Chapter 300 Between Square and Circle

The next afternoon, the sun was shining brightly.

Su Wantang changed into a navy blue cheongsam and put on a light gray coat over it.

Her hair was tied up and adorned with a silver hairpin.

She exudes confidence and charisma in the mirror.

Qin Zheng was waiting at the door.

Seeing her come out, he paused, stunned: "Miss, your outfit..."

"how"

"It's a little scary."

Su Wantang laughed: "I can't use Bai Shu's face when I meet people today."

The car drove to the entrance of Chunshu Hutong.

Qin Zheng got out of the car and opened the door for her.

Su Wantang got out of the car and looked at the alley in front of her.

Blue bricks and gray tiles, old locust trees providing ample shade.

The alley was quiet, with only a few elderly people occasionally sitting in their doorways basking in the sun.

She walked inside.

Qin Zheng followed behind, his hand always on his waist.

There's a gun tucked there.

Su Wantang stopped at the entrance of number seven.

The courtyard gate was ajar.

She raised her hand and knocked three times.

The door opened.

An old woman stood inside the door.

Her hair was gray, she wore a dark blue cheongsam, and she held a string of Buddhist prayer beads in her hand.

His back was ramrod straight, and his eyes were clear.

The old woman looked at Su Wantang, her eyes reddening.

She took two steps back and gave a deep bow.

Kneel on both knees with your forehead touching the ground.

"Aunt Fang greets the young master."

Su Wantang was stunned.

She quickly stepped forward and helped the old woman up.

What are you doing?

Aunt Fang stood up, tears streaming down her face.

"Young Master has grown up."

She reached out, wanting to touch Su Wantang's face, but then withdrew her hand.

"Exactly the same as when the lady was young."

Su Wantang felt a pang of sadness.

She helped Aunt Fang into the courtyard.

The courtyard is not large, with a two-section layout.

Several crabapple trees are planted in the front yard, and the flowers are in full bloom.

The backyard is a small garden with artificial hills and flowing water, arranged very elegantly.

Aunt Fang invited her into the house.

The room was simply furnished, but everything was kept very clean.

A calligraphy scroll hangs on the wall, which reads "Crabapple Blossoms in Bloom".

Su Wantang looked at the calligraphy, her gaze darkening.

Aunt Fang poured tea and handed it to her.

"Please, young master."

Su Wantang took the tea but didn't drink it.

She looked at Aunt Fang: "The longevity lock, it was a gift from you."

"yes."

"Why"

Aunt Fang put down the teapot and sat down opposite her.

"Because you are pregnant."

She paused, then said, "Because we've been waiting for you for twenty years."

Su Wantang frowned: "We"

“The Begonia Chamber of Commerce,” Aunt Fang said, “is the contingency plan that Madam left for you back then.”

Su Wantang's heart skipped a beat.

She gripped the teacup tightly: "Please explain clearly."

Aunt Fang stood up and walked to the bookshelf.

Take out a wooden box from the bottom drawer.

A begonia flower is engraved on the top of the box.

She placed the box on the table and opened it.

Inside was a stack of documents.

At the very top is a faded, yellowed photograph.

In the photo, a dozen or so women are standing together.

The one in the middle is Bai Xiuzhu.

Su Wantang picked up the photo, her hand trembling.

"This is……"

“The core members of the Haitang Chamber of Commerce,” Aunt Fang said, “are all people who received favors from Madam back then.”

She pointed to the people in the photo and introduced them one by one.

"This is the factory director of the Beijing Textile Factory, this is the manager of the department store, and this is the hospital director..."

Su Wantang listened, becoming more and more shocked.

These women are all successful women in their respective fields.

Moreover, they are all located in Beijing.

Aunt Fang continued, "Madam foresaw back then that the Su family would not let you off the hook."

"So she set up a scheme in Beijing."

"By bringing these people together, the Haitang Chamber of Commerce was established."

"The Chamber of Commerce is not a violent organization, but a network of connections."

“We manage your businesses in the North, and we also protect you.”

Su Wantang put down the photo and looked at Aunt Fang.

"You said you were protecting me, but I've been in Beijing for so long and I've never seen you before."

Aunt Fang smiled: "Young Master, you've met him before."

"Many guests came on the day Tangdixuan opened."

"Several of them are members of the Chamber of Commerce."

Su Wantang was stunned.

She recalled the scene from that day.

Many guests arrived, all of whom were prominent figures in Beijing.

Could it be...?

You mean, those ladies?

“Yes.” Aunt Fang nodded. “They are all from the Chamber of Commerce.”

"It was just that the time was not right, and it was inconvenient to acknowledge each other then."

Su Wantang fell silent.

She never imagined that her mother had paved such a deep road for her.

"That longevity lock..."

"It's the final confirmation of identity," Aunt Fang said. "Madam left a rule that only the young master can make the Snow Falling on Begonia."

“Now that you’ve done it, we know you are truly the young master.”

Su Wantang understood.

Snow-covered crabapple blossoms are a dessert created by my mother.

Only Wang Ma and she knew the method.

This is a secret code left by my mother.

She looked at Aunt Fang: "You said you are 'square,' but the square in Shanghai is actually 'round.'"

“Yes,” Aunt Fang said. “Without rules, nothing can be accomplished.”

"This is the code name that the lady gave us."

"Fang Zheng is in Shanghai guarding the southern businesses, while I am in Beijing guarding the northern relationships."

Su Wantang nodded.

She then asked, "Then why have you only shown yourself now?"

Aunt Fang's face darkened.

She stood up and walked to the window.

"There were some problems within the chamber of commerce."

Su Wantang's heart tightened: "What's the problem?"

Aunt Fang turned around and looked at her.

"Young Master, the Chamber of Commerce has thirteen core members."

"Over the years, we have been secretly protecting you as Madam instructed."

"But recently, I've noticed something's off about someone."

Something's not right.

“Someone is asking about you,” Aunt Fang said. “And they’re asking behind my back.”

Su Wantang frowned: "Who?"

“I’m not sure yet,” Aunt Fang said, “but I suspect that someone in the Chamber of Commerce has changed their mind.”

She paused, then said, "The estate left by the lady is priceless."

"Over the years, Fang Zheng and I have been guarding the area, and no one has dared to make a move."

“But now that you’re back, some people are getting restless.”

Su Wantang understood.

The business left by my mother is a huge piece of meat.

The members of the Chamber of Commerce have helped with the management over the years without taking a single penny.

But now that she's back, those businesses are going to belong to her.

Some people are unwilling to accept this.

Whom do you suspect?

Aunt Fang shook her head: "I can't say things like that."

"But I know that someone is secretly investigating you."

"Investigate your background, investigate your abilities, investigate the people around you."

Su Wantang's eyes turned cold.

What does she want to do?

“I don’t know,” Aunt Fang said, “but I’m worried that she might do something bad to you.”

"That's why I showed myself to warn you to be careful."

Su Wantang stood up and walked to the window.

The crabapple blossoms in the yard are in full bloom.

The wind blew, and the petals fell.

She looked at the petals, her eyes growing colder and colder.

Those left behind by their mother now want to rebel against her.

impossible.

She turned around and looked at Aunt Fang: "You said the Chamber of Commerce has thirteen core members?"

"right."

Can you give me the list?

Aunt Fang hesitated.

"Young Master, I can give you the list."

"But I hope you won't alert them."

"The members of the Chamber of Commerce are all elites from various industries."

“They have resources and connections.”

"You are pregnant now, so it is not advisable for you to take action."

Su Wantang smiled.

"Aunt Fang, don't worry."

"I won't do anything reckless."

"But I won't sit idly by and wait to die."

She walked back to the table and sat down.

"Give me the list, and I will handle it carefully."

Aunt Fang nodded.

She took a piece of paper out of the box and handed it to Su Wantang.

Thirteen names were written on the paper.

Each name is followed by detailed information.

Job title, address, family background—everything is included.

Su Wantang looked at the list of famous names, her gaze growing increasingly somber.

These people are all prominent figures in Beijing.

Textile factory manager, department store manager, hospital director, bank executive...

Each one has energy.

She put the list away and looked at Aunt Fang.

"Aunt Fang, who do you think is the most suspicious?"

Aunt Fang remained silent for a few seconds.

"Zhou Huilan, the factory manager of the textile factory."

"Why"

“She’s been in frequent contact with people lately,” Aunt Fang said. “And they’re all shady characters.”

“I had people investigate, and those people are from the black market.”

Su Wantang's eyes sharpened.

black market

"What is she doing contacting people in the black market?"

"I don't know," Aunt Fang said, "but I feel something's not right."

"The lady established a rule that members of the Chamber of Commerce are not allowed to get involved in the black market."

“Zhou Huilan has already violated the rules by doing this.”

Su Wantang nodded.

She then asked, "Besides Zhou Huilan, who else is suspicious?"

Aunt Fang thought for a moment.

"Li Xiufang, the manager of the department store."

"She's been asking about you lately."

"Ask who's around you, ask what kind of business you're in."

Su Wantang sneered.

Why is she asking these questions?

“I don’t know,” Aunt Fang said, “but I think she might be in cahoots with Zhou Huilan.”

Su Wantang stood up.

"Aunt Fang, please don't move."

"I will handle it."

Aunt Fang nodded.

"Young Master, please be careful."

"These people are not easy to deal with."

Su Wantang smiled.

"I know."

She walked to the door and looked back at Aunt Fang.

"By the way, Aunt Fang."

"You said the Chamber of Commerce manages my mother's businesses in the north."

"right."

What's included?

Aunt Fang came over and took a document out of the box.

"This is the list."

Su Wantang took the document and opened it.

The first page is about real estate.

Courtyard houses in Beijing, Western-style houses in Shanghai, mines in the Northwest...

It was densely packed with writing, spanning several pages.

The second page is about shares.

Textile factories, department stores, hospitals, banks...

There are shares in every location.

The third page contains cash.

The money is held in accounts at various banks, totaling several million.

After reading it, Su Wantang gasped in shock.

The estate her mother left behind was more than she had imagined.

She closed the file and looked at Aunt Fang.

"These were all left to me by my mother."

“Yes,” Aunt Fang said. “Madam said back then that all these things were yours.”

"The people in the chamber of commerce are just there to help with management."

"When you grow up, I will hand it all over to you."

Su Wantang felt a warmth in her heart.

My mother really thought of everything for her.

She put the documents away and looked at Aunt Fang.

"Aunt Fang, I'll leave these things alone for now."

"Please continue to manage it for me."

"Let me finish dealing with the Chamber of Commerce matters first, then we'll talk about it."

Aunt Fang nodded.

"Don't worry, young master, I will guard it well."