Chapter 1440

Ye Yaodong carried a basket in his hand with two little puppies inside. When he got home, Lin Xiuqing hadn't returned yet, and his mother hadn't returned either.

He and his father, two grown men, had to tidy up by themselves first, getting the slaughtering done first, and leaving the fine work or cooking for when they returned.

Ye Fu kept grumbling, "Day after day, they run off and disappear. They run outside every day. Is other people's business really that fun to watch?"

"What time is it now? They don't even know to come back. A whole pile of vegetables is waiting for them to clean. Are we going to cook or not? Is it New Year or not?"

"The big ones are nowhere to be seen, the small ones are nowhere to be seen, and the old one is nowhere to be seen. One by one, they complain about this ache and that pain all day long, it's all fake..."

"Dongzi, go call them back. If they don't come back soon, it'll be time for lunch."

Ye Yaodong flicked the kitchen knife in his hand onto the wooden cutting board, where it stood upright, making Ye Fu's heart tremble.

"Well... I'd better go myself."

After Ye Fu finished speaking, he wiped his hands on his clothes, put his hands behind his back, and shook his head, "One by one, their tempers are too bad. You can't even call them... and now they're angry..."

Ye Yaodong had just taken a rag from the side to wipe his hands. Seeing his father like that, he was a bit confused himself.

What was he talking about?

Once Ye Fu left, he disappeared too.

Ye Yaodong had even finished washing the vegetables and still didn't see anyone. He started to suspect that his father was deliberately being lazy and had run off.

It wasn't until he heard the noise from afar that he thought they should all be back now, and the big show should be over.

The neighbors were nowhere to be seen either, and his father had come back with the main group.

"You weren't this active when the big show was playing at the Mazu Temple. You ran off to watch the fun and disappeared. Do you know it's New Year's Eve today?"

"You ran off without doing any work. Who is left to do it? It's almost mealtime, why didn't you just stay there and eat the banquet?"

"And you!" Ye Yaodong said to his father, "You said you were going to call them back, and then you ran off. Is that what you call calling them? You went to join them."

"You guys, it's like you don't know anything."

He glared at the old lady again, "And you, at your age, how old are you, and you still have to go join the fun with a cane? Is that appropriate? If someone accidentally bumps into you, you'll really have to say 'Amitabha'."

The old lady said ingratiatingly: "I just thought I'd go buy some candy, just wander around a bit..."

"Wander around a bit, and then wandered off to join them?"

Ye Mu rolled up her sleeves, "How much work can there be? With so many people, just do a little bit, I'll do it, I'll do it."

"I've already done what needed to be done, it's not your turn anymore."

Lin Xiuqing smiled and glanced at him reproachfully, "Isn't it just right that we're back? You've done what needed to be done, and the rest is up to us. You go rest. Ye Xiaojiu... come back..."

Ye Xiaoxi heard the summons and rushed in from some corner outside, followed by a string of followers.

"I'm here, Mom, did you call me?"

"Go knead your father's legs, your father has worked hard. Let him give you some New Year money tonight."

Her eyes lit up, "Little ones, charge!"

That string of followers, big and small, all yelled and charged toward Ye Yaodong.

Ye Yaodong's eyes widened as he watched the group of little kids rush over and surround him, some even bumping into his legs and falling on their butts.

Some brought him a stool, wiped it with their sleeves, and pulled him to sit down.

Some even brought two small stools and held up his two legs so he could prop his feet up.

"What are you guys doing? Your business is quite proficient?" Ye Yaodong laughed as he let these little brats fuss over him.

"Ah Hai and Ah Jiang trained them." Lin Xiuqing said with a smile while wearing her apron.

By this time, the group of children was already kneading shoulders, pounding legs, and tapping backs.

"These two little brats know how to enjoy themselves? They're even ordering them around?"

"Isn't that so? It's different now that they've made money. They bought a pocketful of candy and then teased these children, letting them knead shoulders and pound backs, and rewarding each of them with a piece of candy when they felt comfortable."

Ye Yaodong looked at Ye Xiaoxi and chuckled, "One piece of candy bought you off?"

"This is what I earned, of course it's different. And everyone got some, they love eating candy."

The group of little kids all echoed, they loved eating candy the most.

"You've become a big sister now? And developed a group of little followers?"

Ye Xiaoxi was very proud, "Of course, I have many toys, I have so many, so they all listen to me."

"Awesome! You guys perform well, and when you've kneaded me until I'm comfortable, I'll buy you candy too."

"Thank you, Third Uncle..."

"Thank you, Uncle Dong..."

Ye Mu muttered, "You're over 30, and you're still learning from Ah Hai and the others, acting so unreliable, playing with a group of little brats."

Lin Xiuqing said with a smile: "I'll fry some vegetable meatballs later and share them with them."

"Yay~"

Ye Xiaoxi cheered happily, and the others followed suit.

Ye Yaodong asked: "Watching the fun this morning, what was the result?"

"What other result could there be? They paid, of course. If they didn't pay, how could they spend the New Year? They made such a scene that you couldn't have peace, gave 5,000, and under the witness of the villagers, it was considered settled. From now on, they have nothing to do with each other and owe each other nothing."

After Lin Xiuqing finished speaking, Ye Mu added.

"It was that woman who came over. She said it was her money that allowed Chen Wei to go out of the village to make money. Then it seemed she held some leverage, so Chen Wei agreed immediately and went to get the money. His wife wouldn't allow it at first, but he slapped her. Then the people around persuaded them to stop fighting, and after the money was given, the people dispersed."

"Then the people took the money and left, and the couple started fighting again. What kind of business is this?"

"They had a perfectly good family, wouldn't it be better to live a good life? Why go through all this trouble? He already has a wife and children at home and still messes around. He deserves to pay a large sum. Did he think everyone was just there to be slept with?"

"They made a scene for several days, and the whole village watched the fun for several days. This was truly more lively than a big show."

The old lady sighed: "It's New Year's Eve today, and with this happening, the people are gone, and they can't even spend the New Year properly."

"The people are gone?"

Ye Mu carried a colorful basin and said: "Gone. The couple had a fight, were pulled apart, and then Chen Wei took a briefcase similar to yours and left."

"Damn."

"He probably wanted to leave a long time ago, but was blocked at his door for several days and couldn't go anywhere. Now he's just run off."

"Not even spending the New Year."

Ye Fu interjected, "What kind of New Year is this? It's been made into such a mess, the house is not at peace, how can they have the heart to spend the New Year? I bet no one is even cooking."

Ye Mu said: "Dongzi, you must not learn from such people, don't learn bad things outside."

"How could I possibly do such a thing? More than half of the able-bodied men in the village are supervising me, and there's Dad too."

"That's true, my son definitely wouldn't do such a thing."

"Then why are you lecturing me?"

"Just a reminder, don't get carried away just because you have money."

"Got it."

Ye Yaodong suddenly didn't have the mood to enjoy the service of the little brats anymore, waved his hand to tell them they didn't need to do it anymore, and took out 50 cents for Ye Xiaoxi.

"Take it and buy candy to share with everyone."

"Great, charge~ let's go to the store~"

"Charge~"

A little chubby kid ran at the front, followed by a bunch of children, not only those younger than her but also those older.

"These kids, so noisy..."

"Huh? Why are there two more puppies?" Lin Xiuqing asked from inside the room.

"Just caught them. They are two wolf dogs. When I first brought them back, the dogs at home kept barking at them. Don't look at these two puppies as small, they are quite fierce too. They jumped out of the basket and barked at the local dogs. If I hadn't stopped them, they would have fought. That's why I brought the basket into the room."

It was also because these two were a bit small, looking like they had just been weaned, and he was worried they would freeze outside, so he put them in the room.

"Wolf dogs? No wonder they look different. How do you raise them? Won't the two kinds of dogs fight?"

"I don't know, I've never raised them. I'll keep them in the room for now, and when I go up to Zhoushan, I'll take them with me."

"Alright."

Lin Xiuqing took the basket out for everyone to see, then took it back and put it on the firewood pile next to the stove. In the whole house, except for the quilt, this was the warmest place.

These two dogs weren't discovered by the children in the family until lunchtime.

One by one, they couldn't even bother to eat, holding their rice bowls and surrounding the firewood pile, looking at the two puppies, and even feeding the puppies their own rice.

If the adults hadn't stopped them, they would have held the puppies on their laps and eaten with them.

After the meal, they couldn't be stopped from holding the puppies in their arms and running around, showing off that their family had two more little wolf dogs.

Ye Yaodong was worried they would be played to death and wouldn't grow up.

It seemed he couldn't take these two dogs away.

More than just not being able to take them away, when he went out for a stroll after eating, the three in his family had already started training these two little wolf dogs.

They took a steel ring and let the two puppies jump through it, and were even regretting that they couldn't burn a fire ring for them to jump through.

"Damn, don't abuse animals."

Ye Yaodong saw the two puppies placed on the ground, waiting to jump through the iron ring, and hurriedly picked them up and put them in his arms. They were even using a rope tied to a bone to lure them to jump.

"Circuses all jump like that, and there are fire rings too."

"Damn, I wasn't home, what have you guys been playing? Playing with new tricks?"

"Third Uncle, they said there are fire rings burning in the circus, and then they let the bears jump through them, it was so good-looking."

"Dad, our dogs can too. Huahua~ stand up and wave~"

Ye Chenghu gave instructions to the dog on the side as if showing off. The spotted dog on the side moved over with a look of hopelessness, and then its two front paws stood up.

"Turn around again."

He held the dog's paw with one hand, and the spotted dog actually cooperated and turned around.

Ye Chenghu said excitedly, "Dad, look, our dog can too."

"With you guys, their dog life is also quite difficult..."

"We asked Mom to buy it bones and pig lungs to eat!"

Ye Xiaoxi also said excitedly: "Dad, Xiao Hei can too, I also taught Xiao Hei, come here, come here, why are you running? Come here?"

The more she called, the more the little black dog retreated. When she ran to chase it, the little black dog also ran, and it was the kind of running where it looked back while running.

Ye Yaodong couldn't help but support his forehead, these few...

"Can you not use that circus stuff on the dogs? It's fine to train them simply, don't bully or abuse them."

"We won't, how could we abuse them? We like them so much." Ye Chengyang also followed up and retorted loudly.

Ye Yaodong touched the two in his arms, "These two little ones are not allowed to be carried around and played with either. They've just been weaned, don't touch them to death."

After speaking, he also hugged these two puppies back first, really worried that these two would be played to death.

They were still very young and couldn't withstand such tossing.

"Alright, then Dad, you hug them back first, we'll train the other dogs."

The other dogs had also disappeared by now.

Probably afraid of them too.

"Your mother is calling you home to take a bath. Take advantage of the sun at noon, it's not cold to take a bath, hurry up and wash, and put on new clothes."

"Ah, wearing new clothes? Wow, going home to take a bath and wear new clothes~"

Ye Yaodong walked back slowly.

The children around heard that they were going to take a bath and wear new clothes, so they hurriedly ran to their respective homes, also preparing to take a bath and wear new clothes, scattering in a rush.

The dogs that had run far away slowly gathered at his feet again.

Some bit his pant leg, some whimpered a few times, some stood up directly, put their two front feet on his arm, and barked loudly at the two little wolf dogs in his arms.

The two little wolf dogs in his arms also turned their heads and barked wildly at the local dogs, showing their sharp canine teeth, as if they were about to fight at any time.

Ye Yaodong shook the dog off his arm, "Go, go play by yourselves."

Lin Xiuqing was busy in the room. The three children shouted that they wanted to take a bath and wear new clothes as soon as they ran back. Her head was big, and she couldn't handle it all at once.

As soon as she saw Ye Yaodong return, she hurriedly ordered him to help and stop playing with the dogs.

On New Year's Eve, the whole village seemed to be lit up by festive lanterns.

Bright red lanterns were lit in front of every household, the warm red swaying gently in the cold wind, illuminating the originally dim entrance brightly.

The halo of the lanterns projected onto the mottled walls, light and shadow interlaced, like a flowing scroll.

After eating the reunion dinner and receiving the red envelopes, the children ran to the door to set off firecrackers and fireworks happily.

The adults also went to the village to find friends to chat and play cards, leaving only Lin Xiuqing busy cleaning up the mess.

The Spring Festival Gala was playing on the TV in the room. The cheerful music and humorous sketches made Lin Xiuqing feel more energetic the more she listened.

These few years were the happiest and most prosperous years she had ever had. Even though she was busy alone, her face was filled with a joyful and happy smile.

There were also two puppies running out of the nest at her feet, circling around her feet.

Worried about stepping on them, she kicked them lightly to the side, but the little wolf dog did a somersault and then ran back to her feet.

In an instant, she seemed to understand why the whole family seemed to like dogs so much.

After cleaning up the inside and outside of the house, she had time to take a bath and tidy herself up, and also had time to put on her gold necklace and gold bracelet.

Ye Yaodong was even more satisfied when he discovered she was wearing the gold necklace and gold bracelet at night.

1988, the first day of the Lunar New Year.

It started raining heavily in the early morning. The sound of the rain couldn't dampen the children's enthusiasm for running outside at all; they still had a pocketful of firecrackers that they hadn't set off.

Ye Chenghu and Ye Chengyang wore rain boots, each holding an umbrella, standing in the rain and spinning their umbrellas, making Ye Xiaoxi in the corridor jump with envy.

His own two silly boys, their clapping hadn't stopped at all.

"Dad, brother won't give me an umbrella."

"Then beat your brother up on the first day of the New Year."

Ye Xiaoxi immediately turned around and went to get the whip.

The two brothers saw the whip being delivered to Ye Yaodong's hand and suddenly felt a bit uneasy...

"Dad, today is the first day of the New Year..."

"You also know it's the first day of the New Year? Look at the water on your bodies and your heels."

The two brothers looked down and saw that their new cotton-padded jackets were half-wet and half-dry, and their heels were even more terrible. They didn't know when, but the pants below their butts were already splattered with a large patch of mud.

"Dad, I'm going to the old house to call Grandpa and Grandma to come over for dinner." Ye Chengyang ran away nimbly.

Ye Chenghu also ran with an umbrella, "I'm going too."

"I want to too..."

Ye Xiaoxi was anxious and wanted to rush into the rain, but Ye Yaodong hurriedly grabbed her collar.

"Do you want to be beaten to death? Rushing out in the rain."

She looked at the whip and didn't want to move anymore. She was the one who had put the whip into her father's hand.

"I'm going to find the doggies."

She bent down and escaped from under his hand, then drilled into the room.

Ye Yaodong also felt that the three in his family were really noisy. He hadn't been home much, only returning the evening before yesterday, and after staying for only one day, he felt a bit of a headache.

He also followed into the room and then talked to Ah Qing about the two little brats.

Could he not know those little tricks?

They had obviously gone out to play in the rain and got themselves wet and dirty, but they had a perfect excuse to shirk responsibility by going to call their grandparents to come over for dinner.

"It's actually raining on the first day, and it's heavy rain."

Lin Xiuqing echoed, "Yeah, it looks like I don't know when the rain will stop. There's no atmosphere for the New Year anymore."

"Yeah, the atmosphere was only there before the New Year, now it's gone. If it rains tomorrow, I won't be able to accompany you back to your parents' house."

"That doesn't matter, we'll go whenever the rain stops and the road conditions are good. It doesn't matter if we don't go. It's no different if we go when they go to the city."

"I'm just worried I won't have time. The shop will open on the fifth. Around the tenth, I plan to go to the provincial capital and stay for about four or five days. Regardless of whether there's a harvest or not, I'll be back around the fourteenth. After watching the fun on the fifteenth, I'll set off for Zhoushan around the sixteenth or seventeenth."

"Just arrange it according to your time, it doesn't matter here, we'll see when the time comes."

"Yeah."

The drizzling rain continued for several days, washing away the New Year atmosphere.

For several days, few people could be seen on the road, and only the intermittent sound of children throwing firecrackers into the rain and puddles could be heard.

Every household could only stay at home, and the village suddenly felt silent.

But when going to some individual families, one could discover that the silence was fake. Outdoor activities had concentrated indoors, and everywhere was filled with smoke, with everyone holding a handful of money and standing on stools.

This special New Year atmosphere that should be there still couldn't be missing.

(End of chapter)