Volume 4: Hidden Struggles, Chapter 251: Young Master Chu Three

Grandpa Chu Fangshan was instantly stunned upon hearing this and retorted, “Then what will you do?”
“Eat, drink, and have fun! Hehe, be a typical playboy. Otherwise, wouldn’t that be a waste of the opinions those directors and managers have of me? This way, there’s no need for me to confront my elder brother head-on. Wouldn’t that solve the last requirement you set? And in the end, if my elder brother can’t even compete with a woman like my wife, I think he won’t have any complaints!”
Hearing this, Grandpa Chu Fangshan finally understood and couldn’t help but exclaim in amazement, “Fierce! Truly fierce!”
Who was Qin Nianran? Others might only know her as a business genius, but many still believed that as a woman, she could achieve such success only by relying on Fudu Industrial itself. After all, given Fudu’s scale, as long as the so-called chairman didn’t make major strategic mistakes, he could profit from the company’s inherent momentum.
However, Chu Fangshan was well aware of Qin Nianran’s true strength, her natural talent, and her skill in business. Chu Tianyu’s arrangement seemed to follow Grandpa Chu Fangshan’s advice by giving his elder brother a fair chance and sparing him a way out. But with Qin Nianran’s capabilities, the chances of Chu Tianfeng winning through fair competition were virtually zero.
Chu Fangshan also knew very well Chu Tianfeng’s level—it was completely beneath Qin Nianran’s. If it weren’t for some inexplicable factors this time, he doubtless wouldn’t have had such an advantage in his struggle against Chu Tianao.
And once Chu Tianfeng resorted to underhanded tactics, the outcome was predictable! Because Chu Tianyu, who pretended to be a playboy and operated in the shadows, could now go all out without any concerns!
Thus, Chu Fangshan could only describe Chu Tianyu’s arrangement as “fierce”!
“Grandpa, rest assured. After all, my elder brother and I share the same surname, Chu. We share the same bloodline. Whatever we’re discussing now—be it power struggles or profit-seeking—it won’t affect anything. Even if my elder brother really goes astray, I believe I can still achieve what you’ve asked without any problems!” Chu Tianyu said optimistically to his grandpa.
Hearing this, Chu Fangshan nodded and said, “Grandpa believes in you. But I don’t want you to let family ties or my demands as an old man influence your choices and actions!”
“Of course!” Chu Tianyu replied with a tense expression and a gloomy tone.

But not for long. Chu Tianyu simply smiled and said, “Hehe, Grandpa, you don’t need to worry about this. I’ve already made arrangements for my elder brother!”
Chu Fangshan had been startled by Chu Tianyu’s earlier tone, and before he could react, hearing the last sentence, he realized that his precious grandson was just joking with him!
Watching Chu Tianyu’s confident smile, Chu Fangshan couldn’t help but sigh, thinking to himself, “It seems I’m unnecessary again this time…”
After coming to terms with this, Chu Fangshan felt relieved and said humorously to Chu Tianyu, “Well, children have their own blessings. Why should I worry? Tianyu, later, ask that girl Feifei to sing for me. I really like her songs. Hehe, now that we’re all part of the Chu family, we won’t need to buy CDs anymore; we can listen to her live. Wahaha… I laugh proudly, I laugh proudly…”
By the end, Grandpa Chu Fangshan had already started singing, but his voice and tone made Chu Tianyu shiver slightly, feeling a chill.
“Grandpa… please hum first. I’ll go call them right away…” Chu Tianyu said, unable to bear it any longer.
“Mm, go quickly and come back soon!”
Just as Chu Tianyu was about to leave, Grandpa Chu Fangshan suddenly called him back and casually said, “By the way, Tianyu, your elder brother Tianfeng and your cousin Tianao are returning from India on the same flight this afternoon. It seems your elder brother has the upper hand in that software project. Go pick them up at the airport…”
“Oh, and your second and third uncles will also arrive tonight. Arrange that as well. Tomorrow at 9 a.m., we’ll hold an expanded board meeting!”
…
The expanded board meeting of Chu Group this time included not only all board members but also heads of various departments at the headquarters and CEOs of branches, totaling nearly 200 people.
So even the large conference hall seemed crowded. At the center of the Chu family’s core, Chu Fangshan sat at the presiding table, with his second brother Chu Fangwei and third brother Chu Fangwu on either side. Following them were Tianfeng and Tianao, along with several other senior board members.

Although the conference hall was filled with people, it was utterly silent at that moment, with everyone’s gaze fixed on Chu Fangshan. Over the decades, Chu Family had never held a meeting of this scale before. The people in the audience were all speculating in their minds, growing increasingly anxious about what changes this meeting might bring to Chu Family. After all, Chu Fangshan was getting older by the day, while the struggle between the new generation—Chu Tianfeng and Chu Tianao—was intensifying. It seemed Chu Family had reached a turning point, one that would surely bring profound upheaval and unpredictable consequences.

The atmosphere in the entire hall became extremely oppressive as everyone waited for Chu Fangshan to announce the start of the meeting so they could quickly learn its contents. But Chu Fangshan acted as if nothing had happened, simplylooking down looking at the documents in his hands, ignoring the fact that it was already past 9 o’clock, the scheduled start time.

Chu Fangshan’s behavior only heightened the uncertainty and speculation among those below.

At that moment, on the stage, aside from Chu Fangwei, there were also Chu Fangwu, Chu Tianfeng, and Chu Tianao—all of them looking at Chu Fangshan in surprise from time to time, wondering what he had in mind.

Just as everyone was lost in their thoughts, the door to the conference hall was suddenly flung open with a “bang!” At the same time, a voice shouted loudly, “Haha, sorry we’re late! Please forgive us!”

The once silent hall immediately echoed with these somewhat arrogant and presumptuous words.

Surprised, everyone instinctively turned their heads toward the door. There stood Chu Tianyu, the third young master of Chu Family, dressed in a black casual suit with gold trim, a bright red tie visible beneath, his hair neatly groomed and shiny. He was holding the hand of a beautiful woman in a pure white suit. The two of them looked affectionate, whispering to each other as they walked, acting as if no one else was around!

However, once they entered the conference hall, the eccentric third young master seemed to realize something. He glanced around and shrugged at the woman beside him, asking softly, “Where should we sit?”

That woman was well-known to everyone present—she was Chu Family’s future bride, Qin Nianran, the one who had been engaged through a finger-touch ceremony and then at a grand engagement party. But among those who knew about her, there was more pity, regret, and even mockery…

“Whatever,” Qin Nianran replied calmly, unfazed by being the center of everyone’s attention, showing no signs of embarrassment or loss of composure.

“Well, I see there are a few empty seats in the last row—those must be ours!” Chu Tianyu said as he pulled Qin Nianran toward the back, acting as if no one else was around.
Their behavior was utterly casual, as if they were at home, completely ignoring the seriousness of the occasion. Only those who knew them well could shake their heads in dismay, thinking, “Each of the nine sons of the dragon has his own character! Look at Young Master Chu’s behavior—compared to Tianfeng and Tianao on stage, there’s a huge difference; he lacks any sense of propriety at all!”
Yet aside from these thoughts, everyone was more concerned about Chu Fangshan’s attitude. With someone like Chu Tianyu being not only late but also rude and oblivious, it was unclear how the usually strict Old Master Chu would deal with his “foolish” grandson.
To everyone’s disappointment, Chu Fangshan didn’t react as they had expected—no furious outburst, at least not a darkened expression. On the contrary, it seemed Old Master Chu hadn’t even noticed him, as he calmly looked up and said, “Good, since everyone is here, let’s start the meeting now!”
At these words, the crowd below erupted in chaos. The once quiet atmosphere was filled with murmurs and discussions. Could it be that the delay in the meeting was to wait for this third young master? Some astute people began to speculate, linking it to the future succession of the Chu family’s leader.
The people on stage also showed varied expressions. Chu Fangwei immediately looked surprised, then became deep in thought. Chu Tianfeng and Chu Tianao, though also surprised, seemed more solemn and puzzled toward the former…
Just then, Chu Fangshan let out an “Hmm…” His voice wasn’t loud, but it silenced the entire venue.
Chu Fangshan scanned the room seriously. The sharpness in his eyes and the aura of a leader honed over years made everyone under his gaze, no matter how high their position, lower their heads without daring to meet his gaze.
After finishing his scan, without any unnecessary words, he got straight to the point and said loudly, “This time, the Chu family has gathered all directors and senior executives to announce a few decisions and make some minor adjustments to the company’s future strategy…”
At this point, Chu Fangshan paused, and everyone, both on and off stage, held their breath, waiting for him to announce the decisions.

After all, no one had any advance notice of this sudden meeting, not even the slightest hint. Several elders of the Chu family asked Chu Fangshan several times but still received no answer at all.
“The first matter concerns the competition between Chu Tianfeng and Chu Tianao. Although this competition originated from a quarrel over food, it has led to a comparison between them. The development of the Chu family also requires such competition—survival of the fittest is an unchanging rule. I believe everyone can see the outcome. I won’t go into details about who won or lost. I announce that Chu Tianao is removed from all his positions in the Chu family, and all the companies under his management are taken back!”
Although everyone had expected Chu Fangshan to make such a decision, they didn’t expect it to be so thorough. Yet they understood his actions. After all, Chu Tianao was Chu Fangwei’s grandson. The two had been in conflict their entire lives. If Chu Fangshan didn’t seize his power and remove him from his position now to clear the way for his own grandson, Chu Tianfeng, when else would he?
Moreover, in this competition, Chu Tianao was completely defeated, while Chu Tianfeng’s performance could be described as perfect. He was truly a natural business genius!
Chu Fangwei showed no reaction to Chu Fangshan’s decision, remaining in his original posture, eyes fixed on his nose, nose fixed on his mouth. It was unclear what he was thinking at that moment.
Chu Tianao’s face looked somewhat gloomy, but his eyes revealed a hint of unwillingness.
Chu Tianfeng also appeared calm, but instead, pride shone in the corners of his eyes.
However, soon, everyone’s expressions changed dramatically after Chu Fangshan uttered even more astonishing words.
Chu Fangshan continued, “The second matter is to hand over the companies to Chu Tianyu for management. All projects under the Chu family in cooperation with Thunderbolt Technology and the construction of Binjiang New City will also be included. Meanwhile, Chu Tianao will be reassigned as Chu Tianyu’s administrative assistant, responsible for all handover procedures, assisting in future management, and providing third-party oversight. He must report directly to me on the company’s operations.”
Chu Fangshan’s words were like a bomb, causing another wave of uproar among the attendees, with various discussions and speculations emerging.
On stage, Chu Tianfeng felt as if he were in a world of extremes—he could hardly believe his ears. His grandfather would make such a decision? It was simply unbelievable!

To be honest, after that banquet, Chu Tianfeng had some reservations about his third brother. He had even tried probing him with words related to power tactics. Although Chu Tianyu didn’t stand out much at that time, it still gave Chu Tianfeng some thoughts.

Chu Tianfeng had always been puzzled by this—how could Tianyu, who had seemed so simple-minded as a child, change so drastically as an adult, even giving off an air of feigned simplicity? Moreover, some of the friends he knew were either rich or noble. The scene of Tianyu stepping forward that night was still vivid in Chu Tianfeng’s mind—a memory he would never forget!

However, later actions by Chu Tianyu made Chu Tianfeng reconsider his views of his brother. He heard that Tianyu spent his days doing nothing but truancy and skipping classes, hanging around with girls, and even seemingly living together with the daughter of some Ou Ligjia Bao Group. Just this was enough for Chu Tianfeng to drop his reservations—perhaps his performance that night was just a fluke or a coincidence.

It was also possible that someone was manipulating things behind the scenes, using Chu Tianyu as a pawn. Now it seemed the mastermind was most likely Qin Nianran—this woman was truly extraordinary! Grandpa must have lost his mind or something to find such a wife for his third son; it was like inviting a wolf into the house!

Thinking of this, Chu Tianfeng glared fiercely at Qin Nianran, who was cuddling up with Chu Tianyu in the back row.

Besides Chu Tianfeng, many others who thought quickly also associated Qin Nianran and turned their gazes toward the back row. Even Chu Fangwei and Chu Tianao stared intently over there.

Yet, regarding Chu Fangshan’s proposal, a few board members politely expressed dissent, arguing that handing over almost half of the Chu family’s business to this third young master, who hadn’t even graduated from university, seemed somewhat inappropriate and hasty. Their implication was also that they doubted Chu Tianyu’s intelligence and abilities.

Once again, silence fell over the conference room, and everyone’s eyes turned to Chu Fangshan, waiting for his answer or explanation.

“There’s always room to train one’s abilities. Besides, haven’t I assigned Tianao to assist and supervise him? Oh, right, Tianao, you don’t object to my decision, do you?” At the end, Chu Fangshan asked, almost squinting at Chu Tianao.

Chu Tianao was momentarily stunned, but quickly recovered and said hurriedly, “I have no objections. As agreed with my elder brother Tianfeng, I should have handed over all matters of the Chu family. But since you’ve made such arrangements now, it’s already the greatest consideration for me. Of course, I’ll fully assist my cousin!”
After hearing this, Chu Fangshan spread his hands and said to everyone, “Well, the issue is resolved. Is there anyone who disagrees?”
There was complete silence in the room. No one knew what game old Master Chu was playing—it was better to say less! Just then, Chu Tianyu, the party involved in this incident and sitting in the back row, suddenly raised his hand and shouted loudly, “Grandpa, I object! I can’t handle business matters like this, nor do I have the time for it. Please find someone else!”
“Your objection is invalid! Starting tomorrow, you and your elder brother will officially take on the role of general managers of Chu Family, each responsible for their own duties. Together, you’ll push Chu Family’s development to a new level! I also announce that from now on, Chu Family’s development will integrate all its subsidiaries. The executives here will be assigned under the jurisdiction of Tianfeng and Tianyu respectively. Specific arrangements will be notified to you after the board of directors discusses them. That’s all for today’s meeting. Board members, get ready. We’ll discuss the detailed plans this afternoon! Meeting adjourned!” Chu Fangshan declared in an unchallengeable tone, not giving anyone a chance to argue or object, and immediately ended the meeting.
…
“Young master, has the chairman gone mad? To make such a ridiculous decision! That Chu Tianao was defeated by us, yet instead of submitting, he’s even risen in status. Some so-called assistance in management—now he’s practically the second-in-command of Chu Family. And your third brother—everyone knows he’s an idiot…” an advisor dressed in a suit said angrily.
Before he could finish, Chu Tianfeng snapped at him, “Shut up! Did you call him an idiot?”
Seeing Chu Tianfeng’s serious expression, the man quickly apologized, “Yes, yes, young master. I got carried away and said something wrong. Damn it!”
“Young master, Li Xing is also upset for you. It’s obvious from the old master’s decision that he wants to force another competition between you and your third brother. Perhaps this is the last test he has for you!” another advisor said.
“That’s right, young master. Anyway, we just need to do our own jobs well. Maybe this test isn’t really about business competition but rather a test of character and integrity, because putting the third young master forward surely has deep implications!”

“Yes, what Feng Zikun said makes perfect sense. If Chu Tianao was a test of the young master’s business skills, then Chu Tianyu is a test of his character, moral integrity, and compassion. This shows that the old master has already chosen the young master as his successor!”
Faced with the analysis from his advisory team, Chu Tianfeng also fell into deep thought. Could his grandfather’s sudden decision really be true?
…
In the following days, integration within the Chu Group proceeded at full speed. The various subsidiaries had mixed feelings—those assigned to the eldest son, Chu Tianfeng, were overjoyed, while those placed under Chu Tianyu were anxious and uneasy.
Today marked the first day when the subsidiaries were officially assigned. Whether it was Chu Tianfeng’s group or Chu Tianyu’s, as required by the old master Chu Fangshan, they all had to hold separate meetings to discuss future development plans and submit proposals to the board of directors.
For Chu Tianao, today was a day of renewed confidence. Having survived a great ordeal, he thought he would be completely sidelined from the Chu Group after his defeat against Tianfeng. But to his surprise, his great-uncle arranged for him to “assist” Chu Tianyu. Though it was called assistance or being an assistant, managing half of the Chu Group’s vast operations alone was beyond the capacity of one or two people. It could be said he was being promoted in disguise. Given Chu Tianyu’s personality, he believed he would have more freedom to act—far more than when he controlled just a few companies before!
His grandfather, Chu Fangwei, had also explained this to him in detail. Although he still didn’t understand the reasons behind his great-uncle Chu Fangshan’s decision, it was still an opportunity for Chu Tianao to showcase his talents. Even Chu Fangwei couldn’t find any reason to object.
However, when Chu Tianao arrived at the meeting room excitedly, to his shock, he saw not Chu Tianyu, but Qin Nianran, smiling brightly!
The same shock was felt by the senior managers from the subsidiaries who had been transferred over!
“Hello everyone. Since Chu Tianyu has other important matters to attend to, I will be presiding over today’s meeting. Please open the folders in front of you; the future plans are written inside. If you have any better suggestions, feel free to share them. If not, we’ll proceed according to what’s written…”
Meanwhile, Chu Tianyu, who had “other important matters” according to Qin Nianran, was showing off in the Chu Group’s shopping mall with Ouyang Ziyi and Xue Feifei. Just the waiters carrying items formed a long queue behind them.

In the following days, Chu Tianyu continued to indulge outside, enjoying the glitz and glamour of bars and clubs, while Qin Nianran handled all the company affairs from within. This situation soon reached Chu Fangshan’s attention, and several directors and elders came angrily to demand an explanation.

“Fangshan, I really don’t know what to say. Have you gone senile? Not only did you split up the Chu family, but now you’ve even handed over half of its foundation. That brat, Chu Tianyu, is utterly unacceptable. Instead of focusing on his own pleasures, he lets that girl from Fudu Industrial take control of everything. I really don’t know what to say!” demanded one of the most senior directors.

Chu Fangshan, seemingly prepared, smiled slightly and said, “Gentlemen, don’t get so upset. Come, sit down. Try the Tieguanyin I brewed. Wow, it’s incredibly fragrant—top quality!”

Without any aggressive attitude from Chu Fangshan, they temporarily suppressed their frustration, sat down, and waited for his explanation.

“See? Top quality! This was given to me by Chu Tianyu’s grandfather. Hehe, after working together for so many years, don’t you still know me? Let me ask you—is Nianran an outsider? Have you seen her plans?”

Chu Fangshan’s question left everyone silent. After a long while, one of them slowly said, “We’re aware of her background, and we’ve studied those plans for a long time. They’re truly impressive! But the more so, the more worried we are…”

Before he could finish, Chu Fangshan interrupted with a smile, “Brother, you don’t need to worry about that. Regardless of how capable Nianran is, I understand your concerns. You’re all loyal to Tianfeng. But if he can’t even defeat that girl, how can he be the next successor of the Chu family?”

Upon hearing this, the directors felt reassured, thinking it was Chu Fangshan’s final test for Tianfeng. They looked at him with expressions of understanding and tacit agreement.

Chu Fangshan also wore a meaningful smile…

…

Beijing at night was almost a city that never slept. Colorful neon lights illuminated the streets. Suddenly, several dark figures flashed by at such speed that they were barely visible to the naked eye. Soon, those figures stopped on the roof of a skyscraper.

“You guys are really too showy. Couldn’t you have come by vehicle? Why do you have to fly using qi? Aren’t you afraid of attracting attention?” An emaciated old man was already waiting on the roof. Seeing them arrive in such a manner, he spoke unhappily.
“You must be Lord Qin, right? I think you’re overthinking it. With our skills as fellow disciples, not to mention whether anyone can notice us, even if they did, what could they do? Anyone who could keep up with us is probably still in the womb!” One of the shadowy figures said confidently.
Upon hearing this, not only did Lord Qin dismiss it, but Chu Tianyu, who was hiding in the shadows, also couldn’t help but sneer. He shook his head secretly and said with a wry smile, “They’re really arrogant. If it were just me, I could tolerate it, but the person lurking behind that launch tower has been following us the whole way. Could he also be someone still in the womb?”