Chapter 1328

Ye Huimei finally believed that he was speaking seriously.

She found it somewhat hard to believe; thousands of yuan, and her third brother just gave it to her like that?

And it wasn't just thousands; there would be a continuous stream of money to be shared later on, and she wouldn't even have to put in any effort.

"Third Brother, I just wanted a small red envelope to be happy, but you gave me such a big one! I'm a bit overwhelmed by this favor..."

"Then should I just give you two yuan?"

Her face fell instantly, "I knew you were just teasing me."

Ye Yaodong smiled and said, "I'm not teasing you; I'm being serious. Since that Harvest ship has already been divided among you, I've earned a bit anyway, and I don't need you to redeem it, so I'm just giving it to you directly. If it were still in Old Pei's hands, I wouldn't be giving it away."

"Third Brother, you've earned more than just 'a bit'! You've made a fortune this year; you bought that ship worth over a hundred thousand yuan so casually, and you can borrow 200,000 just as casually. You even hosted over twenty tables when you got home—so glorious! I knew you were capable; as expected, my brother is a beast, he's got real strength!"

"Stop flattering me. Just don't forget to give me a bite to eat if I ever fall on hard times."

"How is that possible? How could you ever fall on hard times? Even if we fall on hard times, you never would. Thank you, Brother, for looking out for us!" Ye Huimei was overjoyed.

But after her excitement, she still hesitated and said, "Otherwise, why don't you discuss it with Third Sister-in-law again? Don't make her unhappy. We actually have a little bit of family savings, so you don't need to be so generous in giving it to me. After all, it really is a lot of money."

"I told you, I've already discussed it with her. Just take it with peace of mind; she didn't object. I'll give it to you once you've officially separated from the family."

"Haha, then I'll have to keep my thirty percent share safe. Every single cent must be calculated from Aguang; I can't let him off easy."

"Isn't his money all your money? Are you planning to let him keep his own money?"

"That won't do. His is mine, and mine is still mine. I have to keep my own money separately, and use his for spending—he has to support the family."

Ye Yaodong said approvingly, "Exactly! This is for you, so keep it separately. What's yours is yours, and what's his is still yours."

"I didn't expect to get this surprise today. I guess I asked at the right time, huh? Haha."

"Yeah, you asked at the right time. If you hadn't asked me for a red envelope, I wouldn't have mentioned it. It just so happens this can cover the red envelope, saving me dozens of yuan."

Ye Huimei couldn't stop grinning, "Haha, Third Brother is still the best."

"Didn't you just say it? Your Third Brother is the most capable and has the most strength, so you better pray for me to make big money."

"Absolutely, all the ancestors of our family are praying for you."

"Let's not talk about this outside for now. Just keep it to yourself. I only thought of telling you in advance because I saw you asking, and it doesn't hurt. It can also give you more confidence so you don't have to suffer in their house and can stand tall. If they dare to order you around, you can firmly say no."

"Exactly. Three kids are enough to keep me busy. Moving in was originally to take care of my father-in-law, not to enjoy life and be a landlady."

"Mm."

"Then should I tell Aguang later? Let him know?"

"That's fine, as long as you two know about it."

Ye Huimei couldn't wait to tell Aguang about this big event. Seeing the three children playing well here with a group of older kids, she had nothing to worry about. After saying a few words to Ye Yaodong, she immediately ran back home.

Before long, Aguang also ran over.

Ye Yaodong moved the bench he was sitting on to the side, into the corner, to make it easier to talk.

As soon as Aguang ran over, he said, "Dongzi, is what Huimei said true?"

"Mm, sit down and let's talk."

The couple sat, one on his left and one on his right.

"Your gesture is a bit too big. Why don't you call Third Sister-in-law over and ask her? You can't act first and report later on this matter."

"My brother said he already asked Third Sister-in-law."

Ye Yaodong said, "Right, I asked her. No need to call her over specifically to ask again; she's busy at the workshop right now. With such a big matter, how could I not let her know?"

"That's hard to say. Which big thing you've done wasn't decided by you first?"

"Cough, I really did ask about this."

"Since you said you asked, then I'll take it for real?"

"Mm."

"Let me think..."

"What's there to think about? It's free money, you don't want it? Besides, it's not for you, it's for Huimei. Whatever money comes in will be divided for her to keep as her private savings."

"I'm not short on money right now. Let me think about it first. I heard Huimei say it while working in the fields and came right over. I haven't thought it through, let me think first."

Ye Yaodong didn't bother with him and let him think for himself. He turned to Ye Huimei and said, "He's even hesitating when I'm giving him money. I'm the one giving it and I don't feel the pinch, yet he's the one hesitating there."

"It's just too surprising, I wasn't mentally prepared. I also feel it's a bit too much to handle. How about we forget it? We have our own money, and we've been allocated a ship now."

Aguang echoed, "Right, you don't need to give it to us. How about this, I'll just spend money to redeem it back for you, that way it's easier to talk about."

"Am I short those few thousand yuan from you? It was meant for Huimei anyway. If you redeem it back, wouldn't it become yours?"

"Is there a difference? What difference is there between hers and mine?"

"Of course there's a difference. Hers is hers, and yours is still hers. She can keep her own share separately. If you want to redeem it, you can discuss it with Ye Erge and redeem his share back as well."

He didn't expect Ye Erge to give that share directly to Huimei; after all, his Second Sister-in-law wasn't that easy to talk to, and their family had also spent money to buy those shares.

He could be generous himself, but he couldn't demand others to be.

Their economic conditions weren't equal to begin with. Ye Erge's family had only earned some money in the last two years, and that share was worth one or two thousand yuan; how could they just give it away?

Even when marrying off a daughter, they wouldn't give that much money.

You can't pretend to be rich if you can't afford it. If they could discuss redeeming it, that would be fine too.

Outsiders wouldn't say anything. Everyone knew he was rich, and outsiders wouldn't demand the same from both brothers; after all, the whole village knew their economic situations weren't equal.

Just like when he bought gold for his parents, the whole village knew. Could others demand his eldest and second brothers also buy the same for their parents?

Impossible.

At most, they would praise him and praise him to the heavens, but they wouldn't go so far as to belittle his eldest and second brothers.

"If your thirty percent is taken back, and only Ye Erge's and Uncle Zheng's are left, then I will definitely talk to them to see if we can buy them back, even if it's a bit more expensive."

"Mm, think about it after the family separation. It's almost New Year, no rush for this month or so."

"Then let's talk after the New Year. Put those three shares of yours aside for now; we still have to pay some money."

Since it was just talk for now, Ye Yaodong didn't argue and just gave a perfunctory response.

Ye Huimei held his arm and tugged at his clothes, "When are you going to the city? I'll go with you."

"What are you going for? Who can watch those three kids of yours? I'm not helping you hold them."

"I'm not bringing the kids. I'll leave them at home for Aguang and Mom to watch. I'll go stroll around with you by myself."

"That's more like it. Let's go tomorrow. Tomorrow should be good weather with no wind. You asked at a very timely moment."

"I heard those little ones talking about going to the city tomorrow. What time do you plan to go? Midnight or at night?"

"Five in the morning. No need to rush that much. Go to sleep early tonight."

"Alright."

When Ye Yaodong tore off the calendar this morning, he had already arranged the schedule for the next few days.

Go to the city tomorrow, come back and rest for two days, ask Fang Jingfu when to settle the accounts, and then after the Little New Year, go to Wenzhou to pick up goods and distribute dividends, and send a wave of New Year gifts while at it.

After coming back, he could rest for another two days, then go to the city to bring the workers back, close the factory, put things away, arrange for workers to take shifts during the New Year, and then pick up his godparents and take them back to the county town.

Then he could peacefully celebrate the big New Year.

With this arrangement, the time wouldn't be too tight, and it wouldn't be chaotic.

They sat at the doorway and talked until lunchtime before going home separately.

Ye Yaodong walked into the house smelling the fragrance of chives. He snuck a taste of the chive-fried eggs Lin Xiuqing was dishing out and saw Ye Chenghu being unprecedentedly serious, his writing flying across the page, his pen moving non-stop.

"If you always had this drive, would getting into university be a problem?"

When he leaned in to look, was that even writing?

He frowned and tapped the table, "Erase it and rewrite."

Ye Chenghu looked up in shock, "Why?"

"Was the copybook I gave you a waste of practice?"

Ye Yaodong flipped through his workbook. The first few pages were neat and tidy, but the later pages were all wild, cursive script.

This homework was probably to copy the full text of the lesson.

Not to mention missing limbs and broken legs, he probably couldn't even understand it himself.

"It's fine as long as it's finished."

"Your attitude isn't right. Stay home tomorrow to watch the house. If it's not finished before the New Year and the writing is still this sloppy, don't even think about your New Year money. Any money others give you, don't think about keeping it in your piggy bank; it's all confiscated."

Ye Chenghu let out a miserable wail, his whole body slumped on the table, feeling life was meaningless.

"No... Dad..."

"Calling the ancestors won't help."

"Can I not erase it? I'll write neatly from now on."

"No."

"The teacher won't notice, the teacher won't look, at most they'll just flip through the first few pages."

"Trying to be sneaky? Don't eat lunch either, go stand there for me."

"Ah... no..."

Ye Xiaoxi didn't know when she had climbed onto the stool herself. While sneaking a bite, she didn't forget to grab a piece of egg and stuff it into Ye Chenghu's mouth.

"Eat quickly, you're being punished!"

Ye Chenghu was chewing, and also reached out to sneak a bite. Ye Yaodong was quick-eyed and fast-handed, pinning his claw down and hitting it a few times.

"Ye Xiaojiu, you go stand there too."

"Ah?"

Ye Xiaoxi quickly snuck another piece of egg into her mouth, quickly got off the table, and ran outside, "Great-grandma, Great-grandma, time to eat, time to eat..."

Ye Chenghu had a mournful face.

Ye Yaodong kept a straight face, "If you don't erase it, I'll throw your workbook into the stove and burn it, and make you rewrite it from the beginning."

"No, I'll rewrite it."

Lin Xiuqing said, "Finish your homework early, you can play with anything, why do you have to be forced?"

He hung his head, took his workbook, and stood in the corner. He erased it bit by bit in his palm, tears falling in big drops, his heart aching terribly.

This was something he had written with such hard work too...

Ye Xiaoxi brought reinforcements. Feeling she had a backer, she walked in swaggeringly and wanted to get on the table again.

Ye Yaodong reached out and picked her up.

She gripped the table tightly, "Great-grandma, Great-grandma, I'm hungry..."

"You won't starve to death. You go stand there too. You treated my words as wind in your ears, ran away the moment you turned around, and even brought reinforcements? No one can save you."

He put Ye Xiaoxi and Ye Chenghu together, "Both of you, stand honestly."

Ye Chenghu's originally slumped shoulders immediately opened up, and he straightened his back; it was clear he was used to standing.

Ye Xiaoxi didn't dare run around while standing either. She angrily tilted her head and glared at Ye Chenghu, "It's all your fault!"

Ye Chenghu lowered his head and glanced at her, not saying a word.

Ye Xiaoxi continued to repeat, "It's all your fault!"

She kept repeating it, but Ye Chenghu gave no response.

Long experience told him that as long as there was a response, if the two of them started arguing later, a beating was absolutely inevitable.

Now it was just standing punishment. After standing, the old lady would still have food for him to eat.

Seeing everyone sitting at the table eating, Ye Xiaoxi, who had nothing to eat, angrily went to step on Ye Chenghu's feet.

Ye Chenghu couldn't hold back and stepped back without being polite, just not as hard.

Ye Xiaoxi wouldn't be outdone and jumped up to step on him again, bouncing back and forth like a flea.

"Stand properly."

The two instantly returned to their positions.

Ye Xiaoxi angrily shouted, "I'm sleeping with Great-grandma tonight, not with you."

"That's great." Ye Yaodong said this sincerely.

It just so happened he didn't need to bring her tomorrow. A drag, just let her keep Ye Chenghu company and watch the house.

He could also peacefully hold his wife at night and get a good night's sleep.

Ye Chengyang was incomparably honest. With two already being punished, he didn't dare make a sound, only daring to eat silently, pretending to be invisible, and then quickly slipping out after eating.

He couldn't stay in this house for even a moment longer; it was very easy to get caught in the crossfire.

After eating, Ye Yaodong went to the workshop with Lin Xiuqing to get busy, collecting all the dried fish. It just so happened they were going to the city tomorrow, so they could empty the small warehouse here and transport it to the city for storage.

It was cold now, and it got dark early. Acai would send the goods over one after another in the mid-afternoon. It was just right to finish weighing the goods, and it could also allow those old aunties who killed the fish to connect.

They would get off work when it was time to eat, and come to work again the next day. In the cold weather, the fish goods wouldn't go bad.

Now that it was just past lunchtime, after they finished collecting these goods and organized them, they could almost continue weighing what Acai sent.

Pei Dongqing came over just after eating. Seeing the couple turning over the dried fish to collect the goods, she also leaned in to help.

"Brother Dong, aren't you sunbathing anymore?"

"What kind of talk is that, huh? Am I the kind of person who waits for food and doesn't work?"

She was amused, "Hehe, I see you sunbathing at the door every day, at most you stroll around here once and then leave, and continue sunbathing and playing cards at the door. Occasionally you lie on a lounge chair with a newspaper covering your face."

Lin Xiuqing smiled and said, "Look, the eyes of the masses are sharp. Dongqing wasn't wrong at all."

"Where was she not wrong? She was clearly wrong. I'm sunbathing right now too, I haven't sunbathed any less. Work can be done a little less, how comfortable is the winter sun."

Both women were amused by him.

"Stop with your glib tongue."

"Then I'll leave it to you two, I'm going to sunbathe."

"Shouldn't we move the goods inside to the ship first? After all, we're leaving at midnight, and there won't be many workers then, so moving goods will be troublesome. Let's take advantage of having many hands now and move them to the ship first."

"That works too. As long as it's not put on the deck, moving it into the ship's hold and locking it up isn't much of a problem. I'll go arrange for people, you two get busy here."

Ye Yaodong threw away the dried fish. He put his hands to the tip of his nose and smelled them; a thick fishy smell, stinky.

He turned his head and put both hands to Lin Xiuqing's nose for her to smell.

"Mm~ what are you doing?"

Ye Yaodong didn't let her dodge, just stood behind her, circling her head with both hands, "Let you smell it."

"Stinks to death, go away."

Lin Xiuqing hit him twice in disgust before he smiled and called people to move the goods.

Dongqing watched from the side with envy, "Sister-in-law, you two have such a good relationship."

"Hehe, isn't the relationship between your own brother and sister-in-law good?"

"It's good too, it's just that I'm not home all day long, so I see them less, and they aren't like this at home."

"That's because your family has many people and it's complicated. We separated from the family to live alone, so the population is simple. If you're envious, find one yourself early. In the whole village, or even the surrounding villages, boys are yours to pick."

"Hehe..." She smiled, lowered her head to work, and didn't speak.

Seeing her appearance, Lin Xiuqing didn't say anything more. She wasn't her own sister, so whose girl it was, whose worry it was.

Ye Yaodong drove the tractor in and out, bringing a few strong laborers back and forth to move things. In just two hours, he had emptied the small warehouse, and the goods were all loaded into the fish hold of the Dongsheng.

Just going to the city, there was no need to drive the fresh-collecting ship; the Dongsheng was enough.

The whole afternoon, the couple had a pile of work, each busy there.

When it was almost time to eat again, Lin Xiuqing went to cook first, leaving some of the workshop's aftermath and the weighing of goods Acai transported to him and Dongqing.

They were busy until dark before they got all the goods done and washed the ground, only then letting the aunties get off work first and come to work again tomorrow.

He also instructed Pei Dongqing, "We're going to the city at midnight tomorrow, and we won't be back until night. Keep an eye on the workshop matters."

"Anyway, you're used to it. We collected what should be collected today. Tomorrow, besides weighing, there shouldn't be much to do. If you need to call people for help, call them."

Pei Dongqing nodded with a smile, "I know, I'll watch the workshop well and guard the rear for you."

Ye Yaodong also smiled, walking and saying, "Mm, work hard. After a few days of resting for the New Year, I'll give you a big red envelope."

"Alright."

"It's getting dark, hurry home to eat."

"Alright."

After Ye Yaodong finished speaking, he didn't look at her, teasing the dog at his feet and walking home.

Pei Dongqing also quickened her pace and walked into the village.

At this time, every household in the village was rising with cooking smoke, and the fragrance of various seafood was drifting everywhere.

As soon as Ye Yaodong entered the house, he smelled the fragrant food and took a deep sniff, "So fragrant, I'm starving to death."

"Wash your hands and eat."

"Mm."

When he passed by Ye Xiaoxi, he put both hands on her face and rubbed them, making her strongly protest before he went to wash them.

"Hate you!"

"Don't sleep with me tonight, remember! Keep your word."

"Hmph!"

Ye Yaodong's hands were wet, and he flicked water droplets at her face several times. She dodged left and right, angrily shouting.

"Stop teasing her."

"Do you want to sleep with me?"

She shouted, "No way!"

Ye Yaodong was satisfied, sat down, took his chopsticks, and stopped teasing her.

Ye Chenghu asked cautiously, "Dad, what time are you going tomorrow?"

"None of your business."

"I won't sleep tonight."

"That's fine, just sit and wait."

"I definitely won't sleep."

Ye Chengyang ate silently, looking exceptionally honest, but was betrayed by a pair of rolling eyeballs. He looked here and there.

As long as he didn't make a sound and didn't do anything wrong, his dad would definitely bring him.

Ye Chenghu was just counting on the fact that as long as he was awake and hadn't slept, since everyone was going, they definitely wouldn't not bring him.

So when he went to bed at night, he really sat directly against the wall, hugging his quilt and sitting on the bed, without even taking off his clothes.

Seeing that he hadn't taken off his clothes, Ye Chengyang thought about it and only took off his cotton-padded jacket.

"Yangyang..."

"Ah?"

"When you're leaving, remember to call me, I'm afraid I'll fall asleep."

"But I'll fall asleep."

"I'll give you a dime, don't sleep either. What if Dad leaves and doesn't bring you?"

Ye Chengyang thought it made sense, so he wouldn't sleep either. Anyway, his brother was giving him money.

"Alright."

The two brothers sat there shoulder to shoulder against the wall. They could still chat a few sentences after turning off the lights, but after their eyelids got heavy, they could only resist with all their might and couldn't bother to talk.

Both were holding on, rubbing their eyes from time to time, and pushing each other, calling each other's names.

Later, after someone was pushed over, they couldn't get up after lying on the soft quilt. Willingly, they told themselves not to sleep, but their eyes were already closed, thinking in their hearts they would just nap for a while, just nap for a while...

When Ye Yaodong came up to call Yangyang at the time, he saw the two brothers lying on the quilt sleeping, and they hadn't even taken off their clothes.

Yangyang at least took off an outer jacket, but Ye Chenghu was fully dressed.

He covered Ye Chenghu with the quilt, picked up Yangyang's cotton jacket and draped it over him, then picked him up and walked downstairs.

"Still sleeping? Then let him sleep, don't bring him."

"You have to do what you promised, otherwise how disappointed will he be? These two kids didn't even take off their clothes and were lying on the quilt."

And Yangyang had been quite well-behaved these past few days, very honest, so there was no reason not to bring him. The other two could forget it.

He carried the child back to his room and woke him up.

"Dad? Are we leaving?"

"Mm, put on your clothes, tie your scarf, and wear your gloves. It's cold in the early morning, and the sea breeze on the ship is strong."

"Brother asked me to call him..."

"Then you stay home and keep him company?"

He shook his head, quickly put on his clothes, and after being picked up by Ye Yaodong, his heart leaped, and he hugged his neck tightly.

His dad hadn't held him for a long time...

The old lady had already steamed a pot of sweet potatoes, wrapped them one by one in newspaper for them, and put them in a basket with eggs for them to eat on the road.

When they drove the ship, it wasn't like driving a tractor where they could pass through the urban area and buy food. The hot sweet potatoes, held in the palm of their hands, were warm and tasted sweet and fragrant.

The two families next door and Ye Huimei were already waiting there. Seeing that they only held one Ye Chengyang, Ye Huimei asked with concern.

Ye Yaodong explained, "Not bringing the other two. One is not honest, one is too small, bringing them is troublesome. It's not even dawn yet, let them sleep. There will be plenty of opportunities to bring them later."

"Then let's go."

Ye Huimei still wanted to say, "So many went, leaving Chenghu alone at home... he'll be furious when he wakes up..."

"Children can't be spoiled. He's been too smug lately, leading other children in everything, a bit jumpy, need to suppress his arrogance."

"Oh," Ye Huimei smiled, "Yangyang looks well-behaved."

Ye Chengyang was wrapped in a scarf with only a pair of eyes exposed. He smiled, bent his eyes, and nodded, "Little Aunt."

Ye Chengjiang said, "When we come back, I'm going to display everything I bought for Chenghu to see."

"Hehe, then he'll be furious and stamping his feet." Ye Chenghe was extremely excited.

"Ah!" Ye Chengyang exclaimed, "I didn't take my piggy bank..."

He struggled, wanting to get down and run home to get the piggy bank.

"No need, Dad will buy it for you. Next time you get a good grade, I'll buy you whatever you want."

"Alright, next time I'll get a 100." Ye Chengyang happily hugged Ye Yaodong's neck again and stayed on him obediently.

Ye Huimei said again, "Sneaking away in the middle of the night and buying a pile of things back, Chenghu is really going to cry. Why don't you bring him along?"

"Just let him cry, let him be more honest. After the New Year, he'll be 10 years old, he needs to be a bit more sensible."

Lin Xiuqing smiled, "Don't worry about him. Have you thought about what to buy?"

"Thought about it, must-buys, I've written them down with paper and pen to avoid forgetting. Anything else I see, I'll buy..."

"Oh my, if I had known, I would have written it down with paper and pen too..."

The three sisters-in-law gathered with Ye Huimei, laughing and talking, having endless things to say.

The children were also jumping around, extremely excited. None of them had been to the city; how could they have the good fortune of Ye Chenghu and Ye Chengyang?

Their pockets were all jingling, it seemed they had brought all their belongings.

Seeing so many children, Ye Yaodong couldn't help but instruct them a few more times.

"It's almost the end of the year, there must be many people everywhere, especially the market or the department store, it must be crowded. With so many of us, we will definitely get separated. You must watch the children well."

"We will, they aren't small anymore, we'll hold them well."

Ye Huimei said, "I'll help watch too. Third Brother is only bringing one, hanging on his body is fine."

Ye Yaodong rubbed Ye Chengyang's head, "Mm."

Ye Chengyang felt today was really too happy. His dad was so good to him, he was so big, yet he still held him on his body and rubbed his head.

His eyes were bubbling, and he lay obediently on his shoulder.

Thinking in his heart, it must be because he was better behaved than his brother and got better grades than his brother.

After Ye Yaodong took them onto the ship, he let them go to the cabin to rest.

Ye Chengyang... he hesitated, but still brought him into the cockpit. The cabin was a bit crowded, and it was a chance for him to broaden his horizons.

After all, he was a boy. Contacting a bit more from a young age wasn't bad. Contact from childhood could also leave a deep impression on him when he grew up.

"Behave, don't touch randomly, Dad will teach you how to steer the ship."

Ye Chengyang's eyes were as bright as the morning star in the sky, "Alright, Dad, you're too good..."

"Mm."

"Dad, next time I'll definitely get a 100 and bring it back for you."

Ye Yaodong turned his head to look at his eyes full of admiration, smiled, and rubbed his head again.

"You getting a 100 isn't for me, it's for yourself, it's the reward for your hard work. When you get a 100 in both Chinese and Math next time, I'll reward you with a Transformer."

He said loudly, "I definitely will!"