The ancient war between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in a wealthy family

"Senior Lin, long time no see. Are you free to talk now? I have something to ask you..." Senior Lin on the other end of the phone smiled brightly and said it was no problem. He also asked me to go to Xinghuo Technology Company tomorrow morning to sit and chat.

After hanging up the phone, I felt incredibly refreshed. My understanding of the Zhan Group was bound to deepen! I picked up the proposal for "Zhan Group's Digital Transformation Strategic Cooperation" with a determined gaze. Zhan Yu, I will strive to keep up with your pace and be your strongest support.

The next day, without telling anyone, I quietly arrived at the Zhan Group headquarters. Standing before this majestic, modern building, I felt incredibly insignificant. Taking a deep breath, I stepped through the company's doors.

I went straight to the floor of the digital transformation department I'd seen listed in the business plan. As soon as I reached the door, I was stopped by a pretty young woman in a professional suit.

"Hello, who are you looking for?" she asked politely.

"Hello, I'd like to visit the department." I tried to speak in a relaxed tone.

"Do you have an appointment? Which department? I'll contact them for you." She still maintained a professional smile.

"I don't have an appointment. I'm..." I paused, realizing I should change my identity now. "I'm here to see Director Zhao."

"Director Zhao is not in the office now. Do you have an appointment?" She seemed to see my hesitation and her tone became more formal.

"I'm from the Zhan family..." I was about to bring up my identity as the daughter-in-law of the Zhan family, but she picked up a document from the table, pointed to one of the items and said, "I'm sorry, according to company regulations, non-department employees are not allowed to enter at will. This is to protect company confidentiality. Please understand."

I took a deep breath, suppressed the displeasure in my heart, and said firmly: "I am Zhan Yu's wife. Is it not okay for me to come to my own company to take a look?"

She was stunned for a moment, as if she didn't expect me to say that, but she quickly regained her professional smile, but her tone revealed a subtle change: "Sorry, ma'am, even if you are Mr. Zhan's family member, you need to abide by the company's rules and regulations..." Before she finished speaking, I noticed that the office door opened and a familiar figure walked out. It was Director Zhao who I met at the meeting that day.

"Director Zhao..." I just opened my mouth, but Director Zhao walked straight past me as if he didn't see me.

"Director Zhao!" I raised my voice, walked quickly to him and blocked his way.

Director Zhao had to stop, a hint of impatience flashed across his face, but he still managed a smile and said, "Mrs. Zhan, why are you here? What's the matter?"

"Director Zhao, I would like to visit the department and learn about the company's situation. Is that okay with you?" I tried to make my tone sound polite.

Director Zhao's smile froze for a moment, then returned to normal, but with a hint of contempt in his tone: "Mrs. Zhan, you know that company matters are confidential and not accessible to just anyone. You are Mr. Zhan's wife, so you should understand this."

"I know, I just want to understand the company's situation and share some of the burden for Zhan Yu..." My voice became smaller and smaller, and Director Zhao's attitude made me feel powerless.

"Share the burden?" Director Zhao sounded as if he had heard something funny, his tone full of sarcasm. "Mrs. Zhan, you're a lady from a wealthy family, and you should stay at home to take care of your husband and children. Don't worry about the company's affairs. We old guys will help President Zhan take care of it."

His words were like a sharp blade, piercing my pride. I took a deep breath, suppressed my anger, and said firmly, "Director Zhao, I sincerely want to do something for the company, not to cause trouble."

Director Zhao sneered, his tone even more sarcastic: "You? Do you understand what business operations are? Do you know what digital transformation is? Don't think that just because you marry into the Zhan family, you can tell the company what to do!"

His words were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing the last glimmer of hope in my heart. I felt a deep sense of powerlessness and defeat. Yes, in their eyes, I was just an ignorant woman who married into a wealthy family through a family alliance.

I turned and left the company, feeling aggrieved and angry. I wanted to share the burden with Zhan Yu and prove my ability, but they ruthlessly rejected and mocked me.

After returning home, Zhan Yu still hadn't returned. I sat alone in the empty living room, thinking back to Director Zhao's words, feeling a mixture of emotions.

"Madam, you're back. The master has an appointment tonight and may be back late." The housekeeper came over and said softly.

I nodded without saying anything. The housekeeper brought me a cup of hot tea and asked with concern, "Madam, are you okay? You don't look well."

"I'm fine, just a little tired." I forced a smile, not wanting to worry the housekeeper.

After the housekeeper left, I sat alone on the sofa, watching the sky darken outside the window, feeling even more lost. I'd been here for several days, but I still couldn't fit in with Zhan Yu's life. He was busy with family affairs and company business, and had no time to listen to my grievances and confusion.

I picked up my phone, hoping to find someone to talk to, but found my address book empty. Apart from my family, there were only a few acquaintances. I suddenly realized that I was trapped in a gorgeous cage, lonely and helpless.

I put down my phone, walked to my desk, opened a drawer, and pulled out the proposal for "Zhan Group's Digital Transformation Strategic Cooperation." Since they won't give me a chance, I'll figure it out myself! I just can't believe I, a modern woman, can't run a company!

I opened the business plan, looked determined, and began to study it carefully.

I flipped through the business plan, bewildered by the many technical terms and industry realities. Director Zhao's words, while harsh, pointed out my shortcomings. I couldn't just give up. I had to prove to him that I wasn't just Mrs. Zhan, I could also be a force for Zhan Yu!

I decided to start from the outside, first understanding the overall situation of the Zhan Group. I began following financial news, collecting public information, and studying their financial statements and market share. I also secretly observed company employees, trying to glean useful information from their conversations.

One day, I pretended to be passing by the tea room and heard a few employees discussing the company's latest project. I was moved and slowed down my pace to listen more clearly.

"I heard that Director Wang is in charge of this digital transformation project. He is a tough guy!" said a young female employee.

"That's right. I heard that he only trusts his own people and is very hostile to parachuted-in management." Another employee echoed.

I was delighted. It looked like Director Wang was the key to a breakthrough! I was about to step forward to get more information when one of the employees said, "Shh, shut up! The walls might be listening!"

I had no choice but to give up, but I already had a plan in mind. I went to Secretary Zhang and asked him indirectly about Director Wang's preferences and habits, hoping to please him and get close to him.

"Director Wang, he likes to drink Biluochun and collect antique watches. He is a rather old-fashioned person and doesn't like young people to be too ostentatious..." Secretary Zhang said while secretly looking at my face.

I feigned indifference while silently taking note of this information. It seemed I needed to prepare myself before approaching Director Wang.

That evening, I was busy sorting through the information I'd gathered from various sources when my mother-in-law suddenly appeared at the door of my study. She looked at me coldly, her tone filled with disdain: "What? Are you still working on company matters? I've always told you that you should focus on your family and not try to interfere in the Zhan family's business!"

I put down the documents in my hand, looked up at my mother-in-law, and said calmly: "Mom, I just want to share some of the burden for Zhan Yu..."

"Share the burden? Do you know what sharing means?" Mother-in-law interrupted me, her tone even more pointed. "You just need to do your duty well, take good care of Zhanyu's daily life, and give him a son to carry on the family line. That's your greatest contribution!"

I took a deep breath, suppressed the anger in my heart, and said calmly: "Mom, times have changed. Women are no longer just appendages of men. We can also have our own careers and our own pursuits."

"Pursue? What do you want to pursue?" The mother-in-law sneered, "Don't forget, everything you have now was given to you by the Zhan family!"

I stood up, looked directly into my mother-in-law's eyes, and said word by word: "I know, but I believe that I can also create value for the Zhan family through my own efforts!"

My mother-in-law wanted to say something, but I didn't give her another chance and turned and left the study. I returned to my room, locked the door, took out my phone, and dialed a number...

A cheerful female voice came from the other end of the line: "Hello? Miss Bai? Why did you think of calling me? Did that kid from the Zhan family bully you?"

"How could that be? If he dared to bully me, I would have..." I paused, swallowed the rest of the words, and said, "Look, I need you to do me a favor..."

After hanging up the phone, I breathed a sigh of relief. My mother-in-law's words, while harsh, were not without merit. I was new to the company and unfamiliar with the Zhan family, so it was indeed inappropriate for me to rashly interfere in its affairs. But the unyielding spirit within me only grew stronger. I was determined to prove to everyone that I, the daughter of the Bai family, was not destined to live solely on the strength of a man!

The next day, I woke up early and personally prepared breakfast for Zhan Yu. He seemed a little surprised, but a relieved smile spread across his face. While he was eating, I casually mentioned the company's recent project and expressed my concerns.

"What? Are you worried that I can't handle it?" Zhan Yu put down the coffee cup in his hand and looked at me with a smile.

"No, I just feel..." I pretended to be hesitant to speak.

Zhan Yu took the bait, lowered his guard, and began chatting with me about the company's recent situation. Although he didn't reveal too much confidential information, his words still revealed his dissatisfaction with Director Wang.

"Director Wang is too rigid and doesn't know how to adapt." Zhan Yu frowned slightly. "I've wanted to replace him for a long time, but because he's a veteran of the company, it's not easy to move him."

My heart skipped a beat. This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! "Actually, Director Wang isn't completely useless..." I feigned hesitation. "He's just cautious and afraid of the risks that come with reform. If someone could allay his concerns, perhaps he'd change his mind."

Zhan Yu glanced at me and seemed to understand what I meant. "You mean..."

I smiled faintly, saying nothing, and handed him the materials I'd compiled last night. They detailed the pros and cons of the digital transformation project and proposed solutions to Director Wang's concerns.

Zhan Yu carefully looked through the documents, his expression gradually becoming serious. I knew that my plan had succeeded in the first step.

Over the next few days, I continued to inquire about Director Wang indirectly and carefully prepared a gift based on his preferences. Finally, the opportunity came! Secretary Zhang told me that Director Wang was going to visit a project out of town next week and needed someone to accompany him.

"Can I go?" I almost blurted out.

Secretary Zhang looked at me with some embarrassment: "But, Director Wang..."

"Don't worry, I'll convince him," I said confidently. I knew that if I could seize this opportunity, I could completely open the door to the core department of the Zhan family enterprise...

On Monday afternoon, I arrived downstairs at the company building at the appointed time, but surprisingly, Director Wang wasn't there. Just as I was puzzled, a black sedan slowly drove up and stopped in front of me. The window slowly rolled down, and a strange man poked his head out and said in a cold voice, "Miss Bai, please get in."