I know, right? Every year around this time we get the simp whites coming out from under rocks telling the world how much they care about peoples from the far east holidays, and how we should be giving amp whores red envelopes full of money because we are such caring good-hearted guys, cracks me up.
I'm 100% Asian and part Chinese, so it's the culture I grew up with; and it's the same culture that many of the girls grew up with. It isn't about the money, it's about the relationship.
As a business owner, I give red/white envelopes to the Asian vendors I rely on and have treated me well over the past year. I've become a mentor to the kids of a number of my Asian clients, and I give them red/white envelopes too, if they drop by my office during the season. It says "I appreciate you and our relationship, and wish you good things for the new year." Same thing for the shops/girls I frequent.
Building and maintaining relationships is part of the fabric if many Asian cultures, and these rituals are part of it.