Chapter 1496

Under Ye Xiaoxi's persistent pestering, the old lady was a bit helpless. After dialing half the number and pausing for a long time, she had no choice but to hang up and redial.

Ye Xiaoxi had prepared her ears in advance, pressing them against the phone to listen to the beeping sound, feeling extremely excited.

As soon as she heard the voice from the other end of the phone, she immediately shouted "Dad!" loudly!

But the person on the other end of the phone chuckled, "I'm only 19, I can't have a child this big."

"I want to find my dad, my dad is Dongzi, big brother, go call Dongzi quickly!"

"They went out to collect goods and might not be back until midnight."

Both the old and young were extremely disappointed, but they could only hang up the phone first.

Lin Xiuqing said again, "I told you, your dad is very busy, how could he have time to sit by the phone every day to answer your calls."

"Then when your dad comes back, he will call," the old lady chuckled, "You even know your dad is called Dongzi?"

"Didn't you say I couldn't call him Salty Fish Dong? Doesn't it sound bad? You all call him Dongzi, so my dad must be called Dongzi."

"You can't call your dad by his name casually."

"Don't you all call him that?"

Lin Xiuqing explained, "Elders and peers can certainly call him that, but juniors must use a respectful title and be more polite. Of course, you should call your own father 'Dad', how can you call him by his name?"

"Then why do you call him 'Husband'! You don't call him by his name!"

Ye Xiaoxi's sudden, righteous words instantly made her blush.

In this day and age, most people were still quite reserved. Externally, they called them "partner" or "my man," not "husband."

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Lin Xiuqing reached out as if to hit her, and she quickly climbed off the stool using her hands and feet.

"I heard it! Dad told you to call him 'Husband', and you kept calling him 'Husband'!"

The old lady also hurriedly grabbed her, not letting her run away, "You can't talk nonsense, you can't run out and talk randomly."

Lin Xiuqing was so embarrassed that her toes were curling into the ground. She also grabbed her and pulled her toward the room.

"You unlucky child, why do you say everything? You get into the room for me..."

The old lady also hurriedly took over the stove. There were still vegetables cooking in the pot, and there was still a bright fire in the stove.

She muttered to herself, "This unlucky child, she says everything, she's going to get a beating..."

The next day, Ye Xiaoxi complained the moment she received Ye Yaodong's call.

She hadn't taken a single step out of the house since last night. Not only was she beaten, but she was also forbidden from going out. She was just waiting for this call, afraid of missing it.

"Hello, are you Dongzi?"

Ye Yaodong: "..."

Is "Dongzi" something you can call me?

"Hello, are you Dongzi?" Ye Xiaoxi shouted even louder. She had to confirm it was her dad before she could complain.

"You have no manners, call me Dad!"

Ye Xiaoxi recognized the voice and immediately let out a torrent of complaints.

"Dad, why didn't you come back yesterday? Mom hit me yesterday, it hurt so much, and she wouldn't let me go out."

"Uncle is also very annoying, he said you weren't taking me up, I was so sad."

"Grandma didn't save me yesterday either, Big Brother was gloating, and Ye Erge also said you were a big liar, that you didn't buy him a Transformer and didn't keep your word."

"Ye Erge also said it's a good thing I can't go up either, that we have nothing! Big Brother kept mocking us for being white, he was happy, saying we two fools were tricked!"

She said a bunch of things in a jumbled way, but she complained about everyone, not missing a single one.

Ye Yaodong didn't hear clearly and confirmed it with her again, only then knowing what she was saying.

"With all these complaints, is everyone bullying you?"

"They are all bullying me! Why didn't you come back? Why didn't you answer the phone yesterday? You didn't keep your word."

"I didn't have time to go back, but I told your Uncle to take you and Xiao Yu up. Don't worry, everything I promised will be done for you."

"Really? Did you talk to Uncle? But Uncle lied to me."

"He was joking with you."

"Bad person."

"Are you at ease now?" Lin Xiuqing took the phone from her hand and said to the person on the other end, "She's been guarding the phone, just wanting to hear a confirmation from you."

"Can I go back on something I promised?"

"Then what about Yangyang's Transformer? Didn't you promise him a long time ago? You didn't buy it this time either. Yesterday, when he saw you didn't come back, he almost cried."

"When he was taking his final exams, I was already at home, so how could I buy it? When we talked a few days ago, I had just returned from the Magic City and have been busy lately, so I haven't gone again. I didn't even go to get the motorcycles, thinking that once everyone comes up, we can go get the vehicles together, and we can ride the motorcycles everywhere. I'll buy it for him then, and when everyone goes back, I'll ask Mom to bring it back for him."

"You keep these words to explain to him when he gets out of school. Anyway, he was very sad when he heard you didn't come back yesterday, but he felt balanced when he thought about how your daughter didn't get to go up either."

"Then when it's time for school to end, I'll call back to explain to him."

Ye Yaodong didn't want the child to be disappointed in him, but he was really busy, so he didn't make a special trip a few days ago.

As for the fact that everyone bought a bunch of local specialties when they went to the Magic City a few months ago, he didn't buy anything because this place is close, and he felt he would come often, so he didn't buy anything to leave there. What toys don't his children at home have? At that time, his mind was also focused on buying houses and land.

"Mom, ask Dad, when is Uncle taking me up?"

"How would your dad know? You have to run and ask your Uncle when you're leaving."

She quickly got off the table to find A-Guang, excitedly shouting as she ran.

"I'm going on a long trip too... Sister, I'm going on a long trip too... Xiao Hong, Qingqing, Doudou, A-Yue, Xiao Xue, Xiao Ping, I'm going on a long trip..."

Ye Yaodong could hear her shouting on the other end of the phone and was amused to death.

"So happy?"

"She cried immediately when she didn't see you come back yesterday. A-Guang even said he wasn't taking her, and she cried so miserably, with tears and snot everywhere. After she was coaxed, she wanted to call you immediately to confirm."

"That foul-mouthed guy."

"You two are two of a kind."

"When you're leaving, remember to call me. I'll calculate the time and ask someone to wait at the pier in advance."

"Okay."

"Is my mom happy?"

"Happy, how could she not be? She's happier than during the New Year. She went to town early this morning to buy fabric, saying she wanted to make new clothes to wear during these two days."

Lin Xiuqing found it funnier the more she said, "She's been saying all morning that you bought a new house, and it's a villa, and you want to invite her up to stay for a few days and enjoy some blessings..."

"She also said she's only 50-something, how could she have time to enjoy blessings? There's still a pile of work waiting for her to do, and she still has to help you all for a few more years, lest you young people don't know anything."

"And so, without her watching, you spent money recklessly again, you spendthrift. Buying a villa, what's wrong with buying anything else? I don't know how much money it cost; she said she didn't dare ask when she called back."

"Money is so hot to the touch, why not buy a boat? You've already built dozens of houses, all of them are multi-story, and there's even a three-story one. Why bother with a villa? With so many houses, can you even live in them all?"

"She has to go up and see what the villa looks like, to keep an eye on things for you, so you don't get cheated, and by the way, she wants to lecture you a bit."

Ye Yaodong had already imagined his mother's hypocrisy, criticizing him openly while praising him secretly.

"She really can talk."

"She went to the street this morning and hasn't come back yet. I think she won't be back until mealtime."

"Let her be. It's very cold up here. By the time they come up, it'll probably be December. Pack a few more thick clothes for your daughter; cotton shoes, scarves, and hats must all be brought up."

"I know."

It's already the end of November. He calculated in his heart that staying for about a week and returning, plus the time spent on the boat, would take about twenty days.

By the time they go back and forth, it will be mid-to-late December when they get home. If they stay for two or three more days, it will be the end of the month.

February 6th is the New Year, and winter break starts at the beginning of January. When his mother finishes playing and comes back, it will be just right to take over for A-Qing.

There are specialized people managing things in the city, and there is a set process now. She only needs to check the accounts occasionally, and go once before leaving.

There is absolutely no problem with handing over the family affairs to his mother.

Ye Yaodong imagined it and felt that this arrangement was also very solid.

Coming over at the beginning of January and going back with him at the end of January is just right.

After the couple chatted for a while, Ye Yaodong hung up the phone first.

When it was mealtime, he made another special call, this time specifying that Ye Chengyang should answer.

As soon as it was answered, he solemnly apologized to his son, saying he was too busy to make a special trip to buy it, and that when he came up for winter break, he would take him to pick out what he liked at the store.

Ye Chengyang was a bit flattered for a moment.

His dad actually called him specially to explain and apologize; he felt valued!

He was almost crying from sadness yesterday, but now hearing his dad call him specially to talk, he was immediately able to comfort him sensibly.

"It doesn't matter, Dad, you're so busy, you go ahead and be busy. Buy it for me when you're done. When I get 100 on my winter break test, you buy me a double gift."

"No problem! As long as you get 100, there will be a reward, a reward exclusively for 100."

"Then Big Brother doesn't get one!"

"Right, those who don't get 100 definitely don't get one."

Ye Chenghu protested from the side, "Dad, I want one too..."

"You want a fart? You don't work hard but want everything. If you don't test well, don't even think about getting a gift. I'll just throw you at home to watch the house."

Ye Chengyang was worried Ye Chenghu wouldn't hear, so he repeated it loudly, making his eyes widen in anger.

"Why!"

"Just because I got 100!"

Ye Chenghu grabbed the phone, "Dad, you're biased..."

"What am I biased about? The three of you have everything you should have, and you have things others don't have. The reward for Yangyang is an exception. If you can also test well, I'll reward you too."

"But I'm already in fourth grade, it's much harder than his second grade."

"Then you were in second grade once too, and I didn't see you get 100. How about this: as long as your score is higher than his, I'll reward you."

"Alright."

"Hanging up."

Ye Xiaoxi stabbed at his heart from the side, "Big Brother, I'm going on a long trip with Uncle soon..."

Ye Chenghu hung up the phone, glared at her, returned to his seat to continue eating, sulking by himself, and poking the rice in his bowl with chopsticks.

"I want to go with Xiao Yu and my cousin, Mom, when can I go out?"

"In two days."

"You said in two days yesterday, and today it's still in two days..."

Ye Xiaoxi started an endless questioning, asking hundreds of times a day.

After asking Lin Xiuqing, she ran to ask A-Guang.

But A-Guang had three of his own taking turns asking him, and his head was huge.

Then his own stepmother actually brought her child over, asking him to take them as well.

A-Guang didn't have a good face for Auntie Ma now, directly telling her to go ask his father.

"You all are too bullying, your father is too excessive, he left for a year, didn't give any household money, and didn't care about the child..."

"No? I remember he gave you a year's worth of household money before he left. Originally it was 10 yuan a month, and he gave you 120 yuan."

"What is 10 yuan a month enough for? Don't human relationships cost money? Doesn't raising a child cost money?"

"Then go ask him. I've already separated from the family. I can support my father, but I have no obligation to support you. You have to ask your son to support you."

"It was agreed at the beginning that if I wanted to marry off my daughter, your father would give a dowry..."

"Then go find him."

"You take me to find him..."

"Then you have to ask him if he wants to let you go."

After A-Guang finished speaking, he went out to find his friends, ignoring her.

Huimei ignored her even more; she wasn't a proper mother-in-law anyway.

It was useless for Auntie Ma to talk to this one or that one, but her son was uselessly running after the other children, calling them brother and sister, almost angering her to death.

"You idiot, they should be calling you uncle..."

"Brother... Sister..."

She could only go chase the child again.

Lin Xiuqing's fire of gossip burned fiercely. When the departure date was confirmed, she mentioned this when calling Ye Yaodong.

Ye Yaodong chuckled and said, "Old Pei is so happy here that he doesn't think about home, let alone an old widow. At most, he misses his youngest son."

"What does that mean?"

Ye Yaodong quickly shut his mouth, almost saying something he shouldn't have.

"Being alone here without any troublesome things, how comfortable is that? Isn't it relaxing? Going back is just a pile of trouble. He's very smart; at most, he misses his youngest son."

"Auntie Ma is still thinking about asking Old Pei to provide a dowry for her daughter."

"Fart, a dowry? She's not his biological daughter, she's dreaming. In the village, unless the family is wealthy and loves their daughter, who gives a dowry?"

"She said it was agreed at the time..."

"It was just said for others to hear. So much time has passed, and without pillow talk, how could he give it? The boat bought before was half-sold and half-given away. Who wouldn't say he's done his best? Who gives a dowry for a non-biological daughter? Is money so hot to the touch? And she wasn't even raised by him. If he gives it, people will talk behind his back, saying he's a fool, not spending money on his own children but on outsiders."

If there were pillow talk every day, he might have been confused enough to give it.

Old Pei is so free and easy here now, not needing to work, and can collect rent from fishing boats, being a wealthy old man.

There are plenty of young girls coaxing him outside, so why would he miss the old widow at home?

He occasionally thinks of his youngest son at home, but he has his successful eldest son by his side.

He has no worries now; the blessings he didn't enjoy when he was young, he can enjoy to the fullest now that he's old.

A-Guang didn't think his father was wrong. He suffered for half his life, so it's nothing to enjoy some blessings when he's old. Anyway, it's money his father earned himself.

"Let's not talk about others. Anyway, remember to go to the pier to pick people up."

"Mm, remember to ask Mom to watch the children well."

"Don't worry, with over a dozen adults, can't we watch 4 children? I'll ask Mom to specifically watch Xiao Jiu. Anyway, we aren't taking someone else's boat, so just go pick them up when they dock."

"Mm."

After Ye Yaodong hung up the phone, he started flipping through the calendar, counting the days.

?? Adding another one, it's not that early, don't wait.

? (End of chapter)