The entire hall fell silent. Zhou Zhishan, with a kind smile on his face, cleared his throat and announced in a loud voice, "Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend my eightieth birthday celebration."
"To be honest, I haven't celebrated my birthday in twenty years. Time flies like an arrow, day and night. As people get older, they fear aging more and worry that time is passing too quickly."
"I've recently come to realize that fear is useless, and worrying is even more so. Time will continue to move forward regardless. No matter how reluctant I am, it won't stop for me."
"It's better to enjoy life and cherish every moment of my remaining time. Coincidentally, it's my eightieth birthday, and my children discussed and decided to throw a grand celebration for me. I initially wanted to object, but this is ultimately their filial piety. If I refused, I feared it would hurt their feelings."
"Most of those present today are my old friends, whom I've known for decades. Of course, there are also new friends. Your presence here shows me respect, and I am very happy and grateful. I hope that in another twenty years, you will still be here to attend my birthday banquet."
"Alright, enough of my rambling. Please eat and drink well. Those who can drink, drink more; those who cannot, eat more. In short, make sure you have a good time!"
Zhou Zhishan was quite eloquent. His speech earned him another round of applause.
The banquet began, and the guests presented their birthday gifts to Zhou Zhishan.
"Elder Zhou, I've heard you have a fondness for antiques. This snuff bottle is something I specifically sought out for you. It's definitely an old piece, my birthday gift to you."
"Elder Zhou, this is a blue and white porcelain vase I prepared for you. I acquired it at an auction in Hong Kong last month. It's worth over five million."
"Elder Zhou, I spent over ten million to find this pair of lion heads for you at Panjiayuan. Look at the quality, the contours. I wish you longevity as boundless as the East Sea and as enduring as the Southern Mountains!"
...
As everyone presented their congratulatory gifts to Zhou Zhishan, Chen Xiao became a bit uneasy. He asked Li Ziqing, "Ziqing, I didn't prepare any birthday gift. Isn't this a bit inappropriate? Should I also give something?"
Chen Xiao's Yin-Yang Jade was full of treasures. Besides the ten-thousand-year-old Earth Core Rock, there were also antiques and curios collected for him by the prominent figures of Jiangbei. Any one of them could be worth tens of millions.
However, Li Ziqing shook her head and said with a playful smile, "No need. I've already prepared his birthday gift. You just wait and see the show later!"
Chen Xiao was taken aback. He was curious about what gift Li Ziqing had prepared that would allow him to watch a show.
Precious birthday gifts were presented to Zhou Zhishan one after another. Elder Zhou nodded in thanks repeatedly, a hint of undisguised pride on his face.
The value of the gifts was one aspect, but the prestige was the most important.
The scale of the Zhou family's birthday banquet and the value of the gifts were such that one could hardly find five comparable establishments in the entire Weicheng. This also represented the Zhou family's status in Weicheng.
Who would have thought that Zhou Zhishan, who once roamed the docks as a small-time hoodlum, would build such a vast fortune in his lifetime?
Looking back, Zhou Zhishan certainly had reason to be proud.
The guests formed a long line, presenting their gifts in turns. It took over an hour for everyone to finish.
And then, the main event was about to begin.
After the guests presented their birthday gifts, it was the turn of Zhou Zhishan's children and grandchildren!
Zhou Weiguo exchanged glances with his younger siblings, Zhou Xingguo and Zhou Yuanyuan. The three of them stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Zhou Zhishan.
Then, Zhou Weiguo spoke on behalf of his siblings, "Father, Xingguo, Yuanyuan, and I have also prepared a birthday gift for you. It's a small token of our appreciation. We hope you will like it."
Zhou Zhishan smiled and said, "As long as it's from you, Father will like it."
Then, Zhou Weiguo waved his hand and called out, "Bring up the birthday gift!"
Immediately, people from outside carried in an object.
The object was covered with a red silk cloth, obscuring what was underneath.
The object was carried by eight people, and they seemed to be struggling, indicating its considerable weight.
Everyone became curious. What was this gift that the Zhou family's children had prepared for the elder?
The three siblings jointly grabbed a corner of the red silk cloth and pulled it up. As the red silk fluttered, the object beneath was revealed in its entirety.
And when the red silk was lifted, the entire hall erupted in an uproar!
"Is that… the Dragon Throne?!"
"It's made of pure gold, and there are golden dragons carved on it. What else could it be but the Dragon Throne?"
"It looks like… it's a genuine Dragon Throne. I wonder which emperor used it."
The crowd buzzed with discussion. Zhou Weiguo spoke confidently, "Father, this is the Dragon Throne used by Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. It's the birthday gift my siblings and I have prepared for you!"
"Is this… real?"
Even with his experience and composure, Zhou Zhishan couldn't help but stand up and move forward to examine it.
The Dragon Throne was carved with nine lifelike dragons.
It was adorned with a golden-yellow cushion, exactly like the Dragon Thrones seen in television dramas.
"Of course, it's real."
Zhou Weiguo chuckled. "Father, how could we dare to deceive you with a fake Dragon Throne? This Dragon Throne was purchased for ninety million at a Christie's auction fifty years ago. This time, my siblings and I spent five hundred million to acquire it."
This statement shocked the entire hall once again.
As expected of the Zhou family, such a grand gesture. They spent five hundred million on a birthday gift for their father.
However, it was indeed worth spending five hundred million to buy a Dragon Throne that had been used by an emperor.
Such a treasure was priceless!
"Father, please sit on it and feel how it is," Zhou Weiguo quickly invited.
Zhou Zhishan did not hesitate and sat down.
In an instant, a commanding aura of "who dares to oppose me" spread across the elder's face, and even his gaze became imperious!
At that moment, he seemed to have truly become a king ruling the world!
In reality, however, the Dragon Throne was made of gold. How comfortable could it be?
Even with a cushion, it was hard and stiff, not as comfortable as a genuine leather sofa!
The purpose of sitting on it was not for comfort, but to feel the power.
Even a beggar, sitting on the Dragon Throne, would exude an aura of absolute rule.
"Magnificent, truly magnificent! Hahahaha…"
Zhou Zhishan threw his head back and laughed, looking at his three children with admiration. "You have put much thought into this. Father likes this gift very much!"
He had already decided to sit on this Dragon Throne for several hours every day. He believed that he could live for another forty to fifty years.
After all, power was the best medicine in the world!