Chapter 1276

"My mother told you to answer the phone..."

Ye Yaodong pressed down on his father to keep him from dodging.

The storm on the other end of the phone did not cease.

"You old immortal, it's not your money you're earning, so you don't feel the pinch! What bad thing are you instigating him to do? Instigating him to buy such an expensive boat! What kind of boat can't be bought? It has to be 100,000 yuan..."

"100,000 yuan could buy dozens of my lives! A fishing boat at home only costs a few thousand, and the big ones are only twenty or thirty thousand. 100,000 yuan could buy an entire fleet! Have you gone senile?"

"How many tens of thousands are in debt? Oh my, my head hurts. The family fortune is going to be lost because of you... At your age, you old immortal, being such a spendthrift..."

"It's one thing for the little one to be a spendthrift, but you are just as unreliable, actually watching him rack up tens of thousands in debt. How is this going to be paid back?"

"Going out for one trip and coming back with tens of thousands in debt, it'll be the laughingstock of everyone if word gets out..."

Ye Fu struggled for a while, but couldn't break free. Even angrier, he cursed loudly: "What are you nagging about? Long hair and short insight, you don't know anything, just standing there talking nonsense. What are you saying? What do you know?"

"You don't know anything, yet you just stand there talking. Shut your mouth! That boat was worth buying; if you miss this village, you won't find this shop."

Ye Yaodong held the phone in his hand, expressionless, watching the counter clerk look at them with disdain. Fortunately, they were speaking in dialect, and the people here couldn't understand.

Ye Fu and Ye Mu had a shouting match over the phone.

Ye Yaodong felt that both sides had cursed enough and that they were likely both bruised and battered, so he took the phone back to explain.

"You don't understand. That boat is over 40 meters long and made entirely of steel. It's not like the iron-clad wooden planks we have at home. The facilities and instruments on board are all imported from abroad; they don't have them domestically. It's very expensive. When we cast the net, we'll pull up tens of thousands of jin at a time. It's incomparable, and we'll recoup the cost very quickly."

"And another thing, it's not that I haven't earned money and am just in debt. Debt is debt, but at most, I'll pay it off after working next month. Didn't I send back tens of thousands intermittently last month?"

"Calculate it, where is there any debt? This was all bought with money earned. If you want to buy it later, you won't be able to. If you miss this village, you won't find this shop. If you want to buy one, it will probably take a few years for domestic production to have the same configuration."

"If you don't understand, don't worry about it blindly. Anyway, it didn't cost your money. Give the phone to Aqing."

Ye Mu was unwilling to be refuted like this, and after cursing a few more times, she finally gave the phone to Lin Xiuqing.

Before Lin Xiuqing could even speak, Ye Xiaoxi shouted, "Daddy, you bought a new boat again! You are the most majestic daddy."

Ye Yaodong, who had been furrowing his brows, instantly beamed with joy.

"You're there too."

"Yes, yes, Daddy, I saw the photos! So many boats, so majestic! Daddy, you are too amazing."

"You saw the photos? Did the photos arrive?"

"So many photos, and big turtles, and big fish, and so many boats, like ants! The photos are all boats, and they are all ours."

As soon as Ye Yaodong heard this, he knew the child had misunderstood.

He had thought she was talking about the sailing photos they took on the way from Wenzhou to Zhoushan.

It turned out not to be that; she was talking about the photos of the dense, packed fishing boats at the pier.

"They aren't all ours..."

"They are ours! My daddy is the most majestic and amazing, he will earn lots and lots of money..."

Lin Xiuqing said with a smile: "She was overjoyed when she saw the photos you had someone mail back. She kept jumping and shouting about the many boats, the big fish, and the big turtles."

"When did you get the photos?"

"They arrived just this afternoon, so she hadn't finished being excited when she heard there was a phone call and immediately ran over to shout."

"They were sent to the city yesterday?"

"Yes, Aliang said the boss who collects kelp received them at the factory yesterday. Since there was a tractor going to the city today, they brought them back."

"It's good that you got them..."

Ye Yaodong briefly explained his entanglement with Zhang Rengu to her. Previous phone calls had only been simple reports of safety, without detailing every single thing.

He also took the opportunity to explain again why he bought the fishing boat, promising her that it would only make money and not lose any, and that he would be able to earn a sum to bring back by the end of the year.

Although Lin Xiuqing had a mind to say something, Ye Mu had just scolded him severely, and she didn't find it appropriate to scold him again over the phone, especially since it was already bought.

It couldn't be returned even if she scolded him, so she could only accept it for now and see when he returned.

"Then do you have enough money? Do you need me to remit more money to you from here?"

"No need for that. I'm using Aguang's money; he's eager for me to use it all. If I don't have money on hand, I don't need to hide it everywhere. I still have a few thousand yuan on hand, which is enough. I can go out to sea again after the typhoon passes, and at most, I can pay him back in a month. Anyway, he has nowhere to spend money."

"It's almost October. After October, there probably won't be any more typhoons."

"We'll see, hopefully."

The old lady on the side couldn't wait to speak up: "Is it done? Is it done talking? Is it my turn? Dongzi..."

Lin Xiuqing had no choice but to pass the phone to the old lady.

"Dongzi, it's already the Autumn Equinox, and the weather is turning cool. You didn't bring any thick clothes with you. Remember to buy a few sets of thick clothes; don't catch a cold."

"Sigh, I told you all to come back first, but not one of you listened. It's getting cold now, and you left with just a straw mat, without bringing clothes or quilts. Buying them now will cost a large sum of money..."

"You are so spendthrift again. What kind of boat costs 100,000 yuan? My heart is trembling..."

Ye Yaodong said: "No need for your heart to tremble. I asked Goddess Mazu, and Mazu said it was okay to buy it?"

"Really? Mazu said it was okay to buy? Don't try to fool me."

"I'm not fooling you. We all prayed to Mazu and asked for Mazu's blessing. That boat was sent to us by Mazu."

"Ah? You're fooling me again."

"I'm not fooling you. Daddy even asked me if I wanted to buy a small car. Fortunately, I was smart and bought a boat. What's the use of a small car?"

"Your daddy is an old fool. Why buy a small car? There are so many vehicles at home—bicycles, motorcycles, tractors. What vehicle don't we have? Why would you need that small car?"

"You bought the right thing. You should buy a boat, not a small car. Don't listen to your daddy; he's old and not as smart or decisive as you."

"He doesn't know anything. A small car, just that coffin-box size, what's the use of it? It's much better to buy a big boat..."

Just as the old lady finished speaking, Ye Mu also said on the other end: "He still wants to buy a small car? He really knows how to dream. Why doesn't he buy an airplane and go to the sky?"

"Buying a boat is at least useful for going out to sea to catch fish and earn big money. If you buy a car, can you even drive it?"

"He just likes to show off. A small car, indeed. I'll buy you an airplane one of these days..."

Ye Fu was so angry his nose was almost crooked: "When did I tell you to buy a small car? Nonsense! You push everything onto me all day long..."

"Daddy, just tell me, did you ask me at the time if I wanted to buy a small car?"

"I just asked like that..."

"Then I wasn't wrong. You did ask..."

The father and son argued here, while the other end of the phone was also cursing. Each said their own piece, and it was quite harmonious.

Ye Fu sighed deeply in anger. He had no human rights left; he was the one taking the blame for everything.

After hanging up the phone, Ye Yaodong put his arm around his father's shoulder to explain.

"If I hadn't brought up the small car just now, my mother would have nagged endlessly. Look, isn't it fine now?"

"Once a small car was brought up, they felt that buying a boat was still more cost-effective and worth it, so they weren't as resistant. Didn't they stop saying anything afterward?"

Ye Fu glanced at him sideways: "If you hadn't insisted on sticking the phone to my ear and making me listen to your mother curse, I would have almost believed your nonsense."

"Hehe... hehe..."

"Go away."

"It wasn't because I saw the three of them taking turns wanting to talk, so I brought up the small car so they wouldn't curse anymore."

"Wouldn't curse anymore? They wouldn't curse you, but they cursed me instead."

"Hehe..."

Ye Fu glared at him: "Sooner or later, I'll be angered to an early grave by you all."

"No, you won't. Aren't you still waiting to captain that cargo ship?"

"Oh, so you think I'm short-lived and will kick the bucket before the ship is refitted."

"No, that's not it..."

Ye Yaodong felt it was a bit hard to coax him back; his father had already walked away, huffing and puffing.

"Sigh, it's really hard to handle. It's really hard to be a son; it's better to be a grandson."

He walked slowly behind.

"Comrade Ye Yaodong!"

Ye Yaodong heard someone calling him and turned his head to look.

A white shirt, tight pants, small leather shoes, a red headband on her head, exaggerated large red earrings, and curly hair—a beautiful woman with bright eyes and white teeth stopped her bicycle in front of him.

Isn't this the girl who was trying to get close to him while drinking a few nights ago? Was her name Shen Ming'e?

"Hey? What a coincidence!"

"It looks like there's going to be a typhoon. Have all your big boats stopped going out to sea?"

"That's right."

"Then do you want to come out and play tonight?"

"No, it's too chaotic here at night and not safe. You should also be careful when you go out as a girl."

"I always go out with my brothers, so what's there to be afraid of? Otherwise, let's go ice skating? It's just past mealtime, we can play for the whole afternoon."

"I don't know how; I'm already old and stiff..."

"Hahaha, how old are you? Still old and stiff."

"I'll be 30 after the New Year. Compared to you who are only 20, aren't I old and stiff?"

Shen Ming'e was surprised: "You're 30? Really? You look the same age as us."

"In a few years, my son will be as old as you."

"Son!!"

"That's right, my son is almost 10 years old."

She looked disappointed: "You already have a son."

"I have two sons and one daughter."

"Alright then, I'll go find my friends to play."

Ye Yaodong watched her wave her hand and ride away on her bicycle. He also felt a sense of regret. He heard that her family background was quite good, her family ran a shipyard, and she had returned from studying in Nanyang, but he didn't know which factory.

The opportunity to be a kept man was missed.

He shook his head and continued walking home. If it wasn't his, he shouldn't let his imagination run wild.

His elders were still alive, his parents were healthy, his wife was virtuous, and his children were lively. He already had the greatest happiness.

He also had boats, a factory, and money; he was already a big winner.

Leave some other blessings for others.

It was just that when he strolled to the shipyard, he didn't expect to see this young lady again.

She was rushing into the factory director's office, acting spoiled and throwing a tantrum. He vaguely heard that her bicycle had been stolen.

The soothing voice of a middle-aged man also came from inside.

Before long, Shen Ming'e came out with a smile on her face again.

Ye Yaodong didn't expect that her family didn't run the shipyard, but rather that her father was the factory director.

He thought for a moment and stepped forward to greet her.

"Comrade Shen Ming'e."

"Hey? Why are you here?"

"My boat was sent here for refitting. Since it's typhoon weather and I'm idle, I came here to take a look."

"Oh, which one is your boat? Before, that vulgar person said you had dozens of big boats. Can you point them out to me to see if it's true or false? I felt he was bragging. How old are you? It's impossible for a 30-year-old to have dozens of big boats."

"Hehe... I'll take you to take a look..."

His boat was still waiting in line on the shore. It wouldn't be its turn so quickly. They said that the equipment and machinery for such a large boat had to be ordered, so he had to wait for a month first.

He was also worried that his boat would just be parked here, and he was afraid that if it wasn't managed, let alone refitted, the instruments in the cockpit might be emptied out.

Therefore, even if work hadn't started yet, he had to come and take a look when he had time, check it, and ask about the progress and when work could start.

As for him having dozens of big boats? That wasn't what he said. He did have dozens, but he couldn't guarantee they were all big boats.

He didn't have the leisure to point them out to her one by one.

"Wow, is this boat yours? So big!"

"I just got it, so I sent it here for refitting. It's just that it's not its turn yet. The factory seems very busy, and they said the equipment has to be ordered and won't arrive so quickly. I have a bit of a headache; I don't know if it can be done before the New Year."

"I'll tell my dad to let you cut in line! Let them put some heart into it."

"Alright, thank you very much."

"We're all friends, what's cutting in line? You are really amazing. It turns out what that vulgar person said was true. This boat must be over 40 meters long, right? My god, it's really amazing. This must cost more than ten thousand, right?"

"About that."

Shen Ming'e looked at him with stars in her eyes: "Is it yours alone?"

"Yes, it's mine alone."

She admired him even more: "You are too amazing, aren't you? Don't tell me you have dozens of boats like this?"

"How is that possible? Even the fishery company doesn't have dozens. What am I? That vulgar person was just bragging. My other boats are all 20 or 30 meters long; this is the biggest one I just bought."

"That's also very amazing, too awesome. Just this one costs more than ten thousand, and you are only 30. My dad is 50 and not as amazing as you."

"No, that's not it..."

"Since you have so many boats, you could register a fishery company."

Ye Yaodong shook his head: "Although individuals are encouraged now, registering a company isn't quite possible yet, right?"

"Who said that! We can do it here. In the past two years, there have been several shipyards. The government encourages individual economy, and the streets are full of shops."

"A shipyard is a shipyard, and a shop is a shop. Registering a proper company shouldn't be possible, right? It's not allowed to be too big now, right? Don't the local fishery companies all belong to the state? There aren't any private ones yet, right?"

Shen Ming'e was also a bit confused by his question: "That probably depends on the locality. If you have a background, it should be fine. There are all kinds of seafood processing plants everywhere here. At most, it's just a matter of certificates and filing."

"We'll see. Anyway, I'm not in a hurry. The policy will always be relaxed."

"Can we go up and take a look?" Shen Ming'e pointed her index finger at the fishing boat.

"Sure, let's go up and take a look."

Ye Yaodong helped her up and led her to tour the fishing boat, introducing the various structures. He also led her to take a look at the cockpit, which made her exclaim repeatedly, saying he was too amazing.

After getting off the boat, she directly pulled him to see the factory director, wanting to take him through the back door.

Factory Director Shen had an impression of him. After all, a handsome young man drove a big boat over and said he wanted to refit it into a trawler. Who wouldn't have an impression of that?

Which boat captain wasn't middle-aged or elderly? Even if there were young ones, they weren't driving such a big boat.

Ye Yaodong's age and appearance were beyond his expectations, so when Shen Ming'e led him to his front, he recognized this young man.

"Dad~ help him, let him cut in line early, and get it done for him sooner, okay? He's my friend, you have to help him, you must help him."

"When did you meet such a capable outsider friend?"

Shen Ming'e raised her head proudly, hugging his arm: "Of course, my friends are all over the world, and they are all capable."

"I thought all your friends were bad company."

"No way, it's just that everyone likes to play. How are they bad company? They are all very loyal when something happens, okay?"

"Fine, fine, fine. I'll have someone keep an eye on the progress and see if there is any equipment that can be diverted first, and start work for him here. But it definitely won't be that fast. His boat is big, and refitting is a big project. Some spare parts and machines aren't ready-made, which is troublesome. It will definitely take a few months."

Ye Yaodong hurriedly said: "It doesn't matter. If you can start, start. If it can't be early, I'll just have to wait."

"Then Dad, you have someone keep an eye on it and put some heart into it."

"You care so much about other people's business, but you don't care about your own. You only know how to play all day. Go to work next week, I'll get it done for you."

Shen Ming'e pouted: "Got it."

Ye Yaodong also thanked Factory Director Shen with a smile, and then said to Shen Ming'e: "You are still the amazing one, helping me cut in line successfully."

"What's this? It's just a matter of a word." After she finished speaking, she pushed her father back to the office: "Alright, you can go now, go do your work."

"Discarded after use, you child..."

"No, you come out, go call someone to arrange it first, and then go back and sit down after arranging it."

"You're ordering me around? Why don't you come and arrange it? You run this factory? A bunch of work inside hasn't been finished yet, and you dragged me out."

"Really, then I'll come? I'll go in and do it for you, don't regret it."

Factory Director Shen shook his head helplessly and could only go to arrange it first.

Shen Ming'e pulled Ye Yaodong to follow, watching her father arrange it. After it was arranged, she was satisfied and drove her father back to the office, while she pulled Ye Yaodong to tour the shipyard.

Since someone had done him a big favor, Ye Yaodong couldn't just leave, so he followed along to tour and chatted by the way.

"What kind of work are you going to?"

"Going to work at a state-owned bank. They specially arranged an idle position for me so I wouldn't run around everywhere."

"Amazing."

Shen Ming'e was unhappy: "What's amazing? My brother can run around everywhere with that vulgar person and the others, it's so fun, but they won't let me follow."

"What's fun about running around everywhere? It's very dangerous. Don't you feel that it's very dangerous here? It's the same outside. Domestic public security is not good at all; there are many highwaymen and robberies. Outside, everyone is hanging their heads on their belts; don't even think about going out without some hot weapons."

"Isn't it chaotic because this is a port?"

"Inland areas that aren't ports are just as chaotic, and even more backward. Port areas are considered developed. The hardship of running around outside is even more dangerous than you can imagine."

"Alright, my brother has always said that too."

"Your brother is doing it for your own good."

"Hmm, you have nothing to do on a typhoon day, shall I teach you how to skate? That damn thing in front, we just went to queue to buy a ticket, and when we turned around, the bicycle was gone. It pissed me off, my mood is gone."

"If the old doesn't go, the new won't come. You're going to work at the bank soon, why not change to a new bicycle? Otherwise, how can it match you?"

Shen Ming'e's depression immediately dissipated and cleared up. She smiled and said: "Right, what you said is right. If the old doesn't go, the new won't come. My dad just gave me money, will you go buy one with me?"

"It's already 3 o'clock, by the time we go to the department store, they'll be off work."

"Then let's go together tomorrow? You're idle anyway."

"I don't think I can. You go find your little sisters, you girls have good taste. I'm already an old man, my aesthetic can't keep up with you young girls."

"How can that be? You don't look much older than me."

"Actually, I'm 10 years older. My son is already 10 years old, and my heart is old too."

Shen Ming'e looked disappointed when she heard him say that again: "Forget it, then I'll go first, see you next time."

"Alright, see you next time, thank you."

"You're welcome."

After Ye Yaodong sent this girl away, he breathed a sigh of relief. He was just afraid that she would take a fancy to him.

No way, who told him to be so handsome, capable, wealthy, and handsome? Being older meant he was mature and knew how to cherish people; it was simply too attractive!

He walked slowly by himself, touched his chin, and sighed: "Sigh, the troubles of being handsome."

If he looked weathered, they definitely wouldn't be so enthusiastic about him.

But at least his boat was put on the agenda. Although the construction period might not be advanced, being able to make people put some heart into it and start work early, at least he could see the progress.

Otherwise, like before, parked on the shore waiting in line, he didn't even know when it would be put on the agenda. When he handed it over, he didn't even dare to think it could be completed before the New Year.

But there was no way, and there was no other factory he could trust.

If he drove it home, he probably would have to go to the city or even the province to have a way to refit it, and he didn't know how long he would have to wait.

Now at least there is hope. He can only pray that it can be refitted before the New Year, so he can drive it back majestically, so he doesn't have to run another trip to drive the boat.

Ye Yaodong strolled home all the way, and it was almost time for dinner.

Ye Fu was sitting at the door, watching him return with his hands in his pockets leisurely, and asked: "Why are you only here now? I thought you were missing."

"It's because you walked too fast. Didn't we agree to go to the shipyard? As a result, you ran back by yourself."

"Wasn't it because I was angered by you?"

"I just said a few words casually. Aren't you being scolded anyway? Before I mentioned the small car, hadn't you already been scolded once?"

Ye Fu took off his liberation shoes and threw them directly at him.

"You did it on purpose. You didn't have to say anything, but you still mentioned it on purpose."

"This way it's easier to accept. You should scold whichever little rabbit cub called home to tell them. When we called home during the Mid-Autumn Festival, they didn't know yet."

"Give me my shoes."

"Pick up what you threw yourself."