Chapter 1094: Resolution (Explosive update of 10,000 words, making up for leave)

Only now did Ye Yaodong realize why the old lady looked as if she showed no signs of anger, had no emotional fluctuations, and had nothing to say.

It turned out she didn't know the ins and outs of the matter at all. She had only stood at the doorway, listening to a bit here and a bit there, even more confused than he was—at least he didn't know anything at all.

Lin Xiuqing continued, "There's still more bickering to be done. They really are something; they patted their chests and guaranteed it before, but then turned around and dragged in all their aunts and cousins."

"This is a problem with their wives at home. They thought they hadn't told outsiders, that only their own family knew, but their wives also thought they hadn't told outsiders, only their own maiden families. Then their maiden families thought the same thing—that they hadn't told outsiders."

Lin Xiuqing couldn't hold back and laughed, "And then the whole village wasn't considered outsiders."

"Don't laugh. Most secrets are spread like this. For example: 'I'm only telling you, I haven't told anyone else, don't tell anyone.' By the time the second person passes it on, it becomes, 'I only told you and so-and-so, I haven't told anyone else, you don't tell anyone either, otherwise, it'll be hard for me to face people.' By the third person, it becomes, 'I'm only telling you all, don't tell anyone else...'"

The old lady was amused by him this time.

"You're the one who knows the most."

"That's just how the facts develop."

Lin Xiuqing laughed, patted him, and added, "I think if the cousins keep being unreasonable, the eldest brother and second brother really won't have a choice. They'll definitely have to take them along, but it has to be according to the original agreement. Since it was promised to be three boats, then they'll definitely only take those three."

"Pretty much. If both sides can't reach an agreement and refuse to accept it, then they can only go by what was agreed upon at the start."

The old lady couldn't help but say, "Tossing and turning for nothing. They don't have the brains for it but insist on taking advantage. It's hard to say if they got any advantage, but they've already brought a whole heap of trouble upon themselves."

"They should just honestly earn their own money. Honest people should do honest work, but these honest people insist on doing dishonest things. Now they've become a laughingstock again."

"It's really something, making the whole village laugh to death. When others quarrel, at least they have different surnames; these are grandchildren of the same grandfather making a scene there, letting the whole village watch the joke."

"Not a single one is worry-free. I originally thought the two brothers were honest and worry-free, but now it seems they aren't even as good as you."

Ye Yaodong raised an eyebrow, "Is that so?"

"You're getting smug now? You're the most worry-free, the one who makes the whole family worry the most. How many times have your brothers done this? Father is still working for us, and you have the nerve to say you're worry-free."

"Those are two different things. At least for the things I stir up, I can handle them myself."

That was true, and Lin Xiuqing didn't refute it.

They were the last few left behind, talking as they walked. The people in front had already disappeared, all having returned to their own homes.

The noon sun hung high in the sky, and since the village houses were all low, the sun shone directly down. It was hard to find a shaded spot. The few of them had been walking for a short while and were already drenched in sweat, their cheeks flushed red. Only the old lady still held a cattail fan, carrying it wherever she went.

Seeing that Adong was still wearing long sleeves and a hat, she was afraid he would be hot, so she gave him the fan.

Ye Yaodong shook his head, "I'm pushing the bicycle and don't have an extra hand. You fan the child; this child's face is as red as a monkey's butt."

"You should just ride the bike back first. You're wearing long sleeves and a hat for sun protection, but the child isn't. Don't let her get sunburned."

"Alright then, I'll take her back on the bike first."

Ye Xiaoxi hadn't said a word the whole time. It wasn't that she had changed her nature and become quiet, but that it was her first time riding a bicycle, and she found it very novel. The adults were all talking there, so she studied it herself, holding the seat above with both hands, touching it constantly, curious about everything she saw.

Ye Yaodong sat the child on the front bar, instructed her to hold onto the handlebars above, sit properly, and not move around, before circling her with one hand and controlling the bike with the other, pedaling away.

Seeing the bicycle moving so fast, Ye Xiaoxi's eyes widened, and her mouth opened into a circle.

"Car... car... Daddy... so fast..."

"Nonsense, you should say Daddy is so amazing!"

"A-mazing... Daddy... a-mazing..."

"Right, and you also have to praise your Daddy for being great."

"Daddy, great! Great!"

"Mm." Ye Yaodong was extremely satisfied.

When he arrived home first, everyone except Aqing and the old lady had already arrived. His father and second brother were also at his eldest brother's house.

He left Ye Xiaoxi for Ye Chenghu and Ye Chengyang to watch, telling them their mother was behind and would be home soon, and to be honest and not run out into the sun, before heading to his eldest brother's house.

Inside the house, Ye Yaopeng and Ye Yaohua were as listless as frosted eggplants, full of regret. They felt they shouldn't have been greedy, nor should they have kindly thought about pulling them along. Now, the benefits hadn't fallen into their hands, and instead, they had brought a heap of trouble upon themselves.

He walked into the door, looked at the silence in the room, and asked suspiciously, "Have you reached a conclusion?"

Ye Fu was holding his water pipe like the Pagoda-Bearing Heavenly King, puffing away with a gurgling sound, ignoring him.

Ye Yaopeng said, "They insist that we take all the boats. Anyway, since they fit, taking two is taking them, and taking ten is also taking them."

"Thinking too much, aren't you? How could your boats possibly pull ten?"

Ye Yaohua said honestly, "Two boats pull five each, stacked on the deck and fixed with ropes..."

"Oh... so you've already thought it through and arranged it well?"

Ye Yaohua waved his hands in a panic, "No, no... that's not what I meant, we don't want to take them..."

"If you don't want to take them, then you can only compensate with money. After all, it's you who broke the agreement."

"What do you mean we broke the agreement?"

Ye Dasao was cooking on the side, holding a spatula, and walked over excitedly, gesturing, "It's them who didn't keep their word first, spreading rumors everywhere and even counting in their maiden family. We didn't agree to that. If anyone is in the wrong, it's them first. Why should we pay compensation?"

"Besides, we didn't tell them to buy the boats; they were greedy themselves and spent high prices to buy them. What does that have to do with us? We didn't promise them anything about the newly bought boats, and they didn't come over to say they had added more boats."

Ye Yaodong spread his hands, looking helpless, "If you can't bear to pay compensation, then you can only go by the original agreement. You take the three boats you promised to take before."

"But the promises the cousins made to others weren't told to the eldest and second brother beforehand, and weren't discussed. They promised others on their own, so of course, they have to solve it themselves. That has nothing to do with you."

"And the boats they bought later at high prices definitely have nothing to do with the eldest and second brother."

Ye Yaopeng nodded immediately, "Right, that's it. We are also reasonable, not unreasonable. We only admit to the three boats we promised to take at the beginning. Going back on our word now is indeed not right of us. As for the others, if they insist on stuffing them onto us, we won't admit to it."

"Mm, so have you figured out how to solve it?"

Both of them looked up at him, a bit confused. One shook his head, and the other said no.

Ye Fu said speechlessly, "Idiots, didn't Dongzi already tell you? Since you don't want to take so many boats and people, and you can't reach an agreement, then go by the original agreement."

"Then we still have to take three boats. Didn't we run for nothing and argue for nothing today?"

Before the two brothers could speak, Ye Dasao spoke up directly.

Ye Fu glared at her. Unable to scold his daughter-in-law, he turned to scold his eldest son, "Are you the one making decisions in this house, or is your wife?"

Ye Yaopeng also turned and glared at her, "Cook your meal, why so much talk? What business is it of yours when men are discussing things?"

Ye Yaodong saw that his sister-in-law had shut up before saying, "If you hadn't had this argument today, by the time you set off, you wouldn't know how many boats you'd be forced to take."

"Did you hear that? You're in your thirties, where did your brains go? Is this kind of thing something you can just take on? When Dongzi took the villagers out last year, he didn't charge them a single cent."

"And he said the ugly things upfront: they could follow him, but if they did, they had to arrange their own affairs and solve their own problems. He wouldn't care about anything, and if there were any accidents, he wouldn't be responsible for anything; it had nothing to do with him."

"You all are good, taking things upon yourselves. 'Soft-mouthed after eating, short-handed after taking'—you don't even understand that."

Both brothers were scolded by Ye Fu until they didn't make a sound.

Seeing that the two couldn't even say a word, Ye Fu had to suppress his anger and said, "If you're worried about accidents, having to take responsibility, finding it troublesome, or feeling that the money you earn isn't worth it, then when you discuss it later, take a step back and take the three boats along."

"But after you arrive, it has nothing to do with you. Let them arrange and solve everything else themselves. You don't care about anything, and you don't want the two shares that were agreed upon. If anything happens, it has nothing to do with you."

Both brothers looked up this time, looked at each other, and nodded.

"This is okay. We can take them along on the way, at most bring them back. We won't care about anything that happens outside."

"We also don't want their two shares."

Ye Yaodong shook his head; they were thinking too simply.

"If there are no accidents, everything is fine, and everyone is happy. If there are any accidents, they'll still come to you first. Who told you to take them there?"

"Just like last year, although I said it that way, when I got there, I still had to lend a hand whenever I could. There's no way to draw a line that cleanly. Also, because there weren't many people last year, within my capabilities, if you don't help, you'll be talked about. After all, we're all from the same village, and everyone followed me out, so I have to look after them."

"This trip is the same. If I can spare the hands, I should look after them. However, I also said it clearly last night: I have a large team, and I have twenty or thirty people of my own. I definitely have to look after my own people first. A person's energy is limited, so let those who follow arrange for themselves."

"The stakes have been made clear, and if something really happens, everyone can understand. These two are different."

The three of them fell silent again.

Ye Fu said with a headache, "Then what do you say we should do?"

"In my opinion, things that can be solved with a little money should be solved with a little money. Hmm... we definitely can't afford big money."

"How so?"

"Didn't they buy two old boats at the price of new ones, just waiting to get rich? Originally, this had nothing to do with you. It was their own decision, and they didn't inform you before or after. You don't have to be responsible."

"Now... you buy them at the original price they bought them for, letting them reduce this loss."

"Part of the reason they aren't happy is that they've already thrown this money into it, and now you aren't taking them, so the money was spent for nothing, thrown into the water."

"Now you compensate for their loss and see if they're willing."

Ye Fu's eyes lit up, "Then if we take the boats, although it's a bit expensive, the eldest and second can hire two people to take them out to fish, and the profit will be their own. This is more cost-effective than taking them along, and anyway, they have to take responsibility."

"Right, it's just that they might not agree. You have to get the Village Committee to come forward as well. And you have to bicker. Only after you've firmly decided not to take them, and then discuss how to compensate, can you bring this up."

"Otherwise, they're just single-mindedly thinking about following to get rich. Even if you take their boats, it won't solve their original intention."

"They have to know there's no other way, that you're determined not to take them, and then you go and buy their boats at the original price to reduce their losses. That's the only possibility."

"You also have to insist that it was them who spread the news and broke the agreement first, and it was them who made promises to others. You didn't know anything about it. Tell them to solve the issues with their own relatives themselves. You're just helping them buy the boats at the original price so they don't lose money."

Ye Yaopeng hesitated, "Can they agree? This is also equivalent to 'bamboo basket drawing water—all for nothing.' They originally just wanted to follow, and now they still just want to follow."

"So you have to discuss and bicker. I'm just telling you the possibilities. Let's talk about all the feasible plans."

"If you can't reach an agreement, you still have to take them according to the original agreement. After all, it was agreed upon at the start, and fulfilling promises is the right thing to do. Just as Father said before, don't collect their remuneration, only be responsible for the round-trip transport. During the period, don't worry about their miscellaneous affairs, and bet on them being safe and sound."

"Whether they made money or not, just bring them back safely. Anyway, you don't want to earn this money now. You should solve it as soon as possible. If this isn't solved, you won't even be at ease dragging nets at night."

Both of them were worried.

"We'll ponder it some more."

Ye Fu asked, "Then if we do it according to the original agreement, they won't be happy that the two boats they bought at high prices can't be taken."

"Then their unhappiness has nothing to do with us. Two more boats mean four more people. If the eldest and second brother take these four people, they have to be responsible for the extra people."

"And how long will it take for their small boats to row to the sea trench? And the eldest and second brother have to drive their boats to pull their small boats in and out every day? And the eldest and second brother have to deliver their goods to the shore to sell? It's turned upside down, making the eldest and second brother serve them the whole time. Are these two shares of money worth it?" Ye Yaodong laughed sarcastically.

"That won't do." Both brothers said in unison.

"So, if you firmly refuse to take the two boats bought at high prices, they are very likely to go to Brother Asheng and let Brother Asheng's boat pull them. After all, Brother Asheng is their own brother. It just depends on whether Brother Asheng's wife is fierce. But she probably can't refuse either; they are all own brothers."

The two looked at each other, feeling it was unsolvable again, back to the beginning.

"You ponder it well yourselves. I've analyzed all the possibilities for you. I'm going back first. It's hot as hell, and I'm covered in dirt. I'm going to take a shower."

He had said what he should say, analyzed what he should analyze, and offered the suggestions he should offer. The rest was up to them to bicker and pull, and handle it themselves.

Lin Xiuqing saw him return from next door and thought everything was settled.

"Done? The meal isn't ready yet, have to wait a while."

"There's still more bickering to be done. Let them solve it themselves."

"Alright, it's really a mess. Originally there wasn't that much trouble."

Ye Yaodong didn't answer, took a washbasin, and went directly to scoop cold water. Who would wash with hot water on such a hot day?

But the old lady wouldn't have it. She touched the cold water in his basin and told him to wait a moment. The rice was just cooking in the pot, and the water in the two jar-sized holes on the side of the earthen stove was also warm.

"Washing with warm water is better, otherwise catching a cold in the middle of summer is no fun. You young people don't know any better, doing whatever you want now. When you get old, it's easy to leave behind the roots of illness. When you have pain here and there, then you'll know it's hard."

He didn't answer. After the old lady tested the water temperature and felt it was okay, he went to the doorway to rinse off, then went into the room to change into a tank top and shorts.

Then he lay straight on the bed. After the shower, his whole body felt comfortable. If his stomach wasn't growling, feeling like his chest was touching his back, he felt he could sleep again the moment he closed his eyes.

Although he didn't fall asleep, when he was called for dinner, he was still dazed and prepared to linger for a while.

Little Ye Xiaoxi pushed the door open to call him, but he deliberately continued to lie there without getting up.

"Time to eat... Daddy... get up..."

He didn't move at all.

Ye Xiaoxi called several times and tugged at his hand, but couldn't pull him for a long time, so she had to climb onto the bed, patting and pinching his face, and also picking his nose and pinching his nostrils.

No reaction. She went to use her hands to pry open his eyelids. After seeing his black eyeballs rolling around, she giggled. She didn't forget to wipe the drool dripping down, but she didn't wipe it all away, and half of it dripped onto his face.

Ye Yaodong's eyelids were pried open by her, and he couldn't help but laugh himself. Being teased like this, he woke up and wasn't sleepy anymore.

Lin Xiuqing saw that she hadn't called him out for a long time, so she walked in to take a look. Seeing the father and daughter having a great time on the bed, she had to knock on the door.

"Stop playing, hurry up and come out to eat. It's already one o'clock, you must be starving."

Ye Yaodong hugged the person sitting across his body, laughed, patted her fleshy little butt, and imitated her usual tone, "Time to eat-eat~"

Ye Xiaoxi also happily raised her hands, twisted her body, and shook her head, "Time to eat-eat~"

When she sat at the dining table, she habitually looked for Pei Yu, but didn't see her, and the expression on her face became a bit sad.

The two had been eating and sleeping together for more than half a year, and suddenly not seeing her for several days made her feel empty.

"Where's little sister?"

"Little sister went home. Her mother is coming back soon, and she won't live in our house anymore." Lin Xiuqing explained while serving her rice and getting her a spoon.

"But I want little sister, let little sister come, okay?"

Ye Yaodong said, "Then after we finish eating, I'll go bring little sister over to play with you?"

She nodded happily.

A-Guang had hurriedly taken him to the city the day before yesterday morning, leaving his daughter at home for her stepmother and two younger sisters to watch. They hadn't specifically gone to bring her over; anyway, Huimei would be back in two days.

"She asks for little sister dozens of times a day. She started asking the moment A-Guang took her back two days ago. You wouldn't ask like this even if you weren't home for days."

Ye Yaodong was jealous and turned to ask her, "Do you love Daddy?"

She nodded.

"You have an apple in your left hand and a banana in your right. Daddy and little sister fell into the sea, which one do you eat first?"

She was bewildered.

The others at the table were also dumbfounded. What kind of question was this?

"One for Daddy to eat, one for little sister to eat."

Ye Yaodong himself was stunned. How could she answer like that?

"Why?"

"Because I want to eat watermelon! Big watermelon!"

"Aren't you going to save Daddy and little sister?"

"You, you save little sister, I'll give you the apple and banana."

"Alright, that's not wrong either..."

Lin Xiuqing laughed and rolled her eyes at him, "I don't know what kind of silly question you're asking. No one asks questions like that, she's only three years old."

Ye Yaodong laughed and touched Ye Xiaoxi's head, "Wait until I go bring little sister back, and by the way, bring you a few more watermelons like little sister, okay?"

"Okay!" She responded loudly and happily.

The old lady asked with concern, "It's the third day since Huimei gave birth today, right? She should be coming back soon, right?"

"Very likely. It's almost afternoon now. If she doesn't come back today, I guess she'll come back tomorrow. Where is it more comfortable outside than at home?"

"When she comes back, I'll go take a look too. It's rare to have twins, how precious." The old lady was full of smiles, and suddenly said to him, "They say nephews look like their uncles. Do you think they look like you?"

Ye Yaodong immediately had an indescribable expression on his face, "Whether they look like their uncle is hard to say, but they definitely don't look like me. If they really look like their uncle, it would be more appropriate to look like the eldest or second brother."

"Ah? What do you mean?"

Lin Xiuqing was also confused, "Look like the eldest and second brother?"

"Haha, they look like two pieces of charcoal, like the child's grandfather, both looking like old men."

Lin Xiuqing glanced at him reproachfully, "Then you still said they look like the eldest and second brother."

"Aren't you asking if they look like me? Do nephews look like their uncles? Haha, he has several uncles. They probably don't look like me, this uncle, hahaha..."

As Ye Yaodong spoke, he amused himself, recalling the appearance of the two pieces of charcoal he had just seen in their swaddling clothes.

Although his two sons were now almost as black as two pieces of charcoal, their bodies were still white. Their butts, which weren't exposed to the sun, were so white they almost glowed when they were naked during baths, just like him.

Ye Xiaoxi was the same. Although she was red and wrinkled when she was just born, she was white and tender after a few hours.

Unlike the two he saw the day before yesterday.

They say twins look exactly alike. Anyway, he didn't see it; that they were black in exactly the same way was true.

The old lady was also happy, "Then they probably look like A-Guang, both have black skin."

"Being black when just born doesn't mean they'll be black later. They'll be fine when they grow out of it. Maybe in a few days, they'll be a bit whiter, white and tender."

Lin Xiuqing said it more nicely.

"Anyway, when they come back, you all have to go over and take a look. You'll know once you see for yourselves."

"These two have to be fined 1000 yuan, right?"

"Better than being fined 500."

"Ah?"

Lin Xiuqing reacted and understood what he meant, and she was amused too.

"Then if they were only fined 500, would he still have to demand a price increase? Hahaha..."

"Exactly, hahahaha..."

"Eat, eat, stop laughing, both of you. You've been laughing there the whole time, you haven't eaten your rice. It's already this time, you'll be starving."

Ye Yaodong stopped laughing after he had enough, but after Lin Xiuqing looked up at him, she couldn't help but laugh out loud again.

The table was full of laughter.

Ye Fu didn't speak the whole time. His originally unhappy mood gradually brought a smile to his face as he watched the atmosphere at the dining table, and his expression became relaxed and pleasant.

It was just that the soundproofing of the house wasn't good. When it reached next door, the atmosphere at the dining table next door was even more silent. Several children didn't dare to speak, lowering their heads and eating silently, extremely honest for fear of being implicated.

After the meal, Ye Yaodong sat at the doorway to cool off, watching his father run hurriedly to next door again.

Originally, there was still a smile on his face, but when he ran out of the door, he withdrew it, becoming more serious.

In a little while, he saw five people wearing straw hats go out, probably also thinking about solving the matter early, going to find the Village Committee or something, to act as a witness together and negotiate the matter well.

If they didn't solve the matter now, and dragged it out until they were about to set off, then it would be finished.

He didn't get involved in their business. He had been running around for two days and was exhausted. At this moment, the sun was shining brightly outside, and he was too lazy to go out. Anyway, they wouldn't fight.

"Daddy~ Big watermelon... no, that's not right..." She immediately shook her head to correct herself, "It's little sister..."

Ye Yaodong was amused, "You still have rice grains on your mouth, and you're running out to ask for big watermelon? So do you want watermelon or little sister?"

Ye Xiaoxi smiled, revealing two rows of little rice teeth, "Both!"

"Can only have one?"

"Both! Hurry... you hurry..."

She was pulling Ye Yaodong's hand with both hands, but her hands were too small, and she could only grab two of his fingers, wanting to pull him up from the stool.

"Hurry up..."

It was milky and soft, and the tail of the sound was drawn out long. Who could refuse that?

Ye Yaodong sat up straight, patted her little butt, and touched her round belly that was stretching her clothes, "Your belly is already bulging like a watermelon, can you still eat?"

"I can eat, you hurry up."

"Alright, I'm going, I'm going. Just finished eating and the sun is so big, you won't even let me rest for a while. I must have owed you in my past life, coming to collect debts in this life."

Ye Chenghu and Ye Chengyang didn't know where they popped out from. As soon as they heard he was going to move watermelons, they volunteered and ran over, saying they wanted to follow and help pick them.

Before he could nod, a few more jumped out from the side.

"Third Uncle, we'll push the cart for you. You just need to hold cousin when the time comes."

"Thinking so thoughtfully? Do you think it's your own vegetable field? Do you know how expensive a watermelon is? A cartload must be several hundred jin, and you want to push it with a cart? You really don't treat it as an outsider."

Ye Chengjiang scratched the back of his head, "Didn't Uncle also push a cart over last year for us to share?"

"But your uncle isn't home this year. Do you have the nerve to push a cart to pull a load yourselves? Forget it, you four boys come with me, just hold one each and bring them back. Girls, don't run around in the sun, just wait at home."

"Okay, let's go now."

The four boys rushed out like cannonballs, running ahead.

It was summer vacation. Ye Chenghai now had to go to the shipyard to punch in every day and no longer hung out with these boys. He left early and returned late, and he hadn't seen him for many days.

Ye Yaodong looked for a straw hat, thought about it, and took an umbrella before slowly going out.

When he brought the child over later, he couldn't just have a hat to shade himself from the sun and let the child be exposed to the big sun all the way over. Holding an umbrella could also hold it up and block the sun.

However, when he went, Pei Yu happened to be taking a nap, so he didn't disturb her, only saying that when she woke up in the evening, he would come over to hold her then.

The few boys rushed over first, and each had already held a watermelon in their hands waiting, and everyone didn't treat it as an outsider, picking the big ones to take.

Ye Yaodong, with empty hands and not holding a child, also followed and held one. Anyway, A-Guang's house was now full of watermelons. Pei's father had added two grandsons in the past two days and was overjoyed, also extremely enthusiastic, and said that in the evening he would push another cart over for them to share.

"Are A-Guang and the others coming back tomorrow?"

Pei's father was radiant, his mouth couldn't close from smiling, "Called in the morning to ask, said they had already booked a small car and would pick them up early tomorrow morning, but it's estimated to be noon by the time they get home. Everything at home has been cleaned for them, inside and out, and they can live in it as soon as they return."

"Alright, suddenly adding two grandsons, I see Uncle has also become ten years younger, haha."

Pei's father also laughed happily, "I'm overjoyed. Others might not necessarily have two in three years, but I have three in two years."

"That's really true, good fortune."

It would only be three years of marriage by the second half of the year. Counting it now, it really is three in two years.

"Happy events make people feel refreshed. I see Uncle is radiant and still vigorous in his old age. Maybe there's more good fortune later, hahahaha..."

Pei's father laughed loudly at what he said and didn't feel he was being disrespectful. Everyone knew what kind of personality he had.

"Hurry up, stop being glib. Those few are already poking their heads at the doorway urging you."

Ye Yaodong also looked at the few who were stretching their heads at the doorway, holding watermelons, "Then I'll go back first, and come over to hold Xiao Yu later."

"When the sun isn't big later, I'll send her over."

"Okay."

As soon as he walked out the door, the few boys who had been waiting impatiently at the doorway immediately held their watermelons and ran first.

Just now they also felt it was a bit embarrassing to hold watermelons and run as soon as they arrived, so they waited at the doorway, waiting for Third Uncle to come out so they could walk together.

Ye Xiaoxi was also playing happily with her sisters at home. Seeing them return holding watermelons, she didn't look for Pei Yu when she didn't see her.

After eating the watermelon, she asked Ye Yaodong belatedly.

"Where's little sister?"

"You still know about little sister? I thought you had forgotten that you originally wanted to find little sister because you had watermelon to eat?"

Ye Xiaoxi blinked, "Share melon-melon with little sister."

"You don't need to share, you're eating hers. She's sleeping, and will come find you when she wakes up."

She nodded obediently, then continued to gnaw on her watermelon, eating with a satisfied face, her face all red, and there was melon pulp all over her face.

Ye Yaodong himself also ate very happily. Watermelon is the best to eat in the middle of summer.

"Don't throw the watermelon rinds around after eating, otherwise if you step on them and slip later, see if I don't beat you to death."

"Put them in the bucket to feed the pigs, I know."

"Mm, you can also throw them to the corner of the wall to feed the chickens."

"Feed the doggies..."

"The dog doesn't eat it, don't keep tossing those few dogs."

Ye Xiaoxi blinked, "Huahua wants to eat..."

As soon as the spotted dog heard its name, it immediately stood up, then turned its head and hid in the doghouse.

"Finally know what the phrase 'people dislike, dogs hate' means."

"Hahaha..."

The other children laughed while eating. Ye Xiaoxi held the watermelon, her round black eyes looking at this one, then at that one, then lowered her head to take a bite, then raised her head to look at everyone laughing, not understanding what everyone was laughing at.

But after she gnawed the red part of the watermelon clean, leaving only the white part, she still walked toward the doghouse as usual.

Hiding is impossible.

Lin Xiuqing said with a smile on the side, "She especially likes that spotted dog, catching it to toss every day."

"The two pregnant ones before, have the little white and little yellow given birth yet?"

"Not yet, should be soon."

"Mm."

There was a commotion in the morning, and their whole family, big and small, went to watch for the whole morning. In the afternoon, they didn't move, and even the children of the few families didn't follow.

Anyway, the adults' business had nothing to do with them. Even if they followed, they would just be squeezed to the side to watch. It was better to follow Third Uncle and have watermelon to eat.

Half-grown boys eat their fathers poor, eating everything without leftovers. Three adults and nine children, eating one big watermelon was more than enough, and everyone ate with satisfaction.

Those adults went out and didn't return until the evening meal time, drenched in sweat.

As soon as Ye Fu returned, he took off his wet tank top, sat at the doorway, and told Ye Yaodong the result of the negotiation in the afternoon.

"They are determined to follow, and won't accept anything else. They also can't bear to sell the two boats they bought, and won't sell them at the original price. Originally, it was also to go over and make a fortune."

"So your eldest and second brother still have to do it according to the original agreement. But it's also agreed that they are only responsible for taking people there and bringing them back. During the period, they won't care about what happens over there. Let them toss around over there. Of course, they also don't want money."

"Then, by the way, in front of the Village Committee, they acted as a witness. If anything happens, they can't blame your brothers."

"As for the other two bought, it really matched what you said. They found Asheng on the spot and asked him to help send the boats and people over."

Ye Yaodong raised an eyebrow, "On the spot? Is Brother Asheng's wife not there?"

"She was, and she opposed it on the spot. Later, one after another, they talked nicely, saying they only needed to send the people and boats over and bring them back on the way. Anyway, it was just two boats. Let them worry about what happens over there themselves, no need for him."

"They also said they were all own brothers, and he wouldn't even help with this little favor, and so on. Later, the couple couldn't withstand the group of people and had to agree."

"As for the maiden families of the other cousins, let them handle it themselves. If they want to follow, let them find someone else."

He nodded. This result was also within expectations, with no suspense.

So he didn't go to listen in the afternoon. The result was nothing more than the few possibilities analyzed in the afternoon.

"It's easy to say now, but I'm afraid that when they get there, they'll find they have no boats to pull, can't reach the sea trench, and can only fish one by one on the sea surface like the local fishermen. I'm afraid they'll look for trouble again, but we'll see when the time comes."

"Mm, anyway, it can only be like this. If you can't talk it through, those who haven't been there don't believe there's danger, thinking it's an excuse, only believing what they want to believe—that they can get rich if they go. Only those who have been there will have an idea, but they will probably also think about trying their luck, going first and coming back if the signs aren't right."

"It's because they are afraid that the money in their hands will fly away, so no matter what, they have to follow and take a look. After all, the attraction of being a 'ten-thousand-yuan household' is too great."

"Mm, anyway, it's like this for now."

"Pei's father sent a cart of watermelons over for us to share. You take a few back after you finish eating later. Also, they are all coming back tomorrow."

"So fast?"

"Is life alone too happy?"

Ye Fu laughed happily, "It's quite comfortable. No one nagging in my ears, it's quite quiet. It's just that sometimes I feel it's too quiet. I'm used to your mother nagging, throwing and hitting things in my ears every night."

He wasn't being stubborn this time.

"Feeling empty alone, right?"

"I'm just not used to it for a while. After a long time, I'll definitely get used to it. It's not like I haven't stayed outside for a month or two. How could I feel empty because your mother isn't home? I'm leaving in a few days too, just thinking that when she comes back, there will be someone to watch the house."

Alright, only he can say it, others can't. Then just tell him.

"When are you going to the city?"

"The 2nd, exactly half a month. Just go at the agreed time, no need to be early. It's the 26th today."

"Okay, I'll go with you then. Oh, by the way, I forgot to ask you this morning because of their business. You went to see the boats this morning, how was it?"

"Almost all can be sailed back on the 30th. There's also the boat from the shipyard, which also said it can be on the 30th. Just pick a good day, sail them all back together, and set off some firecrackers. It just happens to be all together, which is less troublesome."

"It's a coincidence that they are all in hand. If you're free in these two days, help me buy more rice to hull. They are all strong men, and they'll need a lot of food. Buy it in advance and take it over, so you don't have to worry about it being hard to buy when you get there."

Hearing this on the side, the old lady's spirit was lifted, and finally, there was something she could interject.

She said excitedly, "I told you the pumpkins and winter melons I planted would be useful, right? You all complain every day that there are too many, that they are too big, saying I have nothing to do but plant so many, can't finish eating, and send them away all day. Aren't they useful now?"

"With so many people, we need such big winter melons and pumpkins. One is enough for dozens of you to eat, and the key is that they won't spoil, and you don't have to spend money to buy them."

"Ah, yes, yes, yes, you have foresight. Take them all along when the time comes."

The old lady was satisfied.

"I'll plant more for you next year."

Her value was reflected, making the old lady extremely happy. Finally, there was a place where she could be of use. ===== CHAPTER 1095 =====