Chapter 1525: Busy

Lin Xiuqing was woken up by the phone call early in the morning and felt a bit resentful.

"Why don't you look at the time when you call? Calling at 6 o'clock, it's just dawn."

"He said he had to drive out to get busy, so he only had time right after getting up. He might sleep in the car at night. Anyway, it's our home phone, so someone will answer at any time."

"That's quite hard work..."

Lin Xiuqing didn't say anything more after hearing this. Earning money isn't easy; there's no way to earn money without hard work.

After Ye Yaodong finished the call, he didn't sleep either. Anyway, it was dawn, and it was already 6 o'clock. It was just right to get up early and go out to see them harvesting kelp.

Watching the village cadres rolling up their sleeves and working there, helping to dry it, he also changed into a set of ragged clothes to go help, and chatted a few words while at it.

He hadn't even gone to the village committee since he came back yesterday afternoon.

As he earned more and more money over the past few years, the village also started farming kelp under his call, and the relationship with the village committee naturally became more and more intimate.

As soon as Chen Shuji saw him wearing ragged clothes, he said in surprise, "Oh my, why are you wearing these clothes?"

Ye Yaodong looked down at his dirty and ragged clothes. "What's wrong? If you don't wear this to work, what should you wear?"

The village chief took over the conversation. "Someone who didn't know might think you went bankrupt, hehe."

"Do I have to wear a suit and tie to work and dry kelp?"

"Haha, I heard you came back yesterday? It just so happens that the county is arranging for people to come over in these two days, so you'll have to dress a bit better then."

"I have it. I'll wear a Zhongshan suit then..."

Ye Yaodong chatted with them while helping to work. After the things at home were handled, he still had to go to the city to set the price for this year's kelp.

It's just that he didn't know when the county was coming. He had to let the village cadres confirm it. If it wasn't that soon, he would go to the city first tomorrow, stay for two days, and then come back.

He's busy as hell now.

He wasn't busy when he didn't come back, but once he came back, he felt like everything was a matter.

Once back, he naturally had to visit everywhere, say hello, and build relationships.

However, Chen Shuji only said it wasn't certain. If it were certain, the county would notify them in advance.

Ye Yaodong felt relieved after hearing this. He just had to let Chen Shuji call him in advance when the time came. Anyway, he also had a phone in the city. Once notified, he could drive back immediately, which wasn't a hassle.

In the afternoon, Ye Yaodong went to town to buy supplements for the old lady, and while at it, he also went to stroll around the fish cannery.

Pei Dongqing had been working for less than a year and had already become a team leader. As soon as she saw him, her eyes lit up.

"Brother Dong!"

"Ah? You're in this workshop?"

"Yes. Did you just come back? Let me show you around the workshop."

"Oh, okay."

Pei Dongqing smiled at him. "I'm getting married soon, so you don't have to feel uncomfortable."

"Ah?" Ye Yaodong was truly surprised this time. "Getting married? That's a good thing. I'll have your third sister-in-law prepare a red envelope for you then."

"No need, no need..."

"It's necessary. You've worked for me for a few years anyway, and now you're working here. I also have half the shares here."

In reality, it was only 40%, but when speaking, he definitely said half. It sounded better and was easier to say. Anyway, it wasn't much different.

Except when reconciling accounts, no one would nitpick and force him to say exactly how many percent.

She laughed.

Ye Yaodong asked curiously, "Where is the partner from? What does he do?"

"He's a friend of the boss and has been to the factory a few times."

"That's quite good. When are you getting married? It's good to get married early while you're young."

"It's not set yet. I have to wait for my father to come back. I just called my father the day before yesterday. We can only set it after he comes back. I'll send the wedding invitation to the third sister-in-law then."

"Then I don't know if I'll make it. I'm leaving at the end of the month. I might not be able to drink the wedding wine. I'll have A-Qing drink it for me instead."

"Hehe, then we'll talk about it when the time comes. If you can, stay for a few more days. Anyway, you're already back."

"I can't stay. I'm busy as hell, a pile of things."

"That's true. I heard you have many more ships this year, so you must be even busier. My brother doesn't have your ability and is idle all day long."

"Your brother should be coming back with your father, right?"

"That's what they say. My brother said there are people to drive the ships and workers to catch fish for him. Anyway, the goods caught are all collected by you, so he's not afraid of errors in the accounts. He only needs to ask you for the bill, so he doesn't have to watch there."

"Damn it, the goods are collected by me, which makes it convenient for them to be lazy and not have to work at all."

Pei Dongqing laughed.

The two chatted for a while while strolling through the workshop. Ye Yaodong felt no burden talking to her this time and felt much more relaxed.

He calculated that Pei Dongqing should be 26 or 27 this year, which is already considered an old maid among old maids. At this age, others' children are already several years old.

At this age, he already had three children, and he was still a big man.

Get married quickly and be done with it, to avoid being gossiped about.

He could be considered to have done a great good deed, moving her to a new nest, so she could get married immediately and even marry into town.

A friend of Hong Wenle, the conditions definitely wouldn't be too bad.

Sure enough, women who can earn money, and are a bit older, have seen more and aren't so easy to fool.

Everyone has a psychology of admiring the strong, especially girls. If they have some ability, they want to find someone higher, and few settle for less.

If the conditions aren't good, they definitely won't look at them. If she were in the village, she might still be thinking about him.

Men aren't necessarily like that.

After he got home, he mentioned it to Lin Xiuqing in passing.

Lin Xiuqing looked calm. "I knew it long ago. I heard during the New Year that she was dating someone. Huimei told me the day before yesterday that she planned to get married and had also called her father and A-Guang."

"Then why didn't you tell me?"

"Why would I tell you? You only came back yesterday, and there's a pile of things you haven't asked about or handled. Why would I mention another woman to you in the first place?"

"Small-minded."

Lin Xiuqing slanted a glance at him. "It's good to get married early. Otherwise, in a few years, she'll be 30, and she'll really be drowned by the spit of the village gossips. It's a good thing she dated someone during the New Year, which can block the mouths of the gossips."

"I didn't hear about it when I was home during the New Year..."

"How many days were you home during the New Year? You didn't come back until the 28th of the lunar month. Once the New Year passed, you were either at my parents' house or busy with Chenghe's engagement. Once the engagement was over, you ran to the city again. Do you have time to listen to the women's gossip?"

"That's true. Anyway, it's good to get married, saving her from being talked about."

"Working in the workshop, no one said anything. Everyone would just smile and diligently introduce her to partners. After all, she works inside, so they don't talk about people to their faces. After she went to work in town last year, the spit in the workshop could drown people. It's a good thing she couldn't hear it after she left."

"Those women are really idle."

"Working doesn't affect them moving their mouths. When many people work together, talking is even livelier. Whoever isn't there, they naturally mutter about."

This should be called gossiping.

"Then to avoid being muttered about, do you have to join them?"

Lin Xiuqing laughed happily. "Isn't that so? If someone doesn't come to work one day, the topic will turn to that person, and they'll even dig up all the relatives they're related to and mutter and discuss them."

These women are really scary.

"Really exaggerated."

"Don't say that. Sometimes if you move a stool and sit around them, you can hear a pile of gossip, and you can even hear gossip from other villages. Just listen casually, and a whole day will pass."

Ye Yaodong was speechless.

"I don't know when A-Guang will be back. If he arranges to get married before the end of the month, maybe we can go together."

"It's not that simple. I heard that getting married these two years is very particular. They want the new three items, the old three items, and those with money even want to take wedding photos and make furniture."

"Then if it's too late, let him go by himself. I definitely can't wait for him."

Every day he delays, his father could jump with anger, not to mention that from beginning to end, it's already been a long time. He must go up at the end of the month.

By then, he'll still go with the friend. Whenever it's set, it has to be then; he can't stay even one day longer.

"Anyway, tell me whenever you're leaving, and I'll pack and prepare everything for you. I also called my father today. Since you're going to the city tomorrow, just bring my nephew back when you come back."

"Okay."

He had chatted with the village cadres and strolled through the town factory, so he prepared to go directly to the city the next day.

There was still a pile of accounts to look at in the city, and he had to visit his godfather. With the time wasted on the road back and forth, it would take at least 3 days, so he had to hurry.

To avoid the county people coming while he hadn't finished handling things in the city, and having to run back and forth, which would be too much of a hassle.

Ye Yaodong really felt that going home was busier than staying up there. There were so many ships up there, but they didn't make him busy from morning till night.

But staying at home, he felt he couldn't have a moment of rest. Except for eating and sleeping, he couldn't rest at all.

Going to the city was even busier. He was on the road all day long, driving the tractor back and forth. Even if he didn't go out, he had to reconcile accounts.

After the county people came, he hurried back without stopping, accompanying the leaders with a smiling face and entertaining them with good food and drink. The whole family was busy and turned upside down.

After the leaders left, he had the large Liberation truck load a truckload of kelp and transport it to the city together.

And it wasn't just one trip. The kelp yield was high this year, so the large Liberation truck had to transport it back and forth without stopping. Once a truck was full, it had to be sent to the city warehouse for storage; otherwise, the workshop at home couldn't store it.

Because Ye Yaodong didn't feel at ease with the two novices, he also followed the truck every time.

Even when A-Guang came back, he only met him for a moment and couldn't even talk. He was running around on the road every day.

Only when the friend went to the city warehouse to haul goods did he stay there and wait for people, finally having a chance to catch his breath.

This was all to finish the work that could be done before leaving, saving A-Qing from being too busy.

He wasn't home, so she had to arrange all the work alone. This was something that couldn't be helped. Now that he was home, naturally, he could do more and handle it for her first.

By the way, he could also train the two novices, letting them drive the large truck a few more times in advance, so they could be more skilled when they went to Zhoushan.

The friend only came over to haul twice, but each trip had three trucks, and the quantity was also quite impressive.

Before they left at the end of the month, the city daily also published the kelp harvest of their village this year, and also pointed out the results of other places in the city that started farming last year.

At the end, it also strongly appealed to some coastal villages to learn from their Bai Sha Village, actively research and carry out various types of seafood farming, improve the village's production capacity, and develop the village to get rid of poverty and become rich.

It also mentioned that the municipal government attaches great importance to the city's fishery situation, etc.

Similarly, the village cadres were also commended by the county and the city, appearing in the newspaper for the second time.

Chen Shuji and the village chief had their mouths crooked with smiles, and their whole bodies were full of energy. Every day before dawn, he could see several old men working enthusiastically.

He estimated that if the village continued to maintain this, Chen Shuji could be promoted and transferred to the county.

Before leaving, the kelp harvest in the village was nearing its end, basically leaving only the work of drying. He simply asked his mother to help arrange a table at home, and he would treat the village cadres to a meal.

The village cadres also liked his being sensible the most. Being treated to a meal before leaving was too thoughtful and made people feel comfortable.

It just so happened that everyone had been busy and dizzy for a month, and now they could finally sit down and catch their breath with great difficulty.

Ye Yaodong's friends weren't home, only A-Guang was home, and Old Pei was a relative, so he called them over to accompany them for drinks.

"A-Dong is so thoughtful in doing things; it's hard not to get rich."

"You deserve to get rich. You're so good at doing things, who wouldn't like you."

"Busy for so many days, my bones are all scattered. I couldn't even take care of eating every day. Today, I'll shamelessly eat a meal of yours, haha."

Ye Yaodong smiled and took over the conversation. "It's what should be done. I've been back for so many days, you're busy, and I'm busy, so I didn't have time to arrange to treat everyone to a meal. I have to leave in two days, so naturally, I have to hurry and arrange it."

"It's just right. I see that the work is almost finished today, and with others helping, you can also free up your hands to have a meal first."

"Eating is the most important thing. Drink a bit more today, and you can sleep well when you go back tonight."

Chen Shuji's face was tanned several degrees darker, but his spirit was exceptionally good, with a face full of joy. "It's only these few days that are the busiest all year round. People are all tanned and peeled, but at least there's a bumper harvest, which can be considered a return on the effort."

"These few years have been good years. I see that in less than two years, you'll be promoted. Don't forget to take care of me more when you go to the county."

"Hahaha, it's not that easy."

"If you aren't promoted, it would be against the laws of heaven... Which cadre works as tirelessly as you, fulfilling their duties..."

Ye Yaodong flattered them with all his might, making everyone feel comfortable, almost treating him like their own son, and repeatedly praising Ye Mu for being able to give birth and raise children.

Ye Mu was also full of radiance, feeling honored.

Ye Yaodong is her glory and is now also her capital to walk sideways in the village.

After the meal, when everyone had left, Ye Mu was also a bit drunk and told him that when the director of the Women's Federation retired, she might be able to serve for two years to satisfy her craving.

Ye Yaodong only took it as her being drunk and bragging. His mother and father were the same age, and she would be 58 next year. Now the policy is for women to retire at 55, which is to say, the countryside doesn't pay attention to this, and she isn't on the payroll, so she can keep working if she wants to.

He was actually drunk too, but he still supported sending people away and helped his mother back to her room to sleep. The finishing work was naturally left to Lin Xiuqing.

Lin Xiuqing even packed his luggage after she finished her work.

Over the past month, she had also been very busy with the kelp harvest. She had to weigh it every day. Although there were special people recording and reconciling accounts, she also had to watch, check, and arrange other things.

Fortunately, it was only busy for a month, and she would be able to get past it soon and return to the past.

After Ye Yaodong drives the large truck away, she can also arrange for tractor transportation. Most of it has been transported to the city during this period, and there isn't much left.

It's just that the old lady is very reluctant to let him leave. She started sighing from early the next morning and even pulled Lin Xiuqing to give instructions on what to bring for him.

"Although he's been back for so many days, we haven't seen each other all day long. He's been busy everywhere and running everywhere."

"He's been so busy at home, so wouldn't he be even busier outside? There are so many ships outside, and he still has to deliver goods."

"Remember to buy more ginseng for him to take up there. He has to supplement himself at night. I originally wanted to stew it for him yesterday after he drank so late, but he couldn't eat it."

"He's been coming and going in a hurry every day, and I haven't seen him much. Now he's leaving again. Will he have to wait until the New Year to come back next time?"

Lin Xiuqing comforted her. "Not necessarily. He'll definitely come back in between, so just wait."

"It's just my old bones that can't walk anymore. Otherwise, you all went up to play last year, so I would have had to follow and take a look."

"Then just wait for him to buy a small car and take you. By then, there will be a western-style house for you to live in."

The old lady's old face, full of furrows, smiled exceptionally brightly. "Buy that car for what? Waste of money. That little iron box is very expensive. There are cars at home. That large car we just bought is so big, that's majestic enough. Can't buy anymore, can't spend money recklessly anymore. Money must be spent on the cutting edge, can't just squander it once you earn a little money..."

She rambled on and on. No one answered her, but she could still talk to herself.

Lin Xiuqing was still thinking about whether there was anything missing, and had no time to manage her, so she let her talk to herself.

It just so happened that Ye Xiaoxi could also answer her, and could chat with the old lady, and said it very happily and energetically.

"Great-grandma, there are many small cars outside, they are so beautiful. When I grow up, I'll take you to ride in a small car..."

"We also have a western-style house in the magic city. When I take you to live in the western-style house, that sofa is so soft. I can lie on it and sleep. You definitely can too. I'll share it with you when the time comes..."

"You must not get sick again. If you get sick, I won't take you..."

The old lady was coaxed by her until her eyebrows and eyes were smiling. "Good, good, good... I'll wait for you to take me..."

"I also want to take 'Gongxi' and 'Facai' with me. They have their own home up there, but they haven't been there. 'Xiaobai' hasn't been there either. When we go up, we'll also build a nest for Xiaobai's family, right in my room..."

"By the way, take brother's 'Xiaoba' with you. Xiaoba hasn't been there either, and 'Dabai' hasn't been there either. There are only three Dabais at home, let's take them all with us?"

Ye Xiaoxi counted her little partners who weren't human on her fingers.

The old lady just smiled and answered yes.

Even if no one answered, she could still talk with relish by herself.

Now that someone was listening, she naturally talked even more energetically. She was also a chatterbox.

Lin Xiuqing couldn't help but say, "You take all those up there, where will you raise them? You'll make the house smelly."

"Put them in the courtyard. There happens to be grass, they can eat grass, and they can run in the courtyard."

"Who will raise them? Will you?"

She tilted her head and thought for a while, then shook her head. "No, I still want to play. Can you take 'Dou-dou', 'A-Yue', 'Xiaohong', 'Qing-qing'... take them all up?"

Lin Xiuqing felt she had talked too much.

"... Take them with you, I'll give them candy, and they can help me raise them."

"You have a beautiful thought. One candy can offset a day's wages. Even 'Zhou Bapi' isn't as shrewd as you."

"They said it themselves."

"You raise them, they raise livestock. Is it worth it?"

"I want to."

Lin Xiuqing ignored her.

Ye Xiaoxi continued to draw cakes for the old lady. "Great-grandma, the magic city is so lively. When the time comes, I'll take you shopping, and there's a merry-go-round. I'll take you to ride it when the time comes, it's super fun..."

These words, she had already said when she came back last year, and some cakes hadn't just been drawn once.

Mainly, her little partners were all very cooperative with her. Every time they heard her talk about the magic city, they were exceptionally yearning and never tired of hearing it. Naturally, she talked even more energetically.

It was just that the old lady didn't find her annoying.

Lin Xiuqing's ears were almost calloused.

Ye Yaodong woke up and heard Ye Xiaoxi drawing cakes for the old lady, and also felt it was interesting.

"Great-grandma is already full, and you're still drawing cakes?"

Ye Xiaoxi learned the way adults touched her belly in the past, and also went to touch the old lady's belly.

"Not full."

"Wait until you grow up. All empty words that cannot be realized can only be considered cakes drawn."

"When I grow up, I can take Great-grandma there."

"Then do you want to take me?"

She put her hands on her hips. "You go yourself! You run out every day, and once you come back, you don't let me sleep with Mom. I don't want to take you."

"You little rabbit, how old are you, and you still sleep with your mother."

"Then you're even older, and you still sleep with my mother."

"I want to."

"Let's switch. You sleep with Great-grandma at night, and I'll sleep with Mom!"

"Fine, you sleep with your mother at night, and I'll take the opportunity while you're asleep to braise your rabbit, just right for drinking."

Ye Xiaoxi's face fell directly, and she even rushed over to hit him.

Ye Yaodong dodged to the side. "Can't hit me, can't hit me~ Come on, come on~"

Ye Xiaoxi chased him around the courtyard in anger.

Lin Xiuqing was still organizing things and was dizzy from them turning around. "Alright, alright, you two hurry up and go outside, don't get in the way here."

Ye Yaodong stopped, looked at her panting, and patted her head. "Go play by yourself, Dad is leaving tomorrow, I'll return your mother to you."

"That's more like it. 'Gongxi', 'Facai', let's go, let's go out to play."

The two large wolves that were originally lying lazily in the courtyard stood up immediately, taller than her, and then followed slowly behind her to go out.

Ye Yaodong looked at her back. "With those two large wolves, she can walk sideways wherever she goes."

"Without those two large wolves, she can also walk sideways in the village."

"That's true."

"Those two dogs are also scary enough. It's a good thing they won't bite people casually."

"That's because no one attacked them, or attacked their master."

Lin Xiuqing changed the subject. "First take this luggage to the large truck. Anyway, there's nothing important, so I'm not afraid of losing it. Just put it on the truck, to avoid missing it when it's hurried."

"Okay."

(End of chapter)