Chapter 1527: Accident (3000+6000 words)

Ye Yaodong waved to Lin Guang and Lin Lin Guangwen, and Ye Chenghe came over with them.

He was very excited. "Third Uncle, they said they can teach me to drive the big truck."

"Sure, as long as you have time, just go learn with them."

"I have time, I have time, of course I have time. If you don't need to deliver goods tonight, I can learn with them."

"You arrange the time yourselves; I won't interfere. Just don't break my truck, or you'll have to pay for it."

"It won't happen."

He didn't believe they would have time to learn; with that time, they could drive the tractor out and earn money for several more trips.

At night, they would have to help him deliver goods anyway.

"There are still empty beds in your room; take them over to rest first."

"Third Uncle, have you eaten? Won't you eat before sleeping?"

"We already had a late-night snack."

Ye Ye Chengjiang looked at the rising sun on the horizon. "A late-night snack?"

Ye Yaodong looked over too. "What you eat when it's dark is a late-night snack; the sky brightens after you finish. Don't nitpick here; hurry and take them to rest."

"Okay."

Ye Yaodong's father was also shouting at them. "You two rascals, hurry over and help wipe the truck; after you're done, you can go to work right away."

"Wait a moment, coming right up. Chenghe, go help; I'll take them to the room."

"Alright."

Ye Chenghe also ran excitedly toward the big truck. "I'm coming, I'm coming."

Others watched for a while; once the novelty wore off, they each went back to their rooms to get dressed, wash up, or do whatever. Some had just gotten up and ran out wearing only their underwear to take a look.

Some people even squatted beside the big truck with their breakfast, eating while discussing the new truck with Ye Yaodong's father.

With people chatting, Ye Yaodong's father and Ye Chenghe naturally had extra energy.

Ye Yaodong only stood there for a while; as everyone gradually went back to their own tasks, he went to wash up and sleep first.

During the two or three days on the road, he hadn't even washed his face or brushed his teeth; he had slept on the kelp, and now his entire body, from head to toe, smelled of kelp; he had been pickled in it.

By the time he woke up, it was already lunchtime; there were hardly any people visible in the camp then, which explained why it was so quiet and no one was crowding around the truck anymore.

He hadn't seen his father either; he was probably out driving the truck.

After a good night's sleep, he felt refreshed; he hurried to eat first and casually asked the cafeteria whether his father had returned.

Now everyone had figured out the routine: if you wanted to find someone, you could just come to the canteen to ask whether they were there and when they had last been seen.

Whenever people had a little free time, they basically sat in the canteen; after all, the canteen was relatively spacious, so it was very convenient for small groups to sit together, have a little wine, and chat.

After eating, Ye Yaodong went to find Old You to check this month's accounts; since he wasn't here at the end of the month, his father had overseen the calculations.

Actually, only the rent for the small boats had been collected on time at the end of the month; for the large boats, since he wasn't there, his father hadn't had anyone calculate the accounts.

Anyway, the fishing boats were still out and hadn't returned; it would be the same to calculate whenever they came back. Moreover, Lin Guang and his father had gone home around the middle of the month, so they were also not here.

When Ye Yaodong's father returned and saw him and Old You sitting in a corner of the canteen looking at the account book and talking, he also came over and explained again that the accounts for the boats out at sea had not yet been calculated.

"You're back just in time; I guess those few boats are about to return."

"Hmm, did the fresh-fish collection boat go out to collect goods today?"

"It did. Now it has to go out to collect every day, leaving in the morning and returning in the afternoon; it's incredibly busy. Otherwise, why would I call back every day to urge you?"

Not every boat has to transfer its cargo to the fresh-fish collection boat every day; that's too much trouble, and the fish hold wouldn't be full in a single day anyway.

The fresh-fish collection boat collects on a staggered schedule; for example, today it collects from the Dongsheng Hao, tomorrow from someone else's, and the day after from the Oceanic No. 1.

That way, they don't have to milk every boat every day; it's too much work, and their cargo wouldn't be full every day anyway.

Staggering the collection also ensures they take the cargo away exactly when the holds are completely full.

"If it's that busy, why do you still have time to go out and drive the tractor? You can drive half a day, which earns quite a bit."

Ye Yaodong's father spoke with righteous indignation. "I'm squeezing this time out from between my teeth; you have no idea how busy I am. I work until midnight, then have to get up early to feed the chickens and dogs, and I still have to run errands for the merchant association to record the goods those bosses want; I'm busy spinning around all day long."

"Then why can't you still squeeze out time to drive the tractor and earn money?"

"I just thought it would be a waste to leave the truck idle."

"So you ended up working yourself to a dog's state, just because you didn't want the truck sitting empty."

"Earning a little bit is better than nothing."

"It doesn't end up in your pocket anyway; whether you earn a lot or a little, you're just working for my mother."

"Who said that? She doesn't know a damn thing about how much money I earn. Just remember not to spill my beans; say I'm so busy my feet don't touch the ground and I haven't worked many days."

Ye Yaodong chuckled. "I didn't spill your beans, but others spilled all your beans for you."

Ye Yaodong's father was surprised, then angry. "Who spilled my beans? What beans did they spill?"

"Guess."

"Ye Chenghe?"

Ye Yaodong nodded.

Ye Yaodong's father immediately felt his teeth itch with hatred; he had forgotten about this big-mouthed fellow, having only thought about lining up the story with Dongzi first.

"This rascal usually doesn't call home, right? He only calls his girlfriend, doesn't he? What did he say?"

"What else could he say? He told his great-grandmother that you're busy to death, yet you still go out to drive the tractor every single day without fail; driving for half a morning earns just as much, which is equivalent to what those two brothers earn in a whole day."

"That fool."

Ye Yaodong's father had thought he had called his parents, which was how the news reached Ye Yaodong's mother; he didn't expect it had been mentioned to the old lady.

No wonder every time he called back to urge Dongzi to come up, the old lady would scold him, and then, whether she passed the message along or not, he still had to wait at least a week before Dongzi would call.

He had originally thought the old lady wanted Dongzi to stay home a few more days and was just pretending to comply while secretly obstructing; now it seemed she thought all the money was being earned by him, so being busy to the point his feet didn't touch the ground was only fitting; if he could earn side income, how busy could he really be to not drive?

"Ye Chenghe!"

Ye Chenghe was in line getting his meal when he heard his father call him by his full name, leaving him slightly bewildered; wasn't he usually just called Chenghe?

He was at a loss for what to do, and Ye Ye Chengjiang also looked curiously toward their father.

"He called you."

"Why call only me and not you?"

"How would I know? Go quickly; I'll hold your spot in line for you."

"Oh."

Ye Chenghe walked over to his father with a bewildered expression, but as soon as he saw his father raise his hand, he hurriedly stepped back.

"What are you doing? I told you, calling me over by my full name must mean trouble; what do you want?"

"To treat you to bamboo shoots stir-fried with meat."

"On what grounds? What did I do? I've been talking about deliveries all day; I haven't done anything, caused no trouble, and done nothing special."

Ye Yaodong explained the reason to him.

"Ah? I have to take the blame for this? I clearly called home wanting Third Aunt to ask Xiuni to take the call, but the old lady answered instead. She asked how I was, so I praised you to her, saying you were so busy your feet never touched the ground, working until midnight today, and then getting up early in the morning diligently to drive the tractor and earn money."

"Why did you have to meddle? He's usually diligent, yet no one praises him."

"Wasn't I just trying to let others know how hard he works? If I don't say it, how will others know he works hard? Only by saying it will they know."

Unable to find an opportunity to hit him, his father could only scold, "You big-mouthed fool."

"Where have I been a big mouth? I didn't even mention you going out for massages, foot baths, and drinking with flowers."

His father nearly choked on his own breath.

Ye Yaodong looked at him in surprise.

"Third Uncle hasn't been going anymore; now it's your turn. I know everything; don't think I'm young so I don't know. I know everything, and Ajiang knows everything too!"

Ye Chenghe looked somewhat smug, as if nothing could be hidden from him.

Worried his father might fall ill from anger, Ye Yaodong quickly kicked him.

"You brat, don't say Third Uncle doesn't care for you; tonight I'll take you all to open your eyes."

Ye Chenghe was extremely delighted. "Really?"

His father looked at him in disbelief. "What are you doing?"

Ye Yaodong gave his father a meaningful look, then said, "Absolutely true; after we finish delivering tonight, I'll take you all for a stroll."

"Bring Ajiang along?"

"Everyone goes."

"I'll hurry and tell him this good news." Ye Chenghe rushed off immediately to find Ye Ye Chengjiang, so they could share the good fortune.

His father felt both relieved and worried. "I thought they didn't know. Damn it, good thing I didn't blurt it out."

"That definitely can't be said, and neither can anyone else's business; spreading that around would cause family conflict, and I'd become a sinner."

"Why take him? It's a good thing I didn't beat him up, and now you want to reward him?"

"Only grasshoppers tied to the same rope are the most reliable!"

"That makes sense."

"Since we just arrived today and the new big truck is back, we should treat them to a meal anyway, but it'll be too late after we finish work, so no need for the meal; just treat them to some fun."

"That will cost quite a bit of money."

"It's fine; consider it a welfare benefit. Let's go to the newly opened 'Heavenly Realm' over at the commoners' place; they have a huge dance hall there."

"Ah? That newly opened one, the particularly high-end one?"

"So you've been there behind my back?"

His father felt a bit embarrassed, coughed once, and his voice weakened slightly. "Those bosses insisted on dragging me there, saying that since I'm getting old, it's good to see more of the world."

"Why do I feel like you've been having quite a wild time yourself?"

"Where!" His father raised his voice and straightened his back. "I didn't even want to go; every time I went, I felt uncomfortable, but I was afraid of offending people, so I had to go with a stiff neck and leave early."

"Don't go next time; don't force yourself. You're of an age where you can't handle it; go a little less and leave some for me to enjoy."

"How can you leave any? That's nonsense; what's there to get angry about? The women inside wriggle like snakes, smoke and drink, and it looks like they're corrupting the moral climate."

"Eat your meal; the food has gone cold."

His father finally realized he had already gotten his food and quickly sat down to eat first.

Ye Yaodong also invited Old You, who was sitting nearby still abacusing accounts, to join them.

Old You refused directly, saying that at his age, he was afraid he might have the life to go but not the life to return; he just wanted to stay home quietly and earn his pension.

A short while later, Ye Ye Chengjiang and Ye Chenghe came running over excitedly, each carrying their own lunchbox.

"Third Uncle, is what Chenghe said true? Are you really planning to take us to the Heavenly Realm to play tonight?" Ye Ye Chengjiang asked excitedly before he even sat down.

Ye Yaodong quickly told him to keep his voice down. "Keep a low profile; don't make it common knowledge."

Ye Ye Chengjiang lowered his voice. "Understood! We definitely can't go out and say we're drinking with flowers."

Ye Yaodong punched him; truly, not one of them was smart.

"If you can't say it, why did you say it?"

Ye Chenghe asked, "Third Uncle, if we deliver faster tonight with the big Da Jiefang, we should be able to deliver the goods quicker; we won't have to make several trips for one person's cargo anymore."

"Definitely; tonight's efficiency will surely be high."

"I'm warning you, we're just going out for a stroll and some fun to see things; this cannot be called 'drinking with flowers.' Watch your words."

"Understood, understood."

His father glared at them all and silently ate his meal.

Ye Chenghe had originally thought to ask his father how many times he had gone, how long he had played, and what exactly he had done.

But seeing his father's unfriendly gaze and the way he occasionally glared at them, he swallowed his questions back down; anyway, once he saw it himself tonight, he would know.

Both were incredibly eager for evening to arrive, working with extra vigor all afternoon.

"Ajiang, if we go, does that mean we'll be adults from now on?"

"Why 'from now on'? Why aren't we adults right now? I'm eighteen, okay? You're not eighteen yet, so you're just a brat."

"You're the brat. I'm already engaged, so I'm an adult. But we've passed those places so many times; we never dared to go in."

"That's because we haven't been there, so we're scared. Once we've been, we won't be."

"Right. Once someone takes us, we won't be afraid anymore."

"Come on, you're already engaged. Are you still going to go?"

"Third Uncle is married, and he can still go."

Ye Ye Chengjiang stroked his chin, thinking it made sense; his grandfather was old, yet he went every other day.

Ye Yaodong didn't see anything wrong with taking them. They were already seventeen or eighteen; taking them to see things early would spare them curiosity, prevent them from being led astray by people they met outside, and stop them from becoming suckers later.

At least, with him leading the way, he could keep an eye on things. Once they became seasoned veterans, they wouldn't be so easily fooled.

Otherwise, country lads like them with money in their pockets were perfect fat sheep.

That evening, not many people went, but it wasn't few either. Ordinary folks wouldn't have the nerve to tag along; it was mostly the crew who delivered goods for him that night.

There were quite a few his father's age. Don't think old age kills one's hobbies; a man's hobbies only end when he's hanging on the wall.

After he took them to see everything, they were all in the same boat. After some threats and inducements upon their return, the father and son finally felt at ease.

The two brothers who drove tractors and the two brothers who drove trucks lay down in their room, still muttering to themselves.

"I said, why did Third Uncle say he'd take us this afternoon? Turns out he wanted to drag us into the water with him!"

"Exactly. I was wondering why Grandpa didn't beat you up, yet he even rewarded us. Turns out he was afraid you'd talk too much."

"I'm not stupid; I definitely won't say anything."

"When have you ever been smart? When have you ever not been stupid?"

"Damn Ye Ye Chengjiang..."

Lin Guang: "So money can be spent like this. That dance hall last night was so lively. First time going to a place like that..."

Lin Lin Guangwen: "What a bitter life we lived before?"

Ye Chenghe, full of pride, asked, "Isn't it better following my Third Uncle?"

Both nodded together. "Yeah, following Uncle-in-law is great. Before, we only knew how to work, then we only knew how to learn to drive, running around everywhere every day, exhausting."

Ye Ye Chengjiang: "We only just realized life can be this exciting."

Lin Guang: "We got lucky today."

Ye Chenghe: "Following Third Uncle means meat to eat, wine to drink, and beauties to look at!"

Ye Ye Chengjiang: "Hahaha, pity you're about to have a wife. You'll be under someone's thumb soon. We're not, so it's great..."

Ye Chenghe grinned, saying carelessly, "Heaven is high and the Emperor is far away. She won't know, just like Third Auntie, who knows nothing. Besides, we're just going to broaden our horizons, have some drinks, and look at beauties. Can't we look? Even on the street, when we see pretty ones, we have to glance a few times and even back the truck up."

"Hahaha..."

"Uncle-in-law is really amazing, so capable..."

"Of course. My Third Uncle is the most capable in our whole village. No one in the nearby villages is more capable than my Third Uncle."

"Uncle-in-law is a celebrity in our village too..."

These few couldn't sleep from excitement. Others who had gone out to play that night were equally thrilled. Only Ye Yaodong and his father remained calm.

One had seen the world; the other was an old hand who had been there several times.

"You've probably finished the urgent matters. Tomorrow..."

"Tomorrow I'll take over the work, alright?"

"Hmm. You can let me deliver goods, but asking me to deal with those bosses is too much. Talking and communicating is a struggle."

"Understood."

The urgent matters were mostly wrapped up. Next, he needed to focus more on the processing factory.

Tomorrow he had to check on the construction of those five mu of land. Since work started, he hadn't managed it, just left two supervisors there to watch.

Such a huge place wouldn't be finished in a month; getting it done in half a year would be good enough. First, they had to build the surrounding wall.

Then, when he had time, he'd have to visit the shipyard to check the progress of his fishing boat, so it wouldn't be like last year, where he was forced to accept price hikes at the end. If he didn't go in person, he might not even know when production suddenly stopped.

Who could blame it? In recent years, the country had developed rapidly, and prices had risen sharply.

He wouldn't go to Magic City for now. The newly ordered boat and machinery could be checked in a couple of months when he had time. Calculating it now, he actually had quite a few things on hand.

The most important issue was the production at the processing factory. Before the factory was finished, he needed to visit other factories early to learn more and accumulate more book-smart experience.

After all, he lacked management experience in this area. The small workshops at home were just small-scale operations with low costs. This time, he was making a huge investment, building a factory and buying machinery.

Who else but him had a fleet of fishing boats catching fish? Now he just lacked his own distribution channel, so he wouldn't have to rely on others to set the prices.

In the following days, Ye Yaodong was so busy he was rarely seen. He left early and returned late. People mostly just heard the sound of motorcycles coming and going; they might not even see him.

He ran around everywhere and gained a lot. He also learned that many bosses in the Chamber of Commerce were trying to set up their own small workshops to see if they could earn more.

They could do it right in their own homes, simply building a shed on the vacant land nearby.

If he hadn't bought land generously a few years ago and urged everyone to buy houses and land, everyone would still be renting right now, without their own homes.

However, once they learned he was preparing to utilize the land he bought a few years ago, everyone looked on with envy.

But they all thought: wait until the small workshop looks like it can get going. If it can, buying land later to expand the scale wouldn't be too late.

Ye Yaodong didn't urge them on this. After all, it concerned their own factories; who knew if they could make money?

Buying land now was a huge sum, building was another huge sum, and the machinery needed to be purchased was also no small amount. Combined, the cost was astronomical. They had to consider this themselves.

If he pushed people and they lost everything, it would be his fault. This wasn't just buying land to sit there and appreciate in value for a guaranteed profit. Business carries huge risks.

Now, with a group of people starting small workshops and processing factories together, he had companions. They could understand each other and share resources and information.

After more than half a month of touring, he noticed many more small workshops this year. The focus of renting had expanded beyond the areas from the previous two years, indicating a growing influx of outsiders.

And he had been so busy that he hadn't even noticed that Ah Guang and Father Pei were already nearing the end of the month and still hadn't returned?

It was only when he came back late into the night and his father mentioned it that he suddenly realized.

"Right, why haven't they come up yet? What's the date today?"

"Today is May 25th. I just suddenly remembered that the time to settle accounts is approaching, so I realized they seem not to have come yet."

"Maybe the scheduled ferry wasn't that convenient; it has to stop at many places along the way. Taking a ship for a week is quite normal."

Ye Yaodong had taken many trips and knew that taking a ship wasn't that convenient; even after finishing business, a ship might not be immediately available, and one had to wait for the scheduled ferry time.

Sometimes, if it wasn't convenient, waiting half a month was quite normal, and the journey itself would also delay for about a week.

Calculating this way, arriving by the end of the month was even possible.

"Make a call tomorrow to ask; the family hasn't called back for quite some time either."

"Mm."

Ye Yaodong was so tired that he fell asleep the moment he closed his eyes; he was truly exhausted, leaving early and returning late, eating meals outside, and indeed hadn't thought to call the family.

When he called the family the next day, he learned that something had happened.

It wasn't his own family that had an incident, but Ah Guang's family.

Ah Guang's future brother-in-law was caught in the southeast coastal region during the May Day holiday; it was heard that it was also smuggling.

Originally, no one knew; it was only a week before the wedding when nothing had been prepared and the person hadn't been seen that the Pei family found out.

So Ah Guang and Old Pei had been delayed and hadn't come up, still at home until now; according to Lin Lin Xiuqing, they were waiting for news to see if he could be released.

"Damn, how come everyone is refusing to be law-abiding citizens?"

"Who knows? They were about to get married and such a messy thing happened; the wedding can't even be held, and it's unknown whether the person can be released."

"What exactly was being smuggled?"

"It seems to be heard that it was something for ships?"

"Diesel or red oil?"

"Red oil, it seems. What kind of oil is this? I've never even heard of it?"

"Red oil" refers to a type of tax-free diesel used for fishing boats and other vessels in the Hong Kong region; to distinguish it from vehicle fuel, red dye was specially added to it.

"Red oil" is tax-free in Hong Kong, and there is a huge price difference compared to normal refined oil prices; this has become an important reason why "red oil" became a target for smugglers.

To facilitate sales, after smuggling "red oil" into the mainland, smugglers must remove the red color.

Hearing it was smuggling red oil, one knew there must be a complete industrial chain involved, because removing the red color from red oil required a specific treatment process.

Connecting this to Hong Hong Wenle's Hong Kong connections, his status as a Hong Kong international student, and a yacht that had sailed from Victoria Harbour, it was obvious that smuggling "red oil" was most likely related to Hong Hong Wenle.

Originally, no one knew what Hong Hong Wenle's family did; it certainly wasn't just running a large restaurant on the surface; now he might have guessed it...

"Red oil" only needs to be pumped into a filtration tank, adding kaolin and strong acid substances to the tank; after treatment, the "red oil" will be bleached.

The bleached oil becomes perfectly transparent and has no obvious difference from diesel sold on the market; it can completely pass off as diesel from regular channels for external sales.

Just based on this, there must be a very large gang with a complete smuggling and sales chain.

If caught, even a small henchman wouldn't get out in less than three to five years; if it turned out to be a minor leader, he would probably be looking at ten years or more behind bars.

What kind of wedding could be held then?

Speaking of it, the marriage matters of Ah Guang's two sisters were all somewhat tortuous; Dongqing's situation was even worse.

They were already discussing marriage and were about to get married.

But it was good that they hadn't married yet; there was still time. If they had married, they would have been tied to a thief's boat, unable to get off even if they wanted to.

Ye Yaodong simply explained to Lin Lin Xiuqing what "red oil" was, and only then did she understand.

"No wonder I asked Ye Ye Huimei, and Ye Ye Huimei also shook her head saying she wasn't quite clear; she only knew to say 'red oil' but didn't know the specifics."

"Not knowing is normal; it's already good to know about the smuggled red oil. He was probably caught a long time ago, so that's why they could know a bit more."

"Then can he be bailed out?"

"That's definitely difficult; it also depends on what position and role the man held on the ship."

The news had spread everywhere; how could he possibly be bailed out? If the news hadn't spread, there might still have been room for negotiation.

"A happy event turned out like this; I've already made my new wedding dress."

"If it's made, then keep it for her to wear when she marries another man."

Lin Lin Xiuqing laughed at his words. "Why do you make it sound so simple? Marrying another man? Do you think you're picking cabbages, swapping one out when this one rots?"

"Isn't it? Picking a man is even simpler than picking cabbages. When a cabbage rots inside, you have to cut it open to see; when a man rots, don't you find out immediately in advance?"

"That's twisted logic."

"With such a big matter, why didn't you call to mention it?"

"It's someone else's family business; what's there for me to specially call and mention to you? He's not your sister. Since you didn't call, of course I wouldn't specially call to tell you about this; whenever you call, I'll just mention it casually then."

"Alright, it's my fault for not calling."

"Ye Ye Huimei's family has been extremely distressed recently; there is still no result yet. They can't immediately go to the door and say they are breaking the engagement, as that would seem too heartless. They are probably at their wits' end."

"That's right. If they are to break the engagement, they must wait for a result or bring it up after some time. You can't turn your back and disown them the moment something happens; falling on someone when they are down easily breeds resentment."

"That's exactly what I mean, so now everything is stuck there. Ah Guang and Old Pei run to the town every day, thinking to help a bit; when the time comes to propose breaking the engagement, the other party will remember them running up and down, won't be too picky, and will also owe them a favor."

"Then they probably won't be coming up that quickly either."

"I don't know; maybe one person stays at home while the other comes up? I heard Ye Ye Huimei mention something like that."

"Oh, then it must be Old Pei staying at home and Ah Guang coming up."

After all, Ah Guang needs to watch his own boat, while Old Pei is the elder; regarding his own daughter's matter, he must stay at home to mediate and help. It would be more effective for Old Pei to stay at home than for Ah Guang to stay.

"I don't know who stays and who goes; I only heard her mention it once. Why haven't you called back for such a long time?"

"I'm busy. During the day, I'm busy with factory construction and other matters; at night, I'm busy delivering goods. Today I left early and returned late, so busy I barely had time to eat."

He finally understood why his father had been urging him every day before.

Although his father wasn't busy with the factory, he was busy getting up early to drive the tractor out to earn money, leaving before dawn and returning after dusk; it was different paths leading to the same destination.

"Then pay more attention to your health, and don't get too tired."

"Mm, is Ah Guang at home right now? If he is, let him take the call, or let Ye Huimei take it?"

"Alright, I'll go check for you."

Lin Lin Xiuqing set the phone aside, and Ye Yaodong heard a faint click.

His mind also drifted to thinking about "red oil."

Indeed, those engaged in smuggling make huge profits; they really can earn money.

As long as there is money to be made, people will do anything.

This area is considered a major smuggling town; every village in the town is rolling in wealth. Who could blame them for having a natural harbor? Their town also claims to be one of the four major ports of the Reform and Opening-up era.

Mobile fishing boats from Hong Kong and Macau, using sea smuggling methods, are truly too convenient.

As far as he knew, using the traditional filtration and decolorization method, decolorizing one truckload of "red oil" takes about 4 to 6 hours.

And to speed up decolorization, the process could be changed: adding strong acid to the "red oil" and using a high-pressure pump to pressurize the oil tank. Under the catalysis of strong acid and the effect of high pressure, the decolorization time for one truckload of about 30 tons of "red oil" could be reduced to just one hour at fastest.

The fuel is acidic; even after filtration, it remains acidic. It will damage the engines of vehicles and ships, and even affect the driving safety of vehicles and ships.

Generally, fishermen just want it cheap. After all, fishing boats consume a lot of fuel, so naturally they buy whichever is cheaper to reduce costs.

After decolorizing the red oil, selling it at their local port isn't it huge profit? Selling it at any port is huge profit.

Now, who knows if this will implicate Hong Hong Wenle? They also have a joint venture fish cannery; let's not have it shut down right after it starts making money.

While waiting, his mind wandered, thinking that as long as Hong Hong Wenle and the others acted in time and paid a bit more, he guessed it probably wouldn't implicate them.

In his past life, he never heard their family fall; they remained prosperous all along.

Thinking this way, he felt reassured about their fish cannery.

They didn't need to hold on for long; just holding on to profitability until the millennium would be enough. He would sell off early at that time.

This industry can only be seen until the millennium; after that, it will go downhill.

"Hello, Third Brother."

A faint rustling sound came from the other end of the phone, followed by Ye Ye Huimei's voice emerging from it.

"Is Ah Guang not at home?"

"He went to the town. Recently, he's been leaving early and returning late, always at the Li family's place, thinking that if he can help a little, he should, at least to show some human kindness."

"What do you mean? Can't some money be spent to get someone out?"

"I don't know. He isn't even detained locally; we can only listen for news from the Li family side. He has already booked a ticket; he will leave at the end of the month first, leaving the home side to be watched by my father."

"Mm, this matter won't have a result in a short while; it might not have a result even in a year. They can't just stay at home waiting forever; someone has to come up here to watch over things here. The accounts for last month haven't even been settled for him yet."

"That's exactly it. If there were a result in a month, we could just wait. Now, it might not even have a conclusion in a year. It's just bad luck; picking and choosing until this age, just on the verge of getting married, and then this happens. It will be hard to marry off afterwards."

"Let's not talk about whether she can marry off or not first. At least not getting married now counts as a good thing; otherwise, being a living widow, we don't know how many years she'd have to wait."

"Yes, let's just say this among ourselves in secret."

"Then you guys get busy; I won't say much more. Anyway, Ah Guang has to take the boat up at the end of the month, and we can have him explain in detail then."

"Alright, phone bills are too expensive anyway; I'll hang up first."

"Don't hang up; give it to Aiqing."

Ye Ye Huimei, upon hearing this before hanging up, almost hung up anyway.

The phone knocked against the telephone set and then fell onto the desk, making a heavy thud.

Lin Lin Xiuqing took over, "Is there anything else?"

"Where is the old lady? Why didn't I hear her voice this time?"

It was only after the fact that he realized.

Just now, the phone had been sitting on the table for a long time waiting. In the past, during this waiting time, the old lady would have hurriedly picked it up and started talking to him.

"She went to the workshop to listen to gossip. Didn't Dongqing's matter come out? Everyone in the village knew during the engagement; many people had eaten the wedding candies. Now that the marriage can't happen, the whole village is spreading rumors. People who have never seen anything, knowing nothing, are still spreading it with such detail."

"What are they saying?"

"They're all saying bad things. Better not listen; there's nothing good to say. Dongqing hasn't returned to the village recently either; she's living directly in the dormitory at the factory to avoid coming back and having people point fingers and make a fuss."

"That's good too. Avoid the storm for a while. Wait a few months until things settle down, cancel the engagement, and then she can find someone new."

That's how the countryside is. Even if she has nothing to do with it, the failure of the marriage suddenly turns the blame toward her, with people gossiping behind her back—especially since she's of advanced age, the intensity of the topic is at its peak.

But once people get married, they will offer blessings, saying things like "it's good that you got married," "have two children in the future," and "everything will go smoothly," and other nice words.

"Mm, now we can only do this."

"Then there's nothing else; I'll hang up first."

?? This chapter is 3000+6000 words. Last night there were only 4000 words. I said I'd add a chapter, so I simply added the word count into this chapter and didn't split it.

? (End of this chapter)