Jiang Tao and his group set out early in the morning.
The traffic wasn't too bad along the way, though there were some minor jams.
During holidays, it was common for every corner of the capital to be clogged with traffic.
It took about two hours for the group to smoothly leave Beijing and hit the Jingkun Expressway heading toward Ping County.
When they passed by the B Prefecture service area, Jiang Xue needed to use the restroom.
Xu Li made a quick call to her father-in-law, who was following in another car, to coordinate.
The group pulled into the B Prefecture service area for a midday break.
Based on past experience, once they left Beijing, the Jingkun Expressway was usually smooth sailing.
In a way, this stop really did feel like a "halftime" break.
The Mercedes-Benz G-Class and GLS pulled into the service area one after the other.
Everyone got out—some headed to the restroom, some grabbed a drink, some snacked if they were hungry, and others lit up a cigarette.
Xu Sha even took Jiang Xue and Wangcai, their dog, for a playful run around the service area.
"Hey, Old Jiang, is that a wild walnut tree?" Xu Wencheng, while smoking, pointed curiously at a lush walnut tree in the northwest corner of the service area.
"It does look a bit different from the regular walnut tree back at our old home," Jiang Wen replied. He didn't know much about wild walnuts himself, only noting slight differences compared to the tree in their yard.
"I read online that these things are like gambling on jade—you get lucky, and a single walnut could sell for thousands or even tens of thousands!" Xu Wencheng said. "Our general manager loves playing with these. He's been rubbing a pair of walnuts for four or five years, and they're polished to perfection."
"Guess what happened?" Xu Wencheng continued, puffing on his cigarette while sharing the gossip in a casual tone.
"What happened?" Jiang Tao, hooked by his father-in-law's story, asked cooperatively.
Jiang Wen, standing nearby, exhaled a smoke ring, eagerly listening.
Xu Wencheng couldn't help but chuckle. "One day, he accidentally dropped them with a *crack* on the floor, and guess what? They were fake—made of plastic!"
"Hahaha!"
"Fake? He didn't notice after all those years?" Jiang Tao and Jiang Wen burst into laughter, not exactly politely, at the expense of the general manager's misfortune.
"That pair of fake walnuts was so well-crafted, even a seasoned player like our GM got duped. After that, he swore off walnuts entirely," Xu Wencheng said with a grin, still smoking. "That incident became his dark history. Bring it up, and he'll get mad at anyone."
"Haha, the hunter got pecked by the goose. That's gotta sting," Jiang Tao said, easily imagining the general manager's embarrassment.
Jiang Wen glanced at the wild walnut tree, smacking his lips. "What's so fun about these things? Only people with too much time on their hands play with them."
"Literary walnuts, martial arts balls; the rich carry gourds, and nobles sport three treasures: thumb rings, walnuts, and caged birds," Xu Wencheng said with a laugh. "The Beijing elites love this stuff. Our manager's a born-and-bred Beijinger, lives in a villa, and when he's not eating or drinking, he's messing around with these hobbies."
The conversation shifted to Xu Wencheng's former workplace, and Jiang Tao seized the opportunity to steer the topic. "Speaking of your old company, Dad, I saw a post on WeChat Moments from a friend saying your company's preparing to raise funds?"
Xu Wencheng nodded. "Yeah, there's talk about that. They're planning to buy more land to expand the factory and add a few production lines to scale up."
"You worked there for decades, so you must know the place inside out. What do you think about the risks and returns of this investment?" Jiang Tao asked, feigning humility despite knowing the investment was a sure bet.
"Our company may not be a top-tier player, but it's got a decent reputation in domestic circles," Xu Wencheng said. "Over the years, it's built a loyal customer base. In the nearly 30 years I've been there, aside from a couple of rough years due to special circumstances, the company's sales have grown steadily every year. It's definitely a solid asset."
Faced with his son-in-law's earnest inquiry, Xu Wencheng answered candidly.
Jiang Tao didn't beat around the bush. "Dad, to be honest, I've got some spare cash and I'm thinking about investing in this project. If it's possible, could you introduce me to your general manager and help set up a meeting?"
"You want to invest in… in Huaying Glass Craft Factory?" Xu Wencheng almost slipped back into thinking of himself as an employee of the company.
Jiang Tao smiled. "Exactly, like you said, I'm pretty interested in your old company and want to put some money in."
"If you're serious about investing, setting up a meeting is no problem. I'll talk to the GM, and he'll definitely want to meet you," Xu Wencheng said. Though not a big shot, he'd worked diligently at the company for decades and had risen to middle management, so he had enough clout to arrange a conversation with the general manager.
Jiang Tao grinned. "Then I'll trouble you to set up a meeting with him when you get the chance. I'd like to talk face-to-face."
"He's probably already on his way back to Beijing, so you'd have to wait until after the holiday," Xu Wencheng said. "Let me call him now and check."
He pulled out his phone, scrolled through his contacts, and dialed a number labeled "Manager Zhu."
*Beep, beep, beep—*
The call connected after a few rings, and a deep male voice came through. "Hey, Old Xu, regretting that resignation already? It's not too late—your resignation letter's still locked in my office drawer."
"Haha, thanks for the love, Mr. Zhu, but I'm set on starting a new chapter this time," Xu Wencheng replied, getting straight to the point. He explained Jiang Tao's interest in investing in the company.
Manager Zhu, hearing that someone was ready to invest, was naturally intrigued. The company did need a cash infusion. However, as Xu Wencheng predicted, Zhu was already on his way back to Beijing. With the Qingming Festival holiday starting tomorrow, the company's departments were already on break. They agreed to meet at the company on the first day after the holiday for a detailed discussion before hanging up.
Xu Wencheng turned to Jiang Tao. "Jiang Tao, Zhu says to bring you to the company after the holiday for a proper talk."
"No problem, thanks for the trouble, Dad," Jiang Tao said with a nod, not in any rush.
"Come on, no need to talk like that between us," Xu Wencheng said with a smile, pleased to offer his son-in-law a bit of help.
The three men chatted a bit more under the walnut tree, each smoking a couple of cigarettes to satisfy their cravings before returning to their cars to continue toward Ping County.
This time, they didn't stop again, and the journey was smooth. Around 7 p.m., the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and GLS exited the highway at Ping County.
After passing through a stretch of connector road, the two cars arrived in the city center.
They headed straight for Ping County's largest hotel, the Magnolia Hotel. Before leaving Beijing, Jiang Tao had called his uncle to reserve a dinner there.
By the time the two cars reached the Magnolia Hotel, it was 7:30 p.m.
Tian Xiaoguang and Tian Mingrong greeted them warmly as they stepped out of the cars.
"Sis, brother-in-law! Jiang Tao, Little Bing, you guys must be tired from the trip!"
"Everyone's worked hard on the road," Tian Xiaoguang and Tian Mingrong said, their faces beaming with enthusiasm.
"Thanks for the trouble, Uncle and Aunt," Jiang Tao said.
"No trouble at all, what are you talking about!"
"Mingrong, how's your health?"
"All good, thanks for your concern, Sis," Tian Mingrong replied.
"Of course, of course! Xiaoguang, you better take good care of Mingrong, no slip-ups," Xu Li said.
"Absolutely, don't worry, Sis!" Tian Xiaoguang replied.
"Uncle, when's the big day for you and Aunt?"
"Haha, soon, soon!"
After more than a month apart, the family reunion was filled with warmth and endless chatter.
They lingered in the parking lot for a bit before heading into the private room Tian Xiaoguang had reserved at the Magnolia Hotel.
Inside, a massive round table easily accommodated the dozen or so people without feeling crowded.
With different tastes and preferences, they took turns ordering, ending up with over 20 dishes.
The food started arriving within ten minutes, and soon the table was fully set.
The women sat together, laughing and catching up on family matters. Jiang Tao's mother-in-law, newly pregnant, and Tian Mingrong, also recently pregnant, hit it off especially well.
Jiang Tao joined his father, father-in-law, and uncle, drinking and chatting about everything from life in Beijing to Ping County's development prospects.
After the Qingming holiday, Jiang Tao planned to bring his uncle Tian Xiaoguang and Tian Mingrong back to Beijing. There, he'd arrange for Tian Xiaoguang to work at the Jiang Family Food Factory, overseeing the secret recipe for their eight-treasure pickles. Jiang Tao trusted his uncle completely and would ensure he was well-compensated.
Before returning to their hometown, Jiang Tao had already arranged for a tenant renting his house to move out. His uncle and aunt could move right in.
During dinner, everyone chatted and laughed, creating a lively and warm atmosphere.
The welcoming banquet lasted from around 8 p.m. until 9:30 p.m.
Jiang Tao went to settle the bill first—a meal with drinks costing over 6,000 yuan, a trivial amount for someone like him, now earning tens of thousands daily in passive income.
After eating and drinking their fill, the group said their reluctant goodbyes at the hotel entrance.
Tian Mingrong drove off with Tian Xiaoguang in an elderly mobility scooter. She had a 70-square-meter apartment in Ping County, which had become their little love nest.
Xu Sha drove the Mercedes GLS, carrying her parents back home, while Jiang Bing drove the G-Class, taking Jiang Tao's family toward Jiang Family Village.
A couple of days earlier, Jiang Tao had asked his uncle to hire a professional cleaning company to give their house a thorough cleaning. Tian Mingrong had also sent all the bedding and linens to a laundry in town. Otherwise, a house left empty for a month would've been uninhabitable.
It was around 10 p.m. when the G-Class rolled into Jiang Family Village.
Everyone headed to their respective homes.
"Finally back!"
"A golden nest, a silver nest—nothing beats our own doghouse. There's just something different about a home you built yourself," Xu Li said, stepping into their courtyard and feeling an inexplicable joy.
Though their rural hometown couldn't compare to their Beijing apartment, this place felt like *home*.
No matter how nice their Beijing place was, it was just a house.
*Woof, woof, woof!*
Wangcai seemed to love the new home too. As soon as Jiang Xue set him down, he started bounding around the yard.
"Come here, Wangcai, let me show you my room!" Jiang Xue called, running inside.
Wangcai, hearing his little master's call, scampered after her into the house.
The moment Jiang Tao stepped through the gate, he felt an overwhelming sense of familiarity.
Even though he'd bought a place and settled in Beijing, he never felt a true sense of belonging there.
Jiang Family Village might be an obscure little village in China, but it was where he was born and raised.
He grew up drinking its water and playing in its mud.
His attachment to this land was etched into his bones.
No matter where he went, this was his root.
As the saying goes, "Falling leaves return to their roots." It wasn't just a casual phrase.
In recent years, more and more successful villagers who'd made it big elsewhere were returning to build houses—not to live in, but to have a place for their memorial halls or funerals when they passed. Burying their ashes in the family's free ancestral graveyard was far better than paying hundreds of thousands for a cemetery plot elsewhere.
"Honey, I think we could spruce this place up a bit more," Jiang Tao said, scanning the courtyard and wrapping an arm around Xu Li's waist with a smile.
"How so?" Xu Li turned to him, her eyes full of tenderness.
These days, the couple had been inseparable, and her happiness had soared. She was beyond satisfied with their current life.
"Someday, we'll have Big Bro find someone to turn this courtyard into a glass sunroom," Jiang Tao said. "We could swap out the gate for a solid copper one, lay marble tiles in the yard, and install electric shades on the balcony…"
He went on and on about his renovation plans. Back when they built the house, money was tight, so they cut corners wherever possible, leaving plenty of imperfections. Now that he had money, Jiang Tao wanted to make their home shine.
Even if they bought more properties elsewhere, this "base" in their hometown couldn't be neglected.
Xu Li wholeheartedly supported his plans. She cherished this home even more than he did.
The couple chatted in the courtyard for a bit before heading inside.
After some more small talk in the living room, Xu Li took Jiang Xue to bathe.
While waiting his turn, Jiang Tao lounged on the sofa, scrolling through WeChat Moments and checking today's trending news.
He also watched a few running tutorials from Douyin influencers. Though his physical stats were nearing a superhuman 90, almost breaking the 100-point limit, that didn't mean he could outrun professional athletes with lower stats.
Running wasn't just about physicality—technique was critical too.
Jiang Tao still had plenty to learn.
By 11 p.m., Xu Li and Jiang Xue were done bathing, and Jiang Tao took his turn.
With Xu Li on her period and "off-limits," Jiang Tao activated [Sleep Mode] for his wife and daughter while showering.
When he returned to the bedroom, Xu Li was already tucked in and fast asleep.
Not wanting to disturb her, Jiang Tao lay in bed, scrolling through his phone until midnight, when his daily intel refreshed.