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

I knocked on the study door with trepidation. It swung open, and my mother-in-law sat solemnly behind her mahogany desk, glaring at me fiercely. I took a deep breath, telling myself to remain calm. Yesterday's fury hadn't subsided yet, and I feared a new storm was brewing today.

My mother-in-law didn't beat around the bush and directly handed me a document. "This is the company's financial statements for the past five years. Take it back and take a good look at it. I'm going to test you in a week."

I took the document, groaning inwardly. I'd expected my mother-in-law to seize on the situation and give me a stern lecture, but instead she asked me to review the financial statements. Was she trying to teach me how to run the family business? I suppressed my doubts and respectfully exited the study.

I took the documents and headed straight for the study, intending to ask Zhan Yu to help me solve my doubts, but I ran into Director Zhao from my second uncle's family in the corridor. Director Zhao was Zhan Yu's second uncle and had always been dissatisfied with Zhan Yu's management of the family business. Overtly and covertly, he had been trying to make things difficult for Zhan Yu over the years.

"Hey, isn't this our new young lady? Why, are you interested in the company's affairs?" Director Zhao asked with a forced smile, his eyes full of contempt.

I didn't want to waste time talking to him, so I just replied calmly, "Just take a look."

"You can't just look at it. You have to study it seriously. This concerns the future of the Zhan family." Director Zhao said, then he took my arm and took me to his office. "Come here, I have some information here. You must take a good look at it."

He dragged me into his office, feeling a bit annoyed, but unable to get angry. Director Zhao showed me some company charters, rules, and regulations. I skimmed through a few pages before losing interest. These were irrelevant documents that offered no insight into the company's true operations.

I was about to find an excuse to leave when I noticed that Butler Li had been standing guard at the office door, his eyes flickering, as if monitoring my every move. A nameless fire suddenly rose in my heart. Why do people from the Zhan family like to spy on others?

"Director Zhao, I have something else to do, so I'll leave first." I suppressed the anger in my heart and stood up to say goodbye.

"Okay, you go ahead and do your thing. Come visit me often when you have time." Director Zhao said with a smile, but a hint of cunning flashed in his eyes.

As I walked out of the office, Butler Li immediately followed me, following me closely, making me feel very uncomfortable. I quickened my pace, trying to get rid of him, but he followed me closely like a shadow.

I finally couldn't stand it anymore, stopped, turned around and asked coldly, "Butler Li, why are you following me?"

Steward Li was startled by my sudden questioning and stammered, "I... I was just passing by..."

"Just passing by?" I sneered, "Which eye of yours saw that I needed you to 'pass by'?"

Butler Li was speechless, his head lowered, not daring to speak. I didn't bother to pay any more attention to him, so I turned and headed straight for the secretary's office. Secretary Zhang was Zhan Yu's secretary, efficient and honest. Perhaps she could tell me some useful information... I knocked on the door, heard a "Come in," and pushed it open, only to find Secretary Zhang's face filled with embarrassment...

I knocked on the door and heard "Come in". I pushed the door open and found that Secretary Zhang's face was full of embarrassment.

"Madam, why are you here?" Secretary Zhang quickly stood up, a hint of panic in his tone.

"I've come to ask you something." I got straight to the point, walked up to her, and asked in a low voice, "I'd like to know the profit margins of the company's major projects in recent quarters, and also..."

"Young Madam!" Secretary Zhang interrupted me before I could finish, her face full of embarrassment. "These are all confidential company information. I can't tell you."

"I just want to understand the company's situation, I don't want to leak it." I was a little unhappy, and my tone became tough. "You just need to tell me the data, and I will handle the rest."

"Young Madam, please don't embarrass me." Secretary Zhang said with an embarrassed look on her face. "Only President Zhan and a few directors have the right to inquire about this data. If I tell you, I will be fired if President Zhan finds out."

Although her tone was gentle, I could hear a hidden meaning: I'm just a newly married daughter-in-law, so don't even think about interfering in the company's affairs. I sneered in my heart. It seems that the whole Zhan family treats me as a vase that only knows how to eat, drink and have fun.

I suppressed my anger, stopped provoking Secretary Zhang, and left the office. But I didn't give up. I started walking around the company, observing the employees' work and trying to find any problems from the smallest details.

I found that many of the company's workflows were cumbersome and inefficient. For example, a simple approval process required multiple signatures, consuming significant time and manpower. Furthermore, information flow within the company was not timely, leading to frequent miscommunication between departments.

I wrote down these issues and planned to compile a report and make suggestions for improvement to Zhanyu. However, my actions attracted ridicule from some employees.

"Hey, isn't this our young mistress? Why, have you changed your career and come here to experience life?"

"She's a rich lady, how can she understand the hard work of us working people?"

"Don't talk nonsense! They are here to help us improve our work efficiency. We should thank them!"

These words were full of sarcasm and disdain. I heard them clearly, but pretended not to hear them and continued to record what I saw and heard.

I know that changing a deeply ingrained corporate culture is no easy task, but I won't give up easily. I want to let those who look down on me know that I'm not just a dodder who enjoys wealth and glory. I also have the ability to contribute to this family and this company!

At this moment, an old voice came from behind me, "Madam, what are you doing?"

I looked back and saw a highly respected elder from the Zhan family standing behind me, staring intently at the notebook in my hand...

I quickly closed my notebook and replied respectfully, "Uncle Zhao, I'm just taking a look."

Director Zhao is the cousin of the Zhan family's old man. He holds a significant voice in the company, and even Zhan Yu has to respect him. His sharp eyes swept across the notebook in my hand, and his tone was a hint of warning: "Madam, the Zhan family business has been able to develop to this day because of the hard work of several generations. Not just anyone can dictate its decisions."

I sneered in my heart, but remained calm on the surface: "Uncle Zhao is teaching me a lesson. I am just curious and want to know more."

"Curiosity kills the cat. Young Madam, you've probably heard that before, right?" Director Zhao said sternly, "There are some things that Young Madam should not ask about."

I took a deep breath, suppressed the anger in my heart, and said calmly, "I understand, Uncle Zhao."

After Director Zhao left, I couldn't contain my fury any longer and practically crushed my notebook. Why did they assume I knew nothing? Just because I'm a woman, a married woman, I should stay home and stay out of the company's affairs?

I won't! I just don't believe that I, the eldest daughter of the Bai family, would be worse than these men!

I returned to my room, locked myself in my study, and began to look through the company's financial statements and project materials from recent years. I just couldn't believe I couldn't find a breakthrough!

Time passed, and the documents on my desk piled higher and higher. My eyes were sore, but I didn't stop. A fire burned in my heart, driving me to continue my exploration.

Finally, in an inconspicuous corner, I found a long-forgotten project plan. This plan proposed a brand-new business model that, if successfully implemented, would bring huge profits to the company.

However, this plan was shelved for many years for a simple reason: it affected the interests of some old employees, who were unwilling to change and accept new things.

A surge of pride surged in my heart. This was my chance! I wanted to show those who looked down on me that I could not only identify problems, but also solve them!

I know that I will face many obstacles if I want to realize the contents of this plan, but I have made up my mind to give it a try no matter what!

I took the plan and went to Zhan Yu, revealing all my findings and ideas... However, his reaction was beyond my expectations. Instead of the surprise I expected, his face showed a hint of hesitation and embarrassment...

"This matter..." He hesitated, as if he had something to hide. "This matter..." Zhan Yu hesitated, his brows slightly furrowed, and his deep eyes revealed a complex emotion.

My heart sank, and an inexplicable sense of loss washed over me. Could it be that even he didn't trust me? Or did this proposal touch upon some forbidden zone that he couldn't touch?

"What's wrong?" I tried to keep my tone calm. "Is there a problem?"

Zhan Yu was silent for a moment, then he reached out and took me into his arms. His low voice was filled with apology: "This matter is not as simple as you think."

"What do you mean?" I pulled myself out of his arms and looked him straight in the face. "Are you worried that this plan might affect some people's interests?"

Zhan Yu didn't say anything, but his expression gave me the answer.

"So, you're going to stop me too?" My voice unconsciously rose a few degrees, with a hint of disappointment in my tone that was hard to conceal.

"I'm not trying to stop you." Zhan Yu sighed and explained, "I just hope you can understand that there are some things we can't do just because we want to. The operation of a family business involves the interests of many parties, and it can't be changed by a plan."

"I know!" I said excitedly, "But if we don't even dare to try, what's the difference between us and those old-fashioned people who stick to the old ways?"

"That's not what I meant..." Zhan Yu wanted to explain, but was interrupted by me.

"What do you mean?" I took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in my heart. "Are you worried that I will fail, or are you worried that I will succeed?"

Zhan Yu's expression darkened, and his tone carried a hint of warning: "Bai Zhi, watch your words!"

"I'm just being honest!" My stubborn temper flared up. "I don't care what your concerns are. I just know this plan is good for the company and good for you! If you don't want to support me, then I'll do it myself!"

After saying that, I turned around and left the study without looking back. Behind me, there was Zhan Yu's complicated and difficult-to-understand eyes and that low murmur: "Do you really think you can change all this?"

I paused, not turning back, but tightly gripping the plan in my hand. "I'll prove it to you."

The next morning, I got up early and dressed carefully. Today, I was going to attend the Zhan family meeting.