Chapter 15 Strike First
Everyone kept their heads down, and upon entering the room, they merely nodded or hummed in response.
The whole room suddenly became quiet.
The bond between mother and child should be one of close intimacy.
But at this moment, it felt as if there was a thick wall between them, and they couldn't get any closer.
Looking at them, Zhou Shufen felt a vague unease in her heart.
But I also know that I will eventually have to face all of this.
Faced with these ungrateful children, Zhou Shufen had long lost the hope she once had.
But at this moment, seeing their indifferent expressions, she couldn't help but feel a chill in her heart.
She raised them with great difficulty, providing them with food, clothing, education, and the means to start their own families.
But this was just an ordinary argument.
The children then forgot all their past affections.
Their faces were contorted with rage, and their words were ruthless, as if they had become completely different people!
In fact, their cold-hearted and selfish nature was not a spur-of-the-moment act.
It has a long history and did not arise overnight.
Clues can be gleaned from small, seemingly insignificant things.
Those who took her efforts for granted, and those who were indifferent after each request.
There's also the selfish instinct to prioritize one's own interests.
"Mom, why did you suddenly call us back? Everyone's so busy!"
Li Qiaodi frowned, her tone full of impatience.
As she spoke, she rummaged through her bag.
Her resentment hasn't dissipated since the last incident.
She had long forgotten the kindness of Zhou Shufen when she first married into the family; it was Zhou Shufen who personally delivered her postpartum meals to her bedside and washed her clothes in the cold winter.
Zhou Shufen sat in the chair, her expression calm.
She gently unfolded the paper in her hand and slowly placed it on the table.
"I called you back because I have something to say to you."
She paused, then glanced around.
“You’re all getting on in years, it’s time for you to be independent. Stop relying on me for everything. From now on, live your own lives.”
She spoke casually, without a trace of emotional fluctuation.
When Zhou Shufen first wanted to separate from her eldest son, it caught everyone off guard.
Unexpectedly, in the blink of an eye, it was her turn again?
The group exchanged glances, but none of them showed any surprise.
Zhou Haiwei sat in the corner, legs crossed, expression indifferent.
He quickly scanned everyone present, a slight smirk playing on his lips.
“Alright, since it’s about dividing the family property, and I’m the eldest son, the house left by my parents should naturally be inherited by me.”
He spoke with absolute certainty.
Upon hearing this, Zhou Hairong was startled, and his brows furrowed.
He always regards his elder brother Zhou Haiwei as a role model in front of others.
But when it comes to the crucial moment when his own interests are truly at stake, he will never easily back down even a step.
"Why should it belong to you?"
Zhou Hairong's eyes widened, and his voice rose considerably.
"When have you ever come back to live here? You haven't done anything for the family in the past few years, so who gives you the right to speak? If you ask me, it should belong to me!"
Zhou Hairong was so agitated that he almost jumped up from his chair.
After saying this, he reached out his hand towards the land deed.
He knew in his heart that in such a situation, striking first was the only way to win.
Only by truly grasping this land deed can we stabilize the situation and remain invincible.
But just as his fingers touched the edge of the paper, a strong hand slammed in and pressed heavily onto the land deed.
"Second brother, stop!"
It was Zhou Haiwei. His brows furrowed, and his face suddenly darkened.
Zhou Hairong's hand stopped abruptly, but this only fueled his dissatisfaction.
"Brother, things are different now than before."
He stiffened his neck, his gaze defiant, and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
"You think I'll obediently listen just because you shout 'Stop'?"
Zhou Haiwei's face grew increasingly grim, and the anger in his eyes was almost overflowing.
Even her lips involuntarily tightened.
At this moment, Zhou Shufen remained silent, simply watching coldly as everything unfolded.
She sat upright in the chair, her hands crossed on her knees, her expression cold and a mocking smile playing on her lips.
Her gaze swept over Zhou Hairong and Zhou Haiwei.
Ultimately, the responsibility fell on the third son, Zhou Hailiang.
Zhou Hailiang is a man who is good at changing his stance depending on the situation, and he is always sweet-talking and good at reading people.
At this moment, he also noticed the subtle change in the atmosphere, and immediately emerged from the crowd, smiling as he moved closer to Zhou Shufen.
His voice was soft and sweet, as if he were coaxing someone.
"Mom, I think they can keep arguing. In the end, no one will benefit from the division, and you're exhausted too. Since that's the case, I won't fight for the house anymore. After all, we're all family, but..."
He changed the subject, revealing a hint of helplessness.
"Mom, you know I've always lived a bit frugally. Could you leave me some money for household expenses? Even if it's a little less, it's okay, as long as it gives me peace of mind."
Before he could finish speaking, Li Qiaodi, who was sitting next to him, also began to get restless. She moved her chair slightly and raised her voice a few decibels.
"Mom, speaking of this... my husband and I have already discussed it, and you agreed! You can't forget about me when it comes to work, can you? My child's future depends entirely on this opportunity."
Upon hearing this, a strange look flashed in the eyes of the others.
Everyone was thinking of taking advantage of this opportunity to make a quick buck.
The room was noisy and chaotic, and everyone's ulterior motives were obvious.
Finally, Zhou Shufen, who had been holding back her anger, coughed softly.
He then pulled out a folded transfer order document and slammed it onto the table.
She sneered, her tone sarcastic, "You want to work? Fine. Come one by one and see if your names are on this piece of paper. Don't come crying and complaining about your bad luck later, blaming me for not giving you a chance."
Several people stood in the center of the conference room, their faces filled with confusion.
No one understood what the document on the table really meant.
In the end, Zhou Haiwei was the first to step forward and take the document to read.
His gaze lingered on the first page, where two large, bright red characters were prominently displayed.
"transfer order".
What does this mean?
Zhou Haiwei frowned, his face darkening.
He casually tossed the file back onto the desktop, not even bothering to glance at it again, much less bothering to continue reading.
Zhou Shufen, who had been silent all along, finally spoke.
"Stop making wild guesses, I've already made a decision. I'll hand over my position."
"Wu Haiyan will take over the work from now on."
After she finished speaking, she glanced coldly at everyone.
That position they had fought so hard to protect.
That opportunity they had always thought was a sure thing.
How could Zhou Shufen have given it to Wu Haiyan so easily?
You should know that person was not an outsider at all.
She was their father's mistress!
Li Qiaodi turned pale upon hearing this, and almost ground her teeth to powder.
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