

Chapter 365: Picking Peaches
tiful meaning. It's a win-win situation."Gu Huanxi glanced at him with a smirk, "Isn't it three birds with one stone Making tofu is so economical, you know. One jin of beans can yield four or five jin...The men were playing cards, and Gu Huanyi went to take care of the housework. With the Lunar New Year approaching, there was still a lot to prepare, but fortunately, there were many servants in the house, so she just needed to give orders.
But the New Year's gift for the Sun family was personally chosen by her, focusing on thoughtfulness and practicality. There were various homemade delicacies from the workshop, as well as down-filled clothing, knitted gloves and scarves. She also included felt flower ornaments and decorations, all designed by her and not sold on the market.
There was also a set of plush toys, which she had instructed the maids in the house to sew. They included all twelve animals of the zodiac and were adorable, just as children liked them. A Li loved them dearly and couldn't bear to let go of any of them. Even though Gu Xiaoyu was mature beyond his years and had lost some of his childishness, he couldn't resist picking a cool-looking little tiger to put on his bed.
The next day, Xu Huaiyi was planning to go to the Sun family to deliver New Year's gifts. Unexpectedly, Su Zhe came, bringing a lot of things. Car after car arrived at the village, causing quite a stir.
Now, he can only stay at home to receive guests.
Upon entering the flower hall and settling down with tea, Xu Huaiyi wasted no time beating around the bush. He directly asked, "Why are you here Is there something you need"
Su Zhe took out the notebook and placed it on the nearby table, saying half-jokingly and half-seriously, "It's the end of the year, I have to settle accounts with you, don't I"
They had collaborated on several businesses, but the tofu workshop and feather bedding workshop always settled accounts immediately after each delivery. There was no need for year-end reconciliation. Only in those joint ventures involving Xu Huaiyi, where he didn't interfere and only received dividends, did they need to look at the account books.
Xu Huaiyi glared at him, "Are you trying to make things difficult for me on purpose Do I look like someone who keeps accounts"
He was a poor reader, something all his classmates knew. He excelled only in martial arts and military strategy; he would often doze off when trying to listen to the Four Books and Five Classics. Thankfully, the martial arts examination didn't focus on those subjects. Their studies were just a formality.
Su Zhe just liked his sincere and unpretentious manner, laughing with bright eyes and blooming smile. "Sister-in-law is capable indeed..."
Xu Huaiyi waved his hand casually and said, "No need, I can trust you, right If I didn't trust you, we wouldn't have cooperated in the first place. Just tell me the total amount, there's no need to go into too much detail."
Xu Huaiyi truly wasn't looking, and it wasn't a polite refusal. The wooden toys and floral ornaments they partnered on, he and his daughter-in-law were only responsible for the design patterns, not bothering with anything else. The accounts were also handled by Su's side. If the other party had malicious intentions and fabricated accounts, they would be very difficult to detect.
Besides, even if we found out, what could we do Would we start a fight So there's no need to look. Of course, Xu Huaiyi still thinks Su Zhe wouldn't be foolish enough to take advantage of this.
Xu Huaiyi's trust deeply touched Su Zhe. He wasn't being pretentious, he simply put away the ledger and took out a stack of silver bills from his bosom, "If we don't look at the ledger, then let's count the silver bills."
Xu Huaiyi joyfully accepted it this time, smiling and counting it. He couldn't hide his happiness, "I really didn't expect it, in just a few months, I made so much money, hahaha, thank you for your help..."
Su Zhe saw that he was happy and followed suit, saying, "We are mutually beneficial. Without your and sister-in-law's fashionable designs, the business in the shop wouldn't be so good. To put it bluntly, I actually took advantage of you. This year, when we calculated everyone's earnings at home, among a dozen brothers, I came out on top..."
"Really That's wonderful!" Xu Huaiyi said with a sincere bow, "Let's strive again next year! Aim for even greater heights!"
"Thank you for the kind words," Su Zhe replied sincerely, with a touch of emotion. "As I've said before, it's because of meeting you that I've achieved what I have today. Not only have I excelled in business and gained favor with the Second Prince, but my father even praised me last night. He called me into his study and spoke for a full pot of tea – something that's never happened to me before! This kind of glory was always meant for my older brother."
Hsu Huai-yi quipped, "So now it's your turn to feel the excitement! Are you feeling on top of the world or riding high"
Su Zhe chuckled bitterly, “There's pride and contentment, but more often it's trembling with fear, walking on eggshells.”
Xu Huaiyi understood instantly, raised his cup and took a sip of tea, "Being high up is lonely, this is all part of the journey."
To wear a crown, one must bear its weight.
Su Zhe nodded, a complicated mixture of emotions in his eyes. "Yes, that's why even if Big Brother makes things difficult for me, schemes against me, or secretly trips me up, I have to grit my teeth and persevere. I have no chance to retreat now…"
Even if he wanted to quit, his older brother wouldn't let him. Who asked him to show the strength to compete with him
Xu Huaiyi asked, "The master's position is only one. If you want it, you can indeed enter but not retreat. What does your father mean Does he just watch you fight each other"
Su Zhe smirked, "This time it's different. He publicly praises me, putting me up as a target, while secretly helping his elder brother consolidate his position. In his heart, his elder brother is the legitimate son, far more important than me. Besides, his sister-in-law's family is influential and can't be easily offended. And what about me I'm just a lowly illegitimate son, one more or less doesn't matter. Even if I have some business acumen, he wouldn't take it seriously. After all, which descendant of the Su family doesn't know how to do business We start learning accounting from birth..."
Hearing this, Xu Huaiyi couldn't help but frown and tentatively asked, "Your father wouldn't ruin our cooperation, would he"
Su Zhe said in a firm tone, "Don't worry, he won't. My older brother has been suppressing me and creating obstacles for my business behind the scenes. He can choose to ignore it, but he won't take action because you have the Sun family backing you. If he destroys our partnership, it's like slapping the Sun family in the face."
Xu Huaiyi let out a sigh of relief, "That's good, otherwise it would be too heartbreaking."
He and Su Zhe were classmates and could be considered friends. His friend's father caused trouble, so how should he deal with it
Su Zhe didn't manage to let out that breath, and he changed the subject, his voice bitter. "The business we're collaborating on now, he won't interfere, but for future ventures, he might get involved, and I wouldn't be able to refuse."
Xu Huaiyi's heart skipped a beat. "What about the future For example..."
Su Zhe helplessly smiled, forcing out a sentence, "For example, the business we are about to cooperate on."
Huai-yi Xu suddenly realized, "Your dad knows about those ceramic toilets and shower systems you made"
Su Zhe nodded, feeling guilty. "It's my fault. I wasn't thorough enough. I was too eager for quick gains and wanted to secure more leverage in front of the Second Prince. Before everything was ready, I borrowed manpower from you to remodel the Second Prince's mansion, and then... I got caught by my father. He saw potential in this business and wanted to take over, partnering with you under the Su family name."
Huai-yi Xu immediately looked at him with sympathy, "Good fellow, are you going to be left behind"
Su Zhe chuckled wryly, “It’s not like I’m completely disengaged. It’s still me coming to talk to you, but the business isn’t just mine anymore.”
"Understood, it's the entire Su family that profits, and not you, Su Zhe, right"
"Hmm..."
Xu Huaiyi asked in confusion, “Your father is actually undermining you Why Is he afraid that you’re too powerful and will overshadow your older brother, so he’s trying to suppress you But doesn't the Su family follow a competitive system It’s not like the eldest son inherits the family business by default. You succeeding benefits the Su family too, he wouldn’t lose anything…”
Su Zhe explained, "Because emotionally, he prefers his elder brother and my aunt. It's just that after he drinks alcohol, he gathers the maids who wash his feet. Deep down, he looks down on my background. How could he truly value me My being chosen as heir would be a stain on his face, he wouldn't be happy about it."
Xu Huaiyi furrowed his brows and asked, "What are your plans then"
Su Zhe fell silent for a moment before saying dejectedly, "An arm can't twist a thigh. My skills are mostly learned from him. The businesses under my name are also intertwined with the Su family. Besides, I govern by filial piety, and if my father wants me to die, how can I resist"
Hearing this, Xu Huaiyi felt distressed for him. Coming from the future, he didn't have such rigid filial piety notions, but people nowadays were brainwashed from a young age. Even if they knew blind obedience was wrong, they dared not go against the prevailing environment. After all, fathers held absolute control and power over their sons. A single accusation of unfilial piety from a father could ruin a son's life unless he was willing to give up everything else.
After a moment of silence, Su Zhe smiled with relief. “Actually, it wasn’t that bad for me. My father still has some face and cares about your feelings, so he left me a way out. He gave this business to the Su family, but I can get a cut from it, so it's not all for nothing. I also made it clear that my older brother isn't allowed to interfere. Even if I don't get it, I won't let him just take it for himself. My father agreed. After the New Year, he said he would invite you over to our place and we’ll formally sign the documents then. He will sign them personally.”
Speaking of which, I couldn't help but laugh at myself.
What could Xu Huaiyi say Whatever he said wouldn't be appropriate. He patted him on the shoulder in a comforting gesture, then reminded him, "You haven't told him about the Chamber of Commerce thing, have you"
Su Zhe's face changed slightly, and his whole body became alert. "No, you mean, do you think he would take this from me"
Xu Huaiyi glanced at him. "Why wouldn't he He'd abandon his fatherly duties for a money-making business, and he stole your plums. Setting up the Chamber of Commerce is far more prestigious than just doing business. He couldn't possibly resist that, could he"
Su Zhe's face instantly turned cold, a glint of ferocity flashing in his eyes. "I can give up on the business deal, but this matter... I won't compromise."
Hsu Huai-yi playfully said, "But didn't you say that filial piety was holding you back and preventing you from resisting"
Su Zhe choked back a sob, "It's really hard to resist, but I have to draw a line for him. It's impossible to compromise on everything. Then what would I become Just someone who serves the big boss as a whetstone and stepping stone That wouldn't be worth living…"
Finally, I heard something with some guts. Xu Huaiyi asked without a sound, "So what are you going to do"
Su Zhe looked at him with burning eyes, "You still lead the way, I'll help you. That way, even if he gets tempted again, he won't dare to step on the face of the Sun family and take your peach. You eat the meat, and I'll have the soup."
Xu Huaiyi didn't expect he would come up with such a trick, and instinctively said, "I told you at the time, it wasn't just polite words..."
Su Zhe raised his lips into a smile, “I understand, I’m grateful, but I don’t have that kind of luck. After all the twists and turns, I still have to end up back in your hands. It seems like this is fate, no matter how much we struggle.”
"Are you willing to accept this" Although he came up with the idea, Su Zhe was the one who worried and ran around afterward.
Su Zhe sincerely said, "If it were someone else, I definitely wouldn't be willing. But if it were you, I'm happy to do so. After all, it was you who planted the peach tree, and I've just helped water it a bit. Being able to eat peaches from it is nothing to be unhappy about."
Though I'm not satisfied, this is the best outcome after weighing the pros and cons.
After finishing his words, Su Zhe did not stay for lunch and hurried away. On his way out, he also took away several trucks of goods.
Gu Huan was astonished to see the pile of things Su Zhe had sent to the warehouse. "This year's gift is too heavy, isn't it"
There are cotton, grain, cloth, as well as whole sheep and pigs, all slaughtered and cleaned. There are also some herbs for strengthening the body.
Xu Huaiyi sighed, "He's feeling guilty and trying to make up for it with this. Sigh, I don't blame him though, every family has their own difficulties. How could I hold a grudge Besides, I've made enough money already..."
Gu Huanxi curiously inquired, "What's going on"
Xu Huaiyi recounted the events that had just transpired, offering a wordless critique. "While it's true that having more children means it's less unusual for things to be uneven, and it's normal for things to not always be fair, for my son to be treated unfairly by his own brother is truly rare. It takes a certain kind of face to pull that off."
Gu Huanxi wasn't too surprised. "The Su family's business could grow so large and become the first imperial merchant of Dayong, all because they were diligent, smart, and hardworking"
"...because some people have connections, and someone to rely on..."
"Well, that's true. But what I mean is, you still need thick skin. To be successful in business, you need a strong heart and the ability to swallow your pride. Otherwise, you won't amount to anything. When it's necessary, their Su family descendants would sacrifice anything for the family's benefit, wouldn't they Marriage, happiness, even dignity and life."
Xu Huaiyi curled his lips. "I can't do that."
Gu Huanxi lightly countered, "So, you can't become the number one Huang Shang."
Xu Huaiyi choked, but he also knew this was the truth. "So you agree to cooperate with Su Zhe's father"
"Isn't there another choice"
Even if they have the Sun family backing them, they can't act recklessly. They can't handle that business alone and must find a partner, and the Su family is undoubtedly the best choice. Su Jian is the head of the Su family, and him coming forward to sign the contract is a face-saving measure for Xu Huiyi. Rejecting it would be showing disrespect.
"Alright, alright, what about the Chamber of Commerce then"
"About the Chamber of Commerce, you should go to the Sun family tomorrow to give New Year's greetings and mention it to your master. Sun Shangshu oversees the Ministry of Revenue and has some dealings with the Chamber of Commerce. Listen to their opinions; perhaps there will be unexpected gains."
Xu Huaiyi suddenly brightened up.
At lunchtime, Xu Huaiyi and Jiang Yongdong chatted idly and steered the conversation towards Su Zhe. He asked on behalf of his friend, "Mr. Jiang, what do you think How can we help him out of this predicament"
He couldn't be unfilial, nor could he bear to be used as a whetstone by the eldest son at home. He racked his brains but found no good solution. He had originally thought of using the second prince's power, but Su Jian had already lowered himself and started picking peaches. Then the second prince wouldn't dare to interfere anymore.
"It's simple and complicated at the same time. All he needs to do is make a good marriage alliance to break the deadlock," said Jiang Yong.his, he first told his father. As for what to do next, it was definitely up to his father to decide.Xu Chang thought for a moment and then instructed, "Go tell Huaiyi."Xu Changsong hesitated and asked...