The Xu family is a big family. Since it is a big family, it is natural to distinguish between the close and the outside. However, one thing has never changed, that is, the eldest brother is always the object of admiration for the other children.
Xu Ziwen took over the reins of the Xu family when he was thirty-four years old. As the eldest son of the eldest son, his father, the previous head of the Xu family, finally felt relieved about him after more than ten years of experience.
The heavy responsibility of the family has been entrusted to him. From the outside, Xu Ziwen can tell everything about the Xu family, but only a few people know whether the real situation is like this.
.
At least, Xu Ziwen would never think so when he got up early every morning to greet his father.
It will take a few years for Mr. Xu to reach his 60th birthday. It is still very early before he leaves for Hexi. He feels that with his old bones, he can still protect his family and his children from the wind and rain for a few years. As for his sons,
What do you think? Is this important?
"Zihou sent a message from Yangzhou!" Taking the Zanzao handed over by Xu Zihou, Mrs. Xu rinsed his mouth, swallowed it with a gulp, and then said slowly.
There were a few unknown birds outside the window, chirping. As winter approached, the down on these birds became plump. When the morning wind blew slightly, Xu Ziwen seemed to see those tiny downs, as if they were being caught.
It's like a human finger gently brushing against it.
I don't know if it feels the same as when I held it in my hand last night.
"Ziwen, Ziwen!" Mr. Xu's sharp shout interrupted Xu Ziwen's random thoughts. He was excited: "Father, my son is thinking that Zihou has always been a bit arrogant in his behavior. In the middle of the year, there will be a clan meeting, and there will be exchanges with Yangzhou."
The income that has come up is among the last three, and if this continues, I am afraid that the other houses will be very critical of the eldest house!"
"It's just a bit of fun. Young man, his temperament has not been lost yet. It will be fine in a few years when he becomes more stable. Isn't that how you came here that day?" The old man looked at his eldest son with some dissatisfaction.
He left it to his eldest son, but the old man still loved his younger son more. Even though this younger son had higher aspirations than the sky and a lower destiny than paper, he had always been a master with high ambitions and low abilities. In the eyes of the old man, he just lacked some experience.
"I'm not saying that Zihou is not good. No matter how good he is, he is still his brother. It's just that Zihou loves to play so much and has a lot of money. His temperament is really not suitable for business. Otherwise, let him take off his job in Yangzhou.
As for the sale of salt goods, let him go home to accompany his father. Anyway, as the eldest brother, I won’t miss a penny of his expenses!"
"Isn't this why I called you here?" Mrs. Xu glanced at him and said in a nonchalant manner: "Of course I know what my own son's character is and whether he is suitable for business!"
He handed the letter in his hand to him: "Look, you are the head of the Xu family now. When this brother encounters something, the first thing he thinks of is not asking you for help, but asking me, an old man.
Bones, it seems that as the head of the family, you haven’t done enough to win the hearts of the people!”
Xu Ziwen took the letter and read it hastily: "It's just a matter of eight thousand taels of silver. Just transfer it to him from my account later!"
"Confused!" The old man slammed his crutch on the ground, "If it's just a matter of money, don't I have to ask you, the head of the Xu family, for permission before I can give the money to my son! Please be careful.
Read it again!”
Xu Ziwen was shocked. He lowered his head and read the letter in his hand carefully. After a long time, he took a deep breath and uttered three words: "Jin Yiwei?"
"I have never believed in coincidences in my life!" Mrs. Xu snorted: "You told me a few days ago that you went to see Chen Jingwen. Before Chen Jingwen made any move, Jin Yiwei came to trouble Zihou.
Here you go, do you think this could be a coincidence?"
"No way!" Xu Ziwen looked a little unbelievable: "Hasn't Chen Jingwen not made any move yet? Does Jin Yiwei know now that my Xu family is using him? Is this a small warning to us?
?”
"Hmph, Sihailou and Jinyiwei are collaborating. Since you are planning to cause trouble to Sihailou, how could you not think of this? Do you really think that the bad reputation of Jinyiwei in the Ming Dynasty was all blown up by those scholars!" The old man was a little angry.
His own son's slowness: "Also, Chen Jingwen still has a chance to rise. How can you use the friendship between my Xu family and him in such a place? With your eyes like this, how can I trust you after I die?"
, Don’t worry about the Xu family?”
"Then what should I do?" Xu Ziwen was horrified and did not talk back. He looked at his father with some uneasiness.
"Zihou, tell him not to dwell on this matter, and not to find anyone to trouble the Jinyiwei Baihu. A small Baihu can kill him at any time, and a small impatience will mess up a big plan!
"
"Yes, I'm afraid that if I ask my father to write a letter to him later, he may not be able to listen to what I, the eldest brother, say!" Xu Ziwen nodded, with a slight wry smile at the corner of his mouth.
"Chen Jingwen, don't go looking for him again. Regardless of whether the matter is successful or not, this matter has nothing to do with my Xu family. My Xu family is not the only one in the maritime trade business in South Zhili. Everyone is not standing up.
, why should we, the Xu family, charge into battle and provoke the Jinyiwei gang of evil spirits?"
"Yes, among the seven Jiangnan families, which one does not have sea trade business, this matter is too abrupt. I should inform them, and then everyone can come up with a charter together!" Xu Ziwen nodded in agreement. At first, he wanted to make a decision for himself.
At this moment, he would never express his thoughts about what was happening to his father.
"It's not too late to inform us now. This matter will be solved sooner or later!" Mrs. Xu smiled slyly: "We are anxious, there are people who are more anxious than us, so let the person who is more anxious take the lead!"
Seeing that he seemed confused, as if he couldn't understand what he said, he shook his head and explained.
"With regard to the Sihailou matter, those of us in the south of the Yangtze River who rely on sea trade for a living have to have some contact with them. But how to do so? There is a saying. Since ancient times, shopping malls have been like battlefields. As long as there is collision and fighting,
There will definitely be casualties. Our Xu family will not be the vanguard, but we will not be the ones waving the flag and shouting from the side. We will just follow the crowd and follow the crowd! Only when there are more people, we will be stronger. Only the infamous Jin Yiwei will be afraid! Wait until
Now that everyone has figured out the details of each other, it’s not too late to sit down and talk slowly. When doing business, there is always profit and loss for each other. It’s rare to kill them all!”
Seeing his son nodding thoughtfully, he stroked his long beard with satisfaction: "Of course, when it comes to the life and death of the family, we have to rely on ourselves. No outsider is as reliable as our own family.