After receiving the red envelopes, they all went to the dining hall for breakfast.
Their grandmother appeared in the dining hall, and Ye Shiqi remembered her words during her birthday, promising red envelopes for the New Year.
She did not do it for a red envelope, it was just a tease.
During the New Year, the elders give red envelopes regardless of the amount, seeking only to bring good fortune.
"Grandma, I wish you wealth and prosperity!"
"Right, I wish you wealth and prosperity."
"Grandma, hand over the red envelope!"
"The red envelope in my pocket is for your younger brother!"
"Grandma, didn’t you promise? You said you’d give me a big red envelope for the New Year!"
"Did I? How come you are so greedy, little one? Don’t you already receive plenty of red envelopes normally?"
Mrs. Lai decided to debunk the red envelope request, refusing to give one no matter what her granddaughters said.
Ye Shiqi...ultimately had no choice but to surrender, given that her grandmother was such a miser.
The breakfast table was more plentiful that morning because they could not eat fish or meat the day after the New Year’s Eve dinner; only eggs, rice noodles, and buns were permitted.
Likewise, Ye Shiqi had goat milk and a full breakfast before going with her elder sisters to watch the lion dance.
However, as they reached the front of their house, they saw a group normally performing the lion dance approaching in the direction of their home.
Their house was not far from the next, and the approach of these people directly towards them clearly indicated they were coming to perform the lion dance at their place.
Lion dances are a form of entertainment during the New Year or festive occasions, and the performers vary the length of their act depending on how substantial the red envelope offered by the homeowner is. If a passing household does not place a red envelope at the entrance, the performers simply bypass that home without performing.
The five sisters returned home and began shouting excitedly that the lion dancers were coming.
Mrs. Li promptly prepared a large red envelope and had someone tie it together with lettuce and garlic, hanging it high on a pole at the front gate.
Indeed, the group had come for their house, and when they saw the homeowners hanging the red envelope, the Lion’s tail began to sway and the musicians put even more effort into their play.
Countless village children gathered to watch on this festive day, with adults also relaxing and taking the day off. On the first day of the New Year, even farmers took a holiday to enjoy the bustling scene.
Apart from some minor household tasks, that day was one for not sweeping, not doing the laundry, not drying clothes, and phrases like "death" or "decline" were avoided, for they were inauspicious.
Ye Shiqi stood in the courtyard, watching the lion dancers play energetically.
It was said the village had five lions, divided into five groups. They wouldn’t perform separately, thinking nothing of making multiple trips to places offering more red envelopes, as long as there were red envelopes.
Ye Shiqi noticed that those animating the lion were putting in great effort, with the one carrying the lion head helping others bring in a long bench, followed by the assembling of a high stage.
Soon more lions arrived, and today it was like lifting a pole together, all coming to pay a New Year’s visit to the Ye family. It appeared the five lions had coordinated this visit, bringing along their band and their fans.
A large crowd had gathered at the spacious area in front of the Ye family’s gate, bustling with villagers who came to watch the excitement.
Hongji felt that these village folks and elders were giving quite a face, and since the five lions had come to perform, it meant giving five red envelopes.
Thus, he prepared four more large red envelopes, similar to the first, adding lettuce, garlic, and later some Bai Cai.
Seeing that there was only one red envelope at the Ye family’s gate while five lions had arrived, the villagers had never seen such a spectacle—it must be the five lions scrambling for one red envelope.
Everyone thought that on this needful day of entertainment, watching the lions compete was the most thrilling spectacle.
In ancient times, if men were able, they all believed in having a bit of martial arts skill, useful for strengthening the body and making farm work less taxing.
The members of the lion dance team obviously had a martial arts background, standing firm in their stances.
They began to compete, as without fighting for it, they wouldn’t get any of the five red envelopes.
Only when captured did the envelopes truly belong to them; the generosity of the host in providing five red envelopes did not guarantee that they wouldn’t have to compete for them.
Insiders knew that this performance was all in fun, and if you did not strive for a red envelope when one was in sight, none would be left for you. Failing to secure an envelope would turn you into a laughingstock, the ridicule targeting your entire team.
Although there were five lions in the village, it did not mean they were all from the same team; each lion had a mind of its own with individuals like Big Head wearing masks, along with their bands, and their stand-ins.