Chinese New Year tends to bring out the best of people as you’ll see plenty of ang pao (red packets) get handed out. Well, this lucky security guard of an apartment in Hong Kong apparently benefitted from the residents’ generosity this year.
While not customary, people tend to give ang paos to service workers during the festivity as token of gratitude. However, even the security guard and his family were quite surprised when he received over three hundred ang pao in less than a week!
On 10th February, a netizen made a post on Xiao Hong Shu (小红书) claiming her dad had been very blessed this Chinese New Year. Apparently, he had changed his job last year and became an apartment security guard. During the festive season, he worked in shifts at the apartment. However, he had not expected to receive ang paos from the apartment residents, and not in large quantities.
“Dad received 190 red envelopes today,” the netizen recounted, adding a photo of the stack of ang pao their father had received. “When he came back from work today, he said: “I have never received so many ang paos in my life!” They added that their father had taken the second day of Chinese New Year (11th February) off but wondered if he would receive more in the coming days.
Well, they got their answer when their dad went into work until Thursday (15th February). According to the edited post, the lucky security guard hadn’t received another 190 packets like the first day, yet he racked up a sum of 200 ang paos in the following four days, ending with a sum total of 390 packets by Thursday. The netizen also added that their dad had received 10 to 20 yuan (~RM6.67 to RM13.34) per packet, and speculated that high-ended apartments might give even more.
Needless to say, it left netizens very impressed. Several voiced their envy, with some wondering if they too should switch jobs to being a security guard. One however pointed out that the netizen’s father must be well-liked by the apartment residents to receive so much. “It’s proof that everyone likes him!” they said.
It’s certainly a delight to see how blessed this family is thanks to the residents’ generosity! Hopefully they will continue to be kind to one another in the coming year.
Sources: 小红书, China Press
