Chapter 752: More Tricks Than a Sieve

Ye Ye Dabo's wife paused for a moment, blinked several times, her eyes darting away before she forced a smile and said, "Mother, what are you saying? I was just asking what connections Dongzi has with the Border Defense Office? Are his connections strong?"

"Then why did you just ask if Dongzi earned a lot of money? What do you think he does when he goes out to sea? He just fishes; the money he earns is legitimate, hard-earned money."

"I just wanted to know if he made a lot of money relying on the Border Defense Office. Seeing his ships launch one after another over the past year or two, it must all be thanks to the Border Defense Office. He makes money so easily..."

The old lady, angered by her words, couldn't sit still anymore. "Where is it easy? He leaves early and returns late every day, without a moment to catch his breath. How is that comfortable compared to you all staying home all day? You only see his ships returning one after another, but you don't see his dark circles from exhaustion."

"If he has connections, it's because the leaders like him. The money he earns comes from his own hard work. Have you not seen him bringing back basket after basket of fish? Do you really think money falls from the sky just because he goes out to sea for a stroll?"

"I never said he goes out to sea for a stroll; I just wondered if his connections were strong..."

"Whether his connections are strong or not is none of your business. Do you think dealing with high-ranking leaders is easy?"

"Mother, I was thinking that if Dongzi has a good relationship with the leaders, could he ask for a favor? Would that allow Ah Hong to get a shorter sentence? Let him return next month together with his younger brother..."

As Ye Ye Dabo's wife spoke, she began to wipe away tears. "Who knows what kind of life they live in that big prison? It's only been a year and a half, but there are still over eight years left. How can anyone endure that? His father is already in his sixties; his health doesn't seem as good as before. He has pain here and pain there every day. I don't know if he'll even live until his son gets out..."

The old lady had originally found her annoying and stood up to chase her away, but hearing her say this, she instantly slumped, as if her spirit had vanished by more than half.

"Sigh~ What sin have we committed? If I had known it would be like this, why didn't we just be more down-to-earth back then? This is fate. People just shouldn't have crooked thoughts..."

"Call Dongzi out; let me ask. If he has connections and can get Ah Hong out a few years early, we would be willing..."

The old lady looked at her with difficulty, instantly feeling pity for her. "Dongzi drank too much and just went to sleep. If you go back now to call him, he won't wake up. I'll ask when he wakes up."

"Is he really asleep?"

"Why would I lie to you? Do you think Ah Qing would deliberately lie to you?"

"Heh heh, no. I just thought he wasn't asleep yet. Then I'll come back tonight."

"Go ahead, go ahead."

Lin Lin Xiuqing watched from the side, not knowing what to say, only able to think that those who are pitiable must also have something hateful about them; one person dragged down the whole family, causing his parents to suffer in their old age as well.

After the person left, she finally spoke. "As soon as she arrived, she asked all sorts of questions and dug up a bunch of information. I thought she wanted to do what? Adong doesn't have that kind of ability. He's only met the leaders a few times, and besides, the sentence has already been passed."

"Wait until Dongzi wakes up and ask. We are brothers; if we can help, we will. If we can't, there's nothing we can do. Your eldest brother's wife doesn't seem to only want to get Ah Hong out. If you really tell her it's impossible, she might just cry again, act pitiful, and ask Adong to borrow some money to help them get through this difficult time or something."

Hearing the old lady say this, Lin Lin Xiuqing instantly realized the truth.

So, the eldest brother's wife was using retreat to advance. She brought up the most difficult and hardest-to-handle matter first; if it could be done, everyone would be happy. If it couldn't be done, she would wipe her tears, complain about her hardships, talk about how hard it is for a widow and her orphaned children, and then ask to borrow money or something...

High, this tactic is high. Indeed, ginger is spicier when it's old...

It was a shame that she had just been moved by her words, thinking that she and the eldest brother, both in their old age, were also pitiable...

She instantly didn't know what to say, only able to sigh, "The eldest brother's wife is truly shrewd!"

"Some people have more tricks up their sleeves than a sieve has holes. I can't compare, I can't compare! In life, one should still exchange sincerity for sincerity, but with people who have so many tricks, it's hard to exchange sincerity for sincerity."

Lin Lin Xiuqing smiled. "Wait until Adong wakes up, ask him, and see what he says. We don't understand his affairs out there. I suspect it's impossible. Adong only met them a few times; asking them to reserve a boat for him is nothing to them, but getting someone out of prison is a big deal."

"I think so too. Dongzi is smart and capable, but his wings aren't that strong yet. How could he have that kind of influence?"

After the old lady finished speaking, she sighed and went to the doorway to enjoy the cool breeze. She had been quite happy today, but now she felt not so happy anymore.

When people get old, they just want the whole family to be safe and sound.

When Ye's mother came over for dinner in the evening and heard that Ye Ye Dabo's wife had visited in the afternoon, she said unhappily, "Isn't she making things difficult for people? Adong doesn't have that kind of ability. How could he have the face to shamelessly beg people? Does she really think anything can be done just by opening her mouth?"

Ye Yaodong only woke up at dinner time and just heard about it; he was also speechless.

"I can count the number of times I've met the leaders on one hand. The fact that they were willing to speak up and have the Border Defense Office reserve a boat for me was already surprising enough. It was because they were willing to give me face. How could I be so presumptuous as to push my luck? I've never given them any benefits; it was purely because the leaders are approachable."

"Sigh, if it can't be done, then it can't be done. If it can't be done, let your mother go over and explain later. That way, she won't catch you and cry. You, as a junior, shouldn't be the one to say it; let your mother go explain."

The old lady wasn't too disappointed either, since the eldest brother's wife was indeed forcing the issue. "Eat, eat. Let's not talk about this anymore. Everyone has their own fate. We can only pray to the Bodhisattva for blessings."

Ye's mother pouted. "She's quite good at calculating. My son isn't an official; he can't just say 'release him' and have it happen. Asking so bluntly is difficult. I think she did it on purpose."

Lin Lin Xiuqing said with a smile, "Maybe she's right. This afternoon, Grandma also said that the eldest brother's wife might be trying to ask for something difficult first. If we can't do it, she'll then ask us for something simpler, like borrowing money or something, and we might find it hard to refuse repeatedly."

"What? Is she dreaming? She's so calculating!" Ye's mother raised her eyebrows and slammed her chopsticks forcefully onto the table. "No way. I'll go find her later. We don't owe her anything. Where does she get the face?"

"Eat first, eat first. She's not asking you to borrow money. Why are you so agitated?" Ye's father said in a bad mood.

"She's not asking me to borrow money, but she's asking my son. Isn't she clearly playing tricks? Treating everyone like fools and thinking only she is smart. First, the son comes to deceive, then the mother comes. Is my son supposed to be deceived by them?"

Ye's father disagreed. "These are just guesses they are making over there. Who knows if it's true? She hasn't even done anything yet, and you're taking it seriously. You are just like that; you believe rumors the moment you hear the wind."

"How am I believing rumors? This afternoon, she stopped me on the road and talked about borrowing money. Then, she turned around and went to Dongzi's house, asking him to get someone out of prison. Isn't that clearly playing tricks? People like that are the most annoying."

Everyone instantly recalled what Ye's mother had said in the afternoon and felt in their hearts that their guess was probably right, about ninety percent accurate; they were indeed playing tricks.

If A doesn't work, then try B. If B doesn't work, then you are just not valuing family ties.

"Let's eat first. She is pitiable too. She's already old, yet she has to face such a situation, and she has no son by her side. Go over later and say you can't do it. For other things you don't want to promise, just don't promise them," the old lady said.

"Anyway, I'm going out to sea again tonight, so I won't be home. Mother, you and Ah Qing decide what to do."

After Ye Yaodong finished speaking, he changed the subject. "Actually, I think it's quite good for him to stay in there. He doesn't have to worry about food and drink..."

Hearing him say this, Ye's father, who was just lifting his bowl, almost dropped it and glared at him.

"Nonsense. What's good about it? What's good about not worrying about food and drink? Does our own family lack a single meal? Locked up inside, you have no freedom and no face. After you get out, it will be hard to face people; you'll have to endure people pointing fingers and gossiping..."

"If you don't stay in the village, no one will point fingers. Wait, I didn't mean to say that. I almost got you sidetracked. What I mean is, if he comes out now, the villagers will definitely rush to his house and force him to repay the debt."

"Then even after he gets released, people will still rush to his door..."

"But at least there will be a ten-year buffer. By then, the money will have depreciated."

"What money depreciation? A thousand yuan is still a thousand yuan. How could it turn into a hundred yuan? What nonsense are you talking?"

Regarding this question, he couldn't explain it, so Ye Yaodong shut his mouth.

Curious, Lin Lin Xiuqing chimed in. "I heard some people even think that inside they get free food and lodging, so they deliberately go in..."

"That's true. I really heard about it..." Ye's mother got interested and started talking at length.

She sat there every day listening to all sorts of stories, yet she had gained quite a bit of knowledge; there were all kinds of bizarre things.

The atmosphere at the table changed too. Everyone ate with Ye's mother's gossip as their side dish, going from depressed at the beginning to eating heartily by the end.

"Also, don't eat dog meat anymore. I heard that in Dongqiao Village, a young man recently seems to have gotten involved with something unclean. He's a bit crazy, barking wildly inside the house and scratching at the door panels. Some say he ate too much dog meat and was possessed by a dog. These past two days, they seem to be inviting someone to perform a ritual!"

"Ah?"

Ye Yaodong was surprised; wasn't this rabies? How could he be possessed by a dog?

"Shouldn't we take him to see a doctor?"

"Who knows? They might think the ritual is more effective. You'd better not eat dog meat recklessly, especially Dongzi. He eats everything; if he really gets possessed, that would be trouble."

"What nonsense! Then if we eat chicken every day, could we be possessed by chickens? You eat fish every day, so you'll be possessed by fish? Then I should eat crabs every day and walk sideways through the village!"

"Pure nonsense!"

"You know it's nonsense too. These are all tricks by those spirit mediums. Just eat your meal and listen casually; if it helps your appetite, that's enough."

Fortunately, Aqiu from the neighboring village escaped the disaster. He had been badly bitten by his family's dog, yet there were no reports of him contracting rabies.

It must be because his family raised the dog so well.