Chapter 437: Qian Shen Compensates

"Yes, we'll compensate!" Qian Shen said loudly.

"Brother, want to help Qian Shen?" Xiao Hu said softly from the side.

Ye Cheng thought for a moment, then shook his head,

"Forget it, some things that can be settled with money are the simplest; if Qian Shen doesn't pay, people will talk in the village later, but once the money is paid, later everyone will have nothing to say."

Qian Shen had the same idea; she wanted her son to return to the village to develop.

If her son got the label of a cheat, he wouldn't be able to hold his head up in the village later, making life even harder.

It would be better to just pay it off; at least afterward he could walk with his head held high.

Of course, the main point is that she had earned money by going out to sea with Ye Cheng recently; otherwise she might not have been able to come up with the money to pay.

Qian Shen walked up to the platform and said to Chen Houda,

"We'll compensate, as long as it's bought directly from my son He Feiyang or through a downline, we'll make up that 800 yuan; would that work?"

Chen Houda had nothing more to say this time; he said in a neither-yin-nor-yang tone,

"That's certainly no problem, but no IOUs—we want cash."

"Cash!" Qian Shen said imposingly, pulling a stack of money from her pocket,

"We've brought the money; everyone come over to collect and press their handprints."

As soon as they saw Qian Shen had brought the money, the dozen or so people rushed forward.

Xiao Wang and the others couldn't intervene in this matter either, since it was a civil affair and no one said compensation wasn't allowed.

Ye Cheng pulled the two aside a bit, then had Qian Shen and them sit at the table, calling them up one by one to receive the money.

Each person got 800, all large bills; after the first person finished collecting and stared at them for a while, confirming they were genuine, he immediately broke into a happy smile,

"Still, your Old He family knows how to handle things."

Qian Shen nudged her son; He Feiyang's face flushed red as he stood up, bowed, and said,

"Sorry, uncle."

That person stared for a moment, then waved his hand,

"Young people make mistakes; it's normal—let's consider this settled."

Thereafter it went on like that: collect a payment, He Feiyang apologizes once.

Villagers sometimes aren't reasonable, but sometimes they are; once someone has paid and apologized, it's considered over, so they each offered a few comforting words, then raised a thumb and said, "Old He family is upright," before stepping down.

Chen Houda was the last to take the money; he glanced askance at Qian Shen and He Feiyang, then silently took the cash and left.

Ye Cheng counted up; Qian Shen had paid out about fifteen thousand this time, frankly speaking, not much.

During those few days when they went out to haul shrimp crabs, they made several thousand a day.

When He Feiyang was at home, as soon as he heard Qian Shen say they wanted to refund the money, he objected, saying he had no money.

But when Qian Shen produced a thick stack of money, it shocked him.

"When did our family get this much money? Dad and Mom couldn't have gone robbed, could they?"

Qian Shen explained it thoroughly to him; hearing how lucrative going out to sea with Ye Cheng was, He Feiyang felt tempted.

It's not that he can't endure hardship; it's that enduring hardship must bring a return.

As Old Ma says about 996, the money goes upward.

Others only hear Old Ma mention 996 and never say a word about money.

With this matter settled, Ye Cheng had originally wanted to invite Xiao Wang and the others to a meal, but they said they still had many things to handle.

Ye Cheng thought about the pile of stuff he'd seen in the meeting room today; indeed there was still a lot to do, so he gave them two packs of cigarettes as a token of thanks.

On the way back, He Feiyang no longer had that earlier embarrassed look; his whole demeanor was much more relaxed.

"Aunt, you're truly a heroine among women—I didn't expect you to be so decisive; you said you'd pay and you did." Ye Cheng said admiringly.

Qian Shen sighed,

"What heroine? I'm just doing it so my child can have an easier life in the village later; if the reputation is ruined, even finding a spouse will be hard."

"A Cheng, let's go, head home for dinner; we've delayed a bit, so lunch will have to be a little later."

"Fine, earlier or later doesn't matter; anyway we're not going out to sea today."

Since Qian Shen said they'd eat later, Ye Cheng had Xiao Hu go to the dock to check the boat, refuel if needed; with the matter done, they'd surely go out to sea tomorrow.

Going out to sea is his real business.

Ye Cheng accompanied the Qian Shen family home; Ye Guowei brought Dou Dou over as well, and several men and children helped pick vegetables on one side while chatting.

Qian Shen, Jiang Yunxiang, and Zhang Guafu were busy in the kitchen, which also made for a warm and harmonious scene.

Qian Shen really went all out today; early this morning she had Old He go to the market to buy lots of vegetables.

Small Blue Dragon, blue crab, big shrimp, plus a grouper weighing over a catty, and Ye Guowei's clams.

Knowing Ye Cheng likes offal, they also bought a bunch of intestines to braise directly, plus four kidneys, along with some meat—this table amounted to a grand feast.

Smelling the aroma from the kitchen, Ye Cheng could barely keep from drooling; "Grandma's," he thought, once the intestines are ready I'll have to eat some first, or else when Xiao Hu arrives he'll definitely snatch it all.

"Dou Dou, do you have any vegetables you like today?" After finishing work, Ye Cheng began to tease his little nephew.

Dou Dou has visibly gained weight lately; holding him feels a bit heavy, his face is round, and his little belly is sticking out.

Dou Dou shook his head,

"Second Uncle, my mom says I should eat less lately, or else I'll turn into a pig."

"Hahaha, you—cut back on snacks, eat your meals when you should; you're growing."

Looking at his plump nephew, Ye Cheng suddenly thought of Han Xiaotao's child, who is skinny as a rail.

"Yeah, and his mother too—she's fine-looking, just a bit thin."

Thinking of that, Ye Cheng inexplicably felt a surge of lust.

He glanced at Qian Shen and asked casually,

"Aunt, my Uncle Duan isn't coming today?"

"He went out to sea, he just can't stay idle." Qian Shen replied.

"Oh, I was originally hoping he'd come along too; it just so happens our little crab team can have a reunion."

The speaker meant nothing by it, but the listener took it to heart; upon hearing "little crab team," Zhang Guafu immediately understood.

She turned back, gave Ye Cheng a meaningful look, then said to Qian Shen,

"Yeah, why not call little Han sister over? Her child also rarely gets a good meal."

Qian Shen blinked, not understanding what Zhang Guafu meant.

By rights, today she is the host inviting Ye Cheng as the guest; Zhang Guafu can at most be considered a companion guest.

Generally, a companion guest doesn't concern themselves with whom the host invites; how can Zhang Guafu be so oblivious to etiquette?

Just then, Ye Cheng spoke from behind,

"Yes, yes, call little Han's sister-in-law over; that guy Uncle Duan misses out on the good food."

Hearing Ye Cheng say to call her, Qian Shen had no objection; after all, today they are the host and guest.