Old Xiong walked forward with Xiong Zhi beside him.
Butler Zhou came forward as well with an envelope in his hands.
The guests were anticipating what Old Xiong would give.
Somehow, they find this flaunting of wealth very entertaining. Even though they taste bitter every time the gift was opened, they still hold on to see what's the gift. They would just imagine that they are the ones receiving it.
Old Xiong gestured for Butler Zhou to hand the brown envelope.
Lu Yin Ze accepted.
He opened the envelope while the guest held their breaths.
Lu Yin Ze has few papers on his hand.
His name was on it and some specific lands.
Xiong Zhi started to speak.
"The first page is the deed of the land near the southern border. It is 2000 acres of barren land. It's now under your name."
The guest was stunned.
2000 acres of land was a big gift. 2000 acres of land was about $10-15 million.
However, if you compare it to the gifts of the two hegemons it was nothing.
'Maybe there is more ?' The guest guessed.
They could not believe that Old Xiong, a very prideful man would give something that made him look defeated.
So they waited patiently. It turns out they were right.
"The second page is the mineral rights. That 2000 acres of land has 2 meters deep of oil under it. It's now for you to harvest it."
The guest was open-mouthed.
Heavens! What they just heard! That 2000 acres of land has 2 meters of oil under it?! That's literally a land pot of gold! The 2000 acres of land that initially cost $15 million have ten times its value. With that rich oil, they could harvest at least hundreds of millions every month. In a year, it could amount to billion.
The guest has red eyes. They are wishing that they are Lu Yin Ze, the recipient of the gift.
Lu Yin Ze was stunned. Even though he doesn't understand some of it, he knew oil was expensive. Giving him land to harvest oil was like giving him a pot of gold mine. He knew the Xiong family and the Lu family were not that close like how Lu and Guan's family was before. However, the Xiong family give one of their gold mines to Lu Yin Ze.
The three hegemons were shocked as well. The Xiong family could give one of their gold mines to the second young master of Lu Yin Ze. It was really shocking. If they haven't known Old Xiong stingy characteristics they would not question it and might think that the Xiong was just flaunting his wealth.
However, since they knew that Old Xiong and Old Lu were always at each other's throat, what was the reason-giving Old Lu's grandson a so-extravagant gift? These hegemons forgot that they just give an extravagant gift as well.
Old Xiong took all their awed gaze and the doubting expression of the Oldies. He was so proud. He felt that the heartache of giving this gold mine to Old Lu's descendant was vanishing. With a calm expression but a boastful tone, Old Xiong speaks.
"From now on, Lu Yin Ze is it? You will be welcome to come to Xiong Main Mansion whenever. I'll be your godfather."
Wha-?!
All the guest's jaw dropped. Even the three hegemons were stunned.
Xiong Zhi looked at her grandfather. She did not expect this as well. Seeing her grandfather boastful and confident look, Xiong Zhi wondered if it was really just to boast. She knew her grandfather well. Just even asking for a seat in the IAmFashionista event, she had to work hard on an impossible task. So she could not help but be suspicious. Her grandfather would not be so kind just to accept anyone to use his surname that he cared so much for in other people's advantage. There must be a price to pay.
And she was thinking, what's the reason?
Old Lu was the most shocked and doubtful one. Then it suddenly dawned on him. His face blackened.
There's no way Old Xiong would be so generous without reason.
Xiong De and Xiong Wuyue were delighted when they heard of this. It seems like targeting the second young master Lu was a wise plan. As their target's value increases, their determination to rope him in their side grew stronger.
The shareholders and directors of the Lu Empire exchanged glances. It seems like the heir position would be given to second young master Lu without a doubt. The shareholders that were supporting the first young master was torn inside. They already alleviated themselves to the first young master. At first, they were confident. But now, this second young master just appeared and just celebrated his birthday, and he already got the support of the two hegemons. The Old Xiong and the Old Lu. The war hasn't started but these shareholders felt that they already lost.
Being a godfather of the tiger Xiong means that Old Xiong was letting Lu Yin Ze borrow his surname, Xiong. It means that the entire Xiong was backing up Lu Yin Ze. Lu Yin Ze was now like an extended family of Xiong. Even the declaration was not on papers, the statement was more effective since it was declared in front of the three hegemons and in the people at the highest circle of the society.
Now, Lu Yin Ze holds the power and authority that everyone dreamt of.
Even Lu Yin Ze was not knowledgeable about the battle in the business industry, just being approved by one of the hegemons and accepting him in the family was a great honor. Besides, it was his friend's grandfather. Old Xiong's word 'you are welcome to come at Xiong mansion anytime' made him excited. So in the future, he could 'crash' at his friend's home and he could sleepover. They could even have a slumber party. Those things that he read and just daydream of could now happen in reality.
He bowed and accept the gift.
"Thank you, Mr. Xiong. It is Lu Yin Ze's honor to be approved by you." Lu Yin Ze said with gratitude.
Old Xiong laughed.
"I'm your godfather. You can call me grandfather." He said generously.
Xiong Zhi, Linfeng, Xiong De, Xiong Wuyue, and the three hegemons were so taken aback.
Old Xiong was being generous. It was really suspicious!
Lu Yin Ze was just happy.
"Yes, grandfather." He smiled and bowed sincerely.
'In the future, I could go together with Zhi after school to visit her house.'
Imagining that they would be in the same car and go home together made him smile. Then he would sleepover because the midterm exam was coming and they need to study together to help each other in the difficult subjects all through the night. Then in the next morning, they would go together to school. Those scenes he was so envied about would be possible to happen to him now.
His happy and excited eyes looked at Xiong Zhi. Xiong Zhi looked at him and saw how happy he was.
She just returned the smile.
She wanted to tell her grandfather that there was no need for an extravagant gift, just a sincere gift was enough to make Lu Yin Ze happy. However, since her friend would receive a lot of good things form his grandfather by this, then it was better for Lu Yin Ze. At least her friend has more things to take advantage of when he was in difficult times. Moreover, by this their friendship would be more vocal and they would not need to worry for both of their families giving them unnecessary rumors.
Xiong Zhi and Old Xiong went back to their seats and Old Lu came forward.
He gave Old Xiong a complex gaze.
Old Xiong really surprised him. He could guess his reason why he was so generous towards his second grandson. But if his guess was true, that he found it more strange. Old Xiong was not an ideal human being in terms of human relations. Old Lu believed that until Old Xiong died, he would not trust someone fully even that person was his only blood-related. He would die without experiencing love or care for another person. So it would be a miracle if Old Xiong acted out of character for the sake of sacrificing for the greater benefit and that's not for him or his empire. It was for a person.
To convince himself that Old Xiong was a sc.u.mbag of human being he asked Xiong Zhi when he passed her.
"Girl, when is your birthday?"
Xiong Zhi bowed to him lightly and answer without pause.
"It's on March 23, Master Lu." Old Xiong who heard them paused a little. His boastful face broke and he smiled slyly to Old Lu.
Old Lu was really worthy of being a Lion in the business industry. He already guessed his intentions.
"You still have more months to prepare Old Lu. Don't disappoint me." Old Xiong stared at Old Lu to watched the blackening of his face.
However, Old Lu 's face did not blacken. But his expression was struck dumb. Finally, after coping with his sudden discovery of Old Xiong, he smiled mysteriously.
He looked at Xiong Zhi who was watching them like she was just an audience and not connected to the matter at all, then he looked back at Old Xiong who was thinking of the reason behind his unexpected expression.
"Alright. Since it is your first time to show your development as a human being, I will surely not disappoint you, Old Xiong. Ha. Ha. Ha."
Old Lu's laughed made Old Xiong annoyed. It seems like Old Lu found something that he did not know of. But he did not have time to ponder what he said as he seated because Old Lu began to hand his gift.