Chapter 1160: Lighter

"Nonsense! I was just thinking the festival is coming soon. Everyone is away from home; shouldn't we send out red envelopes?"

Ye Yaodong rolled his eyes. "I think you just want to. You used to be so stingy, hoarding everything, unwilling to eat or spend on anything. If I ate something good, you'd scold me. Now you're so generous?"

"They earn 4.5 or 6.5 yuan a day. Tomorrow we're giving them a day off for the festival, which is equivalent to a day's free wages. Do they still need red envelopes?"

"You're getting cocky, Dad. Lately you've been thinking about giving them red envelopes all the time. I think it's not me who wants to be the president, but you. You're showing off now, aren't you?"

Ye's father was left speechless by his words.

"I... I was just thinking you were so generous before. When you caught a big fish, you gave them red envelopes; when you drove away the pirates, you gave them red envelopes..."

"You said it yourself. Back then, we caught 110,000 jin of hairtail in one net, and then drove away the pirates. Wasn't it right to give them? When the fishing boat had its first big catch on its maiden voyage, we gave one too; that was right as well. Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival; giving a day off is enough. Tomorrow, treat them well with good wine, meat, and dishes, and that's it."

"Don't be so loose with your hand, or people will think it's easy to get money from you. Are we stupid and rich? Paying such high wages is enough. Before they return, pay their wages, and give a red envelope to thank them for their hard work during this period. Don't give red envelopes all the time; it will spoil them."

"If we follow your logic, when we caught so much during the red tide recently, we should give one; when you became president, we should give another; for the Mid-Autumn Festival, we should give another; when we return, we should give another again. Are they here to work, or here to collect red envelopes?"

"You've gotten cocky! The president's father, tone it down. Your son doesn't make money easily."

Ye's father felt a bit awkward after being spoken to like that. He coughed dryly. "I thought too much. I was just thinking we didn't give red envelopes after catching so much cargo recently, and now you've become president and it's the Mid-Autumn Festival. With double happiness, I just suggested it again. If we don't give, we don't give."

"Others might not get one, but I'll give you one. Didn't my mother take away all your secret money you hid under the pillow recently?"

Ye Yaodong wore an expression that said, "I know you too well."

His father had managed to save some secret money, but after arguing with his mother, it was all confiscated. For a while, the two elders didn't speak to each other for several days.

"I have some. I don't need you to give me any."

"Wait until we get back to the room, and I'll get it for you. I'll also get you money for groceries. Tomorrow you go buy whatever you want to cook. Make several meat dishes, set a table, and buy a few jin of wine."

This made Ye's father happy. "Alright, tomorrow I'll go buy groceries. I'll buy good stuff. It's rare to have a festival, everyone is away from home; we must make sure everyone eats and drinks well."

"Mm."

Early the next morning, Ye Yaodong locked the courtyard gate and took a group of people to make phone calls home to report they were safe.

He let everyone take turns making calls first. Once finished, they could go out shopping as they pleased, as long as they didn't cause trouble. He and his father would make their calls last, and settle the bill.

Lin Lin Xiuqing on the other end of the phone also waited until the very last person before taking the receiver from the previous caller's hand.

"We all thought you would come back these past two days. You didn't call ahead to say you wouldn't return. Everyone was there hoping for your return."

"The weather has been good these past few days, so we've been catching fish continuously. I forgot about the time. Earning hundreds a day, I couldn't bear to leave. I just thought I'd stay a few more days. After all, we celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival every year. If I go back this trip, I won't come here again this year. Better to stay a few more days, until the weather cools down and it's no longer suitable to go into the water, then return."

"It's just that you didn't say it in advance. The younger ones at home all thought you'd be back these past two days. They've been counting the days on their fingers."

"They're just thinking about gifts, right? Wanting me to return is fake; wanting gifts is real."

Lin Lin Xiuqing laughed. "You know it best. When school started, the stationery you bought gave them a lot of face. For those few days, when they came home from school, they were chattering away, saying how much their classmates envied them for having cartoon stationery."

"Has Chenghu been practicing with his calligraphy copybook every day?"

At that moment, Ye Chenghu's voice came through the phone, shouting, "Dad, don't buy any more. Buy something else, don't buy me calligraphy copybooks anymore. I can't finish them; it's so annoying."

"Got it. I'll bring more back when I return."

"No."

"This is being brought home from Zhejiang Province, which is even farther than the provincial capital."

Ye Chenghu was extremely troubled. He didn't want to write, but he really wanted the copybooks. Having them would let him show off to other classmates at school and harvest a bunch of envious glances.

Lin Lin Xiuqing chuckled. "Don't tease him. Recently, I've been making him write one large character sheet every day. His handwriting is getting neater and neater. Even if he can't study further, having such good handwriting will still be impressive to show off. It's quite good; he should keep practicing."

"By the way, there's something I need to tell you. The city here has set up a Fishery Association, and I've been appointed as the Vice President of the Fishery Association..."

"Ah? What?"

"That's right, just as you heard. Vice President of the Fishery Association."

Lin Lin Xiuqing was stunned. "What is that for?"

"I don't know what others do, but for me, it's just a sinecure." Ye Yaodong explained the whole matter to him from beginning to end.

"So, it's because you proposed this association idea, they discussed it, felt it was feasible and could be established, and then your name was put on it?"

Lin Lin Xiuqing found it hard to believe. He just went fishing; how did he end up catching an official post?

From her perspective, this so-called Association President was just like a leader in a government department. Could such positions be assigned so casually from above?

"There was also help from leaders. During that time, a big fish was brought to the research institute; maybe that pulled some strings? Not too sure. Anyway, it was finalized yesterday, and I received the appointment letter. Today is the festival; tomorrow I'll go submit the photo for filing and pay the membership fee."

"Oh, so are you coming back...?"

"Ridiculous. If I don't come back, do you think I could really settle down here, marry a wife, and have a few more children?"

Lin Lin Xiuqing said gloomily, "That's not impossible. The aunts and grandmas in the village are all saying that outside bosses who make big money buy a house where they earn the money, then marry another wife..."

"Don't listen to those busybodies. I'll be back in about half a month. By then, the weather will be cooler, and things here should be winding down. It's just a nominal position; I definitely won't be the one doing the work, and they certainly won't ask me to do anything."

"Oh."

"After I hang up, I'll transfer 10,000 yuan to you. Keep an eye out these days. Remember to check the telegram, then go withdraw the money."

"Really!"

Lin Lin Xiuqing perked up, her earlier displeasure gone. A smile appeared on her face, her mood improved, and her tone of voice became more relaxed.

"I'll keep an eye out these days."

"So happy now? So realistic. Indeed, I can only talk money with you."

"Then hurry up and transfer the money. Carrying so much cash around while walking everywhere isn't safe. You should have transferred the money before making the call."

"We came out too early; the bank wasn't open, so we called first."

After Ye Yaodong finished speaking, he looked at his father beside him. "Do you want to talk to my mother?"

Ye's father waved his hand. "What's there to say? You've said everything that needs to be said. I have nothing to say."

"Dad says he has nothing to say to Mom, so I'll hang up."

Ye's mother's loud voice suddenly rang out. "How can you have nothing to say? You went out once and now have nothing to say? You have nothing to say to me, then who do you have to say anything to? If you go out and don't know to come back, that's one thing, but not even a word? You've only been out for a month and it's already like this. If you stay a few more months, there's no need to come back at all."

Holding the phone, Ye Yaodong could feel it vibrating. He quickly moved the phone further away from his ear. Fearing his father hadn't heard clearly, he quickly shoved it back to his father's ear, sparing his own eardrums from harm.

With his ear pressed against the phone, Ye's father was also shaken and quickly tried to move it further away. However, he didn't hold it steady, and it dropped onto the table, causing the sales clerk to glare at him, while Ye's mother on the other end of the line started a new round of scolding.

"Such a temper, can't even speak to you, and you throw the phone? If you break it, can you afford to pay for it? Acting recklessly, getting more irritable as you age..."

Ye's father, annoyed, said, "Have you finished talking? All day long you talk nonsense, and your voice is so loud my ears are about to go deaf. Why didn't you hold it further away? You made me lose my grip on the phone."

"The things that needed to be said, Dongzi just said them. What else is there for me to say? What's there to talk about? I'm returning in half a month. Whatever you want to hear, we can talk about it slowly then. Does the phone call not cost money? So many people taking turns calling, we've been on for nearly an hour. Alright, everything's been said, hang up."

"Beep... beep... beep..."

Ye's father hung up immediately after speaking, giving Ye's mother no chance to react.

Then he quickly dug into his ears.

"She's made me deaf with her shouting. So loud! At her age, she's still so fiery every day."

"She hung up so fast. My mother is probably cursing at the phone right now."

"Anyway, she can't hear you, so let her curse. Hurry up and pay the bill; you still need to go send the money back."

"Mm."

Ye's father went with Ye Yaodong to the Post and Telecommunications Bureau, watched him finish sending the money, and only then went to buy groceries.

Buying groceries didn't require two people, so Ye Yaodong went out alone to wander around the streets.

Seeing some small items he'd never seen before, or small toys his family didn't have, he bought a bit of everything. It was rare to have time to go shopping, so he might as well buy a bit now; before going home, he could come out again to buy some local specialties to eat.

It was just that after he finished taking his personal ID photo, as he wandered along, he happened to spot an acquaintance, Fang Jingfu, whom he had only just met.

He adjusted the cloth bag slung over his shoulder, which was already jingling with small trinkets inside, and stepped forward to greet him, "Comrade Fang Jingfu."

"Eh? What a coincidence."

"It's a holiday today; you're out shopping too?"

"No, I'm delivering something to other friends." He hesitated for a moment, opened the iron box he was holding, took out a lighter, and handed it to Ye Yaodong.

"For you."

Ye Yaodong was slightly surprised. "A lighter?"

"You know what it is?"

"Huh? What's there not to know about a lighter?" He accepted it naturally with a smile, flicked it twice, and watched the tiny flame rise and then go out.

Fang Jingfu studied him curiously; he was playing with it so skillfully, as if he had used a lighter many times before.

He asked with a smile, "You make it sound like this thing is everywhere. Although this one was produced by a small workshop on our end, the metal ones aren't cheap either. They're not as expensive as the hundreds of yuan for those from Japan, South Korea, or Taiwan, but they still cost several dozen yuan each."

Ye Yaodong was surprised again. He had long heard that the lighters made locally were particularly famous, especially in this era where family-run small workshops were everywhere; local lighter enterprises rose up just like that.

He looked again at the metal lighter in his hand and quickly explained with a smile, "I didn't say this thing is everywhere; I'm just surprised you'd give me a lighter so generously. These sell for a high price; even the cheap ones cost several dozen yuan, and if it were at the Friendship Store, it would cost several hundred."

He almost forgot; lighters nowadays were also a luxury, not the one-yuan ones that were everywhere.

He still couldn't afford to use a lighter himself; the way he flicked it just now was too skilled...

Fang Jingfu was proud and smug. "You know your stuff. This was researched and developed by my brother this year. A friend of his brought one back from out of town as a New Year's gift for him. My brother took the lighter apart to study its structure and ignition principle, and surprisingly, he actually figured it out. Since he made it himself, he doesn't mind giving it away."

"Damn, you made it yourself? That's too awesome! Your family is full of talents? You even researched and produced lighters? Is your whole family in research?"

"Not really, I don't know how to do anything."

"Since you guys researched and produced this, are you going to set up a small workshop? Then expand and strengthen it into a big company, export it, and crush Japan and South Korea, making them sell for such high prices!"

"Hehe, the workshop is already in progress. This was just produced; I just got a batch to give to friends. I happened to meet you, so I'm giving you one too."

"Good brother. Your lighters look no different from those from Japan, South Korea, or Taiwan. If the price is lower, you'll definitely capture the market quickly and make a fortune."

"Haha, you really know your goods. I'll take your good wishes. I'll go deliver these to my friends first so they can spread the word."

"Such good things don't need promotion; as soon as they appear on the market, they'll be snatched up. Heavy smokers are everywhere, and besides, you can even use them for cooking. Every family needs them; it's much more convenient than matches. A box of matches costs five fen and has only twenty or thirty sticks."

Fang Jingfu nodded repeatedly. "That's right. I'll go now. See you later."

Although Ye Yaodong was quite curious and had many questions, he felt they weren't close enough for that, so he waved his hand and didn't disturb him from his errands.

He played with the lighter in his hand, constantly igniting it and letting go, playing with it very skillfully and without any regret, while passersby watching him felt a pang of regret.

"Finally, I have a lighter. When I saw it at the Friendship Store, the price almost stunned me. A broken little lighter actually sold for two or three hundred yuan; a bicycle that can be ridden for decades isn't that expensive. Damn, it looks like local lighters are about to rise."

He muttered as he walked. After playing enough, he took out the cigarettes from his pocket, lit one for himself, and held the lighter in his other hand, playing with it as he walked.

"Brother, playing with the lighter like that is a bit wasteful. Can I borrow a light?"

Hearing someone speak to him, he stopped. Seeing the man staring at the lighter he was playing with, and noticing the cigarette in his own hand, he knew the man wanted a light, so he generously lit it for him.

"Generous, brother."

"Hehe, I'm from out of town; I don't understand."

The young man opposite raised an eyebrow in surprise and switched to Mandarin. "Oh, I see. Where are you from? What do you do?"

"I'm from Fujian Province; I'm a fisherman."

That person was even more surprised and frowned. "A fisherman? For real or fake? You're making that up, right?"

"Hehe, what's there to lie about? I don't know you, and you don't know me; we just met by chance on the road. What's there to lie about? I am a fisherman. Hehe, I'm leaving now."

After Ye Yaodong finished speaking, he put away the lighter, put one hand in his pocket, smoked with the other, and continued on his way.

Believe it or not; what's wrong with being a fisherman?

Tsk, who knows, he might never have as much money as me in his whole life.

He had two workshops, five shops, thirteen mu of land, a house here, seventeen trawlers, one Dongsheng Hao, one fresh-fish collection boat, three large jointly-owned ships, and a share in the Fengshou Hao, plus twenty thousand yuan in savings, and various treasures at home.

Although some of the fishing boats hadn't been delivered yet, it was only a matter of time.

Seeing him frown made him feel annoyed.

But as he walked, his good mood returned. Why care about a stranger?

He went home happily and showed the lighter to his father. Ye's father was so surprised he kept asking what this thing was, how it could suddenly produce fire out of thin air.

Ordinary rural people nowadays only knew matches; they really hadn't seen a lighter. Some living in the mountains might still be using flint.

Ye Yaodong explained the lighter to his father, causing his father to keep exclaiming in amazement.

"Your new friend is a good one; he even gives you something so valuable so casually."

He nodded; indeed, Fang Jingfu seemed like a decent person. Although he was a chatterbox, he appeared to be a second-generation local who was easy to get along with and did not discriminate against him as an outsider.

He probably had received higher education and had been out in the world, so he was not as xenophobic as the locals.

"Indeed, we've only met a second time."

"Next time, you should give him something too. We must practice reciprocity and not take advantage of him."

"Understood."

Ye's father patted his pockets but found no cigarettes. "Give me a cigarette and light it for me to try."

Ye Yaodong handed him the entire pack.

"No need, no need, just one cigarette is enough. I'm not used to this brand; I prefer water pipe tobacco. I'll just light one to try."

"Do as you please. Lighting an empty one is fine too; light whatever you want."

"That would be such a waste."

"Do you think lighting a cigarette makes it not a waste? It's even more wasteful, because you aren't used to smoking this brand anyway."

Ye's father ignored him, fiddled with the lighter for a long time, and even tried to use it to light his water pipe. The moment he took a puff, he burned himself and choked.

He coughed for a long time before recovering.

"No good, no good. This thing is useless. Matches are better; strike one and I can take several puffs until it burns down."

"Fool!" Ye Yaodong put the lighter away in his pocket.

Everyone else looked on with envy, but since it was such a precious item, they dared not borrow it casually; they could only look or say a few words.

Ye Yaodong sat with his legs crossed, pondering what to send back to Fang Jingfu. To him, the lighter seemed like a common item, but it was indeed rare now, and this metal one was certainly not cheap.

However, the other man appeared to be a college graduate and a second-generation local with some background, so it felt like he lacked nothing. It was a headache.

Since he couldn't think of anything, he put it aside for now. Anyway, since the other man had given the item casually, he surely didn't expect or demand a return. He had just said it was something his own family made, so giving it away didn't hurt.

Everyone was busy slaughtering chickens and ducks, washing and chopping vegetables, and cooking rice, while the two of them sat with their legs crossed; one played with the lighter, and the other stood with his hands clasped behind his back, looking here and there, looking more like the boss than Ye Yaodong.

Ye's father was increasingly taking on the demeanor of President Ye's father.

Ye's father walked around for a long while, then, having nothing better to do, approached Ye Yaodong again. "We are returning in half a month. What do you plan to do with this house?"

The hand holding the lighter paused for a moment. "I'll think about it later."

"We need someone to watch the house, or rent it out. Otherwise, if no one lives there, even if no one comes to occupy it, it will easily fall into ruin."

"Let me think."

"How about asking the neighbors to keep an eye on it?"

"I'm afraid that if the neighbors watch it, they'll move in. By then, it will be hard to evict them, especially since they live right next door and are more familiar with the locals than we are."

"Then put up a notice to rent it out?"

"Alright, let's try. See if anyone wants to rent it."

"Then write a notice tomorrow and post it at the main gate. Get it done early, otherwise, if no one rents it at the last minute, we'll have to think of another plan."

Ye Yaodong nodded. Since they were returning, how to handle the house was indeed a major problem. After all, they would be coming back next year. As the Vice President, he would definitely have to come over and report for a few months every year.

Let's try it first.

"The food is ready. Do you want to eat?"

"Since it's cooked, shall we just eat?"

Hearing them come out to ask, Ye Yaodong stood up and told them to start the meal.

They were all rough men, so they weren't that particular. As soon as the cooking was done, they began their Mid-Autumn Festival feast at noon and even started drinking.

It was a rare day of relaxation, so Ye Yaodong told them all to drink freely. If they got too drunk, they could just sleep; after all, there was no work today.

With his word and the unlimited supply of alcohol, everyone really ate and drank to their heart's content.

Only after getting completely drunk did they stagger back to their rooms and fall into a deep sleep. No one cleared the table full of scattered dishes and cups; they only tidied up in the evening after waking from their sleep, reheated the dishes, and ate them again.

Only then did they bring out the large cakes to worship the moon. After the worship, they enjoyed the cool breeze while eating mooncakes.

While enjoying the cool breeze, Ye Yaodong took out paper and pen to write the house rental notice and, using the cover of night, posted it directly at the main gate.

It was dark at night, and every family was worshipping the moon and enjoying the cool air at their own doorsteps, so no one was watching their side.

This custom of worshipping the moon was quite similar to that of their hometown.

Early the next morning, Ye Yaodong followed the fishing boat out to sea to harvest sea urchins as usual.

The ID photo he took yesterday wouldn't be ready so soon. He planned to wait until he could get the photo, then go to the Fisheries Association to pay the membership fee together, saving himself from making two trips. One day not going out to sea meant a loss of over a hundred yuan.

However, when he went to pay the fee early in the morning after getting the photo, he unexpectedly ran into Fang Jingfu again, who was also there to submit his photo.

Curious, Ye Yaodong asked, "Why are you only submitting it now?"

"Aren't you only submitting it now too?"

"I didn't leave a phone number, so the appointment letter had to be mailed to my home. I only found out I needed to take an ID photo after receiving it, so I dragged it out until now."

"Oh, I was busy running errands for my brother to find a place for the workshop and forgot about the ID photo. I only remembered to pick up the photo and bring it over after receiving a call yesterday."

"Lighter workshop?"

"Yes. It was too noisy to do it at home, so my parents told him to find a place outside and not do it at home."

Ye Yaodong slapped his thigh. "What a coincidence! Come, go to my place."

His notice had been posted for three or four days, but no one had asked about it.

Fang Jingfu's problem and his own problem now matched perfectly.

"What are you doing? I'm worried sick about finding a place for him. Every household here is already full; where can we find one?"

"Come, come, come. Let's talk as we walk."