Chapter 1681: Eight Trigrams

With so many of them, tidying up a room would take only a few minutes.

They first cleaned the old lady's room to let her settle in, then Ye Ye Dasao and Ye Ye Ersao went to clean the room next door.

Being close by, they could lend a hand if anything came up.

Lin Lin Xiuqing naturally moved into Ye Yaodong's room on the third floor; his room was a mess, with clean clothes never folded, so she had to spend a long time tidying it up.

Ye's father kept circling the old lady, constantly asking if she felt unwell anywhere.

"Did you bring water from home? I'll boil some of your home water for you to drink; that will be better."

"Yes, I specially filled three thermos flasks with hot water. I'm fine everywhere, just after a few days on the boat, my feet felt a bit unsteady when I first stepped off, and I was a bit tired, but I'll be fine after a good sleep."

Ye's father poured her some cooled boiled water from the thermos. "Then drink some water first; I'll go bring you back a bowl of noodles to fill your stomach before you sleep."

"Go draw a basin of water for me first; I'll wash up before eating."

"Okay."

Ye's father ran back and forth busily attending to his mother.

Since she had already been brought up, he, as her son, had no choice but to run around serving her; in his heart, Ye's father cursed Ye Yaodong dozens of times more.

After the old lady was settled down to rest, he wiped the sweat from his brow, closed the door for her rest, and went off to curse Ye Yaodong again.

This time, Ye Yaodong didn't talk back; he let his father scold him, even poured tea for his father to moisten his throat before continuing to scold.

After taking a sip of tea, Ye's father couldn't scold anymore.

"Do you have time to look after her? Do you know how many things you'll be busy with next? If you have no time, why bring her up..."

"I have no time; do you have time?"

Ye's father was furious. "Have time my foot! In a few days, I'll have to go to Shanghai too, and you'll be going as well..."

"So bring the old lady along; it's perfect for you to look after her, Ye Ye Dasao and Ye Ye Ersao can lend a hand, and I can get on with my work."

"You've calculated this perfectly..."

"Of course; if I hadn't planned it well, could I have brought her out? I've thought it all through: rest for two days until she recovers her strength, then go to Shanghai. The sea route to Shanghai is short and won't tire her out; for the land journey in between, we'll take rickshaws. Human-pulled carts won't bump around, more comfortable than tractors or other vehicles."

"Rashness! You're messing around blindly. Getting here was already hard enough, and now you want to go to Shanghai..."

"No, since we're already here, how far is Shanghai? We've already brought her out to see the world, so of course she must see the greatest sights; otherwise, there will be regrets."

After Ye Yaodong finished speaking, he immediately added, "Once we get to Shanghai, let her stay several more days in a Western-style house. Anyway, whenever we go out, arrange a rickshaw; walk less, and don't stay out too long."

"At her age, can she have enough energy to run around everywhere?"

"Then ask her; I think she's in good spirits on this trip, cheerful and happy all the way."

Lin Lin Xiuqing spoke up to help, "We're all going to Shanghai in a few days. If we don't bring the old lady along and leave her here, can you feel at ease? She certainly wouldn't be happy either."

Ye Yaodong also said, "Shanghai is nearby, and the boat ride is fine. If you have doubts, just ask the old lady yourself."

"I'm so angry! Since we're already here..."

"Yes, since we're already here, a bit more distance doesn't matter. Tomorrow, I'll call a doctor to come check her body and prescribe some tonic medicine for her to take."

Ye's father softened a bit. "I'll go catch a chicken to kill and stew it for her to eat tonight."

"Then hurry up; while it's still light, stew it so we can eat before sleeping tonight."

Ye's father nodded and went to catch a chicken again.

He had originally raised chickens at the dormitory headquarters; when people moved over here, he moved the chickens over too, making them easier to kill.

After Lin Lin Xiuqing finished tidying up, Ye Yaodong took them all to eat.

Only after finishing the meal did he go into the factory building to ask about the exhibition preparations.

Although it was now off-work hours, the factory operated on three shifts, so there was always a responsible person in charge at any time.

By the time he finished, it was the middle of the night again; Lin Lin Xiuqing had been warming chicken soup in a small stove for him, waiting for his return to eat.

Before Ye Yaodong even entered the room, he could smell the fragrance of the chicken soup.

"Why are you stewing it in the room?"

"No, I asked the cafeteria chef to help stew it; father brought back a large pot. Everyone has already tasted it, only you haven't eaten yet. Since there's a stove in the room, I added a coal ball to keep it warm."

"Has your son eaten yet?"

"Yes, everyone has eaten."

Only then did Ye Yaodong pick up his chopsticks. "We're going to Shanghai in two days. Tomorrow, I'll bring back two green crabs; you stew them for your son to eat and nourish him."

"Alright. When traveling, no one is around to care for him; later, it won't be easy for him to get something like this. If we can get it for him now, we should. How are your exhibition arrangements going?"

"They say everything is ready; we're just waiting for the departure day. Tomorrow, when the others come to work, I'll hold another meeting."

"Oh, then eat your breakfast early and go to sleep."

"Mm."

The next morning, Ye Yaodong saw the old lady leaning on her cane, smiling cheerfully as she strolled around the factory. Everyone looked at her curiously, and she actively smiled back at them.

Ye's father introduced her to everyone as his own mother.

The old lady couldn't speak Mandarin, but she could understand it.

"... Are they praising my health? Tell them I'm in good health, can eat, sleep, and walk well."

"Understood."

"... Are they praising my youth? Tell them I'm almost ninety..."

Ye's father smiled and complied.

"... Are they asking me to stay a few more days? Tell them I'm going to Shanghai tomorrow to take a look..."

Whenever the old lady heard what others said to her, she wanted to respond enthusiastically.

Now, everything she saw felt fresh to her.

"What are you doing?"

"Dongzi, you're up? Your father said you're going to Shanghai tomorrow and will stay at least until the 10th; I'll go with you. Call a doctor to check me again today; if there's no problem, I'll go with you."

"Yes, I'll have someone find a doctor to come examine you."

"Ah, alright, alright. Your father just worries for no reason; I'm perfectly fine."

"Father, take Grandma around the factory to look everywhere, visit the workshops too. I'll go get busy first."

Grandma didn't wait for Ye's father to answer, agreeing on his behalf first. "You go get busy with your work, don't worry about me. Having your father accompany me is enough."

Ye Yaodong, reassured, went to get busy first.

Ye's father accompanied Grandma around all morning, walking and resting, and only led her to the office for a checkup once the doctor arrived.

After the examination, there was no major problem; if she was still worried, she could get an IV of glucose to replenish her, but it wasn't necessary.

Ye's father finally felt relieved.

Lin Lin Xiuqing and her two sisters-in-law went out to find Ye Ye Huimei; Ye Ye Huimei knew the place best, so having her lead the three of them around was best, anyway Grandma had Ye's father.

In the afternoon, seeing Grandma wake up from her nap in good spirits, Ye's father hailed a rickshaw and took her to see the dormitory area headquarters.

Knowing even the land there was purchased by Ye Yaodong, Grandma looked even happier.

"My Dongzi is truly capable..."

"Oh? Why has Grandma come?" Old Pei was suddenly surprised to see Grandma.

"Dongzi, that stubborn son-in-law, specifically brought her, saying the doctor checked her and she could go out; if we don't bring her out to see now, there won't be a chance later. Dongzi said he wanted to show her the changes over these years."

"If a doctor has seen her, that's good. Since she can walk, she should go out to see; the changes these years are too great. Grandma is old; if she doesn't see it now, she won't be able to walk later."

Grandma was also happy to see a local speaking the hometown dialect. "In-law, you look younger; your hair has even turned black again."

Old Pei touched his hair, chuckling. "Where? Grandma is the young one; at ninety, your body is still so sturdy."

Ye's father also chuckled inwardly; acting shameless in old age, dyeing his hair black at his age, showing not a trace of white hair, letting people praise him as young—what an old rascal.

"Before leaving, your daughter-in-law even stopped you, saying you promised to bring her up; Dongzi called and said no. Why didn't you bring her up? It's not good for her to be alone here with no one to care for her..."

Old Pei chuckled. "Too much trouble; the child is too small. Long travel is bad for the child; let's wait until the child is a bit bigger first."

Grandma nodded, also thinking it made sense. "That's right; the child is still a bit small, and we don't know if she gets seasick..."

At this moment, a thirty-something woman, heavily powdered and rouged, walked toward them, looking at them curiously, then spoke to Old Pei.

"I've finished my call; let's go back."

Grandma's eyes scanned back and forth; the more she looked, the more surprised she became, until her eyes seemed ready to pop out, her mouth opening silently several times.

Ye's father, at a loss for words, simply turned his head away.

Old Pei was also embarrassed, not knowing what to say; he forced a laugh and said stiffly, "I thought I'd call home, and my friend also needed to call, so we came together; we'll go first."

Ye's father also spoke stiffly. "Alright, you go first then."

Old Pei walked quickly toward the bicycle standing in the corner; the woman jogged behind him, then sat on the rear seat of his bicycle.

Grandma's sharp eyes stared at their backs; only after their bicycle had ridden out of the factory did she point at them with her cane.

"Ah?"

Though it was just one word, Ye's father understood Grandma's meaning.

He was also very embarrassed; he had actually been caught by Grandma.

Grandma put down her cane and asked quietly and sneakily, "Old Pei's mistress? No wonder he wouldn't let his wife come up; he found someone so young instead?"

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Can he handle it? So the rumors everyone discussed weren't false? Oh my, at his age..."

She asked sneakily again, "Tell me, when did he find her? I promise I won't tell anyone."

"Why are you so gossipy? Hurry up and look around; after one round, we'll go back."

"Hurry up and tell me; oh my, I actually ran into it."

Grandma excitedly patted his back once.

"If his daughter-in-law had come up, that would have been a disaster! Good thing she didn't come. The in-law really isn't decent; he has a home everywhere."

Seeing Ye's father had no reaction, Grandma hit him again, her eyes brighter than usual.

"Does Ah Guang know?"

"Oh my, why do you care about this at your age? If you don't want to look around, just go back."

Seeing him lift his foot to walk forward, Grandma hurried to catch up. "Hey, you unfilial son, hurry up and tell me..."

"It's someone else's business; why are you so gossipy? Just pretend you didn't know or see it. So many matters; if you saw it, you saw it; no need to ask."

"Isn't it just curiosity? My goodness, besides him, who else? The rumors spreading in the workshop were actually true."

Ye's father said irritably, "What are you all spreading? A bunch of women sitting idle all day gossiping about this family and that; at your age, you still want to join the fun."

"Who could have known I'd run into it?"