Even after the tossing of Yu Sheng, the dinner did not stop there. All of them near the table took a portion of it to partake in the well wishes that had been said by NPC Panda Hei. Jin thought it was a nice touch for the System to participate in this reunion dinner in some way or another.
And for it to control Hei’s personality and NPC settings was a small little secret that only Jin and the System were aware of. After all, just as Ming had said, the System took its rules seriously and would not break them unless there was either a consensus between the two parties involved or they were in danger.
But in order to not create any further suspicion, ‘Hei’ had already retreated back into his quarters after serving Yu Sheng and taking a portion of it to eat. As for the rest, Qiu Yue had already shamelessly extended her hand out with her mouth full of food, but Lynn sternly told her not to be rude.
“What’s wrong? I thought we should be rewarded for our efforts?” Peppers asked as she too followed Qiu Yue and smiled widely while awaiting the red packet.
“You guys… At least treat me as a proper boss! Otherwise, no red packets for you lot!” Jin stated in a fit of playful anger while he folded his arms.
“Hahaha! Fine, fine!” Qiu Yue wiped her mouth and hands with a few pieces of tissue and adjusted her black cheongsam dress. After which, she clasped her hands together and wished her Chinese New Year greetings to her boss.
“Boss Jin, Gong Xi Fa Cai! Hope you get rich and famous in the coming year!” Qiu Yue said that part with respect, and now it was Jin’s turn to control his giggles as he did not expect them to really comply with his request.
“I am willing to accept rich, but famous? Maybe not too soon.” Jin replied as he too adjusted his clothes and accepted Qiu Yue’s well wishes for the new year.
And as promised, he took out a red packet from his storage watch and used two hands to pass the Hong Bao to Qiu Yue. “Thank you for your service, Qiu Yue. Let’s make Dungeons and Pandas the best it can ever be.” Jin said as he prepared the next red packet for the little one queuing behind Qiu Yue.
Meanwhile, the Red Panda Cultivator realised that even the red packet was specifically designed to suit their cultivation styles. Instead of showing the current zodiac animal, they were celebrating for this year as the norm, Jin had purposely printed a Panda alongside a Red Panda playing in a Bamboo forest with both animals wearing traditional chinese costumes on it.
However, the red packet design was just a teaser to what’s inside it (still, she planned to treasure it, instead of throwing it away). As shameless as the Red Panda Tactician may be, Qiu Yue knew it was way too rude to open the red packet in front of her boss. So, she purposely went to the backyard where she slowly and carefully opened the package without destroying it.
However, she did try to guess how much was inside by shaking it, pressing it and bending the red packet while trying to determine its weight.
Unfortunately, no matter how she tried, it was a little too thin for comfort and Qiu Yue worried if Jin went back on his promise about giving her a ‘hefty good bonus’ for the work she had done. All those worries disappeared once she opened the red packet.
Inside was a single piece of paper.
Slowly, she pulled it out and got giddily excited. It was a bank cheque written with quite a number of zeroes on it. “Woohooo! THANKS BOSS!” Qiu Yue shouted from the backyard and into the dining room.
Meanwhile, Peppers shamelessly opened the red packet in front of Jin. Peppers then pulled out a card. Only upon closer inspection, did it turn out to be a gift card with the words ‘System Points’.
“Oh. My. GOD.” Peppers squealed as she flipped the gift card to show that Jin had given Peppers 30,000 System points. That was equal to roughly six months of work. Milk also received the same amount, and they were jumping with joy since it was very difficult to earn this much unless they worked extremely hard for the System or by miracle, they did something deserving of that much points.
“Wow, then I guess I better get my rewards too. Hehe!” Kraft chuckled as he joined the small queue upon seeing the many happy faces around him.
“Are you serious, Boss?” Lynn suddenly screeched out in joy when she saw exactly the same number of zeros after opening it in the backyard. Qiu Yue and her were all excited when they thought of the things they could buy. Qiu Yue thought of getting a car with that money while Lynn was still thinking about how to improve her kitchen apparatus with that amount of money.
“Do I kid with money??” Jin smiled as he turned his focus on Pei, the only ‘fox’ he was close enough to invite to this gathering apart from Kraft and thanked her for saving him time and time again.
“Please note that the money that User gives is from his own pocket. So, the money you spend is not part of the current budget. Spend Wisely.” The Sub Systems stated simultaneously as if to prove a point not to waste their new year bonus.
“Shhh! System I thought I told you not to say it out!” Jin asked the System as it finally came to Kraft.
“Sub Systems did not make any such promise.” The System stated as it noticed how even Pei could crack a genuine smile once in a while upon receiving the very same gift card as Milk and Peppers.
“You know that I don’t need any of these gift cards, right?” Kraft raised his hands and clasped his hands together to wish his boss prosperity for the new year.
“Yeah, I know you well enough. But I think you will be happy with the red packet. Happy New Year to you as well, Kraft.” Jin passed a packet with Foxes and Pandas imprinted on it.
“Heh! Thank you, Boss. Do you mind if I open it right here and now?” Kraft asked as Jin gave him the go-ahead.
When he opened it, he found out it was also a piece of paper, but he realised it was more than that. It was an inscription charm. One that looked quite similar to the ones the Demon Exorcist Trainees had received for Christmas.
“I do not know how much power it can give you, but I hope it’s still a minor upgrade,” Jin said, and that made Kraft sniggered.
“Even if it’s not, I am sure I can convince Octofussy to help me tinker with it further. Now I am more interested in what kind of outfit you are giving me. Hahahah!” Kraft replied as he noticed it was not a dual inscription charm but rather, a triple inscription charm.
It was a literal upgrade to the dual inscription charm which Jin could not have fiddled even with the help of the System because of his current Cultivation Grade of Eighth Peak.
Unless…
He was beyond that.
