Chapter 1812: Let's Sneak Away (Patreon)

Chapter 1812: Let's Sneak Away

As she was lost in thought, her hand on the left was suddenly held by someone.

Turning her head, Shu Yu heard Meng Yunzheng whisper, "I'll take you to see the fireworks later. I brought them back from the capital."

Shu Yu couldn't help but chuckle. "I'm not a three-year-old child."

"Playing with fireworks can be too risky for a three-year-old. You're just right," Meng Yunzheng replied with a smile.

Shu Yu almost choked on the water she was drinking. She glared at him, and he handed her a handkerchief. After a pause, he continued, "After the New Year, there won't be many matters in the city. With Qi Lie around, I'll have some free time. By then, we'll sneak back to Dong'an Prefecture."

"Why do we need to sneak?" Shu Yu asked.

Meng Yunzheng sighed, "Lord Qi is desperate for someone to share his official duties. Even if we want to leave openly, we still need his permission to release us."

If he wasn't concerned about being too heartless, Meng Yunzheng would have just quit. During these New Year days, Qi Lie was practically forcing Meng Yunzheng to stay in the prefectural city.

Thinking about Qi Lie, who couldn't return to the capital for the New Year, Shu Yu nodded with understanding.

After the New Year's Eve feast, Meng Yunzheng indeed brought out various types of fireworks, allowing everyone to take turns setting them off.

Meng Han was the youngest in the Meng family. This year, she was especially happy. In previous years, her mother would bring over her uncle's family to make things lively. Her little cousin from her uncle's family was full of energy, and the whole Meng family revolved around him. Whatever he wanted, he got.

If she didn't indulge him, she would face lectures from her uncle, aunt, and mother. It was as if they treated her as if she were still a child, which made it hard to enjoy the New Year.

This year was different. With her cousin around and Shu Yu as her elder sister, this was the dream New Year's Eve for Meng Han.

She pulled Shu Yu over to play. Knowing that during reunions like this, Shu Yu must miss her own family, she tried to make her feel included.

The festivities continued until late into the night, and the sound of firecrackers could still be heard.

The noise persisted until dawn, and Shu Yu changed into new clothes and freshened up.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, there wasn't much to do. Shu Yu planned to go out for a stroll.

Unexpectedly, as soon as she stepped out of her room, Meng Yunzheng was already waiting there, holding a red envelope. "Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year." Shu Yu accepted it without hesitation, playfully pinching it. There were probably silver bills inside, and she guessed there must be at least ten taels.

She thought one red envelope would be enough, but during breakfast, Meng Pei and Meng Xiaoshu both gave her one as well.

Shu Yu suddenly felt embarrassed. "I turned fifteen the year before last. Why are you giving me a red envelope?"

"In our hearts, no matter how old you are, you're still a junior, a child. It doesn't matter whether you've come of age or not," Meng Pei said with a laugh. "Just accept it without worries. The red envelope isn't big. It's just for celebration during the New Year, a symbolic gesture."

Tao Shi also chimed in, "That's right, and this is your first year with the Meng family. You couldn't go back and reunite with our parents, so this red envelope is our way of expressing our feelings."

Shu Yu wasn't the type to hesitate, so she graciously accepted.

Not only her, but Meng Yunzheng, Meng Han, and Meng Qi also received red envelopes since they hadn't married yet.

After leaving the hall, Meng Han opened her red envelope to find five taels of silver inside. Her eyes widened in astonishment.

She whispered to Shu Yu, "Even if my brother's and my red envelopes from past years were added together, we didn't get this much."