Volume 3: The Richest Man in the World Chapter 25: Guang Shao Seeks an Official Position
Wei Laoshi was related to both the Pan and Cai families. When the Wu family got into trouble, Cai Shiqun got ideas from Wei Laoshi and unknowingly tried to influence the internal strategy of the Wu family. It was hard to guarantee that the Pan family was not suspected in this matter.
Before the Cai family obtained the license for Sanbaohang, Wu Chengjian had pointed out this matter. Cai Shiqun didn't understand at first, but Wu Chengjian pointed it out a few more times. Cai Shiqun finally understood and kept a distance from Wei Laoshi from then on to avoid angering Wu Chengjian.
Cai's mother said, "How can you be so confused! We are close to the Wu family and distant from the Pan family, so we naturally cannot betray the Wu family. But then again, how much knowledge can we have on such a big matter? But if Wei Laoshi really has Pan Qi Guan to give him advice, with Qi Guan's ability, maybe he can really come up with some ideas. Wouldn't that be much better than us just guessing here?"
Cai Shiqun said, "But what if Pan Qiguan takes this opportunity to harbor evil intentions? What should we do then?"
"This matter is still between us." Cai's mother said: "If the Pan family really has evil intentions, how can we not see it? We just don't do it. After the strategy is asked, whether to do it or not is still up to us, Qiaozhu."
"That does make sense." Cai Shiqun said, "But...is it really a good idea to let the Wu family's affairs and Qiaozhu's worries spread outside?"
"Of course not!" Cai's mother said, "So when you speak, you have to be more restrained. There are some things that you can't say directly, and you can't say them all. Just let out a hint, but don't let others find fault with you."
The parents-in-law hesitated for a long time and discussed how to start the conversation and how to put it, and finally came to a decision.
That night, Cai Shiqun found an excuse to go drink with Wei Laoshi - they got along well and lived close to each other, otherwise they would not have become good friends. Although Cai Shiqun had deliberately kept a distance from Wei Laoshi after the establishment of Sanbaohang, Wei Laoshi still came to the invitation this time and brought a whole Datang roast goose.
The goose from Guangzhou, like the duck from Nanjing, has a long history and is extremely delicious, reflecting the two unique delicacies of the southeast.
The two old men were eating roast goose and drinking wine. When they were half drunk, Cai Shiqun suddenly sighed. Wei Laoshi couldn't help but ask him why he was sighing when he was so successful .
Cai Shiqun said: "Now that I have become a insurance merchant, I have achieved a small success. This is an unexpected surprise. However, there are also unexpected losses."
Wei Laoshi asked what the unexpected loss was.
Cai Shiqun said: "I am worried that my grandson will not be able to be a guarantor when he grows up. Before my son-in-law fell ill, I always thought that my grandson would definitely inherit Yihe Bank in the future."
They were all people who had been in the Guangzhou business circle and had made a living with the Thirteen Hongs for their entire lives. Wei Laoshi understood what he heard, but did not say anything for a while. Cai Shiqun was not anxious either, but just sighed and said that his grandson Guang'er had been a smart kid since he was a child, and he always believed that Guang'er would become a great man when he grew up.
Wei Laoshi finally said, "Old Cai, although I don't want to offend you, this matter is difficult, difficult to handle! Now the Yihe Bank has a new head. From ancient times to the present, I have never heard of an emperor passing the throne to his nephew instead of his son. Even if the position of Haoguan was taken over by your son-in-law, look at the Song Dynasty. After Zhao Guangyi died, he did not pass the position back to Zhao Kuangyin's son. So this matter... forget it, forget it."
After hearing what Wei Laoshi said, Cai Shiqun felt disappointed and stopped talking about it. The two of them just drank.
Wei Laoshi had a very good alcohol tolerance and smelled of alcohol, but he was not actually drunk. After he went back, he thought about Cai Shiqun's words again and again and couldn't help laughing. His wife asked what happened. Wei Laoshi mentioned what Cai Shiqun said when they were drinking today and laughed, "This old Cai is also wishful thinking. He became a guarantor today, but he still wants to help his grandson. He doesn't even think about what means Hao Guan has! Besides, you have a grandson, and Hao Guan's son also has a grandfather, who is from the old guarantor family of the Thirteen Hongs, the Ye family. If they really fight in the future, one has a father and a mother, and the other has a mother but no father. The two uncles' families are very different in strength, so there is no way to fight!"
His wife, however, was more cautious and said, "No matter what Mr. Cai thinks, this is news. Since the opening of Sanbaohang, how long has it been since we passed on news to Panjiayuan? Why don't you spread the news? Maybe Qi Guan will have a different story."
Wei Laoshi slapped his head when he heard it: "That makes sense!"
He passed the news to Pan Haigen the next day, and Pan Haigen reported it to Pan Youjie.
After hearing this, Pan Youjie laughed and said, "After all, there is a crack in the Wu family."
Manager Liu was nearby and also heard the news. He said, "Hao Guan had already pointed out this clue at the beginning. How come there is still news coming from this line now? Don't tell me it's a scam!"
Pan Youjie laughed and said, "If Zhou Yijin was here, this could really be a trap. But since Zhou Yijin disappeared, I've seen Hao Guan act a little confused. I don't know if it's because he's absent-minded or because he's missing a think tank. In short, he's always a little lacking compared to before."
Manager Liu said, "Business is like war, and all is fair. We must be on guard."
Pan Youjie pondered for a while and said, "Well, let's come up with an open plan. Whether they use it or not, we won't be in any trouble."
He immediately came up with an idea and asked Pan Haigen to tell Wei Laoshi.
Wei Laoshi was very happy when he got this idea. He didn't care what the final effect of this idea would be. But as long as there was a mutual interaction between Pan and Cai, he would have business to do in between.
He struck while the iron was hot and quietly went to Cai Shiqun and said, "I thought there was no way out that day, but I felt uneasy after returning home. After thinking about it, I suddenly came up with an idea. Would you like to listen to it, brother?"
After what Wei Laoshi said that night, Cai Shiqun and his wife had felt that there was no hope. But after hearing this, Cai Shiqun became spirited and quickly asked for advice.
Wei Laoshi said: "You guys, find a way to get Guang Shao an official position."
Cai Shiqun stood there, not knowing what benefit this method would bring.
Wei Laoshi gave him a thorough analysis, and Cai Shiqun nodded repeatedly. He turned around and told his wife what Wei Laoshi had said. After hearing this, Cai's mother praised him, saying, "This is truly a stroke of genius! We didn't tell Wei Laoshi about this, but his idea is exactly what we wanted! I'll go find Qiaozhu tomorrow!"
The next day, she went to Henan to visit her daughter at Wujiayuan, on the pretext of seeing if her daughter had recovered from her illness.
After two or three days, Cai Qiaozhu's illness was cured, but she was still depressed. Wu Chengjian and Ye Youyu sent her many things and thought of many ideas, but they didn't work. After the mother and son met, they sent the maids away, and Cai's mother said, "I discussed it with your father for a long time, and finally came up with a great idea!"
Cai Qiaozhu was a little surprised: "What's a good idea?"
Cai's mother said, "Let's find a way to get Guang'er a higher rank."
"Ah?" Cai Qiaozhu didn't react for a moment.
Cai's mother said, "It's to find an official position for Guang'er ."
"This... this..." Cai Qiaozhu said, "Guang'er is only a little old. Besides, we are businessmen. How can we become officials?"
Cai's mother said, "You are confused again, aren't you? Why can't a businessman be an official? Didn't Qi Guan and Hao Guan both get official positions?"
"That's not a real official." Cai Qiaozhu said: "It's just...ah, what mother said is..."
"Yes, the same." Cai's mother said, "Either we let Guang'er really become an official, or we can find a way to get him an official position. If we can let the official get an official position, firstly, we can let the servants of the Wu family know to respect Guang Shao from now on, and they don't have to say anything that was difficult to say before. How dare they insult a young master with an official position? Secondly, with the identity of an official, the child will have self-respect and self-esteem. He will have to put away some petty and petty behaviors and learn how to behave and do things. Thirdly, the child has an official position, which is equivalent to having the court's etiquette as a backing. No matter how successful Yao Shao is in the future, he will have to rank behind Guang Shao. Even if Hao Guan retires many years later, whether the Wu family passes on the throne or divides the family, Guang'er will at least not suffer too much with the official position."
Cai Qiaozhu was very moved by what Cai's mother said. The first point would have been fine, but the second point touched her heart, especially making her want to know that Guang'er was indeed far inferior to the two brothers Wu Chengjun and Wu Chengjian. When Wu Chengjun was young, Yihe Bank was just a start-up, so he had to help Wu Guoying run the business. He was a well-known mature young man, while Wu Chengjian was a precocious man. Although he did everything in a nonsensical way, looking back now, he felt that everything seemed to have a deep meaning, and it was not the behavior of an ordinary playboy.
There was nothing obviously wrong with Guang'er compared to his peers, but compared with his father and uncle, he pales in comparison. Therefore, Cai Qiaozhu was most concerned about her son's education. After listening to her mother's words and thinking about it carefully, she felt that this plan would kill three birds with one stone.
That's right. If Guang'er had an official position, he would be more self-respecting and self-respecting in the future. Maybe he would be more sensible. He said, "This is a good thing, but it's not easy to be an official, right? Besides, for businessmen like us to seek official positions, are there any consequences?"
"If being an official brings trouble, people won't flock to it." Cai's mother said, "But it depends on whether you are willing or not. If you are willing, we will find a way. If you don't agree, we will try to find a way first. What if we find a way but others don't agree? Then won't we offend them?"
Cai Qiaozhu thought it made sense, but said, "I should discuss this with Uncle San."
Cai's mother sneered and said, "Everything else is fine, but this matter cannot be discussed with Hao Guan."
Cai Qiaozhu asked: "Why?"
Cai's mother said, "If you go and discuss it, it will definitely not work. If you don't believe it, go ahead and try it. But after you try it, there will be no turning back."
