Chapter 39: The Three Great Families

  Su Qing went to Bai Lao's place after her brother left. As for the situation of the Fu family, Su Qing had learned a little through the messages brought back by the bees, but what she knew was too little and too superficial. Bai Lao was a big shot in both military and political circles, and his daughter was married to the Murong family, so he must have some understanding of the Fu family.

  Su Qing and Bai Lao were drinking tea and eating snacks in the teahouse as usual. During this time, Bai Lao kept observing Su Qing but couldn't figure out anything.

  Bai Lao couldn't help but start a conversation, Su Qing's calmness was not like that of a child at all.

  "At such a young age, you have a good attitude. Now, you're still calm and composed, having tea with me." Old White smiled as he looked at Su Qing, his eyes seeming to say 'if there's something on your mind, just say it'.

  "Grandpa Bai, aren't you teasing me?" Su Qing understood what Grandpa Bai meant, but she pretended to be confused.

  "I noticed when you arrived, there are quite a few tails following behind you, want me to help clean them up for you?"

  Although Su Qing pretended to know nothing, Bai Lao thought that a clever child like Su Qing must have discovered that she was being followed.

  "This is unnecessary, they just follow and won't harm me. Now Grandpa Bai doesn't have to be at odds with them and the people behind them because of me."

  Su Qing knew that making those people disappear now wasn't a difficult task, but it also meant directly opposing the Fu family. Turning against the Fu family was inevitable, but now wasn't the time. Su Qing knew that before she became stronger, many things required endurance.

  Su Qing knew that Bai Lao was genuinely kind to her and didn't want to drag this old man into this matter.

  "I've always treated you like a granddaughter, don't be distant with me. I'm not afraid of offending anyone either, there's no one in this village who can intimidate me."

  Bai Lao thought Su Qing was afraid of getting into trouble and refused, but after hearing that there was no danger for the time being, he slightly relaxed. However, Bai Lao still hoped that if Su Qing encountered difficulties, she could tell him, as his fondness for her was genuine, and who knows, maybe one day she would become his daughter-in-law. If Murong Xuan knew Su Qing was in danger, he would be even more anxious.

  "The junior is grateful and doesn't know what to say. They are not from Beijing, they came today also wanting to ask you about the other party's background."

  The main reason Su Qing came to visit Old White today was to ask about the Fu family's situation.

  "The little girl is impressive, she already knows who they are."

  Bai Lao roughly guessed from the follower's martial arts that he was a member of the Fu family. It wasn't easy for Su Qing, just a child, to know that the opponent was from the Fu family. Based on Su Qing's personality and the fact that she had encountered the Fu family, Bai Lao inferred that the Su family still didn't know about this matter. Bai Lao became increasingly curious about Su Qing, wondering how far she had grown now.

  "The Fu family of Guangzhou is said to be one of the three great families."

  Su Qing calmly spoke out the Fu family, and Bai Lao valued Su Qing even more. Su Qing was calm and composed, and even if she knew that the Fu family was one of the three major families, she didn't show any fear at all.

  "Indeed, you're not an ordinary maid. The first time we met, I felt that you were different from the others. You actually knew you were a subordinate of the Fu family and yet dared to behave in such a manner. If it were someone else, they would probably try every means to beg for forgiveness in front of the Fu family members, but you dare to play tricks on them."

  Bai Lao said these words were his true thoughts in his heart, and now he also wanted to confirm one thing with Su Qing.

  "The Fu family is very powerful, how dare I mess with them?" Su Qing smiled mischievously.

  "You clearly knew someone was following you but pretended not to know. The injuries those people suffered last time are also related to you. Don't look down on you because of your small stature, your abilities are not small."

  Bai Lao heard that Fu's subordinate was attacked and hospitalized, so he sent someone to investigate. It is said that the injury was caused by scratching, Bai Lao thought of Fu's family following Su Qing, and thought of Su Qing's pet Xiaobai, feeling that it was Su Qing who did it.

  "I know Grandpa Bai is good to me and won't tell others. You and I can talk about the Fu family's affairs."

  Su Qing knew that things couldn't be hidden from Bai Lao, so she frankly admitted it. However, Xiao Bai's unauthorized actions were seen by outsiders as if Su Qing had instructed him, and she ended up taking the blame for Xiao Bai.

  "Since you asked, I'll tell you, but I don't know much either, roughly speaking."

  Bai Lao paused for a moment, took a sip of tea, and continued speaking.

  "People are used to calling it the Fu family of Guangzhou, but in fact, it's just that family members often live in Guangzhou, and their home is on a small island not far from there. That's the Fu family's stronghold, where no outsiders exist. In reality, the ancient people who can fly and have extraordinary martial arts skills as depicted in TV dramas do exist. The Fu family has an ancestral martial art called the Ice Palm, which also helped them become one of the top three families at the end of the Ming dynasty. Generation after generation, although the Fu family is no longer involved in politics or the military, they have extensive connections and control the underworld in southern China, mainly operating entertainment venues, smuggling arms, and selling drugs."

  "Doesn't the government care about what they're doing?" Su Qing asked curiously.

  In Su Qing's understanding, China's laws are still very strict. Firearms and drugs are lucrative but also explicitly prohibited, so how can the Fu family openly defy them?

  "The Fu family has a special status and they are safe as long as they don't cross the government's bottom line."

  Bai Lao said helplessly, he was strongly opposed to the Fu family's approach. However, the Fu family's accumulation of several hundred years cannot be easily overthrown. The country is not unwilling to deal with the Fu family, but it's just that some things are hard to handle. There are many people involved with the Fu family, and if one thread is pulled, the whole body will move. If handled improperly, it may trigger a riot.

  "It seems like privilege is everywhere! Can Old Man Bai tell me which two families are the other two of the three major households?"

  Su Qing knew that the stronger one's abilities were, the more they would gain. Su Qing believed that in the future, she would have even more privileges, even if she didn't need them herself.

  "It's the Lei family and the Murong family. It's the Murong family where my son-in-law is."

  Bai Lao said it very calmly, but Su Qing gained a new understanding of Bai Lao and the Murong family from his words. However, Su Qing still had some curiosity.

  "Isn't the Murong family overseas? How are they still among the three major families?"

  Bai Lao seemed to know that Su Qing would ask this and answered her question very succinctly.

  "At the end of the Ming dynasty, the Murong family moved overseas due to the decision of the then head of the household, avoiding domestic war. The entire family relocated to Italy. However, they continued to pay close attention to China's situation and made significant contributions during the War of Resistance against Japan, also establishing connections with domestic forces. It can be said that even while living abroad, they had a profound impact on their home country."

  "What about Lei's family, are they in the country?"

  Su Qing's words were a question, but in her heart, she had already assumed that the Lei family was in the country. If there was only one Fu family in the country, then to avoid one family becoming too powerful and causing endless troubles in the future, the country would definitely eliminate the Fu family at all costs. However, since this wasn't the case, it was enough to prove that there was a force within the country that could counterbalance the Fu family - the Lei family. The two families were mutually restrained, allowing the country to reap the benefits as a fisherman.

  "The Lei family is in Shanghai, and the family members are keen on doing business and accumulating wealth. With knife law as the foundation of the family, they are now dominating the business world. Machinery, construction, jewelry, clothing, and internet, the Lei family has almost covered all areas of commerce."

  As Su Qing thought, the Lei family did not participate in the military and political circles, it should be a mutually recognized form of agreement with the government. A constraint method for the three major families not to expand their power within the country.

  "So does Grandpa Bai know Old Zhu of the Fu family?"

  Su Qing mentioned Zhu Changlao not only because she wanted to understand him personally, but also because she wanted to know how high the martial arts skills of people in this world could reach.

  "I didn't expect you to know this person. He is the elder of the Fu family, not surnamed Fu but has a high status in the Fu family. Apart from the three major families, there are also Shaolin, Kunlun and Wudang three major sects. Among the six major forces, excluding the unknown hermits, Zhu Chang's martial arts can be ranked among the top five."

  Listening to Bai Lao's introduction, Su Qing also felt at ease. If there were many people with abilities like Zhu Changlao, she might have unintentionally offended another powerful figure that day. Although her strength was not something to be afraid of, she still found it troublesome.

  "Are there many people in their family who have abilities like mine?"

  Su Qing asked and listened attentively as Bai Lao explained things for her.

  "All three families have their own armed forces, from which a batch of elite troops will be selected. The number is not large but the strength is strong. Like other general subordinates, the number may be more or less. In addition, each family has sent people to the National Security Department to perform tasks, and some difficult and dangerous tasks are completed by them. Those people should all be selected from the elite troops of the family, and their strength is much stronger than those who followed you."

  Su Qing learned a lot from Bai Lao, although in the eyes of outsiders, she was still far away from that height.

  "Today I heard you say so and I understood a lot, thank you very much." Su Qing sincerely thanked.

  "I don't know what caused the Fu family to pay attention to you either. If you can't solve the problem, be sure to tell me and I'll help you."

  Bai Lao didn't ask Su Qing what she did to offend the Fu family. If Su Qing wanted to say something, she would speak up on her own initiative; if not, asking was useless.

  Su Qing went home after having tea and chatting with Bai Lao again, and it was great to meet Su Chen on the way back.

  Su Chen did not buy the sports car he liked, but spent 700,000 to 800,000 yuan on an ordinary family sedan. Su Chen thought that for a family like his, even if they had money, it would be inappropriate to show off, and their political enemies might seize upon it and make an issue of it. Moreover, they were currently facing a crisis.

  I hope everyone will continue to support me, vote for me more and reward me more.