Chapter 975: Standing Up

Ye Yaodong had originally not planned to stay for dinner — he hadn't given advance notice, so they definitely hadn't cooked extra rice, which meant someone would have to go without a meal, and that someone would surely be the couple themselves.

But with Lin Ye Ersao insisting on hosting them, he ended up staying to eat a few bites. Throughout the meal, Lin Lin Xiangyang only sipped rice wine and kept urging them to eat more.

How could they dare eat much? Each person took a little, barely enough to line their stomachs, then put down their chopsticks.

Lin Guang and the others went back to their own home to eat, where their maternal grandmother would cook for them.

After the meal, the few of them hurriedly gathered their clothes and, amid the envy of all the other children, climbed onto the tractor.

It was only then that they felt a little better in their hearts. Having harvested a pile of envious gazes and satisfied their vanity, they felt this trip to the city to do hard labor was barely worth it after all.

"Ah Yuan and the others are amazing — they're going to the city again. I've never even been to the town…"

"Me too. I've grown up this big and I've never been to the town, never ridden a tractor."

"Ah Yuan, can you leave the football here…"

"No way, dream on."

"Then we won't have a ball to kick anymore."

"Aren't you going to the city? The city's so much fun, do you still want to kick a ball?"

"Of course I do…"

Ye Yaodong paid no heed to the childish chatter behind him. He simply called out "hold on tight," started the tractor, waved goodbye to Lin Lin Xiangyang and Lin Ye Ersao, and left.

In the time it took to eat one meal, the sky had gone from just-dusk to fully dark. He had to hurry back — he'd get home very late again.

For several days in a row, he only got home after dark, and every time he had to listen to their nagging.

He also set off earlier and earlier each day, but he still only got home after dark. He figured he didn't need to leave so early tomorrow.

Anyway, whether he left early or late, he still only got home after dark, so there was no point in getting up early to set off. Better to sleep a bit longer.

Lin Lin Xiuqing didn't think that way.

Seeing that he was even later today, she only wanted him to get up even earlier tomorrow.

The moment the tractor stopped at the front door, the children on the vehicle excitedly jumped straight down.

"We're finally here!"

"Why is no one around?"

"A two-story house! They really built a two-story house…"

"Little aunt…"

"Little aunt…"

Lin Lin Xiuqing said with a smile, "All on holiday? Then your uncle-in-law's trip was quite timely — he just happened to go check and brought you all back. I'll make up the beds for you in a bit. With the newly built two-story house, there's room for everyone to sleep now."

"Great, great! We've never slept in a two-story house. The new house is so tall!"

"Little aunt, where are Ye Chenghu and Yangyang, and Brother Brother Ahai? The tractor's already at the door — why didn't they come running out?"

After getting off the tractor, Lin Lin Guangyuan looked around, but didn't see a single person. He was thoroughly disappointed — they had all expected a crowd to come watch.

"They're playing in the next-door house upstairs. Their own family's tractor comes and goes every day — they're not interested anymore. They don't even want to ride it, don't want to give it a second look, so why would they excitedly come running out?"

Even the surrounding residents were no longer curious — hearing the tractor's noise, none of them came out to look. On a cold day, what could be more comfortable than staying in bed? Hearing it every day, they'd even started to find it annoying.

"Have you eaten?"

"We have."

"You've eaten? Then go find them to play — they're upstairs at Brother Brother Ahai's house." After saying that, Lin Lin Xiuqing shouted loudly up at the house.

The children upstairs, hearing that Lin Lin Guangyuan and the others had arrived, all excitedly shrieked and hollered. The floor thumped from their jumping, and in no time the windows were flung open too.

"Ah Yuan!"

"Cousin~ come up quick~"

The three children shoved their clothes straight at her and immediately ran upstairs to Brother Brother Ahai's place.

"Don't be so noisy, so noisy — you'll get kicked out in a bit."

"Got it."

Ye Yaodong parked the tractor at the workshop again and noticed two big pots set up on the open ground, with over a dozen baskets of small shrimp leaning against the wall. He figured out that the Harvest had come back today.

He wandered around inside the workshop, took a look at the fish being dried today, grabbed a handful of the just-cooked shrimp, told them to take their time warming themselves by the fire and take their time working, and to sleep if they got tired — tomorrow would be the same — before slowly walking back.

After he entered the house, Lin Lin Xiuqing went up to meet him, took the hat and scarf he handed over, and started chattering away.

"Even later today — it's already past seven. The road is cold and unsafe, how can it compare to home? If you'd listened to me this morning and gotten up at four, you could have gotten back earlier."

"Who doesn't want to get back earlier? Didn't I see the time was still early and it hadn't gotten dark yet, so I swung by your parents' place again? Otherwise I definitely would have been back before dark. Your second brother even specially kept us for dinner, which delayed things some more."

"Then you don't need to eat tonight."

"No way, I'm still hungry. How could I dare eat much at their place? We went over on the spur of the moment anyway — your second brother and sister-in-law were both sitting there hungry watching us."

"There's still food warming in the pot for you — eat a few more bites then."

"Mm."

"I'll wake you earlier tomorrow."

"No need, no need — the same time as today is fine."

Lin Lin Xiuqing shot him a look. "Getting up early seems to cost you your life — so reluctant to get up. Before, when you went out to sea at night, didn't you get up just the same at two?"

"That's different. I'll definitely be back before dark tomorrow."

"You've said that for several days now, and then you come back later and later each day. You just have to cut it so close. I tell you to get up earlier and come back earlier, and you don't listen — getting up early is like asking for your life…"

Ye Yaodong listened to her nagging and only nodded. Whatever she said, he just agreed — he couldn't go wrong. If he opened his mouth to argue, there would only be a bigger storm.

"Oh, right, Mother already picked a date today — the twenty-second of the lunar calendar is an auspicious day. It's two or three days later than the delivery date the factory agreed on, which leaves just enough time."

"That's fine. In a couple of days I'll wander around the county town, sell some fish sauce, and stop by the factory to let them know."

"Still planning to sell in the county town?"

"Mm, selling to those grocery shops or restaurants works pretty well. These past couple of days in the city I've been selling it that way — planning to copy the same approach in the county town."

Ye Yaodong took the opportunity to share with her the ideas he had been mulling over today.

"Then you'll be busy, driving the tractor out every day to sell fish sauce."

"Mm, anyway the wind has been blowing this whole time, not suitable for going out to sea, and it's not long until New Year, so I'd just be idle anyway. With so much stock piled up there, I feel uneasy. The more I can sell, the better—let's see if we can open up some sales channels."

"If this first batch all sells out, then afterwards I just need to keep an eye on the timing and go over to replenish them."

Lin Lin Xiuqing immediately felt that he worked so hard—out from dawn till dusk, always outside—while she only had to watch over the workshop at home and cook, which was far more comfortable by comparison.

Her voice also softened, no longer the nagging, complaining tone from earlier.

"Then be extra careful on the road. Several dozen tons of goods can't be sold in just a day or two. Let's take it slow. Anyway, we still have money on hand, no rush."

"Got it."

He just felt a bit of pressure now—several dozen tons was really no small amount, with the capital already spent, he had to find a way to recoup it. In any case, this was a long-term project.

Once done for long enough, it would be a fixed industry. The beginning of everything is always hard, and right now the start was looking pretty good already.

After dinner, Lin Lin Xiuqing thoughtfully drew him a basin of foot-washing water, letting him comfortably wash his face and feet before getting into bed.

From the next house over, all kinds of noise kept coming through, along with quite a bit of scolding.

Before long, the noise had spread to every household—seems like they were all being driven out one by one—and their own house also started making a ruckus.

When Lin Lin Xiuqing went upstairs to make the bed, she kept calling out to them to keep their voices down, but the few of them were utterly deaf—stopped for only a few seconds, then started making noise again, and only quieted down for 5 minutes after she brought out a whip.

But it really was only 5 minutes—after that they were back to their old tricks.

Ye Yaodong also somewhat regretted letting them play at home for two days. Lying in bed, he could only hear the constant sounds of running back and forth upstairs, and brandishing the whip wasn't all that effective either.

He went out and threatened them—if they kept making noise, he'd send them all to the city tomorrow. Only then did they finally settle down and reluctantly go to sleep.

After that, he delivered goods to the city for two more days, and on the third day, he conveniently bundled Lin Lin Guangyuan's three siblings together and sent them off as well.

It only took two days for his patience to be completely worn down by them—he couldn't wait to kick them out.

Originally during winter break, having eight or nine of them at home was already unbearably noisy; adding three more was practically taking his life.

After sending them off, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, but then thinking of the 9 still at home, his temples started throbbing again.

Why does school have to have a break?

Why do winter and summer vacations even exist—why not just let them study straight through?

That way they wouldn't be carefree and noisy the whole time.

Why does the school have to be so merciful?

After Ye Yaodong finished delivering goods to the city and kept the city well-stocked—filling an entire warehouse with big jars—he then continued on to the county town for three days.

Then he went to the town, wandering around there for a day. He also spent some time on the villages along the way, making a trip to each one, and finally the few small villages near them, only coming back each day after basically selling out.

When he was in town, he made a special trip to Hongsheng to sell fish sauce. Of course, Wang Maoquan very graciously took two jars, and told him to bring another two jars in half a month.

Ye Yaodong was delighted—Fatty Manager really did remember him. Of course, he also took the opportunity to butter him up with a few flattering words, climbing the relationship ladder.

When he happened to pass by Fatty's little shop, he popped in to take a look, but by the time he arrived it was already noon and the shop was selling braised items—the breakfast stuff had already been put away.

Fatty wasn't there either—apparently he'd gone to his father-in-law to collect pig offal. His wife, however, warmly received him and gave him a large braised pork stomach for him to eat on the road.

Ye Yaodong couldn't help feeling relieved—good thing Fatty wasn't there, otherwise he didn't know if he'd get a beating...

These past few days, he hadn't missed a single nearby village he could reach, and the sales were impressive. In just about ten days, he'd already sold roughly 120 jars, each jar about a hundred-plus jin.

That meant in just these few days he'd already sold quite a few jin—equivalent to a little over six tons.

The water jars plus the fish sauce together sold for about 2,400 yuan, directly recouping the cost of the land, and the labor and fuel costs were also basically recovered—only the material cost for the wooden buckets and water jars was left.

When Lin Lin Xiuqing and he were doing the accounts in the room, they were overjoyed.

"I didn't expect that in just these few days we'd already recouped more than half. Going forward, we just need a bit more for materials and the cost of building the workshop. So with that, can we sell out pretty soon? We've sold six tons in just these few days."

"Don't get ahead of yourself. These past few days count as the first batch being sold, so the money coming in is impressive because it's all concentrated in these few days. Going forward it won't be that fast—selling goods always has a process, always has a digestion period."

"Once a shop digests a hundred jin, it'll take about half a month to a month. It definitely won't be that fast—sales will slow down later."

"Suppose we sell 6 tons a month, with 30 tons total, that's still five months to sell it all. During those five months, new small-time vendors might pop up wanting wholesale, so it's about the same."

Lin Lin Xiuqing happily nodded her head. "That's still pretty good. Being able to sell this much in the first batch, afterwards we just need to steadily deliver to them. Just six tons and we've already recouped half. For the rest, we only need to spend about a thousand yuan on wall-building costs, then we can still earn..."

"Are you silly? The first recoup is because of the water jar cost. Later sales won't include the water jar cost—they've already bought the water jars once, the rest is just direct replacement, only costing the price of the fish sauce."

"If we sell six tons a month, one ton equals 1,000 kilograms, so about 1,200 yuan comes in. Let's not count retail—just go straight to wholesale. Anyway, the retail in the city doesn't sell much either."

Lin Lin Xiuqing calculated with paper and pen. "I feel like the quantity there isn't 30 tons. Let's say 25 tons. After deducting the water jar cost from the later 19 tons, we'd bring in about 4,000 yuan?"

"About right."

"That's fine too. Once it's all sold, we'll have roughly recouped our costs. The materials afterward can still be used. The workshop land and hiring workers to build the wall will cost about three thousand-something yuan. Currently, the cost of 200 water jars and wooden buckets is also three or four thousand yuan."

Ye Yaodong shook his head. "We haven't finished selling yet, so it's hard to say. No need to calculate so precisely. Anyway, once it's all sold, the capital should roughly come back, the difference won't be much. The water jars and wooden buckets can be reused many times."

"The 200 water jars ordered in the second batch are also a cost. Since we haven't paid for them yet, they haven't been added into the cost. The ones in the workshop don't need jars right now, so no rush to filter. Anyway, there are still several dozen jars of filtered product set aside as backup—more than enough for restocking."

"When the second batch of water jars is delivered, we'll continue filtering and packing them for storage. When the time comes, wait for your dad to notify us, then send another batch to the city to replace the empty jars and bring them back—reusable again."

"Going forward, no more expenses are needed. Once fermentation starts up gradually during this period, and the two boats get goods fermenting after New Year, by the second half of next year we can start making real money."

Lin Lin Xiuqing felt reassured after hearing him explain and calculate like that.

If everything is sold by the first half of this year, we'll be a bit short—the capital will fall a little short—but the second half of the year will be profitable. It's only half a year, and this recoup speed is considered fast.

The upfront investment is always necessary; later investments won't be much.

What's more, they've factored in the workshop cost, not just the fish sauce cost itself—the workshop cost shouldn't have been factored in originally.

If not factored in, they'd be turning a profit the moment they finish selling—the workshop is the big piece.

That plot of land is also big. Once all the fish sauce is sold, although their capital falls a little short, they've essentially earned themselves a workshop.

"Then let's just sell for a while during this period and see how fast the restocking goes."

"For the nearby ones, just let them come push their own carts over to pick up. For the county town and town, let those kids each spend two days a month delivering, walking the streets with a loudspeaker calling out, spacing it out between mid-month and end-of-month. That's simple too."

"Fine, anyway we have both people and vehicles on hand now, it's convenient."

"Mm, for the city, every month when we deliver to the wholesale market, we'll also walk the streets selling along the way, restocking those shops—it's just incidental."

Lin Lin Xiuqing nodded repeatedly, smiling as she reached out to hook her arm around his neck and leaned in. "You arranged it quite well."

Ye Yaodong smiled and reached out to embrace her, planting a kiss. "Of course, I'm a man with a plan in mind."

"Then the fish sauce can be paused for a few days. Once the new batch of large jars arrives, we'll continue filtering and portioning. We can have those aunties who filter the fish sauce go help with salting and drying fish for a few days. It's perfect timing since we're increasing the quantity now. The original six people were killing, salting, and drying all at once, and they were a bit overwhelmed."

"Just arrange it as you see fit."

Ye Yaodong buried his head in her neck, sniffed, then began kissing and nibbling.

"So ticklish, stop messing around, I haven't finished talking."

"I've already finished."

"Not yet, we haven't even talked about the boat."

"What's there to talk about with the boat? Just count out eight thousand yuan in advance. In a few days when the time comes, I'll take the money to pick up the boat. If the test run is fine, we'll pay."

Ye Yaodong spoke while running his hands all over her. The moment his cold hands touched her body, Lin Lin Xiuqing shivered and curled up.

"What are you doing, freezing cold."

"Warm me up. I've been going out early and coming back late these past few days, I'm exhausted. Reward me a little, and it won't be cold in a bit…"

Lin Lin Xiuqing patted his arm while dodging. "If you're exhausted, just rest properly."

"This hand is warmed up now, but the other hand is still cold. That'll be ice and fire together~"

"What nonsense, stop messing around, it's too cold. Let me get you some hot water to wash your feet first. Do you want to take a bath?"

Ye Yaodong hesitated. In the cold weather, he didn't really want to wash. "Then I'll just wash up a bit, otherwise you'll complain later."

Lin Lin Xiuqing rolled her eyes at him. "Then go get the water yourself. I'll put away the money and account book first."

"Didn't you say you'd get the water for me?"

"I'm busy now, go yourself."

"Fickle. You can dodge the first day, but can you dodge the fifteenth? Wait till I finish my bath and see what I do to you."

"Stop bragging, hurry up and go wash."

Ye Yaodong glared at her, as if to say 'just you wait.'

Lin Lin Xiuqing also put away the account book, the pen, and the money he had brought back today.

It was only four days until the auspicious day to pick up the boat. Thinking about it, it was quite soon—busy for a bit and the day would arrive.

She smiled happily as she put things away, also taking out the clothes, pants, and socks Ye Yaodong would wear tomorrow and setting them out, so he wouldn't rummage around messily and she'd have to refold everything.

Seeing him come in carrying a basin of hot water, she said again: "You ran around all the villages nearby today. Are you still taking a cartload out tomorrow?"

"Probably not going out, right? The county town and the town have all been covered. Most of the general stores already have our fish sauce. If I go wandering around again, I doubt I'll sell a few more jars. It'd be a waste of time and gas. I'll just stay home and lie around for a couple of days."

He wouldn't go to those remote little villages around the county town. Some villages didn't even have proper roads, let alone ones a cart could drive into.

The current situation was pretty much enough. If it sold too fast, he'd worry about the new batch not being ready in time and would definitely get scolded.

The wind had been picking up fiercely lately. After the Fengshou returned, he'd probably have to wait a few more days. He figured he'd only make one more trip before the New Year.

Lin Lin Xiuqing agreed. "That's good too. You've been out so many days, it's perfect to rest at home for a few days. You're exhausted too. You haven't had a proper rest in a long time."

"Exactly, it's worn me down to a frazzle. Out in the wind and sun every day, my face is peeling. Hand me that face cream of yours so I can put some on. I just washed my face anyway."

"Wash up first, then apply it, otherwise the water will get cold later."

"Fine, then scrub my back for me."

Lin Lin Xiuqing felt that he just couldn't be comfortable without ordering her around. He always had to have her do something for him before he felt at ease.

Ye Yaodong felt that since his wife was right here, he had to let her feel involved.

She took the warm towel and spread it out, only to find several holes already in it.

She laid it across his back and scrubbed up and down vigorously as she said: "The towel already has holes, why didn't you say anything?"

"You never changed it for me, how would I remember something like that?"

"Out of nowhere, I never even saw your towel. You don't even throw it in the bucket for me to wash, you just hang it up every day."

"Isn't it clean enough?"

Lin Lin Xiuqing felt that with her vigorous scrubbing, the holes in the towel had gotten even bigger, almost becoming strips of rags. It was a wonder he hadn't said a word and kept using it.

"I'll buy you a new one tomorrow."

"Mm."

Ye Yaodong found her scrubbing quite comfortable, his body swaying back and forth with her force.

After Lin Lin Xiuqing finished scrubbing his back, she sat down in front of the sewing machine and started pedaling it.

"The clothes aren't done yet?"

"The new clothes for the three kids at home are all done, and ours are done too. Now I'm working on the old lady's."

"Purple? That's nice. The year before last you made a set with big red flowers, this year it's big purple flowers. Red and purple—prosperous."

"Mm, the flowery ones look good. Xiao Jiu's set this year has smaller flowers, but it looks quite similar to the old lady's set from a few years back. The New Year clothes for elders and kids are pretty much the same—all flowers."

"I'll go check on the carpenter's bed tomorrow to see if it's done. It's been so long, he's really dragging his feet."

"Didn't you tell him to put it aside for a while earlier? New Year's is coming, so you told him to replace the doors and windows for your parents first, right? That old house isn't small either. Replacing the doors and windows for several rooms would take over ten days."

"That should be about done then. I'll go check tomorrow. If it's almost finished, I'll haul another cartload of fish sauce to the city. On the way back with an empty cart, I'll grab a Simmons mattress along the way."

"You go on about that Simmons mattress every day, Simmons this, Simmons that. That thing costs several hundred yuan. Is it really that comfortable to sleep on?"

"Better than our creaky old bedboard. A few days ago when we were 'exercising' in the room, your son heard it outside and thought I couldn't sleep, tossing and turning nonstop."

Embarrassment instantly crept across Lin Lin Xiuqing's face. She turned and glared at him.

Ye Yaodong snickered. "Good thing I was quiet, didn't make any slapping sounds for them to hear. Otherwise they'd think I was swatting mosquitoes…"

"Nonsense, stop talking. What kind of words are coming out of your mouth, a bunch of thuggish talk." Lin Lin Xiuqing found what he said both funny and embarrassing, but she couldn't hold back the smile on her face no matter how hard she tried, which made her feel awkward.

Ye Yaodong, with a mischievous grin, tossed down the towel in his hand, walked over, stood behind her, and grabbed her two round ones with both hands, kneading and bumping them.

"This is perfectly legitimate, not being a thug. We're married, after all."

"Stop messing around, go wash yours."

"Done washing."

"Then you still haven't poured out the water…"

"No rush, a little later is fine. It's not cold now, right? Warm, right?"

Lin Lin Xiuqing swatted his arm twice, "Stop pinching, it's going to burst…"

"Mama…mama…"

Ye Yaodong's face instantly darkened, and he hurriedly grabbed a pair of shorts and put them on.

At the same time, the door was shoved open hard, slamming against the wall with a bang.

"Mama…Papa? Naked~ All bare~"

Ye Yaodong had just pulled up the waistband of his shorts when he glared at this annoying little girl.

"I just finished bathing, isn't it normal to only wear one pair? When you bathe, you're also all bare, also naked."

"You're naked~"

"You have no shame!"

"You have no face!"

Lin Lin Xiuqing also shot Ye Yaodong a glare, "Hurry up and put your clothes on, or you'll catch a cold."

Ye Ye Xiaoxi also hurriedly threw herself into Lin Lin Xiuqing's arms, and like presenting a treasure, held up the little rubber doll in her hands to show her.

"Dolly's new clothes~"

"You made them? Amazing! Go outside and play~"

"Mm-hmm~"

Ye Ye Xiaoxi scurried outside again like a gust of wind.

Ye Yaodong held up his clothes and made a show of gesturing with them, but seeing her run off, he immediately tossed the clothes onto the bed and pulled Lin Lin Xiuqing into his arms.

"The door isn't closed!"

"Go close the door, that stinky girl, not cute at all anymore."

"Who was the one kissing and touching her cheeks in the middle of the night, mumbling 'so cute' over and over?"

"She's only cute when she's asleep."

Ye Yaodong saw that she hadn't gone to close the door, but instead gone to the bedside to pick up the water, "What are you doing?"

"Taking the chance to pour the water out."

"Then remember to come back in quick."

Lin Lin Xiuqing glanced at him, secretly muttering in her heart: Then you just wait.

Ye Yaodong, naked and a little cold, climbed onto the bed and pulled the blanket over himself, hands tucked behind his head, staring at the ceiling, waiting on the bed.

But he waited and waited, and she didn't come; waited some more, and she still didn't come — he waited until he went soft.

He rubbed a couple of times before throwing off the blanket, opening the bedroom door, and poking his head out to look.

Where was his wife?

"Shit, got stood up?"

She had actually slipped away from him!

The Monk may run, but the temple cannot run — he went back to the bed and lay down again.

Heh heh, she still has to come back to the room to sleep eventually.