Chapter 1386: Setting Out (Update)

There was something new on his wrist. Ye Yaodong found it awkward, not quite used to it, and from time to time, like the old lady, he'd roll the prayer beads between his fingers—just that he wouldn't chant any sutras.

Sometimes he'd fiddle with them even while walking down the road.

"Dongzi, damn? You're wearing prayer beads now?"

A Zheng and Xiao Xiao walked over from the opposite direction and said.

"Believe in Buddha now?"

Ye Yaodong had just stepped out of the house, heading to the workshop.

"All the gods in the sky—I believed in every one of them to begin with. Have you packed your things? Once it's packed, don't forget the 13th. We set out at 4 a. m. sharp. My mother checked the almanac—she's already picked an auspicious day."

"Your mother checked the almanac?"

"What, you looking down on my mother?"

"Your mother can read? That almanac is all in traditional characters!" Xiao Xiao was also utterly astonished.

"Just kidding! She learns five a day, and she used the almanac to learn them. She might not be able to read the newspaper, but the almanac she can read through and through."

"Damn, that badass? Your whole family's climbing the ladder, huh?"

"Can't be helped. My mother wants to get ahead too badly."

Ever since she lost out on this year's March Eighth Red Banner Bearer selection, his mother had been working even harder at literacy, determined to turn things around.

Heard she's going for next year's March Eighth Red Banner Bearer!

"Ha ha ha, your mother's really something—getting into politics at her age. The way she talks now, it's one set of talking points after another."

"Normal. She's eating public-rice now, of course she can recite the slogans. Remember it—we set out on the 13th."

Then stay one night in Wenzhou City on the 14th, and arrive in Zhoushan City on the evening of the 15th.

Xiao Xiao said: "Got it. When you said it at the start of the month, we already told our families to pack. We came back early yesterday—just waiting for the time to leave."

"Day after tomorrow we head out, get to Wenzhou City by evening, stay one night, then early the next morning we pick up the other fishing boats there and set out together."

A Zheng said: "Yeah, we're all ready on our side too. Just wait for the time. These two days we'll rest up at home, catch up on sleep—this trip's gonna be a few months long."

Xiao Xiao asked again: "You've got another factory now, you okay leaving it?"

"With my wife there it's fine. These past few months I've been taking her to the factory every day. Everyone knows she's the boss's wife. Even when I'm not there, she still goes over to do the rounds."

"Your wife's getting more and more capable."

"Naturally. A virtuous helpmeet."

The three chatted as they walked together toward the workshop, talking the whole way about the trip to Zhoushan City—after all, it was the day after tomorrow.

They'd only just rested up enough since getting back yesterday, and now they'd come over to chat.

"How's the fishing boat you financed coming along?" Ye Yaodong asked.

Xiao Xiao answered: "Just went to check before we came back yesterday. Not even half done. Figure it'll have to wait till after New Year's."

"The city shipyard's busier—lots of business. Not bad if they can deliver this year."

A Zheng said: "Good thing we've got boats on hand, no rush."

Xiao Xiao asked again: "How about those five boats you ordered up there? How's the land construction going?"

"Haven't gone up in the past two months, how would I know? Anyway, last I heard all five were being built at once. They said the four smaller ones can be delivered before New Year's Day, the last one depends—might make it before the New Year, might be late. Either way, we'll just have to wait."

"That efficiency's nothing to write home about either."

"Too many fishing boats over in Zhoushan City. The shipyard's booked solid every day just with repairs. We jumped the queue back then—they only said it'd be done by that time. I'm not in that much of a rush. As for the land, there's a report every few days. Even if it's not fully built when I go up in a couple days, one layer's already up. We can throw down a bedroll and sleep there."

A Zheng said: "A bedroll's fine too. It's hot weather anyway—one rolled-up mat's enough."

"Yeah, roll one up and it'll do for a burial too."

"Huh? Damn…"

A Zheng lifted his foot to kick, and Ye Yaodong leapt aside in a hurry.

Xiao Xiao laughed and asked: "Does sleeping on a bedroll count as rent?"

"What? You don't wanna pay? Lying on my turf and you want a freebie?"

"Catch a few fish to cover it."

"You cheap bastard, so stingy…"

"Call me Jian-ge!"

"Yeah, right."

……

Lin Lin Xiuqing checked his luggage over and over. This trip was nothing like the last one when he only went up for half a month or so—this time he wouldn't be back till at least October.

By then the weather would be cool, so everything that could be brought had to go along, no point hauling a second load.

Last time they only brought bedding for five or six people; this time it was for over twenty. The quilts were ones she'd recently had someone make new, because most of last year's quilts had been left on the Deep-Sea No. 1.

They had to keep one set of bedding on the boat, and another set had to be prepared at the rented place for the workers—and they all had to be thick ones for winter.

Right now in the yard, the quilts alone were already piled up like a little mountain.

The kids at home had been especially fond of flopping down on them these past two days, because the quilts stuffed inside were soft and fluffy—lying on them felt really comfortable.

Along with Ye Ye Huimei's three, they all came running to her yard every day to play on the quilts.

Lin Lin Xiuqing did one final count of the luggage, making sure everything that should be prepared was prepared, bringing out as much as could be brought along.

Even the dried vegetables filled a big sack. She'd dug out the whole stockpile at home to use it up, so it wouldn't take up space.

No need to mention the pickled vegetables—several jars of them. Either the old lady had pickled them, or Lin Lin Xiuqing had hauled them back from her parents' home before.

Although her parents had moved to the city, uncles, aunts, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and other relatives still sent some. Country folk have plenty of human warmth.

Now all that was missing was fresh produce.

The old lady was already out swinging a hoe.

They were leaving at dawn, so the old lady wanted to bring him up some extra vegetables the day before.

Sure enough, while Lin Lin Xiuqing was taking inventory of the luggage, the old lady had already grabbed a hoe and gone to dig up potatoes and taro.

"I'll do it later, you just sit there."

The old lady didn't even turn her head, bending over and swinging the small hoe stroke by stroke. "I'll do it, you go do your thing. Digging up a little taro and potatoes, I can still handle it."

"What are you doing? Ye Chenghu, go help Great-grandma hoe the field."

"Okay, coming."

Ye Chenghu immediately scrambled down from the soft, fluffy quilt and excitedly ran over to take the hoe from the old lady's hands.

"He's just a little child, how could he… don't let him hoe his own foot."

"Why couldn't he? When I was his age, I was already working the fields."

The old lady worried he was too small and wouldn't let him hold the hoe, only letting him dig out the taro from the mud.

She used the hoe to flip the whole thing over, roots and soil together, then handed it to him to pick up.

The other children had long been itching to try, and watching Ye Chenghu dig through the soil for taro, they all ran over eagerly, scrambling to help.

Lin Lin Xiuqing saw so many people helping and didn't say anything more.

Ye Yaodong had just finished fueling and icing the boat and come back. Seeing the scene, he didn't say much either, just took the hoe from the old lady's hands and took over the work himself.

The spring turning point had already passed; now it was the Autumnal Equinox. He had long passed the old lady's death point from her previous life, and his heart was finally at ease.

"These things can all keep for a long time, we can eat them for ages. Just turn over all the soil, dig them up and bring them along for you. We don't lack these vegetables at home."

Ye Yaodong swung the hoe stroke by stroke. "I don't lack these vegetables either…"

"Who says so? You people out there are prone to not adapting to the climate. Eating vegetables grown in your own soil and water is the only way your body won't feel unwell."

"Last year when you went to Wenzhou, you brought our own vegetables and ate them and stayed healthy. As soon as you went to Zhoushan, you got sick."

Lin Lin Xiuqing said, "She even wrapped up a handful of soil for you in a rag and tied it up. She said last year she didn't know you'd run so far, and didn't know you got sick. Today she specifically said she wanted to bring you a handful of our home soil."

"Then I'll bring it."

Last year the temperature dropped, it was so cold, and it snowed in winter. Catching a cold and getting sick was perfectly normal—just get an IV drip and you'd be fine in two days.

"Your dad has no idea where he went off to, doesn't even come help with work. He's nowhere to be seen except at mealtimes, only shows up when it's time to eat, only knows how to eat."

"He just finished fueling and icing and came back. He said he'd stop by home, check the luggage, and come over to eat later."

Ye Chenghu said, "My grandpa is definitely worried Great-grandma will tell him to carry manure again."

Ye Yaodong chuckled. "How'd you figure that out?"

Ye Chenghu said with absolute certainty, "Definitely, no doubt about it!"

"Isn't that as it should be? If he doesn't do it, who will?"

After saying that, the old lady immediately waved at Ye Ye Chengyang. "Yangyang, go to the old house and call your grandpa over."

"Okay, right away."

Ye Ye Chengyang's hands were both covered in dirt, and he didn't even wash them—just rubbed the mud off by crossing his hands and ran off.

Ye Yaodong said to the old lady, "Might as well dig up all these vegetables, turn over the soil, and you can plant new seeds. Go get the seeds—I don't know what you want to plant."

"Oh, alright, I'll go get them. Let me see what vegetables would be good to plant next."

Lin Lin Xiuqing came over to help tidy up the vegetables, then dragged them to the corner by the luggage, and said.

"I've taken inventory of the luggage again. After dinner tonight, you can call the workers over to gradually move the stuff onto the boat. That way we can sleep a bit more before dawn."

"Okay."

The old lady went inside to get the seeds, but somehow ended up dragging out two big burlap sacks again.

"Almost forgot. Last year's sweet potatoes—I couldn't bear to feed them to your sisters-in-law's pigs—so I shredded them all and dried them out. Besides these two bags here, there are four more big bags inside. Take them all with you, mix them into the rice for the workers to eat, save some grain."

Ye Yaodong nodded indifferently. "Got it."

The old lady walked to the side, pulled him over, and muttered quietly, "You eat less of it yourself, eat more rice."

He couldn't help the corner of his mouth twitch—this old lady sure had a lot on her mind.

"It's all cooked together in one big pot, how could I eat less?"

"Oh, but if you mix it into the rice, it'll float on top. Once it's cooked, won't it just be on the top layer? You scoop the rice from the bottom to eat."

"Got it, you're the one with all the tricks."

"You have so many workers, they go through dozens of jin of grain every day. How can you afford that? You have to save a bit."

"Got it, got it, stop nagging."

Seeing that he'd taken it in, the old lady happily felt the seeds in her pocket again, bent down, and sprinkled seeds into the holes she'd dug, then covered them with soil.

But when she saw Ye Ye Chengyang come running back alone, without Ye's father, she got angry again.

"My grandpa said he knows, you don't need to nag."

"How dare he! Calling him to do a little work and he thinks I'm nagging…"

With so many children in the family, the work went fast. In less than two hours, all the potatoes and taro at home had been dug up, and all kinds of melons and beans had been picked. They filled several burlap sacks, and the courtyard was almost too full to hold any more.

Ye Yaodong looked at the things filling the entire courtyard and felt a bit of a headache—everything was there. Luckily he had a group of workers, so he didn't have to do it himself.

After the meal, he had people come over to move all these things onto the boat.

His dad, without waiting for the old lady to say anything, very consciously went to do his own work first.

Only after finishing did he go to the dock to help Ye Yaodong.

But by the time he got to the dock, Ye Yaodong didn't need him anymore. With so many people, the work went fast—the cargo had already been loaded onto the boat, without much effort.

"When you get back, rest well. We assemble at 3:30 a. m., depart promptly at 4. I've brought everything that needs to be prepared and brought. You just need to bring your own luggage, and winter clothes too—bring them all."

"Got it…" everyone responded.

"That's it, everyone go home."

Everyone clapped their hands, and in groups of two or three, huddled together, chatting about the departure as they walked back into the village.

Their trip this time was just a few big boats setting off, so it wasn't that big a sensation. The village wasn't buzzing about it much—after all, half the people were gone, and a small portion of the women were also working at their workshop.

During this period, Ye Yaodong clearly felt the village had become much quieter, and he could understand what Lin Lin Xiuqing had said last year — that the village was as still as a puddle of dead water, without a single ripple.

Wasn't that the truth? The men had all left, and only the women, elderly, and children remained at home. Apart from studying, everyone was busy earning money, so where would the gossip come from?

It got to the point that last New Year's, when Haozi brought a woman back, the whole village was stirred up — they had been quiet for several months, and finally there was some excitement to watch.

At night, after Ye Yaodong finished what he had to do in bed, he finally had a proper talk with Lin Lin Xiuqing and gave her a rundown of everything.

"There's an accountant in the city now, and both home and over there have phones. You just need to call to get in touch. Wait ten days to half a month, then go check the accounts at the fish sauce factory and collect the money from your father's side."

"I've taken all the boats with me, so when the time comes there won't be any accounts to collect at Ah Cai's place either. That saves you trouble — you don't need to worry about the boats, just manage the workshop at home and the canned fish factory in town."

Lin Lin Xiuqing asked curiously, "A few boats just came back, and he still has goods to sell these next few days. After a while when the goods run out and your boats aren't there either, won't he have to come back to the village too?"

"No, I talked to him about it. He plans to rent a place at the dock to collect goods and go back to his old trade. He's not counting on getting as much cargo as I give him — picking up a bit here and there is enough. The pressure I put on him is pretty heavy too."

"Well, that works too then."

"Don't worry about him. Even though he whines every day that I'm the one making all the money, he's actually working for me. The money he earns just turns into goods and piles up. In reality, he's not earning less — once all the goods are sold, it naturally turns into money. And conveniently, during this period he doesn't need to spend money buying my goods, so once he cashes out, he'll have money."

Lin Lin Xiuqing laughed, "He really does cry poor every single day."

"It's all an act — otherwise how could he bear not to come back? He's even planning to rent a stall at the dock to keep at it."

"Mm, then if you arrive at Wenzhou City tomorrow evening, remember to call back. And the day after tomorrow when you get to Zhoushan City, you also need to call back to report that you're safe."

"Got it."

Lin Lin Xiuqing, still a little uneasy, reminded him, "When you're out and about, if anything comes up, remember to call and discuss it with me. We have a phone at home now — no matter when you call, someone will pick up. It's very easy to reach me, and you won't have to waste time waiting. If I'm not home, the old lady will definitely be there, so leaving her a message works the same."

"Got it."

"No more deciding first and reporting after."

"Mm."

"Two of the dogs at home seem to be pregnant. Do you want to bring a few along to guard the house? That place over there is so empty and vast…"

Ye Yaodong, who had originally been drowsy from exhaustion, perked up a bit upon hearing this.

"Sure, bring a few more. Otherwise, two pregnant female dogs in a new environment would definitely be uncomfortable — having familiar dogs around will put them more at ease."

"Mm, do as you see fit. There are too many dogs at home. Every now and then a litter is born, and we give them away here and there, yet there are still over ten left at home."

"Alright. When I leave before dawn, those dogs will definitely get up and follow me. At that time, aside from the pregnant female dogs, I'll just grab any two more and bring them on the boat."

"Do as you see fit. Go to sleep early — it's already very late, and you need to get up early tomorrow to set off."

"Mm."

He really was very sleepy.

In the dead of night when the sky was still pitch black, Lin Lin Xiuqing shook him awake.

"Get up, it's 3 o'clock."

Ye Yaodong's eyes were bleary. "Three already? That fast?"

From next door, the sound of talking could be heard, which meant his older brother and Ye Ye Erge's side had also gotten up.

In the deep stillness of the night, even the tiniest sound could be heard with extra clarity.

"The thread noodles are all cooked for you, and the old lady has caught chickens and ducks for you."

"Chickens and ducks? What chickens and ducks?"

"She said she caught some chickens and ducks for you to raise up there. I told her she had too much time on her hands — if you wanted chickens and ducks, were you afraid you couldn't buy them? But she just wouldn't listen."

"She really does have too much time on her hands. Chickens and ducks still need to be brought up alive? This is like telling me to settle up there and never come back."

Lin Lin Xiuqing smiled, "She said they're local ones, raised by our own family — they're good."

Ye Yaodong rubbed his temples, a little caught between laughter and tears. "Once you bring them to Zhoushan City, they become 'outsider' chickens. Only the ones bought locally in Zhoushan City count as local chickens."

"How would she care about that? She just feels the chickens she raised herself are good, and they're free."

"Ridiculous."

"Get up, don't worry about her. Anyway, she's already caught them. Hurry up and wash up. The soup and noodles are separated for now — once you're done washing, I'll pour the soup on top."

"Mm."

Ye Yaodong sat up and chatted for a while, which woke him up. He quickly got dressed.

"Why did you get up so early?"

"I didn't sleep all night — is that early?"

"Can't bear to see me go?"

"Obviously."

"There's still time, do you want to…"

"No, stop messing around. Get up quickly. I'm going out to scoop the eggs boiling in the pot, so you can take them to eat on the road."

Saying that, Lin Lin Xiuqing went out to busy herself first.

Ye Yaodong went out as well.

The old lady came over eagerly, as if presenting a treasure, and said, "Dongzi, I caught 4 chickens and 4 ducks for you…"

"Who did you catch these for? There are dozens of workers. Pick a good day, stew them all together, and let everyone eat together."

"A good day? Stew them all together?" The old lady was stunned for a moment, then quickly shook her head. "That won't do — those are for you to eat."

Ye Yaodong rolled his eyes and went to brush his teeth first. The old lady agonized for a moment.

"Then keep them at home and raise them. When you come back, I'll stew one for you each day. Stay a few more days when you come back then."

Ye Yaodong glanced at her. Since he was brushing his teeth, he didn't say anything.

The old lady kept talking to herself. "Then I'll let them out of the burlap sacks…"

She really does have too much time on her hands.

Lin Lin Xiuqing just watched the old lady fussing back and forth.

The chickens and ducks that had just been caught were stuffed into two separate burlap sacks. Now she went to untie the sacks, and then went to undo the straw rope knots tied around the chickens' and ducks' wings.

It wasn't even light yet, but the yard was already in an uproar—chickens flapping, dogs barking, ducks quacking.

"I told her, but she wouldn't listen. The moment you said it, she couldn't bear to let anyone else eat it, and immediately poured it back out."

"She's got too much time on her hands."

"Once you're gone, she'll just sit by the telephone every day waiting, won't go anywhere."

Ye Yaodong's forehead darkened with exasperation.

Truly, a weighty kind of love.

"Just move the wall calendar to the wall by the telephone and hang it there, so she won't have to keep shifting it back and forth."

Lin Lin Xiuqing said with a smile, "What you said does make sense."

After the old lady untied the chickens and ducks, she came in muttering, "I wonder if the chickens and ducks up there taste good… whether they're nourishing…"

Ye Yaodong finished his soup and quickly added, "Local ones, definitely good locally! I'm off."

"Ah, leaving already?"

"It's almost time. You all be careful at home. As long as I'm not out at sea, I'll call home every day."

"Oh alright, then I won't go anywhere, just wait at home." The old lady, leaning on her cane, hurriedly followed behind him.

Lin Lin Xiuqing also quickly packed up the eggs she'd just scooped out for him to take along.

"Don't follow me. It's dark outside—if you can't see the road clearly, you'll fall."

Lin Lin Xiuqing also held the old lady back. "Don't add to the trouble. If you take a tumble, how is he supposed to leave?"

"Sigh, leaving again… then remember to call home every day."

"Mm."

Ye Yaodong waved his hand and stepped out of the courtyard gate. The dog at his feet ran out with him, several times dashing ahead to scout the way.

Seeing him walking slowly, it would dash out, then run back, circle around him, and then keep running ahead.

It was now 3:20. The road to the dock was dotted with flashlight beams.

Seeing him come out too, everyone hurriedly greeted him.

Besides the 15 men on his big boat, the fresh-fish collector boat and the Dongsheng together also had 12 people.

His eldest brother and Ye Ye Erge's side also had 6, Zhou Da and his brothers had 6, and Ah Zheng and Xiao Xiao's two boats together also had 12 people.

On this trip, over 50 able-bodied laborers were heading out.

Outside the dock now were also Wang Wang Guangliang and the others, voices clamoring, waiting to gather and set off.

Once each of their boat captains arrived, they began taking attendance, the men of each boat standing separately in their own group.

Counting the others was easy—just a few of them, one glance and you knew. But his side had more people, and everyone was waiting for him to finish confirming before setting off.

For his own three boats, Ye Yaodong had the crews stand separately, counted them twice to make sure, and only then called to depart.

"Let's go, set off!"

Only then did everyone board the pre-arranged ferry boat, then transfer to their own boats in the middle of the sea.

He had specially picked two large dogs, plus two pregnant female dogs.

At this point, only a row of small wooden boats remained at the dock shore—not even a single bigger boat.

Once their boats in the middle of the sea also departed, that was when it truly became quiet and deserted.

The crew assignments for Ye Yaodong's three boats were fixed—wherever each person had been originally, they stayed on the same boat this time too.

Only the Yuanyang No. 1 was moored at the town's sheltered harbor, so everyone temporarily boarded the fresh-fish collector boat, and would switch over only after reaching town.