Chapter 1410: Picking People Up

Looking at the expressions of the aunts and aunts.

He had to say generously: "Isn't it? The whole family relies on Aqing to support it. Isn't she my big baby?"

Ye Xiaoxi also said happily: "Big baby gives birth to little baby, and there is an old baby in the family."

Ye Yaodong smiled and picked her up, scratching her nose heavily with his index finger.

"Pain, pain..."

"Just you can talk, talking non-stop."

The big girls and little wives around were already envious.

Ye Yaodong also hurriedly carried her away, lest she speak wildly again.

Next time, don't talk nonsense in front of the children, especially what is said in the quilt, she can tell you everything.

Fortunately, he waited for the children to fall asleep before doing it secretly.

Should send her away at night and sleep with the old lady.

Originally, a few months ago, with the temptation of money, she slept with the old lady. It was only after he left that she went back to sleep with Lin Xiuqing.

Ye Yaodong carried her out and discussed with her.

"You go to sleep with grandmother for these few days, I'll give you 5 cents every day."

"Deal!"

She stretched out her palm and waited for a long time before Ye Yaodong thought of high-fiving her.

"Dad, you're so stupid."

"How did you learn so much?"

"Brother taught me."

"Alright, go find grandmother yourself."

Ye Yaodong didn't have the face to enter again after coming out, and he couldn't stand the eyes of so many women...

Idle, he wandered around the village again, and then went home to watch TV.

Only when Lin Xiuqing came in with a red face and pinched him did he get a fright.

"What are you doing?"

"What did you say nonsense in the workshop?"

"What? That wasn't me, that was your daughter, saying that I called her little baby in the quilt and called you big baby."

Lin Xiuqing wanted to pinch him again, but he hurriedly dodged and turned off the TV.

"The child is watching."

Ye Chenghu hurriedly withdrew his peeking eyes and lowered his head, pretending to do homework.

"Talking nonsense all day, teaching the children to go out and talk nonsense. I'm so embarrassed to come and go over there, everyone is laughing at me..."

"Believe me, they are envious of you, envious to death, having such a good husband and cute children."

"Just sticking gold on your own face. I'm so embarrassed. Hurry up and leave. Where is your daughter? I just beat her this morning, and she's itchy again."

"I've already punished her to sleep with the old lady at night."

"You are clearly rewarding yourself."

"Hehehe..."

"Ye Chenghu!" Lin Xiuqing shouted.

Ye Chenghu shuddered, "Yes, I'm doing homework."

"I see your ears are standing up like rabbit ears."

He hurriedly tore a small piece of newspaper from the edge of the table, then pinched it into two balls and stuffed them into his ears.

"I didn't hear anything."

"This stinky boy..."

Ye Yaodong also stared at Ye Chenghu, "Others have finished writing, but you are still writing there. What kind of book are you reading every day? Temporary embrace of Buddha's feet every day, it's dark, and the homework isn't finished?"

"I'm writing an essay, Yangyang doesn't need to write an essay, 100 words, oh my god, Dad, you definitely can't write it in a day."

Ye Chenghu immediately gathered the books, paper, and pens on the table, "I'll go upstairs to write, hum."

The eyesore left, and Ye Yaodong put his arm around Lin Xiuqing's shoulder and asked: "Tell me, what did they say?"

Lin Xiuqing shrugged her shoulders, shook off his hand, and rolled her eyes at him.

"Squinting and winking, saying ambiguously that we are an old couple, even more affectionate than young people in love, calling each other baby and dear in the quilt."

"Then everyone complained, saying their own men would only take off their pants when they got into bed."

"Saying you are really a good husband, can earn money, and can coax your wife. Satisfied? Happy? They are all praising you."

Ye Yaodong's mouth twitched, "These old women can really talk."

"Where is your daughter? If I catch her, I'll beat her again. You should also restrain yourself, don't talk nonsense in front of the children."

"Who knows if she's asleep or not? Anyway, just let her sleep with the old lady from now on, and she won't hear anything."

Lin Xiuqing patted him twice, and then wanted to go out again.

Ye Yaodong grabbed her, "Where are you going?"

"Go to the workshop, where else can I go? The goods collected today can't be piled up, and some are piled on the tractor. I have to take a look, so that it's convenient for you to move to the boat at night."

"Fine."

"Have you taken a bath?"

Ye Yaodong was about to sit back in the recliner, but stood up straight immediately, and then leaned toward her with a lewd

"I washed them before eating; they were washed clean. If you don't believe me, smell them; they are still fragrant, and at any time you can..."

Lin Xiuqing spread her palm over his face, moving his handsome face away.

"Since you've showered, then throw your dirty clothes into the washing machine. I'll hang them up when I come back later."

"Just this?"

Lin Xiuqing didn't take his bait and turned to walk outside.

Ye Yaodong had no choice but to shout from upstairs, "Ye Chenghu, Ye Chenghu..."

"Coming! What is it, Dad? Are you two done talking? Can I come down now?"

"Get down here and help me put my clothes in the washing machine."

"Alright, coming, I'll be right there."

Bang, bang, bang—a series of sounds of someone coming down the stairs.

"Dad, where are your dirty clothes?"

"In the room, go get them yourself."

"I was just wondering why I didn't see them; if I had seen them, I would have put them in the washing machine long ago."

Ye Yaodong watched his busy back with suspicion as he went in and out.

Ye Chenghu actively rolled up his sleeves, stuffed the clothes into the washing machine, added laundry detergent, and then scooped water into the machine one ladle at a time.

Ye Yaodong turned the television back on and, seeing him looking so proficient, teased, "You don't wash clothes often, do you?"

"That's for sure! I've taken over all the laundry at home. When Mom isn't here, I'm the one who washes all the clothes."

"You're not good at studying, but you're quite capable at housework."

"When you're not home, of course I have to help Mom with the chores."

"Tch, if only you were this proactive about your actual studies."

"The teacher said that every trade has its master; those who aren't good at studying might be good at other things. The aunts and grandmas at the workshop also said that if you're not good at studying, you can still do great things."

"Do great things, my foot."

"They said that you weren't good at studying, but you can do great things."

"Well, that actually makes some sense!"

"Right? I can do great things in the future too."

Ye Yaodong didn't refute him with absolute certainty this time; it's not like there aren't people who have studied themselves stupid.

"Get to work, don't talk so much nonsense. After you finish, go back to writing your essay."

Ye Chenghu skillfully closed the washing machine lid, turned the mechanical dial, pressed his hands on top of the machine to feel the vibration inside, and only then went upstairs satisfied to continue writing his essay.

Ye Yaodong watched television for a while longer, listened to the news broadcast and the weather forecast, and only then turned off the television and went into the room to sleep.

He still had to get up at two in the morning to supervise the workers transporting the goods to the boat. After loading them, he would have to transport them to the city immediately. By the time he reached the city, it would already be morning, and then there would be another busy period unloading the cargo.

In the evening, he had already called his father-in-law in advance, asking him to arrange for people and a tractor to wait at the pier to receive the goods at 7:00 tomorrow morning.

He needed to get some rest early now to keep his energy up.

Ye Xiaoxi was left with the old lady for the night, so he had no one to disturb him and found it exceptionally easy to fall asleep.

Waking up from his sleep, he happened to hear the movement of his wife returning to the room. His energy was restored, and he felt his fighting spirit was overflowing; even getting up in the middle of the night, he felt full of vigor.

When he went to the workshop, the workers were already moving the goods; they had already moved them out and were just waiting for him to arrive so they could pull the tractor full of goods to the pier and load them onto the boat.

With so many people, everyone worked for over an hour before all the goods were loaded onto the boat.

Ye Yaodong only took half the people on the boat and told the others to go home and rest.

Since there would be people to meet them and enough hands when they docked, taking a dozen people now was enough.

After he finished everything, seeing that it was almost time to get off work, he went to wait at Chen Juzhang's house. When he arrived, they hadn't finished work yet, so he sat at the entrance chatting with the neighbors on both sides.

Everyone said they hadn't seen him for a long time and even shared melon seeds with him to crack. He also laughed and said he had gone to Zhejiang Province to make money for the past few months and wasn't home, which was why he hadn't come over often.

He didn't wait long before Chen Juzhang and his wife arrived home one after another, and only then did he go inside to sit.

Chen Juzhang had to wait until he finished work in the afternoon to leave, and tomorrow happened to be Saturday, so he was off duty and didn't need to work.

So, after waiting to have lunch and chatting for a while, he went back to the workshop.

Taking advantage of the time at noon, he reconciled the workshop's accounts and also took the turnover from his father-in-law's side.

In the evening, after Chen Juzhang and his wife finished work, he took a younger brother, brought along his father-in-law and mother-in-law, and drove the tractor to pick them up. After picking them up, they headed to the pier, and then he had the younger brother drive the tractor back.

Using a vehicle for the whole trip was convenient and saved him from walking on his own two legs.

The workers who had come with him were also very happy; after unloading the goods at noon, they could go around the city to stroll, as long as they waited for him at the boat at the pier before 5:00.

Although they did a little more work than those who stayed home, they got to come to the city to play for half a day, while the others couldn't.

After Ye Yaodong picked up his father-in-law and his wife, along with Chen Juzhang and his wife, onto the boat, he had the workers attend to them, take them around, and explain the machinery on the boat to satisfy their curiosity, while he went to steer the boat first.

By this time, the sky was already dark. When they arrived home, it was already night, and the whole village was so quiet there wasn't a sound, except for the barking of dogs.

Lin Xiuqing had long since tidied up the room upstairs and spread clean bedding.

In the middle of the night, any movement would be infinitely magnified. As soon as she heard movement, she quickly got up to go to the entrance to receive them.

Knowing that people would arrive at night, she had lain down fully dressed and didn't dare to sleep, fearing that if she fell into a deep sleep and didn't get up to greet the elders, it would be too impolite.

"You're back? You've worked hard. You must be tired after sitting on the boat for so long. Sit down and rest for a while first; I'll cook you a late-night snack. Eat before you sleep."

"I've also cleaned the room upstairs and made the bed. The quilts were just sunned today. Eat first and then go up to sleep; it saves you from climbing the stairs up and down."

Chen Juzhang smiled and said, "We've caused you trouble. In the middle of the night, we've made you go through all this trouble, and you didn't get a good night's sleep."

Jin Yuzhi also said, "Yes, we've troubled you. No need to cook any snacks; we aren't hungry, no need to bother."

"What trouble is there? It's only right. If I weren't home, that's one thing, but since I am home, I should look after you by your side. If there's a need, of course I must take care of it properly."

"That's right, let Adong keep you company and chat; I'll go cook the late-night snack, it'll be quick." Lin Xiuqing also chimed in, then hurried to start the fire.

She had already prepared the ingredients for the late-night snack in the evening; it was just a cold stove, so while starting the fire took a little time, the cooking itself was very fast.

Ye Yaodong sat at the table keeping them company, telling them about what had happened in Zhoushan over the past few months, and also mentioned that he had bought another piece of land.

He also discussed bank savings with them; he was truly moved by how high the interest rates were now—high enough to be frightening.

In the future, that would only be a 1.5% annual interest rate; for a three-year fixed deposit, state-owned banks would only offer 2-something percent, and only rural credit cooperatives would have 3 points.

These interest rates were a whole street apart.

Jin Yuzhi was shocked to hear that he was developing so rapidly, having just finished managing one piece of land and already buying another.

Chen Juzhang was a bit better, as his expectations for him were already very high, knowing that he was someone who could stir things up.

"Why do you buy land everywhere you go?"

"What else should I buy? There's nothing else worth buying, and no one is willing to sell their houses. I already have dozens of boats, and there are still undelivered orders at the factory."

Chen Juzhang had nothing more to say.

Indeed, besides buying land, he had nowhere else to spend his money...

"Then be careful. When you're outside, don't show off your wealth. Buying land is fine, but be careful not to let it be encroached upon. It's easy for outsiders to be looked down upon when buying land."

"I understand. Now I'm making money back and forth between two places. Just our own people number three or four hundred, and there will only be more next year. With so many people, I'm not afraid of anything."

Chen Juzhang nodded, "It's good that you aren't fighting alone."

Ye Yaodong told him again that he had set up a fish cannery in the town. After he went to the county town tomorrow to pay respects to Goddess Mazu and attend the grand ceremony, he would stay at home for one more night, and the day after tomorrow, he would take him to see the fish cannery in the town.

His father-in-law was stunned by the constant surprises he kept revealing.

"You even have a fish cannery! How many factories do you actually have?"

"Hehe, that's all. This one was just started in the first half of this year; we worked on it for the whole year, and it was only finalized in the middle of the year. It's too late today, and tomorrow I won't have time, so I'll take you to look around the day after tomorrow, and then send you to the city."

Chen Juzhang also chimed in, "Impressive. This fish cannery is not bad. If the canned goods are good, they can be supplied to the military. This is convenient; sometimes during training, disaster relief, or whatever, they need this kind of convenient food that is easy to carry around."

Ye Yaodong smiled and said, "That's what I was thinking, too. I'm pondering asking the logistics department next time I send dried fish to the military."

"That's right, you have your own channels and are already supplying the military; I was just about to say I'd go ask for you."

"Then it's best if Godfather goes out; the chances will definitely be higher than if I ask."

"Then after I go see it the day after tomorrow, I'll go back and ask for you. When are you leaving?"

"I should stay at home for a few more days, but I have to look at the wind direction at that time to see if it's suitable for a long journey. The weather forecast says there might be a cold front coming in the next two days, and the wind and waves will be quite large, so I definitely won't be able to leave. If you have any news, call my home phone at any time; I should be there. Even if I'm not, Aqing will be, and it's the same if you entrust anything to her."

Lin Xiuqing also followed up, "Yes, I'll be here. If there's anything, just call the house phone. If Dongzi isn't here, I'm the one who arranges these things at home for him."

"Alright, then I'll find the number after I go back and ask as soon as possible."

"The snack is ready, eat first; let's talk while we eat."

Ye Yaodong watched the snack come out of the pot and hurriedly stepped forward to help serve it.

Lin Xiuqing cooked an extra bowl and let Ye Yaodong eat along with them.

"Your wife is truly capable and impressive. When you aren't home, she manages the house in perfect order for you, and you have so many businesses; she has to arrange everything at home for you."

"Isn't that so? I must have burned high incense in my past life, doing good deeds every day, which is why I was able to marry her."

Lin Xiuqing gave him a reproachful glance, "Stop talking, you're making people laugh."

"No laughing, no laughing. Adong is indeed blessed; the household is flourishing, the family is growing, the career is booming, and the fortune is prosperous. It's quite good."

Ye Yaodong spoke a sincere truth, "Actually, whether these things are prosperous or not is secondary. The most important thing is physical health and family happiness. Those other things are just icing on the cake; otherwise, if you have those but your body is broken and there's no one to share your happiness with, what meaning would that have?"

"That's right, it's best if you can think that way. There is nothing more important than the whole family being healthy and happy. Isn't the reason we men work so hard to let our families live a good life? It doesn't matter how hard we work ourselves."

"Exactly."

Lin Xiuqing saw that they had finished their late-night snack and smiled, "There's plenty of time to talk tomorrow. Rest early after eating; we have to get up early tomorrow."

"The time is 9:00 to walk to the county town, but at 7:00 they will be beating gongs and drums to set off from the Tianhou Temple. Walking isn't faster than riding in a car, and there will be a parade, so it will be slow—it will take about two hours."

"I'll listen to your arrangements."

"Get up at 6:00 tomorrow, we'll have breakfast first, and then go stroll around the Tianhou Temple."

Ye Yaodong wasn't carrying the sedan chair this time. They returned late, and at the time, the village committee didn't know if they could make it back, so it had already been arranged in advance.

He only needed to follow behind the procession tomorrow, or he could go to the city one step ahead, since he was bringing Chen Juzhang and his wife.

Arriving early would give them time to exchange pleasantries with the county leaders.

After finishing the late-night snack, Lin Xiuqing cleared the bowls and chopsticks, and Ye Yaodong led them upstairs to rest.

The two couples then turned off the lights and went into their rooms.

Lin Xiuqing had told the old lady in the evening that guests would be coming at night and that she didn't need to run out if there was nothing to do, so as not to be too long-winded.

There was no such thing as elders greeting juniors; she told her that if she heard movement, she should just stay in her room, and it would be the same to meet the next day.

If she hadn't told her, the old lady would have been vigilant and climbed out to take a look upon hearing movement—she was more effective than a radar.

As soon as Ye Yaodong lay down, he said, "You have to call me before 6:00 tomorrow morning."

"I know, go to sleep early; it's already almost 12:00."

"Hmm, are you sure you aren't going?"

"I won't go. I have to watch the house. Tomorrow, probably everyone nearby will be running to the county town, and I'm not at ease. I have to stay at home and watch."

"Alright then. This afternoon, Ayuan called; he called the city, to your father's place. He said that today in their military unit, all the veterans from Putian were given three days of leave to return home to visit their families during the Mazu Millennium Festival. Along with that, their new recruits' training tasks were also lighter today, and they were also able to call home."

"Ah? There's such a good thing? They can return home to visit their families for this too?"

"I don't know. I heard your father say it; probably because the Mazu on Meizhou Island is too famous, and furthermore, Zhoushan City is by the sea, and there are too many fishermen from the coastal areas. Besides Bodhisattvas, of course they also believe in Mazu, so they also value it and give it a human touch."

"That's quite good. Our county is doing such a thing this year; I reckon it's even livelier over on Meizhou Island."

"Definitely, that's the birthplace, the Daoist temple."

In his past life, he had heard that even Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan sent fishing boats to Meizhou Island to offer incense and go on pilgrimages.

There were also many fishing boats from Southeast Asia that traveled to the Meizhou Mazu Ancestral Temple, though he had only heard about it.

But the fact that even Taiwan sent boats to Meizhou Island shows that Mazu culture has a long history and faith knows no borders.

It is said that this time also broke the 38-year ice between the two sides of the strait, opening the prelude to the renewed exchange of Mazu culture between the two sides.

Later, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan actively participated in various activities of Mazu on Meizhou Island, such as sacrificial ceremonies, and folk cultural exchange activities like the "returning to the mother's home" three-offering ritual held at the ancestral shrine and temple, and each time it was more grand than the last.

Since there were activities in their county, he definitely couldn't run off to Meizhou Island and could only wait and see later.

"Schools in the whole county are also on holiday. You should take the two sons tomorrow and let them go see the excitement. Anyway, with Dad, Mom, my father, and my mother following, if you don't have time, you can leave them to be watched by them."

"That works. Tomorrow, just let them go with Dad and Mom, and have the family's tractor take them there. Anyway, the motorcycle can't seat that many people."

"Sister-in-law and Second Sister-in-law also told me in the evening that they would take our family's tractor tomorrow."

"Hmm, send them all to the county in one trip; anyway, it can all fit."

"Remember to bring the camera when you go to the county tomorrow; take more photos, and when they are developed, we can all see them."

"Are you sure you aren't going?"

"I'm not at ease. How much money and how many treasures do we have in our house?"

"This really has you tied up at home."

These days are really inconvenient; once there is a lot of money and treasure, there is nowhere to put it, especially in rural places like theirs.

It's not easy to get a safe, and it's not reassuring to deposit everything in the bank.

When going out, someone still has to be left at home, otherwise it's not reassuring.

"I'm fine. Whether I see it or not doesn't matter; just come back and tell me about it, it's the same."

"Leaving a few workers to help watch the house is the same..."

"Forget it, it was already said that tomorrow is a holiday, so it's not good to ask others to watch the house for us. I'll just stay and watch the house."

"Alright then."

It wronged her.

But there was really no other way; with everyone gone, it really wasn't reassuring.

Ye Yaodong reached out to hug her, holding her tighter in his arms.

"Hehehe, I can't breathe. How can I sleep while being held like this..."

"You can sleep..."