Chapter 1780: Bold

Ye Yaodong had probably drunk enough to put him off alcohol, so over the next few days he kept a low profile. On top of that, the weather was bad — it rained for three or four days straight — making it inconvenient to go out, so he just stayed home playing cards with friends.

Apart from the village committee coming to collect that 500,000 yuan, when he went with them to the bank to handle the transfer, he didn't really go out the rest of the time either.

It wasn't until the day of departure drew near that everyone finally got moving, each doing whatever preparations they needed to do.

The adults had nothing much to be reluctant about, but the children couldn't bear to leave. They spent most of the year out there, and getting to run wild all over the place during New Year, bragging with their little buddies — now they hadn't had enough fun yet and already had to go.

Ye Ye Xiaoxi and Pei Yu squatted at the doorway, tearfully saying goodbye to their little friends, chatting as they dug out of their pockets the snacks they hadn't finished during this stretch.

"We're leaving tomorrow, so all these snacks are for you guys. Next time we come back, I'll bring you snacks from Modu — snacks our village doesn't have — and share them with you."

Pei Yu's eyes were red too. "I still have snacks at home. I'll go get them later and share them with you too."

"The beady things and the little character cards I've hidden at home, I'll bring those out to share with you later too. We didn't even play with them in Modu, so they're all yours. You have to miss me…"

……

Children's friendships are just that pure — every one of them had red eyes and red noses.

When they got home at mealtime and the adults asked about it, they didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

They'd only been back a little under a month, so there wasn't much to pack. In the dead of winter, bringing two sets of clothes to change into was enough; they didn't need anything else — the house had everything.

The old lady's eyes reddened again. "Ever since you came back, the house has been lively every day, people going up and down, coming and going, making a racket. Once you leave, the house will go quiet again — no one arguing, no one around."

"Isn't my mother home? If you want, you could argue with her?"

The old lady, who had been feeling sad a moment ago, was tickled into laughing. "Nonsense — would I dare provoke her?"

"If you lot are worried about the house being too quiet, just get Ye Ye Dasao and Ye Ye Ersao to start looking around for the two older ones. They're already eighteen or nineteen, big misses — start sizing up prospects early, keep an eye out, so they don't get taken in by some swindler."

At this time, in the countryside most people still married and had children early. Although slogans everywhere urged late marriage and late childbirth, most had already found someone well beforehand.

Just like how the slogans always promoted that boys and girls are the same — but in the countryside, can it really be the same? They still had to have a son; even if they had to hide and dodge, they had to have one.

Some might not even have reached the age to get a marriage certificate, and just held a banquet and had a child. In the countryside, whether or not you got the certificate didn't matter — holding the banquet counted as getting married.

Ye Ye Jingjing and Ye Ye Xiuxiu were both eighteen or nineteen too; the youngest, Ye Ye Tingting, was still young — only sixteen.

The older ones could start sizing up prospects first, then date for a year or two, observe their character, and if nothing's wrong, then get married — saves them from stepping into a pit right away.

For a woman, marriage is like a second rebirth — you still have to be careful. Size up prospects first, investigate thoroughly, take it slow.

Ye Mu said, "They're still young, no rush. Take it slow looking around. The legal marriage age is twenty anyway. Your Ye Ye Dasao and Ye Ye Ersao are also hoping they'll work a few more years, save up some pin money for themselves. Once they have money in their own hands, they'll have something to fall back on in the future."

Ye Ye Dasao chimed in, "Right, exactly. Besides, they haven't even passed their accounting certificate yet — they have to finish that, otherwise the night school these past few years would have been for nothing. If they get married, would their in-laws let them go to night school? Don't even think about it — they'd have a mountain of chores, earning money for the whole family, and if they have children, even busier."

Ye Ye Ersao also said, "Right. Once you're really married, you have to listen to your in-laws, and there's an endless pile of chores — how could you still have the carefree days you had as a Miss?"

"Exactly. I'm not managing them now — whatever they earn, I let them keep and spend themselves. How comfortable is that? Once married, a bunch of in-laws will be pointing fingers and bossing them around."

"And they'd have to fork out money to support the family. If they don't earn more now to have something tucked away, and don't enjoy a few more years of freedom and happiness, they won't have this kind of ease in the future."

"Right. Let them have a couple more easy years, no need to rush into finding someone. Girls aren't like boys — being a Miss is when life is easiest and happiest."

The two sisters-in-law talked until all three girls' eyes were red; so moved, they slipped out, too embarrassed to come back in and keep listening.

Although the family was somewhat partial to boys over girls no matter what, they had never mistreated them. Especially after growing up, they hadn't taken a single cent from them. At most, when they were little and the family was poor, the distribution of material things might have overlooked them a bit — but for them, that was normal too; everyone was the same.

And their brothers got beaten the most too; they actually got hit less.

Other families' girls, once they started working and earning money, had to hand a large portion over to the family — but these girls didn't. Compared to others, their family wasn't really biased toward boys at all; they were already very fortunate.

Now Ye Ye Dasao and Ye Ye Ersao were also planning for their sake, feeling sorry for their future, and had no intention of letting them marry early.

It was also because they were worried the girls might be taken in by some man's small favors, so they let them keep the money they earned, to spend as they pleased — so they wouldn't be won over by some cheap sugar-coated bullet and regret it later.

The two sisters-in-law weren't the least bit worried their own children wouldn't be able to marry — every day, relatives and friends coming to the door wanting to play matchmaker for them, they couldn't even count them all.

Ye Ye Dasao: "They're only eighteen or nineteen now, still young. There's no harm in waiting until after twenty to think about it."

Ye Mu said with a smile, "If they happen to meet a good one, they can start dating first, get to know each other. After all, marrying out is different from bringing someone in."

Lin Lin Xiuqing praised, "Ye Ye Dasao and Ye Ye Ersao are absolutely right. We who've been through it all know being a Miss is when you're freest. Letting them enjoy a few more years is good too. My eldest niece, Lin Lin Dongxue, is already twenty-five and still hasn't settled down."

Ye Ye Ersao said with a smile, "That's not comparable. Your eldest niece is going to be very accomplished — her good fortune is still ahead."

"Oh, it's all the same. For a woman, marriage is a second rebirth — it all comes down to whether the man you marry has any ability. If he does, naturally you can live better than anyone. If he doesn't, all that's left is a life of hardship. Even if you yourself have the greatest ability, it all gets discounted."

"What Ah Qing said makes sense. You three, when you look for a partner in the future, you have to pick carefully — can't be too casual. It concerns the next few decades of your life."

The three girls were shy and bashful, heads lowered in embarrassment with reddened eyes, but their ears were all pricked up listening.

They kept on, getting more and more into it, talking to the girls from the perspective of women who'd been through it.

Seeing there was no room for him to get a word in, Ye Yaodong went to sit at the doorway, giving up the sofa space to them.

The old lady followed him out and sat at the doorway chatting.

"We're all fine at home, all enjoying our blessings. When you're out there, you have to take good care of yoursel…"

"I'm taking perfectly good care of myself," Ye Yaodong said, flipping up his sweater to reveal his bulging belly. "Look — my belly's gotten this big now. Every day I eat good food, drink good stuff, I've even grown a beer belly."

The old lady laughed and quickly tugged his clothes back down. "Showing your belly for what? It's freezing — don't let your belly get cold. Cover up quickly, wrap it up tight, don't let the wind blow into your belly button and give you a cold."

"I'm just showing you how well I've been raising myself."

"Yes, yes, as long as you haven't shortchanged yourself, that's good. You've gotten a bit fatter, but you've also gotten darker — must have been running around out there a lot. You look tired too."

"Oh, next time I come back I'll raise myself to be a bit paler, and then you'll see me nice and fair and plump — then you can rest easy."

The old lady laughed, "Hehehe… good, good, good…"

The sadness from earlier had mostly been driven away by this chat, but when it was time to leave, she still couldn't bear to part.

Ye Yaodong had checked the weather and wind direction in advance, and set off for the next morning at dawn.

His boat was big, so as usual they still had to take the family's tractor to the dock at the town to board.

Most of the villagers still boarded at the village dock, then met up at the town's port before leaving together.

This trip felt like even more people were bringing their whole families along.

Some people had already asked him early on about the family quarters, wanting to rent. He gave them all the same answer: wait until they get there, then go find the logistics office — he wasn't handling the trivial matter of renting rooms.

Ye Chenghu was in the wheelhouse helping him steer the boat, the young man looking a bit smug.

"Dad, I'm awesome, right? I'm only sixteen, and I can drive a tractor, ride a motorcycle, and now I can steer a thousand-ton ship!"

"It's passable, but I genuinely wanted you to study, yet you want to go to sea..."

"That's not it. Didn't I just want to earn a bit more money? Otherwise, why wouldn't I stay comfortably on land? I don't want to go to sea that much now anyway; in any case, I can already drive a boat!"

"You still have much to temper."

"What tempering is needed? Just bring it on!"

"Then, as long as you haven't gone to school, come over and temper yourself at sea until you're twenty first. If you go to university, then temper yourself until you graduate from university."

"Ah?! Don't say that!"

"There are still many places you need to learn and temper yourself. Focus on driving the boat."

Ye Chenghu was speechless and didn't know how to respond. "Then do I still need to go to university? If I don't go to university, I just need to work on the boat until I'm twenty. If I want to go to university, I have to work until I graduate from university, which means working a few more years?"

"Otherwise, do you think a small car is that easy to get?"

"What about Yangyang?"

"He will have to be the same as you when the time comes."

Ye Chenghu felt a bit more balanced, but he still didn't want to go to sea. Having tasted the sweetness following his father, how could he think of seeking hardship unnecessarily and living a bitter life at sea?

"Don't compare yourself to him all day. You are the older brother, and he is the younger brother."

"So he has to learn from me and be the same as me."

"Then why don't you split half of the money you deducted from me and give it to him?"

Ye Chenghu felt guilty. "Where did I deduct anything?"

Ye Yaodong didn't expose him. "Focus on driving the boat, and at the same time maintain contact with other fishing boats. Pay attention to the information in the public channel as well."

"Oh, I understand."

Although thinking he still had to work at sea, Ye Chenghu still felt quite spirited when he thought about the fact that he could already drive a large boat.

In a couple of days when school starts, he can brag at school again.

Anyway, working at sea is just for two months of summer vacation. The winter break is short; at that time, he will definitely still be following in his father's footsteps, eating delicacies and drinking fine wine, feeling absolutely great.

After Ye Yaodong arrived in Zhoushan City, he asked Ah Guang to help take them to Shanghai. School was about to start, and the children hadn't registered yet. They couldn't stay in Zhoushan City for long and had to hurry to the school to register.

And since he had just returned, a pile of things at the factory were waiting for him, and he couldn't leave. Mainly, going to Shanghai would take several days to return, which would delay many things.

The retired soldiers on the fishing boats had already reported for duty several days ago and had relaxed and played for several days.

As soon as he returned, he immediately arranged for the fishing boats to go to sea to get them running first, and then checked the factory's performance and various big and small matters during this period.

It had piled up for nearly a month, so he could only handle it slowly, working overtime day and night.

After being busy for more than half a month, he finally felt a bit relaxed, and at the same time, he received news.

The municipal government would start on the 1st of next month to open the application for import and export rights to ordinary enterprises and production-type enterprises that meet the qualifications, lowering the threshold.

The factory immediately became tense and busy again.

March 1st was only two months away from the May Canton Fair, so they now had to hurry to prepare the required materials before the 1st of next month.

After applying, waiting for approval also takes time, and this time is particularly urgent for them.

It's not that having import and export rights allows you to attend the Canton Fair; you also have to apply to join relevant import and export chambers of commerce, such as the Textile Chamber of Commerce, the Electrical Machinery Chamber of Commerce, etc., specifically corresponding to the exhibition zones. This is a chamber of commerce, not the Zhoushan Fishery Association.

Then, they also have to prepare a series of materials required by the Canton Fair.

It is unknown how complicated this is, and how many procedures and formalities there will be.

After all, previously, the professional foreign trade general company group model had been maintained for nearly 40 years, and participating enterprises were mainly limited to professional foreign trade general companies and a few industrial and trade companies affiliated with national ministries.

This reform is the first of its kind; everyone is crossing the river by feeling the stones, with nothing to refer to, so they can only prepare early.

Fortunately, he had heard the wind earlier and had already asked Manager Qi to inquire, so he wouldn't be caught off guard.

While they were applying for procedures, they were also calling other units to ask about some details of the Canton Fair.

The product department and some other departments also had to work on two fronts simultaneously in advance, preparing the goods for exhibition and the items needed for the exhibition.

It can be said that upon receiving the news of the opening of import and export right applications, the entire factory got moving. Everyone was working overtime, striving with all their might towards the Canton Fair.

Ye Yaodong was the same, watching this matter every day.

The factory also held a large meeting every other day, and all departments had to report on matters and the progress of various tasks.

He was so busy every day that he was dizzy and had no time to go to Shanghai, not even time to make phone calls; it was Lin Lin Xiuqing who called from home.

It was also Lin Lin Xiuqing who took the children in her spare time and came to find him over the weekend.

Previously, he had thought about holding a social gathering at the factory after the New Year, but now plans couldn't keep up with changes; all activities had to be postponed and scheduled after the Canton Fair.

He was so busy he couldn't even take care of his wife and children, let alone others.

So when he lay in bed and heard from Lin Lin Xiuqing that Ye Ye Chengjiang and Ye Chenghe had run to the bank to take out a loan, he was stunned and quickly rolled over to ask.

"When did this happen? How did I not know? They actually ran to take out a loan? How did you find out?"

"Your son told me. I originally didn't know. Isn't your son in the same dormitory as them? I heard it from him."

"They have a lot of guts. The two of them discussed it themselves and went to take out a loan without even telling me?"

"I was surprised when I heard it from your son during dinner. I wanted to ask them, but they went out to drive the car and weren't here, so I could only tell you at night."

"You didn't ask your son in detail?"

"I did. He said you also support them buying cars and hiring people to work, so they discussed it and boldly went to take out a loan. Anyway, you took out a loan before."

Ye Yaodong: "..."

"When did you support them buying cars and hiring people to work?"

"During the New Year. I chatted with Brother Brother Ahai during the New Year, and he mentioned a few things. I thought it was quite good. Then the two of them came over and told me again. I was quite supportive, but I didn't support them taking out a loan without saying a word! Two people with such big guts, not even saying a word, secretly went to take out a loan."

It was his fault for setting a bad example; the two of them really learned from him and went to take out a loan.

"What kind of loan did they take out?"

"According to your son, it seems they used the car as collateral. Each borrowed 40,000, but unlike when you did it without interest, now there is interest, though it seems very low. And if the bank hadn't only lent 40,000, the two of them seemed to be thinking of borrowing a bit more."

"Daring as dogs, they even dare to borrow more? Others panic when they hear about loans, and they aren't afraid of not being able to repay. Wait until tomorrow, I must speak to them properly."

"I thought you were the one supporting them in doing this."

"How could I? Supporting them to take out a loan is no better than me lending them the money directly."

"I heard your son ask about it. They said they still owe you money that hasn't been paid back, so how could they have the face to ask you for a loan? Anyway, bank interest is low; they might as well borrow from the bank and pay it back before the due date. They said you did the same thing before, so there's nothing to fear."

"But they can't just take out a loan blindly. We need to explain to them that they must have the ability to cover the risks before taking on such a loan."

"We do need to say something. Doing something this big without saying a word, I guess Ye Ye Dasao and Ye Ye Ersao don't know yet. If they find out, they'll scold them to death; this idea is too ambitious."

Ye Yaodong's sleepiness after exercising had already been disturbed away.

"Did they say if the loan has been approved?"

"Not yet. I heard they just applied not long ago."

"These two... I've been busy as hell recently trying to apply for the Canton Fair. They probably saw I was busy, so they didn't come to me for a decision. They just discussed it between themselves and made the decision to go ahead."

Lin Lin Xiuqing asked curiously, "The Canton Fair hasn't been approved yet. Can they make it by May?"

"Let's try. Anyway, the import and export rights have already been obtained, and the documents required for the Canton Fair have been submitted. Let's see if they approve it. If they do, it should be no problem. However, this is the first time it's open to production enterprises, so I don't know how strict the screening is. There are no cases to ask about, so now we can only wait for the notification and leave it to fate. It's best if we pass, but if we don't, it's fine. There's also the Autumn Canton Fair in the second half of the year; there are two fairs a year. We can try again then."

"I hope we pass. I heard that as long as we can participate, those foreigners are lining up and scrambling to place orders. They say labor is cheap here, and goods are cheap, while labor is expensive abroad, and goods are expensive too."

"Hmm, I'm thinking Ajiang and Chenghe might also be eyeing the Canton Fair. If they can exhibit, business volume will increase greatly. I'd say the shipment volume of production enterprises in the entire city could increase greatly..."

"Do they want to get another truck to continue transporting goods from the factory? To earn a bit more?"

"Not necessarily. They probably want to get into freight transport. If the shipment volume of the entire city increases greatly, there will naturally be a need for large trucks to transport goods. The demand for vehicles for transporting goods will naturally increase. This will be a very big market next."

Ye Yaodong indeed knew that freight transport had great potential. After all, every industry is in its starting stage right now. As long as you dare to fight, you are someone eating the crab first.

Even foreign trade operating rights have been decentralized, and the threshold for the Canton Fair has been lowered. The economy is about to start developing rapidly, and private cargo transportation will naturally welcome vigorous development too.

Lin Lin Xiuqing was somewhat surprised and delighted. "Then they really can make a lot of money?"

"Let's see if they can pull it off."

"So letting them take out a loan was actually the right move? Can they catch the wind of opportunity?"

"We'll see. If they really can pull it off, then it was naturally the right move. It's just that the two of them made the decision without saying a word, which was a bit rash. At the very least, they should have asked the elders for their opinion and told their father. His father is at sea, so there's no way to reach him, but they should have told me at least. These two..."

"Then we still have to scold them tomorrow. After that, you should analyze things for them. Since they've done it, they naturally have to do it to the best of their ability and must make money."

"Hmm."

Lin Lin Xiuqing thought for a moment. "Then should we also order a few more trucks? If we really participate in the Canton Fair, shipment volume will increase, and there will be demand. Or, we could also get involved in freight transport?"

"The trucks that go to the dock to pick up goods from the factory are only needed from afternoon to early morning. During other time slots, couldn't we arrange them to pick up other cargo?"

"We just need to set up a separate freight department. Then, whenever the factory needs vehicles, the freight department can arrange it. We can just let the freight department take over everything."

"Aren't you just worried about having too much money with nowhere to spend it? It's just sitting in the bank earning interest, which is a bit of a waste. You might as well get involved in other industries and give it a try?"

Ye Yaodong looked at her in surprise. She actually had a lot of brains now and could even draw inferences from one instance.

She was even ambitiously thinking of getting our own family involved.

"You really have a lot of ideas. Your ambition is quite big, isn't it? Aren't you afraid of losing it all?"

Lin Lin Xiuqing smiled and said, "Isn't that what you said? It has a big market and can make money. I think what you said makes sense. Transportation indeed has a market and can make money."

"And the biggest investment should be buying trucks, right? Buying trucks shouldn't lead to much loss, right? We can use them ourselves anyway. At most, we just set up a separate freight department and hire a few more people to operate it."

Ye Yaodong gave her a thumbs-up. "Indeed, the environment makes people grow. I just mentioned a few things and was still thinking about whether to do it, but you're already ready to go. When the big meeting is held tomorrow, I'll bring it up and ask them to come up with a plan for me."

"Hehe, after all, I am the boss's wife! I've seen the world too!"

"Hmm, now that there are more trucks, we indeed need a freight department to operate, so as not to pile all the work on the finance and logistics departments. Tomorrow, let them arrange it."

At the same time, he also had to send some people to take the driving license exam.

PS: No need to urge me to finish. I need to wrap up the ending properly during this late stage. I expect to finish the book during the Spring Festival.