Witty Wife, Better Life

Chapter 474: 464

On the New Year’s Eve dinner, Shen Yunfang, her two children, and a dog dined with Li Xianglian’s family, because the upstairs had heating and was more comfortable, so Li Xianglian’s family came upstairs to eat.

Of course, the first thing to do when New Year’s comes is to give out the red envelopes with lucky money.

Both families have children, so exchanging red envelopes doesn’t hold much actual significance, but the ritual is still a must every year because the children all look forward to it.

Shen Yunfang had long prepared red envelopes for the three children and handed one to each of Liu’s three kids upon seeing them.

"You’ve grown another year older, and from now on, you need to study hard and help your mom and dad with chores, okay?" Shen Yunfang patted Liu Jia on the head.

"Mhm, got it." Shitou replied.

"Mhm, second auntie, don’t worry," Jiajia said with a timid smile.

"Second auntie, was I good at doing chores these past few days?" Shuanzi was the liveliest among the three children and also the most outspoken.

"Good, very good," Shen Yunfang replied earnestly, giving a positive response.

In recent days, Shitou and Shuanzi had been following the adults to set up the stall every day, braving the bitter cold just like the grown-ups, standing outside for an entire day without ever complaining of hardship or tiredness—indeed, their performance was exceptional. Moreover, they were a big help; when the crowd swelled, they watched over their family’s stall like little searchlights, guarding against the loss of even a single couplet. When it was less crowded, they knew to let the adults sit and warm themselves by the fire, while the two of them rolled up couplets for customers.

The young boys, being affirmed, were so happy they couldn’t hide their grinning faces, "Heh, actually, it wasn’t all that good." They got bashful being praised.

"Good is good, no need to be modest. Make sure you hold onto these well, ah. Second auntie has prepared big red envelopes for you, have a look when you get back. Remember, once you’ve got the red envelopes, you have to study hard, okay?" Shen Yunfang spoke softly, hinting them to hide the red envelopes quickly so Li Xianglian wouldn’t see, and hurriedly tucked them away.

The children obediently stashed the envelopes in their pockets.

Li Xianglian was also handing out red envelopes, amusing Pangpang and Manman on her side.

In the end, Pangpang and Manman managed to charm their ’big cousin’ into slipping the red envelopes into their pockets.

As noon approached, Li Xianglian and Shen Yunfang both went to the kitchen to get busy, while the children played in the room by themselves.

Shuanzi glanced around the room, saw his older brother and sister playing with Pangpang and Manman, and noticed his dad presumably gone to the bathroom. He quietly went to the study, and as Taxue was about to bark upon seeing him, he quickly made a hushing gesture, then moved forward to stroke Taxue’s head, signaling it to stay quiet.

Taxue lifted its eyelids slightly, then curled up in its nest and continued sleeping.

Shuanzi checked the doorway to make sure no one was there, then carefully took out the red envelope given by his second auntie and cautiously opened it; he was just curious about how much she had given.

"What are you doing?" Liu Jianjun, coming out of the bathroom, saw his youngest son standing alone in the study and curiously walked over to ask.

Startled, Shuanzi jerked in surprise and instinctively hid the red envelope behind his back, though he had already turned toward Liu Jianjun.

"What are you hiding behind your back?" Liu Jianjun frowned, seeing his son’s obvious movements; how could he not notice?

"Nothing." Shuanzi put his hands behind his back, surreptitiously stuffing the red envelope into his cotton pants.

With so much money, if Dad found out he would definitely tell Mom, and if Mom found out she would definitely not let him keep it. She’d definitely say she’d hold on to it for him, and as time went on, it would no longer be his, and he wouldn’t see a single cent of it. So he had to make sure to protect this money no matter what.

Liu Jianjun glared, "Hurry up, don’t make me get physical." Liu Jianjun was always a kind father, but after all, he was a man. His glares could indeed be quite frightening.

Shuanzi was somewhat scared, but he still didn’t want to take out the money, so he dilly-dallied and dragged his feet, just not willing to hand it over quickly.

Seeing this, Liu Jianjun raised his hand, which was of course just to scare him, but the child didn’t know that.

When Shuanzi saw his dad was about to really get physical, he hastily took out the red envelope from his cotton pants and handed it over, "This is the red envelope my aunty gave me. It’s mine, for me to study well. You and Mom can’t take it away." Shuanzi’s voice carried a whiff of crying, as if he had already seen the money sprouting wings and flying away.

Liu Jianjun didn’t say a word and took the red envelope. It had already been opened. After being stuffed into Shuanzi’s pocket and then taken out again, the red paper had been rubbed until it was out of shape, and one could see the money inside at a glance.

"So much, did your aunty give this to you?" Liu Jianjun looked at the ten yuan in his hand and asked.

"Yeah, my aunty gave it to me. My brother and sister both have one too." Shuanzi inadvertently snitched on his brother and sister as well.

"Dad, can you not tell Mom, or else the money will be taken away by her again." Seeing his daddy seemed to soften, Shuanzi dared to snuggle up and act spoilt.

Liu Jianjun was thinking, how could Yunfang have given the kids so much money for their New Year’s red envelope? His wife had discussed with him in the morning that since Yunfang’s family had two children, and their own family had three, when exchanging red envelopes, Yunfang would be at a disadvantage. So they thought of giving Pangpang and Manman two yuan each in red envelopes. That way, their own kids would bring back three yuan, and they would give Yunfang’s children four, so Yunfang wouldn’t be at a loss.

He hadn’t expected that they added money to Pangpang and Manman’s red envelopes, but still couldn’t catch up with Yunfang, who directly gave the kids ten yuan. Nowadays, even among relatives, giving New Year’s money was at most one yuan, and no one ever gave as much as ten yuan.

"Why did your aunty give you guys so much money?" Liu Jianjun didn’t understand and blurted out.

"My aunty said it’s for us to buy books and notebooks and stuff, for us to study hard, so we can also get into a university in the Capital." Shuanzi seemed to see a glimmer of hope and quickly clung to his dad to plead, "Dad, what should I do with this money? Can you not tell Mom?" This was what he was most worried about.

Liu Jianjun looked at his youngest son, who was trying to curry favor so cautiously, and couldn’t help but laugh, "Scram, kid. Is your mother some kind of ferocious beast or what, that she’d be interested in your petty cash?" Now, how could he say, the two of them were wealthy with over a thousand yuan.

"Hehehe, you definitely can’t, Dad, but Mom might. We agreed, okay? You can’t tell my mom about this. Whoever breaks their word is a puppy." Shuanzi, still insecure, threw in a line inviting trouble.

"You little rascal, you think you can outrun your dad if he’s the puppy? Scram, kid. But let me tell you, your aunty gave you that money to buy school supplies. If I find out you’re spending it recklessly, I’ll confiscate it right away, got it?" Liu Jianjun said, playfully kicking his son.

"Eh, I got it, just relax." Shuanzi didn’t care who was the puppy; he just wanted the money safely in his pocket.

He carefully stuffed the money back into his pocket, patted it, then bounced off, ready to go out and play with his brothers.

"Also, tell your brother and your sister not to waste their New Year money either," Liu Jianjun remembered he had yet to instruct the other two, so he quickly called after him.

Shuanzi jolted, turned around quickly, and made a shushing gesture, then snuck a peek at the kitchen door to make sure his mom hadn’t come out before turning back to his dad and saying, "Got it, got it, keep it a secret," and then he hopped and skipped away.

"That kid, all eyes for money."