“You must always remember—you are brothers, bound by blood. There can be healthy competition between you, but never internal strife.”
At that moment, Cao Chuanzhi spoke again, putting an official end to the commotion that had just taken place in the council hall.
“In the future, Xiaohai, you need to curb your impulsiveness. And Xiaochuan, if you see your brother doing something wrong, you should correct him. However, be mindful of the tone and measure—don’t damage the bond between brothers.”
“Yes, Father,” Cao Chuan responded promptly.
“Yes, Father,” Cao Hai also replied sullenly.
“All right, that’s the end of that. Let’s move on to official business,” Cao Chuanzhi said, his gaze sweeping across both brothers. After a brief pause, he continued, “As we’ve previously discussed, my health is getting worse by the day. Now that both of you have grown into adults, it’s time we officially raise the matter of appointing the Cao family heir.”
As soon as these words fell, even before Cao Chuanzhi could finish what he was about to say, Cao Hai immediately straightened up and rushed to speak, “Then the heir of the Cao family must be me.”
“Our Cao Corporation places the highest value on investment. I graduated from a top-tier business school and have studied under Aunt Lin since college. I’ve developed a strong understanding of investment strategies.”
“On the other hand, my brother graduated from an ordinary university, didn’t study under any renowned mentors, and the investment projects he previously attempted lost more than they gained… Clearly, I’m the more suitable candidate to inherit the Cao family.”
Cao Chuanzhi didn’t respond immediately but turned to glance at Cao Chuan.
Seeing this, Cao Chuan sneered inwardly.
According to the original storyline, today’s family meeting was only the initial step in deciding the heir of the Cao family.
It was a symbolic title, with no real power.
The true battle for inheritance would come later.
However, this symbolic title was still immensely valuable.
Once acquired, it would elevate one’s status within the household, and more importantly, open countless doors in the outside world—saving effort and multiplying effectiveness.
If he didn’t seize it, his grand plan to defy destiny couldn’t even begin.
As Cao Chuanzhi looked at him, Cao Chuan’s cold sneer disappeared, and he spoke up, “There’s a saying—‘Judge a man anew after three days apart.’”
“It’s already the 21st century, yet you still look at people through outdated lenses. Brother, your mindset alone makes you unfit to lead the Cao family.”
“Besides, Father hadn’t even finished speaking, and you were already rushing to interrupt. That impatience of yours speaks volumes!”
“You—” Just one sentence left Cao Hai speechless, his expression turning visibly sour.
Cao Chuanzhi nodded slightly, as if acknowledging Cao Chuan’s point.
Lin Wanrong, observing this, quickly gave Cao Hai a signal, reminding him, “Xiaohai, you really did come across as too impatient just now.”
“This is a serious matter. At the very least, you should’ve waited until your father finished speaking before saying your piece.”
Only then did Cao Hai seem to realize his mistake. He quickly apologized, “Sorry, Dad. I was too impatient…”
“No matter!” Cao Chuanzhi smiled magnanimously and waved his hand, then continued, “But you were right about one thing—”
“The Cao Corporation, under our family, does place great emphasis on investment.”
“I had both of you study business because of the nature and needs of our family enterprise.”
“Now that you’ve both graduated and gained some real-world experience over the past few years, I’d like each of you to share your views on investment.”
Lin Wanrong once again gave Cao Hai a nudge with her eyes.
Seeing this, Cao Hai immediately straightened up and spoke loudly, “I’ll go first.”
“Investment, in economic terms, refers to the process by which a nation, company, or individual enters into agreements for mutual benefit and capital transfer with specific goals in mind. Simply put, it’s an economic behavior where one invests money, effort, or resources to gain returns or capital appreciation within a foreseeable period.”
“The main goal is simple—profit!”
Cao Chuanzhi nodded slightly, but remained noncommittal.
“Timing and location help evaluate a project’s prospects, while human factors assess whether the person in charge of the project is worth trusting.”
“If a project has all three—timing, location, and people—it usually means it’s worth investing in.”
This time, Cao Chuanzhi nodded more noticeably, his face showing a touch of approval. “That’s a good insight.”
“Using timing, location, and people as an investment evaluation framework—this line of thinking seems to be developing into a system. Looks like you’ve put quite a bit of thought into studying investment lately.”
“Very good.”
“Father flatters me.” Though Cao Hai responded modestly, his posture clearly straightened further, and a proud smile returned to his face. When he glanced at Cao Chuan, a smug glint flashed in his eyes.
“Since you claim to have such insight,” Cao Chuanzhi added, “then go deeper—if you were in charge of the Cao Corporation right now, how would you handle investments?”
Cao Hai didn’t hesitate. He stood firm and replied confidently, “If I were running the Cao Corporation, I would adopt a cautious investment strategy at this stage.”
“The reason is simple—the current overall economic environment is weak. Most industries are facing a slump.”
“This is clearly the wrong time to invest, with market risks outweighing potential returns.”
“In this scenario, the safest approach is to increase investment only in the group’s stable, profit-generating projects while cutting off those that produce little or no value. Prioritize stability, and when a new wave of opportunity arises, then initiate the next round of major investments.”
This time, Cao Chuanzhi nodded several times in a row before speaking with approval, “Nurture strength in quiet, wait for the right moment—an impressively mature investment mindset.”
“The think tank within the group recently submitted a proposal to me. Their findings after joint research align quite closely with your thinking.”
“While your reasoning may not be as concise as theirs, you’re only in your early twenties, and they’re seasoned professionals in their fifties. Reaching such a level at your age is truly impressive.”
“You flatter me, Father.” Though Cao Hai remained humble in words, he could no longer hide the smile spreading across his face. When he turned again toward Cao Chuan, the pride in his eyes was completely unrestrained.