Xu Lai looked embarrassed. "I'm sorry, I didn't know."

Xie Meiling smiled and changed the subject, "It's quite a coincidence. Yiyi's father and I were high school classmates. We went to the same factory and took care of each other. Before long, we got married."

Xu Lai nodded. "That's good."

Everyone has their own choices. Although some paths may be difficult, as long as the final outcome is good, that's all that matters.

The elders were clamoring to play cards, and since the village chief happened to have a card table, they all flocked over.

Xu Lai yawned, deciding not to join in the fun. Just as she was about to tell everyone she was going home, Xie Meiling grabbed her: "Where are you going? Let's play mahjong together."

Just as Xu Lai was about to say that she hadn't played in a long time and would skip it today, Xie Meiling pulled her to the card table and forced her into a seat.

"Perfect timing. I'll call Xu Shen over later, and with Zheng Yuan, we'll be all here," Xie Meiling said.

A short while later, Xu Shen arrived. "You've come to the right person to call me when it comes to playing mahjong."

Xu Lai yawned. Oh well, it's been a long time since I've played cards. I'll have a go today.

She learned to play mahjong from her roommate. At the time, she was still in college and occasionally didn't have a part-time job, so her dorm would organize mahjong games, and she would join in.

At the time, she didn't know how to win or how to form pairs, but her roommate played several games with her and taught her how.

Later, during the Chinese New Year, Xu's mother said she would teach her how to play mahjong. Xu Lai sat directly in her seat and won three hands in a row.

Xu's mother couldn't suppress her smile, "Oh, my daughter is so smart, I didn't even teach her, she just learned it all by herself."

Xu Lai thought to herself, "By the time you remember me, I will no longer need you."

Then she learned to pull the beard, and she knew how to play cards in their area, but she wasn't addicted to cards.

Xu's mother also said, "If you don't learn these things now, when you get married, during the New Year, everyone else will be playing cards, and you'll just be standing on the sidelines watching. You won't be able to fit into other people's circles."

By noon, Xu Lai had won over a hundred yuan, while Xu Shen had lost more, and Xie Meiling had won several dozen yuan.

They didn't play big. If it were a high-stakes game, Xu Lai wouldn't have come; she doesn't play such high-risk games.

Xu Lai went home, but her mother was still playing games, so she went back early to heat up the dishes.

When I got home, Grandma was also playing cards with my third uncle and the other elderly people.

Xu Lai started cooking the dishes she had prepared the night before. Just as the last dish was finished cooking, Xu's mother and the others returned.

Xu's father wasn't home for lunch. The village chief was hosting a party at noon today. Usually, when people in the village host a party, they send the men of the family. Grandpa would also be there, so Xu Yan stayed there.

After finishing her meal, Xu Lai washed the dishes and went back to her room, ignoring her mother's words: "You can't lie in bed on the first day of the Lunar New Year, or you'll become lazy all year round."

If we follow her logic, then we won't need to sleep at night either. That would be like the first day of the Lunar New Year, where everyone would sleep standing up, just like owls.

After taking off her coat, Xu Lai lay down in the warm bed and then made a phone call to Zhao Qingyun.

He must have just finished eating too. Xu Lai said she wanted to find the old lady, and he sighed, "Don't you want to chat with me?"

Xu Lai wasn't buying it. "We'll talk about that later. The important thing is to wish Grandma and Uncle and Aunt a Happy New Year first."

Zhao Qingyun said honestly, "I'm at the old house now, maybe you can pay your respects to the old man for the New Year."

Xu Lai hesitated for a moment, then said, "Okay, then take the phone over."

Zhao Qingyun walked over and handed the phone to the old man, saying, "Your granddaughter-in-law is wishing you a Happy New Year."

Xu Lai's voice came through, "Happy New Year, Grandpa! I wish you good health and a long life."

Grandpa Zhao chuckled and said, "Good, good, thank you so much, child. You're so kind."

Zhao Qingyun held out her hand, "I've paid my New Year's greetings, where's the red envelope?"

The old man looked at him and said, "Hey, did you pray to him? How dare you reach out your hand?"

Zhao Qingyun, with a thick skin, said, "This is called taking it on behalf of someone else."

The old man handed him two, saying, "The thicker one is for your wife."

Zhao Qingyun touched it and guessed it must cost tens of thousands. He laughed and said, "Alright, I'll head out now."

Zhao Qingyun drove home and found the old lady. During the conversation, the phone kept ringing, and the two chatted every now and then.

He handed the phone to Grandma Jiang, saying, "Grandma, your granddaughter-in-law wishes you a Happy New Year."

Xu Lai said in a soft, sweet voice, "Grandma, Happy New Year! I wish you good health, all the best, and that you always be smiling."

Grandma Jiang smiled and said, "Thank you, Xiao Lai."

Grandma Jiang also took out two red envelopes, saying, "This is just a small token of my appreciation from your maternal grandmother. It's not much, but please take it."

Zhao Qingyun didn't take it. "Grandma, you keep it and use it yourself. I have money."

He knew that the old lady had been living off her own savings all these years, and although she lived here, she always tried her best not to trouble Ms. Yingqiu.

Grandma stuffed it into his hand, saying, "Take it. Why are you pushing it back and forth? I have money."

Zhao Qingyun accepted it, thinking she would return it when she had some free time.

Xu Lai wished Ms. Yingqiu and Mr. Zhao a Happy New Year again. Ms. Yingqiu was very generous and transferred 101,000 yuan directly to them, saying, "Here's a red envelope for you."

Zhao Qingyun smiled and said, "Then I'll keep it for Xu Lai."

He returned to his room and said, "This is the first time I've received so many red envelopes this year. It seems my girlfriend is really helpful."

Xu Lai: "Return those red envelopes."

Zhao Qingyun nodded: "I understand. We can't accept Grandma's, but we can take Grandpa's and Mom's. Don't underestimate them; it's just a drop in the ocean for them."

Xu Lai couldn't help but say, "How can you be like this?"

Zhao Qingyun said with a smile, "There's no other way. I have to earn as much as I can, since I'm preparing to marry you, and I have to save up some money."

Xu Lai laughed and scolded, "Don't be crazy."

Zhao Qingyun said, "It's not entirely a joke, I really mean it, I want to marry you."

He doesn't need to save any money; his current savings are enough to marry ten women.

They chatted for over an hour. Xu Lai was very sleepy, and she half-closed her eyes. Zhao Qingyun talked for a while, and when he saw that there was no sound on the other end, he knew that she must have fallen asleep, so he hung up the phone.

A moment later, she received a phone call, and Zhao Qingxi shouted, "Come and play mahjong!"

Zhao Qingyun clutched her wallet tightly. "I'm not coming. Don't call me."

Zhao Qingxi urged, "Hurry up, we're one short for the game."

He sighed, "I'm broke. Stop taking advantage of me all the time."

Zhao Qingxi: "So what if you didn't win last night? We'll let you win today. Besides, Grandpa just gave you a red envelope. Don't think I didn't see it."

Zhao Qingyun scoffed, "It's not like I didn't give it to you."

"It's not as thick as yours." Zhao Qingxi could tell just by touching it; it was probably around seven or eight thousand.

He grabbed his coat. "Whose house is this?"

Zhao Qingxi: "Your uncle's family."

Zhao Qingyun said "You're sick" over the phone, and then hung up.

Isn't her uncle's house her house? It's like she's talking as if that's not her father's house.