It was the first day of the new year. In the city, they do not allow people to light firecrackers, but in small places like the town they live in, it isn't as strict, so it was inevitable that they would be lit here. It was not even the crack of dawn, and there were already sounds of explosions from firecrackers being lit outside. You could smell the air slowly filling with the smoky scent of fire.
The Lu family did not need to visit their relatives, and so Lu Yuan and Lu Qi woke up early to put up the scrolls of spring festival couplets1, and then they bowed their heads2 in respect to Mama Lu. After they made greetings for the new year, they were both given a hefty red pocket.
Mama Lu smiled gently, patting the heads of the two children and said the unchanging but full of sincerity celebratory greetings,
"Be safe in the new year, and may things go your way.3"
"Thank you mom. May you be healthy and live for more than a hundred years. The longer you live, the more beautiful you become!"
Lu Yuan obviously knew how to say good blessings, as with a few words, she already had Mama Lu smiling widely. After she said that, she took out two red pockets from her pocket, and gave one to Mama Lu and one to Lu Qi,
"Mom, you have worked hard. This is part of my filial duty as a daughter."
And then turned to grin at Lu Qi,
"Ah-Qi, Happy New Year, may you succeed in your studies, succeeding all the way with no setbacks."
Lu Yuan has been working hard as a woman out in the field, and she herself needed money for everything from clothes to food to housing. It must have been hard for her to save up enough to give them both red pockets. Lu Qi felt the hard plastic of a bank card inside and thought she must have saved up enough for at least one year of his tuition. He smiled, nodding his head,
"When your brother can finally head out to work, I'll give you a big one."
In the entire family, he was the only one without stable income. Even if Lu Qi gave them red pockets, they would not have accepted it. Sometimes when he thinks about it, it makes him feel like quite the failure.
On the night of New Year's Eve, Huo Ming Chen waited right until the clock switched to the next day, and then sent him an undisclosed amount of money in an enormous red pocket. However, Lu Qi did not accept it which made Huo Ming Chen a bit unhappy. He was only pacified when Lu Qi said some good blessings to him.
The winter break was not very long, and the two of them only stayed home for a few more days before hurrying back to the capital. Lu Qi had Lu Yuan's arrangement in mind and did not want to dilly dally. He quickly marked his attendance at the university and then arranged a meeting with Huo Ming Chen.
Lu Yuan had changed into a more professional outfit in black and white and also wore a thin pair of glasses, which hid away some of her extravagant and seductive looks, making her seem more serious, professional, and elegant. The two of them stood next to the street, waiting for Huo Ming Chen. She could not help but ask while they were waiting,
"Ah-Qi, do you have a good relationship with...... that second prince of the Huo family??"
Lu Qi lowered his eyes slightly, half hiding his words and half exposing the truth,
"Oh, we're alright. Even though he doesn't look very friendly, his personality is not bad."
Lu Yuan said,
"I'm happy that you made a friend, but you still have to be careful. Those wealthy princes are quite shrewd, never accepting a trade that would be a loss for them. Don't let someone like that trick you."
BẠN ĐANG ĐỌC
Don't be a Kept Man
Lãng mạnIn this world, there is always one type of man who does not want to improve themselves. They care only for themselves, by whatever means possible. They make their life goal to be kept as a lover, and they will use their lovers up until they have no...
