Shadows of the Deep Space-Chapter 96 Su Family (Second Update)

Jiang Yu immediately turned to introduce Su Ming.

"This is Mr. Tao, your great-uncle by marriage from your Fourth Aunt’s side, and also your elder."

"Hello."

Su Ming immediately greeted politely.

"Good, good!"

Mr. Tao smiled in response.

"Please have a seat, I’ll take him inside."

Jiang Yu politely excused himself, before leading Su Ming further in.

Once inside the courtyard, the stares of all the seated guests turned to Jiang Yu and Su Ming; their late arrival was so conspicuous.

Jiang Yu maintained his smile, walking Su Ming further in and introducing him to others.

"This is your grandfather’s distant cousin, and that one is your mother’s cousin..."

"Hello..."

Su Ming greeted each person politely, noticing that the closer to the inner seats, the guests were either more closely related or of higher status, signifying a hierarchical seating arrangement.

At that moment, in the villa’s main hall, the banquet tables were filled with guests, with a qipao-clad waitress standing to the side of each table. At the very end of the hall, a T-shaped stage was set up, covered with a red carpet.

Below the T-stage, there was a grand banquet table with seats for fifty people.

Su Zhen Tian sat at the head of the table. On his right was a white-haired woman with a face full of wrinkles and a cold gaze, while to his left sat a middle-aged man with a square face, thick brows, and sturdy build, his demeanor steady.

These two were Su Zhen Tian’s wife, Zhou Xuanyue, and his eldest son, Su Yao.

Apart from his eldest son, Su Yao, the table also seated his third son, Su Ying, fourth son, Su Dong, fifth son, Su Feilong, and seventh son, Su Haiwei, along with their wives and children.

Su Zhen Tian had a total of nine children, six sons and three daughters who all married out.

The married daughters were also invited, but could not sit at the main table; they were all seated at side tables.

At the table, several finely dressed ladies were chatting leisurely.

"What time is it now? He hasn’t come yet."

"Exactly, it’s too slow, we’re all waiting for him."

"Speaking of which, I can’t believe how Su Ming got accepted into the Imperial Court Academy. It’s utterly unbelievable."

"I’m perplexed; I just heard not long ago that he tried to hang himself over a female classmate."

"Yes! I’m also curious, how did he pass the exams? If it weren’t for the Imperial Court Sect directly overseeing this session, I’d suspect he cheated."

"I think the same."

...

During this low murmur of conversation among the ladies, a chubby young man with acne on the corners of his mouth and dressed in ornate clothing complained while clutching his stomach.

"Why hasn’t he arrived yet? I’m starving to death, can’t we just start without waiting?!"

Seeing his youngest son fussing to start the meal, Su Dong mustered the courage to speak to Su Zhen Tian.

"Father, why don’t we start eating first? The dishes are getting cold."

Su Zhen Tian glared directly at his fourth son, Su Dong, and slammed his hand on the table as he scolded.

"Damn it, this is a celebration for education, for Su Bin, Su Ming, and Su Le, not for you. What do you need to eat for? You’re really stupid to death."

Su Dong immediately recoiled, not daring to make another sound.

"Alright, don’t scold on such a happy day, stupid or not, he is still your son."

Zhou Xuanyue calmly interjected.

Hearing Zhou Xuanyue’s words, Su Zhen Tian found himself at a loss for words, angrily suppressing his temper.

Truth be told, if guests were not present today, he would have beaten this fool thoroughly. This man had failed to properly instruct his own son, assisted him in cheating, and was caught red-handed, costing him a Third Generation Machine.

Now he had the gall to suggest starting the meal first, making Su Zhen Tian fume with anger.

Meanwhile, his other sons, such as Su Ying, watched on like spectators to a play, as Su Dong was scolded, without the slightest intention of speaking up for him.

Just then, a guest sitting near the doorway suddenly shouted.

"He’s here, he’s here!"

...

"At last, they’ve arrived."

Su Ming’s cousins muttered to each other in hushed tones.

At that moment, Jiang Yu walked in with Su Ming, and guests along the way turned their gazes toward him. Many people quietly discussed among themselves.

"Which young master of the Su Family is this boy? I’ve never seen him before."

"It looks like it’s the ninth’s!"

"Wasn’t the ninth’s kid really fat?"

"I’m not sure."

...

By now, Su Ming and Jiang Yu had reached the main banquet table amidst everyone’s stares and whispers.

Su Zhen Tian looked at Su Ming, slightly taken aback and somewhat unable to recognize him at first.

His memory of Su Ming was still from several years back, when Su Ming had been quite overweight.

Su Yao and others were also surprised to see Su Ming, thinking unexpected thoughts. Could it be that the ninth’s son has grown to be so striking?

"Grandpa, Grandma, hello."

Su Ming greeted Su Zhen Tian and Zhou Xuanyue with a polite bow.

"Master, the young master has arrived."

Jiang Yu spoke respectfully.

Then, Su Zhen Tian snapped back to his senses and burst into laughter.

"Haha, indeed, my good grandson! It seems you took my words to heart and have truly slimmed down."

"All thanks to Grandpa’s good guidance."

Su Ming replied adeptly.

"Well said! By the way, where is your father? Why didn’t he come?"

Su Zhen Tian stood up, his mood clearly upbeat, and inquired.

"Grandpa, my father hasn’t been feeling well lately. He caught a severe cold yesterday and is at home resting in bed, so I came by myself."

Su Ming quickly explained to Su Zhen Tian.

"Damn it, I’ve told him over and over to exercise more and he never listens. Let’s not bring him up on such a great day."

Su Zhen Tian wasn’t in the mood to scold Su Yuan today.

"Grandpa is right."

Su Ming responded meekly.

"Su Ming, Su Le, Su Bin, come with me!"

Su Zhen Tian waved grandly and then headed towards a stage that had been set up behind him.

At that point, a boy dressed in ordinary clothes, wearing glasses, and appearing quite studious, along with a youth in branded trendy apparel boasting a starry sky luxury watch and exuding an air of arrogance, rose from the main table and walked up to the stage.

Su Ming followed them onto the stage, glancing at the two with some surprise. There were two more from the Su Family accepted into Imperial Court Academy this year. It seemed they had invested a lot in education, which was no wonder the Su family was doing so well.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I am very grateful for your presence at the Su Family’s educational celebration banquet today. I now have the great honor of introducing to you three young talents of the Su Family: Su Bin, Su Ming, and Su Le. They have achieved outstanding results in this year’s city exams and have been admitted to Imperial Court Academy as external students."

Su Zhen Tian called out in a loud voice to introduce them to everyone.

Clap, clap~

Inside the hall, everyone began to applaud enthusiastically.

"Congratulations!"

"Congratulations!"

"A future full of bright prospects!"

...

Su Zhen Tian raised his hand to signal everyone to quieten down. As the hall fell silent, he addressed the crowd.

"Everyone seated here is a close friend or relative of the Su Family, and you all know me, Su Zhen Tian, very well. You’re aware of my temperament, that I always mean what I say! The last time we had an educational celebration banquet, I said it! Whoever studies hard and gets into Imperial Court Academy, I will certainly reward handsomely. Now, I announce a gift of ten million Federation coins as a red envelope for each of the three, Su Ming, to congratulate them for being admitted to Imperial Court Academy!"