Chapter 850: Chapter 723: Do You Want a Little Brother?

In the living room, Zhang Guoqing showed no reaction after listening. At this point, even if his wife told him she could catch the moon from the water, he wouldn’t be surprised at all.

He was about to establish some ground rules while she was feeling guilty, when suddenly there was a strange sound coming from the study.

This discovery made him pause his hands, which were sorting gifts, gently put them down, and gesture to Zhou Jiao to stay quiet. He focused his attention silently.

After a moment, he looked at Ping’an, who was helping to organize things beside him. Zhou Jiao had just mentioned the Zhou Family’s secret room, which brought up the issue of future adoption.

Zhang Guoqing realized he had been thinking too simply.

In the future, even if the second son inherits the Zhou Family, would the penny-pinching Ping’an be indifferent? Nurtured under the same grandfather, why couldn’t he inherit?

So many brothers have torn each other apart over money, leading to families’ ruin and deaths, and he didn’t want these problems to exist in his own family. Initially, he thought with his family’s wealth being plentiful, leaving it to Ping’an would be enough, but hearing Zhou Jiao’s vague words made him realize the huge disparity between the two.

It’s not that he’s overthinking. Once a child takes on the Zhou surname, any future comparisons are bound to disrupt the balance between brothers.

Additionally, his father-in-law is very fond of Ping’an, almost openly saying that Ping’an should have the Zhou surname; otherwise, the child wouldn’t be so happy every time he proclaimed himself as Zhou Ping’an.

As his eldest son, he’s not of a feudal mindset, yet he still hopes this son carries his surname Zhang—owing to the ties of two lifetimes, and the regrets of his grandfather from the previous life, which he cannot forget.

Moreover, as for his parents in this lifetime, allowing future children to take Zhou Jiao’s surname is already very generous, and he cannot do something that would hurt them.

It’s difficult; he hadn’t considered this issue before, but now he has to. And then there’s the enormous inheritance from the Gu Family, which is even more troubling. Why has Old Mrs. Cheng been watching for Zhou Jiao to get pregnant?

People naturally have selfish desires; Old Mrs. Cheng dotes on Zhou Jiao not only because she resembles her grandmother in appearance but also more because the Gu Family lacks an heir. She can’t say it openly, so she keeps stuffing dowries—which is no doubt part of the equation.

His wife is not a pig to continuously give birth. If she were to have a difficult labor, who could ensure her complete safety under such rudimentary conditions?

Zhou Jiao, seeing his eyes fixedly staring at her belly, was so scared that she quickly covered it and glared at him.

Zhang Guoqing shook his head, "No way!"

"Hmm?"

Zhang Guoqing looked at his wife again, shook his head, stood up after some thought, grabbed his son, and left the living room. The father and son went to the study in the East Wing.

Zhou Jiao followed after seeing this.

"Dad?"

Zhang Guoqing was brewing his emotions, contemplating how to have a heart-to-heart with his child. Unfortunately, even the smartest are still too young!

"Dad, do you have a question for me? Go ahead, I’ll answer anything."

Zhang Guoqing sighed inwardly: If only his mother-in-law could still have children, that wretched Gu Ruyi has left a mess he has to clean up.

Ping’an blinked in confusion, looking at his dad caressing his head affectionately. No matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t figure out whether he’d done something remarkable.

"Ahem..." Zhang Guoqing looked at him, hesitating, "Son, do you want a brother?"

As soon as Ping’an heard this, he pouted, "You’re lying. You said when Uncle Fang’s baby is born, my mom will also give me a baby brother. Where is he now?"

The hand stroking the child’s head paused for a moment; it’s quite possible there’s going to be one, but he promised his wife not to spread the word first, didn’t he see Zhou Jiao glaring at him from the side?

He gestured to Zhou Jiao to relax and focused his gaze back on his son: "Have you thought about it? When you have a brother, you’ll have to share a lot of things with him, including your favorite mom."

Hearing this, Little Ping’an widened his eyes in surprise, "Didn’t you say my future brothers all have to listen to me? So if I don’t give it, he can still snatch it?"

Look at that attitude; if he grows up like this, what then? There is even the potential for fratricide. Besides these external things, the most crucial issue is that the one with the Zhou surname is naturally entitled to inherit his maternal grandfather’s network. Could Ping’an let that go? Already so cunning now, would he accept it in the future?

Ping’an, seeing his father’s furrowed brow, immediately said, "Forget it, as long as it’s my real brother, I’ll split half with him. Dad, no more than that, okay?"

"Also, you and mom, grandpa all have to love me most. Otherwise, I don’t want a brother."

Zhang Guoqing couldn’t help but laugh.

"Dad, honestly, having more brothers and sisters isn’t good. Many of my buddies say it drives them crazy, crying all the time, endlessly. Plus, they say their parents play favorites."

Zhang Guoqing sighed inwardly, patting the child, "Son, do you remember last time when that old lady wanted you to take the Zhou surname?"

"I know, they said my grandpa has only my mom as his precious one, and my mom has only me, so I will have two surnames in the future. Dad, don’t worry, I asked Auntie, she said when I marry a big-bottomed wife, we can have lots of kids, and whatever surname they take is fine."

Zhang Guoqing scolded with a laugh, "Don’t listen to others’ nonsense!"

"Huh?"

"They were joking with you, a little kid. Who says you need to marry someone just to have lots of kids. Your future wife should be someone you like."

"Like you and my mom, right?"

Zhou Jiao, who had been standing silently beside them, thought to herself that if she didn’t understand the implications now, then she really had a pig’s brain. She had thought through these issues quite clearly.

What’s the rush?

Wait until the children are established in the future, and besides each family continuing its own lineage, all other assets can be equally divided. If any of them act up, she’d just donate everything or leave it to her grandsons. How can they run wild with the money still in her hands!

She shook her head disapprovingly at Zhang Guoqing. How young are the two of them? If it weren’t for always using contraception, she’d have had a slew of children by now, really overthinking it.

Plus, her father wouldn’t give all the money to whichever grandson took the Zhou surname. And she still had a long life ahead—did people think she was destined to just get by until death?

When conditions improve in the future, it’s not difficult to build her own family business. Besides, she’s confident in the children she’s raised. What’s the rush?

"Whether they’re Zhang or Zhou, they’re our children. I thought you were worrying about something else. As people often say, ’Each generation has its own fortune,’ and future matters are still uncertain."

After Zhou Jiao finished speaking, she saw her son looking at the two of them in confusion, "Your dad is worried that if you have siblings in the future, you might suffer. He underestimated our son; our Ping’an will be able to stand tall on his own and be accomplished just like your dad in the future, right?"

Ping’an immediately raised his chin happily, "Absolutely! I’ll earn money to support you both. I can already hunt and make money now, and I can earn even more when I get a job. I’m something special!"

"Amazing! That’s my son." Zhou Jiao gave a thumbs up, "Have you ever thought, baby, with all the historical figures you’ve learned about, why has there been fratricide in royal families, yet the sons of military generals fight alongside their fathers?"

Ping’an tilted his head looking at her, then focused his gaze on his dad, hoping to find the answer.

Zhou Jiao seriously told him, "This question is still too early for you, but I hope you remember it from now on. When you turn eight and can read ’The Twenty-Four Histories,’ you’ll find the answer within it. Although this question seems simple, it actually contains a lot. Once you’ve understood it, no matter how many brothers you have in the future, you’ll be a good eldest son and even play a leadership role."