Since Shi Ruan was busy, Shi Li figured she could gossip with someone else.
After thinking for a moment, she called Song Ying to share the gossip.
Shi Li didn't know that Song Ying was already aware of this news, as it had already been thoroughly discussed in the class group chat.
The supposedly fresh and juicy gossip she brought was neither fresh nor particularly juicy.
But Song Ying was a good actor; she pretended as if she was hearing this news for the first time and acted very shocked.
Shi Li's desire to share was greatly satisfied at that moment, and after about half an hour of gossiping, she hung up the phone contentedly.
When Huang Jie came home, however, Shi Li didn't share this news with her.
After all, sharing gossip about relationships with parents would be a bit awkward.
In the blink of an eye, it was Chinese New Year, and on New Year's Eve, the family of three returned to the old mansion to celebrate with the extended family.
The two busy family members, Shi Quan and Shi Ruan, who were occupied with their romantic relationships, didn't think about their partners and chose to spend time with family instead of running around with their significant others.
After the New Year's Eve dinner, Shi Li's family of three didn't return to their own home but stayed at the old mansion.
The next morning, Shi Li was awakened by the sound of firecrackers.
Wearing the new clothes Huang Jie had bought her, Shi Li was dressed up like a fortune doll every Chinese New Year's Day, as was tradition.
When Shi Li was little, she was as cute as a snowball, and Huang Jie would always receive compliments when she took her daughter out dressed as a fortune doll.
Now that Shi Li was almost an adult, Huang Jie's peculiar taste continued.
Shi Li had given up criticizing Huang Jie's twisted aesthetic sense and could only console herself by thinking of it as entertaining her parents.
After all, she would have to continue this fortune doll dress-up for at least five more years.
As for why it was specifically five years, that was because in her previous life, Shi Li only lived to see the fifth New Year from now.
Whether Huang Jie would still like her to wear similar styles in the sixth year, Shi Li didn't know.
But barring any unexpected circumstances, she probably would.
Although Shi Li's temperament didn't match the clothes at all, fashion success mainly depended on the face, and Shi Li's face managed to pull off the outfit.
Huang Jie loved seeing her daughter dressed up beautifully, and her eyes lit up when she saw the well-dressed Shi Li.
Hearing her daughter's New Year greetings, Huang Jie happily gave her a red envelope, saying, "Happy New Year, sweetie. May you be happy every day."
Shi Li felt the thickness of the red envelope and was very satisfied, "Thank you, Mom."
After receiving the red envelope from her parents, Shi Li went to give New Year greetings to other elders and continue collecting red envelopes.
Shi Li was the youngest in the family, and since Shi Ruan was already working, even she gave Shi Li a big red envelope.
She was on a fixed salary, and most of her wages went to her students. Last month's salary wasn't even enough to prepare a red envelope for Shi Li.
Thanks to family support and trust funds, she had managed to survive until now.
The money for Shi Ruan's red envelope came from Eldest Aunt, who kept nagging her about marrying Ji Chunsheng soon while she was giving out the envelope.
Eldest Aunt didn't really want her daughter to get married early; it was just that near the New Year, she hoped for new additions to the family and couldn't help but mention it.
Shi Ruan knew her mother well; if she were to say she wanted to get married now, her mother would definitely disagree.
Since it wasn't her own money, Shi Ruan was particularly generous with the red envelope, and spoke in an elderly tone, "Study hard at school and get along well with your classmates, understand?"
For the sake of the red envelope, Shi Li temporarily tolerated her admonition.
After giving New Year greetings to the family elders, it was time for Uncle to lead the whole family to visit neighbors for New Year greetings.
However, an unexpected guest suddenly arrived - it was Shi's Grandmother's nephew coming to pay New Year respects.
Shi's Grandmother's maiden family was once also a prominent clan, but her brother had squandered the family fortune through gambling, drinking, and other vices.
Shi's Grandmother had tried to advise her brother, but he wouldn't listen and even wanted her to provide money to support his family.
Shi's Grandmother knew her brother's family was a bottomless pit and firmly refused him, after which the two families rarely interacted.
However, whenever her brother needed money, he would come to his sister, even for major events like his son's wedding or daughter's marriage, he would come asking for money.
Shi's Grandmother rarely gave money to her brother, occasionally giving a little depending on the urgency of the situation, to prevent him from becoming desperate.
Her brother had been addicted to drugs and his health was worse than his sister's, his body failing early.
Though he couldn't walk anymore, it didn't stop him from coming to ask for money.
Only now, instead of coming himself, he sent his son.
As Shi's Grandmother aged, her heart had softened, and seeing relatives from her maiden family would make her emotional.
Every time they came, she would give them money and gifts, and thinking about past events would make her feel distressed.
The family didn't want Shi's Grandmother to see this family, so they notified the villa's security not to let them in anymore.
The hillside villa wasn't a marketplace where anyone could enter; previously, they were only allowed in because they had Shi's Grandmother's permission.
This time, with Uncle's prior instructions, the security naturally wouldn't let them in.
The family had also secretly blocked this family's contact information on Shi's Grandmother's phone, as she wasn't as adept at using phones as younger people.
Shi's Grandmother wouldn't actively think about her brother's family, so this family hadn't successfully entered the villa for several years.
During New Year, everyone was dressed festively, but Shi's Grandmother's nephew was dressed in rags, looking more like a beggar than someone coming to give New Year greetings.
Shi Li was standing with her brother and sister when this cousin uncle entered in tattered clothes, and she noticed the obvious disgust on her siblings' faces.
He was indeed a very unlikeable person, so they couldn't be blamed.
He threw himself at Shi's Grandmother with a tearful voice, "Aunt, I thought I'd never see you again in this life."
Shi's Grandmother had recently recovered from a serious illness, and being elderly, it was inappropriate to say such things in front of her.
The Shi family members unanimously frowned.
Shi's Grandmother patted her nephew's shoulder, "What's wrong? Let's talk properly."
He sat beside Shi's Grandmother, skillfully beginning his tale of woe.
It wouldn't be appropriate to keep the guest while the hosts went out for New Year visits.
The family also couldn't feel comfortable leaving this cousin uncle alone with Shi's Grandmother.
Huang Jie gave a meaningful look to the three siblings, telling them to go out and play rather than standing around in the villa, as it was affecting everyone's mood.
Shi Quan, as the brother, took his two sisters out of the villa.
He was an adult now and could take his sisters to give New Year greetings.
As the three walked out the main gate, they bumped into a young, pretty girl.
Rongrong smiled, "I just came back from outside and met a middle-aged man who claimed to be Shi's Grandmother's nephew. The security wouldn't let him in, and I thought it was because they saw his humble dress, so I brought him in. He should be your relative, right?"
The three suddenly understood why this man, who had been blocked at the bottom of the hill for several years, had managed to get in successfully today - there had been an inside helper.
Shi Li couldn't help but think, [She really is skilled at causing trouble for others]
