127: Daqiang forces his way into a lavish birthday banquet, but his three sons' antics are thwarted by the rest of the family.

At 10:00 AM on Friday, in the fountain square below the Zhongcheng Group building, strings of red lanterns were swaying in the wind — Su Daqiang had hired people to hang them, claiming it was to build momentum for his upcoming sixtieth birthday. Wrapped in a new Tang Suit embroidered with the character for 'Fortune,' he held a cardboard sign that read 'Begging daughter for a luxurious birthday banquet, unfilial director treats biological father coldly.' He sat on the red-carpeted steps and wailed at the employees entering and exiting the office building, his voice audible from half a street away.

Su Mingyu had just come out of the parking lot, clutching the acceptance report for the new energy project (which had just passed its first batch of inspections yesterday, and General Manager Meng had just praised her), when Su Daqiang lunged at her and grabbed her arm. 'Mingyu! It's my sixtieth birthday, you must throw me a luxurious banquet! Book the "Golden Jade Building" in the city center, twenty tables at eight thousand eight hundred each, and hire a theater troupe!' Su Daqiang's nails dug into her sleeve. 'You're a director now, this bit of money is nothing to you! Mingzhe told you not to be stingy, and Mingcheng said we should let the relatives see the Su Family's prestige!'

Su Mingyu's arm throbbed from the grip, and she frowned, trying to shake him off. 'Dad, a normal birthday banquet for five thousand yuan can be done very well. Eight thousand eight hundred per table at the Golden Jade Building is too wasteful! Besides, most of the relatives are out of town; they won't even fill twenty tables!'

'Wasteful? You're just looking down on me because I'm old and useless!' Su Daqiang sat on the ground and thrust the sign in front of Mingyu. 'I don't care! You must do it! Otherwise, I'll sit at your office door and cry so you can't move your project forward!'

Just as he finished speaking, Su Mingcheng emerged from behind a nearby tree, dangling an empty liquor bottle and swaying casually. 'Sis, Dad is right, the birthday banquet needs to be a big deal! If you don't do it, I'll go cause a scene at Hengtong Electronics — the new energy project you're collaborating on with them, I'll say you used defective parts and make them terminate the partnership!'

Before Su Mingyu could retort, her mobile phone rang. It was a video call from Su Mingzhe. He was wearing a newly tailored suit, with a Chinese restaurant in the United States as his background. 'Mingyu, Dad's sixtieth birthday is a major event, you should spend a bit more money. I have to pay off credit card debts lately and really can't produce the money, so you handle it for Dad first, and I'll pay you back later. Oh, right, remember to tell the relatives at the banquet that I'm doing well in America; don't lose the Su Family's face.'

The three of them pulled, tugged, and played off each other, cornering Su Mingyu in a difficult position. More and more employees and customers gathered around, some taking out mobile phones to snap photos, while others pointed and whispered at Mingyu. Right then, Zhu Li and Wu Fei arrived with Xiao Mi — Zhu Li had received a WeChat message from Su Daqiang in the morning saying 'Mingyu is unfilial, come and talk to her.' Fearing Mingyu would be at a disadvantage, she had dragged along Wu Fei, who had just dropped Xiao Mi off at calligraphy class, and they happened to stumble upon this scene.

'Su Mingcheng, don't go too far!' Zhu Li stepped forward to pull Su Mingcheng away, but he brushed her off. 'The birthday banquet is a Su Family matter; it has nothing to do with an outsider like you!'

'I'm an outsider?' Zhu Li pulled out her mobile phone and tapped on a clause in the divorce agreement. 'When I divorced you, Dad said he wouldn't ask me for anything in the future. What right do you have to make decisions for him now?'

Wu Fei also chimed in: 'Su Mingzhe, you have over fifty thousand dollars in your American account and even bought a fifteen-thousand-dollar watch last week. How can you say you have no money? You just want Mingyu to pay for everything alone!'

Xiao Mi hid behind Wu Fei, tugging at her hem and whispering, 'Mom, Grandpa called a man in a suit (the banquet planner) yesterday and said, "Let the auntie pay for twenty tables, and I'll keep a hundred thousand for myself to buy a jade bracelet." The man said Grandpa has a bank card in his Tang suit pocket.'

Su Daqiang's face turned white instantly, and he hurriedly clutched his Tang suit pocket, muttering, 'Kids shouldn't talk nonsense! Where would I get a bank card?'

'Whether you have one or not, we'll know once we see the evidence.' Xie Hui's voice came from outside the crowd. He was carrying a black briefcase, followed by a man in a suit — the account manager of the Golden Jade Building hotel, holding a banquet quote that read: 'Su Daqiang requested an inflated cost for 5 tables; actual booking is only 15 tables, the difference to be kept by him.'

Xie Hui parted the crowd and walked up, nodding first to the account manager. 'Please explain the birthday banquet quote to Mr. Su.'

The account manager opened the quote and pointed to the 'Remarks' column. 'Mr. Su Daqiang, you came to the hotel three days ago to book the banquet and asked us to report fifteen tables as twenty, inflating each table by one thousand yuan. You said "My daughter has money and won't check," and asked us to settle the difference to you in cash. Is that correct?'

Su Daqiang panicked instantly and reached out to grab the quote. 'You're lying! I never said that!'

'Whether you said it or not, it'll be clear after listening to the recording.' Xie Hui took a mobile phone from his briefcase and played a recording — it was recorded three days ago using Time Stop, capturing Su Daqiang's conversation with the account manager at the Golden Jade Building: 'Just report it as twenty tables, I'll keep the extra fifty thousand for myself to buy a jade bracelet; Mingzhe told me to take the chance to have Mingyu help him pay his credit card, and Mingcheng wants me to get Mingyu to find him a job. If we join forces, we can definitely get this money!' In the recording, Su Daqiang could also be heard saying, 'I've saved the thirty thousand Mingyu gave me before, plus this difference, I can buy a good jade bracelet.'

As soon as the recording played, the surrounding chatter exploded: 'So he wanted to inflate the costs to embezzle! This old man is so cold-hearted!' 'Director Su is so pitiful, her own family calculates against her every day!'

Su Daqiang's face turned the color of pig liver. He tried to snatch the mobile phone but Xie Hui turned and pinned his wrist. Seeing this, Su Mingcheng raised the liquor bottle to strike, but Xie Hui grabbed his wrist and gave it a gentle twist — using the force-deflecting technique of the Nine Yin Manual learned from the condor heroes world. The bottle fell to the ground with a 'clatter,' and Su Mingcheng let out a pained howl.

'Su Mingcheng, I warned you last time. If you dare raise a hand again, I'll break it. Did you treat my words like wind passing your ears?' Xie Hui's tone was as cold as ice as he pulled a gambling debt notice from his briefcase. 'You owe another twenty thousand in gambling debts and want Mingyu to help you pay? This notice was just delivered to the Su Family Old Residence yesterday. Did you think no one knew?'

Su Mingcheng's face went white instantly, and he hung his head, not daring to speak. On the video call, Su Mingzhe hurriedly turned off his camera, his voice stammering, 'I... I have things to do, hanging up now!'

Xie Hui then produced Su Daqiang's bank statement and threw it in front of him. 'You have the thirty thousand yuan in pension money Mingyu gave you last year in your bank, plus twenty thousand you saved yourself. You aren't short of money for a banquet at all! You just wanted to take the chance to embezzle and demand benefits for Su Mingzhe and Su Mingcheng!'

The 'Balance: 50,000 yuan' on the statement was particularly glaring. Su Daqiang couldn't bear to stay any longer; he scrambled up, grabbed his sign, and ran toward an alley. Su Mingcheng also hurried to follow, nearly falling into the fountain pool as he ran. The surrounding employees and customers watched their pathetic retreating figures and discussed: 'This family is too selfish!' 'Luckily Mr. Xie arrived in time, otherwise Director Su would have been wronged again!'

Su Mingyu breathed a sigh of relief, rubbing her reddened arm, and said to Xie Hui, 'Thank you, Mr. Xie. I have to trouble you every time.'

'Don't be so polite with me.' Xie Hui pulled a bottle of warm honey water from his inner universe and handed it to her — knowing she had been busy with the project and feeling stressed, he had prepared it specifically. 'After that commotion, you surely aren't in the mood for plain water; drink some to soothe your throat. I've already told General Manager Meng to have the security guards block the Su Family people from now on so they can't enter the office building.'

Zhu Li and Wu Fei also walked over. Zhu Li held a newly printed streamlined banquet plan: 'Mr. Xie, I asked a friend to make a banquet plan. It can be done very respectably for five thousand yuan, no need for a grand affair.'

Wu Fei waved the calligraphy work in her hand; it was the character for 'Fortune' written by Xiao Mi. 'Xiao Mi specifically wrote a longevity character. Actually, Dad just wants an excuse to ask for money. If we use Xiao Mi's calligraphy as a gift, he'll be too embarrassed to cause another scene.'

Xie Hui nodded and pulled three small porcelain bottles from his inner universe, handing one to each of them. 'This is the nine flower jade dew pill. You've had a fright today; taking one will calm your nerves. Tonight, I've booked a private restaurant to treat you and Xiao Mi to dinner to celebrate Mingyu's project passing its inspection.'

Hearing 'dinner,' Xiao Mi immediately poked her head out from behind Wu Fei, holding up her 'Fortune' character. 'Uncle, if I give the Fortune character I wrote to Grandpa, he won't cause trouble anymore, right?'

Xie Hui smiled and patted her head. 'Xiao Mi's Fortune character is the most precious; Grandpa will definitely like it.'

In the afternoon, Su Mingyu went back to the company to handle the project wrap-up. General Manager Meng specifically came over and patted her shoulder. 'Mingyu, thanks to Mr. Xie helping you keep your family matters at bay, you were able to focus on the project. The Board has already approved your promotion to Vice President next month!'

Su Mingyu felt a warmth in her heart and took out her mobile phone to send Xie Hui a message: 'Thank you. The project passed, and General Manager Meng said I'm getting promoted.'

Xie Hui replied quickly: 'Congratulations. Let's celebrate properly tonight.'

That evening, in the private restaurant, warm yellow light spilled over the dining table. Xiao Mi sat next to Xie Hui, her face covered in strawberry cake as she ate, and she gave her 'Fortune' calligraphy to Xie Hui. 'Uncle, this is for you. I wish you happiness every day.'

Xie Hui took the calligraphy, carefully folded it, and put it in his wallet. 'Thank you, Xiao Mi. Uncle will keep it safe.'

Su Mingyu placed a piece of steamed fish in Xie Hui's bowl. 'Thanks to you for helping me expose Dad's scheme today. This fish is fresh, eat more.'

Zhu Li served Xie Hui a bowl of corn and pork rib soup. 'This soup has been simmering for three hours; it's good for your Qi and blood. You must be tired from running around today.'

Wu Fei looked at the scene and said with a smile, 'Xiao Mi told me today that she wants Uncle to play with her every weekend, saying Uncle is much more reliable than her daddy.'

Xie Hui raised his glass and said with a smile, 'Come, let's toast! To Mingyu's promotion, and to us never being bothered by those annoying Su Family matters again. May our lives get better and better!'

'Cheers!' The four glasses clinked together, and Xiao Mi also raised her juice box, shouting in a sweet, childish voice, 'Cheers! To living a good life with Uncle, Mommy, and Aunts!'

When the gathering ended, Xie Hui drove them home one by one. When he dropped Su Mingyu off, she took a handmade car hanging from her bag — it was made of deep blue cotton, embroidered with a small sailboat and the tiny character for 'Peace.' 'Mr. Xie, I sewed this over the weekend. I wish you safe driving. Thank you for always protecting me and helping me focus on my projects.'

Xie Hui took the hanging; the fabric felt soft, and the sailboat's stitching was very delicate. 'I like it very much, thank you. No matter what happens in the future, I will be here.'

Su Mingyu's face turned red instantly. She turned and walked quickly into the apartment building, then turned back after a few steps to wave at Xie Hui. The streetlights fell on her face like a soft layer of sugar, exceptionally gentle.

On the drive home, Xie Hui hung the sailboat charm on the rearview mirror; it swayed gently as the wind blew. He touched the inner universe at his chest — inside were today's recording, the bank statement, the banquet quote, Xiao Mi's Fortune character, and the charm from Su Mingyu. These were not cold objects, but proof that the three female leads were becoming more confident, and the meaning behind his protection.

As the night deepened, the car traveled smoothly under the streetlights, a smile remaining on Xie Hui's face — the satisfying journey in the all is well world was still continuing. He had already begun to look forward to seeing the three Su Family men completely give up their troublemaking, and seeing the three female leads completely cast off their shadows to live the brilliant lives they desired. And he would always be their most solid support, accompanying them through every stretch of the road.