"Yeah, you’re right." Yang Xiaochuan was excited upon hearing this, "Let’s go, let’s visit the third branch of the family and wish our dad a happy new year."
So Ms. Luo, Yang Dongxue, and Yang Xiaochuan went together to the Yang Family’s third branch.
By the time they arrived, the first branch had already greeted Old Man Yang for the new year. Today, Old Yang wasn’t lying in bed, but was freshly dressed and helped to a wheelchair, pushed over by the servants.
Old Yang still hadn’t any issues with clarity of mind or slurred speech, his main problem was physical weakness, easily becoming short of breath and gasping for air.
Mu Shaoling had confided to her that it was also due to the influence of a knife wound from a villain, compounded by his advanced age. Although the wound had healed, it had led to other health problems.
Ms. Luo and Yang Xiaochuan immediately saw Old Yang upon entering and bustled over with a smile, "Dad, we’re here to wish you a happy new year."
As they spoke, they even pretended to kneel to kowtow. Damn, with her big belly, she still pretended to kowtow – who was she trying to fool?
Indeed, before Ms. Luo could bend down, Old Yang stopped her, and then it was Yang Dongxue’s turn to kowtow to Old Man Yang.
Afterward, Old Man Yang gave Yang Dongxue a red envelope.
Next, Yang Dongxue was asked to kowtow to Yang Dachuan and Ms. Wang, who each also gave Yang Dongxue a red envelope.
Seeing this, Ms. Luo tugged at the corner of her mouth and said, "Third brother, third sister-in-law, you gave too little in the red envelopes."
"Huh?" Ms. Wang was somewhat confused and thought to herself, you haven’t even opened it, how can you say it’s too little? Her red envelope contained a hundred wen in large coins, which was more than the few coins typically given by villagers during the new year.
Well, Ms. Wang thought Ms. Luo was talking about the money inside, not realizing Ms. Luo was referring to the number of red envelopes.
Seeing that Ms. Wang and Yang Dachuan didn’t quite react, Ms. Luo patted her belly with a smile and said, "Third sister-in-law, you can’t play dumb. There’s another one here. Although not yet born, they’re alive, they’re alive. You, as a third aunt, can’t be partial – you can’t forget the New Year’s money."
At these words, Ms. Wang and Yang Dachuan both grimaced in unison.
Even Mu Shaoling’s mouth twitched imperceptibly. He cast a cold glance at Ms. Luo and then at Yang Chuxia, noting her ironic gaze fixed on Ms. Luo.
"Third sister-in-law, where’s the red envelope?" Ms. Luo reached out her hand again when Ms. Wang didn’t move, "Third sister-in-law, don’t tell me you haven’t prepared one?"
Not wishing to spoil the festive mood over such a small sum of money, especially since Old Yang wasn’t in the best of health and shouldn’t be distressed, Ms. Wang hurriedly sent a maid to fetch two red envelopes for Ms. Luo.
Ms. Luo joyfully took them, her eyes continuously on Old Yang, making Yang Chuxia think, she wouldn’t be expecting to ask the old man for more, would she?
Fortunately, Ms. Luo wasn’t foolish enough to make such a request.
However, she did remember what Yang Xiaochuan had mentioned about Old Yang taking ginseng. After pondering for a moment, she sidled up to Ms. Wang and said with feigned intimacy, "Third sister-in-law, you’re really living the good life. I heard from the head of the family that dad gets to eat ginseng at your place, even every day. Poor little nephew of yours, still doesn’t know what ginseng tastes like!"
Upon Ms. Luo’s remarks, Yang Xiaochuan, who was sitting nearby drinking water, suddenly spat it out. He thought to himself, this damn woman, always bringing up what shouldn’t be mentioned. He hadn’t expected her to still be thinking about the ginseng from the third branch.
It turned out that on the way over, Ms. Luo had mentioned wanting to ask Ms. Wang for some ginseng to taste, but after being scolded by Yang Xiaochuan, she had dropped the idea. Yet, it seemed she had only been pretending, the thought never really left her mind.