Chapter 1545: Killing Two More While in Tears

Ye's father smiled and played along with everyone's teasing, then lifted the bag of dried fish in front of him onto the cart, glancing over the mark he had originally made.

Those few tiny black dots were indeed only slightly larger than sesame seeds; due to the binding, the marks had sunk into the creases, making it truly hard to find the right bag once forgotten.

As long as it was found after being lost, that was enough; Ye's father had worn it there for the rest of the day without taking it off, since there was no work to do anyway.

As for moving the cargo onto the boat, he merely kept his hands tucked in his sleeves, directing from the side.

Setting off for home, he hadn't dared to take it off; he wore it throughout the voyage until they docked and returned home, only then daring to remove it.

This was his; he must hide it well. He would wear the one in Mother's hand when they got home. After all, there was nothing to do once home, just strolling around showing off every day, so wearing gold jewelry to parade through the village was perfect.

"Dongzi, we're almost home. Keep this for now."

Ye Yaodong looked at the gold ring extended before him, hesitated for 0.1 seconds, shook his head, and said, "You keep it yourself."

His dad absolutely couldn't keep it hidden; he'd turn it in sooner or later. He didn't want to take it over, or else Mother would say he and his dad had conspired to trick her. He didn't want to get involved in that mess.

"Keep it with you for a few days. We're almost home. I have nowhere to put it on my person. As soon as we get home, my ragged clothes will need washing by Mother, and I'll have to change out of what I'm wearing."

"Then put it wherever you like, just not with me."

"What's wrong? You look like you're afraid of catching a plague."

"If Mother finds out, she'll scold me for days. You keep it yourself. I'm only responsible for buying, not hiding."

"It won't happen. What does it have to do with you? Keep it with you for now."

"Can't you just hide it somewhere on the boat? Why must it be with me?"

"That works then. Put it on the bed behind your cabin..."

"The bed needs to be taken home for washing."

"I'll figure out how to hide it myself."

Ye's father didn't waste words with him and went to hide it himself.

Ye Yaodong was notifying his fishing boat to prepare for unloading and switching vessels. The large boat couldn't dock at the village pier; the cargo had to be moved out onto the small boat's deck first, then brought into the village pier.

A large fleet of fishing boats docked at the village before dusk, causing the village to boil over. Two days earlier, the village had received a phone call and already started buzzing; after two days of discussion, the fishing fleet had finally returned.

This batch of fishing boats had drawn everyone's attention as soon as they neared the town's harbor; anyone who saw them knew it was the Bai Sha village fleet.

Their village had long been famous, a reputation earned through the collective effort of the whole village over these past few years.

The village hadn't been this lively in a long time. The entire pier was filled with women and children who had come upon hearing the news. Before the boats even docked, just seeing the crowd of heads on the shore filled everyone with genuine joy.

Ye Yaodong wasn't so heartless as to have everyone start unloading the moment they docked. He told everyone to go home first for family reunions, rest well tonight, and come back early tomorrow to unload the cargo.

The old lady sat at the workshop entrance, stretching her neck. If not for Ye's mother watching her, she would have gone out to squeeze into the crowd long ago.

Watching Ye Yaodong's whole family carrying sacks, big and small, walking at the very back, her face bloomed with a smile.

"Oh, I see them, I see them... Why are they walking at the very back..."

Ye Ye Chengyang, Ye Chenghu, and Ye Ye Xiaoxi came running over first, hopping and skipping. Each carried a schoolbag on their back and another on their chest.

They first shook their schoolbags to show off their newly bought ones, then opened them to display the spoils of this trip, each with two bags packed to the brim.

The old lady watched them show off with a beaming face. "Bought so many things. Did you have fun?"

"Fun! It was so much fun. I want to go again next year. Great-grandma, when I grow up, I'll take you."

"Great-grandma, Father won't take you. In a few years, I'll take you."

"Great-grandma, Father said he'll hold a 90th birthday celebration for you during Chinese New Year and buy lots and lots of cakes."

"I ate that cream cake in Magic City. It was so delicious, sweet and soft..."

"Great-grandma can eat it too. It's so delicious..."

The three children surrounded the old lady, chattering excitedly.

Originally, the three wanted to find their little friends immediately upon disembarking to show off their new schoolbags, carrying two bags front and back, both packed full. Their desire to share was overflowing.

But their friends just casually acknowledged them, too busy to pay attention, all going to find their own fathers to chat and ask for gifts. This left them depressed; with no one to share their joy, their excitement was greatly diminished.

Once they saw the old lady, they immediately shared with her. Only when someone praised them did they become happy again.

After Ye Yaodong approached, he also heard what the three children were saying.

"We wanted to give you a surprise, but these three couldn't keep a secret. The moment their feet touched the shore, they told you."

The old lady happily stroked his arm, brushing the dust off his clothes.

"Having the intention is enough. No need for such trouble. Besides, it's only 88 this Chinese New Year, not yet 90. Let's talk in a couple of years. You're busy every day; don't let it delay your earning money."

"You remember your age quite well. Seems you're in good shape lately."

"Good, good, good. I'm extremely well."

"She's extremely well, even trying to squeeze into the crowd. If I hadn't held her back, who knows which corner she'd have been pushed into, and whether she could even get up would be questionable." Ye's mother, as usual, spoke harshly.

"We'll talk when we get home." Ye's father, still carrying a sack on his shoulder, walked toward Ye Yaodong's house.

"What's in that sack on your shoulder?"

"Dongzi bought it. Who knows what it is? It's deadly heavy."

"Another gift?"

"Maybe."

"By the way, remember to go to the Border Defense Office tomorrow to get your ID cards. The whole village has done it except for you lot who weren't home."

"Didn't they say they'd come to the door to process them?"

"They came once and processed everyone. For those of you who weren't home, you have to go to the Border Defense Office yourselves. They won't come to the door specially again."

"Understood."

They had said at the end of last year to roll out ID cards, but it was done village by village. They hadn't reached their village yet when they set off.

So none of the people here had ID cards, including Ye Yaodong.

He went home once in May, but there were many things to do. Since it was just him, he was too lazy to make a special trip to the Border Defense Office; it was too much trouble.

"Go get it done early tomorrow. Otherwise, I won't have free time afterward."

Perfect, tomorrow I also need to go to town to deliver New Year's gifts to Hong Hong Wenle, and the day after to the city.

His return schedule was already fully booked; as usual, he'd be busy until New Year's Eve.

"Mother, check an auspicious date tomorrow as well. Which day in the first lunar month is best? We'll prepare a batch of invitations then and send them out for the matriarch's birthday celebration."

Right after the New Year is a lively time; double joy, and everyone is basically at home. Besides, she turns eighty-eight after the New Year, so celebrating her birthday in the first lunar month is just right.

Although some celebrate on the actual day (the birthday itself), usually family members' schedules don't align so conveniently. Having everyone at home together in the first lunar month is the best choice, and it's also the liveliest time of the entire year.

Ye's mother thought he was making a fuss, but since he had such filial piety, it wouldn't hurt to make a scene; it would also bring glory to their family.

"Alright, I understand. I'll check tomorrow and see which day in the first lunar month is best."

"Decide tomorrow, then hire someone to write the invitations and send them out early so people have time to prepare."

The matriarch kept saying from the side, "No need to make it so complicated. Why celebrate a birthday? I've never had a birthday celebration in my life..."

"Exactly because you've never had one, that's why we're holding one for you to make a scene."

Ye's father said, "We're holding a birthday celebration for you, and you don't even want to hold it. I want one but haven't had one yet."

"Then hold one for you."

"Dream on. Celebrating a birthday in your fifties? Aren't you afraid people will laugh at you?"

"Can't I wait until I'm sixty?"

"If you have money, celebrate it yourself."

"Let's celebrate together; we're the same age."

Ye's mother rolled her eyes and said irritably, "I'm not going to die before eighty. Why should I celebrate my birthday at sixty?"

Ye's father: "..."

Ye Yaodong almost couldn't hold back.

Ye's father was furious; he had been thinking of her, yet "Can't you say anything nice?"

"I'm just speaking the truth."

"I'll sleep here with Dongzi tonight."

"Suit yourself. I prefer the quiet when you're alone."

Ye Yaodong played peacemaker. "What's the fuss about? You just got back and you're already arguing. You haven't even put your things down yet, and I'm starving. Hurry up and cook."

"It's your father. He comes up with an idea and runs with it. If others have it, he wants it too."

Ye's father was too lazy to argue with her; he had yielded for a lifetime and could only continue yielding.

Ye Yaodong asked his father to help organize the items they brought back together. They were all New Year's gifts to be delivered. He planned to sort them out one by one tonight so they could be distributed early tomorrow morning.

He was truly busy.

The matriarch sat in the courtyard watching the two men work, happy no matter how she looked, her smile never fading from her face.

It wasn't just their family; all over the village at this moment there was laughter and joy, fathers loving their sons, husbands and wives harmonious.

And the three siblings finally had a chance to show off.

The little friends followed their parents home, got their gifts as wished, and then gathered at the door to display their presents.

The three of them never took off the two backpacks they carried front and back. Their loot was spread out on the ground in front of them, and they gestured wildly, telling their companions about their experiences in the Magic Capital.

Even a storyteller couldn't match their flood of words and emotional tone; calling them home for dinner wouldn't bring them back.

Even Gouzi got anxious, constantly patting them with his front paws, trying to drag them home for dinner.

Ye Ye Xiaoxi was being bitten by two wolf dogs on her clothes while her face was being licked. She just felt annoyed. "Stop making noise. You two go call Big Brother and Second Brother to eat first."

"Woof woof..."

"Ye Xiaojiu... Ye Xiaojiu..."

"Ye Ye Xiaoxi!"

She instantly jolted to her feet. "Coming."

She quickly packed the things on the ground into her backpacks and ran home at full speed. Only when she got back did she realize Big Brother and Second Brother were already at the table. No wonder her mother called "Ye Ye Xiaoxi"!

Experience from childhood told her that whenever "Ye Ye Xiaoxi" was called, she had to respond. Using her full name meant they were on the verge of grabbing a whip.

"Don't even know to come back for dinner. How many times do I have to call you? Are your ears deaf?"

"Why didn't you call me when you got back!"

Ye Ye Xiaoxi leaned over to her two brothers and said something, then turned indignantly toward Lin Lin Xiuqing. "Mother, it's all Big Brother and Second Brother's fault. They deliberately didn't call me when they came home for dinner. I was standing too far away and didn't hear."

Lin Lin Xiuqing poked her forehead hard. "I knew you'd accuse others first."

"I'm going to wash my hands."

She crouched low, tucked her head in, and slipped under Lin Lin Xiuqing's arm, then put down the two backpacks front and back to wash her hands.

Ye Ye Chengyang, eating his rice, said, "I called you twice and you didn't react. I even called Gongxi Facai to go get you."

"They can't talk anyway." Ye Ye Xiaoxi sat back in her seat only after washing her hands.

The two wolf dogs stood up on either side of her, placing their front paws on the table in protest. "Woof woof woof woof woof..."

Ye Ye Xiaoxi pressed down on their heads one by one, pushing them off the table. "Stop making noise and barking. Your drool is splashing onto the food."

Ye Yaodong watched the dogs wandering all over the house and felt like he had entered the wrong home.

"Why do I feel like there are even more dogs in the house?"

"There are more over at the workshop."

"Without some savings, you can't even afford to raise dogs."

Lin Lin Xiuqing said with a smile, "They don't need much raising. Whenever anyone in the village has leftover meat bones or anything, they bring them to the workshop to feed the dogs."

Ye's mother chimed in, "What's with the dogs? Those rabbits are the ones that breed, and they stink to death. The two dead girls brought back two last year, and they've already had who knows how many litters. They guard them every day and won't let us kill them. I secretly killed some; otherwise, they would have overrun the place."

Ye Ye Xiaoxi was shocked. "My Little White!!!"

"In your mouth."

The meat in her mouth immediately fell out, and her tears came rushing down as if they'd been waiting for the signal.

"My Little White… waaah, Little White…"

Now that you're older, you can't swallow it with tears like you used to as a child.

Ye's mother continued, "You just said it was delicious."

"Waaah, no, no way! I thought it was duck meat…"

Ye Yaodong picked up a piece and tasted it. "Really fragrant. Next time, add more chili—it'll be even better."

Ye Chenghu, who hadn't touched his chopsticks before, immediately grabbed a piece when he heard it was rabbit meat. Then he made an exaggerated face. "Whoa, this is amazing! Rabbit meat is so fragrant! More! More! I want it again tomorrow!"

Ye's father added, "It really is fragrant."

Ye Ye Chengyang picked up a piece and waved it in front of her. "Are you sure you won't eat it? You worked so hard raising this rabbit—now we've eaten it all and you didn't even taste it. Don't you feel bad?"

"If she won't eat it, give it to me—I'll eat extra for her!" Ye Chenghu quickly scooped several bites into his bowl.

Ye Ye Xiaoxi watched, furious, and snatched the meat back with her chopsticks. "Don't eat it! It's mine!"

"You said you wouldn't eat it—I'm eating it for you!"

Ye Yaodong laughed. "You worked hard raising it—you should eat more yourself. Otherwise, wasn't all that effort wasted? Right?"

Lin Lin Xiuqing smiled and placed a piece of leg meat in her bowl. "You just said the stir-fried meat was delicious. Since you've already eaten it, why not have a few more bites? Otherwise, all your rabbit will end up in your brothers' stomachs."

Ye Ye Xiaoxi stared at the rabbit meat in her bowl, tears welling in her eyes. "My Little White…"

"That's not Little White. That's Little White's great-grandchild. Little White wasn't killed."

Her tears stopped instantly. "Little White wasn't killed?"

"No, she's alive and well. After dinner, go see for yourself."

"That's good."

She wiped away her tears, picked up a piece of rabbit meat, and found it increasingly delicious—by the end, she was fighting with her two brothers for it.

"Mine! This is mine! I raised it…"

"Don't fight over it! These are my rabbits—I won't let you eat them! They're all mine…"

Ye Chenghu mocked her: "Waaah… my Little White, I can't eat my little rabbit… my little rabbit, my Little White…"

"Hmph! I raised it—I eat it. You can't eat it!"

Ye Yaodong smiled and asked her, "Tasty, right?"

She nodded.

"Then shall we kill two more tomorrow?"

Ye Ye Xiaoxi winced. "One?"

"Fine. We'll listen to you—tomorrow we'll kill one. Stew it or stir-fry it?"

"Stir-fry it! Add lots of chili!"

Lin Lin Xiuqing bit back a laugh and nodded. "Alright. Tomorrow we'll kill one and stir-fry it."

Ye's mother muttered under her breath, "So many Little Whites—who knows which one's which?"

"I know!"

"Eat, eat quickly."

The one who claimed she knew—after dinner, she went to the hill behind the house and looked for the rabbit pen. She found several Little Whites and didn't know which one was hers.

After being away a week, she couldn't tell which one was her Little White. She stared for a long time, then gave up and went to find Pei Yu.

Pei Yu pointed to one—there, sharing a cage with a gray rabbit. She finally felt relieved.

"Sister, I ate rabbit meat tonight—super delicious…"

"Huh? You ate Little White? But you said you wouldn't eat it! Then I want some too!"

"Tomorrow I'll kill one and send you a bowl!"

Pei Yu nodded.

Soon after, Ye Ye Xiaoxi ran back home and told Ye Yaodong, "Dad, kill two little rabbits tomorrow."

Ye Yaodong: "?"

"Not enough! My sister wants some too!"

"Fine."

After achieving her goal, Ye Ye Xiaoxi happily pulled Pei Yu away, describing how delicious the rabbit meat was as they walked.

Ye Yaodong watched their backs and chuckled.

Lin Lin Xiuqing smiled. "She's eaten so much already—someone has to be killed every few days. I just didn't realize Pei Yu ate plenty too."

"Where does this little girl get so much emotion? 'Don't kill this one, don't eat that!' But once it's in her mouth, she says it's delicious."

"That's true."

"Keep these accounts—I've already checked them. Just record the income amount, then calculate this year's total profit. I'm going to tour the workshop."

"Go ahead."

At the gate, a lively scene—before he could even reach the workshop, he was surrounded.

Women and men around the gate chatted and laughed, sharing stories from above and at sea, all cheerful and full of joy.

"How's the new processing plant doing, Ah Dong?"

"When are you opening one here in our village?"

Ye Yaodong smiled and replied, "It's just started—we haven't even broken even yet. Isn't the workshop here enough for you all to make money?"

"Haha, heard you bought two more boats this year?"

"Yes. We'll wait for a good day to bring them back and pay respects at the Tianhou Temple."

"Tsk tsk tsk—two more every year. What's next?"

"I heard they're planning to hold a birthday celebration for the old lady after the New Year?"

"Yes, we'll set up a few tables then; everyone is welcome to come."

"That's good news..."

(End of this chapter)