Chapter 1194

A few days later, Ye Yaodong found an opportunity to dock in the provincial capital, cleared the cargo on the boat, picked up the packaging bags he had ordered, and placed another order for 50,000 more.

After the packaging bags were brought home, the filling machine soon began official operation. He didn't specifically hire anyone for this; the workshop always had two people left to keep watch regardless of whether it was in operation or not.

After the twins left, he specifically found two young lads in the village to fill in, so the workshop had never been short of people.

Now, he just arranges for the two people on duty to do the work; whoever's shift it is does the work. Otherwise, sitting around sunbathing every day is more comfortable than he is—how could that be allowed?

And for the past few days, the workshop has been bustling with activity, and the work of killing fish has never stopped.

In the past, they relied on the two large boats docking to kill a batch, but now that is no longer necessary. With A-Cai delivering a batch every evening, the workshop has to hire women to kill fish every day.

And when their two boats dock, the cargo they bring is even more incredible; it can take several consecutive days to finish killing it all.

He was too busy a while ago to attend to it, otherwise, he should have arranged it sooner. Fortunately, A-Cai came to him on his own initiative.

He was probably shocked by his grand gesture of buying a machine for 10,000 yuan and was thinking about making some money from him.

Last year, they relied on the two boats to catch and store a batch of goods to last until now. This year, they really need to prepare a bit more. For the next few months, they will have to do it this way every day, which can be considered a win-win.

And their workshop has become the gossip center of the whole village these past few days.

"Should have been like this long ago. Before, it was 'three days of fishing and two days of drying nets'; if only there were fish to kill every day."

"I'm telling you, Adong is the reliable one. Others just talk, but he is genuinely hiring everyone to work."

"Those two aren't good people. They keep mistresses outside and steal other people's wives at home. There's also one who treated him as a friend, yet he was jealous of others. If they really managed to earn money and come back to open a factory, I wouldn't work for them; I'd rather work here."

"Heaven has no eyes, letting them earn money..."

"I heard Wang Chuyun hasn't been beaten less by her husband these past few days. If it weren't for the fact that marrying a new wife costs a lot of money, he probably would have chased her away."

"Now he beats her to death every day, it's a sin..."

Ye Yaodong had just walked to the entrance when he heard the various bustling voices inside. He was also very happy; only with popularity can things flourish.

Lin Xiuqing has also been so busy these past two days that her feet haven't touched the ground.

When A-Cai delivers goods, she has to weigh them and keep accounts; the quantity every day is not small.

She also has to record the people who come to work every day. With the large volume of goods recently, they have to work in two shifts. She not only records those killing fish but also those helping to ferment the fish sauce.

There are also their own rented-out fishing boats. Although she doesn't need to go to the pier to collect goods every day, she still has to collect the cargo manifests and check them for any omissions, after all, there are over a dozen boats there.

Then she has to go to the workshop from time to time to inspect the drying of the dried fish.

The busiest time is from evening until dark; the daytime is actually fine.

Therefore, when Ye Yaodong returned, she didn't have time to fuss over him; she didn't even see his shadow.

Only the old lady was spinning around him.

"A-Qing has been very busy these past few days and hasn't had time to eat dinner. It will probably be eight or nine o'clock by the time she finishes. You should eat the dinner left for her first, and cook noodles for her later."

"Mm, where are the children?"

"They are all inside helping with the work."

"You go back first, I'll take a stroll around the workshop first."

Lin Xiuqing was currently holding the ledger to record the goods brought back by Pei's father and was weighing them. Ye Yaodong walked over without even giving him a glance, only telling him to go back and eat first.

"Do you want me to hire someone to keep accounts for you?"

"No need, hire whom? How could anyone else know our own accounts better than I do?"

"I see you haven't eaten dinner yet tonight."

"It's fine, I'm not hungry. You go back and eat quickly, and take your daughter back too, so she doesn't add to the chaos here."

Ye Yaodong turned his head to look for Ye Xiaoxi everywhere, but the chubby girl didn't know where she had gone; he hadn't seen her.

When he found the fish sauce workshop next door, he saw her standing in a corner of the room while others were moving fish cargo in and out.

She didn't know what she was doing there either.

When he got closer, he saw that she was spitting to the side, and both her hands were covered in salt.

"Damn, what are you doing? Stealing salt to eat?"

She wrinkled her face, "It's not tasty!"

Ye Yaodong was speechless and patted her head, "Let's go home."

"Don't want to."

"Still want to eat?"

"Give it to you to eat."

"I'm not as greedy as you, eating salt too. Your mouth is just too bland."

"I thought it was sugar."

Ye Yaodong patted the silly girl's head again, "Go home and wash your hands. It's laughable to say it out loud, a person secretly running here to eat salt."

"Hug, want a hug."

Ye Xiaoxi hugged his thigh, and both hands rubbed back and forth on his leg. The salt on her hands was wiped clean; fortunately, his clothes were dirty, so he let her wipe it.

Ye Yaodong picked up the child and walked home. She was focused on picking the salt out of her fingernails, looking obedient for once.

However, he was relieved too soon. The salt she picked out actually had to be stuffed into her father's mouth to show filial piety.

Even though he dodged, she still wanted to pry his face and mouth open to stuff it in.

Ye Yaodong could only grit his teeth; this was when his stubbornness showed.

After finally making it home, he quickly put the silly girl down and handed her to the old lady to watch.

And after Ye Yaopeng and Ye Yaohua knew he was back, they also hurriedly came over.

The day after tomorrow is the date Ye's mother chose, and their fishing boats still haven't been named.

Originally, they should have been named a few days ago, but Ye Yaodong wasn't home. The other two felt they had no ink in their bellies and racked their brains without knowing what to call them, so they planned to wait for him to return.

Fortunately, he didn't return too late. They can set the names tonight and notify the shipyard to spray the paint tomorrow.

As soon as they came over, they got straight to the point: "What should we name our boats? We need to decide quickly."

"The 'Bountiful' and 'East Rising' names you chose are quite good. We've been blindly pondering for a few days and don't know what's good to call them."

"Just pick one with a good meaning, as long as it's easy to call," Ye Yaodong said indifferently, "You guys decide."

"We just don't know what's good to call them. You see what's good?"

"I don't have much ink in my belly either."

The two brothers looked at each other in silence, then Ye Yaopeng said, "How about calling it 'Shunfeng' (Smooth & Bountiful)?"

Ye Yaodong sprayed out a mouthful of soup.

"Cough, cough, cough... what did you say to call it?"

"Shunfeng."

He couldn't help but laugh, "Why call it that?"

Ye Yaohua looked at his indescribable expression with confusion, "Is there a problem with this name?"

Ye Yaopeng didn't know what he was laughing at either, "We were thinking of 'smooth' and 'bountiful harvest', so let's call it Shunfeng."

"That's fine, I have no objections. If you two like this name, then call it that."

"No need, you see, if it's not suitable, we'll change it. Looking at your expression just now, does it seem like there's a problem?"

"No problem, just a bit surprised. This name is actually quite good, just call it that."

"Then it's decided?"

Ye Yaodong nodded, his whole face still showing a smile.

Ye Yaopeng said with a smile, "Then it's settled. And the day after tomorrow, we'll ask Dad to help us sail the boat."

"That's as it should be. Dad has helped me for two or three years, and if you need him, he should help you too. I'll sail my own boat first. Anyway, we'll definitely be coming and going together, so having company will ensure safety."

Ye Yaohua also said, "Right, our boats will definitely enter and exit together, and we'll fish side-by-side, so we can look out for each other."

Ye Yaopeng added, "Let Dad help us for a while first. When we are familiar with it, we'll let Dad come back to help you. After all, you are alone, while Ahua and I can take turns. You would have to hire outsiders."

"It's fine, just let Dad go help you first. When you don't need him, just let Dad come back to me."

He also happens to be training two people who can sail. Next year, he will have a fresh-fish collection boat in hand. Once he has it, he will go sail that and hand the 'East Rising' over to the newly trained person.

Anyway, he doesn't need people to sell the goods, as long as they know how to operate the fishing, he will come back and forth every day to collect the cargo from the boats.

The plan is just right.

The three brothers discussed and settled the matter.

Ye's father didn't participate from beginning to end, but he certainly had no objections. Helping either son is helping; there is no difference. Whichever son needs him, he will go to that son.

Ye Yaodong chatted with them for a while longer, then went to take a shower and coax the children to sleep.

Lin Xiuqing had been busy until he was about to collapse, and he still hadn't seen anyone.

Until he finally coaxed Ye Xiaoxi to calm down and she was about to sleep, the sound of children chattering came from the house again.

All previous efforts were wasted.

The eyes that had already closed opened as wide as copper bells, and she sat up, nimbly climbed off the bed, and ran out.

Ye Yaodong lay there lifelessly, not bothering with the child who ran out, and didn't make a sound.

Outside the room, Lin Xiuqing's voice could be heard.

"Why aren't you asleep yet? Running out without even wearing clothes, where is your father?"

"Dad said if I don't close my eyes, he's going to die."

Lin Xiuqing was speechless, so she had to carry the child in, turn on the light, and continue to put her on the bed and wrap her up.

"I was about to succeed, and you came back at this time!" Ye Yaodong stared with eyes that wouldn't close even in death, looking at the ceiling and saying.

"Then you sleep your sleep, don't worry about her, let her lie there and play by herself."

"How can I sleep? She pinches my nose, digs my eyes, sits on my stomach, or tries to lift my pants and pull my leg hair."

Lin Xiuqing had no choice but to glare at Ye Xiaoxi again. Ye Xiaoxi chuckled and shrank her head into the quilt.

"I'll go get something to eat first, and come back to coax her to sleep later. You sleep your sleep."

Ye Yaodong waited until she came in and isolated the child in the corner before he could sleep peacefully.

The next morning, he went to the workshop again to instruct the two lads on duty, teaching them how to fill the fish sauce and mentioning the precautions.

He didn't leave all morning either. Since they had just started, he wasn't at ease, so he moved a stool and sat by the door, sunbathing while watching them work.

There were also people in the room next door and at the entrance, moving things in and out, fermenting fish sauce, and greeting him from time to time.

This fermentation work is relatively rough. The goods brought back were all poured in for fermentation after only half a morning of work.

The fish-killing work next door is relatively delicate. The 10,000-plus jin of cargo couldn't be killed that quickly. It's just that the weather is cold now, so it can be left for two more days. It was noisy, sounding like a scene of bustling activity.

He sunbathed for the whole morning. Four or five hundred bags of fish sauce were filled, all placed in baskets lined with straw and stacked in the corner.

This thing is simple enough; once you learn it, there's no difficulty, and it won't go wrong.

He spent the whole day wandering around the workshop, looking at both sides, and listening to gossip by the way.

By the next morning, the three brothers went with his father and A-Guang to the shipyard by bike.

His two motorboats were also delivered along with the Shunfeng. They had to be sailed back together, but he wasn't in such a hurry, so he followed the Shunfeng to test the water first.

After testing the water and returning, they paid the balance, and then the one large and two small boats headed back together.

The water test went smoothly, and they caught a net of over 2,000 jin of cargo. To Ye Yaodong, the harvest was average, but his two older brothers were very happy.

Seeing so much caught in one net for the first time, and on their own boat, they were extremely excited, feeling that wealth was right before their eyes. They couldn't stop smiling all the way back.

On the way back, Ye's father sailed the boat, and the two brothers Ye Yaopeng and Ye Yaohua stayed in the cockpit, listening to their father tell them how to sail.

And Ye Yaodong and A-Guang each sailed a small motorboat.

The bows of the three boats were tied with large red flowers, which was exceptionally festive. From far away from the pier, many people had already seen them; they were all their own family members, as well as fishing boats that returned in the afternoon.

As soon as the three boats docked, the sound of firecrackers and fireworks rang out incessantly, and their family members were all in high spirits.

People on the shore had already gone crazy with envy.

As soon as their group got ashore, a crowd surrounded them to congratulate them.

"How many boats does your family have? Look! Look! This pier is all your family's..."

Ye's father couldn't stop smiling, "Haha, no, no, aren't these many from the village?"

"Adong, how many boats do you have? The two small ones that just came back are yours too, right?"

"You're silly, just look at the numbers on them. As long as there's a number, it's Adong's. Haven't those numbers reached 17?"

"Oh my god, it's already 17? This is too exaggerated, one person tops several villages."

"Ye Laosan, your eldest and second sons are also promising. Oh my, they can afford such big boats. These three brothers are incredible..."

"They are just following along and tossing about. I still have to watch over them, otherwise, how could it work? I have to watch for a few more years before they can manage."

Ye Yaodong listened and shook his head with a smile; his father was intoxicated.

A-Guang put his arm around his shoulder and walked out, while the others were still surrounded and talking.

"I heard you got a 10,000-yuan machine back, take me to have a look?"

"It's not that expensive, it's all rumors outside."

"Not 10,000, then at least seven or eight thousand. It's about the same, you really can bring yourself to spend it."

"If you don't risk the child, you won't catch the wolf."

Ye Yaodong said while taking A-Guang to visit.

The two talked as they walked, also mentioning Pei Yingqiu's wedding, which is on New Year's Day, just a few days away. It's said they will get married directly at the station.

There was originally a dormitory building, but there were many people at the station, with many people in one room. Captain Chen wanted to get married, so those soldiers vacated a room for him separately.

After the wedding, he will take her to his hometown in the provincial capital.

The lighthouse outside won't be finished that quickly, probably taking another year. If it's finished, it's hard to say whether they will stay put or be transferred, depending on the higher-ups' intentions.

But it doesn't matter to their family; even if transferred back, it's still in the city, which isn't far for them.

Ye Yaodong also briefly mentioned Lin Guangyuan.

"This child has always wanted to be a soldier, treating the sailor shirt Captain Chen gave him like a treasure. Let's see when he goes for the physical exam next year."

"Being in the navy is good, better than the army."

"Whether it's good or not, one has to stand out to be successful."

"That requires one's own effort. Your packaging is good, it won't leak and is convenient. No need to scoop it spoonful by spoonful; one bag is one jin."

As soon as they entered the room, A-Guang saw the baskets of bagged fish sauce stacked in the corner and curiously weighed them in his hand.

"Mm, it's just for convenience. You take a bag back later."

"Okay. How many bags can you make in a day?"

"From 9 am to 5 pm yesterday, including the break time in the middle, about 1,000-plus bags."

"That speed is quite fast. No wonder you are increasing the collection of goods here. A-Cai is collecting goods everywhere for you."

"Yeah, the fermentation speed is slow now, and the output can't keep up, so we have to ferment more in advance to have output next year."

"Mm, I'll have to watch you get rich again."

Ye Yaodong smiled, "I envy you for eating and drinking at home, not having to do anything, it's so cool."

"Bullshit, there's a pile of work at home too. My dad said he'd hand the boat to me after the New Year, and then he'll retire at home and do some farming by the way."

He was surprised, "Your dad is retiring so soon?"

"Hehe, I told him. The old shouldn't be working desperately while the young are always playing. Anyway, I have two sons now, so he should be able to set his mind at ease."

Ye Yaodong suddenly thought that his stepmother was also a few months pregnant. Although it can still be hidden in winter, his father must want to watch over it at home.

That really does need a change.

"That's perfect. My family's boat also needs me to sail it myself. My dad is going to help my eldest and second brothers. When the time comes, you also sail your boat. Our three boats will come and go together and look out for each other. Anyway, the sea is so vast, it's fine if we don't interfere with each other."

"That's what I think too. By the end of next year, the boat I partnered with Xiao Xiao and A-Zheng will be in hand. Then we'll each sail a boat, and the sea will be ours to sail!"

A-Guang spoke with high spirits, and Ye Yaodong was also somewhat stirred.

Who would have thought that in just a few short years, they could achieve sailing a large boat each, leading the whole village.

"Brother Dong, how many boats do you have? Didn't you just sail three boats back today, and there are more next year?" the little brother filling the bags on the side asked curiously while listening to their conversation.

Ye Yaodong nodded with a smile, "Yes, there will be more next year."

A-Guang also said, "Your Brother Dong is incredible, the true 'Boat King Dong'. Counting the large and small boats in his hands, there are over 20. He also has a pile of industries in the city. You guys work hard, follow him, and you definitely won't be worse off in the future, eating well and drinking well."

"Stop bragging. If there's no eating well and drinking well in the future, come find him and make him responsible for you."

"This machine was bought for 10,000 yuan just like that. Everyone knows Brother Dong's strength, which isn't something others can compare to just by bragging."

"Adong is low-key, he doesn't brag about himself. Others haven't earned much money but are already shaking to the sky, dressed like a human, but doing things that aren't human..."

Ye Yaodong shook his head; everyone knew who was being talked about.

It seems that when he wasn't home, there was no lack of rumors and comparisons in the village.

One person took out 5,000 and wanted to partner with him, and then a few days later, he directly bought a 10,000-yuan machine, slapping them in the face with a loud sound.

It's just that the person had already slipped away, otherwise, they probably wouldn't have the face to come out.

However, even if the person isn't there, it can't stop the fellow villagers from continuing to compare and talk.

"Let's go, after seeing it, go home and eat."

"Mm, going out to sea tomorrow?"

"Let's see if the wind is strong. If not, we'll go. My eldest and second brothers' Shunfeng just arrived, they probably can't wait to go tonight."

The two parted ways after walking out of the workshop.

Ye Yaopeng and Ye Yaohua were both sitting at the entrance with rice bowls, chatting with nearby neighbors. When people encounter happy events, they are in high spirits. Since returning, the corners of their mouths haven't dropped. They even eat at the entrance, chatting with everyone, and all they talk about is the boat they sailed back today.

They also chatted about when Zhou Da's boat would be delivered.

Ye Yaodong greeted them and went home to eat first.

Lin Xiuqing waited until it was time to sleep as usual before returning home, and the couple was finally able to talk.

"Are the two boats that just sailed back all planned out?"

"Just do as we said a few days ago, keep one in hand and rent the other out as usual."

"Then you will arrange for Wang Guangliang and the others to collect goods in the city tomorrow?"

"Right, it just so happens there's no sea trip tomorrow. I'll sail the boat and take them to the city tomorrow to collect goods for a day and see. When I go out to sea, I'll let them collect it themselves. Collecting a boatload a day is about enough. At first, the locals won't react in time, so there will definitely be no goods, but there should be more by the second day."

"Then you have to lift the scale onto the boat."

"Mm, I'll buy another one later and put it specifically on the boat. If I go out to sea and leave it to them to collect goods, when the goods are collected, you have to weigh them again and verify."

"I know this. It just feels so busy, suddenly it seems like it became busy all at once. It wasn't busy a while ago."

Ye Yaodong pulled her into his arms, "Normal. A while ago, the machine hadn't arrived, so we didn't do all this. Now aren't we rushing to work? Once we get used to it and hand the work over to others, we won't be that busy."

"I hope so. These past few days, I've been busy from the moment I open my eyes until I close them."

"I told you to hire someone to help you keep accounts, but you wouldn't."

"How can I let others keep our own family's accounts? They'll know how much money we have."

"Are you silly? You just need to hire someone to keep accounts for you every day, record the goods delivered by A-Cai, record the people who come to work every day, and then help with the workshop work by the way. Having someone help you keep accounts saves a lot of trouble, right? It's not like letting others keep the family's money."

"Let me think about it."

"Hand over whatever work you can from your hands, so you don't even have time to eat."

"Then who should I call? Hey, how about A-Guang's sister? The younger one, Dongqing, right?"

"That works too. Anyway, just record the data simply, it's very easy. When there's no accounting to do, let her work in the workshop."

"That's fine, then I'll go tell her tomorrow. Huimei's two little ones can't leave her now, otherwise, it would be better to call Huimei back to help me keep accounts."

"Anyway, it's fine as long as someone keeps accounts, and you save yourself from doing everything. Look, your chin is sharp, let me touch the meat on your stomach, it's almost gone..."

Lin Xiuqing smiled and patted his mischievous hand.

"Isn't it good that the meat on my stomach is gone?"

"It's better to have some meat, it's comfortable to hug, without meat, it's all bones and will hurt people."

"You're talking about yourself."

Ye Yaodong patted her back, "Sleep early, you've been exhausted lately."

She thought he was going to do something, but he didn't do anything. She smiled, rubbed her head into his arms, hugged him, and closed her eyes.

"You sleep too. Are you going to the city tomorrow? Bring the accounts back when you return."

"Mm."

The couple was about to sleep when the little one beside them suddenly sat up.

Both were startled, and seeing her sitting there motionless, they also sat up.

"Why is your daughter..."

Just as he wanted to hold the child and continue coaxing her to sleep, she crawled forward two steps, then lay down, stuck her butt up, and continued to sleep.

"Scared me, I thought she sat up to do something."

"Sleep."

The next morning, the 10 people Ye Yaodong originally recruited all came to work and had already gone to the workshop to move things.

He picked 5 people with sea experience, added Wang Guangliang, and took them to the city in the new boat that was sailed back yesterday.

As for who the other new boat is rented to, he left it to his father to handle.

On the way, he told a few people what they were going to do today, and also said that if he wasn't there in the future, Wang Guangliang would be responsible for collecting goods.

When Wang Guangliang heard his name, he immediately stood straight, his back straight, and the expression on his face became serious, no longer playful.

After Ye Yaodong finished speaking, he leaned over to his side and whispered, "Brother Dong, I don't know how to sail, and I can't tell east, west, south, or north at sea. Does it matter..."

"What are you afraid of? It's fine as long as others know how to sail. You are only responsible for collecting goods, I didn't ask you to sail, there are so many people who know how to sail."

"Alright, I'll learn from the other big brothers later how to sail and identify directions."

"Mm, work hard, be serious and responsible. It's already the end of the month, I'll give you a raise next month. It's just New Year's Day, and it's 1986."

"Definitely, definitely. Then I'll just ask them to teach me how to sail now."

"Go."

Ye Yaodong tightened his collar; the open-top one was too cold. The 'East Rising' is better; sitting in the cockpit isn't cold at all.

Three large boats of the same color were docked together in front, which could be considered a unique landscape in the village.

Seeing the eye-catching 'Shunfeng' passing by, he couldn't help but want to laugh; his brother is also quite good at naming things.