Chapter 953: Happy and Harmonious

Lin Xiuqing also greeted the two families next door to sit down and eat together.

Anyway, they all brought their own rice bowls.

Ye Yaodong and Ye Fu also chatted with them while eating about the scenery of the provincial capital streets, describing how lively the provincial capital was, which was incomparable to their countryside, and there were more cars than in the city.

Ye Ersao laughed and said, "We haven't even been to the city, and don't know what the bus looks like."

Ye Dasao also said, "Anyway, it must be better than a tractor."

"There are seats in the bus, and no wind, sun, or rain, quite good."

Just after Ye Yaodong finished speaking, his father said, "Dongzi is going to the city tomorrow. If you want to follow, you can follow to take a look and open your eyes. Otherwise, staying in the village all the time, you don't know what the outside has become."

"Heard that it changes every day, it is too difficult to go to the provincial capital once, it is not bad to go to the city to take a look, look everywhere. Just returned for a few days, and just finished the holiday, no need to be so anxious to go out to sea to work, can rest for two more days."

Ye Yaopeng and Ye Yaohua brothers looked at each other.

Their father could actually say such words, actually saying no need to be anxious to work, can rest for two more days?

In the past, who was it, wishing to drive them to work behind, fearing they would slack off.

Ye Yaodong was also surprised. Is this still his father who is stingy and wishes to use himself as a donkey?

Ye Dasao and Ye Ersao also showed surprise, "Can we follow?"

"Sure, go see more, anyway, you are idle at home, no matter how many people, the road fee is one trip, as long as you are not carsick and don't dislike bumping."

The two sisters-in-law were happy, and they could follow to the city without paying the car fee, which was cool.

They hadn

Ye Chenghai was also excited, "Then can we go too?"

"You're in school, what are you going for?" Ye Yaodong glanced at the children who were eager to try.

"We can ask for a day off!"

"Do you want a beating?"

Ye Chengyang said excitedly, "Dad, I'm not going to school! I've never been to the city either!"

Ye Chenghu disagreed, "You can only go when you score a hundred!"

"I haven't started school yet, how can I score?"

"I don't care, I only got to go because I scored a hundred. You have to score a hundred to go too."

Ye Chengyang glared fiercely at Ye Chenghu.

Ye Chenghu didn't show weakness and glared back with even wider eyes. The two brothers stared at each other like fighting cocks.

To make matters worse, they were sitting right next to each other. As they glared, their foreheads pressed against each other, and they even started using force, pushing against one another...

"Eat your food. You children aren't going anywhere; you're staying home. When you grow up, there will be plenty of opportunities for you to see the world. By then, you won't even want to come back."

Lin Xiuqing also called out to them, "Sit down properly, both of you. If you don't listen, you won't get to eat, and you can go stand in the corner."

The two of them finally separated their foreheads, pouted, and started eating their food again.

Ye Dasao asked, "Then what time are we leaving tomorrow?"

Ye Ersao: "We'll get up early to prepare."

"Seven o'clock, no need to be that early."

If he had to sit on a tractor again now, his bones would ache.

Ye Mu looked left and right, wondering why no one asked if she was going.

She held it in for a while and said, "I shouldn't have anything to do tomorrow. I'll go with you all tomorrow to take a look."

"You're going too?" Ye Fu asked in surprise.

Ye Mu was instantly ignited with nameless anger, "What? I can't go? Only you can go?"

"No, that's not it. I was just asking. Aren't you working?"

"Can't I ask for leave?"

"Yes, yes, whatever you say. If you want to go, then go. I didn't say you couldn't."

Ye Mu rolled her eyes at him.

Seeing his mother volunteering to go, Ye Yaodong looked at Aqing, "Do you want to go for a stroll too?"

"Me? I'd better not, right? I just went a few days ago."

"Go on. Mom is going, and the eldest and second sisters-in-law are going too, so you should go with them and stroll around. Last time we were in a rush, and you didn't get to look around properly. Everything you bought was for your parents for the festival. Don't you women get along better when shopping?"

"This time, take a good look around. Buy whatever you want. When we get to the city, Dad and I will go talk business, and you women can go to the department store or wherever around there. Just have Uncle Zhou drive you everywhere."

Lin Xiuqing was also a bit tempted by what he said.

Her mother-in-law and sisters-in-law were all going to the city to shop, and there was no point in her staying home, so she might as well go along.

Ye Mu also smiled and persuaded her, "Go, let's all go. We can just send Xiao Jiu to Huimei's place to keep Xiao Yu company. The two cousins can play together and have company."

Ye Xiaoxi also nodded desperately, "Mm-hmm! Sister!"

"Alright then, let's all go, and we'll drop Xiao Jiu off at Huimei's."

The whole family hadn't sat together in a long time. Today, it was rare for them to be gathered, and the atmosphere was harmonious. Once it was confirmed they were going to the city, everyone was in high spirits, and laughter was constant.

"Oh right, Dongzi, didn't you just go to the city the day before yesterday? Why go again? I've seen you back, and you haven't sat down once, always running outside." Ye Yaopeng suddenly thought of this from the laughter and asked casually.

"I'm planning to buy more shops. Before the festival, I had my father-in-law put out the word, and I got a reply yesterday, so I need to go see them and talk tomorrow."

"Ah? You're still buying? You already have two, why buy more?"

"I have to. While shops aren't expensive now, I should hurry and buy a few more to hold onto. More than half of this year has passed, and shops around the market have been opening one after another, and the foot traffic has increased a lot."

"In two or three years, the occupancy rate of the shops will definitely be higher. Anyway, buying early won't be a loss. The annual rent for Big Brother's shop is already five or six hundred. If it can be rented continuously for five or six years, won't the cost be recovered? What's there to worry about?"

"Besides, this rent isn't fixed; it will definitely go up year after year. Once these shops are bought, they'll be ours for decades. If we sell them later, they'll definitely sell for more than they do now."

Ye Yaopeng frowned, "I'm just afraid they won't be rented out. Isn't the second brother's shop still empty after a whole year? Who knows when someone will rent it."

"Wait a few years. You've already bought it, why worry? You all haven't been to the city this year, so you don't know. There are many more people coming and going now than before. You'll see when you go tomorrow."

Ye Yaohua agreed, "Then we'll just follow along and take a look tomorrow."

"The whole family is going together tomorrow. When the neighbors nearby find out, they'll be green with envy." Ye Mu said happily.

"After making a fortune and coming back, they're already green with envy."

"I heard that several people in the village went to the shipyard together today to order boats, but the delivery dates were already scheduled until the year after next. Everyone was shocked."

"I heard that too. One after another, they came back cursing, saying if it's already scheduled until the year after next, then what's the point."

"Yeah, a few days ago, they were all making grand plans, thinking about getting a boat to go fishing next year, fantasizing about making their money back in less than a month and making a fortune. Well, now, never mind next year, there aren't even any boats for the year after next."

"They had planned it all out, thinking about going after the festival, but their hopes were dashed. It's hilarious."

Ye Yaopeng felt fortunate, "That's good too. That way, it'll still be us going next year."

Ye Yaodong, however, felt he was being too optimistic.

"Big Brother is thinking too early. Word spreads fast, and boats from surrounding villages will definitely follow. Plus, with Chen Jianian from the town, the number of fishing boats he brings next year will definitely be much higher. We definitely won't make as much money next year as we did this year."

"We've already picked up a huge bargain this year. If we have half of this year's earnings next year, we should be happy."

Everyone fell silent for a moment.

"That's still pretty good. Making half of this year's earnings next year is still a profit." Ye Fu said contentedly.

"That's true, half is enough to make a profit."

Ye Yaohua frowned, "Then it wouldn't be cost-effective for the Harvest to go again. This big boat consumes a lot of fuel and isn't suitable for near-shore operations. It should be taken to the deep sea for fishing."

"Right, but we can also go and stay for ten days or half a month. Once the trench is fished out, the Harvest won't need to linger."

"That would work too."

"Oh my, eat, eat. Let's talk about next year's business next year. Why think about it now? It'll be in time to consider it next year. Anyway, their plans in our village have fallen through." Ye Mu changed the subject.

Ye Yaodong also looked at his mother and asked, "How is that scholarship fund for the village committee coming along?"

"It's almost communicated with the school. After the loudspeaker announcement a few days ago, those in our village who made a fortune in Zhejiang Province this time followed your lead and donated some money to the Mazu Temple to burn incense and fulfill their vows, and incidentally, to pray for even more earnings next year."

"Then, they said that in the last two days, they'd have the teachers list the students who had good grades last semester and this semester but dropped out. Later, the Women's Federation and the teachers will conduct home visits together, trying their best to call the students back."

"The tuition is waived, and there's a scholarship dangling there, so most families should be willing. If they study, they can earn money. At worst, they can help out more at home after school and on weekends."

"And the tuition for that scholarship fund is being paid by you, right? When the time comes, see how many students return to school, give us a list, and we'll give the money to the school."

Ye Yaodong nodded.

"I say, if it's like this, Dongzi, what if some families find out you're sponsoring the students' tuition and deliberately don't let their children go to school, just waiting for the teacher to come and invite them, wanting you to pay? What then?" Ye Yaohua asked with a frown.

"The prerequisite is that they have good grades, right? If they really have very good grades, the teachers will also feel it's a pity, so it's no big deal to spend a few yuan."

"Generally, those who really love their children won't do this kind of thing. Those who do are the ones who like to play tricks. For the sake of the children's future, spending one yuan fifty is just one yuan fifty. What if they really make something of themselves?"

And there's no need to fear the teachers being corrupt or taking bribes; the total tuition for one semester is only one yuan fifty.

His mother was still in the Women's Federation, well-informed. The surrounding villages were mostly close by, and she spent her days idly talking about this and that, so she was familiar with many of them. Even if she wasn't, she could just ask anyone and find out.

The two sisters-in-law pouted in disapproval, but didn't say anything. The money was earned by him, not their own, so why care how he spent it?

Ye Yaopeng nodded, "That works too. There aren't many students with good grades who drop out, so it should only cost twenty or thirty yuan. Just consider it accumulating merit and doing good deeds."

"Yeah, when you make money, you should accumulate more merit and do good deeds. Then when you die, you can go to heaven. Who knows, maybe with merit added, you can be reborn into a good family in your next life and be a rich second generation."

The old lady agreed very much, "Right, do more good deeds, and the Bodhisattva will bless you, Mazu will bless you. You can't do anything wicked, otherwise, you'll go to hell when you die."

"It's good enough to live well now, why think about what happens when you die?" Ye Mu said irritably.

"That's different. When you die, you can be reborn and be a person again in your next life. If you do too many bad things, you won't be able to be reborn, or you'll have to become an animal."

Although Ye Mu didn't believe it, she just pouted and didn't refute.

Ye Yaodong smiled and agreed, "You're right. Do more good deeds, and when you start over in your next life, you can be reborn into a good family and be a rich second generation."

"Hehe, eat, eat. You've been tired all day, hurry up and finish eating so you can go take a bath and rest."

"Come, eat, eat. Fortunately, I knew you were coming back today, so I cooked extra dishes, it should be enough." Ye Mu also greeted them, and everyone hurried to eat.

"There's a table of dishes at home, we'll go bring them over."

"No need to bring them, why bring them? Just leave them for tomorrow. Anyway, the fish and shrimp on the table were brought by you all, just finish them all, and we'll talk if it's not enough."

Afterward, they chatted intermittently about what had happened in the village over the past two days.

Since the family split, it was rare for the children to eat at the same table, and they were noisily scrambling to pick up food.

Eating a meal was like a battle.

In the end, everything was swept clean, and the tabletop was a mess. However, each family took their own bowls back to wash, which saved trouble.

The children all thought they wouldn't have any gifts today. Unexpectedly, when Lin Xiuqing was tidying up the suitcase after the meal, Ye Yaodong pointed to the few comic books and said they were for them, which made them overjoyed.

No matter what it was, as long as there were gifts to receive, they were happy.

"Dad, why did you buy us books this time?"

"It's just hoping you can study more and use your brains more. If there were any exercise books or outlines I could buy, I would have bought a bundle back for you to do homework at home."

"Ah..."

Ye Chengyang flipped through a few pages of the comic book and instantly couldn't put it down, "Dad, these comic books are so good!"

"Let me see, let me see..."

"I know, I know this is Nie Xiaoqian, this is Sun Wukong, this is Hong Niangzi, this is The Legend of the White Snake, we've heard it on the radio..."

"Third Uncle, Third Uncle, is there any for us?"

Ye Chenghu immediately snatched all the comic books back, clutching them to his chest, "No, these are ours. Go find your own parents, don't be Third Uncle-ing all day."

"Why be so stingy!"

"My dad bought these for me and Yangyang. If you want some, tell your dad to buy them."

"So stingy, I just want to take a look, you have so many..."

Ye Dasao also scolded her own children, "Did you forget the beating I gave you a few days ago? Don't want everything you see. If you keep making a fuss, I'll drag you home and beat you later."

Ye Ersao glared at her own, but before she could speak, Ye Chengjiang immediately raised both hands, holding them by his ears in surrender.

"I didn't say anything, I didn't want anything, I didn't take anything, don't look at me!"

Ye Yaodong was holding a basin, preparing to pour hot water to take a bath. Hearing them arguing, he turned his head and spoke.

"You two take a look first, then share them with the others, wouldn't that be fine? Don't hog them. Anyway, the things are yours, just give them back to you after they're done looking."

"And Ah Hai, you guys, what do you use your pocket money for? It just so happens that your parents are going to the city tomorrow to shop. Take out the pocket money you've saved and give it to them, let them buy you two different ones. That way you can exchange them and read them, and you'll have even more comic books to read, right? You have them, and I have them."

Ye Chenghai immediately looked at his mother, "Can I, Mom? I'll give you the money, will you buy them for me?"

"How much private money do you have?"

Ye Chenghai was vigilant, "Not much, that's all given to me by you adults, I saved it specifically. You take my lucky money every year, you can't take away the pocket money I saved up so hard."

"You have the nerve to call saving pocket money 'so hard'. Your father and I earning money is what's called 'so hard'."

"But I also saved up a little bit with great difficulty."

"Hehe, why be so serious with a child?" Ye Yaopeng said with a smile, "Wanting to read books is a good thing, much better than thinking about playing with toys all day. When we go to the city tomorrow, if I have free time, I'll buy them for you. If I don't, I'll have your mother look and buy two back for you."

"Great, great, that's wonderful, we'll have comic books tomorrow too."

Ye Chenghu was also happy, "Then remember to have Eldest Aunt buy different ones, so we can exchange them."

"Then let me take a look first..."

Ye Jingjing looked at Ye Dasao with hope, "Mom, can you buy me a small doll when we go to the city tomorrow? I'll give you the money."

The other two girls also looked at their mothers with longing eyes.

In this era, people value boys over girls, especially in the countryside, and even more so by the sea.

Girls aren't considered valuable. Although they run wild like boys outside, their presence at home is very weak.

Their mothers also say every day that girls should act like girls, otherwise they won't be able to get married later, and they often say a word or two about what's the use of raising girls.

Having heard this so much, they all think that as girls, they should act well-behaved at home, and even if they have to pretend, they should pretend to be obedient, never daring to make requests.

But the birth of Ye Xiaoxi also let them know that girls aren't worthless.

Seeing the doll Ye Xiaoxi holds every day, they are all very eager to have one.

This year, they have also received many gifts. The gifts Ye Yaodong and Ah Guang brought back were for both boys and girls, without favoritism.

There was no differential treatment, which gave them a little more self-confidence, and their courage grew a bit.

If they hadn't bought them gifts, they wouldn't even have decent toys. What they could play with was similar to those boys, running around everywhere, either up the mountain or down to the sea every day.

Or they would make them themselves, playing with patterns using a piece of string, making shuttlecocks themselves with chicken feathers, stringing seashells into bracelets to play with, etc. Everything was purely handmade, trying to find ways to make their own toys.

Ye Tingting craftily pulled on Ye Yaohua's hem, "Dad, I'll give you the money, can you help me and my sister buy them?"

Ye Xiuxiu also cleverly went to pull on the other side of Ye Yaohua's hem.

Ye Jingjing also abandoned her mother and went to hold her father's arm.

Being a father is, of course, easier to talk to than being a mother.

"Alright, alright, alright. Tomorrow when we go to the city, I'll have your mother look around. If there are small dolls, I'll bring one back for each of you."

"Then everyone will have one. For the boys, I'll buy two comic books, and for the girls, I'll buy a doll."

Ye Ersao pulled a long face, "You can only buy the smallest ones. Something as big as Xiao Jiu's is impossible. I heard that one costs eighty or ninety, or even a hundred yuan. I can't afford that."

The three girls' faces lit up with brilliant smiles, and they nodded busily.

"The smallest is fine, we're not picky."

"Right, having one is enough. Mom, you have to remember, don't forget."

"Third Aunt, Grandma, you help me remind my mom tomorrow, I'm afraid she'll forget."

"Got it, got it, you're so long-winded."

Everyone has one, and everyone is happy.

In fact, it's because they have some spare cash and the family is better off, so some small requests can be satisfied directly. If there's no money, no matter how much you beg, it's useless.

Ye Yaodong watched Aqing flipping through the suitcase, and he was no longer in a hurry to fetch water. He casually placed the basin on the stove and pointed to the book on knitting she was holding in her hand.

"This is for you to learn how to knit. It has all kinds of patterns and textures, and it also teaches how to crochet socks, gloves, shoes, hats, all kinds of patterns. I thought you'd like it."

Lin Xiuqing happily began to flip through it, "I like it, of course I like it. You bought the right thing this time."

"Hehe, I just happened to see it on a street stall next to the comic books, so I bought it together. There's also a wig inside for Grandma. You let her try it on, I guarantee she'll look ten years younger."

She put down the book and flipped through it, only then finding the black ear-length wig pressed at the bottom.

"No wonder it was pressed at the very bottom. If it had been on top, I would have been scared to death when I first opened it. For no reason, a bunch of hair appeared in the suitcase."

"Originally, it was on top, I pressed it to the bottom." Ye Fu said while flipping through his own clothes, and also gave the socks he bought for Ye Mu to her.

"At least it's not a silk scarf this time."

"Ahem..."

The old lady leaned over with her cane, "A wig? Wear what wig? I don't know how to wear it, why buy this?"

"To look younger! Really, put it on and you'll look younger immediately. I'll teach you how to wear it."

"Better not, right? Next time you go to the provincial capital, return it, okay?"

"Can't return it."

Ye Yaodong brushed the old lady's hair and simply put it on her first.

"Just cover up the white hair, Aqing, bring a mirror over."

"Oh, it really does look much younger."

The old lady took a mirror and looked at herself, feeling that without the white hair, she seemed younger, but she also felt it was a bit strange and wasn't used to it.

"Right? My taste isn't wrong. If you like it, wear it for a few days; if you don't like it, take it off."

"How can I have the nerve to walk out wearing this?"

"Just treat it as wearing it for fun."

The old lady took the mirror to the light, looked at it slowly, finding it strange no matter how she looked at it.

Ye Yaodong continued to flip through the suitcase and handed a brooch he bought for his mother to her, which instantly made her overjoyed. She held it and compared it on her chest, and after finding a suitable spot, she fastened it on.

"This is pretty, this brooch is pretty, you're better at buying things."

"It really is pretty, the red flower is so eye-catching."

He flipped out two more, the old lady and Aqing both had one, just with different patterns.

There was also a hair clip for Ye Xiaoxi. She was only a little bit big, but she already had many things, so he didn't buy anything else.

Other scattered things also had to be taken out and handed to Aqing to put away.

The other children looked at him distributing things with great envy. Every time Third Uncle went out, he would bring things back for the whole family. The feeling of receiving gifts was too good.

When would their own fathers be able to carry on Third Uncle's fine tradition?

They had forgotten that a few days ago, when their fathers came back, they had just distributed a wave of gifts to them.

Children have good memories, but they are also very forgetful.

After accounting for everything in the suitcase, he continued to fetch hot water and carry the basin to the back door to take a bath, leaving the others there in excitement.

Even through a wall, one could still hear the noise in the room, both from adults and children.

Of the one thousand yuan he took out, he also brought back nine hundred. After taking a bath, he called Aqing back to the room and handed it over. The change, of course, was pocketed by him again.

Lin Xiuqing knew it clearly after counting the money.

"Now, a ten-yuan note doesn't count as big money in your heart anymore, it's all considered small change, right?"

"Isn't this thinking about rounding it up for you?"

"Thank you for thinking of me."

"You're welcome."

Lin Xiuqing held a handful of money and patted him, "Still being cheeky. You just took 38 yuan in change a few days ago, how much did you take today?"

"Not much!"

Can private money be talked about? Anyway, as long as it's change, it's his.

"Why do you keep so much money on you? If you need money, just ask me for it, isn't that fine?"

"That won't do. I'm not your son, do I have to follow behind your butt all day asking for twenty or thirty cents?"

"Your son usually only needs two cents."

"But I also need to smoke."

Ye Yaodong turned his head and ignored her, climbed onto the bed, pulled the quilt over, and turned his back to her, pretending to be dead.

Lin Xiuqing pulled his quilt twice, but he wrapped it tightly, simply ignoring her and not turning around.

She was almost amused to anger. Any money that passed through his hands had to be skimmed.

"Don't pretend to be dead."

"I'm already asleep, don't bother me."

Lin Xiuqing relentlessly pulled the quilt twice more. Ye Yaodong simply grabbed the quilt and covered his head, and a muffled sound came from inside.

"Did you tidy up the table? Did you wash the bowls?"

"Mom is there."

Ye Yaodong continued to pretend to be dead.

Lin Xiuqing was also at her wit's end and patted him twice, "You haven't said how much the repair fee is?"

Seeing that she had let the change money go, Ye Yaodong immediately lifted the quilt and turned around.

"The bill is on the table, you put it away. It's 120 yuan. In half a month, I'll take the train from the city to go there, to avoid the bumps. Then I'll just ride the motorcycle back, it'll be faster."

"Then you have to be careful, it's not safe alone. Why don't you call Ah Guang to go with you then?"

"That works too. We'll see then, see if he has time."

"Then how much money did you hold back?"

He immediately covered his head with the quilt again, turned around, and even pretended to start snoring.

Lin Xiuqing shook her head helplessly and could only let it go.