There wasn't any traffic on the way back. The journey, which took an hour and a half when coming, only took half an hour to reach Li City upon leaving.
The car drove straight back to Donghui City, not only to clear out the trunk full of winter melons, pumpkins, and the like but also because everyone was waiting there.
Xu Qingfan asked the driver to help carry a bit, and with him and Xia Xiaoxiao, the three of them managed to move everything in one trip.
"Boss, I'll head out and wait for you downstairs." The driver said, clapping his hands after placing the items at the door.
"Hmm, thank you for your hard work, Master Li." Xu Qingfan nodded in gratitude.
As for giving a raise, there's no need to mention it in front of the subordinates; it's best to do it quietly. That's what Zhang Chunxue taught him about leadership skills.
Xia Xiaoxiao pulled out the keys to open the door. Just as the sound of the door unlocking was heard, the door, otherwise obscured, was pulled open from the inside.
"Ah~ Qingfan brother, you're back!" Lin Wanning's head popped out from behind the door, her face full of surprise when she saw Xu Qingfan and Xia Xiaoxiao standing outside.
"Hmm." Xia Xiaoxiao smiled and nodded, considering that as her greeting.
"Yeah, how come Wanning is moving around so much just after the cast has been removed?" Xu Qingfan, after laughing, quickly feigned anger by furrowing his brows.
He put down the things in his hand and went over to support the one-legged standing young girl.
Lin Wanning stuck her tongue out and acted dumb, quickly being lifted up by Xu Qingfan holding her by the waist.
Being suddenly elevated, it was inconvenient to wrap her arms around him, so Lin Wanning had to place her hands on Brother Qingfan's shoulders.
"Xiaoxiao!" Xiao Ruawen came running out of the kitchen, hands still wet, upon hearing the commotion.
Xia Xiaoxiao nudged her forehead against hers, saying, "Back now."
"Let me help move these!" Seeing there were still items on the floor, Xiao Ruawen grabbed two big bags, "Brother Fan, why didn't you call me?"
Xu Qingfan put Lin Wanning on the sofa, turning his head to look at her, "But you didn't call me either?"
"Brother Fan, Brother Fan, Brother Fan, Brother Fan..."
Like practicing speed-talking, Xiao Ruawen kept repeating his name.
"Ruan Wen, Ruan Wen, Ruan Wen, Ruan Wen, Ruan Wen, Ruan Wen, Ruan Wen..." Xu Qingfan mimicked her and also asked, "Is that enough?"
"Poof...." Xiao Ruawen couldn't hold it, laughed out loud, "My mom said not to play with fools!"
"What are you talking about?" Zhao YueMin came out right in time to hear it, patted her head, and laughed, "Qingfan and Xiaoxiao are back."
Xiao Ruawen pouted, making a pitiful face before taking the items into the kitchen.
Wen Wanqing finished up her tasks and came out to greet them; all four moms were busy preparing high-end ingredients for tonight and the next day.
Xu Qingfan took a tour of the kitchen and, seeing he wasn't needed, perceptively stepped back out.
"Have you had dinner?" Back at the living room, he was playing a hand-stacking game with Lin Wanning.
"Heehee~ Yes, we ate at five. Qingfan brother, have you eaten?" Lin Wanning stopped watching TV and turned her attention to him.
"Xiaoxiao and I ate at five as well, still feeling full." Upon hearing this, Lin Wanning put her hand into his shirt instinctively, feeling the contours of his abs without finding any sense of fullness.
Xia Xiaoxiao was pulled away by Xiao Ruawen for a heart-to-heart talk, the two of them seated in the adjacent tea room.
Upon drawing the glass door shut, they could clearly see what was happening outside, though from outside no one would notice them inside.
They were watching Xu Qingfan and Lin Wanning nestled together like a couple.
"Xiaoxiao, look at him, playing with Wanning's little hand again." Xiao Ruawen petted a little brother in her arms, mimicking Xu Qingfan as she played with its paw.
"They've always been , haven't they?" Xia Xiaoxiao withdrew her gaze; she'd seen enough of it to get used to it.
"Xiaoxiao, look, Wanning's even touching Brother Fan's abs!" Xiao Ruawen suddenly raised her voice a notch.
Xia Xiaoxiao indeed frowned, but then unexpectedly, she quipped, "Do you want a feel too?"
"Yes... ah, no! Xiaoxiao, what are you saying!!" Xiao Ruawen glared at her in shame and annoyance, forgetting the little brother in her arms.
The little guy took the opportunity to escape her clutches, jumped back into its cage, and never emerged again.
Xia Xiaoxiao giggled and said, "Alright, I'm not his anyone, whatever he wants, I can't help it."
Xia Xiaoxiao spread her hands, a picture of helplessness.
"You'll spoil him sooner or later!" Xiao Ruawen exclaimed and then suddenly tickled her soft spots.
The tea room was soon filled with the silver bell-like laughter of girls.
The laughter masked the bit of helplessness in Xiao Ruawen's eyebrows, and she sighed in her heart: "Oh, Xiaoxiao, you have no idea how bad Brother Chou Fan really is!"
Seven in the evening.
After getting everything ready, they finally set out in triumph.
The twelve-seater van had more than enough room for the whole group, and on the ride, Wen Wanqing sighed, "Ever since the company grew, it's been ages since I took a real vacation."
"There's no end to making money; having the time for all of us to travel is more important!" Yao Jiping laughed and said.
"Once the company gradually gets on track, I'll stop managing it, hire some professional managers, and we'll travel the world together."
"Great, I hear you can see the Northern Lights in Finland during winter, and it's not far from here!" Zhao YueMin added.
Of course, "not far" is only relative to the other countries where one can see the Northern Lights.