Giving cash for the New Year, McDonald's caviar, a poetry pun, and more in ARC Newsletter #240
红包，麦当劳、盒马、最美高校毕业生、床前明月光
农历新年来临之际，一张“广东利是金额参考图”在网络走红，“血亲100元、旁亲50元、老表20元、亲戚10元、邻居5元……”这份“讲心不讲金”的红包准则，打破了红包金额攀比的怪圈，消解了春节期间人情往来的负担，让人们看到了传统年俗回归温情本真的可能，让网友纷纷点赞支持。
发红包是很多地方春节不可或缺的年俗，长辈给晚辈添福、亲友间互道吉祥，薄薄一个红包，裹着的是团圆的心意，藏着的是浓浓的年味。可不知从何时起，这份美好开始变味儿：红包金额水涨船高，从几十元涨到几百上千元，甚至成了衡量人情亲疏、比拼面子排场的工具。有人为了凑齐红包钱精打细算，有人因忌惮高额人情支出不敢回乡过年。传递祝福的红包，反倒成了春节的“甜蜜负担”，让团圆的氛围少了几分轻松，多了几分功利。
来源（简）：https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_32589253
农历 (nónglì) traditional lunar calendar
攀比 (pānbǐ) compete by comparing status or possessions
怪圈 (guàiquān) vicious or self-reinforcing cycle
点赞 (diǎn zàn) hit “like” on social media
不可或缺 (bùkě huòquē) absolutely necessary or indispensable
添福 (tiān fú) add blessings or good fortune, in this case by giving money
变味儿 (biàn wèi’er) lit. to change flavor (in a bad way); lose original meaning or character
水涨船高 (shuǐ zhǎng chuán gāo) “a rising tide lifts all boats”
比拼面子排场 (bǐpīn miànzi páichang) compete over appearances and social prestige. “Face” 面子 is the intangible but highly significant sense of being respected in the eyes of others. 排场 is pomp, ostentation, or “fuss.”
忌惮 (jì dàn) feel deep fear or apprehension
【美食】麦克鸡块鱼子酱套组 — 麦当劳情人节限时免费送
速食龙头麦当劳今年情人节玩出新噱头，宣布首度推出「麦克鸡块鱼子酱套组」(McNugget Caviar Kit)，给招牌鸡块配上高级鱼子酱，打造「高低配」的节日限定组合，且只送不卖。
根据麦当劳公布资讯，这款套组将在美东时间10日(周二)上午11时起，于专属网站McNuggetCaviar.com开放索取，数量有限，送完为止，全程仅在线登记，不会在餐厅门市贩售。
这次合作对象为纽约在地鱼子酱供应商Paramount Caviar。每一份「麦克鸡块鱼子酱套组」内含一罐一盎司、以「McNugget Caviar」标示的鲟鱼鱼子酱，一小盒法式鲜奶油、一支专用的母贝小汤匙，外加一张面额25元的麦当劳礼卡，方便民众自购麦克鸡块，搭配鱼子酱享用。
来源（简）：https://www.worldjournal.com/wj/story/121390/9310124?zh-cn
麦当劳（Màidāngláo） McDonald’s, a fast-food restaurant chain
情人节（Qíngrénjié） Valentine’s Day, a romantic holiday on February 14th.
鱼子酱（yúzǐjiàng） caviar, made from salted fish roe (eggs)
贩售（fànshòu） to sell goods commercially
鲟鱼（xúnyú） a species of sturgeon (a large fish) that produces caviar
母贝（mǔbèi） mother-of-pearl
Will McDonalds become a hot, romantic destination for caviar? Hmm…
【经济】盒马官宣春节不打烊 加足马力守护“菜篮子”
随着农历马年脚步临近，为满足广大用户在春节期间的需求，盒马宣布全国所有门店将延续“春节不打烊”传统，确保节日期间民生供应稳定。部分门店营业至自然闭店，守护万家团圆时刻。
面对激增的春节订单需求，盒马提前三个月筹备一系列保障措施。“今年春节开始时间较晚，许多消费者从1月开始囤年货，我们又欣喜又忙碌。目前在生鲜配送、年菜供应、家政服务等方面做好了筹备，不辜负消费者对马年仪式感的期待。”盒马年货节项目相关负责人表示。
每逢春节，帝王蟹、东星斑、三文鱼是妥妥的“门面担当”。盒马数据显示，2月以来，帝王蟹备货量超300吨，是平日的十倍级。盒马帝王蟹采购坤毅介绍，“帝王蟹逐渐从网红变成越来越多家庭的必买年菜，在临沂、宜宾等新进入的城市尤其火热，我们特别配齐50辆专属水车保障各城市帝王蟹循环补给。”
来源（简）：https://www.kunming.cn/news/c/2026-02-10/14017823.shtml
打烊 (dǎ yàng) close a shop or restaurant for the day. Asking when a business will 关门 is considered unlucky, as it might be forever. You’ll also hear the pronunciation dǎyáng.
盒马 (Hé mǎ) Freshippo, Alibaba’s fresh grocery brand. The facilities combine limited retail with warehouse fulfillment. The name is a homophone for 河马, hippopotamus.
筹备 (chóu bèi) make advance preparations
辜负 (gū fù) disappoint, fail to live up to expectations
帝王蟹 (dìwáng xiè) king crab
东星斑 (dōng xīngbān) leopard coral grouper fish
三文鱼 (sān wén yú) salmon
【社会】用奋斗书写青春华章
青年兴则国家兴，青年强则国家强。2月10日，中央宣传部、人力资源社会保障部向全社会公开发布“最美高校毕业生”，9名同志光荣入选。这些优秀高校毕业生，有的在艰苦边远地区默默奉献，有的在田间地头为群众倾情付出，有的在创新前沿挑战极限……他们把个人的理想追求融入党和国家事业之中，挺膺担当，不懈奋斗，彰显着新时代青年的责任与担当。
到艰苦边远地区，到祖国和人民最需要的地方发光发热、建功立业。
“贫困帽不摘不离村!”2019年，刘恭利来到贵州省望谟县乐旺镇坡头村担任驻村第一书记，立下誓言。面对喀斯特石山区“山多地少、缺水严重”的困境，她带着村民攻坚克难，发展“飞地经济”：利用山下水资源建设活水养鱼项目，利用山上光照优势建设光伏发电项目。2020年底，坡头村成功摘帽。担任乐旺镇党委书记后，她又瞄准粤港澳大湾区群众的“菜篮子”，引进企业发展菜心种植，年产值达3000万元。“我要和乡亲们一起，在石头缝里刨出‘金饭碗’!”刘恭利说。
来源（简）：https://k.sina.cn/article_6456450127_180d59c4f0200219nw.html?from=news&subch=onews&kdurlshow=1
人力资源社会保障部 (Rénlì zīyuán shèhuì bǎozhàng bù) China’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security
默默 (mò mò) quietly and steadfastly, without seeking recognition
倾情付出 (qīngqíng fùchū) to give wholeheartedly, with full emotional commitment
挺膺担当（tǐngyīng dāndāng) step forward bravely to shoulder responsibility
不懈奋斗（bùxiè fèndòu) strive relentlessly without giving up
贫困帽 (pínkùn mào) label or status of being poor
摘帽 (zhāi mào) remove a label or status
瞄准 (miáo zhǔn) take aim at a specific target
The vocabulary here isn’t necessarily common in daily life, but the excerpt is a clear example of the Party’s rhetoric of praise and recognition. The concept of “taking off an XYZ hat” was extremely common during the early PRC years, as people had all kinds of undesirable class labels that they were eager to shed.
【幽默】床前明月光
甲：李白不太会拒绝人，不说no，净yes
乙：静夜思？
Editors' note: This joke makes more sense when you read it aloud. 净 (jìng) in the first line in this context means “only, just.” Person 乙 mishears this as 靜夜思 (“Thoughts on a Quiet Night”) the title of the most famous poem by the Tang period’s greatest poet, Li Bai 李白 (c. 701-762 CE). Pete likes this joke because it combines China’s rich culture of wordplay/puns with the shared cultural treasure house of poetry that almost all young kids learn (whether they like it or not!)
The full poem goes:
床前明月光
疑是地上霜
舉頭望明月
低頭思故鄉
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