Su Family Garden.
A text message from Su Jian sent the entire Su family into a flurry of activity.
Yu Hongzhi also had to rush back from his workplace to attend this important meeting of the Su family's middle generation.
Su Shanshui was visibly displeased when Yu Hongzhi arrived late.
Yu Hongzhi quickly apologized, "I am truly sorry for being late. The company has been very busy lately, and the traffic was also bad..."
Su Shanshui raised his hand, signaling Yu Hongzhi to be silent.
Seeing this, Yu Hongzhi dared not say anything more and sat obediently in the last seat, keeping his mouth shut.
At the same time, he observed the others in the meeting hall, focusing particularly on Su Canghai, the leader of the middle generation. Su Canghai's face was so grim it looked like it could drip water, indicating that the Su family must have encountered a major crisis.
The meeting hall was eerily quiet.
After sipping his tea, Su Shanshui finally spoke, "Little Jian has been targeted by Chen Jinzhao again. Chen Jinzhao is at the villa preparing to take Little Jian back for a DNA test. You should all know how serious the consequences could be."
Everyone present was greatly shaken by this news, including Yu Hongzhi who was greatly surprised.
If this matter was mishandled, the entire Su family, and indeed Jiangnan, would be embroiled in turmoil once more!
It would directly affect the Su family's dominance in the Jiangnan region.
Su Canghai grumbled in a deep voice, "This Chen Jinzhao is going too far. Why is he so persistent in targeting our Su family? I've realized that any trouble our Su family has encountered recently is somehow connected to Chen Jinzhao!"
"He is a harbinger of disaster!"
This statement was met with agreement from everyone.
Someone then suggested, "Old Master, why don't we go to the capital and impeach him? Let the higher authorities re-examine Chen Jinzhao. Chen Jinzhao has been active for less than a year and has already thrown Jiangnan into chaos. Not to mention, look at the Ye family recently. The Ye family, which has been glorious in Jiangnan for half a century, was brought down by Chen Jinzhao!"
"I'm truly afraid that one day Chen Jinzhao will bring down our Su family as well."
Su Shanshui directly rejected the suggestion, saying, "Such foolish talk must not be spoken again. Do you think everyone is as self-interested as you are? Those in power also consider their reputation, both in life and after death. Chen Jinzhao has a legitimate reason this time. If I were to go to the capital to impeach him, it might become the fuse for the Su family's downfall in the future. Don't you understand such a simple principle?"
Times have changed!
The current emperor favoring the Xu Hanchen faction clearly indicated his intention to curb these excesses.
"Then what should we do?" Yu Hongzhi suddenly asked.
Among these people, he was the only live-in son-in-law, and his status was far inferior to the others.
Before Su Shanshui could speak, Su Canghai replied without looking back, "If we knew what to do, why would we have called you back?"
Yu Hongzhi had run afoul of Su Canghai and was berated for no reason. Yu Hongzhi naturally did not dare to retort and obediently shut his mouth. Although he wished to contribute to the Su family, he was looked down upon by them.
He decided to put in only half-hearted effort.
Su Shanshui seemed to be hesitating. After a deep sigh, he said, "I never imagined that the dignified Su family would be trampled underfoot by a mere upstart. If the Old Master were still alive, he would never dare to act like this! Now, it seems we have few options left. It's probably impossible to save Little Jian."
"Father—"
Su Canghai roared.
That was his biological son, and Su Shanshui's grandson.
Could the Su family not even protect their own kin?
Su Shanshui did not speak further. Su Canghai's eyes turned red as he bellowed, "This world was not built by Chen Jinzhao. It was built by my grandfather and others through bullets and bloodshed! He is merely someone reaping the rewards! What right does he have to wield the butcher's knife against the disciples of our Su family!"
The saying that even the emperor is subject to the law is a joke to powerful aristocratic families.
They considered themselves the architects of the rules, existing above the law!
Su Shanshui sighed, "Circumstances have changed."
"You cannot continue to rely on the legacy left by the Old Master to wield power. Only self-strength is fundamental. Little Jian has already walked through the gates of hell once. Living this long is more than enough."
"Cut ties with him."
Su Canghai's spirit instantly deflated.
This provincial governor of Jiangnan seemed to have aged considerably in an instant.
After a long pause, he said, "Cutting ties with Little Jian is not that simple. If the public knew the inside story of this case, their wrath would be poured upon all members of the Su family. We need someone to step forward and draw the fire."
No one spoke. No one was willing to do such a thing.
A hint of sadness welled up in Yu Hongzhi's heart as he sat in the last seat. He knew it was his turn to step up. Rather than wait for Su Shanshui to point him out, it was better to volunteer himself, saving some face.
Yu Hongzhi stood up, drawing everyone's attention.
Su Shanshui feigned ignorance, asking, "Hongzhi, what is this for? Sit down quickly, Canghai did not mean it that way..."
Yu Hongzhi shook his head and said, "What is wrong with sacrificing myself to preserve the entire Su family? As the saying goes, train soldiers for a thousand days and use them for a moment. Now is the time for me to act."
"You, alas..." Su Shanshui sighed.
In reality.
All the middle-generation members of the Su family breathed a sigh of relief. As long as it wasn't them who had to be sacrificed.
Su Canghai suppressed his earlier agitation and said to Yu Hongzhi, "We are sorry to trouble you. You will have to stay in prison for ten years before you can see the light of day again. But rest assured, we will find a way to get you medical parole and then help reduce your sentence."
Yu Hongzhi burst into laughter.
His voice was hearty yet laced with a hint of sarcasm, "Uncle, your words are not quite right!"
"As a proud and upright man, after marrying into the Su family, I have never been looked at properly by anyone. Today, I will do something earth-shattering!"
"It's either Chen Jinzhao's death or mine!"
"Old Master, do you have any wine?"
Everyone was stunned.
Su Shanshui understood Yu Hongzhi's intentions and nodded, then ordered the Maotai wine buried by the Old Master in the backyard to be brought over. He then poured a small cup for everyone, and raising his cup to Yu Hongzhi, said, "Everyone, let us toast Yu Hongzhi with this wine as he embarks on his journey! Regardless of success or failure, Yu Hongzhi will always be a member of my Su family!"
Yu Hongzhi downed a large cup of wine, fueled by the soaring ambition in his chest, "I don't care about being a member of the Su family. I have only one request—"
"Let my child take my surname!"
"I've had enough of being this damned live-in son-in-law! After today, I never want to be the Su family's son-in-law again!"
The Su family members had complex expressions.
Yu Hongzhi, the one they always looked down upon, was the most backbone-filled man among the middle generation, making them feel ashamed.
Su Shanshui's eyes were deep, "Good, I promise you."
Yu Hongzhi threw down the cup and laughed heartily, striding out of the meeting hall with a bold gait, leaving only a tall, resolute figure for the Su family to see.
This was the most satisfying day for Yu Hongzhi since he married into the Su family!
As the ancient poem immortal Li Bai once wrote—
He laughs to the sky and goes out the door, Are we mere commoners?