My Life with Narration

Chapter 566 - 557: A Letter’s Greeting, Unfolding Brings a Smile

"10.9.8.7...3.2.1, Happy New Year~~"

Watching the host on TV deliver the same New Year blessing as every year, the moment quietly passed midnight.

The same "Unforgettable Tonight," familiar hosts, the same gala location, but a different year. Everyone in the country has quietly aged another year; Su Qing has officially turned 23.

"Happy New Year, Mom and Dad. Your daughter wishes you a Happy New Year!"

"Mom and Dad, Happy New Year, red envelopes!"

Just past midnight, Su Qing and Su He, the brother and sister duo, were making traditional New Year’s gestures to greet their parents, with their little hands outstretched, hoping for red envelopes.

Su He was used to it; she got red envelopes every year. But Su Qing hadn’t seen red envelopes in ages... no, he actually never got them. His mom always kept his red envelopes when he was young, and then they were gone, worse than a bank.

As he grew up, he stopped getting them. At most, he got tens of yuan as pocket money. This improved a bit in high school, as he could at least have more than a hundred yuan in his pocket.

Years went by without them, but this year, he’s become the family’s "God of Wealth." As parents, Old Su and Zhou Hui should at least make a gesture, right?

Even Da Huang, the dog, stood up on two paws, imitating the two siblings’ gestures: "Woof!" [I can’t be left out; I’m joining in!]

Feeling content with their well-rounded family, including a well-behaved dog, Old Su and Zhou Hui were very satisfied. Last year, dramatic changes had taken place in the family.

Their daughter got into college, their son’s career suddenly took off, making him a billionaire boss, and he even found a girlfriend. The two elders felt extremely content, realizing this year hadn’t been in vain.

"There are, there are," Mom Zhou Hui said with a smile, pulling two red envelopes out of her pocket and handing them to her children.

Da Huang: "Woof woof" [Hey, what about mine, Mom? What about mine?]

Facing Da Huang’s protest, Mom Zhou Hui thought for a moment and pulled out another red envelope. She took a hundred yuan note out and handed over the empty envelope.

"Da Huang, you’ve worked hard this year. Here’s a red envelope for you. Keep up the good work next year, and I’ll hold your money for a wife later!" With that, Mom Zhou Hui happily pocketed the money.

Su Qing: ...

Su He: ...

Seeing Da Huang happily holding the envelope in his mouth, the siblings rolled their eyes together. Even tricking the dog out of money, Mom, you’re really something.

Then the two turned their heads toward Old Su. Though they didn’t speak, their eyes were saying the words "red envelope."

Being stared at by his daughter like this, Old Su pretended to cough twice: "Ahem, just wishing your parents a Happy New Year, and not even a kowtow?"

Just as he finished speaking, Da Huang plopped down, completely on his belly, utterly decisive.

Su He: "Should I lie down too?"

Su Qing: "Then I’ll pass!"

Old Su: (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻

It’s not that they were afraid of kowtowing to their parents, but there was no such tradition in their family, so they felt a bit embarrassed.

This wasn’t Shandong, where, during New Year’s, the village folks would kowtow from one end to another, with the elders in front and the younger ones behind.

The key point is, Old Su had never mentioned this request before, and their sudden mention today caught the siblings off guard.

In the end, Old Su still handed over the red envelopes, including Da Huang’s share. He didn’t take out any money, but Da Huang’s envelope had only one yuan in it; how cunning.

"You guys just caught a good time. In our day, everyone had to kowtow to their parents for New Year’s; bowing to your dad isn’t shameful. Do you think it’s easy for your dad to work hard and support the family?"

While distributing the red envelopes, Old Su grumbled on.

Upon hearing this, Su Qing immediately perked up, knowing the moment he had been waiting for had arrived. Dad, don’t blame me; it’s just the natural order of the cosmos.

"Ahem, Dad, I made over three hundred million last year, and Su He’s monthly income isn’t small either, right?"

Hearing this, Su He quickly nodded: "Not bad. Recently, I’ve been getting several ad deals each month. Even if it’s less than ten thousand per deal, I still make at least thirty thousand a month."

In response, Su Qing nodded, then looked at Old Su and asked, "Dad, how much is your monthly income now?"

Su Hongye: ...

The moment Su Qing said this, it was evident that the veins on Old Su’s forehead tightened. That was a direct hit to Old Su’s heart.

University professor, the title sounds prestigious, educated, and classy, but the salary is not particularly high.

Based on Old Su’s professional rank, including various bonuses and fees, excluding insurance and housing funds, it averages less than twenty thousand monthly, even being in a first-tier city like Jiangcheng City.

If it weren’t in such a city, the salary might be even lower, and earnings from stock trading naturally can’t be counted, as there are both gains and losses.

In the past, Old Su was the pillar of the family. However, last year, suddenly, the children seemed to become enlightened and started making money like crazy online. Although Old Su was delighted, he was also a bit lost; after all, he was a university professor.

Just as Old Su felt like he was about to grit his back teeth into dust, Da Huang stepped up: "Woof woof" [As if I don’t make money too.]

Hearing this, Su Qing slapped his thigh: "Right, I forgot to tell you all, Da Huang actually makes quite a bit each month, all saved with Shen Yi. Just from modeling fees alone, it earns at least twenty thousand a month. Sometimes for a big job, the ad fees are several tens of thousands, and in less than half a year, it has saved over a hundred thousand."

Hearing this, Old Su suddenly stood up, let out a heavy sigh, and then turned around and went back to his bedroom.

"Hahaha," Mom Zhou Hui laughed with a goose-like honk at this ’Children vs. Dad’ showdown.

At first, I thought it was the three heroes against Lv Bu, but unexpectedly it turned out to be three Lv Bu beating Dong Zhuo.

Indeed, the halberd is truly meant for stabbing foster fathers!

"Is my dad... okay?" Su Qing asked cautiously.

Zhou Hui waved her hand: "He’s fine, don’t worry about him, he’s all about saving face and suffering for it. Look at me, how great it is, both my son and daughter are successful, your mom is living the good life of a wealthy first-generation mom, no worries about food and drink, how wonderful!"

Immediately, the brother and sister both gave their mom a thumbs-up.

The family of four, well, you could say they were quite harmonious.

Soon, the phones of the four of them rang, all with greetings, and there were some calls as well. Mom, Zhou Hui and Su He, went into the bedroom, Old Su went to the study, and Su Qing stood on the balcony with his phone, chatting with his acquaintances.

Li Zijun, Wang Xing, Tiny Dog, Zhu Lili, Wolong and Phoenix Hatchling, the landlord’s family, Tang Nan, Zhao Minghui, Li Chengcai, Old Wang, Feng Yan, and one person on duty at the Public Security Bureau, Du Qiang, he didn’t miss a single one.

Some were phone calls, some messages, you could say everyone got equal attention, one call after another. Especially with the landlord’s family, he was truly polite, after all, they’re not only older but also helped him make money. They’re seniors, and he almost took care of each one.

Outside, the sound of firecrackers and fireworks was continuous. Everyone was in a cheerful mood while on the phone, but the conversations weren’t long.

After finishing a round of calls, he wanted to reach Shen Yi, but found her line was busy the whole time, knowing she probably had too many people to deal with.

After all, as a company boss, it’s understandable that many people would call to greet her during the New Year.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh, pop, pop, pop!

Watching the fireworks blooming outside the window, Su Qing stood on the balcony in a daze for quite a while, nobody knew what was on his mind.

Suddenly, he remembered something, the package!

He quickly fetched the package. It was light, as if it were just a piece of paper, with no name on the shipping label.

Ripping it open, it was a letter inside, no wonder it was so light.

But he was a bit puzzled, in the information age, who still writes letters?

He instantly knew this might not be a surprise prepared by Shen Yi for him.

The envelope had his name written on it, the handwriting was delicate, obviously a girl’s handwriting.

Taking a deep breath, he tore open the envelope, took out the letter paper, and opened it to see the delicate handwriting before his eyes.

’This letter is like seeing you, unfolding it brings joy:

Time flies, half a year has passed in the blink of an eye, I wonder if you’re well?

I originally wanted to call you, but I thought it over, and decided it’s better to write a letter to each person.

Last time I left in a hurry, but I really wanted to say thank you. I’ve always been grateful to have met such lovely you guys. My greatest joy in these three years was when you took me through his high school path, a day I reminisced about for half a year, maybe even longer in the future.

In Green Book, there’s a line: there are all kinds of people in this world, and we happened to meet and become friends, this isn’t fate, it’s because we were meant to be friends.

To me, you all are extremely precious.

I love watching the unpretentious way you four chat and envy your comforting way of getting along. It’s a pity I didn’t meet you when he was still around.

Thinking about how you all spent days, years together, I’m grateful the wind didn’t scatter you. Among the comings and goings, we are still us.

This half year we haven’t been in touch, but I’ve learned about you through the internet. Dahuang is adorable, I really like it, and I heard from Ding Qiang that you seem to have found a girlfriend.

I sincerely wish you happiness and that you get married soon.

Friends... we should count as friends, right? I think we are, don’t worry about me, I’m doing very well now, I’ve come to a remote mountain area to teach, the children here are lovely, everyone likes me, and I like them too.

Moreover, I’ve thought about him again, it’s been so long since we last met, can I fulfill your promise on his behalf next July? I hope to see you then.

I almost forgot, finally, Happy New Year, wish you... good health and peace.

--- Xu Yuezhen’

The letter wasn’t long, but he read it very carefully; in fact, he knew who it was from when he read the opening line, that strong girl.

Despite the birthmark on her face, she’s still a beautiful girl. It seems she’s found her direction in life.

Su Qing was very happy for this; if San’er knew, he would definitely give them a thumbs-up and call them Dad.

Long time no see, hope you’re well; this might be the best blessing. It’s a pity they haven’t met, otherwise it could have been better.

Taking a deep breath, Su Qing looked up, watching the fireworks bloom in the night sky, his lips curved into a faint smile.

This year was good... I really liked it.

Youth, like this cup of wine, only the young can get drunk on it, once grown, it’s all an empty cup.

Old friends, like this poem, only the separated can understand, when read at home, it’s all scrap paper.

...