The family left their room and arrived at Baima Island’s commercial area, finding it decked out with lanterns and decorations related to the Chinese New Year, looking very festive.
To the surprise of Ye Chen’s family, outside the restaurant hosting the New Year’s Eve dinner for Chinese tourists, there was a professional lion dance team performing energetically.
Ye Chen couldn’t help but wonder, in a place like Baima Island, where all external supplies rely on off-island procurement, where did they get all these Chinese New Year materials?
While pondering, he saw an old man in a red Tang suit standing at the restaurant entrance, constantly greeting every guest and handing out red envelopes with “Happy New Year” written on them.
Ye Chen looked closely, it was Bernard Elnor, who’d donned a bright red Tang suit, paired with his silver hair, looking like a mascot.
Ma Lan recognised him at once and quickly said, “The luxury group boss is handing out red envelopes! Let’s see how much this old guy’s giving!”
With that, she strode ahead.
Bernard Elnor spotted Ye Chen too, but to avoid arousing suspicion from Ye Chen’s family, he only smiled and signalled with his eyes, then handed a red envelope to Ma Lan, who’d reached him, “Ms. Ma, Happy Chinese New Year! Wishing you prosperity!”
As he spoke, he gave her a red envelope.
Ma Lan felt the envelope’s thickness and was a bit disappointed, muttering to herself, “Feels like there’s only two notes in here, even if they’re hundred-dollar bills, that’s just $200, this guy’s not generous enough, should’ve given at least a thousand bucks!”
Because the envelope wasn’t thick, she lost the urge to check it immediately, stuffed it in her pocket, and smiled, “Oh, happy prosperity, Mr. Elnor! Wishing you booming business and good health in the new year!”
Bernard Elnor was delighted, smiling, “Thank you for your blessings, Ms. Ma, I’ll take your kind words!”
Ma Lan whispered, “In China, if someone gives you lots of blessings, you should give more in return, it’s called reciprocity, got it?”
Bernard Elnor was momentarily puzzled, but his sharp mind quickly caught on, he laughed heartily, “Thanks for the tip, Ms. Ma, I’ve learned another Chinese custom!”
With that, he quickly pulled out another red envelope, handed it to Ma Lan, and smiled, “Ms. Ma, wishing you health and all the best in the new year!”
Ma Lan gleefully took the envelope, then added, “Mr. Elnor, you’re a big boss, I won’t embarrass myself by giving you a red envelope in return.”
Bernard Elnor thought to himself, “Using ‘showing off in front of an expert’ like that? That’s a new one.”
At that moment, Ye Chen, Xiao Churan, and Xiao Changkun approached.
Bernard Elnor quickly handed out three more red envelopes, wishing each a happy new year.
Xiao Changkun took the envelope, happily thanking him, but Xiao Churan didn’t accept, politely saying, “Thank you for your blessings, Mr. Elnor, happy new year to you too, but no need for the red envelope.”
Ma Lan hurriedly said, “Oh, Churan, it’s just for good luck, it’s no expense for Mr. Elnor, if you’re shy, I’ll hold it for you.”
As she spoke, Ma Lan’s hand reached out, grabbing the envelope.
Xiao Churan, a bit annoyed, chided, “Mum, can you stop being so money-obsessed…”
Bernard Elnor quickly smoothed things over, “Mrs. Ye, no need to be so serious, there’s not much in the envelope, just a mere thousand euros, it’s mainly for good fortune.”
Ma Lan’s eyes lit up, thinking, “Blimey, such a thin envelope has a thousand euros, euros are worth more than dollars, this guy’s really generous!”
Bernard Elnor then looked at Ye Chen, handed him an envelope, and smiled, “Mr. Ye, happy new year!”
Ye Chen smiled, nodded, took the envelope, and handed it to Ma Lan, saying, “Mum, keep it as a memento.”
Ma Lan, eyes squinting with joy, chuckled, “If my good son-in-law says so, I’ll keep it for you.”
Ye Chen, intrigued, asked Bernard Elnor, “Mr. Elnor, where did you get all these Lunar New Year materials and the lion dance team?”
Bernard Elnor smiled, “The Maldives is short on resources, and there aren’t many Chinese residents here, so I had everything sourced from Dubai, airlifted this morning, the lion dance team was also brought from Dubai, hoping to give our Chinese guests a taste of home.”
He added, “By the way, Mr. Ye, I’ve specially hired professional Chinese chefs from Dubai, they’re cooking tonight’s dinner, I hope you and your family will enjoy it.”
Ye Chen nodded, smiling, “Mr. Elnor, you’ve gone to great lengths.”
Praised, Bernard Elnor’s face wrinkled with smiles, then he whispered to Ye Chen, “Mr. Ye, to make you and your family happy, I’ve arranged a lucky draw, the grand prize is $100 million, we can rig it so your family wins, what do you think?”
Ye Chen, furious, lowered his voice and snapped, “If you come up with another daft idea like that, I’ll raise the experience points for redeeming the Rejuvenation Pill to five hundred billion!”
