Song Qiao was strolling around the company grounds.
"Yes, the New Year is just a couple of days away."
"It's the festive holiday I promised to spend with Ye Zhiwei."
He mused, however.
It had been a long time since he himself had properly celebrated a Spring Festival.
"I haven't been back to my ancestral village to pay respects to my family in ages either," Song Qiao murmured, stroking his beard after a moment of silence.
The ancestral shrines stood in rows, the incense smoke curled, and the drums of the divine crows beat.
Even now, if certain traditions weren't observed during festivals, his family would surely wag their tongues behind his back.
"Then I'll take this opportunity,"
"To do all the things that need to be done?"
After some thought, Song Qiao made his decision.
He promptly returned to the company.
"Everyone has worked hard this year."
Song Qiao gathered all his employees, scanned their faces, and then spoke slowly.
"I will reward you all handsomely."
He then announced, "This year's year-end bonus will be doubled."
"In addition, all employees will receive an additional bonus ranging from two thousand to ten thousand yuan, based on seniority."
Upon hearing this, many employees exchanged bewildered glances, seemingly unable to believe it.
"Are we… dreaming?"
After a moment,
they confirmed Song Qiao was serious.
Cheers erupted throughout the company.
In those days, two thousand yuan was a significant sum,
equivalent to two or three months' income for many ordinary working-class families.
With this extra benefit,
they could all have a good New Year…
"You're going back to your hometown?"
Xia Xueqing followed Song Qiao from the company all the way home.
Seeing him start packing, she circled him curiously.
"Can I… can I go with you?"
Her former brother-in-law,
now her husband,
wanted to return to his ancestral village to pay respects. It was natural for Xia Xueqing to want to accompany him.
"No need, you stay,"
Song Qiao shook his head. "I'll go alone."
"How about… I tag along?"
In the room,
Ding Kaidong eagerly asked Song Qiao.
Although it was the New Year,
he was alone with no plans.
Perhaps returning with Song Qiao was his best option.
"Besides, we can train together,"
He rubbed his hands together.
After all, Gao Meng had improved greatly, surpassing him, her senior brother.
If he could use this opportunity for Song Qiao to give him some special training,
his own strength would also skyrocket.
Song Qiao turned to ask Gao Meng.
"Well, do you want to go back with me?"
Seeing this, Gao Meng replied without hesitation, "I have nothing planned either."
"However, what about Xueqing…"
"It's fine,"
Song Qiao said, "The countryside is harsh; it won't be good to bring her."
"You are both martial artists, so it's more suitable for you to come with me."
"It's up to you."
Gao Meng pondered for a moment. She indeed couldn't let Ding Kaidong have all the special training.
She also wished to become stronger.
"No problem! When do we leave? I can be ready anytime."
Gao Meng immediately agreed.
Hearing this, Xia Xueqing's delicate eyebrows furrowed, and her expression turned displeased.
Only she, his actual wife, couldn't accompany him?
However, it wasn't a huge issue.
Gao Meng was her good friend, after all.
She shouldn't do anything to betray her, right?
"Be careful,"
Xia Xueqing finally relented,
reminding them.
"Even if Li Bingqing has returned to the capital, we are not safe."
Those who want us dead
still exist in this world in large numbers!
Song Qiao nodded in agreement.
Soon, they drove off.
Several hundred kilometers later, they reached the village entrance by nightfall.
"Song Qiao… this, this is your hometown."
Gao Meng looked around,
a mix of curiosity and apprehension on her face.
Villagers slept early.
It was late at night and eerily quiet, the surroundings pitch black.
It was the perfect setting for a horror story, like a desolate wilderness.
"In a place like this… could there be human traffickers?"
She asked herself.
If Gao Meng weren't a martial artist,
arriving here would likely result in her being knocked unconscious and sold into the village to become someone's wife.
"You know, remote mountain villages might actually have them,"
Song Qiao said, half-jokingly.
Even years, or even decades later,
such scoundrels would not have completely disappeared.
"We don't need to fear human traffickers… we are martial artists,"
Ding Kaidong surveyed the surroundings.
Surprisingly, he also looked fearful, not much braver than Gao Meng.
"But what if there are wolf packs or ghosts?"
"I, I'm most afraid of ghosts."
Hearing Ding Kaidong's words,
Song Qiao was surprised and found it amusing.
Perhaps bringing the two of them was a mistake.
While driving, Song Qiao casually swatted Ding Kaidong on the head.
"Stop being so dramatic; a grown man like you afraid of ghosts."
However,
his attitude towards Gao Meng was entirely different.
"If you're scared, you can come sleep with me tonight. I don't mind."
Upon hearing this,
Gao Meng's face flushed, and she said coyly,
"I will not! You're already flirting after just leaving Xueqing."
"How sad she would be if she heard you say that!"
Song Qiao sighed helplessly.
He could only smile and change the subject.
The car soon stopped in front of Song Qiao's old home.
The old house was dilapidated, the courtyard covered in dust, and the beams and pillars creaked ominously.
The entire house exuded a scent of decay and dampness.
"Can this place really be lived in?"
Gao Meng covered her nose, her brow furrowed.
It was her first time in a real rural setting.
"It's quite normal; rural houses, if left unoccupied and unrepaired for a long time, will soon collapse."
The rural environment was different.
Dense vegetation and humid climate.
Therefore, only a heated kang could drive away the dampness that seeped in.
After a brief tidy-up, Song Qiao expertly lit the kang.
Then, he looked at the two dusty, curious, and bewildered individuals beside him and said,
"Get on the kang. We'll sleep together tonight, and we'll talk about other things tomorrow."
"I, I'm going to sleep with you two men?"
Gao Meng's eyes widened. Of course, she was unwilling. "Isn't there anywhere else?"
"I saw there were other places to stay over there."
"I've only lit one kang; the others are cold,"
Song Qiao replied, shaking his head. "In the middle of winter, without a heated kang, one would freeze to death."
"I, I don't care. No matter what, I won't sleep with you."
Gao Meng refused and turned away.
Watching her retreating figure, Song Qiao simply smiled and shook his head, saying nothing more.
"Let's wait a moment…"
Ding Kaidong was about to speak.
but he saw Gao Meng return, her face pale and her expression dazed.
"It, it is very cold outside."
Places without heated kangs in the countryside had a completely different temperature than in the city.
Gao Meng simply couldn't adapt.
"I… I'll make do with you for tonight, but don't get any ideas!"
Saying this, Gao Meng glanced deeply at Song Qiao, most of that gaze directed at him.
The three then lay down to sleep.
Even though she was accustomed to city life, Gao Meng was still shivering.
Song Qiao leaned close to her ear and said, "You must remember, this is a martial arts scripture. You can try cultivating it."
Hearing this, Gao Meng was both surprised and delighted.
On one hand, she was amazed that martial arts could have a warming effect. On the other hand, Song Qiao was actually giving her special instruction.
However, the next moment, Song Qiao embraced her.
"If you're still cold, then there's nothing more I can do."