Chapter 1142: New Year’s Money

Mu Yangling held the mirror and looked at herself for a long time. In the end, she asked Qi Haoran with uncertainty, “Am I old?”

Qi Haoran shook his head repeatedly. “Not at all.”

Mu Yangling touched the corner of her eye. “I think I look alright too. But geez, I’m about to be a grandmother?”

Qi Haoran stole a glance at the mirror and sighed. “I think it’s not that we’re old, but that the children are growing too fast.”

Mu Yangling couldn’t help but worry. “What about Little Bear and the others’ marriage? Do I really have to choose a wife for them?”

She had never thought of choosing a wife for her son since she and Qi Haoran had naturally gotten together. Also, because of the memories of her previous life, she had always felt that dating was a matter between two people. As the mother-in-law, she just had to make sure that the woman’s character was passable.

However, her sons were clearly not enlightened about such matters yet. Moreover, in this era where physical contact between men and women was forbidden, could her sons really find a wife on their own?

“What are you talking about? You’re their mother, so it’s naturally up to you to decide on the daughter-in-law. It’s up to the parents to decide…” Qi Haoran calculated in his heart and felt that they were just scaring themselves. “There are still five years to go. If not, he can always get married later. We’ll slowly find him a good one.”

“You mean, a suitable one. What’s the use if it’s good but not suitable?”

“Yes, yes, a suitable one.” Qi Haoran decided to enter the palace tomorrow to chat with his sister-in-law. Since the Empress was finding a princess consort for Little Treasure, she must have shortlisted quite a number of candidates. When the time came, he would get a list from her for Ah Ling to inspect.

The couple’s thoughts were a little complicated tonight, so they lay in bed and did not fall asleep. Fortunately, the next day was the first day of the new year and there was no court assembly, so they could sleep in without worry.

After a while, the couple sighed faintly. “The kids are growing too quickly!”

Qi Haoran said softly, “I think I’m still quite young…” He held back for a long time before daring to say this.

“We’re young to begin with.” Mu Yangling strongly agreed with his statement. After the New Year, she would be 30 years old, and Qi Haoran would only be 33 years old. In her previous life, there were many people who had just gotten married at this age. Although in this life she was living in an era where people tended to marry early, she did not look old because she had taken good care of herself.

Seeing that Ah Ling had the same opinion as him, Qi Haoran immediately turned around and hugged her. “I knew it. Why do I feel like I’m about to be a grandfather when I’m still so young? You’re right. The age of marriage should indeed be pushed back.”

Otherwise, wouldn’t he be a grandfather in two to three years?

At this rate, he would be a great-grandfather in 18 years. At the thought of a toddler like the Little Leopard or Baozhu chasing after him and calling him great-grandfather, Qi Haoran felt terrible.

Miraculously, Mu Yangling’s brain waves synced with Qi Haoran’s. The image of two brats chasing after her and calling her great-grandmother flashed across her mind. She couldn’t help but lie on Qi Haoran’s chest and laugh.

After a night of getting over it, the couple threw away the strange feeling of being grandparents the next day.

The two of them slept until late in the morning. Just as they finished washing up, Little Bear ran in with his younger brothers and bowed to their parents. “Father King and Mother Consort, may your days and years be all like today. I wish you a happy spring!”

With that, he stuck his hands out to his parents.

Dressed thickly like little bundles, Little Lion and Baozhu also cupped their fists and bowed behind Tiger Head and Little Lion. Because they were dressed too thickly, they almost tripped when they bent down.

Qi Haoran’s mood instantly improved. He waved his hand and said, “Daddy will give you kids a big red packet today!”

The children cheered and looked at Mu Yangling.

Mu Yangling also said, “My red packets are also quite big.”

The children first took Mu Yangling’s red packets, then followed Qi Haoran to the study room under the excuse of helping him with the ink grinding out of filial piety.

Qi Haoran looked at Little Bear in disdain. “Since I said I would give you a big red packet, I won’t go back on my word.”

“We really just want to serve you,” Little Bear emphasized.

Qi Haoran snorted and brought them to the study.

Tiger Head and Little Lion walked behind and whispered into each other’s ears. “Daddy’s monthly allowance isn’t enough to cover his expenses every month. Can he really afford to give us a big red packet?” Tiger Head asked doubtfully.

Little Lion lowered his voice and said, “Daddy must have secretly stashed away some money…”

Although the two children’s voices were soft, Qi Haoran and Little Bear had deep internal energy and the few of them were not far apart, so they heard every word clearly.

Qi Haoran’s expression darkened while Little Bear lowered his head and laughed secretly.

Because it was the Lunar New Year, Qi Haoran could not lose his temper. Hence, he could only glare at the two brats before carrying Little Leopard and Baozhu to the study.

Mu Yangling had helped Qi Haoran prepare the red packets. Inside were some auspicious-looking gold and silver nuggets.

The most valuable ones were the red packets containing gold nuggets with a value of five taels, meant for his sons and nephews. It was not much, but it was auspicious. In fact, most of the New Year red packets given to closely-related nephews and nieces contained precious items such as jade, seals, or other small trinkets.

However, these brats clearly did not care about these items because items bestowed by the elders could not be sold, and these brats clearly preferred cash.

New Year’s red packets naturally had to cater to the recipient’s liking.

Qi Haoran walked to a bookshelf and moved a few books away to retrieve a box from the back. It was not big, but it felt heavy in his hand. Qi Haoran turned to look at the kids, who were staring at him with wide eyes, and snorted softly.

Did they really think that he was a pauper?

Qi Haoran placed the box on the table smugly and said to the children, “You have to keep this a secret for daddy. If you can promise me that, you’ll get a big red packet this year. If not, humph.”

The children nodded repeatedly, indicating that they would firmly keep his secret.

Qi Haoran opened it to reveal a box full of gold. As the sunlight shone upon the gold, it was so dazzling it almost blinded the children.

Qi Haoran generously distributed 20 taels of gold to each person, and more than half of the box’s contents was gone in an instant.

Seeing that his father didn’t seem to feel the pinch at all, Little Bear knew that he must be a hidden stash somewhere else. His eyes couldn’t help but roll as he asked tentatively, “Father, if Mother accidentally finds out about this, do you think you can still keep your private savings?”

Qi Haoran gave him an expression that said, “You’re underestimating me.” “Your daddy still owns one or two small businesses. Whenever the new year comes around, I receive plenty of gifts.”

Tiger Head hugged the gold in his hands and shouted, “Father, how dare you accept bribes!”

Little Lion added, “How dare you do business privately.”

Little Bear whispered, “Mother will confiscate it…”

“Hmph, this money came from your Uncle Fan. Go ahead and complain to your mother if you want.”

Little Bear, Tiger Head, and Little Lion: “…”

Little Leopard and Baozhu clapped their hands and said, “Daddy is so amazing to be able to get money from Uncle Fan!”

Looking embarrassed, Qi Haoran asked, “What’s so amazing about that?”

Little Leopard shouted, “Isn’t Uncle Fan very stingy? No one can get money from him.”

Baozhu: “Considering Uncle Fan doesn’t have a daughter yet, he’s even more stingy about spending money.”

Qi Haoran was confused and didn’t understand how they came to such a conclusion.

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