Chu Xiu's choice was unexpected to everyone. However, Second Madam and Third Madam both showed hints of delight. Whatever the reason Chu Xiu stood against the principal madam, they were the beneficiaries—that was sufficient.
Chu Kai leaned toward Chu Xiu and said in a low, fierce voice:
Chu Kai: "Chu Xiu! Do you even know what you're saying? I'll give you one more chance. Do you dare say it again?"
From when Chu Xiu entered until now, Chu Kai hadn't looked at him directly. Now, the only time he looked at Chu Xiu squarely was because Chu Xiu had stood on his opposing side. His attitude was the same as when facing the former Chu Xiu—looking down from above.
Chu Xiu glanced at him and said loudly:
Chu Xiu: "What does eldest brother mean? Is it wrong for me to listen to Father's words? Eldest brother, you're not even the family head yet, and you already control so much. When you truly become the Chu family head, will us younger brothers all be driven out by you to beg for food?"
Chu Kai: "You...!"
Chu Kai was so enraged he shot to his feet. But Chu Zongguang's expression immediately darkened, and he snorted coldly:
Chu Zongguang: "Sit down! Look at what you've become. Do you still have any dignity as the eldest brother? Don't forget, I'm not dead yet! What the Chu family is choosing now isn't the family head, but the family heir!" Though Chu Zongguang was too lazy to manage Chu family affairs, focusing entirely on closed-door cultivation, he had his bottom line. Chu Kai's overstepping—he naturally couldn't sit by and ignore.
Chu Kai sat down resentfully. The Chu family principal madam also sat with an ashen face, not speaking.
Chu Zongguang coughed:
Chu Zongguang: "Enough. This matter is settled. No one is allowed to argue further."
But just at this moment, Chu Xiu suddenly stood up:
Chu Xiu: "Father, this son still has something to say."
Chu Zongguang: frowned
Chu Zongguang: "What else do you have?"
Chu Xiu said indifferently:
Chu Xiu: "Eldest brother and the others each hold part of the family's business. But what do I hold? Since Father has set the rules for the family heir, you can't show favoritism, can you?"
As soon as these words left his mouth, besides Chu Zongguang, everyone's expressions in the room changed somewhat. Chu Xiu's meaning was clear—he wanted part of the family business. He also wanted to compete for the family heir position! Only now did Second Madam understand why Chu Xiu stood on their side. More accurately, the current Chu Xiu should be standing on his own side.
Chu Kai stared at Chu Xiu dead-on, a cold smile appearing at the corners of his mouth. This waste also wanted to compete for the family heir position? Chu Xiu's threat to him was even less than that of the fourth son Chu Shang, who was only in his teens. At this moment, a middle-aged man standing in the back suddenly spoke with a slightly mocking tone:
Steward Liu: "Doesn't the Second Young Master hold the Southern Mountain mines? What other business do you want?"
This man was the Chu family's great steward, surnamed Liu, the principal madam's clan brother.
In the Chu family, stewards and managers were two different positions. Managers were mainly responsible for the Chu family's businesses and industries, while stewards were only responsible for managing some internal personnel matters, closer to the Chu family members. Several stewards were relatives of the various wives, so even without knowing martial arts, they could hold the position. When Steward Liu spoke, everyone looked toward him. Everyone knew that Steward Liu was targeting Chu Xiu—who told Chu Xiu to just now stand against the principal madam and sing a different tune?
Though the Southern Mountain mines could be considered the Chu family's business, the mines were only so big. Even the most capable person couldn't create a second one. Guarding those Southern Mountain mines as a business was basically no different from giving up on the family heir position.
Just at this moment, Chu Xiu stood up and suddenly said to Steward Liu:
Chu Xiu: "Steward Liu, come here. I have something to tell you."
Steward Liu was stunned, but he still walked over, muttering:
Steward Liu: "If the Second Young Master has something to say, just say it directly. Are you afraid I can't hear from far away?"
But just as he walked to Chu Xiu's side, Chu Xiu struck without warning, suddenly attacking. A fist landed on Steward Liu's abdomen. The powerful force immediately made Steward Liu spit out a mouthful of blood. Clutching his stomach, he collapsed to the ground.
This wasn't over. With a blank expression, Chu Xiu kicked Steward Liu viciously, one foot after another. In an instant, Steward Liu was covered in blood from head to toe, letting out miserable howls. This was a family council meeting. No one had expected Chu Xiu to suddenly explode into action. By the time everyone reacted, Steward Liu had already been stomped by Chu Xiu until he was on the verge of death, only breathing out, not breathing in.
Second Madam and the others looked at Chu Xiu's expressionless face and couldn't help shuddering. Not just because of Chu Xiu's ruthlessness, but because the current Chu Xiu seemed like a completely different person, giving them an extremely strong sense of discomfort. Bang!
Chu Zongguang slammed his palm down in fury. The table beside him immediately shattered into pieces.
Chu Zongguang: "Enough! Chu Xiu! What are you trying to do? Attacking in public—do you have any respect for me as your father?"
Seeing Chu Zongguang angry, Chu Xiu finally stopped. A hint of strange color flashed in his eyes. It seemed he truly hadn't been in this cheap father's good graces before.
Just now, when Chu Kai had overstepped so blatantly before him, he had only reprimanded him with a shout. Now, when it was his turn to teach a servant a lesson, Chu Zongguang was so angry he directly slammed the table.
Chu Xiu unhurriedly cupped his hands toward Chu Zongguang:
Chu Xiu: "Father, please calm your anger. This son just lost control for a moment. Since when does a master speaking also allow a servant to interrupt at will? I've been away from the Chu family for over a year. Is the current Chu family so lacking in rules? Forgive this son for speaking bluntly, Father—you are usually too kind and amiable. That's why these servants don't know the rules."
Chu Xiu coldly glanced at Steward Liu beneath his feet:
Chu Xiu: "This kind of goods, if placed in the Southern Mountain mines, would have long been thrown out by me to be burned alive. Father is benevolent, but I, Chu Xiu, am not so easy to talk to."
While explaining, Chu Xiu seamlessly flattered Chu Zongguang a few times, which made Chu Zongguang's anger subside by more than half.
Though Steward Liu was the principal madam's relative, he was after all just a servant. Could he make his own son apologize for a servant? Though this was the son he least liked. Moreover, he was in closed-door cultivation year-round and truly rarely managed family affairs, which had indeed made these servants somewhat improper.
Chu Zongguang waved his hand casually:
Chu Zongguang: "Forget it. Remember next time—this is the Chu family, not the Southern Mountain mines. If you have something to say, say it properly. You're fined three months' allowance to pay for Steward Liu's medical expenses."
Chu Xiu immediately cupped his hands:
Chu Xiu: "This son accepts the punishment. However, Father, regarding what I said earlier, what should be done? I can't truly guard just the Southern Mountain mines as my business, can I? Otherwise, what's the point of calling me here for the family heir selection?"
Chu Zongguang frowned. Though he had never thought of passing the family head position to this son he had always disliked and never valued, with so many people present, he couldn't act too excessively.
Just at this moment, the principal madam spoke dissatisfied:
Principal Madam: "Master, is this matter just going to end like this? Chu Xiu committed violence in public—he simply doesn't put you in his eyes!"
Hearing the principal madam speak, Chu Zongguang's expression immediately darkened somewhat. He snorted coldly:
Chu Zongguang: "What do you want me to do? Have him pay with his life for Steward Liu? I said this matter ends here. From today, one of my Chu family's caravans to Yan Kingdom will be handed over to Chu Xiu to manage. The caravan should be on its way back now. When it returns to the Chu family, you will take over."
Chu Xiu bowed to Chu Zongguang, smiling:
Chu Xiu: "Many thanks, Father."
When rising, Chu Xiu also saw the ashen faces of the principal madam and Chu Kai. Chu Xiu didn't pay them any mind—this mother-son pair of fools.
That principal madam came from a great clan, but she couldn't quite understand her own position.
This was Tongzhou Prefecture, this was the Chu family, not her former clan. Confronting Chu Zongguang head-on would only make Chu Zongguang increasingly detest her. And that Chu Kai—he was seven or eight years older than Chu Xiu. With such a great advantage, he still hadn't become the family heir early on. Now he actually had to compete anew with his younger brothers. Simply a waste.
Chu Zongguang waved his hand:
Chu Zongguang: "Enough. Everything has been decided. Dismissed."
With Chu Zongguang's departure, everyone also left the council hall. But before leaving, they all cast strange glances at Chu Xiu.
Especially Second Madam and her son. Previously, their greatest enemy had been the principal madam and Chu Kai. They hadn't expected that Chu Xiu would change so much in a year and develop such great ambition.
After leaving the council hall, Second Madam and Chu Sheng returned to their room. Chu Sheng couldn't help asking:
Chu Sheng: "Mother, didn't you arrange for people to get rid of that Chu Xiu? How is he still alive and back?"
Second Madam's face was gloomy:
Second Madam: "Miscalculated. Who would have thought that after staying in the Southern Mountain mines for a year, Chu Xiu's changes would be so great? Had I known earlier, I should have advised the master to banish him elsewhere. The Southern Mountain mines are full of criminals and vicious thugs. Though the environment is harsh, it's also quite tempering. Chu Xiu stayed there for a year—it's as if he became a completely different person. However, Sheng'er, you needn't worry. Look at Chu Xiu's performance today—daring to act in front of the master, simply seeing no one in his eyes, utterly mad! He was already not in the master's good graces, and now even more so. The Chu family will not choose a madman as family heir. So you needn't worry. Among your brothers, Chu Kai has great ambition but little talent, full of empty arrogance. Chu Xiu acts madly and isn't in the master's good graces. That Chu Shang is only in his teens, too young. Though most favored by the master, he poses no threat to you at all. As long as you become the family heir, are you still afraid you can't suppress him?"
Chu Sheng nodded, a cold gleam appearing in his eyes. In his view, only he in this Chu family was worthy of being the future family head. That Chu Kai—besides being born a few years earlier, in what way was he superior?
Chu Sheng: "Right, Mother, Father gave Chu Xiu a caravan today. If I remember correctly, several of the managers in that caravan seem to be your people, right? Find an opportunity to cause some trouble for that Chu Xiu!"
A cold smile appeared on Second Madam's face:
Second Madam: "Don't worry. Mother spent a great price to win over those managers in the caravan. Even if Chu Xiu obtained the caravan, I guarantee he won't be able to command a single person!"