Conflict of the Su Family!

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

"Also, how has my eldest brother been faring during his year at the Su Family?"

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 Eldest Young Master's situation in the First Branch is quite good. He and the Young Mistress are very affectionate, and since the First Branch Master has been in poor health these past few years, he has basically handed all the First Branch's business over to the Young Mistress."

"On the surface, the Young Mistress is in charge, but in reality, she follows the Eldest Young Master's lead in almost everything. The business of the Su Family's First Branch is essentially managed by him. Moreover, over this past year, he has kept the business running in perfect order."

"However, the more outstanding the Eldest Young Master becomes, the more dissatisfied the other two branches of the Su Family become. The Su Family has three branches in total, with the First Branch holding the dominant power. The Second Branch has few members and no standout figures, so they have long been marginalized within the family."

"The problem lies with the Third Branch. The First Branch only has the Young Mistress as an only daughter; originally, once the First Branch Master passed away, the Su Family's business would have fallen to the Third Branch. But the Eldest Young Master married into the family, and crucially, he has performed well. This is equivalent to snatching away the Third Branch's opportunity to take control of the Su Family, which is why the Third Branch targets him at every turn."

Uncle Guan explained it very clearly.

Zhang Su understood immediately.

The current Su Family is defined by the conflict between the Third Branch and the First Branch.

The Third Branch wants to control the Su Family's business, and since the First Branch had few members and only an only daughter, the Third Branch had a real chance.

As a result, his eldest brother married into the First Branch, causing the Third Branch's hopes to fall through.

Wouldn't the people of the Third Branch hate his eldest brother to death for that?

No wonder the Second Young Lady of the Third Branch had shown such intense hostility when she saw Zhang Su outside the main gate earlier.

Now, everything was clear to Zhang Su.

This was actually quite different from what Zhang Su had imagined.

He had thought his eldest brother was enduring humiliation and suffering in the Su Family, feeling stifled and unappreciated.

He hadn't expected that to be the case at all.

His sister-in-law, "doting on her husband," had proactively ceded the power of the First Branch to his eldest brother.

His eldest brother was also quite capable.

He now effectively led the business of the First Branch and was its actual controller.

His word was law within the First Branch.

This situation was actually quite good.

The only trouble, perhaps, was the antagonism from the Third Branch.

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

Zhang Su asked.

Even though they were in the Su Family, even if his eldest brother and the people from the Third Branch got into a fight, nothing too serious should happen.

But Zhang Su still wanted to see for himself.

After all, hearing is believing, but seeing is reality.

He would know exactly how his eldest brother was faring in the Su Family once he took a look.

"This..."

Uncle Guan thought for a moment, then finally nodded and said: "The Second Young Master is an Outer Sect disciple of the Guiyuan Sect; that status carries weight, so perhaps you can even help the Eldest Young Master. Please follow me, Second Young Master..."

Zhang Su nodded.

And so, his younger sister Zhang Lingyi remained in the courtyard.

Zhang Su and Uncle Guan headed toward the Su Family's council hall together.

In the Su Family council hall.

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

Su Qianhe's face was gloomy.

Although Zhang Chen's clothes were slightly disheveled, he was generally unharmed and still maintained his graceful, dashing demeanor.

He looked just like a refined scholar.

How could he look like a man who had married into a family?

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

Just then, an angry voice came from outside the hall.

Su Zhenzhen stormed in aggressively.

She was followed by a group of servants and guards.

The moment he saw Su Zhenzhen arrive, the arrogant expression Su Qianhe had just been wearing withered away instantly.

His eyes darted around nervously.

"Sister Zhen, it's Zhang Chen who went too far..."

Su Qianhe tried to defend himself.

"Hmm? What did you call your brother-in-law?"

In front of Zhang Chen, Su Zhenzhen was always gentle and lovely, but in front of the others in the Su Family, she radiated an imposing aura—she was the true eldest daughter of the Su Family!

Before she was married, Su Zhenzhen was known as the "female strategist" of the Su Family.

In reality, many of the decisions made by the head of the household were actually devised by Su Zhenzhen from behind the scenes.

If not for the fact that Su Zhenzhen was a woman, unable to step forward to support the Su Family openly, the third branch would never have dared to harbor such ambitions.

Su Qianhe had been afraid of Su Zhenzhen since he was a child.

The Su Zhenzhen of the past was the "big sister" of the Su Family, possessing immense authority.

Su Qianhe swallowed hard and said cautiously, "It... it's just that brother-in-law went too far."

Hearing the term "brother-in-law," Su Zhenzhen's expression softened slightly.

She hurried forward, took Zhang Chen's hand, and asked in a low voice, "Husband, are you alright? If Su Qianhe dared to hit you, I would break his legs!"

The hall fell silent for a moment.

You could hear a pin drop.

In the entire Su Family, who didn't know that Su Zhenzhen was a "husband-doting maniac"? If any harm came to Zhang Chen, Su Zhenzhen would surely explode.

Zhang Chen smiled slightly and said, "I'm fine. Qianhe didn't hit me just now; it was just a conflict between the servants, nothing to worry about. Besides, it was just a disagreement over business, nothing major."

Su Zhenzhen's expression eased further.

She turned around and stared coldly at Su Qianhe: "Qianhe, tell me, what exactly are you arguing with your brother-in-law about?"

Su Qianhe's eyes flickered, but he remained silent for a long time.

However, the second young lady of the third branch, Su Mulan, could no longer sit still.

She immediately spoke up: "Sister Zhen, you were recovering from childbirth and didn't know about the business affairs. Over the past month, our Su Family business has suffered great trouble."

"I don't know what's going on, but our transport teams have been attacked several times in a row this month, leading to lost goods and heavy losses. Shouldn't someone be held accountable for these losses?"

Su Zhenzhen frowned.

At this moment, Zhang Chen spoke up: "It's fine. I was prepared this time, using the strategy of 'openly repairing the plank road while secretly crossing the Chencang.' The cargo transport was divided into three routes: one guarded by the usual Su Family guards, one by water, and the final one entrusted to the Zhenyuan Escort Agency."

"This time, it should be foolproof."

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

"Hmph, Sister Zhen, the third branch just received news. Take a look for yourself. The Su Family guards and the water transport goods have all been robbed."

Su Zhenzhen took the intelligence report.

Sure enough, it stated that the goods on the water route and the supplies escorted by the guards had all been seized.

"Husband, this..."

Su Zhenzhen was also somewhat hesitant.

"Zhenzhen, don't worry. Whether it's the water route or the guard escort, they were actually just empty shells. The real cargo was not on those two routes."

"In fact, because those two routes were robbed, it only confirms my suspicion that someone is targeting our Su Family!"

Zhang Chen said calmly.

His tone was full of confidence.

Although he did not know martial arts, he came from a scholarly family and had been reading books since he was a child.

He had been managing the Su Family business for a year, and everything had been in perfect order without any trouble.

He had that kind of confidence!

"Who knows if the goods escorted by the escort agency will meet with disaster? Besides, the cargo this time is so valuable; if it gets robbed, our Su Family business will be in big trouble."

"I have already become betrothed to Jiang Cheng, and the Jiang Family is a martial arts family. If we hand the business over to the Jiang Family for escort, even if many people are watching, the Jiang Family will definitely be able to ensure the safety of the goods."

Su Mulan said coldly.

Su Zhenzhen understood now.

The third branch's true goal was to hand over the escort business to the Jiang Family.

Given enough time, the third branch would be able to seize the right to speak in the Su Family business.

"I know the Zhenyuan Escort Agency. Its head, Li He, is known in the martial arts world as the 'Ghost Head Blade' and is quite famous. With him personally escorting the goods this time, there shouldn't be any problems."

Su Zhenzhen spoke slowly.

"Is that so? Sister Zhen, if the goods are truly robbed, then your first branch will hand over the Su Family business from now on and let our third branch take over, how about that?"

Su Mulan's words made the entire hall go quiet at once.

Su Zhenzhen's eyes were fixed tightly on Su Mulan.

Then, she shifted her gaze to Su Qianhe and asked in a cold voice, "Qianhe, is this the intention of your third branch?"

Although Su Qianhe felt a bit apprehensive, he still braced himself and replied, "Sister Zhen, Mulan's stance is the stance of our Third Branch."

"I understand."

Su Zhenzhen turned around, took Zhang Chen's hand, and said in a calm tone, "Husband, do you have confidence?"

"I do."

"Very well, I believe in you, Husband! However, business is no child's play. Regardless of whether the goods were hijacked this time or not, the Su Family business should be managed by the First Branch!"

"As for your Third Branch, if you have any objections, keep them to yourselves!"

"And Su Mulan, you are merely marrying into the Jiang Family, not bringing Jiang Cheng into ours. You will be a member of the Jiang Family from now on; since when does an outsider get to interfere in the affairs of the Su Family?"

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

Immediately, Su Mulan's face flushed red, and her chest heaved up and down.

That was anger pushed to the extreme!

Ever since she became betrothed to Jiang Cheng, she had been pampered wherever she went; when had she ever heard such a blunt reprimand?

Just then, two figures walked in from outside.

One was Uncle Guan, whose frame was somewhat hunched.

The other was a young swordsman dressed in white, holding a long sword.

Zhang Chen turned around.

When he saw the figure of that young swordsman, his eyes widened abruptly.

His usual calm and composed expression vanished in an instant.

A look of excitement appeared on his face.