Chapter 1676: At home

Ye Chenghu was packing his luggage when he suddenly remembered something.

"Dad, I haven't received my wages yet! Since I'm suddenly heading back, do I still get a month's pay?"

"Is your face that thick?"

"But I haven't been paid! What time are we leaving tomorrow?"

"6 o'clock!"

"Ah... my cousin hasn't started work yet, so I can't collect my wages."

"Then just wait until you come back to collect them."

"No way, I'm going home, so I definitely need to get my wages. Besides, I'm out of money; I've spent it all. How about you just give me the wages directly?"

"In your dreams. There's a procedure to follow. You have to sign for your wages in person, and how would I know how many days you worked? The finance department has to calculate it; go find them."

Ye Chenghu was unwilling to give up. "You're the boss."

"I am the boss, but I still have to follow the procedure. Just wait until you return to collect them; it'll be perfect to use as living expenses in Magic City."

Ye Chenghu: "!!!"

What!!!

Living expenses?

He widened his eyes, looking at his dad in disbelief. Weren't living expenses supposed to be given separately?

"Dad!"

It was deafening!

Ye Yaodong dug at his ear. "Why are you so excited? I'm not deaf; keep it down."

"No, this is money I earned."

"That's right, you earned my money."

"Aren't living expenses supposed to be given to me separately?"

"Hehe~"

Ye Yaodong chuckled and patted his shoulder. "Don't be in such a rush. School hasn't started yet, so it's too early to talk about this. Wait until we get home in a couple of days and ask your mother."

"No, Dad..."

"Finish packing first. We'll talk about this issue when we get home. Ask your mother what amount is appropriate for a month. Now, I have to go back and pack my own luggage."

"No, Dad... Dad... let's be clear first, these are wages I earned... one thing is one thing..."

Ye Chenghu chased him outside the door, following closely. This was a matter of huge importance, and he had to get a clear answer, otherwise, he'd be at a huge loss.

"I told you, I can't decide; you have to ask your mother."

"That's my wage, money I worked hard to earn." Ye Chenghu didn't stop walking, following anxiously by his side, his eyes fixed on the expression on his face.

"I know, wages are wages, and living expenses are living expenses."

Ye Chenghu's heart settled for the moment. "It's settled then. My wages are mine, and living expenses are living expenses; you have to give me those separately."

Seeing his dad didn't nod, he tugged at him again. "Dad, say something?"

"Mm-hmm, are you annoying or what? Get lost."

He scolded him, so he felt reassured.

Ye Chenghu turned back, feeling satisfied.

Ye Chengyang and Ye Xiaoxi were in the dormitory, packing their luggage while gloating.

"Hehe, Big Brother earned money for nothing..."

"I was wondering why Dad was so kind, giving him such high wages. So it was meant to be his living expenses."

"Haha, Big Brother is going to cry..."

"He's going to cry miserably. He worked for nothing; he would have gotten living expenses even if he hadn't worked."

"Dad is too mean. Big Brother won't be able to sleep tonight..."

"Big Brother's intestines are turning green with regret..."

Ye Xiaoxi said haughtily, "I told you, working is the same as not working. Even if you get the wages, you still have to spend your own money. If you didn't have wages, you could just spend Dad's."

Ye Chenghu returned just in time to hear the end of that. He said triumphantly, "Not at all. Dad just said that wages are wages, and living expenses are living expenses."

Ye Xiaoxi tilted her head. "Do you think Dad is lying to you?"

Ye Chengyang also said, "Why don't you wait until you go to Magic City for school, see how much money Dad gives you then, and then be sure?"

"Pack your own things, stop making noise."

They were leaving the next morning, so everyone went to sleep early.

Ye Yaodong got up before dawn. He first went to the pier to check the cargo loaded the day before. After confirming everything was fine, he left the workers on the cargo ship and went back to get the children.

It was too early, and he was worried the children wouldn't be able to wake up, so he thought he'd let them sleep a little longer.

Even so, Ye Xiaoxi still had to be carried downstairs by him.

She had been woken up, but she was still sleepy and didn't want to move, waiting to be carried.

Pei Yu was being led by Ye Huimei, waiting obediently in the security room at the factory gate.

"Still not awake?"

"I'm awake, just haven't slept enough, so I'll just carry her for now. Let's get in the car; she'll wake up once the road gets bumpy."

"Okay, good."

Ye Xiaoxi kept her eyes closed and pretended to be asleep the whole way. Only when she got off the car and onto the boat did she open her eyes. Once her feet touched the ground, she and Pei Yu happily wandered around the boat together.

Ye Huimei followed beside them, giving instructions again and again. She only got off the boat when it was about to depart.

Ah Guang was still at sea, and she had decided on her own—anyway, it was only for three months or so, so she would go back too.

It was the afternoon two days later when they arrived at the town pier. Ye Yaodong arranged a car and two people to accompany the four siblings back.

Only after sending the little ones away could he focus on the cargo delivery with peace of mind.

It was the middle of the night by the time he finished his work and got home.

The whole family was still awake, waiting for him. Even the four children hadn't slept; they were all sitting there watching TV.

Only when Ye Yaodong reached the door did they notice him.

This was only because they had been frequently looking out the door that they were able to discover he had returned in time.

"Oh my, you're already at the door, why didn't we hear the tractor?" Lin Xiuqing said, pleasantly surprised, as she hurried out to welcome him.

"It was too late, so the car stopped inside the village. Everyone was heading in different directions, so we just stopped on the main road, got off, and went home separately."

The old lady circled him, happily touching his arm. "You've gotten darker and sturdier. Tell your mother to cook something for you quickly. It's so late, you must be starving. The vegetables and seasonings are all ready; we're just waiting for you to come back to start cooking."

"Mm, I'm so hungry. Cook a bit more, and let them have some too. Why aren't they asleep yet? Still watching TV."

Lin Xiuqing said with a smile, "They said they wanted to wait for you to come back before sleeping. They've been chattering non-stop, and they said they hadn't watched TV in a long time."

"I'll go take a shower first."

Ye's mother said, "I'll cook a bit more, and let the children eat a little before sleeping. It's so late, they must be hungry too."

The three women in the house got busy—one cooking, one tidying up luggage, and the others surrounding him with concern and conversation.

Only the four children didn't move an inch, staring at the TV.

Having spent nearly two months with their dad, there wasn't much to be affectionate about.

Besides, it was rare to be able to watch TV this late openly today.

Ye's mother was busy with the stove and said, "It's good you're back in time. Tomorrow is the Ghost Festival. The paper money is all ready at home. Tomorrow, take the offerings and go pay your respects at your grandfather's grave, and burn that newspaper for him too."

"Mm."

The old lady asked, "Can you stay a few more days this time?"

"I can't. There are too many things to do. Chenghu registers on September 1st, and I have to send him to Magic City a day early."

"Tomorrow is already the 23rd. You won't be able to stay home for many days before you have to leave."

"Mm, at most three days. I'll leave on the night of the 26th and arrive on the morning of the 29th. By then, I still have to keep an eye on the exhibition items, and go to Magic City on the 31st."

Lin Xiuqing frowned. "Isn't this too rushed?"

"There's no other way. Everything is happening at once, so this is the only way to arrange it. Anyway, the boat is booked, so we leave whenever we say we're leaving."

Ye's mother looked at Lin Xiuqing. "Then Ah Qing needs to start preparing early. Pack all the luggage early tomorrow to avoid leaving anything behind."

"Then when the time comes, I'll leave Yangyang, Xiaojiu, and Xiaoyu to you to take to school for registration."

"Mm, I'll take them."

Lin Xiuqing looked at Ye Yaodong again, "The exhibition in the Magic City you mentioned happens to be a few days apart from the time our son is scheduled to register. I can stay in the Magic City the whole time; should I go along to see and help out?"

"You can. After registering, we can get him some things, and then I can go busy myself with the exhibition. There's plenty of time."

"Is that exhibition similar to the exchange fairs where we set up stalls to sell things?"

"More or less. It's all sellers setting up stalls to display goods, waiting for people to choose. It's just that the venue is more high-end, and there's retail as well as large-scale wholesale."

"Is the factory doing well this year?"

"Not bad. After the exhibition, it will definitely be able to reach a higher level."

Ye's mother was happy. "Then we can earn quite a bit this year. I was worried that the renovation of the old house was too expensive, and was thinking whether to wait a couple of years to renovate it. Anyway, it's fine to live here."

"If you're going to do it, do it all at once. Why do it halfway and wait two years? Isn't it a hassle? Who leaves a renovation half-finished? People who don't know might think I lost money this year and couldn't even afford to finish the renovation, which is why I left it half-done."

"Fine, then let's continue the renovation. The layout is already set, and now we need to do the water and electricity. I don't know where to leave what or where to put things, and I don't understand what the master is saying. That house renovation isn't like our stone houses. Since you're back, it's perfect; tomorrow, tell the master how to do it and where to leave things."

Ye Yaodong took the noodles she handed him and nodded in agreement. "I know. Tomorrow, I'll finalize the details with the master, and while I'm at it, I'll choose the tiles, the flooring, and the stair railings—those all need to be ordered in advance."

"Oh right, just like that villa you have in Magic City. I don't understand any of that stuff, and I don't know where to buy it, so you take care of it. It's best to get everything done and arranged in the few days you're home, otherwise, we'll be blind and not know what to do when we're halfway through."

"I know."

"Actually, it was mostly done at the beginning of the month, but I didn't know how to continue, so it's been delayed until you came back."

"I'll take a look tomorrow."

Ye's mother wanted to say something else, but the old lady interrupted her.

"Don't keep talking to him about the house; let him eat in peace. Go to sleep early after eating; tomorrow is soon enough to talk about it. Let him take a look tomorrow before saying anything."

Ye's mother glanced at her. "Fine, you eat your food."

After finishing the late-night snack, the four children went upstairs to sleep, and Ye Yaodong went back to his room first.

The old lady and Ye's mother told Lin Xiuqing to go back to her room, saying they would handle the washing up.

Ye Yaodong was so tired he didn't even want to move while lying on the bed. "Come over and give me a massage; I'm exhausted."

Lin Xiuqing obediently got on the bed to massage his back. "Where is it sore? Shoulders or back? Or the waist?"

He closed his eyes. "Everything is sore. Massage it all; I'll tell you if any part is particularly sore."

"Mm. I was too embarrassed to ask on the phone, but why was Xiaoyu suddenly sent back? The couple isn't having any conflict, are they?"

"No conflict. What conflict could there be? What does having a conflict have to do with sending the child back? It's purely because the child didn't have any friends up there and wanted to come back."

"I thought it was just an excuse."

"It's just right that the two of them have company. They're older now, so it's much easier than when they were little."

"Mm, it's just one extra pair of chopsticks; it's not like we can't afford to raise her."

"How much has been spent on the house construction?"

"Twenty-five or twenty-six thousand has already been settled, and there's still a portion of the accounts not settled—the brick factory, the cement factory, those are still outstanding."

"Mm, let's do the hard renovation, and then we can just let Big Brother and Ye Erge share the cost of buying the furniture and appliances."

"I know. It's perfect to wait until they come back before the New Year, and we can all go to the city to buy a batch of furniture together. We can spend the New Year in the big house."

"That way, their pressure will be a little less. They should be able to earn quite a bit by the end of this year."

Lin Xiuqing added, "Big Sister-in-law and Second Sister-in-law know that I'm going to Zhoushi with you before school starts, and they said they want to go up and take a look too. They said they didn't go last year, and haven't gone this year either. Big Brother and Ye Erge haven't made a single phone call in the months they've been at sea, and they've been busy at sea, so they plan to go up and take a look."

"Look for what? You know they stay at sea for months at a time; you won't see them even if you go up. Why go?"

"Naturally, they want to be a little closer and see if they can run into them. There are many typhoons in September, so they might just happen to dock. If they don't see them, it's fine; they can just wander around and look."

"Whatever, let them follow if they want. I think they just want to go to Magic City."

"Probably. Anyway, it's just a matter of convenience, so let's take them. They don't have anything urgent, and the children are all grown up."

"Mm."

"I heard them say before that they want to follow up after the New Year next year. Anyway, they don't have anything to do at home, and they don't need to take care of the children."

"And you?"

"I can go with you too. We'll take the children, and leave the housework at home to Mom. Let her go to the city to take a look occasionally too. Now, whenever I go to the city, I take Mom with me and teach her how to read the account books. It's good that she recognizes quite a few characters now."

Ye Yaodong was happy. "That's fine. Anyway, my mother doesn't like going up there. She can stay for a few days, but a month might kill her. The villa will be finished by the New Year, so it's perfect to let her enjoy life at home. The old lady can also be taken care of, and they can move into the villa."

"That's what I was thinking too. Anyway, just leave the housework at home and in the city to my mother. There's already a set procedure in the city, and it's not complicated. My dad also helps keep an eye on things."

"Mm, that works. Anyway, I'll go keep an eye on things occasionally when I deliver goods back. Then it's settled. You come up with me after the New Year. After this busy period, I'll see if I can apply for another plot of land to build a dedicated family compound."

"Why build so many?"

"Build them to rent out to those workers who bring their wives up. It's not easy to find houses outside now, and it's a mixed bag."

Giving them away—that's impossible. Houses will be very expensive in the future; maybe those who make huge contributions can be given one.

After all, this isn't a state-owned enterprise. Even in state-owned units, you have to reach a certain number of years of service and make major contributions before you can purchase a house with money; there's no such thing as getting one for free.

The old area is a dormitory area specifically for sailors, and most of the land in the processing factory area is occupied by retired soldiers and factory workers, who are basically all men.

This year, quite a few brought their families, and they all moved out to rent houses.

He was thinking he could apply for another plot of land, and there was a reasonable excuse—just say it's to build a family compound. The government can collect whatever taxes and fees they want; as long as they approve it, that's fine.

"Fine. Anyway, the 6 million in shares from the lighter factory is just sitting there; it's good to convert it into land."

"I've put this into a one-year fixed deposit. By next year, the interest will be over 1 million. The factory is doing well this year, and the fishing boats are earning well too. We can just use the earnings to acquire the land."

"You decide; you're the boss."

After she finished speaking, she whispered, "It's just that our house has quite a few treasures; what should we do?"

"Take whatever isn't buried. Don't worry about what's buried. Everyone has left, so who would pay attention to this broken house? They must think we took everything we could. Besides, the small workshop is right next door, and Mom definitely comes over dozens of times a day, and she'll clean the house for us while she's at it."

"That's fine, then let's do as you say."

Ye Yaodong held the hand she was using to massage his back. "Stop massaging, let's sleep. It's very late."

"Okay."

He was too tired to do anything else. The couple lay side by side and said a few more words before falling asleep.

When he woke up the next morning, he was full of energy and vigor, having made up for what he hadn't done the day before. Then, feeling refreshed, he got up to check on the progress of the villa back home.

"Adong is back?"

"When did Adong get home?"

"Oh? Adong is back?"

Along the way, the women and old folks he ran into all had to ask a couple of questions and greet him. He responded all the way, smiling as he went to the new house.

Ye's mother had been wandering around here since early morning, and then sat at the door bragging to the nearby old neighbors.

"Dongzi, you're up so early? The master hasn't come yet. I didn't know you'd be up so early, or I would have gone to the next village to call him. There hasn't been much work lately, so they stopped."

"Fine, then go call him. I'll go inside and check the layout."

The house was currently a rough shell, but the layout was already set according to the layout provided by the previous drawings, and the stairs were also drawn according to the drawings.

Now, all that was missing was the water and electricity marking, chiseling, and layout.

He forgot to ask his mother if she went to call the plumber/electrician or the mason. At the current stage, he had to call the plumber/electrician.

After wandering around the house, he sat in the spot his mother had just been sitting in and chatted with the nearby old neighbors.

"Dongzi, you came back last night, right? Is it hard work?"

Ye Yaodong responded with a smile, "Earning money, of course it's hard work. If it weren't hard, how could I earn money?"

"That's true. It's not easy earning money outside. You can't come home a few times a year, but you can still come back occasionally. The father and son in my family left at the beginning of the year and won't be back until the end of the year."

"How many days are you staying this time? Your mother has been nagging about wanting you to come back and see how to handle the house. This trip is just right."

"You're still the capable one, Dongzi. You're the hope of our whole village."

"This house of yours must cost at least 100,000, right?"

The people around gasped.

Although more than half the village were now ten-thousand-yuan households, or even hundred-thousand-yuan households, 100,000 for a house was still a high cost for them.

Like their old houses, building a two-story one in the past only cost two or three thousand yuan. Now everything has gone up in price, but it would cost at most five or six thousand yuan.

What concept is 100,000? You'd have to work for 20 years without eating or drinking.

Ye Yaodong felt it would definitely be more. Now, just settling the wages and a portion of the materials had already cost 25,000 or 26,000. This empty shell would cost at least 60,000 or 70,000.

With a height of three and a half stories, he estimated the renovation would cost the same as the construction of the house.

To get this house done, at current prices, 100,000+ is definitely needed.

However, the water in renovation is very deep, and it's a bottomless pit. You can spend as much as you want, and there are all kinds of ways to renovate it.

He shook his head and said, "I don't know. It's not finished yet, so how would I know how much it will cost? The empty shell is finished, but the accounts haven't been settled."

"Hehe, when our family gets rich, we'll build one just like yours. By then, the master will have experience too."

"That's fine. I estimate that in less than two years, your family will be able to build one. Our village will have one building after another."

"How could it be that easy..."

"Why wouldn't it be easy? If the whole family works together, saving money to build a house is just a matter of two or three years. It can definitely be built."

"Hehehe..."

Everyone was overjoyed by what he said. Only when Ye's mother brought the plumber/electrician and the mason together did he stand up and follow the master into the house.

Ye's mother also followed along to listen to what needed to be done, so that after Ye Yaodong left, she would have an idea and wouldn't have to call and ask.

Ye Yaodong only cared about saying what needed to be done and how it should be done; he didn't ask about the price at all.

His mother was better at inquiring and bargaining than he was. He only needed to say how to do it, and leave the material prices and such to his mother to inquire about. He didn't have that much spare time to waste on this.

By the time he finished communicating with the master, a whole morning had passed.

Lin Xiuqing saw the mother and son return and asked about it.

"Everything is settled on how to do it. The master has an idea, and Mom has an idea. From now until the New Year, I probably won't have time to come back, and Dad might not have time either, so I'll leave it to Mom to keep an eye on."

Ye's mother asked suspiciously, "It's normal that you don't have time to come back, but why wouldn't your dad have time to come back?"

"In September, I'm going to send Dad to learn how to drive a car. Once he learns, I'll buy him one to drive for the New Year."

Ye's mother frowned. "What! He's going to learn now?"

"Right. I'm thinking we're just missing a car, so I might as well buy one once he learns and gets his license."

Lin Xiuqing disagreed. "Where would he drive it if you bought it? Where would he park it? You drive a boat when you go home, and driving a car isn't convenient. In a place as small as Zhoushi, riding a motorcycle is much faster, and there's no need for a car at all. Besides, you have a tractor up there, which is convenient too."

Ye's mother also echoed, "That's right. A car is flashy, but not practical. The broken roads in our countryside aren't easy to drive on. That thing doesn't look as sturdy as a tractor, and you wouldn't dare to use it casually."

"Besides, if you want to learn, learn it yourself. Your dad is at his age, and he's going to learn to drive a car? Don't make people laugh."

Ye Yaodong said, "Laugh at what? Who would laugh? People would only be envious of my dad. Tractors and motorcycles can't block the rain. Having a car makes it more convenient to go out on rainy days. Sometimes you need a facade to talk business, so we really need a car."

In the future, when the factory receives guests, are we going to use a tractor to pick them up?

We still need a car.