Chapter 1452: The Unlucky Fatty

On the day he returned, April 20th, Ye Yaodong brought along two people, plus an extra "drag-along" tag-along.

The dead fatty was out early and back late every day, even busier than him; sometimes he didn't even come back to sleep. The night before he left, the fatty had popped up with wide eyes, saying he wouldn't take him back.

He had brought him out, but wasn't bringing him back.

This past month, besides the canteen and bathhouse in the base camp operating with great success, the fatty had also bought a piece of land outside.

By now, a shell had already been built, and it looked like it would be ready for business soon; he hadn't been idle this past month either.

"It looks like your place is almost ready to open. Isn't going back now a waste of time?"

"How could it be that fast? Right now, only the shell is mostly built. There's still plastering, doors, windows, and tons of odds and ends. Once everything is done, it still needs to air out, and I have to go buy other furniture."

"Then shouldn't you stay even more?"

"Don't I need people to work? Last time I only brought two relatives up; the rest were local aunties I hired. When this restaurant opens, I'll need a couple of my own people to watch the shop. The others can just be hired locally."

"If you can hire locals, of course you should. Otherwise, bringing people up from the hometown is such a hassle, and you don't have to worry about housing for locals."

"That's what I'm saying, but I still need a few of my own people to help watch the shop. It just so happens that while it's still being built, I'll go back to call some people, and then buy the furniture once they're up here."

"Fine, then hurry up and settle your affairs. We have to be on the boat and leaving by 6:00 tomorrow morning."

"So early!"

"Of course. Better early than late. Since you're adding yourself last minute, I don't know if it's even possible or if there's a spot for you. You'd better go early tomorrow."

"Oh my god, then I'd better hurry and settle things."

The fatty rushed out like a gust of wind again, saw his bicycle, and hopped on it while he was at it.

Ye Yaodong looked at the visibly sinking tires and worried he would burst them just by sitting on it.

Ye Fu said, "You should pack up everything you need to pack. Since you're going back this trip, you might as well bring back the money you've earned. You made about 170,000 or 180,000 this month, right?"

"You guess?"

"If not 170,000 or 180,000, then at least 150,000? There was a lot of rain this month, and the 5 Dongsheng ships were off and on for over half a month. That Ocean-Going No. 1 is truly a money-maker."

"The workers' wages haven't been paid yet, and the boat captains' shares haven't been calculated either."

"Then that's still about 20,000 yuan, right?"

"Stop pondering. What's yours won't be missing. We'll settle it once a year, or settle with everyone once every half year."

"Then you must hide it well when you take the cargo ship back. Be careful, don't let anyone steal it."

"Mm, it's all packed away."

He was now receiving large-denomination 50-yuan bills, and he had regularly gone to the bank to exchange the small ones. It was all paper currency; he wrapped it in old clothes and put it all in a sack.

The next day, he put on old clothes, shouldered a sack, and prepared to set off. He didn't plan to bring the briefcase; it couldn't hold much, and it was conspicuous instead.

Inside the sack were money and clothes. The spring clothes still had some thickness, and he had specially packed 2 cotton-padded jackets inside, making it look bulging.

The other two workers following him back each carried a small sack as well.

Ye Yaodong had even specially worn his patched work clothes today, along with liberation shoes with holes worn through them. The three of them were dressed similarly, looking exactly like migrant workers.

When the fatty saw them early in the morning, his eyes widened, and then he made a tsk-tsk sound.

"Tsk tsk, since when did Boss Ye San become so down-and-out?"

Ye Yaodong looked down at his own patched clothes and the liberation shoes with the big toe exposed, feeling somewhat proud.

"I searched the entire camp, and it took hundreds of people to find this one pair of shoes that fit. Everyone is making money now; it's not easy for me to find a pair of broken shoes."

"If you go back dressed like this, people in the village will think their family members have met with disaster."

He paused for a moment, "Seems like it."

The fatty tugged at his own oversized Zhongshan suit, straightened the fountain pen in his chest pocket, and held his head high.

"You have to dress like me to fit the temperament of a boss."

"Dressed like you, I'm afraid I won't be robbed enough."

"How could that be? Just hail a rickshaw when you go out, and you'll be sent straight to the pier."

"Just wait and see."

"If your briefcase is useless, lend it to me to carry. You guys help me carry this luggage."

The fatty handed a large blue-and-white striped cloth bag he was holding to the two workers, and the two of them took it very readily.

"Damn it, you're even ordering my people around?"

"Hurry up and go. Lend me your briefcase to use. That way I can carry it and return home in glory; otherwise, people will think I went out to work as a cook."

"It's as if you aren't a cook."

"I'm a boss now. Hurry up, go. It just so happens to give you three a chance to be my lackeys. Look, one boss with three subordinates returning to the hometown, it fits our getup perfectly."

Ye Yaodong rolled his eyes at him and hurriedly went back to the room to get the briefcase for him. Anyway, there wasn't anything in it.

Giving him the briefcase would save him from dawdling. They had to hurry; they had to leave quickly.

It was just as well to let this conspicuous person divert the risk. He was carrying hundreds of thousands in cash on him; having someone to carry the front for him was just right.

The fatty took the suitcase, weighed it in his hand, and smiled so wide his mouth almost reached the back of his head.

"I'll buy one tomorrow too."

"If it gets robbed, remember to buy a new one to compensate me."

"Are you using me as a target?"

"You're the one who insisted."

The fatty shook his head, feeling it didn't matter, "It's fine, anyway you guys carry my luggage, I'll just hold your briefcase to show off. Are you sure you don't want to change clothes?"

"Not changing. It's just right to be a laborer for you for once. I'll change when I'm almost at my doorstep."

He also brought two sets of clothes to change into in his sack; it would be the same to change when he was almost home.

Ye Fu urged them, "Hurry up and go, it's going to be too late, still dawdling there."

"Going, going, going."

The four of them took their luggage and immediately went out, looking for a rickshaw as they walked.

However, they didn't find a rickshaw, but waited for an empty hitchhiking tractor first. After agreeing on the price, they got straight on the vehicle.

When paying the fare after getting off, Ye Yaodong and the fatty both reached for money at the same time.

"I'll pay..."

"I'll pay..."

The fatty's large hand holding the briefcase swept across, blocking him behind, "I'm your boss, how much money do you make? Still paying the fare?"

"That's true, then I won't stand on ceremony with you, Boss."

Ye Yaodong calmly put his hand back into his pocket.

The moment the fatty's hand that was handing over the money became empty, the other hand holding the briefcase also became empty.

"Grass! My briefcase..."

"Thief..."

"Screw his mother, my briefcase..."

The fatty was also staggered by the tug, his whole body fell onto Ye Yaodong and the others, and only then did he realize he had been robbed.

He squeezed through the crowd wanting to chase, but the person who robbed him squeezed into the crowd and was already gone.

The area near the pier was already packed with people; losing something in this crowd, being robbed, one could only admit bad luck.

"No way to find them, they've all hidden in the crowd." The tractor driver said, "You're dressed like a big boss, and still carrying a briefcase, if these thugs don't rob you, who are they going to rob?"

"Damn... dog thing... just left the house..." The fatty was indignant; Dongzi had really hit the nail on the head.

Ye Yaodong said, "I knew it, carrying a briefcase is too flashy, and you're still wearing a Zhongshan suit, leather shoes, and hair mousse on your head... a perfect fat sheep..."

The fatty cursed, "Excessive, haven't even had a chance to show off..."

At this moment, someone walked over and bumped into him, and before he could start cursing, the person who bumped into him squeezed into the crowd and disappeared again.

"Screw your mother, none of you have eyes..."

Ye Yaodong pointed at his chest and said, "The fountain pen on your chest is gone."

The fatty looked down, clutched his chest, and looked heartbroken, "Screw his ancestors for eighteen generations... poor for nineteen generations..."

"Do you want to feel your pocket again?"

He hurriedly felt it, his finger had already poked out from his pants pocket, and the tear was neatly cut.

He turned his pocket out again, it was empty.

"His mother's..."

The two workers also nervously reached their hands into their pockets, and instantly breathed a sigh of relief, it was still there!

Although it was only a few yuan, it was still a few yuan.

Both of them looked at the fatty with sympathy.

Just getting off the station for less than a minute, and he had really been cleaned out.

Ye Yaodong also stuck one hand into his pocket and shook it; the clinking sound of coins could still be heard in his pocket.

"Just said so."

"Let's go, let's go, count it as my bad luck, his grandmother's, bad luck..."

"Remember to compensate me for a briefcase." Ye Yaodong said as he walked.

"You really have no sympathy at all, just thinking about your briefcase."

"Who told you to be a big fat sheep? In this day and age, who can eat until they're as fat-headed and big-eared as you? Look at everyone on this road, they're all as thin as hemp stalks, some even look sallow, just your physique, one look and you know you're rich as oil, and you still dress up like this, if they don't rob you, who do they rob? If they don't steal from you, who do they steal from?"

"That was too fast..."

He had just gotten off the car to pay the fare, and his briefcase was robbed, his fountain pen was swiped, and the money in his pocket was stolen again.

They only picked on him to fleece, while the other three were all fine.

"It's okay, it's a drop in the bucket for you. Let's go, hurry and find a boat. This boat leaves on time and doesn't wait for people. I don't even know if there's a spot for you."

The fatty cursed as he walked, cursing everyone's ancestors for eighteen generations, all kinds of curses.

Passersby saw his fierce look, his mouth full of curses, and his face full of fat shaking non-stop, and were all scared into walking to the side.

The area around them was actually a bit wider.

However, when they found the cargo ship, the fatty discovered that there were several more holes in his clothes, all cut by a small knife, and they were all at the pocket locations.

Even the back pocket of his pants was cut open, revealing his underwear.

He felt the front and felt the back, "I finally know why I always see so many people sewing and mending at their pocket locations on the road."

Ye Yaodong put down his luggage and also noticed a hole in his sack, revealing the sweater inside. It didn't look like a big problem; anyway, he had wrapped it in several layers inside and out.

"So you have to be careful when you go out, let this be a lesson to you, especially in a place like this where dragons and snakes are mixed. Compared to here, our place is much safer."

"Next time I'll learn from you, dress in rags when I come out, and cover it with a black mask, just showing my eyes."

"You might as well stick a scar on your forehead."

"Makes sense."

Ye Yaodong didn't joke with him anymore. After finding the cargo ship, he hurriedly boarded the ship to register his name and showed his boat ticket.

He also mentioned wanting to buy another boat ticket for the fatty.

It's just that there were no sleeping berths left. If he was willing, he could still board the ship and squeeze in the cabin with others.

Tickets with berths were several times more expensive. Ye Yaodong wasn't short of money and was willing to spend it. He bought tickets with berths for the workers, and he had bought his early, so they all had places to lie down.

Since the fatty had already come, he certainly couldn't go back.

He asked Ye Yaodong to pay and register for him; his pockets were empty now, he had no money.

He looked at Ye Yaodong's two workers again, preparing to discuss with them, spend some money, and let them give up a berth.

"Fine, then register what your name is."

Ye Yaodong was stunned for a moment, what was the fatty's name?

What was it again?

"Register as Fatty?"

The person recording looked at him, didn't say anything, and just wrote it down.

Ye Yaodong also hurriedly supplemented the boat ticket, then called the three people standing to the side discussing to find their berths.

"Fatty, what's your name?"

The fatty's eyes widened, "Your grandfather's, we grew up together since we were kids, and you actually ask me what my name is?"

"Yeah, isn't it all called Fatty? Who told you to be fat since you were a kid, if I don't call you Fatty, what do I call you?"

"Your grandfather's, your ancestors', don't talk to me, I don't have a brother like you."

"Then give me the money for the boat ticket."

"Then give me the tractor fare."

"Then compensate me for the briefcase."

"Fart to you."

Ye Yaodong found his berth and swapped with the worker to the upper bunk, put his sack on it, climbed up, and didn't care what the fatty's name was anymore.

As for how the fatty negotiated the berth with the workers, he wouldn't care.

After they settled down, people entered the cabin one after another, and the roar of the machine sounded.

It was too noisy, no one had the desire to talk. Everyone had a berth separated by a distance, and everyone minded their own business.

Not long after, the ship started moving.

The fatty was in the lower bunk, excitedly saying: "Dongzi, it moved, it's leaving."

"Mm, it's going to take three days."

He wilted instantly, "So miserable, twice as long as when we came up."

"This is considered fast. I specially picked the shortest time to arrive. Some cargo ships have to go for a week."

"Play a game of cards? Make time go faster?"

"That works too."

Ye Yaodong climbed down quickly. It just so happened there were 4 people, and they had just gotten up early in the morning and weren't sleepy, so forming a game was just right to pass the time.

The cabin was dim, so they used their own flashlights and hung them on the berths.

With entertainment, the few of them talked and laughed, and didn't feel the time was hard to endure.

When it was time, they ate dry rations with water, slept when it got dark, and continued when they woke up.

After three and a half days of darkness, someone outside shouted with a megaphone: The provincial capital of Min Province has arrived. Those who want to get off the ship, pack your luggage in advance and prepare to get off.

Only then did the three of them throw away the poker, quickly climb back to their berths to get their luggage.

After walking out of the cabin, all four of them squinted their eyes in unison and used their palms to block the light.

Ye Yaodong sighed, "Why does it feel like being released from prison?"

"Do you know what it's like to be released from prison?"

Ye Yaodong glanced at him, "When you're released from prison, remember to tell me, so I can gain some knowledge."

"Easy to say, when I go in, I'll take you with me."

"His mother's."

"Let's go, get off the ship and send me home."

"Flatter me a bit."

"Brother Dong~"

Ye Yaodong shook off a floor of goosebumps, "Shut up..."

The people queuing to get off the ship around them all looked at the two with their arms around each other's shoulders with strange eyes.

They couldn't understand the dialect, but they could hear the affected tone...

Seeing that it was the sound made by the fatty, everyone showed a sinister expression, and some also shook off a floor of goosebumps.

"Cough, he told me to shout." The fatty pointed at Ye Yaodong with his index finger.

Ye Yaodong directly grabbed his index finger wanting to break it off.

"Shut your mouth."

"Hiss, let go, let go... gently, it's going to break..."

Everyone looked away in disgust.

"Behave yourself."

"Under the eaves, one has to bow one's head..."

After they got off the ship, they all felt their steps were extremely weak, except for Ye Yaodong.

He strode forward as usual, leaving the three idiots behind.

"Boss..."

"Dongzi, slow down, wait for me..."

"Three soft-legged shrimps, wait, I'll go find a car."

"Find a car to go straight home?"

"Can you find a car on the street that can cross cities and send you home? Thinking of farting."

Ye Yaodong first found a car to send them to Lin Ji Shang's place.

They didn't meet anyone, but the people at Lin Ji Shang's place also knew him and treated him with good food and drink.

It was evening when he finally saw Lin Ji Shang.

"Knew you arrived in the provincial capital today, so I told people in advance to greet you. Didn't neglect you, right? I've also arranged the boat back to the city early tomorrow morning. It just so happens I arranged a boat of cargo in advance."

"Too thoughtful, then many thanks."

"No need to thank, thank for what? When you go to Zhou City, I'll still need you to lead the way and settle me in."

"Easy to say, you look at which time is convenient for you, after May 5th, I can set off."

"Good, I'll arrange it in advance, and call you when the departure time is set. There's still at least 10 days, it should be no problem."

"You have to be a little earlier, too late and I can't wait, I also have to go up as soon as possible."

"Understand."

Being able to catch Lin Ji Shang's hitchhiking boat up actually saved him a lot of trouble, without having to sit on a cargo ship for several days.

Moreover, the cargo ship's time wasn't that coincidental; it wasn't that there was a boat whenever he wanted to leave.

After they finished talking, the fatty asked him sneakily.

"When did you get so familiar with him?"

Ye Yaodong recalled, he didn't know when he got so familiar with him either. At the beginning, he still thought about keeping a distance. Maybe it was the intermittent contact, you felt this person's character wasn't bad, so you slowly got familiar.

"Forgot, occasionally had contact a few times, anyway, we're all from the same village."

"Heard he used to smuggle, and later a cousin or uncle was caught, and then he turned over a new leaf? True or false?" The fatty looked around with thief-like eyes and asked in a low voice.

"Don't know, I even heard he used to shine shoes before."

"Fart, how could he shine shoes, it's all to fool people in the village. Do you think he looks like someone who shines shoes?"

"Whatever, anyway, he's doing transportation now, which is also a proper job."

"That's true, heard he's doing very well."

"Dozens of ships already, maybe even more than me."

"Then he's more low-key than you. He hasn't even sailed his ships back. Every time you come back, your ships fill an entire pier, even passing through the town causes a sensation."

"Then if I don't stop at the pier, where do I stop? My fishing boats, don't they all sail back during the New Year? His transport ships don't all have to sail back. During the New Year, who knows where the ships are."

"Just heard you two talking, he's also going to Zhou City with you?"

"Right, originally he was going to follow up after the New Year, but he couldn't get away at the time. After May 5th, let him sail the boat to send us up, isn't this saving trouble?"

"Are you trying to get everyone you know up there?"

"What kind of talk is that? It's people taking the initiative to find me, it's not like I instigated him. It's only you who's worth me worrying about."

The fatty was satisfied and patted his shoulder, "Good brother."

"I think of bringing you along whenever I make money."

"We grew up wearing the same pair of pants, of course you have to think of me when you make money? Just say when we set off, how many disasters I blocked for you at the pier!"

Ye Yaodong shrugged his shoulders and shook off his hand, "None of my business, it's you who were flashy, that's why you were robbed."

"Don't think I don't know, you were so quick to lend me the briefcase, wasn't it just thinking of letting me be a target for you?"

"I asked you to borrow it? Wasn't it you who took the initiative to ask to borrow it? Even without carrying the briefcase, you were still the first choice to be robbed."

"Then at least I wouldn't have to compensate you for a briefcase, it's very expensive."

"Get lost."

"Remember to call me when you get up tomorrow, don't run away secretly."

Ye Yaodong couldn't be bothered to pay attention to him.

The next day they took the boat for another half day, and then went to the fish sauce factory in the city. By the time they got on the tractor and arrived home, it was already night.

Lin Ji Shang's cargo ship wanted to send him home on the way after unloading the cargo.

However, looking at that cargo ship full of goods, it wasn't that fast to unload, and after unloading, there was still handover. It wasn't as fast as him taking the tractor directly.

Originally, land transport was also faster than boat transport.

Lin Xiuqing had been waiting at home for a long time. After the children knew, they also waited from morning to night for a day, and asked 800 times.

Hearing the sound of the tractor in the middle of the night, they were originally already lying in bed, but hearing the movement, they all climbed up immediately.

The tractor hadn't even entered the workshop before it stopped.

Ye Yaodong jumped down and was surrounded by them, hugging his legs.

The three children's faces were flushed with excitement.

Not far away, several nephews and nieces also climbed up and walked out.

"Third Uncle, you're back!"

"Third Uncle, why didn't my dad come back?"

"They're busy, I came back to handle things."

Lin Xiuqing took his sack and asked with a smile: "Why did you arrive so late?"

The fatty three stood to the side, looking at Ye Yaodong who was surrounded by a crowd of people, sighing.

"No one saw us."

?? Father was discharged from the hospital on Monday, normal updates starting today.

? (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 1453 =====

"No one saw us."

……

?? Dad is being discharged from the hospital on Monday, normal updates today.

? (End of chapter)