novelSusiti Chapter 1181 - 11: Zhou Family Strife (Part 3)
Chapter 1181 - 11: Zhou Family Strife (Part 3)
Compared to them, the Heir of Marquis Beining is truly a novice.However, this novice makes people envious. He married the daughter of the Zhou Family, and Miss Zhou Qi has given him three daughters and two sons. He remains the Heir of Marquis Beining.
This title can indeed be passed down, especially since the Heir of Marquis Beining and Prince NanAn have made great contributions on the battlefield.
Not to mention anything else, just the fact that they saved the Flying Tiger Army and helped uncover the truth behind its annihilation is a great merit, earning them considerable face with the Emperor and Marquis Beining.
Even though they are wealthy, the status and position of the Heir of Marquis Beining leaves them far behind.
If not for the Zhou Family, becoming brothers-in-law, they might never have had the chance to speak with the Heir of Marquis Beining in their lives.
As long as he doesn’t inherit the Zhou Family’s fortune, he is just the brother-in-law of their seventh sister, and they are sure to be friends rather than foes.
There is advantage in doing business with the court.
Aside from discussing business, the other six sons-in-law of the Zhou Family and the Heir of Marquis Beining had quite a pleasant conversation.
The Heir of Marquis Beining dealt with them one by one.
He was still pondering over who exactly poisoned his son.
If it was him who was poisoned, he could tolerate it out of respect for his father-in-law, Old Master Zhou, but if it was his son, it was absolutely intolerable.
After three months, Old Master Zhou had fully recovered.
His complexion was rosy, and he was glowing with health.
He was well aware of how the seven sons-in-law managed the shops.
The daughters of the Zhou Family, who stayed at home, were eager to know who had won when their husbands returned.
This was also what the Heir of Marquis Beining and the others wanted to know most.
Though aware they were unlikely to win, they still had a heart full of curiosity.
Old Master Zhou asked the sons-in-law how much the shops had earned in the past three months.
From the eldest son-in-law of the Zhou Family to the Heir of Marquis Beining, each reported in turn.
Particularly when the Heir of Marquis Beining reported his numbers, Miss Zhou Qi gave him a fierce glare.
Eight taels of silver, how did he manage the shop?!
The Heir of Marquis Beining looked innocent.
He had already done his best.
Others were overwhelmed with suppressed emotions.
The criteria for judgment were inside the large box, which was brought in by a servant.
The seven sons-in-law stepped forward one by one to open the boxes.
The eldest son-in-law of the Zhou Family opened the letter, intending to present it to Old Master Zhou.
Old Master Zhou said, "Read it out loud for them."
The eldest son-in-law of the Zhou Family opened the letter.
There were two sheets of paper inside.
But the words were pitifully few.
On one sheet, there was only the word "Benevolence."
The other sheet had only doubled that: "Resemble me."
Seeing these words, the faces of the several sons-in-law of the Zhou Family changed drastically.
Whoever conducts business most benevolently wins.
Whoever manages their business most like Old Master Zhou wins.
The criteria for deciding the winner had nothing to do with money at all.
Under these criteria, even though the Heir of Marquis Beining earned the least, he still won.
Because he hadn’t managed the shops at all; they were still run the way the Zhou Family had always managed them.
Besides, there was the word "Benevolence."
The Heir of Marquis Beining had spent all his money providing medicine, wasn’t that benevolence enough?!
Especially as they foolishly sent patients to the shop for medicine just to ensure the Heir of Marquis Beining did not earn too much...
Some protested that the Heir of Marquis Beining must have known the criteria for deciding victory and defeat beforehand.
The Heir of Marquis Beining said, "..."
How could he have known?
Isn’t this an unfounded slander?!
Not only was it a slander, it clearly implied that Old Master Zhou favored him more!
Old Master Zhou had anticipated this outcome. Even though he laid out the criteria for victory and sealed them in a box, it was of no use.
Old Master Zhou looked at the sons-in-law and said, "Three months ago, I said that doing business values the word ’Benevolence,’ did anyone listen?"
Everyone fell silent.
Old Master Zhou had indeed said this publicly, but none of them paid attention.
Isn’t being too benevolent in business going to prevent the shop from making money?
Old Master Zhou continued, "Those shops don’t make money and lose money every year, but they are the best-managed shops in my opinion."
"If you had carefully examined the account books and understood how the shops lost money, you would have known what kind of person I am."
The Zhou Family’s wealth rivaled the nation’s; how could mere money be what he valued most?
More than money, he valued personal character.
He hoped to pass on his lifetime’s efforts to someone who shared his values.
Without a doubt, the Heir of Marquis Beining won beautifully.
The sons-in-law of the Zhou Family looked at the Heir of Marquis Beining and said, "Does Father-in-law think he can manage the Zhou Family business well?"
Old Master Zhou glanced over and said, "He is the Heir of Marquis Beining and cannot take over the Zhou Family business."
"Go back and raise my grandsons well, for the Zhou Family business will be inherited by them."
From the beginning, Old Master Zhou never intended for the sons-in-law to inherit the family estate.
Those who inherited his estate had to be part of the Zhou Family and must have Zhou’s blood in their veins.
The daughters of the Zhou Family were indignant, blaming their husbands for failing to compete for the family estate.
Interestingly, Old Master Zhou was wise. He allowed the sons-in-law to compete, avoiding their daughters’ resentment if they failed, as their husbands would then carry the blame.
They had been given the chance; if they missed it, they could blame no one but themselves.
However, Old Master Zhou was ultimately considerate.
Having had his daughters accompany him for three months, how could he let them leave empty-handed?
Old Master Zhou prepared seven large boxes, neatly lined up in the main hall, one for each person, to choose freely.
The matter of inheriting the Zhou Family estate was thus concluded.
But the person who poisoned was not found, and such a large piece of the Zhou Family’s wealth fell into the hands of a child just over a year old; who could be content with that?
The end marks a new beginning.