Returning Home in Glory

"Goodbye."

"Goodbye, Tang Song Gege." Xiao Jing put her hands behind her back, tiptoed and kissed Tang Song's lips, then walked briskly into the apartment building.

After standing downstairs for a while, Tang Song turned and walked out of the community.

Back in the Mercedes-Benz, the scent of Xiao Jing still lingered in my nostrils.

The scenes from just now are flashing before my eyes again.

A sweet and pretty face, a full and high chest, and interesting little expressions.

Xiao Jing has a very anime/manga-style beautiful girl vibe.

The skin feels like soft jelly, without any rough texture.

Especially her legs, which are slender, soft, silky, and have a distinct bony shape.

It's a place you'll want to stay forever.

I thought of her trembling body, her watery eyes, and her remorseful expression after she was punished.

Something strange seemed to be sprouting in Tang Song's hearts.

"Boom!" Bright headlights shone out.

The Mercedes-Benz S-Class slowly started, turned a corner, and drove forward for several hundred meters before slowly entering the underground parking garage of Yanjing Sky City.

Back home.

After washing up and getting ready, I checked the things I needed to take back tomorrow.

Tang Song leaned back on the bed and picked up his Mobile Phone to take a look.

There are already quite a few unread messages above.

Besides the several "goodnight" and "sweet dreams" messages with wings, my mother also sent a voice message.

Click to play.

"Son, will you be back before noon tomorrow? It just rained here today, so please drive carefully on the road."

Tang Song replied with a smile, "I'll definitely arrive before noon, don't worry, Mom, I'll be careful."

"Buzzing—"

Mom: "That's good. Let me know when you're almost there. I'll be at the store during the day. By the way, is there anything you'd like to eat?"

After chatting with his mother for a while, Tang Song felt a deep longing welling up in his heart.

The last time I went home was in March.

At that time, I had become a full-time employee of Brocade Business. The new version of the SCM (Supply Chain Management) system that I was in charge of had just been developed, and my supervisor promised to promote me and give me a raise.

Life in Yancheng gradually stabilized.

I went back to visit my parents and chatted with them about my recent situation.

I still remember my mother pulling me into the house.

He took out a property brochure filled with numbers and muttered them to himself for almost half an hour.

A new housing development opened in the county, located on the south side of the county town. The price per square meter is 5,000 yuan, with a down payment of 150,000 yuan. It's a school district property with a good environment and is close to my hometown.

Because of its high cost-performance ratio, it has sold very well, and it is said that there are not many units left.

However, at that time, their family had just paid off their debts not long ago, and they simply couldn't afford to come up with the money.

The guilt, longing, and disappointment in my mother's eyes are still vivid in my mind.

Looking at the luxurious apartment he was in, and thinking about his current wealth and assets, Tang Song let out a long sigh, filled with emotion.

Just then, a crisp System Prompt Sound.

"Ding! You have triggered the challenge quest ' Parents' Approval '. Please go to the Task Center to check it out."

Tang Song paused for a moment, then opened the System Interface to view the task details.

[Mission Content: You have a stable career and yearn for your family's recognition of your abilities, career, and future, hoping to gain inner satisfaction, strengthen family relationships, and build self-confidence. During this homecoming trip, please showcase yourself best and gain your Parents' Approval.]

[Mission Reward: Random Gift Pack *1]

[Note: The higher the Parents' Approval rating, the richer the reward package.]

After reading the mission description, Tang Song smiled.

For everyone, parents are the closest people, providing a strong sense of belonging.

With the help of the system, I have come this far step by step. How could I not yearn for my Parents' Approval?

This is probably an essential path for self-growth and self-improvement.

"Ding-dong—"

Mom: "It's almost 10 o'clock, son, you should get some rest. See you tomorrow."

Tang Song chuckled and replied, "Okay, love you, Mom, see you tomorrow!"

After exiting the chat interface, Tang Song stared blankly for a while, then suddenly thought of something.

He downloaded the novel app, opened the book Hu Jingjing had recommended to him, and started reading from the first chapter.

He loved reading online novels during his junior and senior high school years. Back then, schools didn't allow students to bring Mobile Phone, so classmates would buy physical books and pass them around.

However, he abandoned this hobby after he started working hard in his senior year of high school.

Beicheng Garden Residential Area.

"Tap tap tap—" The sound of typing on the keyboard rang out continuously.

Xu Yanqing's fair face was slightly raised, glowing with a soft halo, like a lily blooming under the moon.

Her beautiful long hair was casually draped over her shoulders, and her eyes, as bright as stars, calmly looked at her cousin in front of her.

"Yan Qing, don't worry, I won't see Tang Song again." Xu Jiali lowered her head slightly, a faint mist rising in her eyes. "I didn't know about your relationship, I'm sorry."

To everyone's surprise, his girlfriend was Xu Yanqing.

She had a deep impression of her distant cousin, who was a graduate of a prestigious university.

From childhood to adulthood, Xu Yanqing was the perfect child, outstanding in both appearance and ability.

Compared to her, she was far inferior.

She's not young anymore; she's past the age of dreaming, and it's time for her to give up.

"Achoo—" "Achoo—" "Achoo—"

Several sharp sneezes rang out in the room, breaking the quiet atmosphere.

Xu Qing rubbed her delicate nose and muttered to herself, "Which guy is secretly talking about me again! Hmph!"

Rubbing her slightly sore wrists, Xu Qing leaned back and stretched out a big yawn.

In recent days, she has been inspired and has already prepared a considerable number of drafts.

I plan to save up some more, then set aside a week to write a complete short drama script and submit it to the company's short drama production department to see if there's any possibility of it being filmed.

"Ding-dong—" WeChat notification sound rang out.

Xu Qing opened her Mobile Phone and saw a notification about WeChat's clone feature.

[Xiao Jing: "Qing Qing, my wish has finally come true today!"]

Xu Qing's eyes widened instantly, and she quickly replied, "What's going on?"

Xiao Jing: "Today I used some tricks to successfully provoke my boyfriend, and he pinned me down in the car seat and punished me severely. My butt still hurts a bit."

[Xiao Jing: "I secretly took a look, and they've all turned red!"]

"Hiss~" Xu Qing gasped, her rosy lips parting slightly. "Perverted Xiao Jing! You... you..."

She was also spanked by Tang Song, twice!

If Xiao Jing really develops Tang Song into something perverted, then she might also suffer the consequences.

I imagined myself being spanked by Tang Song while pinned down in a car seat.

Xu Qing suddenly shuddered.

That wretched Xiao Jing!

We need to be more careful in the future, and not give the Tang Song an excuse to attack us!

Clicking the input box, she replied, "Xiao Jing, what you're doing is wrong. You should respect your boyfriend's own preferences."

"Buzzing—"

Xiao Jing: "My boyfriend is really strong, he hits me really hard. I lifted up his shirt today and touched his abs, they're amazing!"

[Xiao Jing: Video screenshot. jpg]

Upon seeing the screenshot, Xu Qing's face instantly turned bright red.

This is a screenshot of Xiao Jing's video chat with Tang Song last time!

Looking at the sexually charged image above, Xu Qing swallowed hard, about to click to zoom in.

A notification popped up.

[Xiao Jing retracted a message]

Where's the picture?! Where's my huge picture?!

That wretched Xiao Jing! You're playing me!

Xu Qing felt she was definitely going to have trouble sleeping tonight! She was extremely angry!

Saturday, August 5, 2023, cloudy, 25~33℃.

As the bank sent a notification that the money had been deposited, Tang Song sat up in bed.

He felt energetic and full of vitality.

Running, skipping rope, Fat Burning Exercise...

After sitting down for an aerobic workout, my "Infinite Vitality" outfit was completely soaked.

Fortunately, it has special effects and excellent breathability, which can keep the body cool and comfortable at all times.

"Splash—" Standing under the shower, I took a proper shower.

Tang Song stood naked in front of the mirror and admired his current strong and beautiful physique for a while.

A tremendous sense of accomplishment welled up inside me.

Although he had the help of system items, his success was also largely due to his self-discipline.

Seeing yourself getting better and better is such a wonderful feeling!

He is now in much better physical condition than he was in high school, and he has even grown a little taller.

I'm sure my parents would be shocked if they saw me like this.

Although they had seen each other in videos, they had only seen each other's faces at most.

The improvement in physique and temperament can only be truly felt in person.

I dried myself off and went into the dressing room.

After picking and choosing for a while, Tang Song finally chose a casual outfit.

A loose and simple white T-shirt, light blue jeans that are fitted but not tight, and white sneakers.

It's similar to my old style of dressing, but I pay more attention to the fit and color matching, so my parents won't feel too unfamiliar with it.

At 8 a. m., Tang Song, having packed his things, drove his Mercedes-Benz S450L out of the Yanjing Sky City Residential Area.

The reason I chose this car.

One reason is that it's spacious and comfortable, allowing you to put more things in it.

Another reason is that the Bentley Continental GT is too eye-catching; anything in excess is harmful.

Even if you want to flaunt your wealth, there's no need to be in such a hurry.

Tang Song's hometown was not far from Yancheng, but in a county town under Quancheng to the south, only a little over 100 kilometers away.

If you're driving, it will definitely take two hours to get there.

This is why he chose to return to Yancheng from the Imperial Capital.

The sky was a hazy gray.

Around 8 a. m., the streets of the town gradually became busy.

Most of the shops along the street have already opened for business.

The sounds of hawking, horns, and conversation blended together.

People, tricycles, electric bikes, and cars moved about, stopping and starting.

"Jianying Hardware Store" is located in an inconspicuous corner on the north side of the road, with a storefront width of only about three meters.

The storefront is blue with white lettering, the shutter door is rolled up, and the glass has red lettering. There are also some cutting boards, washbasins, mops, etc., placed near the entrance...

"Oh dear! Our son arrived before noon, why are you going to collect the debt now?" Mother Xu Feng grabbed Tang Jianying's arm. "Let's have lunch first!"

Tang Jianying shook her head. "I called Hu Zi yesterday and told him I'd be going over this morning. I've known him for so many years, and we're even from the same village. What he did was really unfair."

"Are you afraid that if your son finds out when he gets back, you'll lose face?" Xu Feng said irritably, "I know what you're thinking."

"Uh..." Tang Jianying's dark face showed an embarrassed expression.

"You talk like you can get it back. I told you not to agree to pay for things on credit, and now look what's happened, you've already put 20,000 yuan down the drain for the renovation team..."

Xu Feng continued tidying up the shop while complaining.

However, we also know that this is something that is difficult to avoid.

For hardware stores, relying solely on sporadic orders from nearby residents doesn't actually generate much profit.

After all, online shopping is so developed and cheap these days.

Moreover, there are seven or eight hardware stores scattered along this street, making the competition extremely fierce.

Therefore, any store that can thrive in the long run has a number of stable, large clients.

For example, factories, decoration companies, construction teams, etc.

That's how their little shop works; she watches the shop while Tang Jianying goes out to find work.

Tang Jianying is almost 50 years old and has done a lot of work over the years.

Thanks to the connections I made while working at the renovation company, I was able to get some orders every month.

Currently, 70% of the sales at "Jianying Hardware Store" come from renovation teams.

The fact that Tang Song couldn't pursue graduate studies due to family issues is the biggest pain in their hearts.

Now my son has started his own business and made money.

Tang Jianying felt both gratified and guilty, feeling that she was a very incompetent father who had failed to support her family.

Once the hardware store started to make a steady profit, he wanted to prove himself and, incidentally, save more money for his son.

In order to secure more orders from the renovation team, he agreed to advance the payment, with a stipulated period of one month.

One of them, Hu Zi Decoration Team, took nearly 20,000 yuan worth of goods from here in two months.

He felt at ease because they were from the same village and had worked together before, so he didn't urge them at first.

As a result, it's been dragged on and on until now, and they still haven't given a definite answer.

The biggest cost for stores like theirs is holding onto inventory. If they keep doing this, they're bound to go bankrupt sooner or later.

Hu Zi happened to be at his shop today, so he had to go over and demand an explanation, at least half of the money should be paid upfront.

"I'm leaving now, but I'll definitely be back by 11 o'clock at the latest."

Tang Jianying said something, got into a tricycle parked outside, and headed towards the county town.

"Xu Feng, I just heard you two arguing over there. What was it about?" Sister Guo, who sells tiles next door, came over curiously.

Xu Feng was standing at the door, sighed and began to nag her.

Their stores have very low customer traffic, but about 70-80% of those who come in end up making a purchase.

So my daily life is quite leisurely.

The two chatted for quite a while.

Sister Guo chewed on a peanut and said with a smile, "By the way, I also heard you two talking about Tang Song. Is he coming back?"

She was a long-time resident of the neighborhood and knew quite a bit about Tang Song, knowing that he was now working in Yancheng.

The worry on Xu Feng's face vanished instantly when she mentioned her son.

He chuckled and said, "Yes, we should be there before noon!"

"Wow, it's been almost half a year since I last came back, hasn't it?"

"Yes, he's quite busy with work, and now he's tinkering with starting his own business, so he doesn't have time to go home and visit."

"It's good to be busy!" Sister Guo shook her head and said with a troubled expression, "Look at my daughter, ever since the company went bankrupt, she came back from the Imperial Capital and has been sleeping in every day. When we ask her to go out and find a job, she says she wants to do some kind of live-streaming e-commerce and help us sell tiles, and inherit our family's small store."

Her family's tile shop is quite large, it's their own property, and it's located on the main road of the town, so it's definitely an asset.

"Live streaming?" Xu Feng said with a smile, "My son Xiao Song is also doing live streaming e-commerce. We can let the two kids chat about it later."

"That's great!" Sister Guo patted her thigh and revealed her purpose, "Tang Song is a boss now, it would be great if he could mentor our Ranran."

She had previously heard Xu Feng and his wife say that their son had started a business in Yancheng with a partner, and that it was doing quite well.

It's not a good idea for my daughter to stay home all the time. Since she's interested in live streaming, it would be nice if she could try working at Tang Song's company.

After all, they're neighbors; they wouldn't harm their daughter.

Just then, a woman's voice rang out. "Mom! Are you talking about me again!"

Immediately afterwards, a stylishly dressed girl with heavy makeup walked over.

She was in her early twenties, had dyed blonde hair, and had a decent figure and looks.

Sister Guo frowned. "Shouldn't I be criticizing you? You're always cooped up at home. You wanted to do live streaming, right? Your brother Tang Song does that now. You should ask him for advice."

"Pfft—" Li Ranran covered her mouth and chuckled, "Mom, you wouldn't be trying to match me up with Tang Song with Aunt Xu, would you? Don't play matchmaker, we're not a good match."

"Uh..." Xu Feng was stunned for a moment, her expression a little awkward.

However, we also know that Li Ranran's personality is just like that—carefree and not very considerate of other people's feelings.

In other words, she has a bit of a "princess temperament".

Even if you marry a girl like that, your son will definitely suffer, and she certainly wouldn't want that.

Moreover, with Qing Ning in front of you making everyone else seem less impressive, it's clear that everyone else is inferior.

Sister Guo's brows twitched, somewhat exasperated with her outspoken daughter. "What nonsense are you spouting? Who would want you? You're lazy and unemployed!"

"Tch~" Li Ranran rolled her eyes and tossed her hair. "I have quite a few guys chasing after me, I just haven't told you guys."

She was two years younger than Tang Song, and when she was in high school, she actually had a Good impression on this neighbor's older brother.

After all, Tang Song was tall and thin at the time, a handsome young man with a youthful charm.

Unfortunately, she grew up to be less attractive.

Especially during the Chinese New Year period, I went to his house with my mother for a meal.

At that time, Tang Song was overweight, unkempt, and listless, looking like a typical tech geek.

"If you're so capable, then hurry up and get married. Stop causing us trouble."

"I'm not arguing with you anymore." Li Ranran shrugged, took her Mobile Phone out of her bag and waved it. "I've been making local videos these past few days and have accumulated some local fans. Today I'm planning to try a live stream to help promote your tiles."

As she spoke, Li Ranran opened the Douyin app.

Point the camera at your own store and start a live stream.

However, because of the small number of fans, there are not many people.

Li Ranran held up her Mobile Phone and began her introduction using the sales techniques she had learned online.

Seeing her daughter's disobedient behavior, Sister Guo sighed helplessly.

The wheels rolled along the somewhat dilapidated streets of the small town, making a soft sound.

Familiar street scenes and shops gradually came into view.

Tang Song's heart also began to race, his eyes gleaming with complex emotions.

Of course, most of them were full of high spirits.

The elegant and sophisticated silver Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan stood out prominently on the streets of this ordinary small town.

Pedestrians on the street cast curious and envious glances.

Some even stopped to watch and whisper among themselves.

Some teenagers pointed excitedly at the car, their eyes filled with curiosity and longing.

Sitting in the driver's seat, Tang Song even saw many familiar faces, which made him feel a strange excitement.

The Huaxia people's deep affection and unwavering identification with "home" and "hometown" are deeply ingrained in their souls.

Returning home in glory is a mindset that most people find difficult to change.

It has remained unchanged for a thousand years.

For example, Xiang Yu, who said, "Wealth and honor without returning to one's hometown is like wearing embroidered clothes at night; who will know of it?"

For example, Liu Bang, whose famous line reads, "The Wind Rises and the clouds fly, my might extends throughout the land, I return to my hometown."

Soon, some familiar storefronts came into his view.

"Jianying Hardware Store".

Actually, the store only opened last year, and he hasn't been there many times.

But because I know my parents are there, I feel a strange sense of belonging and familiarity.

The car's left turn signal came on.

Taking a deep breath, Tang Song gently turned the steering wheel and drove towards the store entrance.

"Our tiles are all sourced from Guangdong Province. We have polished tiles, glazed tiles, and antique-style tiles. They are of excellent quality and come in novel designs..."

"Alright, I'll show you the full view later."

"Our store is Shangyun Ceramics, located 100 meters west of Fuxiang Supermarket. Everyone is welcome to visit our store when you have time."

Li Ranran pointed her Mobile Phone at the shop entrance and slowly walked backwards.

"Beep beep—" A deep, resonant horn sounded from behind.

Sister Guo, standing at the shop entrance, quickly called out, "Ranran, watch out for the cars!"

Li Ranran said "Oh," turned around, and moved to the side.

A flash of silver light caught her eye and instantly drew her attention.

Immediately afterwards, a grand and luxurious Mercedes-Benz- Benz was seen driving towards them.

The elegant and sleek silver body, along with the exquisite three-pointed star emblem on the front, is very eye-catching.

Li Ranran was a connoisseur and immediately recognized it as Mercedes-Benz S-Class worth millions.

The deep, rhythmic sound of the engine grew closer, and the car nimbly steered to a stop in the open space in front of the store.

Through the bright windshield, you could vaguely see a young man inside, who seemed quite handsome.

Li Ranran's heart skipped a beat. She couldn't even care less about the live stream, since there were only a few people in the live stream room.

The combination of a handsome guy and a luxury car is truly a feast for the eyes!

Soon, the driver's side of the Mercedes-Benz was gently pushed open.

A tall and imposing figure walked out.

He has handsome, well-defined features, rosy and glossy lips, You Guang a clear, smooth jawline.

The well-fitting white T-shirt accentuated the contours of his bulging muscles.

She looked clean, refreshed, and full of spirit, exuding a captivating charm.

An excited blush rose on Li Ranran's face.

Wow! That's so cool!

Xu Feng, who had been sitting on a small stool by the door, jumped up and strode over. "Xiao Song!"

As a mother, she naturally wouldn't fail to recognize the son she raised.

He looks much more energetic in person than in the video!

Upon hearing Aunt Xu's call, Li Ranran's eyelids twitched, and she blurted out, "Tang Song!"

"Mom, I'm home." Tang Song hugged his mother and Wei Xiao, "How was my workout? Pretty good, right?"

"That's great, he's so healthy!" Xu Feng patted her son's strong chest, her eyes filled with emotion and joy.

I chatted briefly with my mother.

Tang Song turned to the side and said with a smile, "Aunt Guo, Ranran, good morning."

Sister Guo hissed and widened her eyes, saying, "Tang Song, you've changed so much! And this car... you've really become Big Boss!"

"Hehe." Tang Song chuckled, "I was lucky. The company's live stream caught the wave of traffic and I made some money. I'm just going home to show off to my parents."

"Good morning, Brother Tang Song." Coming back to her senses, Li Ranran's heart rate instantly increased to 150. Looking at Tang Song's handsome smile, she spoke in a trembling voice.

This isn't just a weight loss! It's like she's a completely different person!

His physique, in particular, is well-proportioned and exudes strength.

He's a real-life Male God! He's even more handsome than he was in high school!