Chapter 1377: Ribbon-Cutting and Commencement

Ye Xiaoxi had originally been cupping her face with both hands, ready to pose, but she instantly regretted it; she shouldn't have helped her father hold the camera.

She stomped her foot heavily, angry.

Ye Yaodong looked at her puffed-up face, which looked just like a pufferfish, and pinched it with a smile. Seeing her get angry from embarrassment and ready to hit someone, he hurriedly coaxed her.

"Alright, for the sake of you being so diligent, I'll reluctantly take one for you."

She immediately revealed a smiling face again.

Children are just that innocent, easy to coax, and easy to fool; the expressions on their faces change from rain to shine in an instant.

"Make it look good!"

"Fine, you are the most beautiful little village girl in the whole village."

"Right, I am the most beautiful little village girl."

"Open your mouth, come on, smile, say cheese."

"No, don't open your mouth."

"If you don't open your mouth, you won't be beautiful, and you won't be the most beautiful little village girl anymore."

Ye Xiaoxi pursed her lips tightly, smiling, and just wouldn't open her mouth.

Her father talked about her missing tooth every day, so she definitely wouldn't open her mouth.

Ye Yaodong saw that she wasn't cooperating for a long time, so he picked her up and put her on the motorcycle.

Lin Xiuqing had tidied herself up and had rarely worn the little dress Ye Yaodong bought her two years ago. Her long hair was also tied into a long braid, looking exceptionally fresh and pure.

Waiting outside and seeing the father and daughter still dawdling there, she urged, "What are you still playing with her for? Let's go. Such a big event, and you didn't even say to go early, still playing with her here."

"Aren't you not ready yet? I'm waiting for you while I'm at it."

"Are you ready yet?"

"Right away. Ye Xiaojiu, look here, is your mother beautiful?"

Ye Xiaoxi wasn't amused, but Lin Xiuqing laughed instead.

"What are you doing?"

"Is Ye Xiaojiu beautiful?"

Ye Xiaoxi shouted happily: "Beautiful."

"Oh, okay, that's it."

"Let me see, let me see..." She grabbed the vehicle tightly, her two feet swinging.

"I'll let you see when you grow up."

Ye Yaodong adjusted the camera, turned it off, hung it around his neck, and then pushed the vehicle and walked out.

Lin Xiuqing also followed behind. When it was time to get on the vehicle, she lifted her skirt hem and hesitated a bit, "I'd better sit in the sidecar..."

"Mother, where are you going?"

"Mother..."

Ye Chenghu and Ye Chengyang, the two brothers, had sharp eyes. Seeing that their mother was dressed a bit differently today, they felt something was a bit off. They immediately rushed to her side, each grabbing one of her hands.

"Mother, are you going on a long trip too? You can't go!"

"Mother, you are so pretty, where are you going with Father?"

"I'll be back in a while..." Lin Xiuqing was held tightly by her two sons and felt a bit helpless.

"Can't you let Father go by himself?"

"Mother, why do you have to go out?"

"I'll be back very soon, just going to town for a bit."

"Then why do you have to wear a dress? I want to go too."

"I want to go too."

Ye Yaodong looked at his two bodyguard-like sons, who only surrounded their own mother and ignored their own father; he didn't know whether to be angry or gratified.

Like two little tag-alongs, they watched their mother every day, guarding her like bodyguards. It actually made people feel quite at ease; he could rest assured that his wife wouldn't get lost when going out.

Lin Xiuqing patiently explained to them, but the two just wouldn't listen and insisted on following.

"If you don't go, we won't go; if you go, we have to go too!"

Ye Chengyang echoed, "Brother is right!"

Ye Yaodong patted Ye Chenghu on the back of the head, "Alright, you can all go, you can all go."

"Yay~"

Both brothers were happy and hurriedly climbed onto the motorcycle.

Lin Xiuqing checked their clothes. They had just put them on in the morning, and there was a little dust above the knees, which could be patted off. They hadn't had time to get dirty yet, and there were no patches, so they could be worn out.

She let the two brothers sit behind Ye Yaodong and hold him tight.

Both were very happy; they usually could only sit in the sidecar to get a thrill.

And she, wearing a dress, took Ye Xiaoxi and sat in the sidecar.

Ye Xiaoxi hugged her arm, "Mother, you are so pretty."

"Mm, then I won't kick you off the vehicle."

She happily kissed Lin Xiuqing's face.

Ye Yaodong rode the motorcycle to the workshop first to call his parents. His parents were also going together, but they were going by bicycle.

Not just his parents, but also his older brother, second brother, his friends, and even two village cadres were there. After all, he now had a very good relationship with the Village Committee and had donated a large sum of money, so people were already waiting there.

However, they were all riding bicycles.

The whole family was extremely happy today. It was a good day to begin with, and plus the few children cheering and jumping along the way, it made the couple's mood even better.

Ye Yaodong rode for about 10 minutes and arrived at the place first. The two boys were still feeling unfulfilled.

"We're here?"

"We're here already? Why so fast?"

"Mother, why did you come here? What is this place for!"

"There are so many bicycles at the entrance..."

"I told you I'd be back in a while, but you insisted on following. I'm here to see your father's glory."

Lin Xiuqing carried them down one by one.

Ye Yaodong said with a smile: "This is a factory your father opened in partnership with others. It can be considered half ours. It just so happens I'll take you to have a look."

"Wow~ half of this place is ours? Really? Father, you are so amazing?"

"Father, you are too amazing! Father, are you a boss now too?"

"My father is the best!" Ye Xiaoxi also clapped her hands happily.

Ye Yaodong looked at the three children's bright eyes, and the exclamations and admiration in their words, and felt very satisfied in his heart.

It wasn't in vain to bring them out!

"Let's go, I'll take you inside to see."

"Wow, Father, the house here is so big! And there are so many couplets."

Ye Chengyang added: "It's even bigger than our house in the city."

"And it's much higher..."

"Father, why is there red cloth hanging everywhere, and why is there a red carpet over there..."

As they were talking, the three of them had already rushed directly toward the red carpet one after another. There were already a few children running and jumping on the red carpet over there.

Ye Yaodong didn't bother with them and let them play. At this time, there were people coming and going in the factory, quite a few people. Some were new workers recruited by the factory, and some were nearby villagers who came to watch the excitement.

The guard room was also piled with various fireworks and firecrackers, all sent by relatives and friends one after another over the past two days. The guard had specially recorded them, noting who the friend was and what their name was, and the notebook was full.

Lin Xiuqing looked around with novelty. It wasn't her first time here, but today everything was red, looking exceptionally festive.

"Quite a lot of people, huh?"

"They are all workers and people from nearby who came to watch the excitement. There is a row of worker dormitories in the back, and people have already moved in. We're just waiting to finish the ribbon-cutting today and start work immediately."

"Sure enough, a lot of money was spent. These factory buildings look quite imposing; our family really can't compare."

"For sure, how can those two small workshops at home compare? Otherwise, wouldn't this money have been spent in vain?"

"Although the area in the city is large, it's all open space, and it's all left empty to pile up large water vats. The houses are just a row of low bungalows, looking empty. It really isn't as imposing as this two-story building."

"Mm, when there is a chance, I'll take you to Zhoushi to have a look. By then, the two-story building there will be the same as this one when it's finished."

"Don't talk so fast, we'll talk about it later."

"I'm just painting a big picture first, we'll talk after we're full."

"Aren't you going to find someone to chat with? It's not time yet."

"I have to. You watch those three children. Father and the others should be here soon."

"Okay."

Ye Yaodong walked around with his head held high and chest out. First, he went to look at the couplets hanging down from the second floor, where there were the most people.

Although they couldn't compare to the couplets that were tens of meters long in the future, they were still three or four meters long, which was worth a photo.

After taking the photo, he looked around and really found the one gifted by the Bai Sha Village Committee, as well as those from a few of his friends and relatives. Most of his relatives had rented his boats, so they didn't come out to sea, but the fireworks and couplets had to be delivered.

Of course, his connections couldn't compare to the second generation's connections; others had more sent by relatives and friends.

Red and prosperous, it looked very popular.

Before long, he also found Hong Wenle. The two gathered together, chatting while walking, watching the excitement while waiting for the time.

The ribbon-cutting was scheduled for 9 o'clock, the Si hour. It was only about 8:30 now.

The two also kept running into acquaintances, then introduced each other, stopped to greet and chat.

The people around were also acquaintances from the same circle standing together chatting, basically all related to the two of them. Wherever they went, people surrounded them to say congratulations.

Ye Yaodong was all smiles. Not to mention anything else, just his face and height were exceptionally presentable. When people saw his personal image, they had to look up to him and praise him a few times.

Hong Wenle was also 1.73 meters tall, looking fair and clean, scholarly with glasses, but he was completely overshadowed.

Ye Yaodong felt it was really too normal for young girls to like him.

The two chatted with acquaintances for a while, and then someone came to find them, saying the time was almost up and asked them to prepare.

And the red carpet had already been cleared, and the children and adults had been asked to leave.

Actually, it was just a rectangular carpet, only about ten square meters, laid at the entrance of the factory, but it was too rare for both adults and children.

Everyone usually walked on bumpy dirt roads; where would they have the chance to step on a carpet? Their whole body combined wasn't worth as much as that small piece of carpet.

"Wait for me, I'll give the camera to my wife."

"Haha, I hired someone to take photos, why did you bring your own camera?"

"Isn't it because I'm worried it'll be a black and white photo?"

"Don't worry, it's definitely a color photo."

"That's fine, then I'll leave the camera with my wife for safekeeping first. You help me take one of my family of five later."

"Sure."

Ye Yaodong looked for Lin Xiuqing. She had been watching the children by the edge of the red carpet and was also standing in the front row at this time.

He hung the camera around her neck and said: "Open your eyes wide and look at your man's demeanor today."

Lin Xiuqing was all smiles, "Got it, go ahead, I'll take a handsome one for you later."

Ye Yaodong heard the person on the side calling with a loudspeaker that the time had come. He raised his eyebrows at Lin Xiuqing, smiling with a bit of pride, and then turned to wave at his father, walking onto the red carpet to shake hands with the people around.

Ye Fu straightened his back, glowing with health, followed behind him, stood beside him, and also learned to shake hands with people.

This could be considered one of the few highlight moments in his life so far, basically all brought to him by Ye Yaodong in the past two years.

There was also Chen Shuji, who was already chatting with others on the red carpet. At this time, he also took his place, standing beside Ye Fu.

Ye Yaodong and Hong Wenle stood in the very middle, with representative relatives and friends on both sides, and people from the town government had also come.

A row of ten people stood, and then someone presented a red silk cloth, and everyone was also given a pair of scissors.

A large circle of people stood around the red carpet below, at least two hundred people, all watching the excitement. He estimated that at least half of them were workers waiting to start work.

Everyone on the red carpet held their heads high and chest out, with smiles on their faces.

When the host finished the auspicious words, and after the photos were taken, the sound of fireworks and firecrackers crackled. Someone shouted "Good luck with the start of work," and their scissors also clicked to cut the cloth strip.

Everyone applauded, and they also put the scissors on the tray, shook hands with each other, and walked down with smiles on their faces.

"Father, you are too majestic..."

"Father, you are too amazing, too awesome..."

"Father, you're the best! So amazing!"

Ye Fu asked with a smile: "Then what about me?"

Ye Mu scolded with a smile: "You old shameless one, you want people to praise you after basking in the glory. Without Dongzi, you wouldn't even be able to stand up there."

The three children were very supportive, surrounding Ye Fu and chattering praises again, making Ye Fu feel completely comfortable.

Ye Yaodong, however, had no time to stay here; he had to go into the factory to watch the workers start work.

"You guys play here for a while, I'm going into the factory."

Ye Mu said: "You go get busy, we'll walk around and go back too."

"I want to follow Father!"

Lin Xiuqing knocked Ye Chenghu on the forehead, "Mother, mother, mother every day, you want Father now?"

"I still want to play here, can I go back with Father later?"

"I want to too!"

Ye Yaodong said: "Then you guys wait here and play by yourselves. When I'm done, I'll take you back then."

"Yay~"

They happily rushed back onto the red carpet, running and jumping around.

At this time, more than half of the people had already left, many had gone into the factory in the back, and the remaining people continued to wander around the factory.

Today is the first day, so we certainly won't drive people away, but starting from the afternoon, idlers will definitely not be allowed in.

When Ye Yaodong entered the factory, Ye Fu and Chen Shuji also followed in to curiously watch the production.

The few people who just cut the ribbon were all in the factory at this time, and they were all looking around. It wasn't allowed to enter before work started, and it was only now after the ribbon-cutting that they could enter, but not just anyone could enter.

Everyone was amazed at the automated production of the machines, and good words kept coming out.

Ye Fu was still a bit uneasy when he was walking around the factory with everyone, not knowing where to put his hands and feet.

Not long after, he had learned to be like the others, with his hands behind his back, pricking up his ears to listen to everyone chatting, and nodding from time to time.

When it came to some fish products and fishing conditions, he could talk freely.

It was already noon when they came out of the factory. Hong Wenle invited everyone to eat, and the others smiled and agreed, so they also followed suit and agreed.

But everyone didn't bring their families, only his wife and children were there, so he let everyone go first and sent his wife and children home first.

At this time, there were not many idlers in the factory, and the children had played enough, and they were sensible enough not to say they wanted to go eat with him again.

However, before Ye Yaodong sent them back, he first took his family to take a family photo on the red carpet.

Then the children also felt fulfilled, and one by one they obediently got on the vehicle to go home first.

Ye Yaodong and Ye Fu didn't get home until evening, and the two were still drunk and took a rickshaw back.

The motorcycle couldn't be driven, so it was left at Hongsheng's place.

Lin Xiuqing was surprised to see them come back by rickshaw, and when she saw them getting off with unsteady steps and blurred eyes, she was instantly furious.

"How did you get so drunk? Where is the vehicle? You don't even want the vehicle anymore?"

Ye Yaodong said with a drunken look: "Just go drive it tomorrow, it won't get lost."

The old lady also rarely scolded on the side, "Why are you like your father? Not learning the good, learning the bad, getting so drunk, and not knowing how to drive the vehicle back. Is it safe to leave it outside? Your father is really something, he loves to drink himself, and he even leads you to drink..."

Ye Fu followed behind, swaying and muttering, "Everything can be blamed on me, clearly I went to drink with him, not him going to drink with me..."

Lin Xiuqing had already called Ye Chenghu to call Ye Mu over. One was enough to keep her busy, so Ye Fu should be left to Ye Mu to criticize.

And she was supporting Ye Yaodong, and the old lady was also supporting Ye Yaodong. She looked back and saw that Ye Fu seemed to have no one to support him?

She was embarrassed to go up and support him.

Drunk people have no reason. If he leaned directly on her, as a daughter-in-law, it would be somewhat awkward.

She shouted at the top of her lungs to the older brother and second brother next door, asking them to come out and help support their father home. Only then did Ye Fu not sway and fall.

Ye Yaodong was drunk and had no feeling, so he went to sleep as soon as he got home.

When he got up for breakfast the next day, he heard the scolding from the old to the young in the family again.

Old lady: "Getting so drunk is not good, don't take your father out to drink next time, both of them are drunk like that..."

Ye Mu scolded the fiercest: "Old thing, you get drunk as soon as you see alcohol, you can't even walk, you only know how to drink at home all day. It's not enough to drink in the village, now you've drunk to the town, and you'll drink to the city and Beijing in the future..."

Ye Fu could still talk back a few words, "If I can drink to Beijing, then I'm awesome, you'll laugh even in your dreams."

"Look at how capable you are, if you get drunk again next time, I'll slap your face with the sole of my shoe."

Lin Xiuqing also said: "You go out and drink, you don't even want the vehicle, you don't know how to drive it back? Just leave it outside, don't let it get lost, you don't know how to control yourself a little..."

Ye Yaodong also talked back: "It's not bad that I know how to come back."

"What? You're reluctant to come back, right?"

Ye Fu added: "People told him not to leave, told him to continue the second half..." "Ouch... hiss~"

Ye Yaodong hurriedly kicked his father, lest his father say things that shouldn't be said, and then the family would be restless.

"What second half?" Lin Xiuqing and Ye Mu asked in unison.

"Said it wasn't dark yet, told me to continue drinking the second half."

Ye Yaodong glared at his father.

His father also glared back at him.

Lin Xiuqing said angrily: "Drink your head, you're already drunk like that, and still the second half, you don't need to come back for the real second half."

"That won't happen, I definitely know how to come back home. Look at how much I drank yesterday, I knew how to come back."

"Then I have to praise you?"

"Originally, I knew how to come back after drinking so much, that's already very amazing. The vehicle is parked there, anyway it won't get lost, someone is watching, what are you afraid of? I'll go drive it back in a while."

"You don't even want the vehicle..."

"Don't drive after drinking, don't drink after driving! I'm following the rules. If something happens on the road, it will ruin the happiness of the whole family, and more likely it will ruin several families. That would be unforgivable even if I died ten thousand times."

Ye Xiaoxi was also shouting: "Father, don't drink, snoring is so noisy."

"I can even be noisy to the next door?"

"Right, I can't sleep at all..."

Ye Chenghu said: "Father, I heard it upstairs."

"Then the soundproofing is really poor."

Lin Xiuqing urged him: "Eat quickly, go drive the vehicle back after eating. If you knew you were going to drink, you shouldn't have driven out."

"If I knew I was going to drink, then I definitely wouldn't have driven out, I would have directly asked a worker to send it over."

"Making it so imposing, and even a special person and a special vehicle..."

"Heh, it's even a convertible!"

Ye Yaodong hurriedly finished his meal and got off the vehicle, lest he have to listen to them nagging.

"Father, you come with me to drive the vehicle."

"Why do you still need me? Can't you just go drive it back by yourself?"

"I don't want to walk, let's ride a bicycle together, then you ride the bicycle back, and I'll drive the vehicle back."

"Is it so much trouble to walk a few steps? And you need two people to go..."

"Then don't go, just stay here and get scolded."

Ye Fu hurriedly put down his chopsticks and followed him out.

Ye Mu was still nagging behind him, "He should have been left at sea. He never stops when he gets home. Either he's looking for this person to drink, or he's looking for that person to drink, with a bunch of excuses..."

"It's not okay not to make wine, cooking needs wine, and making just a little bit is not worth the effort..."

After Ye Fu followed Ye Yaodong out, Ye Yaodong said to his father: "Father, you are really heartless."

"You are the heartless one, how can you talk to your father like that?"

"You dare to say the second half in front of them?"

"I didn't go."

"Is this a matter of whether you went or not?"

Ye Fu didn't say anything.

Ye Yaodong said again: "It's a good thing I was there, otherwise you would have been led away."

"Really? I don't remember clearly."

"If you dare to drink flower wine, Mother will break your legs when you come back."

"What does she know? No... people clearly wanted to pull you, what does it have to do with me? You're even blaming me."

"Go to sea tomorrow quickly. This trip was early, and you caught up, letting you be glorious for a while. If you stay at home for a few more days and drink for a few more days, Mother will nag again."

Ye Fu cursed a few dirty words, "There's no place for me in this family."

Ye Fu knew early on that the ribbon-cutting was on the second day, and as a father, he could definitely go up, so in order to catch the ribbon-cutting, he also returned early from this trip to sea.

In order to return early, he only rested for one day at the time, and then hurriedly went to sea.

Ye Yaodong thought silently: He was already at the bottom of the family status.

Suddenly, he was a bit curious, "Father, do you still keep the gold yourself?"

"What are you asking for? What's there to ask?"

Understood.