Chapter 1143: New Year's Money

First were Sheng Hanyu and his wife, kneeling on the cushions already prepared, respectfully kowtowing three times: "Wishing Mom and Dad a Happy New Year, good health, and long life and blessings."

The elderly couple took out red envelopes, one for each: "We also wish you both good health and eternal happiness."

"Thank you, Dad."

"Thank you, Mom."

The two accepted the red envelopes, expressed their thanks, and then stood to one side.

It was Lao Qi and Nianyin's turn; the two followed suit, also kneeling to kowtow and offer auspicious words, likewise receiving a generous red envelope and blessings from the elders.

Next were the children.

The children were much more lively; their little mouths were more eloquent than the next, auspicious words pouring out one after another without ever repeating, making the elderly couple beam with joy. Naturally, the children also received thick red envelopes.

After paying New Year's respects to their grandparents, it was the turn of their parents, Aunt Nianyin, and Uncle Lao Qi.

Likewise, each of the children received a large red envelope.

The others were fine, but Sheng Zihan couldn't wait to return to his room to count his money; he didn't even come out for the New Year's Eve dinner.

"Zirui, go and drag your brother out," Shi Youxuan instructed.

To not even come out for New Year's Eve dinner just to count money—this child needed a bit of discipline.

After the New Year has begun, especially on New Year's Eve, one shouldn't discipline children, and even if they are excessive, one shouldn't discipline them, otherwise the elders will be unhappy.

Sheng Zirui: "Big brother, second brother, you two come with me; I'm afraid I won't be able to drag him out by myself." Sheng Zihan was a little money-grubber; when he was counting money, he didn't recognize anyone.

Shi Youxuan pulled Zirui over and whispered something in his ear, and Zirui immediately beamed: "You don't need to come, I can do it myself."

Zirui ran toward his brother's room.

Everyone was curious and looked at Shi Youxuan.

She spread her hands: "I told Zirui to snatch Zihan's red envelopes..."

"Sheng Zirui, give them back to me, ahhhhh, give them back!" Soon, Zihan rushed out at the speed of a hundred-meter sprint.

Sheng Zirui held the two red envelopes that hadn't been opened yet, holding them high above his head: "I'll give them to you after we eat; I keep my word."

"No, you have to give them to me now, right now, immediately!"

"What are you doing? What kind of behavior is this, shouting and screaming? Zirui always keeps his word. Besides, with so many of us watching, could you possibly be shorted? Eat." Shi Youxuan grabbed her son by the collar and hauled him directly to the dining table to sit down.

Zihan sat next to Shi Youxuan; that seat was originally Shi Ran's, so she automatically sat in Zihan's seat, next to Zirui.

This way, the twins had the two most formidable women in the family beside them, and Zihan, though his heart felt like it was being scratched by a cat's claws, didn't dare to act out.

He didn't pay any attention to what was being eaten at the New Year's Eve dinner.

He just shoved food into his mouth, ate a little haphazardly, and then put down his chopsticks: "I'm full."

Zirui said unhurriedly: "I'm not full yet, wait for me a while."

Before the elders left the table, the younger generation could not leave; for the remaining time, he could only wait.

Why was time passing so slowly?

He wanted to urge them, but didn't dare.

Finally, Grandma spoke: "Zirui and Zihan are young; if you're sleepy, go back to sleep first, no need to keep us company."

"Thank you, Grandma."

Zihan left the dining table with nimble movements, and Zirui also left. The brothers walked to the doorway, and Zirui spread his hands: "I forgot to say just now, the red envelopes were in the way in my pocket, so I let sister keep them for you."

"Sheng Zirui, I will..." He wanted to say he would be his sworn enemy.

But seeing the 'Fu' character pasted in the house, he remembered that one shouldn't speak recklessly during the New Year, so he forced himself to change his words: "... we are brothers with deep affection, you will definitely be good to me, right?"

"Yes, yes, don't you worry. If there's one bill missing from the red envelope, I'll compensate you ten."

"Okay, okay." Zihan nodded like a chick pecking at rice; now he was relieved.

Shi Ran had originally wanted to dawdle and leave the table late, intentionally trying to temper her brother's character.

However, seeing that he was indeed anxious to the extreme, she couldn't bear to continue teasing him.

"Here, your red envelope, see if anything is missing?" The sister stood before him, smiling like a flower, and handed the red envelope back.

Zihan accepted it with both hands and clutched it tightly to his chest, his smile brighter than a flower: "No need to count, no need to count, sister is the person I trust most, bar none." As he spoke, he glanced sideways at Zirui, saying it specifically for him to hear, venting his dissatisfaction.

Zirui ignored him and turned to leave.

Zihan treasured the red envelope and returned to his room to continue counting his money; this was his greatest hobby, and it could not be disturbed by anything.

The first day of the Lunar New Year.

The Sheng Family had a constant stream of visitors after breakfast.

First came a whole family: Jian Yining and Wan'er brought their triplets over to pay New Year's respects. The children collected their red envelopes and went off to play, while the adults sat on the sofa talking and chatting.

Shi Youxuan asked Wan'er: "Didn't you all spend the New Year together yesterday? Why didn't Yixin come over with you?"

Wan'er: "Sister will arrive a bit later; she has to take care of Moli."

Shi Youxuan:...

Jian Yining frowned, and without being asked, he volunteered: "My sister is getting more and more excessive now. A perfectly fine child is being cared for by her to the point of being unable to take care of himself. How old is he now? He still needs to be fed every bite of food and every sip of water."

"Last night she said she was afraid of affecting Moli's rest, so on the New Year, she insisted on not allowing fireworks, and we couldn't even speak loudly in the house; it was almost as if we weren't allowed to breathe."

"Still like that?" Shi Youxuan was shocked.

"Of course, still like that. Everyone tells her this won't do, that a good child raised like this will be ruined. Even my mother, who is so protective of children, tried to persuade my sister to let go and not do this, but she won't listen to anyone; it's useless."

Jian Yining had many complaints.

Yesterday, he had originally wanted the whole family to gather together for New Year's Eve and have a lively New Year.

But as it turned out, with her forbidding this and that, the perfectly good New Year was spent very stiflingly.

The adults were fine, but what child isn't mischievous?

Especially Jian Yining's three daughters, whose combat power was even stronger than ten boys of the same age.

But Jian Yixin made them all shut their mouths, forbade them from shouting, and even forbade them from laughing out loud, only letting them sit quietly on their chairs, and she even gave each of them a fairy tale book to read.

Last night the three daughters didn't have a smile on their faces, how could it be like now?

Upon arriving at the Sheng Family, they quickly hit it off with the brothers, and laughter was constant!

Speak of the devil, just as they were talking about Jian Yixin, her family of three arrived.

"Happy New Year, Uncle and Aunt."

Jian Yixin entered the door and first offered New Year's greetings.

Sheng Jiang helped his wife stand up and walked over with a beaming smile, but Jian Yixin knelt down... "Oh my, this won't do." Wang Yinghao hurriedly went to help her up, thinking Jian Yixin was going to kneel to offer New Year's greetings.

According to the customs of Jiangzhou, only one's own juniors, or juniors who are particularly close, would kneel and kowtow to offer New Year's greetings; for general relatives, a bow is sufficient.

But she soon realized she had misunderstood.

Jian Yixin kneeling was not to offer New Year's greetings.

Instead, she knelt, turned at a forty-five-degree angle, and untied her son's Spring Shoes!

It was a bit awkward; both sides were awkward.

"Happy New Year, Uncle."

"Happy New Year, Aunt."

To ease the awkwardness, Sheng Zerong knelt on the hard floor tiles and kowtowed three times with a "Clang! Clang!" to offer New Year's greetings.

A nephew is a close relative, so it was neither impolite nor excessive, and the awkwardness was considered resolved.