Chapter Forty-Five New Beginning

  The old lady didn't expect herself to be so capable, and seeing the two robbers lying on the ground and everyone including her son staring at her in surprise, she couldn't help but blush, let go of my hand and shouted "conditioned reflex", pulling me away quickly.

  It's really true that "those who are close to vermilion are red, and those who are close to ink are black". I'm very clear about my mother's background, she didn't know any kung fu before. Today she comes up with this move, it seems like it's inseparable from the teachings of my father! The technical content of this move is quite high, from the speed of reaction to the application of moves, ordinary people can't really master it.

  Sticking couplets is something I must do and love to do every year. After categorizing and arranging all the couplets, lanterns, zodiac animals, etc., I excitedly find a small knife to cut open all the folded couplets, which has become a routine! In the past when I couldn't find a small knife, I would use a photo or a random playing card as a substitute, which worked well!

  After everything was put away, I called my mom to paste the couplets and hang the decorations. Before long, our home was filled with a festive atmosphere. I proudly looked around at each one, happily snapping my fingers, feeling a sense of accomplishment in my heart.

  That USP45 pistol had long been thrown under the bed by me, because I told myself: this is at home, and it's not needed at all. Even if a real danger were to occur, I would rather die than touch that pistol once!

  The New Year has finally arrived! On the eve of the Lunar New Year, it snowed heavily, and I rushed downstairs to light firecrackers. As the firecrackers crackled, my mother put all the dumplings into the pot. My father smiled and mixed garlic paste with vinegar. After the dumplings were cooked, we brought them to the table, and a simple New Year's Eve dinner was ready. On this eve, all you need is a bowl of dumplings, no need for stir-fried dishes, it's the perfect New Year flavor!

  After dinner, the melon seeds and candies bought were put on a plate and brought out. Several cans of drinks were also taken out from the refrigerator and placed on the table. The whole family was eating melon seeds and candies, drinking beverages, staring at the TV, waiting for the start of the Spring Festival Gala.

  How many years has it been? Since I can remember, every Spring Festival Gala is a must-watch. Whether it's good or bad, it's already become a habit.

  Ben Shan is still so talented and funny.

  The clock struck twelve! Outside, the sound of fireworks and firecrackers filled the air. I cheered and grabbed a lighter from the table, picked up a string of one thousand firecrackers, and rushed downstairs amidst my mom's cries of "slow down!" Gazing at the snowflakes dancing in the sky, I trudged through the knee-deep snow, expertly opened the storage room door, pulled out a long bamboo pole, and propped it against the door. With a whoop, I lit the firecrackers with the lighter, and as the deafening explosions shook the air, I raised the bamboo pole high, watching as the red paper scraps scattered everywhere along with the snowflakes, and the gray smoke rings rose from the blasts. I couldn't help but shout with excitement!

  Fortunately, fireworks are not prohibited here, otherwise it would be much less fun.

  After a few minutes, the thousand firecrackers all went off, and from afar came the dense sounds of various fireworks. I stuck the bamboo pole in my hand into the ground, gazing at the snowflakes dancing in the sky and the slowly dispersing smoke rings. I took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled...

  Next is to pay New Year's visits to relatives and friends.

  My family is very big and has many relatives, it wasn't until the 15th of the first month that we had visited all of them.

  On the fifteenth day of the first month, after watching the fireworks, I gazed at the bustling streets filled with people in high spirits. The smile that had been on my face for days slowly solidified.

  Only three more days and my vacation will be over!

  Back home, I closed the door, reached under the bed and pulled out the USP45, stroked it, disassembled it with ease to inspect it, then reassembled it and placed it under my pillow.

  The holiday is over!

  The plane slowly took off from the ground, retracted its landing gear and soared into the clouds. I turned my head back from the small window, adjusted my sitting posture and closed my eyes to rest.

  There is still a long time.

  The holiday is over, and the matter of the wine house has also been neatly resolved by the three people from the Wolf Protection Organization. The brothers are now implementing that detailed recovery plan, looking at their confident appearance, I also believe that with their efforts and the help of the Wolf Protection Organization, the business will surely be booming, and it will be even stronger than before!

  The journey is neither long nor short. A slight vibration, the plane has already taxied on the long runway of Los Angeles. After getting off the plane, I was taken to a hotel to rest, still that car, still a gun and several rounds of ammunition.

  Before I got on the plane, I had already contacted Kim Jee-joon, and his flight was going to be four or five hours later than mine. Tomorrow we will go to the company together to find Toros, and he will arrange for us to go to that legendary base, who knows where it is. Our life as mercenaries can also be said to have officially begun.

  I threw myself onto the bed, took off my jacket and continued to sleep soundly. Just as I was sleeping well, Kim Ji-hoon's knocking on the door woke me up. After a happy fight between us, we ran downstairs to the hotel restaurant and had a big feast. In just one month, that guy had spent all $50,000 of the prize money! Seeing thousands of dollars being deducted from my bank card, I was heartbroken and almost cried out loud.

  After dinner, Kim Ji-joon dragged me out for a stroll, and of course, all the expenses were still on me. Watching my bank card being swiped again and again made me grit my teeth in anger! This guy didn't even bat an eyelid, but instead got more excited the more he spent, as if he wanted to swipe away all the money in my bank account. In his words, "Mercenaries don't have tomorrow, what's the point of saving? Let's just enjoy ourselves!"

  Damn it! Our idea is to save money and marry a wife!

  When we two returned to the hotel in a drunken state from the bar at midnight, there was less than $10,000 left on my card!

  I kicked the smug Jin-woo Kim into his room with one foot and returned to my own room, fast asleep. Before falling asleep, I didn't forget to take out the gun and put it under the pillow, looking at the bank card in my hand with a pang of heartache.

  The next day, I and Kim Ji-hoon got up early to exercise on the rooftop. Playing shooting games, maybe two of me can take down one of him, but in close combat, three of him are no match for me! Since everyone was on the hotel's rooftop, shooting games were out of the question, so...

  Kim Ji-joon was knocked to the ground by me for the eighth time and refused to get up again, lying on the rooftop panting heavily. The temperature on the rooftop was at least minus ten degrees Celsius, but our two heads were emitting a faint mist of heat after exercising.

  What a relief! I burst out laughing and pulled up Jin-woo from the ground, carrying him down from the rooftop. Feeling secretly thrilled, I made you spend my money! We each went back to our rooms to take a shower, changed clothes, and walked out together to go eat at the cafeteria. There was no soy milk or fried dough sticks, nor were there any buns or pancakes. Each of us ordered a hot dog and a hamburger, plus a large cup of milk. Anyway, we just stuffed our bellies full.

  At eight o'clock, the driver was waiting for us on time downstairs. Kim Ji-hoon and I arrived at Tolst's office with ease. The old man was reviewing documents, seemingly always having a pile of papers to go through whenever we met him.

  After sitting down, Tolstoy, as usual, pulled up all the curtains and sat opposite us with a smile: "You two had a good holiday?"

  "Alright, thank you." We nodded.

  "So...". Torles took off the glasses perched on the bridge of his nose and pinched them in his hand: "The holiday is over, we should get back to work. I've already arranged for a plane to take us to the base, I'm sure it will be a big surprise for both of you!"

  "When will we depart?"

  Tolst raised his wrist to look at his watch: "It's now 9:32, at 10:30 the helicopter will land on the rooftop of this building, first head to a small island in the Pacific, refuel once, and arrive at the base tonight."

  "Is it that far?" I exchanged a glance with Kim Ji-hoon: "Isn't it on US soil?"

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