Chapter 716: Dropping an anonymous tip-off letter

The Gaojia Opera was already being performed at the Mazu Temple; he could hear the high-pitched singing before he even reached the entrance.

It was the familiar Gaojia Opera!

In his previous life, he didn't really watch operas, but he couldn't escape the old lady's radio in this life; it played every few days, and he was already sick of the tunes.

At this moment, the Mazu Temple was packed with people, heads pressed against heads; the inside was full, and there were three layers of people surrounding the outside.

The front row by the stage was filled with children, a solid line of black heads.

Ye Yaodong held his child and squeezed in with great difficulty, counted which row his family was in, then moved to Lin Xiuqing's side amidst a chorus of curses, handed the child to her, and quickly retreated under the urging of the crowd behind him.

Everyone was engrossed in the opera, and suddenly having a "rat dropping" (a nuisance) appear made them all annoyed and angry. Ye Yaodong knew he was in the way and consciously rolled away immediately.

Although the opera had already started, there were still many vendors with small stalls waiting at the entrance. Because children couldn't sit still and would run around after a while, and the adults were enjoying the show, they would give them a few cents to send them off and keep them quiet for a while.

As soon as Ye Yaodong came out, he got on his bicycle and headed straight for the town.

Along the way, he patted his pocket from time to time to see if the paper was still there.

If he lost it halfway, he wouldn't be able to write a second one out here!

Fortunately, his trouser pocket was sewn deep, and although his legs kept moving while pedaling the bike, the paper in his pocket didn't fall out.

He found a stationery shop, bought the cheapest envelope, folded it and stuffed it into his pocket as well. Only when he reached the entrance of the Border Defense Station did he put the tip-off letter into the envelope.

He licked the edge of the envelope, then sealed it!

Seeing no one at the entrance, he shoved it into the mailbox and pedaled his bike away quickly.

Participating in smuggling also requires connections.

He had done everything he could; now he would leave the rest to fate.

It just so happened that he wouldn't be going out to sea for the next few days, so he could listen for news at home. With many people traveling between villages these days, news should circulate quickly; if there was any, he should know soon.

He wondered how his new boat was doing docked at the town pier.

Had those scoundrels from Luzhoudao come to the town pier to look for the boat?

Even if they came, they probably wouldn't recognize it; most boats built now were from the same template, only differing in length and size.

There were plenty of boats similar to the one he had salvaged, and besides, he had painted it in such a gaudy way—it would be a miracle if they could recognize it.

Since he was already here, he rode his bike to the pier for a look.

He had docked his fishing boat at the small Haiyun pier; there were too many boats entering and leaving the main pier every day, and since he couldn't come to operate it for several days, it was better to park it at the small pier. Usually, boats that weren't going in or out were parked at the small pier.

The red, white, and black boat was quite eye-catching, and it could be distinguished from a distance among the crowd of boats.

Ye Yaodong parked his bike on the side, got off, leaned against the shore, and looked carefully. The color hadn't faded much; the main thing was that they hadn't painted the red paint below the waterline because they didn't have enough.

The hull above the waterline was painted black. At most, it would get splashed when there were waves, but it wasn't constantly soaked in water, so the fading wasn't bad. The white and red lines painted on the very top were intact and hadn't bled into each other.

The two characters "Ye San" only had some color bleeding at the edges, but it wasn't a big problem.

After one look, he felt reassured.

Everything was ready; all he needed was the east wind.

Once the Mazu Temple finished the opera, he would have his mother spread the word. He would have to let his mother hold back for these few days.

Feeling pleased, he pedaled his bike back.

The warm breeze blowing against him made his heart soar.

Going downhill, he stood up on the bike, spreading his arms against the wind, feeling absolutely fantastic.

However, just as he rode to an intersection, he inadvertently heard two men talking, their voices carried directly to his ears by the wind.

"How are we supposed to find it? It's gone..."

"Let's just try anyway; it's a boat after all, and we're all brothers..."

"Wasted a whole day of my time, only got a pack of cigarettes. Going back, not looking anymore..."

Ye Yaodong was so surprised that his pedaling speed slowed down involuntarily, but he didn't hear them say anything else afterward.

He muttered to himself, guessing they were people from Luzhoudao, and that some close friends had come out to help look for the boat?

Judging by their tone, they seemed quite impatient about helping; it would be a miracle if they could find it like that.

He laughed triumphantly, laughed triumphantly~

Can't find it, can't find it~

The trip out didn't take long. Because he was anxious, he pedaled his bike very fast. When he returned to the Mazu Temple, it was still singing away inside.

Checking the time, there was still half an hour left; he was truly efficient!

One hour to write, one hour to go, and he could still watch half an hour of opera when he got back.

He didn't know where the village committee had hired the troupe from; the Gaojia Opera was quite authentic, and the villagers were all mesmerized.

Gaojia Opera is a traditional local drama from Quanzhou and Xiamen in Fujian Province. It is one of the traditional local dramas of the Minnan language family and a typical representative of Minnan local culture, having a great influence both at home and abroad.

Its birthplace is Quanzhou, Fujian, originating from a costumed parade popular in Minnan villages during the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, where people dressed as Liangshan heroes and performed martial arts techniques.

In the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, in the coastal farming and fishing villages of Minnan, whenever there were temple fairs or festive holidays, villagers would dress up as Liangshan heroes and parade through the village, occasionally performing short skits on the spot.

Fujian is the province with the most gods...

The people of Fujian are also the best at "Bai Bai" (worship)...

Originally, because of the movements in previous years, the troupes were forced to disband, and a large number of famous old artists and literary workers were sent down to the countryside.

In the last few years, since the Reform and Opening Up, Gaojia Opera troupes in various parts of Minnan have been restored one after another, and there is a trend of revitalization. One can tell just by looking at their village holding such a big event and hiring a troupe.

Ye Yaodong stood in the crowd at the very back, leaning against a pillar, listening carefully for once.

Today's performance was "Visiting Relatives by Donkey," a comedy. After the show ended, the villagers were still not satisfied, and the applause was incredibly enthusiastic.

The venue, which originally only had the sound of the opera, instantly became noisy and boisterous again. Everyone was excited, talking about how good the opera was, praising it in every way, and saying they had to come earlier in the evening.

Ye Yaodong also squeezed into the crowd at the first opportunity to pick up his wife and children.

Ye Chengyang excitedly hugged his thigh, "Dad, it was so good, so lively."

"You understood it?"

"My foot, he just sat there eating the whole time. Once he finished eating, he ran around everywhere. When he was tired from running, he came back and sat for a while, and after resting enough, he ran out to play again. He only just came back to clap," Lin Xiuqing said bluntly, exposing her youngest son.

"Hehe~ but it was still good."

Ye Yaodong pinched his chubby little face, "Eating and playing is what's real."

"Mm-hmm, when Brother comes back, I want to tell Brother."

Ye Chenghu cries X1.

"Then your brother is going to be furious!"

"Huh?"

Ye Yaodong smiled and led his youngest son and the old lady to a corner, "Let's stand in the corner and let others go first, to avoid the crowding. Was my daughter good?"

Lin Xiuqing smiled, "She was actually quite good. She had something to eat, sat there without moving, eyes didn't even blink, kept staring at the people singing the opera. She was actually watching quite seriously; I don't know if she understood it."

Ye Yaodong pinched her little nose, and before she could frown in protest, he withdrew his hand, "Was it good, my darling?"

"Mm!"

"Haha, you really understood it."

Who knew that after Ye Xiaoxi responded, she ignored him completely and just kept her head down looking around. Lin Xiuqing almost couldn't hold this little chubby girl.

"There's nothing left to eat, no need to look."

Seeing that she was struggling to hold her, Ye Yaodong quickly took the child into his arms.

"Let's go, there are fewer people now."

Ye Chengyang hopped and skipped in front, but after a while, he lowered his head and squatted down, then ran back excitedly, waving the banknote in his hand.

"Mom, I found a dime!"

His face was flushed with excitement, and he was so thrilled he almost jumped up.

Lin Xiuqing was also pleasantly surprised, "You're so lucky? You can even find money?"

"Mm-hmm, so much, a dime!"

He was so happy he clutched the banknote tightly, almost losing his bearings.

"I must tell Brother later, it's great, there's even money to be found!"

Ye Chenghu cries X2.

"Hahaha, right, you must tell your brother and share it with him."

"Mm-hmm..." He nodded happily, "I'll go see if Brother is back yet?"

Saying that, he took off and ran immediately.

The opera ran from 1:30 to 4:00, and school let out right at 4:00. By the time they got home, Ye Chenghu would probably have rushed back too. He would probably be so frustrated he'd be jumping mad, and wouldn't want to go to school even more tomorrow.

Ye Yaodong walked and laughed, saying: "There must still be money to be found on the ground here."

"Is it that easy to find?"

"Definitely. There are so many children, and the adults can't stand the children begging and making a scene, so they'll definitely reach into their pockets. Someone is bound to drop money."

You can still find money these days; in a few decades, you won't find a damn cent.

"That's true."

"Later, when Ye Chenghu starts throwing a tantrum, send him here to find money, and it'll be quiet."

Lin Xiuqing was amused.

"You really understand him."

"That goes without saying, don't look at whose son he is?"

"Like father, like son. You were like this when you were little, right?"

"How is that possible? I was a little bully when I was little. With the old lady as my 'Imperial Sword,' I got whatever I wanted. Where would I need to throw a tantrum?"

The old lady heard this from the side and was tickled pink, nodding continuously, "Right, right, every day he'd get into a fight, and he'd come back covered in mud and hide in my room. At night, he'd want to sleep with me for several days in a row, terrified his mother would beat him."

"Later, he just slept with me until he was ten, then moved to sleep with his two brothers. But when he got into trouble, he'd still crawl into my room."

Recalling his childhood, the old lady's face was also glowing, her eyes crinkled with laughter.