Chapter 2672 - 2676: Who Won?

Chapter 2672: Chapter 2676: Who Won?

"I once heard Ah Jing mention that Senior Master Huo has five sons, and all five have comparable abilities. Originally, the Huo Family’s company should have been inherited by the Eldest Huo, as that was the most undisputed matter. However, both the Eldest Huo and Huo the Second are public officials and can’t inherit the Huo Family’s company, leaving the Third, Fourth, and Fifth to vie for it, none of whom are willing to concede."

Ye Xingbei asked, "Is the Huo Family part of the business circle?"

"Yes," Gu Junzhu said, "Senior Master Huo’s ancestors were once imperial merchants, with considerable wealth. By Senior Master Huo’s generation, both the Eldest and the Second are capable and talented. Senior Master Huo sent them out early to gain experience, and later, the two did very well."

"I get it," Ye Xingbei said. "It’s like in ancient times when wealthy families would desperately fund their descendants’ studies and exams, hoping they could top the list of successful candidates, enter the court, and bring glory to the family."

Gu Junzhu smiled slightly, "That’s right, just like that."

Ye Xingbei asked, "And then? The Eldest and Second Huo both became public officials and did very well, so they can’t engage in business. The Third, Fourth, and Fifth are left to fight over the Huo Family’s company—who won in the end?"

"At present, no one has won yet, but Huo the Fourth has the most support," Gu Junzhu pointed to Huo Zhongqi. "It’s because of him."

In recent years, he wasn’t in Beijing, so he’s aware of some of the people and affairs among the top elite families there, though not in detail.

He knows the names of Senior Master Huo and his five sons, but he doesn’t know the names of a few from the Huo Family’s third generation.

As a result, he wasn’t aware that Huo the Fourth’s son is named Huo Zhongqi.

But he heard from his old friends that Huo the Fourth’s son is a genius, an impressive hacker at a young age.

Last year, Huo Zhongqi was just seven years old when he broke through the Huo Group’s firewall on his own and went for a tour in the Huo Group’s internal database.

After Senior Master Huo found out, he harshly scolded the Huo Group’s technical staff, while his fondness and regard for Huo Zhongqi increased significantly.

Gu Junzhu pointed to Huo Zhongqi and said, "His significance to Huo the Fourth is like Qian Long’s significance to Yong Zheng."

"Some experts say that it was because Kangxi valued the imperial grandson, Qian Long, that he esteemed Yong Zheng and opted to let Yong Zheng succeed to the throne."

"Now, what Senior Master Huo is showing is precisely this kind of intention."

Ye Xingbei said, "Because of Huo Zhongqi, Senior Master Huo wants to hand the company over to Huo the Fourth?"

"Correct," Gu Junzhu nodded. "Huo the Third, Huo the Fourth, and Huo the Fifth have similar abilities, but Huo Zhongqi is the standout among the third generation, unmatched. For the Huo Family to continue to prosper, a second-generation successor is quite important, but a third-generation successor is even more crucial."

"Makes sense," Ye Xingbei said. "Some say that wealth doesn’t last beyond three generations because by the third generation, the heirs are often too weak. Finding a capable successor within the third generation can at least guarantee the Huo Group’s prosperity for many more decades."

Gu Junzhu nodded, "That’s right, exactly like that. Some experts say that Kangxi’s decision to let Yong Zheng succeed was partly due to such considerations."

"Though whether this view is right or wrong is beyond examination, one thing is certain: if all of Yong Zheng’s descendants were incompetent, Kangxi certainly wouldn’t have chosen Yong Zheng to succeed."

"Because of Senior Master Huo’s regard for Huo the Fourth’s son, many speculate that in the future, Senior Master Huo will hand the Huo Group over to Huo the Fourth."