A wave of discussions and exchanges spread from the council hall, converging into an intense and noisy tide of voices, gradually affecting the small square outside the hall and the surrounding area. Various arguments were being made, following their own narratives and logic. Occasionally, they would spark small debates, although not escalating further, which was rare in the past within the Su family. Search: \(¨Complete¨ Book¨ Divine¨ Station¨) to read high-quality literature for free.

"Fifty thousand taels, ten thousand taels... There's another twenty thousand over there. I've said all along that the eldest branch has been messing around these past few years..."

"I saw it with that batch of red cloth from Raozhou. They kept saying they had no spare money, if it weren't for this..."

"This kind of thing is just messing around. Just watch, after today, who knows how many more problems will arise..."

"I bet there's at least a two hundred thousand tael deficit, maybe even more... I really don't know how they managed to hide it..."

"Second Sister definitely can't keep doing this..."

From the moment Su Tingguang stepped forward to present some of the account books in his possession, to the appearance of the second and third shopkeepers, it was as if something hidden beneath the surface had exploded like a bomb. Similar claims were spreading uncontrollably outside, buzzing with a cacophony of voices. Inside the council hall, members of the eldest, second, and third branches were arguing over the causes of these discrepancies.

In fact, when a family's business operations are divided into three branches, similar situations are not uncommon. If one were to meticulously track the whereabouts of every tael of silver, the funds might not actually represent a large deficit. When the final accounts are tallied at the end of the year, the eldest branch's annual profits and development might not be worse than the second and third branches, which is clear evidence. However, Su Tan'er did sacrifice greater development potential to extract funds for the Imperial Merchant affairs. Now, if there's no possibility of making up for it, once exposed, it will undoubtedly become a very unsightly aspect of the Su family's accounts.

Su Wengui and the others outside the council hall didn't need to consider these nuances. Even if they exaggerated Su Tan'er's deficit to a million taels, it wouldn't cause them any psychological burden. For those inside the council hall, with several shopkeepers from the eldest branch coming forward to confess certain things, it seemed unnecessary to consider matters purely rationally. From Su Tingguang's initial appearance, various claims erupted into a cacophony of arguments.

By this point, the argument continued, but some of the leading figures from each branch had gradually quieted down. Su Zhongkan returned to his seat, resting and drinking tea, while Su Yunfang frowned and discussed matters with Yu Daxian. On the eldest branch's side, Su Yunsong had also gradually realized the irreversibility of certain events. He had initially argued over the accounts for a while, but later realized that arguing further was probably useless.

Some things had become apparent amidst the still-noisy argument. Regardless of the argument's outcome, what was presented to the elders above was the fact that the eldest branch was no longer favored, and people's hearts were turning against it. If it were someone else, there might still be a chance, but as a woman, Su Tan'er's status couldn't withstand such a failure. This matter was unrelated to right or wrong.

The target of the attacks, Su Tan'er, could only sit quietly beside her father, occasionally looking up to observe everything.

After finishing his tea, Su Zhongkan stood up and attempted to mediate between the arguing parties in the hall, but then returned to his seat. The argument appeared to remain intense, with some members of the eldest branch, who knew they would inevitably lose power if this matter fell through, continuing to argue, while many people from the second and third branches eagerly joined in. Su Zhongkan wasn't really trying to mediate, but the arranged events had already unfolded sufficiently. After a while, the arguments below would subside, and it would be time for the elders above, and even the family head, his father, to reach that inevitable conclusion.

From the start of this meeting, his father's mood hadn't been high. The Seventh Uncle was acting as his spokesperson, while he simply watched, only occasionally becoming serious. He understood the reason for this. His second niece was capable, and his father had put a lot of effort into her. Moreover, the old man had always hoped for the family's well-being. The sudden trouble with the eldest branch, and even its division, would naturally cause him disappointment and loss.

But no matter what, Father, when these things are presented before you, there's ultimately no other way. My and Yunfang's actions weren't aggressive, but merely a natural consequence. Tan'er has truly suffered a great defeat this time, and Big Brother has also caused this kind of trouble... You should ultimately be able to understand, right...

For the past two months, events had finally developed to today, and the situation was now clear. His father should be able to accept everything. Su Zhongkan sighed inwardly, waiting for the passing of the final quarter of an hour or half an hour. He looked at Su Yunfang on the side, and his Third Brother smiled and shrugged silently. After a moment, Su Zhongkan noticed a small change above amidst the noisy argument...

Su Chonghua was somewhat bored, which was why he might have been the first to notice some of the changes among the clan elders above.

From the moment Su Tingguang came out, the hall below had been a chaotic mess. The elders above hadn't intervened, but they had been frowning and occasionally whispering to each other. This was perfectly normal. While the hall below argued, the elders above were summarizing and synthesizing the situation. The two elders beside Su Yu were the family's Second and Fourth Uncles. Occasionally, the usually quiet Second Uncle would frown and talk to Su Yu, presumably worrying about the family. Su Yu would occasionally reply with a word or two, but his gaze was fixed on the chaos below, without much intention of expressing an opinion.

This elder was still the center of the entire family. Even in a coup, everyone had to give him a process to prepare him psychologically. Everything displayed here today was, in fact, to force the elders, and ultimately him, to prepare to summarize and state their positions.

Because he had been so calm, a small action was almost overlooked in this intense and chaotic scene. At one moment, as Second Uncle leaned over to speak quietly, Su Yu also turned his head to respond with a few words. Then, he took out several sheets of paper from his sleeve and handed them to the elder beside him.

This was perhaps the first time Su Yu had made some kind of clear, purposeful statement since the meeting had begun. Of course, everyone below was still focused on arguing and hadn't noticed this. They all knew that the more clearly they argued, the more it would help the people above summarize the results. Su Chonghua didn't feel much curiosity about the papers at first, but after a moment, he noticed the change in the elder's expression as he read them.

Su Yu's older brother frowned as he read the first page. He looked at Su Yu, and after turning a page, he said something to Su Yu again, then continued to read, his expression becoming more serious as he read further.

Perhaps... that's Third Uncle's draft decision... Su Chonghua thought. But the situation that followed was slightly different.

The surrounding elders began to notice the papers, and others came over. Then, they seemed to be asking Su Yu about something with concern. Su Yu also turned his head and answered a few words. Then, one, two, three, the clan elders no longer seemed to care about the argument below, and began to discuss the papers above.

When Su Zhongkan noticed it, the entire situation had changed in this way. The papers had attracted the attention of the elders around Su Yu. Several people sitting nearby had also noticed the situation, came over to take a look, and then revealed expressions of surprise.

Su Yu looked at the hall below, letting his clan brothers discuss. The argument below, in a slight moment of astonishment, began to weaken.

Soon after, the argument below gradually subsided. The discussion above continued. One or two elders, after looking at the papers, turned their gazes to the hall below, with very complicated expressions. Su Zhongkan looked at Su Yunfang, not understanding the meaning of the suddenly appearing papers. He looked again at Su Tan'er, whose father, Su Boyong, still weak after his injury, remained silent with his head bowed. Su Tan'er was still sitting quietly, unreadable. At that moment, the sound of a cane hitting the ground finally rang out above.

As the family head, Su Yu, who had watched everything from beginning to end, finally rose from his seat. After sitting for so long, he seemed somewhat tired, and his gaze swept over the entire room.

"Everyone... finished arguing, right? I've heard enough." The old man slowly walked towards the hall. After the council hall fell silent, the arguments outside gradually subsided as well. Su Wengui and the others peered in from the doorway, waiting for the outcome of events.

"In the past four months, our Su family has experienced many things, both external troubles, and after external troubles, internal worries." He sighed, and began to speak slowly, one sentence at a time. "I'm old, and sometimes I feel a bit powerless. I had a general sense of this since Boyong's assassination."

"Over the past four months, everyone has been clear about the Su family's problems. Everyone came back from various places today to solve these problems. Some people have also told me, old brother, I know you're reluctant, but some decisions ultimately have to be made. I actually know..."

Noticing his father's tone, Su Zhongkan and Su Yunfang relaxed. Ah, things were almost settled...

"A few years ago, I was already thinking about these things. The situation in our Su family is a bit strange. Among the three branches, the children are capable of maintaining the status quo, but lack the ability to expand. Perhaps it's the way our Su family teaches. A few years ago, the one who seemed to have the most ideas and potential was a girl. I was very hesitant a few years ago, but I thought that when I'm gone, and Boyong and Zhongkan are managing the family, it's always good to have someone capable. Tan'er has also suffered, so I let her try..."

The old man paused, "However, women ultimately can't gain advantages in business. What others can do with one effort, you have to spend three. Because of this, Tan'er's marriage was delayed, and there were various rumors outside... Anyway, these things have always worried me. If Boyong retires one day, can a girl really manage so much business? Everyone doesn't really have much confidence..."

"Tan'er has very high aspirations. Everyone has seen how the businesses she manages have been doing these past few years, but she's still too young. Especially after Boyong had these problems, I've been thinking about what everyone has told me. At this time, can she still manage these things? When Boyong retires, can she still have the ability and prestige, can she give everyone this confidence? Today... I'm going to make this decision..."

The old man closed his eyes, and everyone inside and outside the council hall waited. When he opened his eyes, he looked back, "Tan'er, you should also prepare." Su Tan'er nodded, leaned over to take a small box from the wheelchair behind her father, and began to walk out. The old man turned back, walking back to his seat, his cane tapping on the ground.

"From today onwards, everything originally managed under Boyong, the businesses and accounts of various states," he said, "all of it, will be managed by his eldest daughter, Su Tan'er."

Su Yunfang stood up. Su Zhongkan hesitated for a moment, then also stood up. The surrounding erupted in murmurs. Su Yunsong widened his eyes in his seat. On the second branch's side, Su Chonghua was stunned, but something began to well up from the bottom of his heart. Some images were played out repeatedly: a little girl, Xuan paper, a poem.

"Mountain Chief Uncle, that's mine."

"The teacher exchanged it with Little Seven."

Bamboo staff and straw sandals are better than a horse, who's afraid!

The chilling spring breeze wakes me from my wine, slightly cold, but the mountain's slanted sun welcomes me...

... *Ding Feng Bo*.

Ahead, Su Tan'er opened the small box on the table in front of the clan elders, taking out items one by one: papers, silver notes, contracts. She bowed to the elders in front of her, then turned around, her quiet gaze looking at everyone here. Some people inside and outside the council hall were involuntarily deterred by the gaze of this figure, no longer astonished and arguing, but wanting to see what she was going to say.

"Everything you want to see is here," she said, "This is just the first batch."

******************

"You... no, Tan'er... did you anticipate today's events?"

The courtyard was still somewhat quiet, and the voices inside and outside the council hall could be heard from afar. In the gazebo, Ning Yi finished eating the peanuts and felt somewhat bored. Su Danhong was in a state of confusion and complex emotions. Throughout the process, some of the things Ning Yi had said to her were strange, as if he had anticipated the current situation and even made arrangements. Today's events seemed to have some turning point hidden within them. However, Ning Yi didn't seem willing to explain clearly, so she had to run back and forth, occasionally checking on the arguments in the council hall, and then, becoming anxious, she couldn't help but return for a moment.

"Always so anxious. This is because subconsciously, you don't believe Tan'er can turn things around, because she's a woman. Those shopkeepers, like Uncle Tingguang, also think that way. There may not be any malice, but..."

"Tan'er is a girl, and that's how others see her. I care about her, so I naturally think that way too..."

"But there's no way around it. You must make them stop thinking that way. There's no logic to it. Even if she's a woman, having this authority, she must make people abandon that idea, and make people feel that even if she's a woman, she has abilities that are by no means inferior to men. If you can't make people forget that she's a woman, you must make people remember something more profound... Listen, there's no sound over there."

Then, a wave of exclamations was heard again.

"This time, they will definitely remember it very deeply," Ning Yi laughed.

"What... what's going on..."

"More than... four hundred and seventy thousand taels of silver notes, over twenty land deeds, real estate, shop transfer contracts, business contracts, probably five types of fabric formulas. I'm not very clear about the rest, but... these things can temporarily shut everyone up..."

Ning Yi swept the peanut shells off his body and stood up. "Let's go, let's go see the turnaround."

"You, you, you, what are you talking about? What... silver notes, land deeds... Hey..."

******************

"This... impossible!"

Su Zhongkan shook his head, checking the silver notes and contracts on the table. As for the weaving formulas, Su Tan'er had put them in her sleeves to prevent anyone from seeing them. "Where could you have gotten these? No, this land is... how could it be this land?"

"Grandfather," Tan'er said to the front. Su Yu took the papers he had initially brought out and handed them to her. Su Tan'er placed the drafts on the table. "Second Uncle, Third Uncle, and everyone else, take a look yourselves. This... is a contract signed by Wu Chenghou. Everything is on it. What's ultimately being given is more than just what's on the table."

Su Zhongkan and the others flipped through them. Above, Seventh Uncle frowned and asked, "The Wu family clearly... how could he give these to you?"

"How much will the Wu family have left this way!" someone said in the crowd.

"There's no way such a thing could happen..."

"But the Wu family's cloth faded!"

"The Wu family clearly... ah..."

Everyone was stunned. Su Yunfang looked up at his niece. "What did you say?"

Su Tan'er smiled. "The Wu family's cloth faded. If he doesn't come begging me, what other choice does he have?"

"The Wu family's cloth..." Su Yunfang thought for a moment, his eyes darting around. "The Imperial Merchant's cloth? Faded?"

"Yes."

Silence fell. Everyone thought about this sudden turn of events, looking at the woman in front of them, who, when she smiled, even seemed a bit naive. After all, she was only nineteen years old, and her smile was sincere and interesting.

"So, more than four months ago, you already..."

"The Wu family stole a fake formula?"

"The real formula is with you?"

"You've been pretending these past few months? Waiting for the yellow cloth to fade?"

A wave of exclamations sounded. Su Tan'er smiled noncommittally. After a moment, everyone inside and outside the council hall could outline the entire picture. Above, Su Yu sighed.

"Now, everyone doesn't need to question the results of the Imperial Merchant... Four months ago, when Boyong was assassinated and Tan'er also fell ill, the eldest branch decided on this idea, taking a risk. At that time... I also knew about it."

"This matter needed to be kept strictly confidential. Success was not easy, and many people put in effort. Everyone was kept in the dark... I also know that everyone cares about the Su family, and it's all out of sincerity. Actually, if the Su family's situation hadn't reached this point, this matter should have been revealed only after everything was finalized..."

Su Yu stood up, telling everyone about the process over the past four months, then talking about the difficulty of this matter succeeding, the subtlety of the layout, and the grasp and manipulation of people's hearts. "...After this matter, I finally know that the two moles in our Su family are, first, Qi Guangzu! Second, it's Han Qi, who is now managing the warehouse on Shengxing Street! He has now been placed under surveillance and will be handed over to the authorities for investigation tomorrow!"

Everyone was still lost in the astonishment of this reversal. Only when the old man suddenly shouted out the names of the two moles did some people wake up and look at Su Tan'er. This time, not only was the Wu family played like this, but the second and third branches of the family had suffered losses. She had even uncovered the moles in the family in one go.

Beside, Su Tingguang and the others, who had been persuaded by Su Zhongkan and Su Yunfang to come forward, still looked flustered at this time, their eyes darting around without a place to settle.

"This matter, the difficulty of its operation, the amount of profit, everyone can see it clearly. Outside, the Xue family, the Lu family, the Chen family, and so on, who have been watching our Su family, were completely out of the loop. The success of this matter is inseparable from the united efforts of everyone in our Su family." This was platitude.

"Tan'er's control and operation of the overall situation." This was naturally true.

"And most importantly..." the old man paused, "Li Heng's, strategic planning."

This name finally came out. Su Zhongkan raised his head and looked at his father, thinking he had misspoken. Su Yunfang, Su Yunsong, and the others had widened their eyes. Su Chonghua leaned back in his chair. Beside the table, Su Tan'er, who had been smiling slightly, was also stunned. The expression froze on her face. The woman turned her head, looking at her grandfather in the side rear with some astonishment. Su Yu smiled at her, his gaze unwavering.

"Tan'er, you have a good husband. Brother Zian... has a good grandson."

Grandfather...

********************

Su Danhong and Ning Yi went around the small road and came over from there. When they were close to the small square, they finally felt a certain atmosphere.

Ning Yi didn't walk fast, looking at the groups of people as he walked. Most of the people gathered at the entrance of the council hall. Their expressions, the talking inside, couldn't be heard clearly, but it could be guessed. It had to be said that at this time, it looked quite interesting.

Just as he began to approach, the sound of exclamations began to spread. Some people began to turn their heads and look at him. Some people were discussing, some people were pointing, including Su Wengui and the others, looking at him with a shocked expression as if they had seen a ghost. More and more people were looking over. They were all Su family relatives, but it was certain that their gazes were on him, not on Su Danhong beside him.

He stopped, his eyes turning, pursing his lips.

He didn't particularly like to see these onlookers' expressions, because it felt like there were too many of them.

Su Danhong looked at the crowd, then turned to look at him. "Wh-what's wrong?"

"Looks like I shouldn't be walking with you. It has a bad influence..." Ning Yi shook his head, turned around and walked as smoothly as possible to a quiet corner.

Ah, let's hide for a bit.

Only Su Danhong was left standing there, looking at herself with suspicion, looking at others... (To be continued, if you want to know what happens next, please log in, there are more chapters, support the author, support genuine reading!)

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