Employee returns from holiday, wins 10-day leave from lucky draw at work, heads back to hometown

The employee reportedly celebrated the moment by immediately purchasing a train ticket home. (AI-generated image)

A Chinese employee who returned to work after the Spring Festival holiday unexpectedly found herself heading straight back home—this time with 10 extra days of fully paid leave.

On February 24, the first workday following the nine‑day Spring Festival break, employees at Mala Prince—a well-known spicy gluten (latiao) company in Hunan province—participated in a surprise lucky draw at the office entrance. The draw, filmed by the founder’s son, Zhang Zilong, quickly went viral on Chinese social media, garnering more than 120,000 likes and 9,000 comments.

Among the early arrivals was Tao, an e‑commerce operations specialist. Her punctuality paid off. She drew the top prize: 10 days of paid leave, instantly becoming the subject of nationwide envy, South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported.

Winner heads back to hometown to spend time with family

According to the footage posted by Zhang, Tao celebrated the moment by immediately purchasing a train ticket home, later sharing it online with the caption: “Getting up early for work really helps.” She reportedly left the office the same morning and began a second festive break with her family.

The prize resonated with many young workers who viewed additional leave time as the most coveted benefit after the long holiday rush. SCMP noted that Zhang prepared the rewards—ranging from small cash amounts to gold and a tablet—as a “kick-off bonus,” a gesture increasingly common among Chinese companies seeking to boost morale after the holiday season.

Online buzz and corporate culture trends

The moment sparked wide discussion online, with users praising the company’s generosity and calling the gesture a model of employee-friendly culture. Zhang, known online as “Mala Son,” has built a large digital following for sharing behind-the-scenes company stories. SCMP reported that he personally stood at the entrance with a lottery box to surprise staff as they arrived.

For Tao, the unexpected windfall meant something simple: a chance to extend her time at home. As the viral clip spread, many online users joked that punctuality had never been so rewarding.