669 Huo Zhiti splits up
"Boss, we're home."
Huo Zhi opened his eyes. Ping An and his companions would leave in three days, and he was thinking of inviting them to his home in a formal manner.
As soon as he got off the carriage, the steward came running over and said, "The eldest master is back and is in the master's yard. He said he wants you to come over for something."
Huo Zhi traveled to several places today, and many of his businesses had to be reorganized.
He was really exhausted.
After entering Songtao Courtyard, the eldest brother was sitting beside his father's bed. The father and son were talking and laughing. The mother and sister-in-law were also sitting on one side, along with his two nephews and a niece.
What a happy family.
The only ones missing were his wife and children.
Huo Zhi's heart turned cold.
Despite being so busy, Ping'an gave his father acupuncture for seven consecutive days. Now he can talk, eat on his own, and get up and walk slowly. All that's left is to take care of him.
"Father, mother, elder brother, elder sister-in-law."
Huo Yun stood up with a smile: "Second brother, you are finally back. I have been waiting for you for a long time. Xingchuan, Xingqi, Qing'er, the three of you greet your uncle and go back to your own courtyard."
The three children stood up and bowed to Huo Zhi.
"Greetings to my uncle."
Huo Zhi forced a smile and said, "Okay, go back to the yard."
After the child left, Mrs. Huo was a little unhappy.
"Azhi, your whole family is waiting for you to come back, and the children are greeting you. Who are you trying to show off to?"
Huo Zhi laughed angrily.
"Mother, I have been busy all day. I went out early in the morning and just entered the city. I almost died a month ago, and now I am so tired that I can't even lift my legs.
My three children greeted me. Do I need to greet them in return?
A large family? My wife and children?"
Mr. Huo was furious: "Look at what you are saying. How can you talk to your mother like this? Is this what I taught you?"
"Father, mother, calm down. I am just tired. Sit down quickly, brother. What is there to discuss as a family?"
Huo Zhi didn't sit down: "Just tell me what you want to say. I'm going to go back and rest."
Mr. Huo slapped the edge of the kang and said angrily, "Can't you sit down and talk? What's your attitude?"
Huo Zhi sat on the stool: "I'm sitting down, what's the matter?"
Mr. Huo wanted to curse again, but Huo Yun stopped him.
"Second brother, you and I are brothers, I won't hesitate any longer.
I heard that Ping An and the others will be leaving soon. I want to ask you a favor. Can Xing Chuan become Ping An's disciple? Xing Chuan is the eldest grandson of the Huo family. He is twelve years old this year and was a student last year. If he can become Ping An's disciple, his future will be limitless."
Mrs. Homa said hurriedly, "Yes, uncle, you have such a good relationship with him, he will definitely agree if you ask."
Huo Zhi said coldly: "I'm afraid that won't work. I haven't heard that he wants to take in a disciple."
Mrs. Huo said angrily, "Are you worried about Xingchen? Xingchen is only six years old. He is still young now. When Xingchuan has more knowledge, he can also teach his two younger brothers."
Huo Zhi also stood up.
“Ping An saved me for the first time fourteen years ago. If it weren’t for him, I would have died. If not, I would have been a slave to a foreign tribe. When he saved me for the second time, I was already breathing my last breath.
This time I got sick and the attack was severe and violent. I was lying in a tent at the city gate. I thought I was going to die, but Ping An took me away and brought me to his temporary residence, where he treated me and detoxified me.
You all know about this, but has anyone thanked him these days? Am I, Huo Zhi, the only legitimate son of the Huo family, worthless?
He is so busy that he has to prepare medicine even at night, but he came to the Huo family for seven consecutive days to treat my father. Let me ask you, have you ever given him a thank-you gift?
Who is he? A dignified marquis, a fifth-rank scholar and top scholar. He has come to your house for seven consecutive days to treat his father's illness, but you have never invited him once.
Who are the Huo family? After all, they are just merchants. Why are they so stubborn? Are the Huo family so poor that they can't even afford the medical fees? Or can't they even afford a thank-you gift?
Now you want me to be shameless and ask someone to accept me as a disciple. I'm sorry, I can't do it.
Father, mother, elder brother, elder sister-in-law, since you are all here, let's divide the family."
Mr. Huo was so shocked that he couldn't speak.
Mrs. Huo pointed at Huo Zhi with shaking hands, "You wicked son, your parents are still here, and you're asking us to split up the family?
You know, the eldest son of the branch family gets 70% and you can only get 30%. If you don't want to be the head of Huashou Hall, what do you want to do?"
Huo Zhi lowered his head and smiled.
Fortunately, he had developed his own selfish ambitions over the years and quietly built up his own business. It wasn't a lot, but it accounted for 30 to 40 percent of the Huo family's assets.
Huo Yun and his wife both frowned.
This family definitely cannot be divided. If it is divided, who will manage the business?
"Mother, you should still remember that when my grandfather passed away, he officially gave Huashoutang to me and registered it with the government. He didn't just let me be the owner."
Huo Yun and his wife were shocked. They knew about this, but in recent years, Huashoutang's income had included a portion for their parents besides expenses, and the rest was still divided equally between the two brothers. As time went by, they forgot about it.
Mr. Huo frowned and calmed down: "Your grandfather only did this because he saw your eldest brother was an official.
Now that your grandfather has passed away for many years, your mother and I are still alive, Huashoutang and those medicine shops cannot belong to you alone."
Huo Zhi said calmly: "Brother, our Huo family has bought many shops, fields, and houses over the years. If you feel that what grandfather gave you is unfair, I can transfer Huashou Hall including the medicine shop to you, and give me the other things. Otherwise..."
"Second brother, why is it so?"
"I'm tired and want to take it easy. That's all. If my parents are afraid of what others might say, I can stay home for the time being. I don't want to live like this for the rest of these years. No matter how hard I work, do you see it? Do you treat my wife and children as human beings?
I divided this family a year ago."
Huo Zhi strode out.
"Master, look at this wicked boy."
Mr. Huo had a gloomy face, and he had completely calmed down.
"It is indeed wrong for not being considerate of Ping An's gift, Ma, you have been in charge of this family for all these years, and you have become like this? Do you also not give money when you hire other doctors? You can't even afford a gift?"
Huo Yun also said angrily: "Father is right, Ma, I always thought you were fair, and this is how you do it?
Father, mother, fortunately Ping'an and the others haven't left yet. Let's have someone prepare two big gifts tomorrow, one for the eldest master and one for Ping'an. Even Lord Zhang, Lord Bai, Zhu Yuanzheng and General Hao can also send a gift each. The more gifts, the better. It's not like our Huo family can't afford to give them.
But this family really cannot be divided. My grandfather's Huashoutang was definitely under my second brother's name, including the medicine shops and valleys. Besides, I can't run them, and my two children will study for the imperial examinations in the future.
But if the family is really divided, our eldest branch will no longer be the master of Huashoutang. Who in Jiangnan will still look at us with respect? I am thirty-two years old now, and I am still a county magistrate. Without Huashoutang, what use will the shop and money have to me?"
Several people in the room were stunned.
The home must never be divided.
Mrs. Huo and Ma looked at each other and realized that they had indeed been too harsh on the second wife over the years.
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