Chapter 23

"Brother Peng, you're here! Brother Peng, have you made anything fun lately?"

Seeing this little boy, Su Peng couldn't help but smile. This little boy was a child of the third branch of the Su family, Su Peng's cousin.

The old man Su had four brothers. The old man Su was the eldest, and the other three were a few to a dozen years younger than him.

These four brothers divided the Su family into four branches.

Among them, the eldest branch was the old man Su and Su Peng's line, all of whom were in the military, with the old man Su achieving the highest accomplishments, making the eldest branch the center of the four, managing the family business.

The others were the second branch of the Su family, who entered the armed police system, the third branch, who entered the political system, and the fourth branch, who operated military supplies.

The four branches of the Su family developed differently, with the eldest branch at the core, and the fourth branch, after years of operation, being the wealthiest.

As for the second and third branches, they were relatively less prominent.

This little boy was from the third branch, which was involved in politics. His name was very funny; perhaps his parents had read too many legends from the late Qing Dynasty, naming him Su Can, the same name as the martial arts champion Su Qi'er.

This little guy was particularly active and playful, always wanting to try everything, and he had a very good relationship with Su Peng because Su Peng had a talent for modifying toys.

Once, led by someone, the little guy went to Su Peng's detective office in an office building and played with a model helicopter that Su Peng had modified with a power system and a radio receiver. Su Peng had installed a camera on the helicopter, which could be remotely controlled within 400 meters and could take aerial photos. Su Can played with it happily, and he admired his older cousin immensely.

"Always thinking about playing." Su Peng looked at the chubby-faced Su Can, feeling a bit better. He ruffled Su Can's hair and took out his phone, saying, "I've modified this phone. It can intercept wireless signals within fifty meters, though it can't intercept call information. But you can intercept some information when someone uses the wireless network. You can play with it for a while."

"Ah?" Hearing this, Su Weiwai, who was standing next to Su Can, his eyes lit up. Before Su Can could take the phone, he laughed and took it from Su Peng, saying, "Brother, let me play with it first. I love this kind of high-tech... Hey, if it's good, can you make one for me? I've been eyeing a few female medical soldiers in the army. They love using QQ to chat and read novels. I can sneak a peek at what they're always laughing about."

"You, obsessed with peeping. Why not just ask for their QQ?" Su Peng couldn't help but laugh and scold Su Weiwai. Su Weiwai laughed and said, "My dad doesn't allow me to date in the army..."

Su Peng shook his head and laughed. Su Weiwai wasn't very studious and barely finished high school. He hung out with some so-called 'big brothers' at school and was quite mischievous. Seeing this, Su Peng's second uncle made him drop out and join the army, transferring him to a military unit for better supervision. Surprisingly, this had some effect, and Su Weiwai improved a lot, though he remained very active.

"Brother Weiwai, you're bullying me!" Seeing his favorite toy taken by Su Weiwai, Su Can pouted, making his face look even rounder. Su Weiwai glared at him and pinched his chubby cheeks.

Su Peng watched the two with a smile. The four branches of the Su family were quite harmonious internally. The so-called power struggles in large families only happened among the younger children. The adults were actually quite friendly, as everyone knew that the Su family's success was mainly due to the old man Su. With him in charge, there wasn't much internal conflict or waste.

Thus, the younger generation also had a harmonious relationship. Su Weiwai had often taken the young Su Can around when he was just a few years old, and they were just used to joking around.

"Su Can, what's bulging in your sleeve?"

Su Peng noticed Su Can's right hand was wrapped in his shirt, seemingly a bit fatter than his left. He asked the little Su Can.

"Ah, you found out, Big Brother..." Su Can stuck out his tongue, rolled up his sleeve, and Su Peng saw a black snake, about as thick as two adult fingers, coiled around Su Can's right arm!

"Damn!" Su Weiwai almost jumped in fright. He was fearless about everything except snakes.

Su Peng was also startled. That snake was clearly venomous!

"Ha, Brother Weiwai, you're such a coward. This snake has no fangs; they've been removed," Su Can laughed, seeing Su Weiwai's reaction.

"Even without fangs, it's still a venomous snake. Where did you get it?" Su Peng frowned and asked Su Can.

"I bought it... A few days ago, an old man came to the school gate with a jar full of snakes, saying they had their fangs removed. They cost twenty yuan each. I thought it looked fun, so I bought one. It's quite fun to play with, cool and smooth on the skin. Brother Weiwai, do you want to play with it? I can trade it for Big Brother's phone."

Su Can said to Su Weiwai, who shuddered and replied, "No thanks. Stay away from me, as far as possible!"

Su Peng frowned even more and said, "Little Can, be careful with the snake. Venomous snakes can regrow their fangs after a month or so. If it bites you then, it could be serious."

"Really?" Su Can was startled but then relaxed, thinking the snake probably hadn't grown its fangs back yet. "I almost got scammed... Okay, I'll take it to the wildlife sanctuary when I get home."

Su Peng nodded. Su Can and Su Weiwai had their good points. Though they were playful, they listened to others and were kind, not willing to harm others or kill animals. This was why Su Peng was willing to interact with them.

Su Can, not getting his toy, pouted and went to play by himself. At this moment, a few more people came in, the younger generation of the fourth branch. Su Peng checked the time; it was almost lunchtime. He called Su Weiwai, who was fiddling with the phone, and they went upstairs together.

On the second floor, there was another group of people, including Su Peng's uncles and aunts. The old man Su had three sons and a daughter, Su Peng's closest relatives. The others were cousins from the other branches, totaling over thirty people. Su Peng didn't know everyone, but he didn't stop greeting them after going upstairs.

"Su Peng, you're here." A steady-looking man in military uniform walked over. It was Su Peng's second uncle, Su Mingli, who was now a major general and likely to become a general before he turned fifty-five. Since Su Peng's father became a vegetative state, he had been the top military figure under the old man Su.

"Uncle, hello." Su Peng greeted Su Mingli, who nodded and said, "The younger generation is playing downstairs, but since you're the eldest grandson and are older, it's not suitable for you to be with the kids. You and Weiwai can stay upstairs."

Su Peng nodded. He didn't really like the current atmosphere, though everyone was from the Su family and well-mannered, without the usual chaotic party atmosphere. The second floor of this three-story building had a spacious area of several hundred square meters, but Su Peng still didn't like it.

However, he didn't have to wait long, as the birthday banquet was about to start. The Su family's hired servants and the old man Su's life secretary, who had a role similar to a butler, quickly set up the second floor as a banquet hall, arranging several tables and serving the dishes.

Su Peng knew that the chefs responsible for such banquets were specially assigned from the military to prepare meals for high-ranking leaders. The food was definitely delicious, and the ingredients, though not top-tier luxurious, were quite valuable, with sea cucumbers and soft-shelled turtles on every table, likely sent by the fourth branch, which operated in this field.

The Su family was quite默契 (cooperative), and despite the varying degrees of closeness, they arranged the seating according to their relationships. The children were called up by their parents to prepare for the banquet.

However, everyone stood, and no one sat down. Soon, footsteps were heard from the third floor, and Su Peng saw four spirited old men and a woman in her fifties walk down.

The room erupted in applause, with everyone wishing, "Happy birthday, Old Man Su!"

The old man Su, who looked white-haired but was still fit and lean in his military uniform, couldn't help but smile, waving to the people below.

This was the old man Su.

The others were the old man Su's brothers and sister... The old man Su's father, a founding general, had three wives in his lifetime. The old man Su and his second brother were born to the first wife, who died before the founding of the country. The third brother of the third branch was born to the second wife, who also died a few years after the founding. The third wife, whom the old man Su's father married during the turbulent years, gave birth to the fourth brother and the youngest sister, who was nearly thirty years younger than the old man Su. She married the son of a former minister of health, and her child now worked in the health department.

Su Peng's grandmother had already passed away, and the old man Su had not remarried.

At this moment, the old man Su had walked to the second floor. He pressed his hands slightly, signaling for silence, and the hall quieted down.

"Everyone, sit down." The old man Su spoke briefly and forcefully, and the Su family members sat down according to their status.

The old man Su, his four brothers and sister, his two sons, and the eldest sons of the other branches sat at one table.

The second generation of the other branches occupied the other tables. The old man Su was somewhat traditional and somewhat biased, so his daughter didn't have the privilege to sit at his table.

The third generation of the Su family occupied a few other tables.

Su Peng was about to sit with Su Weiwai and others, though most were children, it was more comfortable than sitting at the other tables.

Just as Su Peng was looking for a seat, he saw his third uncle, Su Mingfa, also in military uniform, waving at him.

Su Peng sighed and walked to the table where the old man Su was sitting.

"Grandpa, happy birthday." Walking to this table, Su Peng first greeted the old man Su, who was sitting in the main seat.

The old man Su nodded. He didn't dislike Su Peng, nor did he hate him, but because of his father's situation, he was somewhat cold towards him.

"The family banquet has started. You're the eldest grandson, so sit here." Su Mingfa said to Su Peng, who sighed inwardly. Su Mingfa, though strict, genuinely cared for him and had tried multiple times to mend the relationship between him and his grandfather. Su Peng, though indifferent to the family's cold treatment, appreciated Su Mingfa's intentions.

Since Su Mingfa called him to sit here today, it must have been with the old man Su's approval.

Sure enough, the old man Su nodded, and Su Peng noticed that a seat was already reserved for him at this table. He felt a sudden emotion, not excitement, but a faint sense of warmth and belonging.

Thinking about it, Su Peng sat down at this table.

The family banquet officially began.

Though everyone was celebrating the old man Su's birthday, and he should have said something, given his status in the Su family, he didn't want to waste words, and no one dared to force him to speak. Thus, everyone naturally started eating.

At Su Peng's table, the old men chatted about the family's affairs, such as a child marrying the daughter of a deputy provincial governor, another child marrying the mayor of a city in the east, and a girl graduating from a military medical university, and so on.

Su Peng quietly ate, and the other old men, who knew a bit about Su Peng, seeing the old man Su's tacit approval of Su Peng sitting at the main table, subtly steered the conversation towards him.

"Su Peng, what are you doing now?" Su Peng's fifth aunt, the old man Su's half-sister, brought up the topic of Su Peng after discussing her son's work.

"I'm working at a company... I'm a game proxy." Su Peng answered honestly, not wanting his family to know about his private detective work.

"Game proxy?" The old men were taken aback. It was understandable, as the Su family's children were either in the military, politics, or business. A game proxy was a new concept to them.

Su Peng felt, perhaps mistakenly, that when he mentioned his profession, his grandfather's eyes first showed a flash of surprise, followed by a complex look, as if... as if there was a bit more warmth and a hint of guilt in his gaze.

"Ha, a game proxy... a new profession, I guess. We're out of touch with the times... Su Peng, are you interested in joining your fourth uncle in business?"

Su Peng's fourth uncle picked up the conversation and asked him.

"Business?" Su Peng was slightly surprised and glanced at the old man Su.

The Su family knew that the old man Su didn't like to pave the way for family members, preferring them to make their own way. But today, his fourth uncle asked if he was interested in the family business, clearly with the old man Su's approval. Otherwise, his fourth uncle wouldn't go against his grandfather's wishes.

Seeing Su Peng look at him, the usually authoritative old man Su coughed, took a sip of wine to hide his discomfort, and avoided eye contact with Su Peng, which made Su Peng feel very strange.

"Not for now... I like my job and want to continue for a while." Su Peng politely declined his fourth uncle's offer.

"Ha, it's good for young people to have their own ideas, but Su Peng, if you're interested in business or politics, feel free to come to us." Su Peng's third uncle, who led the third branch in the administrative system, said to him.

"What's going on today? Why such a sudden change..." Su Peng was confused, not knowing what had happened, but he replied, "Not for now, but if I do, I'll definitely ask for help from Third Uncle and Fourth Uncle."

"Sure, you can also ask your Second Uncle. If anything happens in Zhonghai, come to me or Uncle Hui. After all, with Zhonghai as the center, we Su family members still have some influence in the military and police systems." Su Peng's second uncle, Su Zhongda, said.

"Sure..."

Su Peng agreed, feeling even more puzzled. What was going on today? The old man Su usually disapproved of family members relying on the family's power, but today, his second uncle's words seemed to say, "Don't be afraid of trouble. If anyone bothers you, just deal with them; your second uncle will back you up, and you have the support of the 40,000 armed police around Zhonghai!"

Su Peng didn't know what had happened, even jokingly suspecting he had accidentally traveled through time. The old man Su didn't say anything but took another sip of wine, occasionally looking at Su Peng. Su Peng felt, perhaps mistakenly, that there was a hint of guilt in his gaze.

The family banquet proceeded in a harmonious atmosphere. Su Peng felt strange and had little to talk about with the old men and uncles. Su Mingfa, understanding, smiled and said, "Su Peng, if you're uncomfortable here, you can go to Weiwai and the others."

Su Peng felt relieved, nodded, and was about to say goodbye to the old man Su when he felt someone pulling him from behind.

Puzzled, Su Peng turned around and saw little Su Can, who had run over at some point.

"What are you doing here?" Su Can's father, who was at the same table, scolded him.

Su Can looked at his father, then greeted the old man Su, "Grandpa, happy birthday," and pulled Su Peng aside, whispering, "Brother Peng, something happened!"

"Huh? What is it?" Su Peng asked, puzzled.

"I lost my snake in the dining hall, and I don't know where it went." Su Can said, looking distressed.

"What?" Su Peng frowned. The snake was definitely venomous, and the Su family's place was large. If the snake hid somewhere and regrew its fangs, it could be dangerous if it bit the old man Su.

"I don't know how I lost it... I don't know who to tell. If my dad finds out, I'm done." Su Can's face was almost in tears as he whispered to Su Peng.

"What are you two talking about?" Su Peng's second uncle, Su Mingli, frowned and asked.

Su Peng was about to explain when a cry rang out from the edge of the dining hall!

Su Peng was startled and saw a little girl, about six or seven years old, from the third generation's table, crying.

"Snake! Snake!"

The children at that table stood up and ran around the room, as if trying to avoid something.

The adults at the other tables also stood up, seeing something and trying to avoid it. The room quickly became chaotic!

The old man Su's expression turned serious, and Su Mingfa and Su Mingli frowned, standing up to see