Chapter 314: Busy for Nothing
Before Xu Youyou could speak, Lu Jingyao asked, “Do you want to negotiate with all five members of the Heishui family?”
Xu Youyou looked at him in surprise. “Is that even possible?”
Lu Jingyao nodded. “Negotiating with five people is different from negotiating with one, but don’t worry, it can be done.”
Xu Youyou thought for a moment and then shook her head. “Forget it. Since I’ve already promised Miss Yako, I shouldn’t go back on my word.”
Lu Jingyao casually nodded, though he looked a little regretful.
Xu Youyou couldn’t help but ask, “Aren’t you afraid negotiations will fall apart if you talk terms with all five of them?”
Lu Jingyao, however, seemed confident. “It’s more likely that the Heishui family would fall apart. Throughout history, there’s no shortage of ‘two peaches killing three warriors’ kind of stories.”
Xu Youyou, however, was more worried that he might burn himself in the process. “Forget it. It’s not like we have any deep hatred against them.”
Lu Jingyao nodded. That was precisely why he chose to favor one side. Among the five people, Yako was the one who hid her intentions the deepest. She appeared to be the ideal wife and mother, having given birth to three children early on. In a way, she was the only one who had made full preparations.
Few women truly love having children. For instance, the Heishui family’s second grandson still had no heirs because his wife, a daughter of the Yasuda family, didn’t want children.
The Heishui family’s eldest grandson only had one son, and his daughter was a career woman who only had a single daughter. The youngest grandson hadn’t married yet. In comparison, only Yako’s branch had three children, all raised to be smart and capable.
Listening to Lu Jingyao’s analysis, Xu Youyou couldn’t help but say, “So in wealthy families, having kids is basically a KPI (Key Performance Indicator).”
Lu Jingyao replied, “The more they value inheritance, the more that’s the case. Even in our country, the rich scramble to have more kids, don’t they?”
Xu Youyou thought of the Gu family, then glanced at Lu Jingyao and asked, “What about your family?”
Lu Jingyao said, “When my grandfather first made his fortune, we weren’t exactly a wealthy family yet. He faced a lot of discrimination when he went to Hong Kong. By the time I was born, the one-child policy had been in place for years. Even though my dad wanted more kids and could afford the fines, my mom didn’t want to have more, so they dropped it.”
Xu Youyou understood what he meant—if they got married, the decision to have children would be hers.
Thinking of the Gu family again, even though the one-child policy was already in place before the birth of their eldest son, Gu Fengchuan, they still had four siblings. Most of the other wealthy families in Shanghai had lots of brothers and sisters too.
No wonder, in the original plot, after Lu Jingyao’s death, the massive Lu family fortune fell into the hands of outsiders.
Meanwhile, Heishui Yako returned home to find her husband already waiting for her.
“Grandfather called Big Brother over again today and gave him a private lecture,” said her husband, Heishui Ming.
Heishui Ming wasn’t originally surnamed Heishui. He was a top graduate of the University of Tokyo, and after graduating, he married into the Heishui family and changed his surname without hesitation.
“I know. It’s not a big deal. Grandfather loves creating false appearances,” Yako said. “Tomorrow, tell Grandfather that you’ve made contact with Lu Jingyao and that we’ll establish cooperation with the Lu family within this year.”
Heishui Ming had heard of Lu Jingyao’s reputation and immediately asked, “Is this true? He’s always precise, decisive, and has a keen eye for investments, with high returns. If we get his help, our chances will improve significantly.”
Yako suppressed her faint disdain for her husband and said, “Although our chances improve, aren’t we also making a deal with a tiger?”
Heishui Ming, however, said firmly, “Better to negotiate with a tiger than to lose everything!”
Heishui Ming’s background wasn’t bad. Though not as powerful as the Heishui family, he came from a middle-class home and was an only child. He had married into the Heishui family for wealth and status. If he ended up with just scraps, it would hardly justify his years of ambition.
“No matter what, there are only five days left. After that, this competition will have a result,” Yako said coldly.
Heishui Ming’s face shifted between worry and ambition, looking extremely conflicted.
“Daddy! Mommy!”
Their daughter’s voice suddenly rang out. The little girl came running in, hopping and skipping.
But both parents’ faces darkened at once.
“A girl should mind her manners,” Yako scolded.
The joy on the little girl’s face disappeared immediately. She glanced timidly at her parents and hid the two little yellow flowers she was holding behind her back.
Yako said, “Tomorrow, I’ll send you and your brothers to the old house. You must behave there and not upset your great-grandfather and great-grandmother.”
At the thought of the gloomy old mansion, the little girl’s face fell. She knew she couldn’t argue with her parents and could only nod dejectedly.
Yako pressed down firmly on her daughter’s shoulder. “For these five days, you must behave yourself. Afterward, you can do whatever you want, and Mommy won’t stop you.”
Meanwhile, Heishui Ming was also coaxing their two sons with similar words, urging them to behave.
The next day, after Heishui Ming reported the potential cooperation with the Lu family to the Heishui family head, the old master was visibly pleased.
“It’s rare to see you putting in such effort. Since it’s decided, I’ll have your younger brother handle the detailed negotiations with Lu Jingyao. It’ll be good training for him,” the old master said with a smile.
Heishui Ming’s smile froze instantly. Inside, he cursed the old man for being biased toward the younger grandson. Giving such an important task to the youngest grandson so casually—wasn’t it just helping him build his resume?
Heishui Ming wanted to argue, but Yako stopped him, smiling as she said, “Grandfather, my younger brother is closer in age to Lu Jingyao. It’ll be easier for them to communicate. Your arrangement couldn’t be better.”
The eighty-year-old master gave her a meaningful look and said, “Yako, you’re a good elder sister. Now that your children are older, you could also join the family business like your sister.”
Yako replied, “I’ve always hoped to contribute to the family. Since Grandfather is giving me the opportunity, I won’t let you down.”
After leaving the old mansion, Heishui Ming said grimly, “We worked hard all day, only to make things easier for my younger brother. And you’re fine with it? Or are you actually supporting your brother over your husband?”
Yako cursed him a fool in her heart. But she also knew that it was precisely because he was such a fool that she could control him easily.
“Yesterday, Lu Jingyao told me a story—the story of how Emperor Taizong of Tang chose his heir.”
