Chapter 1459

"Do I not know that not everyone outside is good? Do I need you to tell me?" Ye's father still glared with bushy eyebrows raised.

Being reminded by his son of such a thing made him feel deeply embarrassed and humiliated.

"I'm just reminding you."

"You're the one who should be careful—I'm just an old man, I can't keep up with you young people…"

"That's for sure."

"I mean you young people know how to have fun," Ye's father raised his voice for emphasis.

"That's debatable. My wife always says men won't behave unless they're hung on a wall."

He was the exception.

"Don't listen to her nonsense. Isn't this your idea of socializing? Didn't you even take me there in the first place? How can you blame me?"

"Yes, I took you there—but I never told you to go happily every other day."

"It's not every other day—it's at most once a week."

"So you admit you're going happily now? Take it easy."

"Do you think I like going? I only go two or three times because you're not here—I have to handle everything for you."

"I thought you were driving your tractor out to earn extra cash to support a woman. Good, that's not it—then don't force yourself next time."

Ye's father widened his eyes, veins bulging on his forehead, and yanked off his shoes to smack him.

"Don't go spouting nonsense—I'd never do something so corrupt! Flirting like that could get you shot."

Ye Yaodong dodged and begged, "Ah, talk properly, ah, why are you hitting me…"

The room held two beds and a table—so cramped he had nowhere to hide. His father whipped him hard with his shoes, leaving sole marks all over his butt, legs, and back.

He knew he was in the wrong, but he had to warn his father not to make mistakes.

Those flashy, scheming women out there have countless tricks—his father was an honest man; he couldn't afford to be lured in easily.

After his father had whipped him a few times to cool off, he finally stopped him.

"I believe in your character, Dad—but why didn't you tell me you were driving your tractor out to earn extra cash? And all those women out there aren't respectable."

"When was I supposed to tell you? You come home at three in the morning saying you were on TV, then leave again first thing in the morning, come back at noon telling me you've arranged for me to learn some engine thing."

Ye Yaodong thought back—it did sound like that.

"Don't go blabbing carelessly—you'll make people laugh themselves to death, and ruin my reputation in old age!" Ye's father was still furious.

"I know, I get it—this is just inside the house, right? I don't mean anything else—I'm just reminding you. There are too many temptations out there, especially in those places. We've got to be careful. We go out to earn money, not to get swindled."

"Do you think I don't know? Those little girls chat with me, ask what I do—I tell them I fish and sell fish."

"How much have you earned driving the tractor lately?"

Ye Yaodong changed the subject, hoping to drop the earlier argument, as he tucked away the 10,000 yuan payment he'd just received.

Ye's father's attention shifted too—he watched his son hide the money. "A fair bit. After fuel costs, I've made seventy or eighty. I didn't go every day—just seven or eight days, and only half a day each time. Driving the tractor for deliveries is pretty profitable. How'd you get so much?"

"I delivered the kelp—the wife paid me right away."

"Wasn't it supposed to be paid after the man came back?"

"I assumed that—but I didn't expect her to pay so quickly. Good thing she did—I'm the one collecting the money."

"Good that you got it."

"I'm going to eat—I'm starving."

He came back and went inside to stash the money first before eating; carrying 10,000 yuan in his pocket felt too heavy.

Then he smelled his father's sweet scent—and instantly got angry.

Ye Yaodong patted the sole marks on his backside and walked out.

Ye's father still called after him: "How did you know I went for a massage at night? Did Baoxing tell you?"

"Do I need to ask? I just sniffed twice and knew."

Winter clothes are thick and trap the scent—but outside, the cold wind blows it away. Inside, though, you were shirtless just now—I walked in and smelled it right away."

This won't do. Next time, I should suggest the boss lady improve it.

Otherwise, anyone who sniffs you out will know exactly what you've been doing—what's left of your secret?

Ye's father lifted his arm and sniffed a few times—it really still smelled sweet. He thought the scent had faded by now.

But it did smell nice. He'd never smelled good on his body his whole life—and now, in old age, he smelled sweet? He'd gained some new knowledge!

After delivering all the cargo on the boat, Ye Yaodong took 50,000 yuan the next morning—still packed in a burlap sack, layered with three or four layers of clothes to hide it—and prepared to go to the bank to exchange it for hundred-yuan notes.

He didn't just go to one bank. To avoid drawing attention, he exchanged only 50,000 yuan per bank, visiting three banks total to get back 150,000 yuan—running back and forth took him half the morning.

After exchanging 150,000 yuan, he decided not to exchange the remaining few ten-thousands—he'd save them for the end-of-month salary, which would be tens of thousands anyway.

Ye's father had already driven his tractor out early to earn extra cash. He wouldn't return until the afternoon, when the fresh catch boat came in. That gave him a full morning to earn more.

All this was his private money. Ye's father himself was never idle—even the row of vegetables in the corner wasn't enough to keep him busy. Ye Yaodong had brought up twenty chicks and ducklings, which pleased him—but even that wasn't enough to keep him occupied for long.

So this morning, after watering the vegetables and feeding the chicks and ducklings, he had some free time—and used the tractor for personal profit.

Ye Yaodong slept until the sun was high. After running to three banks and exchanging all the money, his father still hadn't returned.

When mealtime came, he sat on the steps outside the canteen, eating from his rice box, when he finally heard the tractor's sound.

Soon after, Ye's father came out with his own rice box and sat beside him, smiling broadly, clearly in high spirits.

"How much did you earn today? You're so happy."

"Today was good—I kept delivering nonstop in the morning and made 20 yuan. But I'm out of fuel—I'll need to buy five yuan's worth soon. After lunch, I'll go out again for a few more hours."

"That's pretty profitable."

"Isn't it? Now that you're back, I don't have to hunt for bosses—I've got all the time free. After lunch, I can go out again and earn more. Anyway, when the fresh catch boat arrives at the dock, I'll have the truck ready to unload your cargo."

Ye's father was delighted—after all, Dongzi's tractor sat idle anyway, and he wasn't some stranger—he was his own father.

Even if he only made ten or twenty yuan a day, that added up to hundreds a month—easier money than any other job.

Don't pass up easy money.

Otherwise, besides using your own truck for half a day's haul the next day, leaving the rest of the time idle is such a waste.

It's also a shame not to use the other tractor—he's just one man, can't operate two vehicles at once, and he's unwilling to let others earn this money, especially since these trucks were bought with Dongzi's own money, brand-new; why should others benefit?

He was wondering whether to tell Dongzi to pick one stay-behind worker to join him and drive the tractor together, running both vehicles simultaneously to earn even more.

Thinking this, he asked it out loud.

Ye Yaodong opposed it: "If you want to earn this money, take one truck out and haul cargo—earn as much as you like—but leave the other tractor here. Don't take both out; what if something urgent comes up and we need a vehicle? Where will I find you? We must keep one as backup."

"Besides, I don't need those few hundred yuan. Just leave one tractor here for emergencies. Otherwise, I've only got a bicycle under my feet—it won't help in a pinch."

Ye's father thought about it and agreed.

Dongzi doesn't rely on this for income; you just make a little extra, take one truck out for half a day's haul.

"Too bad I didn't bring Ajiang and Chenghe up earlier—this pays more than their factory jobs, right? Both of them already knew how to drive tractors."

"Didn't you say working in a factory is respectable? Stable work."

"But driving a tractor earns more—I didn't realize it before, but I've only been driving for a few days, and I'm already earning more than they make in a month. If you drive steadily from morning till night, you'll easily make seven or eight hundred a month, no question."

Ye's father grew more excited: "That's more than ten times their current monthly wage of fifty yuan!"

"Exactly! Then why not go to the provincial city and bring Brother Ahai up too to drive tractors? He's not even making fifty yuan a month."

Back then, their family wasn't well-off; Brother Ahai, as the eldest grandson, his father had always wanted him to work at the shipyard, learn a skill, and become a skilled worker someday—not to toil like them on the sea.

The truth is, private work pays better now, but that doesn't mean learning a skill is bad—what if he truly masters it?

"No, Brother Ahai must learn a skill—he must join a good unit and become a senior worker. Private work may pay well, but it doesn't carry the prestige of a 'iron rice bowl,' the security of public rations, or the respect it commands."

"What respect? Do you think I'm respected?"

Ye's father had no reply.

No one in the surrounding villages has greater fame or wider recognition than Dongzi.

He's even been on television—how could he not be respected?

Who dares say private work isn't respectable? Only urban workers think it's shameful; rural folks all envy Dongzi's wealth—and with him, even his father stands taller, proud and honored.

"You decide for yourselves. Better still, ask Brother Ahai's opinion—he's the one walking his own path."

"He hasn't said anything yet—he still needs a few years of training. Not to mention, if he learns how to build ships, he'll surely know how to repair them too. Aren't you planning to send more people for training? He's learning ship construction and repair directly—wouldn't that be even better?"

Ye Yaodong paused. "That makes sense! Then let him keep studying! When he masters it, if he doesn't want to stay at the shipyard, he can come straight to my big ship as chief engineer!"

"Dream on. Everyone's supposed to work for you? Even your elder brother has his own boat."

"My elder brother's boat can handle itself—doesn't Chenghe still help out?"

"In a few years, Chenghu will be older too."

"That's still far off. If he can study, let him study longer—why would you hope he drops out early to help with work?"

"If you're going to the Chamber of Commerce this afternoon, call home while you're at it—ask if Chenghe and Ajiang want to come up…"

"Chenghe hasn't even finished junior three yet—he won't take his final exams until next month…"

"So what? He won't pass anyway—he's always thinking about getting married."

Ye Yaodong: "..."

Ye's father added: "Maybe I'll go with you first—I'll tell Ye Dasao and Ye Ersao how much they can earn a month driving tractors…"

"Do as you like."

"Then hurry up and eat—don't waste time earning. After the Chamber of Commerce, I'll go find work."

Ye Yaodong shook his head and started eating.

Ye's father, now hooked on the tractor's profits and eager to earn, rushed as soon as he finished eating, quickly shoved his meal box into the canteen, didn't even bother going upstairs to store it, and hurriedly pulled him to leave.

"I should've never stayed on the third floor. What a hassle—climbing up and down all day, having to return to the room just to fetch my meal box, then back again after eating."

"Who was it who, when first told he'd live on the third floor, grinned so wide his mouth twisted, saying he'd never lived this high in his life?"

"That was then, this is now—I only realized now how inconvenient it is to live so high. One floor is better."

Ye Yaodong ignored his father's grumbling, called Chen Baoxing, and the three of them headed out again.

Ye's father now had only one thought: bring both grandsons up to earn big money.

He'd already calculated in his head: seven or eight hundred a month—that's a ten-thousand-yuan household per year!

Sixteen or seventeen years old, earning a ten-thousand-yuan household in a year—what a feat!

What wife couldn't he find?

In two years, he'd be a great-grandfather!

The thought made Ye's father glow with delight.

If only Brother Ahai weren't so useless, still clueless—he'd already be a great-grandfather by now!

This disobedient grandson—he should learn from Chenghe.

The one who should wake up won't, while the one who shouldn't is constantly dreaming of marriage.

After finishing the call, Ye's father was thoroughly satisfied, waiting only for the day he could bring the two boys up.

"Too bad I didn't think of it earlier—if only you'd brought both of them up with you this time."

"Have Ye Dasao and Ye Ersao agreed? Is Ajiang quitting his factory job? Is Chenghe skipping his final exam?"

Ye Yaodong had only called Lin Lin Xiuqing and the old lady—he wouldn't interfere in his nephews' affairs. His father could handle it himself—he'd let his father speak directly to Ye Dasao and Ye Ersao.

"Seven or eight hundred a month—who'd refuse? Ajiang's job can go to his sister—perfect for a girl to work in a factory, good reputation, and close to home."

"Your second brother originally planned to bring Ajiang along next year—this is just a year early. When Ye Xiuxiu goes to the factory, just mention it—Ajiang's already vacating the position."

"And Chenghe won't pass anyway—such a golden chance to earn shouldn't be wasted in school. When I told Ye Dasao and Ye Ersao, they both agreed eagerly."

"But you just arrived, and without someone to guide them, they can't come yet. When I return next time, I don't know when—it'll probably be after Chenghe finishes his exam and graduates. We can only wait until I go back."

Ye Yaodong thought for a moment: "If Ye Dasao and Ye Ersao have truly decided, I might try contacting Su Ren's wife."

Yesterday we said the common folk would probably only be back in about a week, and if the drive goes smoothly it'd only be two or three days. If we go ask now, maybe there's still a chance?

Ask his wife ahead of time — if the common folk calls to say he's heading back, would it be convenient to bring his two nephews along.

Just don't know if the common folk will call his wife before heading back. If he doesn't, then we can only drop it and wait till next time.

"What's the use? The man's out there, if he doesn't call home on his own, how would we even reach him?"

"See if he calls to let the family know before he comes back. Don't we also call ahead to let people know before we go home?"

"Fair point. Then go try her place when you're done."

"Mm, should we wait for Big Brother and Second Brother to get back from sea and tell them first?"

"By the time we tell them and arrange things it'll be too late anyway. Ye Ye Dasao and Ye Ye Ersao both agreed."

"Fine, it's your idea anyway."

"My idea is my idea — they'll have to thank me later."

His big brother and second brother were still out at sea. If they really got Ye Chenghe and Ye Ye Chengjiang up here, the two of them would probably be quite shocked.

It was his father's idea — let his father shoulder it.

"Nothing else, I'm off to make money. You're just going to sit here?"

It was only just past twelve now. In the middle of the day there weren't many people around — most were out eating.

Ye Yaodong figured strike while the iron is hot. With hardly anyone around and nothing to do, he might as well head to the common folk's place now.

If he was a step late, it might've been too late. Better to go say it ahead of time.

"I'm heading to the common folk's place now. It's just passing along a message anyway."

"Then I'll drive you over."

All afternoon, Ye Yaodong was running himself ragged — a moment at the trade association, a moment at the common folk's place, then back to the trade association, then back to his own home, then off to the dock again.

He felt like he'd been on the go the whole time. By the time he reached the dock, he was busy again receiving cargo, driving the tractor to deliver goods — like a spinning top.

Still, he delivered the message to the common folk's wife in good time.

The next afternoon, Ye Fu called back again, planning to tell Ye Ye Dasao and Ye Ye Ersao that Ye Yaodong had asked the common folk to help…

But he'd only just connected when Lin Lin Xiuqing said she'd received a call from the common folk that morning, saying he'd head up to Zhou City tomorrow, and A-Dong had asked him to help bring the two nephews up.

Ye Fu happily agreed again and again, saying it was perfectly timed — yes, there was such a matter. They'd gone to pass the message to the common folk's wife yesterday afternoon, and hadn't expected to get in touch and get a reply so quickly today.

It was a fortunate coincidence.

Ye Ye Dasao and Ye Ye Ersao had already sprung into action after getting the news this morning, immediately packing luggage for the two children.

Since Ye Yaodong had asked someone to do the favor, both sisters-in-law trusted it completely.

Ye Yaodong himself hadn't expected it to happen this fast…

It was clearly just him and his father sitting on the steps with their lunchboxes, chatting idly — who knew his father would barrel through and get the whole thing done?

It was only yesterday and today — not even twenty-four hours — and they'd already pulled the two nephews up here?

That was a bit too smooth…

The children's own fathers didn't even know anything yet.

After they finished the call, Ye Fu was busy being happy, while Ye Yaodong was still a bit dazed.

"Just like that, both of them are coming up?"

He hadn't thought it'd be this fast — he'd expected some buffer.

"Yeah, what a coincidence. We talked about it just yesterday and today it's done? How many days till they get here?"

"Hard to say. Depends on whether they stop along the way to unload and sell. Fast would be two or three days, slow would be four or five — not certain."

"But is it safe?"

Ye Yaodong looked at his father like he was an idiot and said, annoyed: "You're only thinking about this now? Isn't it a bit late? We've already arranged it with them, and they've agreed — just waiting to pick the boys up first thing tomorrow and go."

"Didn't think that much about it before. Now that it's settled, I'm a bit worried…"

"They all have tools for self-defense, and they're used to long hauls — there's some safety in that. Otherwise how would two sixteen- or seventeen-year-old boys get up here? They've never traveled far — even if you told them to take a boat they wouldn't know how."

It also helped that he was a man of his word and did his work beautifully. The day before yesterday, the delivery of those thirty tons of kelp had been arranged perfectly — everything that should and shouldn't be done, he'd lent a hand and settled it all neatly for them.

"Still a bit impulsive. Since it's already set, let's just wait a few days and see."

Ye Fu spent every day after that in agony — restless, unable to eat well or sleep well, constantly worrying about whether his two grandsons were safe on the road and when they'd arrive.

But he couldn't even get any news — could only wait.

Even going out driving the tractor to earn extra money didn't make him as happy or as eager.

The first thing he did every day when he got home was find Ye Yaodong and ask: any news? when are they arriving?

Ye Yaodong just told him to wait patiently for four or five days — at the latest, no more than a week.

If he was really anxious, he might as well go take a look around the tractor factory ahead of time, or think about how to explain things to his big brother and second brother when they got back.

Ye Fu, however, was somewhat dismissive — they'd originally planned to bring these two sons up to take over anyway; this was just earlier.

Coming up early to get familiar wasn't a bad thing.

Early arrival, early earnings!

One day's delay meant a big deal of over ten yuan.

Never mind not knowing they could earn that much — now that he knew, Ye Fu wanted them to get that money in hand.

He'd lead them in first anyway.

The only prerequisite was buying a tractor, but he felt that for the two brothers it wasn't a big deal — a sure-fire deal, no way to lose.

Buy one for two or three thousand yuan, and it'd pay for itself in just two or three months — everything after that was profit.

They were already earning several thousand a month running the boat — just buying a tractor for the sons to get some practice first was fine.

The more time passed, the more anxious Ye Fu got.

Ye Yaodong, worn down by the constant questioning, couldn't sit still either. On the fourth day, he went over again to ask.

It was just that there was no news yet, and his commoner wife only told him to wait patiently, saying it should be soon.

When he got back home, he was truly in for a big surprise.

They had actually already arrived!

In just the hour or so since he went out, the person was already there.

The moment he walked in through the main gate, he saw three people—old and young—sitting on the steps by the cafeteria entrance, and he hurried forward.

"When did you arrive? You startled me. After so many days without word, I even went out this morning to ask about it."

"Just arrived a little over ten minutes ago, my butt hasn't even warmed the seat yet, Third Uncle."

"As long as you arrived safely, that's good. Did you thank them properly?"

"Yes, I told them I'd treat them to a meal once you're back."

Ye Yaodong laughed and patted Ye Ye Chengjiang on the head. "You sure know how to do favors."

(End of chapter)