Chapter 1503: They've Arrived

"Yo? When did a rabbit show up?"

"Shouldn't we braise it for the wine?"

"Stir-fry it spicy..."

Two little girls were having a grand time playing with the rabbit when they suddenly heard some untimely voices, instantly puffing up with anger.

"Dad, you're not allowed to eat Little White!"

"This is mine! You're not allowed to eat it!"

As they spoke, the two girls' eyes were nearly red.

Ye Yaodong patted their heads. "I won't eat yours. Take them back to the room to play. There's no sun today and the wind is strong; don't stay out here in the wind."

The two grabbed the rabbit cage and bolted, fearing that if they were a step late, the rabbit would be eaten.

He looked at Fatty again. "If you're buying, why not buy a few more?"

"There are a few more behind the canteen. We'll have them with wine tonight. This one is pure white and small; I picked it out on purpose."

Ah Guang said, "Why does Dongzi's daughter get one, but my daughter doesn't?"

"That's the only white one, and it's skinny. The fat ones are ready for the pot..."

"I'll go catch one for my daughter; you guys can eat less."

Pei Yu saw she had a rabbit too. Although it was gray, she was extremely excited. She and Ye Ye Xiaoxi chattered nonstop all day, constantly feeding the rabbit and going in and out of the back of the kitchen to pick up vegetable leaves.

As a result, Ye Yaodong hadn't seen her all day and searched everywhere.

He had specifically closed the main gate and told the two little ones over and over again that they absolutely must not run out on their own.

He even scared them with various tragic scenarios of people being snatched away, and took them to see the wretched state of beggars on the street; at that time, both of their little faces turned pale with fright.

He also instructed others that whenever they entered or exited, they must lock the iron gate's safety latch. Since the children were short, they couldn't reach the latch themselves, so they couldn't get out.

Besides, no one here would take a child out without his permission unless they wanted to die. Everyone was from their hometown and needed to make a living here; no one had such a wicked heart.

Moreover, he and his friends were basically here all day. If they went out for business and could bring the children, they would bring them along. Even if a fishing boat returned to deliver goods and it was inconvenient, his friends were watching.

So he didn't think the children would run out; he just assumed she was hiding in some corner or playing in some room.

In the mid-afternoon, he received a call from Lin Lin Xiuqing and only then started searching everywhere.

It turned out she was far away in the distance yet right before his eyes, right behind the canteen.

"Why are you hiding here? It's damp and dirty."

"Dad, why isn't the little rabbit eating anymore?"

"If you keep feeding it, its stomach is going to explode."

"Ah?"

"Have you been feeding it since this morning?"

Ye Ye Xiaoxi nodded.

"Stop feeding it; it's already stuffed. You should make a straw nest for it instead; otherwise, with the cold weather, it will freeze to death sleeping tonight."

The two girls' eyes lit up; they finally found something to do.

"Right away, Dad! I'll make a nest for the little rabbit right away. There's straw right here..."

Ye Yaodong originally wanted to tell her that her mother would be coming up in a few days, but seeing her current enthusiastic state, he decided not to say it.

Otherwise, if he said it, she would pester him every day afterward asking about it. It was hard enough to have a quiet ear today with the little rabbit to play with; he didn't want to invite trouble for himself.

Anyway, she would find out once she came up. These few days, the rabbit would perfectly share her attention.

Lin Ji had been traveling between two places himself. A while ago, when the wives' group went back, he had driven the boat back with them, just to give them a ride and handle matters back home.

Ye Yaodong had also instructed him that when he returned, he should help bring his wife and children up, saving him or his father from having to go back to pick them up.

Previously, when they stayed in his Western-style house in Shanghai, he had treated the couple very well. So when he came up, bringing his wife and children up safely was just a side task.

With an acquaintance leading the way, he could feel more at ease.

Just now, Ah Qing called to say they would set off tomorrow. She asked Ye's mother to move into their home directly after she left, to watch the house and take care of the elderly.

Besides, it was close to the workshop, so coming home for anything would be convenient.

The time they chose to set off was before winter break, but there were no classes left; all lessons were finished, mostly just review, and they only had two or three days before preparing for the final exams.

Lin Lin Xiuqing thought that since she had already promised the children and the boat wouldn't wait for anyone, and the date was set and couldn't be changed, she might as well ask for leave for them and skip the final exams.

Ye Chenghu was overjoyed. Not having to take exams and being able to go to a foreign place to find his father made him so excited on the phone that he was incoherent, wishing to set off immediately.

Ye Yaodong also told his father about this, asking him to rest more recently and letting him do all the work.

When Ah Qing came up later, he would let his father do a bit more work then, while he accompanied them to go out and have a good time for a few days.

"There's still time to rest? I thought there was no rest at all."

"It's like you owe me or something."

"When you rest, I naturally rest too. But when you work, I don't rest. When you deliver goods, I go with you to help. But when I deliver goods, it's different; you're just at home with your feet up."

Ye Yaodong recalled it, and it seemed true.

"Well, I didn't ask you to do it. When I go to deliver goods, you can rest."

"But I'm the one driving the tractor. When you need to deliver goods, don't I have to drive the vehicle over?"

"Next time, you can give it to someone else. There are plenty of people who can drive a tractor."

"But I'm the one driving that vehicle. I'm the one serving it by adding water and fuel; how could I bear to give it to someone else?"

"Then that's your problem, not that I ordered you to do it."

He wasn't taking the blame for this; it was all his father's voluntary choice, insisting on taking on the work.

Ye's father also knew he was destined for a life of toil. "Alright, if I don't watch things for you, who will? You go do what you need to do. Just tell me in advance if you need anything done."

"Mm."

"When you go out to sleep, should I clear a room for you?"

"Then you move out of the room. After all, first time is unfamiliar, second time is familiar. Either you move out and never come back to live here, you have one room to yourself, I have one room."

"That's such a waste. One person needs one room? How so pretentious."

"Anyway, the room is empty whether it's used or not, saving the trouble of moving back and forth. When we get the few boats by the end of the year, we'll need to hire workers then; we can arrange to clear out the room at that time."

Ye's father thought about it and saw no difference; arranging for new personnel to come up would be after the New Year anyway, and his daughter-in-law bringing the child over would only stay until the New Year before returning.

"That works too. Did the factory say when the boats will be delivered? It's best if they're delivered before the New Year, so we can drive them all back together."

"It doesn't matter. Driving them back and leaving them at home is just parking them; it wastes fuel going back and forth. We don't need that many boats, so just docking them here is fine. Anyway, new boats don't need maintenance."

The existing boats all have to be driven back. Taking advantage of the rest during the New Year period, the fishing boats also need good maintenance, cleaning the barnacles off the hulls.

The new boats bought last year don't need cleaning, but some of the old ones do.

They don't clean them every year; after all, fishing boats are large and the work is strenuous. Basically, they wait two or three years depending on the situation, only cleaning the barnacles and young shellfish off the hulls during rest periods when they accumulate.

Now that he has more boats, he isn't so particular. Buying a new boat doesn't strictly require driving it home to set off firecrackers; making a gesture here, setting off a few strings, is enough.

With such sound reasoning, Ye's father couldn't refute it, nor could he drive the boat back from so far away just for the sake of face; the fuel cost would be a huge sum.

Anyway, his face is very big these days; he doesn't necessarily have to drive the new boat back.

"Then you decide. It's only a month until the New Year; we definitely need to go back early. During this time, when your wife comes up, don't forget to visit the shipyard more often. The boats due for delivery should be arriving one after another."

"I know. I've been going to see them recently. How could I not care about the boats?"

"I'm just afraid you'll keep running to Shanghai every few days, your mind focused on the house and land, neglecting the boats."

"It won't happen."

"Then I'll move tomorrow. I'll move all my things, clothes, and luggage over, saving the trouble of coming over every few days to fetch things."

Previously, when Ye's mother came up, he just rolled up a simple bedding and went over; whatever was needed could be fetched easily, since it was just the two of them, father and son.

With the daughter-in-law moving in, it's different; he can't keep coming in and out anymore.

"Mm, no need to tell Xiao Jiu that her mother is coming up yet. She'll know naturally when she arrives."

"Oh my, this child really asks a lot. She asks every day, several times a day. It's rare for her to be quiet today."

"Mm, I'll go call her back to sleep."

Not only did he call her back; Ye Yaodong also brought back two rabbits.

Fatty had instigated them to raise the two rabbits together; since one was male and one female, letting them live together meant they could produce many baby rabbits next year.

The two children had already started looking forward to it from now on and had agreed that each rabbit would stay at one person's place for a day.

And before sleep, Ye Yaodong was constantly pestered with questions: "How do rabbits have babies?"

"Dad (Uncle) said rabbits can have a litter. How many are in a litter?"

"Dad, when will the little rabbits have babies for me?"

Ye Yaodong was utterly helpless; children of this age have an incredibly heavy curiosity, asking questions until the pot breaks.

He felt he needed to go find one tomorrow, see if the bookstore had "Ten Thousand Whys," and get it for her!

In a few days, his two sons would come up; let the three of them read it themselves to stop the annoyance.

"Go to sleep quickly. Who told you how rabbits have babies? Go ask whoever told you tomorrow, don't ask me. How would I know how rabbits have babies? I'm not a rabbit."

"Then how does Dad know?"

"He bought them; he definitely knows. Go ask him tomorrow; he was the one who told you in the first place."

"Okay then."

Pei Yu came over early at dawn, carrying an empty cage to fetch her rabbit.

Neither Ye Yaodong nor his son and daughter were awake yet; Ye's father woke up and opened the door for her.

As a result, she didn't leave. After taking the rabbit, seeing Ye Ye Xiaoxi still fast asleep, she thought she would get into bed and wait for her to wake up.

Unexpectedly, she fell asleep while waiting.

Ye Yaodong had heard the commotion early on but didn't get up, continuing to sleep. He only rose when the sun was high, discovering Pei Yu lying in his father's bed next door.

After tucking the child in with a blanket, he got up to wash and brush.

When he returned, the two girls were up, playing with the little rabbits on the bed without wearing clothes.

Ye Yaodong had now gained experience in caring for children; attending to dressing them in pants and shirts, tying their hair, washing their faces, he covered every detail.

After serving breakfast and sending them out to play, he felt relaxed, but Fatty suffered.

The two girls followed his heels all morning, asking various questions about the little rabbits. When Fatty said he didn't know, they refused to believe him, insisting that since he bought them, he must know, and demanding he explain everything clearly.

Fatty was ready to kneel; against his own son, he didn't have such patience.

The two little girls were especially good at acting spoiled, each pulling on his clothes, calling him "Dad" one after another, their voices soft and sweet.

Unlike the stinky boys, who just shouted loudly, speaking with increasing stubbornness, each more argumentative than the last.

His temper had been worn down by the two girls; he could only accompany them playing with the rabbits all day. He didn't have that much patience for his own sons.

Originally, he wanted to hide a bit, but the two thought he was playing hide-and-seek with them, making them even more excited...

With the little rabbits diverting their attention, Ye Yaodong's days became easier.

Lin Lin Xiuqing arrived only after New Year's Day. This trip up took four days, probably because there were fewer stops and not much cargo needed loading or unloading.

Two days after she departed, Ye Yaodong started arranging for people to wait at the dock; the cargo ship's arrival time wasn't accurate, as early or late arrival was possible.

As soon as she arrived, someone returned to notify him.

He immediately rode his motorcycle out to pick her up.

Ye Ye Xiaoxi was still in the dark, still playing rabbits with Pei Yu, investigating whether there were baby rabbits inside the rabbit's belly.

After getting off the boat, Lin Lin Xiuqing dared not wander; she didn't move a single step. Where Lin Ji told her to wait, she stood obediently, holding her two sons tightly, one in each hand.

The two sons, however, felt no tension like her; they were extremely excited, standing on tiptoes looking around, chattering nonstop in their mouths, wishing to run everywhere.

Lin Lin Xiuqing could only hold them tightly, telling them to behave, or she would make them go back right then.

"Dad, my dad is here! My dad is there!"

"Dad!"

"Dad..."

The two children jumped and waved excitedly on the spot.

With unloaders and porters all around, it wasn't suitable for the vehicle to drive up, so Ye Yaodong stopped about ten-plus meters ahead and waved to them.

Lin Ji stepped forward: "Come, Ah Dong is here. I'll take you over; I'll carry the luggage."

"Ah, that's trouble for you."

"No trouble."

The two children couldn't wait any longer; they grabbed her hand and dove straight into the crowd, jogging all the way to Ye Yaodong, calling out "Dad" in waves.

They had never been this enthusiastic before!

When Ye Yaodong came home, these two children wouldn't necessarily come near him; even if they did, they'd be staring at the gifts, not at him.

Now it was truly rare; their eyes looked at him brighter than at gold.

"You look in good spirits; the boat ride wasn't too hard on you."

"We had food to eat, a place to lie down, things to play with, and something to look forward to—how could it be hard?" Lin Lin Xiuqing, seeing him, felt her heart settle back in her belly; the taut string loosened.

She looked far more disheveled than the two children: her hair was loose and messy, her clothes were dirty in many places, though they still seemed to be new.

"Dad, the boat ride was so much fun! We rode for several days. It's our first time on a boat that long. It was so much fun."

"Dad, we stopped at several docks, but none were as lively as this one. There are so many people here."

"Mm, get in the vehicle first. We'll talk about anything else when we get back."

He shifted his bottom, making a bit more room on the seat behind him so the mother and three children could sit comfortably.

Then he looked at Lin Ji: "Thank you. You worked hard bringing my wife and children up."

"Just a side thing; it was the right thing to do." As Lin Ji spoke, he helped tie a sack of luggage onto the vehicle for him.

"Once I've settled them, I'll treat you to dinner tonight."

"It's fine. Whether you treat me or not doesn't matter. I still have cargo to unload; I don't know when that'll be done. We'll talk when I'm free."

"Alright, then you get on with your work; I won't hold you up from unloading. I'll take them home first."

Ye Yaodong waved to him once, then rode his motorcycle slowly through the crowd.

"Dad, is that your newly bought motorcycle? It's so beautiful!"

"Dad, why did you buy a motorcycle? When I told Grandma, she went back and scolded you for being wasteful."

The two children sat behind him, their mouths nonstop.

"Looks good, right? Does the red one look better, or the green one?"

Ye Chenghu shouted loudly: "The red one looks better, but I like the one at home with the cargo bed! I think that one is more dashing!"

Ye Ye Chengyang, not wanting to fall behind, yelled: "Right, I think the three-wheeler is more dashing too. It's just like in war movies; the movies have three wheels too."

"Heh, stop talking, or you'll fill your mouths with wind."

The cold wind blew at him; he felt his limbs and bones freezing to death. Cold wind kept drilling in through his neck, cuffs, and pant legs. His teeth chattered, and his features were twisted by the wind.

"Dad, why is it so cold up here?"

"That's why I told you to wear more clothes. Now, talk less."

"Dad... where's sister..."

"Dad, I brought my Transformers too. So cool..."

Ye Yaodong told them to shut their mouths to keep the cold wind out, but they didn't listen a bit; they kept talking about what they wanted, venting their excitement.

He didn't want to speak anymore and gave them no response, letting them chatter on as they pleased.

His base wasn't far from the dock; it was just that the crowd made him drive slowly, but it still took only ten-plus minutes to get home.

"Wow! Is this it?" Ye Chenghu exclaimed before he even got off.

Ye Ye Chengyang also asked joyfully and loudly, "Dad, is this our home? Oh my god, so many houses! Is this whole place ours?"

Lin Lin Xiuqing, surprised and delighted, got off the vehicle first, then helped each of them down one by one.

"Is this it?"

"Yes. We started building last year, continued at the beginning of this year, and bit by bit it took on its current shape. This place used to be a garbage dump."

While explaining to her, Ye Yaodong also got off the vehicle and went to open the iron gate.

The iron gate had a safety latch on the inside; you could open it by reaching through the iron bars. At night, when sleeping, he would add an extra lock.

The two boys got off the vehicle and, unable to wait, rushed to the gate, grabbing the iron bars to look inside.

"Wow, this place is way too big! So many houses!"

"Dad, is this the empire you conquered?" Ye Ye Chengyang looked at him with sparkling eyes.

"Hahaha, you know how to talk. Come in. Sister is inside too, probably behind that canteen up front. But she doesn't know you've come up. You can give her a surprise."

Ye Yaodong opened the safety latch on the handle. The two immediately rushed in with shouts of "Wow, wow!" But after that, they quietly ran in the direction he pointed, probably wanting to scare their sister.

Lin Lin Xiuqing was untying the luggage strapped to the back of the vehicle, and he went over to help.

"No need to untie it. I'll drive the vehicle right in, park downstairs, and carry it upstairs then. That way we won't have to carry it while walking."

She smiled brightly. "Alright, then you drive in."

"Mm."

Lin Lin Xiuqing followed him inside. His vehicle was already parked downstairs, so she jogged over.

"Why doesn't anyone see us?"

"Most have gone out to sea. At most, there are only a dozen or so people here. With no sun today and wind blowing, if they're not lying in their rooms, they're probably playing cards in the canteen."

Just then, several heads poked out from upstairs; they had heard the motorcycle.

"Dongzi, you picked up your wife?"

"Got it."

Lin Lin Xiuqing smiled up at the upper floor and waved at them. "They're staying upstairs—what floor are you on?"

"Third floor. Come on, I'll take you up first."

Ye Yaodong only planned for her to stay one or two nights, then take her to the guesthouse.

During the day, there are few people here, so it's fine to stay here. But at night, most of them return—hundreds of men—so I won't let her sleep here. I'll sleep outside with her.

"Third floor? They built it this tall!"

"Building higher saves ground space and gives more room."

"This place is really great—all that money wasn't wasted."

Lin Lin Xiuqing climbed the stairs beside him, chatting as they went, her face full of excitement and joy. All her earlier worries vanished; now she felt only happiness.

When she stepped inside, the shock was even greater.

After putting down her luggage, Ye Yaodong immediately pulled out the bag hidden under the bed—full of pots, pans, and utensils—with a clanging, clattering noise that made her cover her ears.

"What are you doing? What are you pulling out? Why so loud?"

"Good stuff!"

Ye Yaodong untied the rope and pulled out several sets: iron pots, soup pots, spatulas, and more.

Lin Lin Xiuqing couldn't stop laughing. "What's this for? Are you expecting me to cook for you?"

"Come here."

She walked over with a smile, glanced into the bag—and her eyes widened, her mouth dropping open in an O.

Ye Yaodong winked at her. "How's that?"

"Amazing! How did my husband get so clever?"

"Of course! Satisfied?"

"Satisfied. Extremely satisfied."

With a joyful expression, Lin Lin Xiuqing bent down, pulled out a bundle, let it rustle in her hands, then, as if guilty, glanced nervously out the window.

"Don't worry, no one usually comes up here. There's hardly anyone around now—it's only at night they return."

"Still, be careful. Don't take them out."

She put the money back, lifted the sack in her hands, weighed it, then whispered excitedly again.

"I think it's over twenty jin—almost thirty jin!"

"About right. There are over a hundred here. I've also saved thirty in the bank—no, wait, with last year's, it's fifty."

Lin Lin Xiuqing covered her mouth with her hand, then made a shushing gesture. "Don't say any more. Put it back."

"Mm."

"You're so smart—hiding all these pots and pans here. Who else would dare rummage around so loudly?"

Ye Yaodong beamed. "Of course—only my brain could come up with this."

The couple quickly repacked everything and shoved it back under the bed.

"No one lives on either side, right? Otherwise, such noise would be heard."

"Relax. Three rooms on my left, three on my right—all empty. The floor below is empty too. I deliberately left them vacant—no one's assigned here. There are plenty of empty rooms now."

"Good."

Ye Yaodong pulled her close, his hands roaming. "So don't worry—even if you scream your throat raw, no one will hear!"

Lin Lin Xiuqing blushed, glancing at the window. "You're so impatient..."

"Damn it, I've been holding back too long..."

(End of Chapter)