Family

Su Ti was noncommittal about Team Leader Liu's advice and admonishments, but...

"Team Leader Liu, this matter isn't over yet."

"What do you mean by that?"

Team Leader Liu was puzzled. Since Su Ti had escaped from the Death Fighting Competition, as far as he was concerned, the matter should have ended there.

The remaining investigation was their business.

"The organizer of the Death Fighting Competition, that man with the silver mask, he doesn't want to let me go. Before he left, he even told me that he would see me again next time."

Su Ti spoke slowly, but in his heart, he wasn't 100% trusting of Team Leader Liu. The reason was simple: the organizer was able to get information in advance and calmly retreat from the police's encirclement. The police arrived more than ten minutes after they left the scene. With such great power, he didn't believe there wasn't any collusion involved.

However, having said that, it was unlikely that the underground boxing organizer had infiltrated the entire Public Security Bureau. Not believing them at all also didn't make sense.

Based on Su Ti's observation, Team Leader Liu was likely trustworthy, so Su Ti chose to tell Team Leader Liu about the seriousness of the matter and seek his help.

"There's such a thing."

Team Leader Liu was a little surprised, and then his years of experience quickly helped him figure it out.

The Death Fighting Competition, aside from being unrestricted, had many similarities to many boxing matches in reality.

The fundamental source of profit for this kind of competition came from the betting on the outcome of the matches.

And the size of the betting pool depended on the popularity of the match.

The fighter's reputation, hype, and so on, all related to the popularity of a match, which in turn affected the revenue of the match.

Su Ti's upset victory this time, winning against a professional fighter as a nobody, must have left a deep impression on the audience.

To make more money, the organizer would definitely want to capture him again, use him as a gimmick, hold matches, manipulate the betting pool, and thus extract profits.

Once it reached that point, Su Ti would be in danger.

"I can dispatch police officers to protect you secretly."

Thinking of this relationship, Team Leader Liu immediately said seriously, but Su Ti refused.

"It's useless, Team Leader Liu. You can only be a thief all day, but you can't guard against a thief all day. You can protect me for a day or two, but you can't protect me forever, especially since I see how timely the organizer of this event escaped this time, which shows they have great power and influence."

Su Ti's last sentence was meaningful but didn't explicitly state it.

With an inside man as a premise, he didn't dare to gamble on the police station's protection.

Team Leader Liu, being an old police officer for so many years, immediately understood Su Ti's meaning. He looked at Su Ti deeply, not expecting him to be able to think to this extent. This kind of mindset made him believe Su Ti's previous claim of being a genius to some extent.

These words also made Team Leader Liu calm down and think carefully. Following this line of reasoning, if there was really an undercover agent in the bureau, then sending people to protect Su Ti would indeed be useless.

Team Leader Liu was silent for a moment and began to write.

A piece of paper with an address and phone number was handed over by Team Leader Liu. Su Ti took it and looked at it, feeling a little confused.

"This is?"

"You go to this place and say that Liu Xing introduced you. For my sake, they should shelter you."

Su Ti picked it up and saw that the address on the paper ended with the four large characters "Dragon Gate Martial Hall".

"Martial hall?"

"That's right, it's a martial hall. You'll know when you go."

Team Leader Liu looked at Su Ti with complicated eyes. This method was a last resort. Although he was a deputy captain, he was powerless against the organizer of the Death Fighting Competition and didn't want to see this young man, Su Ti, suddenly disappear one day without a trace and become a corpse. He could only take this step.

"If what you say is true, with your martial arts talent, they should accept you. If they don't, come back to me, and I'll think of another way for you."

Although he didn't know what kind of help a martial hall could provide him, Su Ti saw Team Leader Liu's serious expression and knew that the other party was genuinely helping him, so he accepted the paper and said sincerely.

"Thank you, Team Leader Liu."

"You're welcome. Protecting the safety of citizens is what we should do. Also, if there is any new information about the underground boxing or successful arrests, we will notify you as soon as possible."

Team Leader Liu sighed deeply and added.

"Of course, before the underground boxing organizer is apprehended, you still need to pay more attention to your personal safety. Don't go to some remote places, and if anything feels wrong, call the police immediately, understood?"

Su Ti nodded, indicating that he understood.

The matter was over, and both sides had stood up, ready to leave. Just then, Su Ti suddenly remembered something.

"Oh right, Team Leader Liu, there's one more thing I'd like you to help with. It's about me killing someone. Can you not tell my family? I don't want them to know."

Regarding his family in this life, although Su Ti had memories, he was still somewhat unfamiliar with them. Killing someone was not something to brag about, so it was better to hide it if possible.

Team Leader Liu patted Su Ti's shoulder. He could understand this kind of thing. Although it was self-defense, it would still make one feel somewhat uncomfortable if their relatives knew about it.

"Don't worry, the Death Fighting Competition case is still under investigation. For your protection, we will not disclose the case information to the public. Your family will only know that you were rescued by the police and will not know the specific details inside."

"That's good."

In the hall, three adults were waiting anxiously.

"Husband, do you think Su Ti will be alright? It's been so long and he hasn't come out yet."

The ordinary-looking woman with her hair in a bun and slightly yellowish skin was anxious. A thin man with black-rimmed glasses and a bald head next to her quickly comforted her.

"He should be fine. The police officer told us earlier that he was rescued in time and wasn't injured."

Although the bald man offered comfort, his words lacked conviction.

Beside him, a middle-aged man in a suit, with a large belly, oily face, and a prosperous appearance, also tried to console her.

"Yes, sister-in-law, don't worry. There should be results soon."

"It's all your fault. At first, he said he was going to find a job, and I didn't agree. You insisted on letting him get some experience. If something happens to the child, I, I..."

As the woman spoke, her eyes turned red. The bald man with glasses quickly went up to comfort her.

Just then, the bald man's eyes lit up, and he said happily.

"He's out! Ah Qing, look, our son is out."

Su Ti walked into the hall and was immediately embraced by the woman who rushed over.

Then, two middle-aged men, one fat and one thin, walked over. Their appearance was seven parts similar to his.

"Wuwuwu, my son, you've worried your mother to death. Are you hurt anywhere? Let Mom see."

This ordinary-looking woman in front of him, who was crying non-stop, was Su Ti's current mother, Liu Qing.

Liu Qing taught at City Third Middle School and was a junior high school math teacher.

Su Ti not returning home the night before last was the first thing she discovered. After finding that his phone couldn't be reached, she immediately called the police. She hadn't slept for nearly a day and a night, waiting for news.

Su Ti had already learned about these things from the detective.

"Mom, I'm fine."

Looking at Liu Qing, who was crying her eyes out in front of him, Su Ti felt a little moved. In his previous life, his parents died in a car accident early, and he didn't have many relatives at home. He had always been alone. After many years, this was the first time he experienced the feeling of being cared for.

"It's good that you're fine, it's good that you're fine. Let's go home."

There were five people in the car: Su Ti, Su Ti's father Su Zimo, mother Liu Qing, Su Ti's father's older brother, who was also Su Ti's uncle Su Zihao.

There was also one more person, Su Zihao's driver.

"Su Ti, I heard from the detective that you were captured by people from the underground black boxing this time. Are you okay?"

In the car, Liu Qing had already fallen asleep due to exhaustion and relief after seeing Su Ti. It was his father, Su Zimo, sitting to Su Ti's right, who was speaking.

Su Zimo's profession was the same as Liu Qing's, both teachers. However, he was a Chinese teacher at Mingguang City Fourth Middle School, also teaching junior high.

Su Zimo had the standard appearance of a scholar: thin, always with a stern face, sparse hair on top, and wearing a pair of black-rimmed glasses. Unlike the doting Liu Qing, he was very strict with his son.

In the original owner's memory, there were many memories of being hit on the palm with a ruler by Father Su for not being able to recite texts when he was a child. Thanks to his father, Su Ti eventually became a member of the liberal arts, majoring in history in college.

"It's nothing. The detective arrived very promptly. I was rescued before I even got on stage."

"That's good."

Su Zimo breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this. The underground black boxing murder cases in Mingguang City were causing a sensation. How could he not know his own son? Usually, let alone fighting, he didn't even dare to kill a chicken. If he was caught and forced to fight in underground black boxing, he would die tragically in the ring in minutes.

"Su Ti, your uncle thought about it. Don't do the food delivery job anymore. Where can you train during the summer vacation? Come to your uncle's company. Your uncle will pay you. It's been a long time since you've seen your cousins, so it's good to get to know them."

Unlike the refined Su Zimo, Uncle Su Zihao had a large belly, an oily face, and a gold necklace as thick as a finger around his neck, looking like a nouveau riche.

In fact, he was. Uncle Su Zihao and Father Su were twin brothers. One studied literature at home, and the other went out to do business.

His uncle had been out exploring for many years and had only recently returned. It was said that he had made a large fortune and had his own company. This return was, firstly, to return home in glory and help his family, and secondly, to open a branch company at home.

"Brother, I've said it many times. Children can't rely on their families. You can take care of them for a while, but you can't take care of them for a lifetime. Sooner or later, they have to stand on their own in society."

Su Zimo was somewhat dissatisfied with Su Zihao's generosity. In terms of education methods, he was always old-fashioned, believing that boys should exercise more and endure more hardship to become successful.

Su Zihao pouted and didn't argue with Su Zimo. The car continued on its way and soon arrived downstairs at the Su family's apartment building in an old urban area.

After the car stopped, Su Zihao said.

"Zimo, you help sister-in-law up first. I have something to say to Su Ti."

"Don't fill his head with any toxic chicken soup. Boys can't rely on their uncles. They have to be successful on their own."

"You worry less. Su Ti just had an accident not long ago. I'll have a heart-to-heart talk with him."

With that, Father Su helped Liu Qing upstairs. After they left, in the car, Su Zihao directly handed a bank card back.

Hmm?

Su Ti was confused. What was this?

"Take it. It's been so many years since we last met. This is the pocket money your uncle is giving you. You just went through such a big thing, this money is to calm your nerves."

"The password is your birthday. There are fifty thousand yuan in it. Take the money and buy whatever you want. Don't do anything silly like delivering food late at night again for a few bucks."

"Uncle, this... isn't good."

Su Ti said this, but his hand directly took the card. His phone and the electric bike he bought for food delivery were lost during the kidnapping. He was penniless and desperately needed money.

Su Zihao lit a cigarette, exhaled through his nostrils, and said generously.

"What's this? Your uncle made a lot of money this time. Don't listen to your dad about enduring hardship. Your uncle tells you, the more hardship you can endure, the more hardship you will endure. Money is ultimately for smart people."

Su Ti put the card in his pocket. This was true.

"Thank you, Uncle. Then I'll accept it."

"Alright, it's getting late. Go back and rest. In a few days, your uncle will bring your cousins to your house as guests. You younger generation haven't seen each other much, so you should get to know each other more."

"Okay, thank you, Uncle."

His uncle waved his hand, letting the driver leave, while Su Ti returned home with the bank card containing fifty thousand yuan.

"I'm back."

As soon as Su Ti entered the door, his father shushed him.

"Keep it down, your mother just fell asleep. These past few days have worn her out. Don't wake her up."

"Okay."

Su Ti sat down casually and looked around the house. Although it was decorated warmly, the house itself was quite old. It was a second-hand house that his parents had bought when they got married, and for so many years, the family had never had the money to buy a new one.

"Did your uncle give you any money?"

Seeing Su Ti sitting casually on the sofa, his father felt a bit strange.

Because of the strict upbringing since childhood, Su Ti always had a sense of fear towards him and didn't dare to be presumptuous in front of him, even feeling a bit constrained.

But now...

His father quickly understood.

It must be because he had gone through such a dangerous experience, walking through the gates of hell, that he had grown up.

"No, he just said a few words to me and told me to come up."

"It's good that he didn't. Although your uncle is rich, his money is his. He earned it through hard work, and we can't take it, do you understand?"

During the time Su Zihao had been back, he had been trying to help their family both openly and secretly, even giving his father money several times, which his father had refused.

It wasn't that he was heartless, but deep down, his father believed that measuring kinship with money was a very bad behavior.

If he accepted Su Zihao's money, the relationship between the two families would change. How would Su Zihao's children see him in the future, and how would they see his children? Could the two families still have an equal relationship?

Therefore, although he knew Su Zihao meant well, Su Zimo still held firm to his principles: one might be poor, but their ambition should not be short.