Chapter 871: To the City (Monthly Tickets +4)

Hearing him come into the room, Lin Lin Xiuqing quickly asked, "Everything arranged? Is the courtyard gate locked?"

"Locked, don't worry."

"What time are you planning to leave for the city tomorrow?"

"That depends on when your brother gets here. I'm just hitching a ride, so of course I have to go by his schedule. He should come pretty early, so let's get up early tomorrow."

Ye Yaodong stripped off his shirt and pants as he spoke. "Tomorrow morning, remember to settle their wages. Cash on the spot is best."

"I know."

"The 479 we split last night—make a separate note of it. From now on, log every split as it happens, so we can see roughly when we'll break even."

"Mm, got it. Getting that much on our very first trip out, it shouldn't take more than two months…"

"Don't get your hopes up. What if there's a typhoon?"

"Jinx."

"I'm not jinxing it, I'm stating facts. Don't count money you haven't earned yet."

That line actually made her laugh.

"Isn't this your usual style? Earn it for one day, and you already count up all the money you won't make for the next year."

"When? What time? How come I don't know?" Ye Yaodong pretended not to know, striking a pose as he climbed onto the bed.

"Don't remember? Let me help you recall. Back when you sweet-talked me into buying the big boat, you said just pay a deposit first, and within a year you'd earn so-and-so much… no pressure on the balance…"

"When did I sweet-talk you? Wasn't everything I said fact? Everything I said came true."

Lin Lin Xiuqing was amazed at how he could argue. "Hmph, can't out-talk you. Going to sleep."

Ye Yaodong watched her turn over, then smiled and hugged her from behind. "Facts prove everything I say is right, don't they?"

"Hmph. Going to sleep."

He didn't push his luck either. Hugging his wife, he closed his eyes and went to sleep early so he could get up early tomorrow—who knew if his brother-in-law might go mad and show up at his place at five or six.

But his brother-in-law never came. Instead, Ye Chenghu kept making little noises, waking him up early.

The moment he opened his eyes, he saw a little head poking in through the window outside, nearly giving him a fright—his eyes went wide.

"Hehe, hehe~"

Seeing his father finally awake, Ye Chenghu stopped leaning on the window. After a couple of silly laughs, he hurried inside and knocked on the bedroom door.

Because the weather was hot, the couple hadn't shut the window when sleeping at night; they left it open to stay cool.

Ye Yaodong checked the time—it was just barely 5 o'clock sharp. His temper instantly flared, and Lin Lin Xiuqing was woken up too.

"Who's knocking on the door?"

"Your precious son! That brat's itching for a beating… this early in the morning, it's barely light out…"

"Why's he up so early? No wonder I heard the geese at the back door squawking earlier."

Ye Yaodong got up quietly and put on his shirt and pants. "You sleep a bit more. I'll go scold him."

Lin Lin Xiuqing rubbed her temples and sat up. She heard the bedroom door open, and the father-and-son conversation that followed.

"Dad, you're finally awake!"

"What are you doing, this early in the morning? Itching for a beating? Do you know what time it is…"

"Isn't it because we're going to the city? I was worried you'd oversleep, so I wanted to wake you. But Great-Grandma said not to rush since Uncle hasn't come yet. But you weren't up yet, were you? Once you're up you still have to wash your face, brush your teeth, eat—that takes too long."

Ye Yaodong's teeth itched with anger. That wretched kid—if only he hadn't told him last night, he'd have waited till morning. Waking people from a good dream at dawn.

He dragged the child outside so he wouldn't block the doorway, then followed him out and shut the door behind them.

The old lady stood up from the stove and said with a smile, "This child crawled out of bed at half past four this morning. I had just come out of my room when I saw him sitting at the front gate hugging the dog out of boredom."

Ye Chenghu grinned sheepishly. "I was too excited, couldn't sleep, afraid I'd oversleep. If Dad didn't wake me, I'd have gone by myself."

He was speechless. "I must have owed you in a past life. If you've got nothing to do, go run a few laps for me."

"No, I'll just wait here. Dad, when is Uncle coming? It's been so long…"

Ye Yaodong shot him a look and ignored him. He glanced at the pot on the stove, which was bubbling loudly. "When did you bring that over?"

"Heh, just now. I got up to cook and saw a big hole on the stove, then remembered you guys moved the big pot to the workshop last night, so I went over to check just now."

"I saw those kids had already finished boiling the shrimp, so I asked them to help carry one big pot back for me to cook rice. When the pot was brought back it was still warm—they must have worked almost till dawn."

"I cooked extra porridge and added dried shrimp. I'll toss in a handful of spinach, sprinkle a few grains of salt, stir it, and it's ready. Tell them not to rush off—eat first before going back."

He nodded and stepped outside, but came back shortly after—first to brush his teeth and wash his face.

Ye Chenghu trailed behind him like a little shadow, following wherever he went. When he brushed his teeth, the boy squatted beside his father and watched.

Once his father stepped out the courtyard gate, he tagged along closely behind, afraid that if he blinked the man would disappear—then his trip to the city would be ruined! And who knew when the next chance would come?

Ye Yaodong was fed up with the kid following him around. He turned and glared, but the boy just grinned cheekily.

"Dad, you go your way, I'll just follow behind."

He gave him a look of disdain, then continued on to the workshop. Inside the workshop there were more than two people—even the twins who had been brought to his mother's place to work last night were there.

The four of them had carried the bamboo bed out of the small room and were sitting on it playing cards. When they saw him coming, they immediately tossed their cards aside and hurried down.

"Brother Dong, why are you up so early?"

"Playing cards first thing in the morning?"

"We were waiting for you to get up. Had nothing to do, so we killed time. We weren't gambling, just playing for fun."

"Yes, we were just playing for fun." The others quickly chimed in, nodding.

"No problem. How late did you work last night?"

"We didn't have a watch, so we don't know what time we stopped. We only know the twins came over after finishing their work at twelve."

"When they came over, we had only done half."

"Seems like not long after we finished drying everything, it was already light."

"Then the old lady came over wanting the big pot to cook porridge. When we carried it over for her, it was still warm."

They took turns adding their own words.

Ye Yaodong patrolled the area, occasionally picking a few to peel and taste. "You've worked hard, staying up all night."

"Not hard at all, not hard at all. We don't feel tired; it's quite simple work."

"They're definitely all cooked, don't worry, hehe~"

"The twins finished their work back home; why didn't they go home to sleep first?"

"We were afraid Brother Brother Ahai wouldn't have finished his work and would be too busy, so we came to help."

He nodded. "The old lady cooked a big pot of porridge. Wait until you've eaten before you go back."

"Ah, no need, no need. It's so early in the morning; we have porridge at home too."

"I feel the likelihood of you getting scolded is quite high. You didn't go home last night after coming over here. If you go home now, you'll definitely get a scolding."

Wang Wang Guangliang scratched the back of his head and smiled awkwardly. "That seems true, but an explanation should suffice."

"I'm just afraid your family won't believe you. It's fine; the old lady said she cooked extra. You've worked hard guarding all night. After you eat, my wife will give you the wages, and you can go back to sleep early."

"Then we won't be polite. The old lady is so kind."

Continuing to refuse would have seemed a bit fake, so Wang Wang Guangliang simply and happily agreed at once.

"Let's go, let's eat. It should be cooked and ready to serve."

The boys happily followed behind him.

Ye Chenghu also curiously watched them from the side, though he didn't say much.

He just kept asking while eating the porridge, "When is Great Uncle coming? I'm almost finished eating; why is he so slow?"

"Can't you call him?"

"Dad, can't we go by ourselves? Don't you usually go by yourself? Can we just ask Uncle Zhou?"

Asked non-stop all morning, Ye Yaodong grew annoyed. "Do you have money? Do you have fare?"

"You have it!"

"Mine isn't yours."

"But Grandma always says hers will belong to you, Ye Ye Dabo, and Ye Ye Erbo in the future? So yours will be mine in the future."

"You're already coveting it now, are you?"

"Can't I spend it in advance?"

"No, because I haven't spent Grandma's money either!"

Ye Chenghu thought about it and found some sense in that. "Oh... then when is Great Uncle coming?"

Ye Yaodong felt exhausted. "If you ask again, I won't take you anywhere in the future, not anywhere at all."

He immediately clamped his mouth shut and stopped asking. Hmm, just keep a close eye on his dad.

Hearing the father and son's conversation, Wang Wang Guangliang and the others didn't dare to ask. Thinking the family had guests arriving soon, they quickly finished their meal without lingering.

Lin Lin Xiuqing handed them the wages she had prepared earlier. They thanked her and left, telling Ye Yaodong to find them at Da Qingshan Village if he needed anything.

And Lin Wang Guangliang arrived under Ye Chenghu's eager anticipation, making him jump for joy.

The nearby children had already been envious of his boasting while he sat at the door waiting. Seeing his Great Uncle actually arrive on a tractor to pick them up made them even more envious; they ran and jumped around the tractor one by one.

Ye Ye Chenghai also wanted to go. He had been boasted to by Ye Chenghu yesterday and had been coveting it all night.

He looked at Ye Yaodong longingly. "Third Uncle, can I go with you too?"

Ye Chenghu refused outright.

"No! Yangyang didn't go; he didn't even get a share. How can I take you? Ask your dad to take you."

"I asked Third Uncle, not you!"

"No, I can't keep an eye on everyone."

Ye Yaodong also refused directly. It was true; his own son still hadn't been taken. If he took Brother Brother Ahai, how disappointed would Yangyang be?

Lin Guang was also disappointed; he also wanted Ye Ye Chenghai to go play with them.

Everyone else instantly felt balanced.

"Alright."

Ye Chenghu was overjoyed. "Dad, let's go quickly, get on the truck fast; it's getting late..."

Ye Yaodong checked his watch; it was only 7 o'clock.

Ye Chenghu was extremely proud; he was going to the city to play.

After climbing onto the tractor, he deliberately squeezed to the side, then kept waving at his little friends, his smile brilliant, so happy he felt like flying into the sky.

Children's wishes are extremely simple and very easily satisfied.

Eating things others haven't eaten, owning toys others don't have, going to places others haven't been—these are all worth boasting about and feeling proud of.

This also easily earns them the envy of a group of children.

Not to mention the city; some children haven't even been to the town, so it is indeed quite something to be proud of.

"Don't worry, I will definitely come back..."

After the tractor started swaying back and forth, Ye Chenghu shouted this sentence, and Ye Yaodong instantly found himself torn between laughter and tears.

He patted Ye Chenghu's head. "I told you to be low-key; where did you put that in your head? What is there to be proud of? It's just a trip to the city. Didn't you see your cousins went? And they are staying for two months. Compared to them, what is there to be proud of?"

"Hehe, I'm just too happy."

"You can't be this proud. You need to think: when you grow up, you can go to even more places. What's so special about a mere city district?"

"Hmm, Dad is right."