Taking over the Fu Family business—Fu Tian had thought about this for a long time, and finally voiced it today.
He hadn’t expected that this was what Fu Tian wanted to say. Fu Youqin was momentarily stunned, her eyes reflecting the seriousness in Fu Tian’s expression.
She knew her son better than anyone. Fu Tian had always been easygoing and unambitious, unlike others of his age and family background, who mostly had their own aspirations or ambitions.
Only Fu Tian neither liked to study nor showed much interest in business. He didn’t care about the family’s enterprises either.
Already in his teens, he was still as innocent and spoiled as when he was a child, living his days carefree and untroubled.
She knew she had protected him too well, but by the time she realized it, it was already too late. Other than continuing to dote on and shelter him, there was nothing else she could do.
After all, the Fu Family was large and wealthy. Even if Fu Huo muddled through life, these assets would be enough for him to live comfortably for several lifetimes.
Fu Youqin’s original plan was: when Fu Tian came of age, she would find him an older, capable woman to marry. The two could live a peaceful life together, and that would be good enough.
All the recent changes were beyond her expectations, as was Fu Huo’s unexpected growth.
The fledgling she’d sheltered under her wings finally wanted to leave the nest and see the world outside.
“Why did you suddenly think of this? Don’t you still want to take the Imperial Examination?”
Once he took over the business, he’d certainly be less free than now, and it would be even harder to settle down and study.
“I want to help you share the burden.”
Fu Tian’s lowered lashes trembled slightly as he spoke slowly but firmly, “I won’t give up on my studies. Even if I take over the family business, as long as I want to learn, there will always be time.”
“I’m already an adult. I can help you………………”
As he spoke, Fu Tian looked a bit aggrieved. He tried hard to appear more mature, but nearly twenty years of upbringing weren’t so easy to change.
In his previous life, he’d wasted ten years. Aside from his appearance growing rougher, his innermost self had never changed.
Because of this, his mother always saw him as a child, unwilling to believe he could shoulder the Fu Family’s responsibilities.
“Look how aggrieved you are.” Fu Youqin couldn’t help but laugh, gently patting his head, “I understand your feelings. Once I’ve sorted out this mess, it won’t be too late to hand things over to you.”
“You’ve worked yourself sick.” Fu Tian looked up, his gaze like a little cub forced to prove himself, “Ji Shu told me everything.”
“He… ………………” Fu Youqin was a little taken aback.
“The account books for the shops—I’ve already finished checking them all.”
Fu Tian cut in ahead of her, “There are five shops with issues in total. The day after tomorrow, I’ll go to the two shops in Shangming Town first to see the situation.”
If before, Fu Youqin had only thought he was worried because she was ill and wanted to help, not truly taking it to heart, now, hearing these words, she finally took Fu Tian’s request seriously.
Fu Tian kept a straight face, carefully recounting everything that had happened these past few days, and at the end, openly shared his own guesses and plans.
“It’s Mother who underestimated you………….”
Fu Tian’s guesses were almost the same as hers, and his plans were thorough, with no major flaws. Fu Youqin sighed softly, holding his hand with some emotion.
Her son had grown up, quietly, right where she hadn’t noticed.
Fu Tian shook his head, bent down, and hugged her, “You stay home and recover. From now on, leave the family business to me. If I don’t understand something, I’ll ask Ji Shu.”
“Alright. You’ll shield me from the rain.”
Fu Youqin was held in his arms. The youth who held her was still slender, not yet strong, but his chest was enough to shelter her from the wind.
Fu Youqin patted his back and told Qing Bi to bring over her dressing case.
Qing Bi went to the innermost room and brought back a rosewood dressing case. After asking Qing Bi to leave for now, Fu Youqin caressed the smooth lid with nostalgia before placing it in Fu Tian’s hands.
“This is the key to the storeroom. By the vase on the far right in the storeroom, there’s a Secret Door. If the shops ever lose too much money and you need to turn things around, you can use the silver inside for emergencies.”
Fu Tian hugged the dressing case, his eyes opening slightly. There was a Secret Door in the storeroom? Even in his previous life, he’d never known about this.
Smiling, Fu Youqin stroked his face, her expression tinged with reminiscence. She gently turned the mechanism lock on the box lid and opened it. On the red velvet lining lay a string of bronze keys.
The keys looked somewhat old, but they’d been handled so much they were smooth, gleaming faintly with a metallic luster.
“These are the family assets accumulated over generations by the Fu Family’s ancestors. I never told you before… You won’t blame me, will you?”
The Fu Family’s ancestors had once been the richest family in the region.
After retiring to Nanmíng Commandery, most of their businesses were sold off, leaving only a small portion in Nanmíng Commandery. As for what happened to the rest, no one knew.
As time passed, the Fu Family’s reputation gradually faded.
No one knew that the Fu Family in Nanmíng Commandery was once rich enough to rival a nation, nor did anyone care what happened to all that vast wealth.
Fu Tian shook his head. He could completely understand why his mother hadn’t told him this secret in his previous life.
There was a Secret Door in the storeroom with the Fu Family’s accumulated wealth inside. Even Wen Bolì hadn’t known about it.
***
After they were driven out of the Fu Family, his mother hid this secret even more tightly. Wen Bolì probably died never knowing there was a treasure trove hidden right under his nose.
Such a huge fortune—for his overly naïve self in his past life, it wouldn’t have been a gift, but a burden and a danger.
Fu Youqin said, “The Fu Family is already wealthy enough. More wealth won’t make things better, it’ll only draw the attention of the greedy. Unless it’s absolutely necessary, don’t use what’s inside lightly.”
Wealth shouldn’t be flaunted. Fu Tian naturally understood this principle, and reality had proven it right.
In Nanmíng Commandery, the Fu Family was considered enormously rich, but in the wider Chu kingdom, there were many families wealthier than theirs. In this sea of riches, the small Fu Family didn’t stand out.
That’s why, even during the chaos of his past life, Sifang Town remained relatively stable. Wen Bolì’s family also lived in peace, while many wealthy families in the Yijun Territory weren’t so lucky.
Fu Tian had heard many rumors that those people were forced to hand over their assets to fill the “National Treasury.” Those who refused were ultimately executed for treason, and their families wiped out.
Fu Tian closed the dressing case, the mechanism on the lid making a crisp “clack.” After a moment’s thought, he handed the case back to Fu Youqin.
“Since we don’t need it, it’s better to leave it with you, Mother.”
Fu Youqin smiled and shook her head, pushing the case back to him, “This was always meant to be kept by the head of the Fu Family.”
“When your grandfather passed away, he entrusted it to me. Now that you’re willing to shoulder the Fu Family’s burden, this key should be kept by you.” @无限好文,尽在晋江文学城
Fu Tian hugged the small wooden case tightly, as if he were holding a heavy boulder in his arms. Never before had he felt the weight of his responsibility so keenly.
With a serious expression, Fu Huo gave a solemn promise, “I will take good care of it.”
Fu Youqin smiled with relief, patted his hand, and urged him to go rest early. After talking for so long, she was a bit tired.
Fu Shuyue came forward and pulled out the pillow behind her. Once she was lying down, Fu Shuyue and Fu Tian left together.
Once they were outside, Fu Shuyue spoke gently, “You’re leaving for Shangming Town early the day after tomorrow?”
Fu Tian nodded and briefly explained his plan. Hearing that others would go with him, the worry in Fu Shuyue’s brows eased a lot.
The siblings whispered together for a while, and only then did Fu Tian carry the wooden case back to his room.
Nervously clutching the dressing case, Fu Tian rummaged around his room before finally hiding the little box in the secret compartment at his bedside, right next to his private stash.
He slept dreamlessly that night.
The next day was supposed to be a day of rest, but Fu Tian still got up early and asked Ji Shu to find the records of the managers of the two shops in Shangming Town for him.
He’d be going to Shangming Town tomorrow, and he wanted to gather as much information as possible.
Xiao Qiao and Chang Xi went to the market, while Chu Xiangtian and Zhou Chuanqing, now the most idle, stayed in the courtyard playing chess as usual.
From morning till dusk, the two battled over several games. As the sun was about to set, the person in the study was still engrossed in paperwork.
Chu Xiangtian casually tossed his chess piece aside, ready to drag the young master out for a break.
Left behind, Zhou Chuanqing’s forehead throbbed with anger. After playing all day, he’d almost won this round, but his opponent just left without a word—his chess etiquette was truly appalling.
Chu Xiangtian couldn’t care less what he thought. Knocking on the door, he went in and saw the young master looking up at him.
He bent down and pinched Fu Tian’s cheek, “It’s getting late. You should go rest soon.”
Fu Tian was almost finished reading, so he pushed Chu Xiangtian’s hand away and mumbled, “Mm, almost done.”
He then buried his head back in the paperwork.
Chu Xiangtian: “………………
Tsk, this young master really cares less and less about what he says these days.