Yu Qing frowned, "Xiao Li, what do you mean?"
Li Chonglou replied, "Sister Qing, Xiao Ke is not only my employee but also my friend. Her affairs are my affairs."
He said this with a sincere smile, but Yu Qing was clearly an old hand who had seen it all.
"Are you just friends to this extent? Xiao Li, you two don't have any secrets, do you?"
Li Chonglou's heart skipped a beat, almost revealing himself!
Fortunately, his emotional control was strong enough. At the crucial moment, he suppressed his emotions and smiled calmly, "Sister Qing is joking. I'm already married. How could I have any secrets? If my wife heard this, she'd misunderstand."
Yu Qing's face showed surprise, "Xiao Li, you're already married?"
Li Chonglou nodded with a smile, "Yes, I love my wife very much."
Yu Qing also nodded, "Calling her 'wife' sounds like it's true."
"Since that's the case, there's no harm in telling you. However, I hope you can keep it confidential. This is a family matter, as you know."
Although Yu Qing's expression was slightly serious, she clearly didn't take Li Chonglou's words too seriously, just trying her luck.
"Don't worry, Sister Qing, I'll keep it a secret."
Then Yu Qing explained the general situation of the Yu family.
The Yu family's problems were more serious than Li Chonglou had imagined. He initially thought it was an obstruction in their economic business, but after hearing Yu Qing's words, he realized.
There was actually internal division within the Yu family!
There were three elders in the older generation of the Yu family, excluding the family head. These three held the greatest power.
These three were also the father figures of Yu Ke. Among them, Yu Ke and Yu Qing's father were the Third Master. There were also the Second Master and Fourth Master, and the division occurred among these three.
A large family, especially at the level of the Eight Great Families, would naturally have complex internal factions, but no matter how complex, there was always a source.
According to Yu Qing, the strongest faction was naturally the family head's side, the source.
Below the source were the three masters. Regardless of how complex the lower levels were, the top was simple and clear.
The seriousness of the situation lay precisely here.
In a large family, besides the family head, there were three other factions. Although some were stronger than others, the differences were not significant. If a real struggle ensued, it was uncertain who would emerge victorious.
In other words, the current Yu family was like loose sand. Apart from the family head holding steady, everyone below had started internal strife!
Moreover, based on the current situation, since it had already split into four factions, it meant the family head could no longer suppress those below him!
Yu Qing sighed, "The most crucial part is the Elder Council. There are many sub-departments below, big and small, but the real power is held by the Elder Council."
"Whether it's the family or the three masters, they only have a certain degree of say. The struggle is always for the support of those elders."
Hearing this, Li Chonglou understood. It was like a country; no matter how many departments were set up within the government, what truly mattered was gaining the support of the people.
And at this moment, these people, in the Yu family, were the high and mighty elders.
"There are a total of eighteen elders. Seven elders currently support the family head, and it is because of their existence that the Yu family has been able to hold on until now."
"The Second Master has five, and the Fourth Master has four. My father only has one."
Li Chonglou's expression turned blank, "Then who is the last one?"
"That elder has the most say in the Elder Council. However, he is currently neutral. Their current covert struggle is for this elder."
Li Chonglou still didn't understand, "Didn't you say Yu Tianba is your biological brother? Then why does he treat you and Xiao Ke so poorly?"
Logically, since their father only had one elder, these three siblings should have been exceptionally united.
Instead, they acted like sworn enemies, calling each other names.
Yu Qing shook her head, "Him? We've long considered him as if he doesn't exist. My father also considers him a non-existent son. He's just a traitor!"
"Traitor?"
"As soon as the crisis appeared, this guy found my father and wanted him to try and win over more elders so that the Yu family could retain some status after splitting."
"But he only cared about status and enjoyment! He had no idea that anyone involved in this turmoil could face life-threatening danger!"
Li Chonglou understood immediately. No wonder Yu Qing said earlier that their father had only secured one elder. It turned out it wasn't that he couldn't win them over, but that he was unwilling to fight for them!
Wait!
Li Chonglou suddenly thought of something and couldn't help but ask directly, "Sister Qing, if that's the case, was Xiao Ke driven out of the family not because she disagreed with the arranged marriage?"
Yu Qing glanced at him indifferently, "That's part of it. The Second Master's faction did want to arrange a marriage for Xiao Ke, who is the only one not yet married, to gain family investment."
"However, our father's intention was just to use this matter to force Xiao Ke out of the family, so she wouldn't get involved."
Yu Qing sighed again, "Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned. Xiao Ke was eventually called back."
Li Chonglou stood up and paced back and forth with his hands behind his back.
"Sister Qing, according to you, is your family in the most critical situation right now?"
Yu Qing did not hide anything and nodded directly.
"So if I want to help Xiao Ke, I first need to solve your family's problem, and then work my way up?"
Yu Qing's expression froze.
"What did you say? You want to solve all the problems of my entire Yu family?"
Li Chonglou ignored her thoughts and nodded heavily, "When you help someone, help them completely. To cut grass, you must get rid of the roots. Since I'm going to help, I naturally have to solve Xiao Ke's troubles from the source."
"Heh."
Yu Qing didn't reply, but her expression clearly held a hint of amusement.
This was not intentional mockery. Anyone in her position, hearing someone say such things, would react similarly.
Li Chonglou paid no attention to it.
Although the Yu family was a notch above the Hu family, their troubles were not the same. The Hu family's issues were mainly commercial, and Li Chonglou couldn't easily intervene in that regard.
Essentially, all matters had to be handled by Hu Han himself, and he would provide financial assistance if needed.
But the Yu family was different. The Yu family itself had many experts, and many people in the circle were involved in their factional disputes.
In other words, he had more room to operate!
What Li Chonglou didn't fear now was the opponent's influence, but rather his inability to act or his limited room for maneuver.
Thinking this, Li Chonglou stroked his chin, his thoughts suddenly becoming clear.
"Sister Qing, would it be convenient to introduce me to your father?"
Yu Qing's eyes narrowed, "Xiao Li, you're not serious, are you?"