Chapter 67: A Small Victory at the Outset

On Sunday morning, Su Ziceng deliberately got up early. Su Qingzhang was in the habit of perusing a few newspapers before breakfast every day, a task that was personally organized by Chang Mei when she was the housekeeper of the Su family. This habit had not changed even after she became the secretary-general of the Su Family. As usual, several newspapers were neatly arranged on the marble dining table, starting with the domestic ones and ending with the Mo City papers. The servants were orderly setting up breakfast beside the table. Su Ziceng lingered by the table until she heard the sound of Su Qingzhang coming downstairs and then returned to her seat on the right. The Chang’s mother and daughter were still reminiscing about their glorious deeds in the Su Family. After returning, seeing that Su Ziceng did not react, they thought that she had no choice but to swallow this silent loss. Su Qingzhang sat down and, sure enough, picked up the newspaper. Lately, he had been paying close attention to the situation in North Africa. Since the Su family was involved in mining, international unrest could quickly affect the price of minerals in his hands. He furrowed his brow; placed first was not his usual "Global News." Just as he was about to inquire, the headline of the front-page story caught his eye. Su Ziceng slowly took a cup of fresh milk, and her cheeks flushed with a trace of rosy color as she drank. She then tore a piece of toast and enjoyed it with a 55% cooked sunny-side-up egg with relish. Chang Chi sat down beside her. Seeing her contented face, he thought that despite the company’s affairs, Su Ziceng could still be so at ease, which made him feel somewhat displeased. Chang Chi had not yet started cutting his steak when Su Qingzhang threw the newspaper onto the table. "Bring me the wine shop’s account from last time when you’re free." The Chang’s mother and daughter stopped eating and looked at the newspaper on the table. Chang Chi, sitting further away, couldn’t see the detailed article on the paper and had to look at Chang Mei imploringly. Chang Mei did not show panic; she was holding a cup of coffee, her grip hot to the touch. She feigned surprise at the paper, with headlines reading "Mo City’s Largest Wine Shop Involved in Smuggling of Tobacco and Liquor" and a subheadline "Massive False Sales Data, Commercial Kickbacks Up to 70 Percent." The sound of cutlery clinking on the plate as Su Ziceng stood up. She did not forget to elegantly wipe her mouth with a napkin before turning around and leaving. By the time she had changed her attire and was ready to attend to follow-up matters, Su Qingzhang had already gone to the company. Su Ziceng noticed that Chang Mei did not, as usual, accompany him to the company. As she was about to walk down the stairs, Su Ziceng heard a muffled curse coming from Chang Chi’s room. Seeing that there was no one else around, she approached the door. Chang Mei had just been reprimanded by Su Qingzhang and was also tasked with investigating whether there were any kickbacks in the procurement of alcoholic beverages, with orders to find those involved and recover the remaining funds within a week. From being a housekeeper to becoming the secretary-general of the Su Family, Chang Mei had never made any mistakes, but this time she was seriously berated. "What’s going on? Where’s the remaining 20 percent?" Chang Mei’s face twisted as she pointed at Chang Chi, who was sitting dazed on the bed. Chang Mei certainly knew about the kickbacks, but at the time, Chang Chi had only told her about a 50 percent kickback from the wine shop. However, now that the number has been exposed as 70 percent, it’s clear that nearly several hundred thousand had been embezzled by Chang Chi. Seeing her mother truly enraged, Chang Chi dared not say a word and just sat with tears in her eyes, without defending herself. Su Ziceng, eavesdropping, found it odd. Chang Chi was cold by nature, had no extravagant friends, and had no boyfriend—where could the money have gone? "I’m speaking to you," Chang Mei continued scolding, increasingly furious. She then grabbed Chang Chi’s hair and smashed her head against the pillow fiercely, "Did you give the money to that deadbeat again? Have I not told you never to go back to that godforsaken place? You just disregarded my words, didn’t you?" "Would you be relieved if you killed me? I got used to being beaten since childhood; if not by him, then by you." Chang Chi’s voice, muffled by the pillow, was laced with sobbing. Chang Mei let go; she sat on the edge of the bed, clenching her teeth with a fierce look that swiftly scanned the door, seeing no one moving. She then gently patted the form lying on the bed with a soothing voice as if comforting a crying child, "My silly child, it’s all my fault."