In the early days of Sampheng, there were several prominent-looking houses which belonged to wealthy Chinese addressed in Thai as 'Chao Sua' who had resided in Thailand for a long time and become so prosperous as to be respected among their fellow-countrymen. These Chao Suas acted as patrons or Eldest Brothers to the newly arrived, based on the family system, the core of which was the term 'intimacy'. Thus, patronage was given through the kind of care extended to Intimate friends who came to be regarded as relatives. Each 'family' serves as a unifying point for people of the same clan or hailing from the same locality. Assistance from Eldest Brothers came in the form of a loan to pay off the labor recruitment tax(phuk pi), pocket money, jobs as well as help in many other matters. In return, they had promises of the new comers physical effort as well as their loyalty. The family system gave rise to the formation of secret Chinese associations in later years.
