Volume 3: The Richest Man in the World Chapter 15: Sharing the Pork
The first year of Jiaqing passed just like this.
Apart from the fire at the Thirteen Hongs, the country was relatively stable. To the surprise of the Thirteen Hongs' guarantors, Wu Chengjian actually borrowed money from the foreigners. As the general agent, he negotiated the terms with the foreigners, and then the foreigners took the agreement negotiated by Wu Chengjian to the foreigners' office to sign contracts and borrow money. After getting the money, a wave of reconstruction began in full swing near Baietan.
Such a huge project naturally boosted the development of various surrounding industries, from construction craftsmen, to movers and coolies, to nearby citizens who provided food and accommodation for these craftsmen and coolies. Those who sold labor, tea, soup and rice, and meat all made a lot of money. The whole market did not become depressed after the fire, but prospered instead. As a result, the Port of Guangzhou was even more lively in the winter of that year than in previous years.
Pan Yiliang Ma saved his business, while Lu Guanhuan was in the process of adjusting to the new governor of Guangdong and Guangxi, so he kept a low profile. However, the businesses of Tonghe Bank, Yihe Bank and Xingcheng Bank continued to expand, especially Yihe Bank, which gained nearly 30% of its market share in just a few months. It was unknown how much of the Cai family's business was taken over by the Wu family. Although they had caught up a lot, and everyone estimated that the Wu family might have surpassed the Lu family, the Pan family was still far ahead in terms of both business and strength.
Wanbaohang collapsed, and a new trading company was established on its ruins. The owner was still surnamed Cai, Cai Shiqun. He renamed the new trading company Sanbaohang and opened the company with great fanfare on the first day of the Lunar New Year.
In addition to the Cai family, there was another guarantor named Yan, who opened the Changxing Bank, and another guarantor named Wu, who opened the Tonghua Bank. Therefore, at the Thirteen Hongs Guarantor Merchants' New Year's Party in the second year of Jiaqing, there were eleven guarantors present.
When the eleven companies were re-ranked, Yihehang moved forward one position, passing Lu Guanhuan and directly sat on the seat originally held by Cai Shiwen, ranking second - of course, the seat must be rebuilt to avoid bad luck, and Lu Guanhuan had no objection to this.
This year, everyone spent the New Year happily but cautiously. Jishan was indeed transferred away, and the new supervisor's temperament was hard to figure out. Hutab hosted the New Year's party again, as a handover. After that, Hutab left Guangzhou, and not long after, news came that Hutab had been robbed on his way back to Beijing from Guangzhou and died on the road.
The news made the Thirteen Hongs' guarantors somewhat uneasy, wondering if it was a struggle within the Supervisory Office or if there were other things involved. However, Hutabu was very important when he was in the position, but once he left, he was like a fly. The guarantors were shocked for a while and then forgot about him. No one would remember him specifically.
The businessmen in Guangdong Bay are all doing business as usual and living their lives as usual. As long as they are not affected by the accident, everyone is happy to live a prosperous life as the rich.
On the fifth day of the first lunar month, Yihehang welcomed the God of Wealth. Wu Chengjian distributed pork to the shopkeeper and his employees, and carried the rest back to the Wu family's old house.
Wu Guoying was supported by her aunt, put on new clothes, and made two cuts with a knife - this was to divide the pork among her three sons. Then her fifteenth uncle took the knife and divided the pork.
At this time, the whole family was there, including Uncle Fifteen, Manager Liu, and Ou Jiafu. Wu Guoying said, "Starting next year, we will carry the pork to Henan. In fact, it should have been distributed there this year."
Wu Chengjian said with a smile: "The pork will be distributed wherever you are, Dad." In fact, the Wu family had officially moved to Wujiayuan last year, but because of the change in the red goods, and then Wu Chengjun's death and Ye Youyu's pregnancy, these few things came together, so they spent another year in the old house.
Wu Guoying waved her hand and said, "Starting next year, no matter what happens, we will carry the pork to Wujiayuan."
Wu Chengjian said, "Okay, okay, when the time comes, carry the pork over there and divide it up at the nursing home."
Cai Qiaozhu also said: "That's right. Although Hao Guan is in charge of the family business, the master is still the ballast of our Wu family. The master must cross the river as well, so that we can also get by."
Wu Guoying sighed and said, "It's not that I don't want to go, but I'd rather not toss around as much as possible. I don't have much time left, so I'll just leave my old bones here."
Cai Qiaozhu shed tears and said, "If the master doesn't go, then the new wife won't go either. Now I have nothing else to worry about except Guang'er, so I will stay here and serve the master until the end of his life."
Wu Guoying thought about it and did not refuse, but said: "Then you have to promise me that you will come over after a hundred years."
Only then did Cai Qiaozhu agree.
Wu Guoying said to Wu Chengjian, "With the eldest sister-in-law here, you can go to Henan with the young sister-in-law without any worries."
Wu Chengjian said: "Father, aren't you afraid that someone will stab me in the back?"
Wu Guoying said, "I arranged this, who dares to say anything against you! Last year was a time of trouble, so I asked Xi Jiasao to come over to take care of the baby. It's easier to take care of her here with more people. Now Yao'er is born, and Xi Jiasao is out of confinement. Can we continue to neglect Henan? The big courtyard that has been occupied cannot be left uninhabited for a long time, otherwise it will lose its vitality and wealth will not gather."
Wu Chengjian knew that Wu Guoying had made up her mind, so he stopped resisting and nodded in agreement.
Wu Guoying added: "As for your second brother, let him guard the old house."
Wu Chengjian asked , "What did Second Brother say?"
Wu Chenggou actually coveted the wealth and splendor of Wujiayuan in Henan, but after all, even if he moved there, the house would be luxurious, but he would have to depend on the mood of the third brother to live. It would be better for him to stay in the old house. First, this place is not bad either. Second, to put it bluntly, after the old man passed away, the eldest sister-in-law would also move there, and he would be able to call the shots here. So he said, "I will listen to my father's arrangements."
Seeing that his sons and daughters-in-law had listened to him, Wu Guoying felt relieved and said, "Come closer."
Cai Qiaozhu, Wu Chenggou and Wu Guoying all moved closer.
Wu Guoying said, "When a tree grows big, it will branch out. When a family grows big, it will divide into branches. Now you all have children and descendants. Today, while I am still young, Uncle Fifteen, Manager Liu, Jiafu, and all the relatives, young and old, are here to serve as witnesses. I will decide some things for him."
Wu Chengjian knew what Wu Guoying was going to say. Although he preferred to be together, some things had to be made clear sooner or later. He had no choice.
At that moment, Cai Qiaozhu, Wu Chenggou and Wu Chengjian all nodded.
Wu Guoying said, "Among the three of you brothers, only the eldest is the most natural and has never given me any worries! Unexpectedly, in the end, he is the most unfilial! He made me send off my son when I was young. What an unfilial son!"
When he said this, he pounded the armrests of the armchair twice and cursed Wu Chengjun for being unfilial, but the more he said this, the more his deep affection for his wife was revealed, and Cai Qiaozhu's eyes became red.
Wu Chenggou hurried over to calm the old man down, and said, "Father, don't say these things, be careful not to hurt yourself."
Wu Guoying stopped talking and said, "You are not much better. You have no ability and bad temper. But you are my son after all. I tell you clearly today that the family business cannot be given to you. You have no share! But since you are my son and the brother of Chengjun and Chengjian, you are lucky. Don't fight for what is not yours. You will get what is yours. As long as you stop messing around, you will be a rich and comfortable man. In the future, if your descendants are capable and can study, the first and third wives will do their best to cultivate them. If they can do business, the first and third wives will also do their best to support them. But as for you, you are not allowed to interfere in the business of the bank. Do you understand?"
This was said to Wu Chenggou, Cai Qiaozhu and Wu Chengjian as well. Wu Chenggou's face turned pale and blue, but after what happened the year before last, he knew that he had no chance to argue, and he was also severely punished, so he did not dare to argue anymore and said nothing.
Cai Qiaozhu and Wu Chengjian also thought that Wu Guoying's arrangement was reasonable, so they both agreed. Even if Wu Chenggou was incompetent and did nothing, they still had to take care of him out of brotherhood.
Wu Guoying then said to Wu Chengjian, "You! You have been a bastard since childhood, even more of a bastard than your second brother! Fortunately, you have changed in the past two years, and finally became a good person and supported this family. With your ability, when you really want something, no one can get you. If you really want to treat your second brother badly, you can strip him naked and throw him out of Xiguan Street. But I know you are not that kind of person."
Wu Chengjian said: "Father, since you know that I am not such a person, why are you still saying these things?"
Wu Guoying said: "I say this because I know you will still listen to me. After I die, I will take good care of you, my second brother."
Wu Chengjian said, "Don't worry, Dad. Although we don't have the same mother, we still have the same father. Besides, Second Brother has been very helpful in the past year. When my eldest brother passed away, my eldest sister-in-law and I were very upset. If Second Brother hadn't been there to support us, the funeral before the New Year would have been in chaos."
Wu Guoying nodded and said, "As for Guang'er..." The old man paused here.
When Cai Qiaozhu heard her father-in-law mention her son, her heart couldn't help but tighten. She wouldn't have been so upset in the past, but lately she didn't know why, she was always worried about this matter.
