Chapter 39: The Great Four

Jiang Yan made her way downstairs, her footsteps echoing through the quiet halls. As she entered the living room, she saw the old master Jiang and old madam Jiang sitting on the plush sofa, accompanied by Madam Tian and another woman. It was her second aunt, Madam Niu, who had a reputation for being difficult to deal with.

Jiang Yixuan and Jiang Zhihao were nowhere to be seen, but Jiang Yan wasn't surprised. It wasn't uncommon for them to be out and about at this time of the day.

As she looked at her Second aunt, Jiang Yan couldn't help but reflect on the complexities of this family. Old Master Jiang and Old Madam Jiang had three sons and two daughters, each with their own unique personalities and roles in the family business.

Although the Jiang family was wealthy and reputable, the family dynamic was quite messy. While Old Master Jiang had spent his entire life building the family's fortune, the next generation seemed to have taken everything for granted. The eldest son, Jiang Zhirui, was dedicated to philanthropy, while his wife, Deng Lijuan, was the CEO of the Deng Corporation. The second son, Jiang Xinhan, managed a branch of the Huaxin Corporation that dealt with automobiles and manufacturing. However, he seemed to be living in fear of his wife, Niu Lihua, who belong to an ordinary family, but was a very cunning lady.

Jiang Zhijie, the third daughter, was a sharp and clever woman who had grown up in a highly competitive environment with her brothers. She was in charge of the Huaxin Mining Company, while Jiang Zhihao, the fourth son, was in charge of the Huaxin Tech branch. As one of the brilliant programmers behind the new tech branch, Jiang Zhihao was considered an elite mind in the industry. Meanwhile, the youngest sister, Jiang Xinyi, was a famous attorney who handled all the legal affairs for the Huaxin Corporation.

Despite the family's apparent success and their reputation in the business world, the reality was that the siblings were constantly at war with each other. They were all vying for power and control over the family business, and their infighting had caused a great deal of damage to the family's reputation.

In fact, Jiang Zhirui, the eldest son, who appeared to be the least interested in the family business and inheritance was the slyest among all. He, in reality, had maintain a wise gentle image of himself, while he was the mastermind behind the scandal that brought down his younger brother, Jiang Zhihao and broke his family.

Jiang Yan couldn't help but wonder how this family had turned so dysfunctional despite Old Master Jiang attempt to keep them altogether. She felt pity for her grandfather, who at this age had to see his children fighting among themselves for inheritance.

Jiang Yan finally descended the grand staircase, her long dress flowing behind her as she made her way towards the living room. As she entered the room, she saw Old Madam Tian, Madam Nui and her step-mother Madam Tian turning towards her. To be honest, Jiang Yan didn't want to look at them, but she knew that she had to endure it for the sake of her grandfather.

"Hello, Grandfather! Hello, Grandmother," Jiang Yan greeted the old master Jiang warmly, trying to ignore the cold shoulder she was getting from old madam Jiang.

"Yan Yan, my dear granddaughter!" the old master Jiang exclaimed, his eyes lighting up as he saw her. "How have you been?"

"I've been well, thank you," Jiang Yan replied with a smile.

At that moment, Madam Niu stepped forward and called out to Jiang Yan, deliberately trying to provoke Madam Tian, who was most favoured by the Old Master Jiang and Old Madam Jiang.

"Jiang Yan, come here and met me take a look at you," Madam Niu said, her voice laced with malice.

Jiang Yan plastered a forced smile on her face as she greeted her second aunt, Madam Niu. "Hello, Second Aunt. It's good to see you," she said, trying her best to remain polite.

Deep down, Jiang Yan knew that Madam Niu had only called her over to irritate Madam Tian. It was evident from the way Madam Niu had looked at Madam Tian after her remark about Jiang Yan's appearance. Jiang Yan didn't appreciate being used as a pawn in their feud, but she also knew that she had to keep up appearances in front of her family. After all, one cannot slap a smiling face.

Madam Niu's eyes scanned her up and down before commenting, "Oh! Look at you. You have grown so pretty. Just like fourth brother-in-law." Her voice dripped with sarcasm as she looked pointedly at Madam Tian, who stood nearby.

Madam Niu and Madam Tian had never gotten along, despite Madam Niu being the elder in the family. Madam Tian came from a prominent family, whereas Madam Niu's family was considered ordinary. This fact had always been a sore point for Madam Niu, who resented Madam Tian's lack of respect towards her.

Jiang Yan wanted to excuse herself, as she had important work to attend to at her company. But before she could say anything, the old master Jiang asked her about her academic results and in which university she had enrolled.

Jiang Yan's heart sank at the question. She wasn't ready to answer that question yet, especially with Madam Tian and Madam Niu present.

Madam Tian couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction as she watched Jiang Yan hesitate to answer the question about her university enrolment. She knew that their plan to sabotage Jiang Yan's application had worked perfectly.

Madam Tian's brother, Tian Jun, had used his connections to ensure that Jiang Yan's application was removed from the database of the top universities. She had thought that this would be enough to prevent Jiang Yan from being accepted into any of the top universities.

Jiang Yan noticed the faint smile on Madam Tian's lips. She knew that she couldn't reveal that her application has been accepted by the prestigious Imperial University, but she didn't want to lie outright either.

For now, she decided to bide her time and not expose anything more. She didn't want to give Madam Tian any more ammunition to use against her.

" I my results are okay, Grandfather. And as for the university, I'm still considering my options," Jiang Yan replied hesitantly, acting right into Madam Tian's suspicion

Old Master Jiang nodded in understanding but Jiang Yan could tell that he wasn't entirely convinced. He had always been proud of her academic achievements, and he wanted her to do good in her career. Jiang Yan's vague answer had only made him more curious, and she could see that he was about to ask her something else.

Old Madam Jiang, who had been silent till now, finally spoke up with disdain in her voice, "Still considering? Indeed, it's a waste of money to invest in someone who can't even secure a decent university placement. What good is she to the family?"

At that moment, Madam Niu interjected. "Well, Jiang Yan, you better hurry up and make a decision. You don't want to miss out on your chance to get into a good university, do you? After all you are the youngest daughter of fourth brother-in-law. You have to live up-to his name."

Jiang Yan smiled in response. She knew that Madam Niu was deliberately trying to provoke Madam Tian by speaking up her father's name. But these petty tricks were not going to work on her.

"Thank you for your concern, Second Aunt. I will make sure to make the right decision," Jiang Yan replied, with a smirk.

"Grandfather, I'm sorry but I have to go now. I'm meeting an old friend at the cafe," she said, hoping to get away from the tense atmosphere in the living room.

"Alright, take care of yourself, Yan Yan," Old Master Jiang replied with a nod. Jiang Yan quickly made her way out of the room, relief at getting away from that group.

As she walked away, she couldn't help but feel a sense of resentment towards her fate. In the name of family, she had a father who didn't acknowledge her, a stepmother trying to sabotage her, a grandmother who hated her, her relatives using her to defeat the fourth family and a half-sister who was equally mysterious and evil. She couldn't wait to permanently get away from all this drama.

***

The man sat in his lavish office, his tablet resting in his lap as he scrolled through the latest reports on the government's proposed reforms. His subordinates stood before him, nervously reporting their findings and seeking his guidance.

But despite the seriousness of the situation, the man seemed almost ethereal, his handsome features and chiseled physique giving him an almost otherworldly appearance. He exuded a natural confidence and authority, a leader's aura that made it clear he was not to be trifled with.

As his subordinates spoke, the man listened intently, his piercing gaze focused on each speaker in turn. He asked probing questions, seeking to understand the nuances of the situation and the potential impacts of the reforms on his business empire.

But then, something caught his attention. His eyes drifted towards the corner of the room, where Uncle Guan, the family housekeeper, stood with a troubled look on his face. The man's frown deepened, sensing that something was amiss.

"What's the matter, Uncle Guan?" he asked, his tone serious.

Uncle Guan hesitated for a moment before speaking up. He knew that the news he had to share was serious and that it would not be well-received.

"First Master Zhang, I'm sorry to interrupt, but I have some urgent news," he said, his voice trembling slightly.

The man, Zhang Rongxuan, one of the heirs of the Great Four, leaned forward in his chair; his attention now fully focused on Uncle Guan.

"What is it?" he asked, his tone firm and commanding.

Uncle Guan took a deep breath and then spoke. "Third Master Feng is planning to seek revenge against us," he said, his voice low and grave.