Chapter 56: Zheng Tongheng's Decision

Securing a job with exceptionally generous compensation is a completely different matter, one that is bound to provoke jealousy from others. As the leader of these thirty men, his position was naturally the one most coveted by everyone.

The mere thought that people would soon be eyeing his post broke Zheng Tongheng out in a cold sweat. A sudden feeling of helplessness washed over him. "Um, you guys go back to the courtyard to sleep. I suddenly remember I left something at home; I need to make a trip back."

Uncertain of what lay ahead, Zheng Tongheng decided to consult his father to seek his counsel and see what his opinion might be.

As the leader of the group, whatever Zheng Tongheng chose to do was naturally not something the others would interfere with. They simply smiled and nodded, letting him leave the backyard of the Number Three Under Heaven Building and head straight for the courtyard where Zheng Tianhu lived.

Zheng Tianhu was one of the clan elders of the Zheng family, a paternal cousin of the clan head Zheng Tianhai, and also the father of Zheng Tongheng.

Late into the night, Zheng Tianhu had already fallen asleep, but upon learning that his son had come looking for him, he threw on a robe and walked out. "So late at night, what matter could possibly not wait until morning?"

Upon seeing his son, he first looked him up and down, confirming that he was completely normal, lacking nothing and missing nothing, which finally set his mind at ease. Then, a wave of scolding followed.

Zheng Tianhu did not have only one son in Zheng Tongheng, but this was the one he favored the most. Precisely because of that, he disciplined him all the more strictly, hoping to mold him into a man of capability.

"Father, something major has happened." The moment they met, Zheng Tongheng wore a deeply anxious expression and proceeded to roughly recount everything that had transpired after Jia Ping'an summoned them earlier. He even included the whispered discussions among his subordinates from the Zheng family clan.

Zheng Tianhu listened attentively. Only after Zheng Tongheng finished speaking did he raise his head to look at him, falling deep into thought.

As a clan elder of the Zheng family, although Zheng Tianhu rarely intervened in daily affairs, he was well aware of certain situations within the clan.

He had previously caught wind of the rumor that the family looked rather unfavorably upon the "Number Three Under Heaven Building" that this young man had established.

How utterly absurd. Call it the Number Three Building if you must, but to prefix it with "Under Heaven"—did he truly believe the world was so small?

The family had not taken the matter seriously simply because they did not hold high hopes for the prospects of the Number Three Building. Yet Zheng Tianhu knew full well that if this Number Three Building merely struggled, that would be one thing; the moment its business became too prosperous, it was bound to invite targeted suppression from the Zheng clan.

It was not as though no one had ever attempted to do business in Ningguta before. Regardless of the enterprise, whenever anyone became successful, they inevitably drew suppression from the clan, ultimately bowing to the pressure and shutting their doors in haste.

It was precisely by relying on this localized dominance that the Zheng clan had systematically crushed one external force after another, resulting in the current status where the Zheng family stood unmatched.

If such tactics could be used against others, why should they not apply to Jia Ping'an? Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the Zheng clan would surely target the Number Three Building, and this young man Jia Ping'an would likely not last long. What Zheng Tianhu had never anticipated, however, was that the youth's mind was remarkably clear.

After scoring an immediate triumph on opening day, rather than sitting at home with a smile to count his coins, he had instead proactively increased the pay for those guarding the premises.

Viewed in this light, the youth had clearly foreseen potential trouble, and his maneuvering was remarkably astute. This was evident simply from the murmurs and discussions among the Zheng clan youths.

Tripling the usual commission showed no small degree of boldness. Yet Jia Ping'an had gone even further, declaring that if anyone came to cause trouble, they were free to strike back; should anyone be injured, he would support them for the rest of their lives. That level of daring was staggering.

One had to realize that in an era where merely securing enough food to eat was a struggle, human lives were hardly worth much. Wealthy individuals could easily spend a pittance to purchase slaves from human traffickers to serve them, which proved to be the most cost-effective method by far.

Yet Jia Ping'an had chosen not to do that. Instead, he was willing to spend lavishly to reward the Zheng clansmen. What kind of magnanimity was this? Such broad-mindedness bore no resemblance to that of a petty, calculating merchant.

Was not the sole purpose of doing business to make money? To turn a profit, every single cost had to be meticulously calculated to find the lowest possible option, or success would remain out of reach.

Instead of utilizing cheap slaves, he was willing to pay a heavy price to hire men from the Zheng clan. For this single reason, Zheng Tianhu could not help but admire Jia Ping'an's grandeur. Because of this, a faint premonition arose within him—perhaps this Jia Ping'an was not someone the Zheng clan could simply manipulate at will.

"Brother Heng, what are your thoughts?" Though shaken inwardly, Zheng Tianhu did not immediately voice his own opinion; instead, he looked at his son, eager to see what ideas the young man had formed.

"I..." When questioned, Zheng Tongheng hesitated at first. But catching his father's encouraging gaze, he mustered his courage and said, "Father, with triple the commission, the sum your son would earn in a month is quite considerable. I imagine this will inevitably provoke jealousy from others, and some might even scheme to take my place. If that happens, I'm afraid... I'm afraid I won't be able to withstand the pressure. Especially if the clan head gives the order, I have no choice but to obey. Otherwise, there will hardly be a place for me to stand within the vast Zheng clan."

"Indeed. Although your father is a clan elder, Zheng Tianhai possesses an overbearing personality and has never permitted us elders to touch the reins of power in the clan. If he truly sets his sights on your current position, chances are we won't be able to block him." Zheng Tianhu expressed the same sentiment regarding this reality.

As the saying goes, two tigers cannot share one mountain; the Zheng clan would never allow two individuals to hold equal sway.

Even someone like the advisor Zheng Yugong had to submit to Zheng Tianhai when matters concerned the internal affairs of the Zheng family.

"Exactly. Even Father cannot stop him, so I certainly won't be able to. Therefore, I was thinking: either I pledge my loyalty to this Jia Ping'an. Although he is rather young, he is magnanimous, blessed with good fortune, and methodical in his actions. If I follow him, I imagine I won't suffer any losses."

"Oh, you wish to follow Jia Ping'an? Have you considered that if you truly do this, the clan head will be displeased?" Zheng Tianhu was not surprised by his son's decision; on the contrary, he was quite supportive. Still, certain warnings needed to be voiced.

"Of course your son knows, but do I have any other choice? Previously, it was only out of regard for your face, Father, that I was reluctantly granted this leadership role. But now, the benefits are vastly greater, and I fear that prestige alone will no longer suffice. The clan head demanding I step down is merely a matter of time. If I wish to avoid yielding, my only option is to seek a new tree to lean upon for shade. As for whether the clan head will hold a grudge against me—well, with you still here to lend your prestige, Father, surely matters wouldn't deteriorate to an irreparable fallout. Besides, your son isn't betraying the Zheng clan; I am merely helping Young Master Jia properly guard the Number Three Building. That hardly constitutes a grave offense."

Zheng Tongheng indeed had his own rationale, formulated all the way on his journey here. His purpose in seeking out his father was to lay the situation bare and thereby secure his backing.

A position that was once ordinary had suddenly become fiercely contested, and he had no intention of relinquishing it.

First, the financial reward was generous enough to sway his heart.

Second, if he stepped down now, it would merely project weakness to outsiders. If he did that, who would ever look upon him with respect again, and what kind of future could he possibly have?

Thus, he had come to his father solely to gain his support.

"Very well. Brother Heng has grown up, and Father is deeply gratified. What you said makes sense, and your decision is correct. Father will certainly support you. Humph! If anyone wants to snatch benefits away from our branch of the family, they will first have to ask whether this old man agrees." As one of the clan elders of the Zheng family, Zheng Tianhu was not entirely devoid of power; there were still those within the clan willing to support him.

Previously, he had kept a low profile simply because there was no need to step forward. But now, with his son's interests and his own dignity on the line, he would naturally stand up.

"Thank you, Father." Hearing his father's words, Zheng Tongheng grew excited. This was precisely the outcome he had hoped for.

With his father's backing, he now knew how to proceed and felt a renewed sense of confidence in his actions.

Jia Ping'an remained entirely unaware of the events that had transpired during the night.

Even if someone were to recount them to him, he would hardly be surprised. After all, who does not love money?

Even the wealthy can never have too much of it.

Using money to buy peace might be a concept rejected by misers, but to Jia Ping'an, no amount of wealth compared to his own safety. With his spatial realm, making money was actually quite easy. On the contrary, he only had one life—something that could never be neglected and had to be guarded with the utmost care.

The second day of business for the Number Three Under Heaven Building arrived.

It remained exceptionally popular. The occupancy rates for both the first and second floors exceeded eighty percent, and at one point, it even became impossible to secure a single empty table.

The private rooms on the third floor were even more sought after; all twelve of them had been reserved early in the morning, leaving latecomers sighing in regret. Had they known, they would have sent someone to secure a table at the crack of dawn.

The growing popularity of the Number Three Building only served to stoke hatred within the hearts of the Zheng family members.

They had originally assumed that Jia Ping'an's venture into the restaurant business was merely a rash impulse that would inevitably result in heavy losses. But now, it was abundantly clear that nothing of the sort was happening.

The most direct consequence was that the Huancai Restaurant, backed by the General's Estate, had closed its doors early this morning, and word was that it would never reopen.

Furthermore, the Zheng family's own Yuelai Restaurant had not attracted a single customer from morning until now.

Without customers, keeping a restaurant open was merely a waste of money and resources. It would be far better to follow the example of the Huancai Restaurant and shut down entirely.

"It's driving me mad! It's driving me mad! This Jia Ping'an, of all the things he could do, why did he have to open a restaurant? Is he deliberately trying to make things difficult for me?" Zheng Liyuan, the manager of the Yuelai Restaurant, watched as noon approached without a single patron crossing the threshold. Rage filled every fiber of his being, and his eyes flushed entirely red.