Two days later, the snow stopped and the wind died down. Although the sun didn't come out, the clouds in the sky seemed less low and thick. With arrangements made by Gu Qiming, Tang Qingshan and Ai Wenli took a military helicopter to Wancheng in the South. They planned to stay in Gongdao Village for three or four days before returning to Beijing. Tang Qingshan still had to go back to Liaozhou before the new year.
Xiao Man wanted to go too, but her Grandpa and Grandma persuaded her not to. They said the house in the countryside was crowded and small right now, and other guests might show up, making it hard to find a place for everyone to stay. For now, Qingshan and Wenli would go visit Grandpa and Grandma to represent the Beijing side and deliver New Year's blessings to Gongdao Village. They could all go next year when the new house in the countryside was built. Then Grandpa and Grandma wouldn't have to worry so much.
