Fortune-seekers came from far and wide to receive a "lucky" red envelope from President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) on the first day of the Lunar New Year yesterday.
First in line was Chuang Sheng-jung (
PHOTO: CHANG CHUNG-YI, TAIPEI TIMES
One family flew in from the offshore island of Kinmen. With their fellow fortune-seekers they shared one wish: The hope that the Year of the Horse will be better than the last, when the nation was hit by its worst economic downturn on record.
Not even a cash offer could deter Chuang to give up his spot in line. "Someone tried to buy my place with NT$20,000, but of course I turned it down," he said.
In all, the president handed out 20,000 red envelopes yesterday along with his wife, Wu Shu-chen (
The envelopes contained two NT$100 bills and were adorned with the characters for "lucky and fulfilled" (吉祥、圓滿)" in Hokkien. Chen gave away NT$4 million yesterday.
While in the past many people preferred to save bills given out by Chen and his predecessor, Lee Teng-hui (
"I hope the president's good fortune can bring me luck and help me win the top prize in the lottery," said Yu Chun-shuang (余春霜) of Nantou County, who was second in line to receive a red envelope yesterday.
This is the second year Chen has handed out red envelopes on the first day of the Lunar New Year. Thousands of neighbors and visitors crowded the streets and alleys of Hsichuan village (
The line extended for more than 3km. But by 1pm the last enveloped was handed out and many people returned home empty-handed.
Meanwhile, Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) yesterday attended an Aboriginal ceremony to mark the New Year in Taoyuan County, where Lu is from.
Lu participated in a ceremony for planting a tree and flowers. Afterward, the vice president appealed to politicians, saying she hoped they would display better manners in the Year of Horse.
"No matter whether it's the ruling DPP or opposition parties, everyone should consider the welfare of their fellow countrymen and earn a good reputation that will last forever," Lu said.
When asked about recent suitors who have publicly demonstrated their love for the vice president, Lu said that was she was too old to worry about others' romantic intentions.
"My mind is now as stable as a monk's, so I have no reaction to these gestures," she joked.
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