Seeing the strong opposition from the crowd, Wu Jingzhi felt even more disdain for them.

His biological father, Wu Dongcheng, said, "Don't forget that I am Wu Jia's boss, and you are just the young boss."

"I'm not dead yet, so it's not your place to decide how to divide the family property."

Wu Dongcheng was unwilling to separate the family business. After all, with his son in charge, he never lacked money, and he could focus on spending time with his beautiful concubines, which was much better than doing business all over the country.

Madam Wu chimed in, "Jingzhi, with our parents still alive, there's no reason for us to separate the family."

Madam Wu was even less willing to separate the family. Now that her son was the young master, she was the matriarch of the Wu family, and the entire backyard of the Wu family was under her control.

The second and third wives were all very respectful to her, not to mention the concubines and illegitimate sons who were not worthy of being in the public eye.

Wu Jingzhi snorted coldly and said, "I see that you are all used to enjoying the fruits of others' labor and have developed the nature of parasites."

I've been working tirelessly for the Wu family, braving wind and rain, while you've been tormenting my wife and children behind my back. The first thing my mother-in-law did upon arriving in Beijing was to confront me. Is this how you repay me?

Don't tell me that it was just my mother's doing. I've already investigated and found out that the second and third wives, as well as you, have all been involved behind the scenes.

You don't have to separate; I'll just break away from the Wu family myself!

Wu Jingzhi's attitude was resolute.

He originally thought that everyone could discuss and divide the family property, so that the Wu family wouldn't have given him life and raised him in vain.

But it seems they still want to gnaw on him and drink his blood.

Madam Wu looked at Wu Jingzhi in disbelief and asked, "Jingzhi, what nonsense are you talking about? Don't tell me you're abandoning your parents for that woman?"

Since ancient times, filial piety has been of paramount importance, and she simply did not believe that Wu Jingzhi would dare to abandon his parents for that woman.

As expected, Wu Jingzhi's expression changed for a moment upon hearing this, but he firmly said in the end, "It was my parents who bullied me first, and they took advantage of my absence to bully my wife and children."

Although I am your son and have an unbreakable blood relationship with you, so what?

After we separate, you live your lives, and we'll live ours. I'll also perform filial piety rituals during holidays, and we'll keep to ourselves.

Seeing Wu Jingzhi's resolute attitude, Wu Dongcheng stood up and angrily rebuked him: "You unfilial son! If you insist on dividing the family property, don't even think about getting a single penny from the Wu family!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Jingzhi sneered and said, "I can refuse to take money from the Wu family, but Father, don't expect me to clean up the mess for the Wu family in the future."

How could Wu Jingzhi, who has managed the family business for so many years, not have made preparations? Not a single tael of silver should be less than his due.

Because he had already moved the industries that needed to be moved.

So Wu Jingzhi had Manager Wu bring over all the account books. Then he said, "All of the Wu family's account books are here. Today I will give you a formal handover."

Please feel free to ask any questions you may have.

"If there are no further questions, I consider my relationship with the Wu family settled. Don't contact me again if you have any problems in the future."

Wu Dongcheng quickly flipped through the account book, then asked incredulously, "Why is there only 200,000 taels of silver in the Wu family's accounts? Where is the rest?"

Wu Jingzhi scoffed and said, "Why is it only two hundred thousand taels? Isn't it clearly written on it? Father, you are the least qualified person to say that."

You spend at least 70,000 to 80,000 taels of silver a year just on taking concubines.

"And the clothes and jewelry you buy for those concubines will cost at least 50,000 taels, and these expenses alone will amount to over 100,000 taels a year."

Wu Dongcheng's younger brothers, Master Wu the Second and Master Wu the Third, gasped in unison upon hearing this, and then accused Wu Dongcheng of extravagance and debauchery.

Wu Jingzhi sneered and looked at the two men, saying, "Second Uncle, Third Uncle, don't laugh at each other for being no better."

Although you two aren't interested in women, one of you is a compulsive gambler and the other is a homosexual. Gambling dens and brothels have come knocking on your door many times, and I've had to clean up your messes countless times behind your backs.

The two of you have spent no less than 100,000 taels of silver this year.

And the Qiu family of Xishan Prefecture, I told you long ago to cut off their support, but none of you agreed.

What help can they offer us from so far away in Xishan Prefecture? Our Wu family's fortune is the result of generations of hard work. It has absolutely nothing to do with the Qiu family. What right do they have to leech off our Wu family?

Upon hearing this, Madam Wu became somewhat embarrassed and angry and said, "Wu Jingzhi, the Qiu family of Xishan Prefecture is your aunt's family. Our business in Xishan Prefecture relies heavily on the Qiu family's help."

Otherwise, how could the Wu family's business have operated so smoothly in Xishan Prefecture?

Upon hearing this, Wu Jingzhi scoffed, "Mother is too good at patting herself on the back."

My aunt was just a concubine in the Qiu family. She only got promoted to a higher-ranking concubine in recent years because of our Wu family.

Aside from demanding money from us, the Qiu family doesn't even give a second glance to the Wu family.

Lord Qiu never even gave his father, his brother-in-law, a second glance.

Wu Jingzhi's words made Wu Dongcheng and Madam Wu blush.

These words had been bottled up in Wu Jingzhi's heart for a long time, and he felt particularly relieved to say them today.

But Wu Jingzhi felt that wasn't enough and continued, "As for me, you can let me leave with nothing."

From now on, I have no further connection with the Wu family.

Fortunately, I have a good in-law family. My mother-in-law is a second-rank imperial consort, a genuine rising star in the court.

My eldest brother-in-law and third brother-in-law are both officials of the seventh rank. Although their positions seem low, they are still young and their future prospects are limitless.

And my brother-in-law, who was not even ten years old, had already become the top scholar in the imperial examination.

Moreover, he will soon be studying at the Imperial Academy, and needless to say, his future is bright; becoming an official, a prime minister, or even being ennobled and appointed as a high-ranking official is not impossible.

By the way, my brother-in-law is now Han Yu, the newly appointed top scholar in the imperial examination.

Although the youngest sister-in-law is only three years old, the family she will marry into in the future will definitely not be of low social standing.

Thinking it over, I realize I have plenty of powerful backers to rely on, so why bother clinging to someone who doesn't even give me a second glance?

After Wu Jingzhi finished speaking, the Wu family fell into an unusual silence.

With such great assistance and such a powerful cheat code, only an idiot would not treat his wife well and instead seek to marry a concubine's daughter whom the Qiu family does not value.

Therefore, everyone in the Wu family wanted to persuade Wu Jingzhi to stay, but Wu Jingzhi didn't give them that chance at all.

He stood up and was about to leave the Wu family with an air of nonchalance.

Manager Wu followed closely behind, calling out, "Young Master, wait for me! I'll go with you."

Wu Jingzhi did not stop walking, and asked as he went, "You are an elder of the Wu family and the head manager in the capital. Aren't you going to stay?"

Manager Wu chuckled twice and said, "It's obvious that following the young master is the only way to have a future."

I'm not stupid, why would I stay and work like a slave for them?

Besides, although I am the head manager of the Wu family, I have always been someone who sells my art, not my body.

Upon hearing this, Wu Jingzhi chuckled twice and said, "Alright, with your fat body, no one would want you even if you sold yourself."

Since you're willing to come with me, that's fine. Let's start from scratch.

The Wu family members were left looking at each other in bewilderment at the mess of debts before them.