However, Lao Wu also found Zhou Xuan very charming. Although mysterious, he was also reliable and never cared about money for his employees. The salaries that the antique shop currently paid him and his employees far exceeded those of other shops. Of course, this was mainly because the income of Zhou Zhang's shop was too astonishing. No one could have imagined that with an investment of over ten million yuan, in just over half a year, the total assets had risen to over seven hundred million yuan, reaching an unimaginable seventy-fold increase.
Old Wu also understood that although his skills were the mainstay of Zhou Zhang's shop, in reality, the vast majority of the income was inseparable from Zhou Xuan's influence. The shop's actual income did not exceed five million yuan. Compared with other shops, the profit was actually quite good, which was considered very high, but it could not compare with the income brought in by Zhou Xuan.
The initial income was essentially Zhou Xuan scavenging bargains, earning minimal or even no investment, only to resell them for tens or hundreds of millions. The profits were beyond description, bordering on exorbitant. And in the final instance, with those thirteen jade micro-carvings, Zhou Zhang Shop received a commission of a staggering 370 million yuan.
All of this was Zhou Xuan's achievement, but he never uttered a word of complaint. The profits were distributed to everyone, with ** and Lao Wu receiving the largest share. Of course, Zhou Ying, Zhou Cangsong, Zhou Tao, and Zhou Xuan and his son also received the same share, according to their stock. Lao Wu, as the chief technical officer, received a bonus that was almost higher than that of a typical company CEO. To be honest, Zhou Xuan didn't need to put any of this into the store; he could have kept all of these profits for himself.
This shows that Zhou Xuan is not a money-grubbing person. He cherishes his friends and family very much. During this period, Lao Wu basically figured out Zhou Xuan's personality.
Zhou Xuan is very protective of his own. If his friends or relatives are bullied or in trouble, Zhou Xuan will do everything he can to help them. Yesterday, Lao Wu thought that Zhou Xuan was unhappy because he lost ten million. But after the matter was resolved, Lao Wu thought about it carefully and realized that Zhou Xuan had been protecting him in every way. However, all of Zhou Xuan's actions seemed to be done after he knew the outcome, as if he had a premonition. This was what Lao Wu found most strange.
However, Old Wu had grown accustomed to Zhou Xuan's mysterious nature. There were many things he couldn't understand or comprehend, but Zhou Xuan could.
After calling Lao Wu, Zhou Xuan returned to his room, took out the Nine Dragon Cauldron, and stared blankly. He had only used the Nine Dragon Cauldron twice, and he didn't fully understand its performance, so he didn't dare to take it out to test it casually. It would be even more troublesome if he went to other time and space. Fu Ying's problem was already giving him a headache and worry.
However, Zhou Xuan also wanted to thoroughly understand the function of the Nine Dragon Cauldron, hoping to easily resolve Fu Ying's problem and return Yingying to him.
In order not to activate the Nine Dragons Cauldron, Zhou Xuan took out the Nine Star Pearls one by one and then took them to the windowsill to absorb the energy of the sunlight.
When the Nine-Star Pearl was exposed to sunlight, Zhou Xuan could feel it immediately and frantically absorbing the sunlight's energy. However, since it was winter and afternoon, the sunlight's energy wasn't strong, but Zhou Xuan could still sense the Nine-Star Pearl's terrifying power.
After the sunlight shone into the Nine Star Beads, Zhou Xuan dared not use his special ability to probe inside. However, when he took one in his hand, although he did not use his special ability, he could strangely sense that the sunlight inside the Nine Star Beads was like a solar energy converter. The light shone in and was then transformed into a peculiar energy after passing through the Nine Star Beads. This energy was very familiar to Zhou Xuan because his solar flame energy was exactly the same as this.
However, Zhou Xuan's new superpowers also include ice energy and his internal martial arts skills that he has practiced for many years. These three combined superpowers are so powerful that even he himself doesn't know what other new abilities might emerge in the future.
However, for now, Zhou Xuan feels that it is enough to surprise and delight him. He now regards his superpower as an integral part of his body, inseparable from it, and cannot live without its help. He uses it almost all the time.
Zhou Xuan tested it for a while and felt that the Nine Star Beads were not a big threat to him, so he simply took one and put it in his hand. The Nine Star Beads can absorb all energy and store it. It can be said that it is an energy absorption, conversion and storage device. However, the one that truly has strange abilities is the Nine Dragon Cauldron. Only after activating the Nine Dragon Cauldron can one travel through time and freeze time.
Both are indispensable. After Zhou Xuan figured it out, he carefully activated his supernatural power and probed it into the bead. The energy in the bead immediately mixed with Zhou Xuan's energy, removing impurities and refining it before returning to Zhou Xuan.
Zhou Xuan was overjoyed. This thing was just like the crystal before. The crystal was a pure ice energy body, which was huge for Zhou Xuan, but it was still not enough for the Nine Dragon Cauldron. So the crystal exploded after the Nine Dragon Cauldron absorbed all the energy. However, the Nine Star Pearl was different because the Nine Star Pearl could absorb energy. As long as there was sunlight or thermal energy bodies like magma, the Nine Star Pearl could absorb and preserve the energy.
The difference between the Nine-Star Bead and the crystal lies here: one is a pure storage medium, while the other absorbs and stores. The superiority of the two is thus easily discernible.
At this time, the Nine Star Beads did not absorb much energy because the sun was setting in the west and it was winter, so the slanting sunlight was not intense and could not compare to the summer sun.
However, Zhou Xuan gained quite a few benefits. His supernatural abilities, which had been completely depleted in the skylight, were restored. After returning, Fu Ying's problem prevented Zhou Xuan from calming down, and the recovery of his supernatural abilities was slow. In more than a day, Zhou Xuan only recovered less than 30,000 units of energy. But now, with the help of the Nine Star Pearl, Zhou Xuan recovered his supernatural abilities in a very short time.
After countless cycles, Zhou Xuan's meridians were improved again, but the improvement was not significant compared to before. This is because the human body is inherently limited, like a balloon. You can inflate it little by little, but once you exceed its capacity and limit, it can no longer expand. If you try to force it, it will only burst.
Zhou Xuan himself could feel that once the energy in his body reached a high level, he stopped absorbing from the Nine Star Pearl and let the Nine Star Pearl absorb the energy of sunlight on its own.
After the sun set, Zhou Xuan put away the Nine Star Beads and sat down on the sofa. He dared not put all the Nine Star Beads into the Nine Dragon Cauldron at this time, because he did not know how to operate the Nine Dragon Cauldron. If he put the Nine Star Beads into the Nine Dragon Cauldron and it was activated, it would be troublesome.
Zhou Xuan pondered for a long time. The Nine Dragon Cauldron seemed to be a troublesome item in his hands. He didn't know what to do with it and dared not use it casually. After thinking for a while, he called Li Wei and asked him to buy a large safe tomorrow.
The Nine Dragon Cauldron must be carefully preserved. The lesson of Ma Shu stealing the crystal is still fresh in our minds, so we must take precautions against this. However, we cannot afford another accident like this.
For the next few days, Zhou Xuan didn't leave the house. He was feeling depressed, and his family didn't ask him to do anything. With the wedding date approaching and Fu Ying looking dazed all day, Zhou Xuan was even more worried and depressed.
It seemed that since they knew Zhou Xuan was getting married, the people from the shops stopped bothering him, and Fu Yuanshan and Wei Haihong were even more aware of it.
On the morning of the fifth day of the second lunar month, Zhou Xuan couldn't stay still any longer, so he packed a bag and prepared to go out.
Jin Xiumei was quite surprised to see her son like this and asked, "Son, where are you going?" With the wedding date fast approaching, Zhou Xuan's decision to leave at this time filled Jin Xiumei with panic. In the past, Zhou Xuan's trips always lasted seven or eight days, sometimes even more than ten days. A delay of ten days to half a month could cause the wedding to be delayed, which would be a serious matter.
"Mom, I'm so bored staying at home. I'm going out for a trip, maybe three days at most, to Guangxi," Zhou Xuan said. But as he was about to say it, he casually mentioned Guangxi. After saying it, he really did want to go to Guangxi to see the skylight and see what the situation was like there.
"No, no, what time is it? If you're feeling bored, go to your brother Hong's house, or go for a walk at the company," Jin Xiumei refused, directly blocking Zhou Xuan's idea.
Zhou Xuan frowned and hesitated for a moment. Just as he was about to speak again, he saw Fu Ying say to Jin Xiumei, "Auntie... I'll go with Zhou Xuan and come back together."
Jin Xiumei was taken aback. If Fu Ying wanted to go with her, things would be different. With her along, things would surely go smoothly. Even if they were late, it would still be like she and Zhou Xuan were together, just like a destination wedding.
After thinking for a moment, Jin Xiumei nodded and said, "It's fine if Yingying goes with us, but she must be back within three days."
"Yes, yes, we will!" Zhou Xuan quickly assured her. "We'll definitely be back within three days, Mom, don't worry."
Fu Ying immediately went upstairs to pack her luggage. After seeing Fu Ying go upstairs, Jin Xiumei frowned and said, "Hmm, I seem to have forgotten something. I was just thinking about it, but what is it... I just can't remember."
Jin Xiumei racked her brains, but she just couldn't remember. The more she thought about it, the less she could recall it.
Zhou Xuan couldn't figure out what his mother had forgotten either, so he smiled and said, "Mom, take your time. We're leaving now. Don't rush, we have plenty of time."
At this moment, Fu Ying also came downstairs, carrying a small suitcase. She looked simple and didn't seem like she was going to be away for a long time. Jin Xiumei was relieved. Her son and daughter-in-law's marriage was the most important thing. Back in the countryside, when any family wanted to hold a wedding, they would be forced to ask for money. What could they do if they didn't have money?
Now that they have enough money, Jin Xiumei and Zhou Cangsong are thinking about having a grandson. Their eldest son's wedding is approaching, their second son has a girlfriend, and their daughter has a boyfriend—all three marriages are pleasing to their parents.
Worried that his mother might cause more trouble, Zhou Xuan quickly grabbed his and Fu Ying's suitcases and went out the door, calling out, "Mom, we're leaving."
Fu Ying said from the doorway, "Auntie, we're leaving."
After the two left, Jin Xiumei suddenly slapped her thigh, realizing that she had been thinking about how Fu Ying addressed her. She had forgotten because Zhou Xuan had interrupted, but now that Fu Ying had said it again, she immediately remembered.
That's strange. Fu Ying always called her "Mom" affectionately, so why is she calling her "Auntie" now?
Jin Xiumei was very puzzled and thought about it. She chased after them to the door, but Zhou Xuan and Fu Ying had already disappeared. She muttered to herself, "My wife is acting strange. She seems distant from me these past few days and doesn't stick to me much. She used to take me shopping all the time. Now, almost everything in the house is bought by Fu Ying. It's beautiful and practical, especially things for her and Zhou Ying. Fu Ying buys a lot of those."
But these past two days, ever since our son Zhou Xuan came back, my wife has been quiet and not as lively as before. Could it be that she had a fight with our son?
Jin Xiumei became increasingly convinced, but her son had already left. She quickly picked up the phone to call him, but the phone rang instead on the coffee table. Looking up, she was startled.
Zhou Xuan and Fu Ying's phones were both lying there. Jin Xiumei was annoyed. It seemed they really had a falling out. He didn't want her and her family to find them after leaving. Hmph, when her son came back, she'd definitely have a good talk with him. His wife had come all this way, and she was so good to him and his family. Her family was so well-off, and she was as beautiful as a fairy. She hadn't looked down on the Zhou family. They should always be more accommodating. Which young lady wasn't pampered? But Yingying had never considered herself a pampered young lady. This daughter-in-law was someone the whole family was satisfied with.
Of course, if we're talking about satisfaction, Jin Xiumei is satisfied with both Wei Xiaoyu and Wei Xiaoqing. Whether it's their family background, status, or appearance, Yingying is just as good as the three sisters. There's no choice. It's only because their Zhou family has burned incense and prayed to Buddha, and their ancestors have blessed them, that their son was able to marry one of them. Otherwise, how could Zhou Xuan have such good fortune?
For the past six months or so, it felt like a dream. Jin Xiumei couldn't believe her family had come to this point. Her son and daughter were both filial, and the family had more money than they could count. Her son would casually give her four or five million yuan in pocket money every month. She could have whatever she wanted, eat whatever she wanted, and wear whatever she wanted.