The Su Family Dispute!

"Uncle Guan, what exactly is going on between the Third Branch and the First Branch?"

"And how has my elder brother truly been faring in the Su Family this past year?"

Zhang Su asked two questions in quick succession.

Uncle Guan glanced at Zhang Su, then let out a long sigh and explained in detail, "Actually, the young master's position in the First Branch has been quite good. The young master and young madam are deeply devoted to each other. The First Branch master's health has declined in recent years, and he has essentially handed all of the First Branch's business over to young madam."

"On the surface, young madam calls the shots, but in truth, she practically obeys the young master in everything. The First Branch's business has basically been managed by the young master. And over this past year, he has kept it all in perfect order."

"However, the more outstanding the young master became, the more dissatisfied the other two branches of the Su Family grew. The Su Family has three branches in total, with the First Branch holding the dominant position. The Second Branch has few members and no particularly remarkable figures, so it was long ago marginalized within the Su Family."

"The problem lies with the Third Branch. The First Branch has only young madam as its sole daughter. Originally, once the First Branch master passed away, the Su Family business would have gone to the Third Branch. But the young master married into the Su Family. More importantly, he has done an excellent job. That was equivalent to snatching away the Third Branch's chance to take over the Su Family, so they target the young master at every turn."

Uncle Guan's explanation was very clear.

Zhang Su immediately understood.

The current Su Family's conflict was one between the Third Branch and the First Branch.

The Third Branch wanted control over the Su Family business. Since the First Branch had few heirs and only one daughter, the Third Branch had originally had a chance.

But then his elder brother married into the Su Family's First Branch, shattering the Third Branch's hopes.

How could the Third Branch not hate his elder brother to death?

No wonder the Second Miss of the Third Branch had shown such intense hostility upon seeing Zhang Su outside the gates earlier.

Now Zhang Su understood everything.

This was rather different from what Zhang Su had imagined.

He had thought his elder brother had been swallowing humiliation and bearing heavy burdens in the Su Family, frustrated and unable to fulfill his ambitions.

He had not expected that there was nothing of the sort.

His sister-in-law doted on her husband wholeheartedly and had voluntarily ceded the First Branch's authority to his elder brother.

His elder brother was also quite capable.

He now practically controlled the First Branch's business and was its true master.

Within the First Branch, his word carried the weight of nine tripods.

His circumstances were exceedingly good.

The only trouble was probably the Third Branch's tit-for-tat opposition toward his elder brother.

"Uncle Guan, can I go take a look?"

Zhang Su asked.

Though this was the Su Family, even if his elder brother and the Third Branch got into a fight, nothing too serious should happen.

But Zhang Su still wanted to take a look.

After all, hearing was false, seeing was true.

As for how his elder brother was really faring in the Su Family, he would know with one look.

"This..."

Uncle Guan considered it, then ultimately nodded. "Second Young Master is an Outer Sect disciple of the Guiyuan Sect. That status carries some weight as well. Perhaps you may even be able to help the young master. Second Young Master, please follow me..."

Zhang Su nodded.

Thus, his younger sister Zhang Lingyi remained in the courtyard.

Zhang Su and Uncle Guan then headed for the Su Family Council Hall.

Su Family Council Hall.

The servants of the Su Family Third Branch and the servants of the First Branch were locked in a tense standoff.

Su Qianhe's face was dark and gloomy.

Although Zhang Chen's clothes were somewhat disheveled, he seemed otherwise unharmed, and he still carried himself with the bearing of a refined gentleman.

He looked like an elegant scholar.

How did he resemble some live-in son-in-law?

"Su Qianhe, what are you doing? Do you believe I'll break your legs?"

At that moment, an enraged voice came from outside the hall.

Su Zhenzhen charged in aggressively.

A group of servants and guards followed behind her.

The moment Su Qianhe saw Su Zhenzhen arrive, his formerly arrogant expression immediately wilted.

Even his eyes began darting about.

"Sister Zhenzhen, Zhang Chen went too far..."

Su Qianhe tried to explain.

"Hm? What did you call my husband?"

Before Zhang Chen, Su Zhenzhen had always been gentle and sweet, but before the rest of the Su Family, her presence was overwhelming—she was the true eldest daughter of the Su Family First Branch!

Before she married, Su Zhenzhen had been known as the Su Family's "Female Zhuge."

Many of the First Branch master's decisions had actually been planned by Su Zhenzhen behind the scenes.

If Su Zhenzhen had not been a woman—

unable to show her face in public and shoulder the Su Family's burden—how could the Third Branch have entertained such ambitions?

Su Qianhe had feared Su Zhenzhen since childhood.

Back then, Su Zhenzhen had been the Su Family's "big sister," imposing and full of authority.

Su Qianhe swallowed and said cautiously, "It... it was Brother-in-law who went too far."

Only after hearing the form of address "Brother-in-law" did Su Zhenzhen's expression ease slightly.

She hurried forward, took Zhang Chen's hand, and asked softly, "Husband, are you all right? If Su Qianhe dared hit you, I'll break his legs!"

The hall fell silent for a moment.

A dropped needle could have been heard.

Who in the entire Su Family did not know that Su Zhenzhen was madly devoted to her husband? If anything happened to Zhang Chen, Su Zhenzhen would definitely erupt.

Zhang Chen smiled faintly. "I'm fine. Qianhe didn't hit me just now. There was merely some conflict between the servants; it's nothing serious. Besides, it was only a business dispute, not some great matter."

Su Zhenzhen's expression softened somewhat.

She turned around and stared coldly at Su Qianhe. "Qianhe, tell me. What exactly could make you argue with your brother-in-law?"

Su Qianhe's eyes flickered, but he hesitated to speak.

However, Su Mulan, the Second Miss of the Third Branch seated nearby, could no longer hold herself back.

She immediately said, "Sister Zhenzhen, you were recuperating after giving birth, so you do not know about the business matters. Over the past month, our Su Family business has encountered tremendous trouble."

"For some reason, our Su Family transport teams suffered several consecutive attacks over the course of a month, causing goods to be lost and heavy losses to be incurred. Shouldn't someone be held accountable for these losses?"

Su Zhenzhen frowned.

At that moment, Zhang Chen spoke. "No matter. This time, I was prepared. I openly repaired the plank road while secretly crossing at Chencang. The goods were split into three routes: one was still escorted by Su Family guards as before, one traveled by water, and the last was entrusted to the Zhenyuan Escort Agency."

"This time, there should be no room for error."

After hearing this, Su Zhenzhen nodded. "My husband's arrangements are very reasonable. Do you have any other objections?"

"Hmph, Sister Zhenzhen, our Third Branch has just received news. Take a look. The goods escorted by the Su Family guards and those sent by water have all been seized."

Su Zhenzhen accepted the intelligence report.

Sure enough, it stated that both the goods sent by water and the supplies escorted by the guards had all been robbed.

"Husband, this..."

Even Su Zhenzhen hesitated somewhat.

"Zhenzhen, there is no need to worry. Whether it was the water route or the guard escort, they were actually only empty shells. The real goods were not on either of those routes."

"On the contrary, the fact that both routes were robbed has only strengthened my suspicion. Someone must have set their sights on our Su Family!"

Zhang Chen spoke calmly.

His words were full of confidence.

Though he did not know martial arts, he came from a scholarly family and had read books since childhood.

He had managed the Su Family business for a year, keeping everything in perfect order without any problems.

He had every reason for such confidence!

"Who can say whether the goods escorted by the escort agency will be safe? Besides, these goods are extremely valuable. If they are robbed, our Su Family business will face grave trouble."

"And I am already betrothed to Jiang Cheng. The Jiang Family is a martial arts family. If the business is handed over to the Jiang Family for escort, then no matter how many people have their eyes on it, the Jiang Family will certainly be able to guarantee the goods' safety."

Su Mulan said coldly.

Su Zhenzhen had already understood.

The Third Branch's true goal was to hand the goods escort business over to the Jiang Family.

Given enough time, the Third Branch would gain a voice in the Su Family's business affairs.

"I know the Zhenyuan Escort Agency. Its chief escort, Li He, is known in the martial world as the Ghost Head Blade and enjoys quite a reputation. With him personally escorting the shipment this time, there should not be any problem."

Su Zhenzhen spoke slowly.

"Is that so? Sister Zhenzhen, if the goods truly are robbed, then your First Branch will hand over the Su Family business from this day onward, and our Third Branch will take over. How about it?"

Su Mulan's words instantly plunged the entire hall into silence.

Su Zhenzhen fixed her gaze tightly on Su Mulan.

Then she shifted her eyes to Su Qianhe and asked coldly, "Qianhe, is this the Third Branch's intention?"

Though Su Qianhe was somewhat intimidated, he still forced himself to answer, "Sister Zhenzhen, Mulan's meaning is the Third Branch's meaning."

"I understand."

Su Zhenzhen turned and took Zhang Chen's hand, saying calmly, "Husband, are you confident?"

"Yes."

"Good. Then I believe in my husband! But how can doing business be child's play? Whether these goods are robbed or not, the Su Family business should still be managed by the First Branch!"

"As for your Third Branch, if you have objections, then swallow them!"

"And Su Mulan, you merely married Jiang Cheng; you did not bring Jiang Cheng into the Su Family. From now on, you are a member of the Jiang Family. Since when does an outsider like you have the right to meddle in my Su Family's affairs?"

As soon as these words were spoken, both Su Qianhe and Su Mulan froze slightly.

Then Su Mulan's face flushed red, her chest heaving violently.

She was furious to the extreme!

Ever since becoming betrothed to Jiang Cheng, she had been fawned over wherever she went. When had she ever heard such blunt scolding?

Just then, two figures entered from outside.

One was Uncle Guan, his body slightly stooped.

The other was a young swordsman dressed in white, a longsword in his hand.

Zhang Chen turned around.

The moment he saw the young swordsman, his eyes widened abruptly.

His usual calm and composed expression vanished in an instant.

A look of excitement appeared on his face.