Chapter 1457: Hundred-Yuan Banknote

Ye Yaodong walked further out toward the pier.

A cart had just finished unloading and was being pushed back.

Lin Lin Xiuqing was also covered in sweat, her face flushed red, while several young men and women nearby were helping stack the goods together.

"You're up?"

"What time did you get up so early? You've already moved so much?"

"I thought we shouldn't make them wait too long, so I got up an hour early to move some first. Is the boat arriving soon?"

Ye Yaodong checked his watch; it was just past six.

"It should be soon. They called earlier saying six o'clock, and since that time has passed, it should be arriving any moment."

Travel time at sea isn't that precise; speed, wind strength, and wind direction all have an effect.

"Have you eaten?"

"Not yet, but the porridge at home is already cooked. I'll go check the bun shop in the village and buy a lot more to serve as breakfast for everyone."

"That's good. Why not buy them all? You can take some to eat on the way."

"Alright, then you go. I'll watch over things here for a while."

"That works."

"Also, go wake up Fatty. Don't dawdle and make them wait."

As soon as Lin Lin Xiuqing left, two older aunts nearby smiled and said to him.

"Aqing is very capable, hardworking, and knows so much."

"You two as a couple, one outside and one inside, it's just right..."

Ye Yaodong nodded; it was indeed good.

A virtuous wife!

"More goods have arrived, move, move, move..."

Ye Yaodong rolled up his sleeves and joined everyone in moving the cargo.

Before long, Lin Lin Xiuqing returned carrying a large basket, calling for everyone to eat the buns and steamed buns first.

He took a meat bun, greeted everyone, and the couple headed home first; porridge was still cooking at home, and they would eat a bit more there to get full.

Everyone knew how to load and unload cargo; they didn't need anyone to supervise.

As he walked, Ye Yaodong told Lin Lin Xiuqing about the two twins from that morning.

Lin Lin Xiuqing found it quite amusing upon hearing this.

"Those three are never trouble-free. The two younger ones hid chickens and ducks under the quilt to play with. Pei Yu caught a small snake last month and kept it in a tin can, placing it right on the table in the room. Ye Ye Huimei didn't know, opened it, and was so scared she lost her soul."

Ye Yaodong shivered. "You saying that makes my hair stand on end."

"Who says otherwise?" Lin Lin Xiuqing rubbed her arm. "This child doesn't know what hobbies to have, liking to catch snakes."

"It must be Aguang. Instead of teaching good things, he teaches this. A perfectly good girl is led astray."

"It was indeed scary. Ye Ye Huimei couldn't even fight back. These three cause chaos every single day."

"My daughter is still the well-behaved one."

"That's true. She looks loud and frantic, but she is indeed the most honest."

People are afraid of comparisons.

The two went home to eat, then one went to the workshop and the other to the pier.

Around seven o'clock, the boat originally scheduled for six o'clock finally came into sight.

By then, they had moved almost all the cargo, which was piled on the pier, waiting for the fishing boat to dock so it could be loaded.

Lin Ji's boat was larger and could only stop in the middle of the sea; then his small boats would transport the cargo over, and it would be loaded onto the big ship.

Earlier, Ye Yaodong had already directed people to load one boat; upon seeing the large ship in the distance, he led the crew to sail over.

As they approached, the large ship had just stopped.

This was a cargo ship over thirty meters long, appearing to have been modified later.

"The wind direction was bad, so we sailed a bit slower and are an hour late."

"It's fine, I'm not in a hurry. Anyway, the cargo was just moved and piled on the pier, so we haven't waited long. I just need your people to help out; I don't know how to stack the goods, so you decide."

"Alright."

People from both ships joined in moving the cargo together.

Ye Yaodong made four round trips to transport all the goods, and his own luggage and belongings were loaded onto the ship as well.

After the last boat was unloaded, he didn't return to shore, simply instructing the workshop workers to sail the boat back.

He had already explained everything to Lin Lin Xiuqing while still on shore.

Once all the cargo was loaded, the ship began to move, while everyone was still on deck moving and organizing the goods.

"Dongzi, once we get up there, when will you be back next time?" Fatty asked.

"We haven't even left yet, and you're already thinking about coming back?"

"Of course. Where is more comfortable than home?"

"I thought you'd find the outside more comfortable and freer, with no one controlling you, plus a soft bed, and little sisters calling you 'Boss Fatty' and 'Brother Fatty'."

Fatty coughed twice, glanced at Lin Ji and the surrounding workers, glared at him, and said, "Nonsense, that never happened."

"When you'll be back, you'll have to ask Boss Lin. Maybe when he returns, we can catch a ride on his boat; otherwise, waiting for a cargo ship is too hard and takes too much time."

Both of them looked at Lin Ji.

Lin Ji said, "I'm not sure; handling business isn't that fast. Anyway, I'll rent a few empty rooms from you. Do you have any?"

"Yes, yes, yes. There are still over ten rooms left from the houses built after the New Year."

"Then it's convenient. I'll stay in a few rooms at your place. When I'm ready to head back, I'll notify you. If you want to take a boat, you can ride on my ship back."

"Alright, that's even better, it saves a lot of trouble. If you set up a freight outlet up there later, it'll be even more convenient for everyone. If there's an emergency, you won't need to go out and ask; you'll naturally know which day the scheduled boat returns."

"Indeed, it will be convenient."

Ye Yaodong and Fatty were overjoyed.

When there are specific departure and return times, I can manage things properly, and I won't end up going out and finding it hard to get home.

"The cargo is all organized. You two go rest in the cabin; there aren't many people with us, so there are enough beds. I'll go to the cockpit."

"Alright, then we'll trouble you for the journey."

"I'll watch the first half; you'll have to watch the second half. We don't know where to enter the island and dock."

"No problem."

After Lin Ji left, Fatty bumped his shoulder and said, "You're still the smart one, knowing how to get him up there to set up a freight outlet."

"How is it that I got him up there? He knew I was in Zhou City and proposed it himself."

"With such a huge fishing ground up there and so many fish products, they definitely need to be transported out. That money is definitely easy to earn."

"Easy to earn, but you still need the ability to earn it. Do you know how to earn it? Do you have the connections?"

"I'm just a cook. What money could I possibly earn? Even if you gave it to me, I couldn't earn it. One eats from a bowl according to one's ability. I can only run a restaurant and deal with oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar."

"That's exactly it. I can only catch fish, and at most buy a bit more land."

"Why did you buy so much land? You don't even need it."

"Then why do I have so much money saved? I don't need that either. I've already bought a bunch of boats; might as well buy some land. Land is the foundation."

"That's true."

Fatty thought for a moment and added, "It's just that I feel this person seems quite dangerous. If you get him to your camp and rent him a place there, won't it be unsafe?"

"Why do I feel it would be even safer?"

He wasn't worried at all.

He wouldn't threaten Lin Ji in any way; on the contrary, he had even done him a favor.

Whether Lin Ji's cousin or uncle got into trouble, it was because he had notified him in advance.

Everyone does their own thing without interfering with each other.

Besides, they are all from the same village, neighbors who have known each other for years, so they know what kind of person he is.

Although he was considered a dangerous element before, hasn't he reformed now?

They all said they wanted to rent from him; could he say no?

He could only welcome him warmly.

"Safer?"

"Yes, we are all honest people. With him here, isn't that equivalent to having an extra layer of protection? Can someone in freight be an ordinary person? He must have some connections too."

"That seems to make some sense."

"Stop worrying nonsense. It's none of your business. Just cook your dishes, go back to the cabin to sleep, and stop acting like a madman blowing in the wind here with you."

Ye Yaodong hooked his shoulder and led him toward the cabin; at this time, no one was on the deck blowing in the wind.

As they moved upstream, the wind blowing all the way was a southeast wind, meaning the wind direction was diagonal, so the speed couldn't be fast. Since they weren't in a hurry anyway, they slowed down.

Even though they didn't stop the boat to rest along the way, it still took them two days to arrive.

By the time they arrived, it was already the early morning of the 17th, just in time for the busiest moment at the dock.

While the fishing boats were queuing to enter the port and dock, Ye Yaodong also gave Lin Ji a detailed introduction to the port.

Now that the introduction is clear, once they go ashore, he can wander around on his own. After all, this place isn't big; riding a bicycle, you can tour everywhere in less than two hours.

He doesn't understand freight matters either, so he'll just have to hope for the best.

Ye's father had already received the phone call that he was coming up and had been waiting there, left waiting and right waiting, but he didn't come.

Not only did he call home, but home also called to ask.

Who would have thought he would arrive in the middle of the night.

Ye's father's room was on the third floor, the farthest from the main gate. He didn't know he had returned; he only woke up from his sleep hearing the sound of a key turning the lock, which scared him into sitting up straight.

"Dongzi?"

"Mm, it's me."

Ye's father hurriedly turned on the light. "Why did you come back so late? I thought you would arrive by tonight at the latest. Who would have thought you'd only arrive now? What time is it?"

Ye Yaodong checked his watch. "Past two, not yet three."

"It's good that you've arrived. Is everything fine at home?"

"Everything is extremely good. But I'm worried that if I say it now, you'll be too happy to sleep tonight, so I'll tell you tomorrow morning."

"If you talk like that, how could I possibly sleep?"

Ye's father's curiosity was aroused. What did he mean by being too happy to sleep? What big good news was there?

If he hadn't said anything, he certainly wouldn't have thought about it. Now that his appetite had been whetted, how could he rest assured and sleep?

"I'll tell you tomorrow. I'm exhausted. I've been on the boat for two days."

Ye Yaodong didn't even tidy his own luggage; he just threw it into the corner and started taking off his clothes, pants, and shoes.

Immediately, a stench of smelly feet made Ye's father pinch his nose tight.

"It stinks to death. Hurry up and wash your feet."

Ye Yaodong threw his smelly socks directly at his father, then went out in his slippers to rinse his feet.

When he returned, Ye's father chased after him again, asking what big good news had happened.

Ye's father had only called back two days ago to ask when he was coming up. He asked for one definite time, didn't ask anything else, and hung up according to the schedule.

Even though they had money now, he couldn't bear to talk for too long; long-distance phone calls were very expensive.

He only spoke on the phone with Ye Yaodong and hadn't spoken to anyone else, so he didn't ask. Ye Yaodong didn't mention it on the phone either, so he simply didn't know.

The other workers went out to sea early and returned late; without rest, they wouldn't even call home, so the people up here still knew nothing of the major events that had occurred in the village.

"Your son was on television, bringing glory to our ancestors!"

"What?"

"I! Was! On! Tele! Vision!"

Ye's father's eyes widened; he joyfully threw off the covers, planted his feet on the ground, and asked, "Really?"

"Of course, or why would I have delayed so long before coming up?"

Ye's father put on his slippers and excitedly paced around him. "When did this happen? Why didn't you mention it on the phone? How did you suddenly end up on television? What's the situation? Why are you only telling me now?"

Ye Yaodong climbed onto his own bunk. "You didn't ask. You were in such a rush on the phone; we barely spoke before the 58-second limit cut us off. How was I supposed to explain? Besides, whether you knew early or late made no difference; you weren't even home."

He then recounted to his father how he got on television—the background, the process, the result—and vividly described the villagers' reactions, giving his father a sense of participation even though he wasn't there.

Ye's father clenched his fist and tapped his palm. "Ah, what a pity! I didn't go back with you, so I didn't see it. We can't receive television here, and there's no rebroadcast. What a shame! This might be the only time in my life, and I missed it. How glorious it was! People all over the province could see it."

"The next day, I went to find Secretary Chen and asked him to get a videotape for me from the county. He agreed, but it won't be quick; it will come to our home. Whenever you go back, I'll buy a VCR and we can watch it."

"There's a videotape too? That's good; we can still watch it. It's just a pity that such a big event happened while we weren't home. You didn't even know to call and tell us."

"What good would calling do? You couldn't see it anyway. If I called, it would just be a message. I can only answer if you call home. Who's to blame if you don't call back yourself?"

"Isn't it because I'm worried about the phone bill?"

"Do I lack that little bit of phone money?"

Ye Yaodong simply pulled the covers over himself and lay down.

Ye's father continued to pace regretfully beside his bed.

"Turn off the lights and go to sleep."

"After missing such a big event, how could I possibly sleep?"

"If you don't sleep, I do. I told you, you definitely wouldn't sleep, yet you insisted I say it."

"You've whetted my appetite; even if you hadn't said it, I wouldn't sleep."

Ye Yaodong pulled the covers completely over his head.

Ye's father kept asking, "If you were on television, does that mean you'll be in the newspaper too?"

He pulled the covers back. "Yes, the newspapers haven't come out yet. Once they do, I'll ask Ah Qing to mail several copies up."

"That's good. Then we can share them for everyone to see."

"Hurry up and sleep. It's already 3 o'clock. If you don't sleep, go lie back on your own bed and stop pacing around mine."

Ye's father happily walked toward his own bed across the room. "Dongzi, since you've been on television and in the newspapers, does the county have any rewards?"

"They've already given the maximum exposure; what more reward do you want? There are policy preferences, but the fish canning factory in the town already has all the support it should have. As for the city level, we'll have to ask sometime; this matter is troublesome, so we'll handle it whenever we have time."

"That's good."

"Turn off the lights."

"Alright, alright, turn off the lights. We'll talk about anything else after we wake up tomorrow."

Ye's father was too excited to sleep anyway; he just closed his eyes to rest. Not long after, hearing the commotion of people going out to sea, he got up.

By the time Ye Yaodong woke up with the sun high in the sky, everyone in the camp knew he had been on television. In a few days, he would be in the newspapers, and copies would be mailed over.

He had just squatted at the doorway brushing his teeth when several men squatted in front of him to ask about his television appearance, saying his father had been too excited to sleep in the middle of the night, got up, and shared the news with them.

Ye Yaodong only nodded and offered a few perfunctory replies; fortunately, not many people were around.

He then asked everyone about the others; Fatty hadn't gotten up yet.

Lin Ji had gotten up at six or seven o'clock, taken people out, and no one was managing him.

Ye Yaodong still had a whole ship's cargo to unload. They had arrived too late, and that time wasn't suitable for unloading. Since they weren't setting up a stall to sell, there was no rush to unload.

He planned to wait until he woke up from a nap, first find a layman to make arrangements, then have the layman drive to the dock to pick up the cargo before unloading could begin.

Lin Ji didn't mind when he unloaded; they would be staying in this place for at least a few days anyway. With the cargo ship parked there and unused, storing the goods for a few days was no problem.

"Dongzi, shall I explain the incoming and outgoing goods for this period to you?"

"Sure. Have Old You bring the ledger over; I'll check the accounts while you explain them to me."

"Eat first. I'll give you a general overview, and then after you finish eating, you can look at the ledger and we'll discuss it."

"Okay."

Today was the 17th. He had left on the 24th and only arrived home on the 28th. Counting the time from departure to return, front to back, it totaled 21 days.

This trip back wasn't short either; the round trip alone took a week.

Going back really wasn't easy.

"I plan to deliver goods to the Chen family today, which will cover about half the advance. After delivering again the day after tomorrow, we'll be able to collect revenue from them."

"Hmm, that's quite fast. Money coming in after just twenty-odd days is good."

"The earlier we deliver, the sooner we can start collecting money, avoiding an overly long cycle. If we supply more goods, we can collect more money."

Ye Yaodong nodded while eating breakfast.

Ye's father continued explaining the situation of goods shipped out over these twenty-odd days.

Chen Baoxing and Old You sat nearby holding the ledgers, waiting.

Ye Yaodong now felt he was truly the boss; as soon as he returned, everyone was waiting to report to him.

He no longer needed to do everything himself; these operations could run smoothly with dedicated people handling dedicated tasks.

Unlike last year, when he did everything himself, calculated everything himself, and kept himself busy spinning in circles.

His father was also a major contributor.

During these twenty-odd days he was away, the ledger recorded things separately.

Some days fell at the end of last month and were recorded in last month's accounts; this month's records go up to today, the 17th.

Recorded up to now this month, they earned a little over 100,000. During that time, there was more than a week of rainy, windy weather when the fishing boats didn't go to sea and were resting.

And at the end of last month, there was also over 80,000 deposited, which included the shares and commissions from the other fishing boats.

It didn't matter that he wasn't there at the end of last month—after all, the accounts were recorded there, so they could settle them.

"At the end of this month, give everyone their wages. We came out on March 4th, so for the new workers who came out after the New Year, their wages start counting from that day until the end of May."

Ye Yaodong said this to Old You.

"The old workers' wages count from February 1st, with paid leave over the New Year. Apart from the boat captain and the mate, everyone else gets a 10% raise this year. Let's just settle it this way. The meal subsidy is an extra 10 yuan per person, and that only counts from when our people arrived here. For those who haven't been here a full month, average it out per day."

After all, under normal circumstances, half the time is spent at sea, and meals are naturally provided on the fishing boat.

For the remaining time, 10 yuan for meals is more than enough.

Some individual months might have more time at sea, some more rest time—anyway, just average it out at 10 yuan subsidy per month.

Some people are more frugal. If they're reluctant to spend, they can set up a coal stove themselves, and on rest days when they're not out at sea, they can still cook something for themselves. Seafood is readily available, so it barely costs anything—10 yuan pure profit.

Old You, hearing how good the old workers' treatment was, was extremely envious. He was also a new worker who only came after the New Year.

"No need to envy them. Your job is so easy—how long do you spend keeping accounts each day? Plus, you and Chen Baoxing have separate meal arrangements. By next year, your wages can also go up 10%. The longer you work, the higher the pay."

For these two, he arranged a monthly meal package—eat as much as you want. After all, they're at the camp all day, and of course they eat for free.

He himself can't eat many meals either—he's out all day long.

"Sigh, alright. I'm already 50, I can't work many more years. Being able to earn such a high wage now is already worth it."

"It's still early yet—you've still got a good 10-plus years to work. If the country develops a bit better, I'll get rich too, and when that time comes, I might even be able to let you collect a pension."

"Isn't your getting rich a sure thing?"

"It doesn't count as getting rich yet. Wait until you figure out how much in wages we need to pay out at the end of the month, then let me know. I'll send you the wage funds in advance."

"Got it."

"Damn, eighty-something people, some getting two months' wages, some getting three months—that's gotta be several tens of thousands."

"If you don't count the boat captains, it's just over 30,000."

Ye Yaodong did a quick calculation of what he'd earned these two months, and instantly didn't feel the pinch anymore.

A drop in the bucket.

"Boss, oil prices went up again this month, so the fuel expenses might be a bit more."

"Got it."

"Also, I heard that there are already 100-yuan bills now."

Huh?

Ye Yaodong's eyes lit up. "There are 100-yuan bills?"

"Yeah, 100-yuan bills with four portraits on them. I heard they were just issued, and right now they've only been put into circulation in a small area."

Ye's father also said, "Yes, there are paper bills of 100 yuan each. I saw them in a few bosses' hands today, but they were reluctant to use them to settle with me."

"That's great. Now that we have 100-yuan bills, we don't have to carry around a bunch of loose change taking up space. Let's go to the bank to exchange later. Even 50-yuan bills aren't worth much anymore—exchange them for 100-yuan ones."

He knew the 100-yuan bills would be issued before long, but he didn't know exactly which month or which day.

He didn't expect to hear about 100-yuan bills right away. He'd better hurry and exchange—he's got over a hundred thousand on hand again now.

Ye's father hurriedly said, "Then I'll go with you later. Bring a few more people for safety."

"Mm, no rush on that. We can go a bit later—I need to take care of some other things first."

?? I went out today, tonight's update will be around 2 AM

? (End of chapter)