In the summer of 2025, a legal complaint unveiled the hidden truths within the Wahaha family empire. Founder Zong Qinghou, besides his only daughter Zong Fuli, was revealed to have more than three illegitimate children, with rumors circulating of as many as six. This revelation sparked widespread public outcry.
At the same time, netizens delved into an interview from twenty years prior with Zong Fuli's mother, Shi Youzhen, hinting at the beginnings of a familial power struggle spanning three decades. Far from being a silent victim, Shi meticulously orchestrated every move.
The entrepreneurial journey and betrayals of the peasant-worker-turned-businessman couple began in 1978 when Shi returned from Heilongjiang to Hangzhou and joined the commercial sector as an accountant. Introduced to the older unmarried Zong Qinghou, she quickly became his wife. At that time, the 37-year-old Zong was still a factory worker delivering goods by tricycle.
Their daughter was born in 1982, named Zong Fuli after Shi's admiration for actress Wang Fuli. In 1987, Zong Qinghou boldly took over the school-run factory's distribution department with a goal of generating 100,000 yuan in revenue, a task Shi supported under the scorching sun.
By 1991, when they acquired the Hangzhou canning factory, Shi handled the challenging task of employee resettlement, earning her the nickname \"firefighter captain.\" She self-taught herself finance, mastering the company's financial health and cash flow. When problems arose at the factory managed by Zong Qinghou's brother, she decisively changed business partners, ensuring Wahaha's stability during its rapid expansion in the 1990s.
In 1996, Du Jianying, a graduate from Zhejiang University, accompanied 14-year-old Zong Fuli to the United States as the \"Wahaha International Business Operator.\" That same year, she gave birth to Zong Qinghou's eldest son in Los Angeles. Facing her husband's infidelity, Shi's shocking response was not mere tolerance but strategic calculation. \"It's not about being generous; it's about strategy,\" revealed a former employee.
Shi once struggled between divorce and staying married. Choosing the latter secured her daughter's inheritance rights within Wahaha. She never publicly discussed Du Jianying, allowing her presence in Wahaha but barring her from Zong Fuli.
By 2003, Du Jianying and Zong Fuli established Hongsheng Beverage, creating an independent kingdom outside of Wahaha's system. In 2010, Du Jianying held 40% of Wahaha through Guangyuan Jinxin, but Shi secretly transferred core assets to Hongsheng. Though the Civil Code recognizes inheritance rights for illegitimate children, Zong Qinghou's trust benefits only extended to Zong Fuli.
In a 2004 interview, Shi smiled, \"He lost so much love; I should take care of him,\" prompting Zong Qinghou to tears. Looking back, netizens were moved: \"A wise wife supports my lofty ambition; I have a wise wife and illegitimate children.\"
In a more ruthless turn, mother and daughter orchestrated a campaign to elevate Zong Fuli's image, portraying her father's illegitimate children lawsuit as a \"smear campaign.\" Even before the legal battle began, they had secured three-quarters of the public's support. Meanwhile, Du Jianying's attempt to challenge inheritance rights through DNA testing faltered against Zong Fuli's control of Wahaha's entire supply chain, from production to sales optimization.
Following Zong Qinghou's death in 2024, Zong Fuli swiftly transitioned 18 factories and 1.6 million retail terminals under Hongsheng's umbrella, replacing executives with her trained team. Today, the lawsuit is not about business but family matters.
In February 2024, Shi began resigning from multiple positions, clearing obstacles for Zong Fuli. Despite Du Jianying and Hangzhou State-owned Assets' attempt to seize 46% of the shares, public opinion was firmly in favor of Shi and Zong Fuli. The more devastating blow was Zong Fuli's control over the block supply chain, proving factory closures as \"capacity optimization.\" With legal and public opinion both against her, Du Jianying retreated.
At 160 Qingtai Street, Hangzhou, Zong Qinghou's statue still wears cloth shoes. Shi won, her daughter ascended the throne, and her rival suffered a defeat. Yet, in the end, she also lost—half a lifetime of patience ultimately made her \"Zong Qinghou's wife.\"
As in her tearful interview, \"He belongs to Wahaha.\" This brutal game reveals how women's worth remains confined within the shackles of \"motherly strength.\"
While the inheritance lawsuit continues, Zong Fuli once said, \"Wahaha is not one person's legacy but the effort of several generations.\" Amidst complex relationships, she knows clearly what she wants and how to protect it.
Article by: Lemon Snow
Editor: Light Green
Planning: Light Green
