Fu Minghao put it bluntly: "I'm distributing the money to you all today, so you don't have to keep an eye on who I'm subsidizing, otherwise you'll all be unhappy. I'm just giving away my money for peace and quiet."
After saying that, he glanced at Luo Yushu and Xue Fu, and before they could explain, he continued, "I've divided this money into eighteen portions. You adults can take yours first, and I'll keep the children's portion for now. I'll give it to them on their eighteenth birthdays. They can decide how to use the money as they see fit."
Since returning from the capital, he has reflected for a long time, talked to his daughters individually, understood their dilemmas, and made amends. The relationship cannot be said to be repaired, but it is better than before.
No matter what their reasons or difficulties were, what they did before did hurt them. What could have been resolved as a family could have been resolved by discussing it together. Instead, they insisted on being assertive, and not only did they not resolve the issue, they also hurt their family members. Relationships cannot be erased simply by explaining things clearly.
The daughters remained silent. Their father had already reminded them of the division of the family property, and they were mentally prepared.
Xue Fu nudged Fu Jing, who said, "Dad, why don't you just leave the children's things to us? We're their biological parents, how could we mistreat them?"
Fu Minghao sneered and said nothing. Fu Jing was the most likely person to mistreat the children. How could she have the nerve to ask such a question? He had no objection to Fu Wan not valuing material things. Fu Xian's husband's family also owned a factory. After the public-private partnership, Tang Guanyu also became the factory director. They didn't lack money. He understood. But Fu Wen didn't join in the commotion. She had improved since the Luo family was arrested.
Fu Wen's first words were a warning: "Since Dad said he would give it to the child when he turns eighteen, Dad will naturally not go back on his word. Fu Jing, listen to Dad."
Fu Jing retorted, "Your son will be eighteen soon, so of course you're not in a hurry. My family's situation isn't good, so why can't I take it first? Isn't the child's child mine?"
Fu Minghao slammed his hand on the table: "What I'm about to say is that I've deposited all the children's money in the bank, one passbook for each of them. I'll give it to them as a birthday present when they turn eighteen, but—"
He glanced at everyone and said, "If I or your mother die an unnatural death, these bankbooks will be invalidated. If the child dies in an accident, they will also be invalidated. If the Fu family is robbed and reported, the bankbooks will also be invalidated."
He's too old to gamble with human nature.
Luo Yushu and Xue Fu felt very uncomfortable. Was this a ploy to target them?
Before anyone could speak, he continued, "As for this year, as you've all seen, there's a shortage of raw materials. We've already stopped production for several days, and we don't know what the situation will be like in the future."
The cotton mills have a large demand, but due to the drought, the cotton harvest is not plentiful, and some supplies are insufficient. Some people feel uneasy and have consulted a fortune teller. The situation is not optimistic. Although he thinks fortune telling is absurd, he heard that the person spent 10,000 yuan for the divination, so he doesn't understand but respects it, fearing that it might come true, and is making preparations for both possibilities.
He paused for a moment and continued, "If we have any more savings in the future, we will divide them in the same way after your mother and I are gone. If you have any objections, you can leave now. I will publish a notice in the newspaper to sever our father-daughter relationship, and we will have nothing to do with each other from now on."
After hearing this, no one dared to object. Everyone had their own thoughts. If their father were still the caring father he was, everything would be fine. But now their father was lukewarm towards them, and the relationship couldn't be allowed to become strained any further. After some internal struggle, they could only agree.
Fu Minghao waved to Zhu Fanfan: "Fanfan isn't in Shanghai, and we don't know when we'll see each other again. Take this for now, and have your grandfather keep it safe for you when you get back."
Zhu Fanfan did not refuse: "Okay, when Grandpa retires and comes to Beijing, I will take care of you in your old age."
Fu Wen objected: "Dad, why can she get a savings account before she's eighteen?"
Fu Minghao said irritably, "That's because Fanfan's family only has one child, so they can't provide subsidies to others."
Fu Jing suddenly looked at Zhu Fanfan with tears in her eyes: "Your name is Fanfan, right? Do you know who I am?"
Zhu Fanfan looked at him like he was an idiot: "You don't even know who you are. It's really pathetic that you've developed Alzheimer's prematurely."
Fu Jing: ...
Fu Wen jumped in again: "Not even acknowledging one's own birth mother, that's truly unfilial."
Zhu Fanfan was unhappy, and Fu Minghao immediately stopped him: "Fu Wen, mind your own business and don't interfere in other people's affairs. Fanfan is a member of the Zhu family."
Fu Wen disagreed: "She has half the blood of the Fu family in her veins and has accepted the savings account, so she is naturally considered a member of the Fu family. Even if she was adopted out, she should still have at least some respect for her birth mother."
Fu Minghao's attempt to stop them came too late; Fu Wen had already finished speaking. He hurriedly said to Zhu Fanfan, "Fanfan, your grandparents have always been very good to you. You are a child of the Zhu family. Don't listen to what others are saying."
Zhu Fanfan nodded obediently, but Fu Jing spoke up again: "Dad, I miss my child. Can I stay at the Fu family home for a few days? I haven't seen Fanfan for years and just want to see her. I promise I won't do anything."
Fu Minghao didn't even need to guess to know Fu Jing's purpose. She saw that he had given the child money and wanted to coax him back. She even cheated the child out of money. How did Fu Jing become so unfamiliar?
Zhu Fanfan stated, "Grandpa, I don't feel any connection with her. If she appeared in front of me, I can't guarantee what I would do."
Besides visiting her grandfather, she also came to avenge her past self. She endured the pain of being pricked by needles. If it weren't for her grandmother's efforts to lessen her suffering, it's hard to say whether she would want to live or not.
To everyone's surprise, Fu Jing's eyes were filled with tears, as if she was holding back something: "I just want to watch you from afar, as long as you are well, I will be content."
Who wouldn't be moved by this mother's loving heart? Xue Zhaodi was extremely anxious. No one could resist when their mother wanted to coax them. She had been tricked by her mother like this many times when she was a child. Even though she was mentally prepared now, she would still sometimes soften her heart. Fanfan was so young, she would definitely be tricked.
Fu Wen was displeased again: "The debt of life is greater than heaven, how can you be so unfilial? Aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning?"
Zhu Fanfan put on her innocent smile: "I'd have to wait in line to be struck by lightning too, but I can't compare to Ms. Fu's angry rebuke of her own mother who gave birth to her. Let me know when you're done being struck by lightning, and I'll see if I can wait until you're finished before I die of old age."
She still remembers how this person almost pointed at her grandmother's nose and cursed her; in terms of being unfilial, she didn't even rank among the worst.
Fu Wen immediately became furious: "You child are so ill-mannered, I'll teach you a lesson on behalf of your birth mother, otherwise I'm not your aunt."
Fu Minghao tried to stop her, but Zhu Fanfan beat him to it, picking up a teacup and splashing it at Fu Wen: "My parents' generation of relatives are all buried underground. Which pit did you come out of to perform a zombie act?"
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