CHAPTER 297: 297. DELIGHTFUL, IF ONLY EVERY DAY WERE NEW YEAR!

When Old Yang and the kids finished putting up the couplets, New Year paintings, and window decorations, the festive red lanterns were hung up.

Lianshan came over with a big smile, carrying a bunch of firecrackers and a string of loud red firecrackers, urging the guys to wash their hands quickly. After setting off the firecrackers, they would start eating.

Fifteen of them, sixteen dishes with both meat and vegetables.

After the lively New Year’s Eve dinner, the sisters-in-law led Jiajia, Xinzhi, and Xinyue to tidy up the place.

The men set up a mahjong table; Old Yang, Feng Ju, Lian Hai, and Lianshan, who didn’t really want to play and would rather help his wife, were reluctantly pulled in to complete the foursome.

Even though he was quite well-off, Old Yang insisted on playing for real money on New Year’s Eve, saying there’s no fun in just flipping tiles.

Feng Ju had no objections, so Lian Hai and Lianshan just had to go along with it!

The four of them set up a table in the living room and started playing mahjong, while the young ones played cards on the coffee table.

Lian Xi, though small, had a big heart set on participating.

He insisted, saying either they include him or no one gets to play.

Thanks to his persistence, the planned four-player game turned into a five-player game of "Run Fast".

Worried that all their New Year’s money might be lost, the two little ones firmly opposed Chenchen’s proposal for money stakes, changing the terms so the loser had to stick a piece of paper on their face.

So when Shuzhen and the others finished tidying up, preparing the filling for the evening’s dumplings, and came back in, they were surprised to see Lian Rui and Lian Xi’s faces covered with sticky notes.

Seeing Jiajia, Xinzhi, and Xinyue come in, the two little ones, faces almost obscured, pitifully asked for their sisters’ help.

The doting sisters quickly joined the game, advising and helping them peek at others’ cards.

In a few rounds, the overwhelming defeat of the two little ones started to turn around.

Originally clean-faced, Lian Jie, Lian En, and Chenchen broke their zero streak one after another.

What could they do? Two fists are no match against four hands. The two brothers, though young and not very skilled, had strong support!

Understanding the situation, they wanted to end the game early, but would the freshly victors Lian Xi and Lian Rui agree?

The two little brothers were eager to continue their winning streak, hoping to cover their brothers’ faces with sticky notes in revenge!

The fun and games continued until it was time to make dumplings at night, only ending amidst the eagerness of Lian Jie, Lian En, and Chenchen for it to be over.

Over there, wanting to win but having skills that couldn’t match luck, Lianshan, a long-time non-player, managed to defeat Old Yang, who could only smile helplessly.

But a man of his word, Old Yang played with good sportsmanship as always.

Lianshan, who wanted to return his winnings, was firmly refused, so he just laughed and gave the odds and ends of the winnings to the little ones.

With their faces freshly covered in sticky notes, Lian Rui and Lian Xi, who hadn’t managed to cover their brothers’ faces, instantly beamed with joy when given the money.

They all chatted and laughed together, making dumplings while watching TV.

In less than an hour, the plump dumplings were boiling in the pot.

As the sound of firecrackers crackled again, the clock’s hands were pointing to eleven.

"Come on over, Shuzhen and Qiu Fang, it’s time for New Year’s greetings and red envelopes, just waiting for you two sisters-in-law!" Old Yang said with a big grin, waving a thick stack of red envelopes.

"Oh no, Uncle Yang. Just giving red envelopes to these little rascals must have cost you a lot. At our age, we can’t very well accept red envelopes," Shuzhen said, pulling out a stack of red envelopes from her pocket. "We’re at that age where we should be giving them out as well!"

Qiu Fang nodded in agreement, thinking her sister-in-law was absolutely right.

The family’s Lian Jie was turning nineteen after New Year; if he weren’t in school, it would be time to start thinking about marriage!

"I don’t care how old you are! As long as you call me Uncle, you’re the younger generation. On New Year’s, elders give red envelopes to juniors for good luck, a long-standing tradition. It’s not much—just for good fortune, wishing you blessings and prosperity in the new year. May you have happiness at home and success at work, with everything going smoothly." Old Yang’s good-natured sternness left no room for refusal.

He declared he was the oldest, so he went first and started handing out red envelopes all around.

From Feng Ju to the youngest Xinqing, not a single person was left out.

After him, Feng Ju also offered a round of blessings, then started distributing red envelopes, beginning with Lianshan and his wife, skipping only Old Yang due to his age.

Having no choice, Lianshan and Lian Hai accepted the heartfelt blessings with smiles.

Then the brothers took out their pre-prepared red envelopes and distributed them to the children.

Of course, following Old Yang and Feng Ju’s example, Shuzhen and Lianshan also gave red envelopes to Lian Hai and Qiu Fang. Imitating them, Lian Jie, Jiajia, and Lian En handed out red envelopes to the younger siblings.

At the end, little Xinqing was delighted: everyone in the family was giving her red envelopes; it felt overwhelmingly sweet.

The little one, so happy, cheered, "Oh my God, New Year is so great! Wouldn’t it be awesome if it were New Year every day?"

Everyone laughed heartily, Old Yang chuckling as he asked, "What’s so good about New Year, little Xinqing?"

"So much good food, so many people to play with, and so many people giving Xinqing red envelopes. New Year is the best, Grandpa Yang!" Little Xinqing boasted, waving her thick stack of red envelopes with pride.

Though coerced, Lian Xi and Lian Rui felt quite wronged, but Xinqing firmly argued her case!

"Dad and brother gave Uncle red envelopes."

"Brothers are siblings, so how can they not give their little sister a red envelope? I’ve been telling you how great New Year is!"

The two brothers, forcibly parted from their red envelopes, mischievously hoped that when they went to their eldest uncle’s house the next day, and when the mischievous babies and Jianbin’s little ones ask for red envelopes, the little girl won’t cry!

However, when they dressed in new New Year clothes the next day, and the adults and kids went visiting in a large group,

the scene the brothers anticipated didn’t occur. The little girl, Baby, focused entirely on her sisters’ ruffled edges, waist-cinched dresses, and butterfly knots, dressed like little princesses in new outfits.

Looking at her own red-like-a-red-envelope outfit, the little one burst into tears.

Everyone promised her she was the most beautiful, saying her sisters’ clothes didn’t compare at all.

They assured her that they’d have her aunt design a new, special outfit, more beautiful than any her sisters had...

After saying many sweet things, they finally stopped the little girl’s tearful sobs.

From that moment, it became clear to everyone how much the Liu family’s little girl loved beauty.