyin, he paid him no mind at all. This, it seemed, was understandable. It was normal for Zhao Qibing to serve Wei Zhao and Old Master Zhao. Zhao Guangyin was the lowest in status of the two, so he could serve himself; if Zhao Qibing served him too, it would fail to highlight Wei Zhao's honored position. And Old Master Zhao was both the family head and an elder, so Zhao Qibing's doing this was also a mark of respect for him. "Senior Lin, I, Zhao Guangyin, toast you!" After a few bites, Zhao Guangyin raised his cup and stood up, saying to Wei Zhao, "Previously, our Hidden Zhao family offended Senior Lin in many ways. I hope Senior Lin will not take it to heart! Before, we failed to recognize Mount Tai, but fortunately our Hidden Zhao family had one clear-eyed person—Zhao Qilei!—who enabled us to meet a wise master. I believe that under Senior Lin's leadership, the Hidden Zhao family will surely grow stronger and stronger!" "You are too kind." Wei Zhao had never had a good impression of Zhao Guangyin; he simply thought the man ruthless enough to want even Chen Xi killed. Now that he had taken in the Hidden Zhao family where Zhao Qilei belonged, he could hardly give Zhao Guangyin too cold a face. He merely said lightly, "Since even Zhao Qibing could return to the Hidden Zhao family, Chen Xi should be able to as well, no? Could she perhaps make a go of it as a female family head?" "Ah? That..." Zhao Guangyin had not expected Wei Zhao to ask this; it was outside anything he had anticipated. For a moment he was at a loss for words, not knowing how to answer. "Guangyin! Did you not hear what Senior Lin said? Tomorrow, bring Chen Xi and her mother back, and restore them to the clan! I think Chen Xi's mother is very virtuous and more than fit to be your young family head's wife!" Old Master Zhao glared at Zhao Guangyin and said. "Yes, yes! Senior Lin, Father, tomorrow I will go bring Chen Xi and her mother back to the Hidden Zhao family!" Zhao Guangyin said hurriedly. "Senior Lin, as for the position of family head..." Hearing Wei Zhao say that Chen Xi should become the female family head, Old Master Zhao's expression turned somewhat troubled. "Actually, at this banquet I had already decided to make Qitan the next young family head of our Hidden Zhao family. Chen Xi..." Old Master Zhao's words made Zhao Qibing, who was serving dishes at the side, change countenance. His hand trembled, and the food he had picked up fell with a plop to the ground. It was plain that at this moment, Zhao Qibing's whole body was trembling... Wei Zhao saw Zhao Qibing's state too and frowned slightly. Could it be that Old Master Zhao had never said anything before, and only now, at the banquet held for him, revealed his decision? Otherwise, why would Zhao Qibing react this way? "Qibing, what are you doing?" Old Master Zhao's gaze sharpened as he glared at Zhao Qibing. "You can't even serve a dish properly—what use are you?" "Grandfather... my hand just slipped for a moment..." Zhao Qibing's face was terribly grim, and he looked on the verge of tears. "Hmph, don't make a spectacle of yourself! Although I intend to pass the position of young family heir to Qitan, you will certainly be something like an elder in the Hidden Zhao family. It's only that your relations with Senior Lin were poor before, so I did not place you in the position of young family heir—in truth, to protect you. Do you understand?" Old Master Zhao gave a cold snort. "If you became the young family heir, Senior Lin would certainly not be pleased!" "I understand, Grandfather..." Zhao Qibing said with a desolate expression. Wei Zhao looked at Zhao Qibing. Though everything seemed very real, Wei Zhao felt it was all somewhat unnatural. Since Old Master Zhao had already invited him to dine and positioned the Hidden Zhao family as his vassal, Zhao Qilei's rise was unstoppable. Even if Zhao Qibing were a fool, he should not fail to understand this. So why did today's events make it seem as though Zhao Qibing truly did not know, and still harbored the illusion that he could become the young family heir? But if he really looked into it closely, Wei Zhao could not discern the reason—what play Zhao Qibing was putting on today. It seemed Zhao Qibing's attitude was still decent; after being reprimanded by Old Master Zhao, he began earnestly continuing to serve Wei Zhao dishes. Though his face was still rather pale, he raised no further questions. Zhao Qibing served the dishes at no great speed, so with each item Wei Zhao tasted a bite—partly to give the Zhao family face, and partly because Wei Zhao was truly hungry. Given Wei Zhao's appetite, Zhao Qibing's manner of serving was really a bit too little! Only after Wei Zhao had tasted every dish did Zhao Qibing ask, "Senior Lin, which one do you find tasty? I'll serve you more of it!" "They're all good. Your Zhao family's chefs could rival those of a five-star hotel—you certainly know how to live!" Wei Zhao was himself an excellent cook, and for him to find the dishes good, the chefs were naturally no ordinary lot. "Heh heh, you flatter us. If Senior Lin likes it, then come eat often," Old Master Zhao said with a smile. Seeing that Wei Zhao had said nothing particular, Zhao Qibing picked up dishes from the table as if casually—this time serving only Wei Zhao. Old Master Zhao ate a little of each dish and was full. To be continued...