Houses in the countryside all look the same, but Song Guanchao's family home is simple and clean.

The living room is spacious with a sofa and a Baxian table, although the floor is cement, you can't see any dust.

Warm air blows from the air conditioner, dispelling the chill in Qu Xiangru's body.

"Girl, have some tea."

Grandma handed over a cup of hot tea, and Qu Xiangru quickly got up to take it: "Thank you, Grandma."

Grandma's smile gathered her crow's feet together, making this little old lady seem even more kind.

Feeling a bit awkward under such a kind smile, Qu Xiangru quietly glanced at Song Guanchao.

Song Guanchao said, "Grandma, this is my boss. Her name is Xiao Ru. She couldn't get a ticket home for the New Year, so I brought her to have New Year's Eve dinner with us."

Qu Xiangru added, "Xiao Song didn't mention it earlier, sorry for the intrusion, Grandma."

Grandma chuckled, "It's no bother, we don't have much else at home, but we do have plenty of empty rooms. You and Guan Chao can chat for a while; I'll go prepare a room for you."

She turned and walked into the room, leaving just the two of them in the living room, and Qu Xiangru rarely felt a little uneasy.

In her clear state, the indifference on her face was gone, and she was unsure of what attitude to take when facing Song Guanchao.

"Grandma, where's Grandpa?" Song Guanchao twisted his neck and asked loudly.

"Went to the mountains to catch wild chickens."

"I'll go find him."

Song Guanchao took off his shoes, grabbed two pairs of rubber shoes, and handed one pair to her: "Let's go, I'll take you to catch wild chickens."

Qu Xiangru didn't refuse; instead, her eyes brightened, and she took the rubber boots and put them on.

Just as she stood up, Song Guanchao gave her a quick look: "Take off your coat."

He then turned back to the house and returned holding two green military coats.

"Wear this."

Qu Xiangru blinked, feeling a bit curious, like a rural child seeing a city toy for the first time.

She put it on and felt her body sink; the coat was so thick.

Even though she'd been wearing it for only a while, she already felt warm, much warmer than a wool coat.

Song Guanchao also donned a military coat and retrieved a slingshot and a handful of steel balls from his room.

Before leaving, he grabbed a mink fur hat from the shoe rack and placed it on her head.

The fluffy mink fur hat, paired with her delicate and pink face, made her extraordinarily beautiful.

"Really pretty."

Song Guanchao complimented her, then grabbed a pair of leather gloves and a burlap bag, putting them in her hands: "Hold these."

After leaving the yard, Song Guanchao led her towards the mountains.

Wrapped in a military coat, wearing leather gloves and holding a burlap bag, Qu Xiangru looked somewhat silly.

"After it snows, wild chickens will search for food in the snow, and it's easiest to catch them at this time."

"In the early years, we used muskets for shooting, my grandfather's marksmanship was dead-on, and with luck, he could hit a wild boar."

"Later, the muskets were turned in, so my grandfather used homemade bows and arrows to catch them."

"Within twenty meters, they were a perfect shot."

Song Guanchao lit a cigarette, put his hands in his pockets, and walked while chatting about village oddities with her.

Qu Xiangru quietly listened, not responding or asking questions.

After walking for half an hour, Song Guanchao suddenly stopped and raised his chin: "See them?"

Following his gaze, twenty meters away in the snow-covered field, two wild chickens with long tails were foraging.

Qu Xiangru, seeing live wild chickens for the first time, was amazed by their vibrant feathers: "So beautiful."

Song Guanchao pulled out a slingshot, pinched a steel ball and aimed: "Not only beautiful but tasty too."

Whoosh!

A steel ball accurately hit the wild chicken's neck.

The wild chicken flapped its wings twice before falling onto the snow, while the other chicken flapped in an attempt to flee; Song Guanchao quickly fired another steel ball.

Snap!

Just as this wild chicken took off, it was shot down into the snow.

Song Guanchao triumphantly raised his chin at her, as if to say, "See how great I am?"

Qu Xiangru pursed her lips: "So cocky."

Then she broke into a happy smile.

Perhaps it was the environment, or maybe it was New Year's Eve, but she had found a place to be.

Her mood had changed completely.

Despite intending to maintain a distance from Song Guanchao, at this moment, she just wanted to shed her mask and be an ordinary person, happily celebrating the New Year.

Song Guanchao stepped forward, picked up the two wild chickens, plucked their most colorful feathers, and tucked them behind her ear.

Qu Xiangru raised an eyebrow: "Pretty?"

"Pretty."

Qu Xiangru's lips curled upwards.

Just then, an old man came strolling along the ridge in the distance.

When he got closer, he suddenly said, "Guan Chao? When did you get back?"

"Grandpa." Song Guanchao stared at the burlap bag on his shoulder and asked, "How many did you get?"

"Not many."

Grandpa shook his head, then noticed the chickens in his hands: "Wow, just got back and already shot two wild chickens."

Song Guanchao chuckled, ready to boast, but Grandpa suddenly noticed Qu Xiangru.

He looked at Qu Xiangru, then at Song Guanchao.

He couldn't help but want to curse.

This grandson, why is he such a ladies' man?

Which number is this?

The third one, right?

Song Guanchao hurriedly gave a simple introduction, and upon learning that she was the boy's boss, the old man nodded: "Let's go home."

The old man walked ahead, Song Guanchao took over his burlap bag and fell back with Qu Xiangru.

Qu Xiangru didn't know why, but facing Song Guanchao's grandparents, she couldn't stop herself from feeling nervous.

Moreover, she could sense that these two elderly folks were completely different from ordinary villagers, with a distinct difference.

They didn't have the timid air of village people; instead, they seemed like people who had seen the world, now disillusioned with the chaos, choosing to live secluded in the mountains.

Back at the house, Grandma was bustling in the kitchen.

Qu Xiangru went over to help pluck the chicken feathers.

Grandma busily said, "You go sit in the living room, don't trouble yourself."

"I have nothing to do." Qu Xiangru didn't let go, so Grandma stopped urging her.

Watching for a while, Grandma was surprised to find that this city girl was truly skilled at hands-on tasks.

Killing chickens, bleeding, scalding, gutting, she was amazingly deft.

This is not something ordinary city girls can do.

It was clear she often did chores.

Grandma chatted idly, "Xiao Ru, you often cook at home?"

Qu Xiangru said, "I cooked for myself when I was young."

Grandma knew at once, realizing the meaning behind these words.

Obviously, she had been doing chores since young, with no adults to help.

Poor kids become resourceful early; she mastered things that wouldn't normally be expected at her age due to necessity.

After all, if you don't cook, there's nothing to eat.

Once done, Qu Xiangru picked up a kitchen knife, chopped the chicken, heated oil in the pan, and started cooking it.

Grandma watched her skilled movements with growing admiration.

"Xiao Ru, are you still single?"

Out of the blue with such a question, Qu Xiangru felt a bit awkward, lightly humming in response.

Grandma smiled and nodded, "That's good, that's good."

At this moment, Qu Xiangru's phone rang.

She took it out, and upon seeing the caller ID "Old Lady," her face suddenly turned cold.

"You go answer it, I'll take over."

Grandma took the spatula, and Qu Xiangru mumbled in agreement, stepping into the yard: "Hello, Grandma."

An aged voice came through, commanding in tone: "What time will you be home?"

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