Chapter 24: She's just a pitiful person

You think Chen Jinhai will agree? Don't be silly, relax, let's go back today, I'll figure something out.

Seeing Ye Cheng's confident look, Xiao Hu felt much more at ease; for some reason, Ye Cheng's presence always gives people confidence.

Let's go, there's nothing to get here; better go home and rest. Ye Cheng stood up and walked toward the shore.

This time, I basically verified the system's effectiveness; with a Luck Value of 20, not only is the yield low, but the quality of seafood one can encounter is also poor—today's best is just a few small clams, and they're dead.

Looks like when the Luck Value is low, I might as well stay home honestly; going out is just wasting time.

Seeing the two come up so quickly, Zhang Guafu was somewhat surprised; she looked at their buckets and found only a few sand clams and a few mussels, nothing else.

Yo, not doing well today, just got this little stuff—didn't you say your luck was good? Zhang Guafu chuckled, mocking Ye Cheng.

Still better than you, a widow who kills husbands. Ye Cheng said calmly.

Hearing Ye Cheng say he kills husbands, Zhang Guafu's defenses crashed instantly; her husband died at sea, but villagers always said she was the one who killed him, so whenever she hears those two words she can't take it.

You dare say I kill husbands? I'll fight you to the death. Zhang Guafu, furious, threw her melon seeds, bent down to pick up a stone, wanting to fight Ye Cheng to the death.

Ye Cheng looked at her calmly: 'Enough, you actually don't care at all whether you kill husbands or not; you just want to protect yourself, no need to act in front of me.'

Besides, out of pity for you, I'll give you a piece of advice: following the Village Chief leads to no good outcome.

Having said that, Ye Cheng turned and left; Zhang Guafu stood frozen in place, looking at the stone in her hand.

She felt a bit dazed; Ye Cheng just now seemed strange, having an inexplicable aura that makes people want to listen to him when they see him.

Moreover, he could actually see through her.

Indeed, she truly doesn't care whether she kills husbands; her deceased husband wasn't good to her—frankly, his death was better, saving her from his drunken beatings.

But she has to live on her own with her child, so she had to become tough; in the village, if you're not tough you'll be bullied to death.

Clinging to the Village Chief's thigh is also her idea.

Just now Ye Cheng said following the Village Chief leads to no good outcome?

Is this guy telling the truth or just fooling himself?

Zhang Guafu felt a bit lost.

Xiao Hu wasn't reassured, occasionally looking back, afraid Zhang Guafu would suddenly throw a stone at him.

Don't look, she's just a pitiful person, she won't throw a stone. Ye Cheng said calmly.

Oh. Xiao Hu responded, and followed Ye Cheng home obediently.

Let's go back for now, no more gathering today; we'll see tomorrow, don't worry—the Village Chief can't block us.

Before leaving, Ye Cheng comforted Xiao Hu a bit; this guy, if you don't give him a reassurance, he'll probably mutter to himself all night.

Back home, Ye Cheng simply tidied up, then took out the garbage cleaned from the yard this morning, only then preparing to make dinner.

Just as the rice cooker was plugged in, Ye Guowei arrived.

He looked somewhat surprised at the yard: 'A Cheng, you want to work on the yard?'

Yeah, brother, I plan to tidy up the yard properly and plant some vegetables and such.

Planting vegetables is good; then we'll have vegetables at home, buying outside is expensive.

Brother, you came to give me something? Ye Cheng pointed at the basin in Ye Guowei's hand.

Ah, right. Ye Guowei put the basin on Ye Cheng's dinner table, opened the lid, a wave of heat rose, a big basin of fragrant braised pork.

Wow, sister-in-law made this? Ye Cheng asked happily.

Jiang Yunxiang's cooking skills are not bad; the braised pork is very fragrant; in his previous life Ye Cheng loved braised pork, but back then he was older and dared not eat it due to various high conditions.

Um, your sister-in-law said you don't like coming over to eat, so she specially made a pot and brought it over; you put it in the fridge, and when you want to eat, just take it out and heat it.

Your sister-in-law also ordered some dried tofu and boiled eggs.

Ye Guowei showed Ye Cheng the contents of the basin.

Okay, okay, brother, don't bother—my rice isn't ready yet, you doing this makes me hungry.

If you're hungry, eat first; if it's not enough, have your sister-in-law make more. You're not like before, and your sister-in-law is also relieved.

Uh... Ye Cheng's face darkened with black lines, feeling his older brother was about to switch into old-father mode.

Brother, you still got things? If not, hurry back to eat; your sister-in-law will be waiting anxiously, I'll return this basin to you later.

Ye Guowei answered, was about to turn and leave, but suddenly stopped again.

Um, A Cheng, the village says the Village Chief has divided the tidal flats, right?

Ye Cheng's expression tightened; he didn't expect his older brother to know as well.

Yeah, he placed us on that rocky beach beside the work area. Ye Cheng passed a cigarette to Ye Guowei.

Ye Guowei lit the cigarette with a worried look, sat down, brow furrowed.

Brother, it's fine; the rocky beach can still be used for gathering, you can relax.

A Cheng, you're also willing to work now; if gathering isn't working out, you can come with me to the dock to work—over a thousand a month, enough to support the family.

Brother, forget it; that kind of labor work doesn't suit me. Ye Cheng shook his head, refusing; as an elite from a big factory in his previous life, making him do manual labor is impossible.

Well... Ye Guowei frowned deeper, "Then do as you wish for now, but don't oppose the Village Chief; the Chen family has great influence here, we can't beat them."

Yeah, got it, brother. Ye Cheng readily agreed.

No choice; if he didn't agree, this older brother would probably keep nagging for a while.

Alright, I'm heading back; when you have time come eat at home, don't keep eating instant noodles. Ye Guowei pointed at the pile of instant noodles by the wall.

Okay, okay, I know.

Hurrying to send off this monk-like older brother, Ye Cheng breathed a sigh of relief.

Sigh, this older brother is fine in every way, just too talkative, and also afraid of the Village Chief.

Forget it; when he gains strength later, he'll understand.

Money, it can support one's waist.

The rice was cooked; Ye Cheng ladled a spoonful of braised pork broth over it, the white rice instantly turned soy‑sauce red, looking very tempting.

The dried tofu is very chewy, the soy aroma is strong, unlike later-era dried tofu which has no flavor at all.

The only downside is that the braised pork is a bit fatty; there's nothing to be done, when you're poor, fatty meat really does taste good.

Ye Cheng could only pinch off the lean meat to eat, and directly throw away the fatty meat.

A bowl of rice, a serving of braised pork, plus a bottle of beer—this simple life is really too comfortable.

The night sky is very bright, unknown small insects are singing there, it's very peaceful, but also a bit boring.