Chapter 976: The Fatty's Grievance

Not to mention whether Ye Yaodong got what he wanted that night, in any case the next day he slept until the sun was high enough to scorch his butt and still couldn't bear to get up, wrapped in his quilt like a maggot.

During the days he was out running around, the sky had been a constant grey haze, never once showing the sun, with only the cold wind whistling past, freezing his hands until they were nearly covered in chilblains, snot running nonstop.

Once he rested, the sun came out again.

The noise from the children outside came in waves; during school they couldn't even get up, but now that winter break had started and there was no school, every one of them got up earlier than anything on a freezing day.

Ye Yaodong stayed wrapped in his quilt, stewing for a good while, and only reluctantly got up when he saw it was already eight.

His ragged towel had already been replaced with a new one; the old towel was hung under the table as a hand-wiping cloth.

"The geese at the back door are pretty fat, we can slaughter one for New Year."

Looking at that flock of geese wandering about, holding a basin of warm water for washing his face, his itchy fingers wanted to splash it on those geese.

Thinking this, he did it.

Instantly the geese exploded into a frenzy of hopping, jumping, and squawking; once that flock recovered, they immediately charged toward the back door. Ye Yaodong swiftly slammed the back door shut, giving them a cold reception, leaving them to honk and squawk uselessly outside.

"What are you doing?" Lin Lin Xiuqing heard his loud door-slamming and the ruckus at the back door, and asked suspiciously.

"Nothing, just thinking that in a few days we can eat iron-pot stewed goose—remember to add more shiitake mushrooms, potatoes, dried lettuce, and dried radish, it'll taste even better."

"New Year is still a long way off."

"I'm just thinking ahead."

"Come eat the egg pancake, it's just been fried."

Ye Yaodong was surprised, and deliberately glanced out the window at the sun. "The sun's rising from the west? Today it's actually not congee? That's rare—congee that hasn't changed all year round, and today you finally changed it?"

Lin Lin Xiuqing said with a smile: "Mom brought back a bag of flour last night, said it was distributed by the village committee—otherwise where would our family get flour to fry egg pancakes?"

"Not bad, this is New Year benefits handed out early?"

"Mm, also two jin of fat pork and two jin of pork belly. I'll render the fat pork into lard in a bit."

"Good, good, finally we have lard. Toss in some shallots too—rendered shallot oil is more fragrant. When cooking noodles, scoop a spoonful in, absolutely delicious, and you can also mix it with rice."

"Only you know how to eat. Lard makes stir-fried dishes taste better."

"You know that too? Then why do you use rapeseed oil every day?"

"Isn't that because it came from my parents' home and is free? Now that we have it at home, why would we still need to buy more from outside?"

"We can alternate between the two oils…"

Ye Yaodong ate the egg pancake in his bowl, feeling it was incredibly delicious, and walked outside while eating.

Hearing the constant noise on the empty lot next door, he walked over again to soak up some sun.

Winter break had started, and the toys at home had been dragged out again by them to play with—right now a group of people were all there kicking a ball.

Ye Ye Xiaoxi was in charge of running—wherever the ball went, she ran there; before she reached her destination, the ball moved, and she kept running toward the next destination.

Her little face was flushed red from running, more energetic than anyone, but she hadn't actually touched the ball once, yet her face was still so excited.

"How come she doesn't look the least bit smart?"

He stood at the side, eating and watching them play, and only after finishing did he wave at Ye Chenghu.

Ye Chenghu thought his dad had some good thing for him and ran over happily, only to receive an empty bowl and chopsticks.

"Take this in for me."

"Why me?"

"Because I gave birth to you—whatever I tell you to do, you have to do it. Go now."

After saying that, Ye Yaodong headed toward the workshop, ignoring Ye Chenghu's sullen face as he held the bowl and chopsticks.

"Every day you say I'm adopted, now you say you gave birth to me."

He grumbled twice, then quickly ran back home with the bowl and chopsticks.

The workshop was bustling with activity; a long wooden plank was set against the wall, piled high with fish, and a group of aunties sat beside it, nimbly and cleanly butchering the catch.

Once a fish was done, it was tossed into the basket at the side; on the other end, someone was specifically washing and marinating, while his dad idled by drying things in the sun—clear division of labor.

In the corner, there were still thirty or forty baskets of fish piled up—probably enough butchering to last until dark.

Ye Yaodong watched these aunties gut fish so cleanly and nimbly—even the veteran fish-cutters at RT-Mart with thirty years of experience weren't as quick as them.

He looked around, then walked over to his dad, helping with the drying on the way.

"Where are the two lads on shift?"

"They went to fetch water. Recently during the day they've been running back and forth fetching water nonstop."

"Oh."

"In two days the big boat goes into the water—who are you going to call to go with you?"

"Just grab any two, right? Isn't Aguang been home all along? Call him along. Check if Eldest Brother and Ye Ye Erge are home then; otherwise I'll go call Hearing Xiao Xiao and A'Zheng first—they didn't go out to sea last night, so they must be home."

"You decide for yourself. Leaving your brother home to help set off firecrackers is fine too. Just let people know in advance, so that if you do go out to sea, you won't have trouble calling them last minute."

"Got it, I'll go call at their houses in a bit."

"How many jars have you sold these past few days? You're not going these next few days, right?"

Ye Yaodong gave his dad a rundown of the sales situation. Recently he'd been leaving early and coming back late every day—when he came back at night, his dad was no longer there, and in the mornings, his dad was always rushing off as well.

"Then the sales are fine. After a while, go top up their stock and that'll be good."

"Mm, I'll see how the restocking goes then. After New Year our own fishing boat will join the catch too. I'm thinking of ordering another batch of wide-mouthed big jars, with bigger capacity—eight or nine hundred jin is best—so that fermenting them outdoors in the open will be faster."

"The previous batch of wooden barrels definitely won't be enough to hold everything once they're emptied. Two boats' worth is a bigger volume. The big jars we ordered now all have small mouths, only suitable for transport and storage, and the capacity is small—they can't be used for fermenting at all."

Ye's father naturally had no objections—his own factory, he managed it himself and made his own decisions. "Then you decide. Best to recoup the capital first before investing again—that way it hurts less, and you spend less of your own money."

"Mm."

"Once you've sold enough, raise the price a bit…"

He'd only just started selling, and his dad was already thinking about raising prices—quite the thinker.

"Heh, we'll see then. We can sell for a year or two first anyway."

After helping to finish drying the basket at his feet, Ye Yaodong went to other spots to check and feel the dryness.

The cold winter wind dries things easily; even without the sun, it dries well.

After taking a look around and getting a clear picture in his mind, he went to find his drinking buddies.

Ah Zheng and Xiao Xiao were, of course, no problem; as soon as he mentioned going out on the big boat to test the waters, they were even more enthusiastic than him, saying it was just right to take a break early for the New Year.

Ah Zheng also said they had earned enough money this year and didn't need to work themselves to the bone anymore, lest there be no money to earn next year, and he almost got a beating from his dad...

They also asked him to treat them to alcohol early to celebrate; Ye Yaodong naturally had no objection, as he had almost finished his work and had already started resting today; being idle was just being idle.

He also ran over to Ah Guang's house to let him know, reminding him to remember to go drink at his place tonight.

"Do you want to go up the mountain for a spin when it gets dark and hunt some game for the alcohol? I'm tired of eating seafood every day."

"That works? I'll bring my two little brothers along and teach them to shoot; I mentioned it a few days ago, and they've been thinking about it every day, asking me every day when we'll go up the mountain to hunt, can't wait to touch the gun barrel."

The two were in perfect agreement.

"Then we'll wait until we have the game before pouring the alcohol."

It was Wang Wang Guangliang's turn to be on duty that evening, so Ye Yaodong took him and his cousin along, temporarily asking his father to watch the workshop for a while.

Seeing them leave, Ye's father muttered a string of complaints, "Just sat down and can't sit still again; not going to the sea but running up the mountain, running around at night knowing nothing..."

Ye Yaodong carried a Type 56 carbine and also took a homemade gun, leading them specifically along a path no one used to avoid being seen by others, which wouldn't be good.

Fortunately, it was deep winter; once it got dark, everyone huddled at home, either wrapping themselves in quilts early, so there were almost no people on the road.

"Brother Dong... carrying two is quite tiring, let me carry one for you..."

"We'll help you carry, Brother Dong..."

Ye Yaodong handed the homemade gun to Wang Wang Guangliang. "Hold it well, don't press it randomly, don't point the muzzle at people; wait until we see game on the mountain before aiming and shooting."

"Got it, got it!"

Wang Wang Guangliang was extremely excited, stroking the gun barrel back and forth. "I've seen my family's homemade gun before, but after the militia team disbanded, it was taken to the village committee; my dad was too stupid to secretly keep one."

"Brother Dong, is it just us?"

"Do you think you two are capable?"

The two shook their heads at the same time; catching cicada monkeys on the mountain or stealing fruit was about right for them, but hunting? How would they know? They could hit people, though.

"Then that settles it; you two don't know, and I don't know either, so it definitely won't be just us; the old master is waiting for us at the foot of the mountain."

"Who? Brother Dong, did you specifically hire an old master?"

"You'll know when we get there."

When Ye Yaodong led the two of them to the foot of the mountain, Ah Guang, Xiao Xiao, Ah Zheng, and the others were already waiting there.

"Hey? Brother Guang and the others are here too!"

"Where's the old master?"

"Your Brother Guang is the one; he's capable of anything, up the mountain or down to the sea."

"Brother Guang is that awesome?"

Ah Guang was also carrying a homemade gun; hearing their conversation, he said, "Awesome my ass; you guys are just weaklings. I've been stealing my family's gun every other day since I was eleven or twelve and sneaking up the mountain to hunt for a meal."

"Indeed; when we were young, we roasted chickens on the mountain with Ah Guang often, only going home after eating." Xiao Xiao nodded.

Ah Zheng was extremely nostalgic. "Then will we roast them on the mountain later too?"

"Looking for death; it's dry in the middle of winter; what if it catches fire?" Ah Guang said in a bad mood.

"Later, go to my workshop; two big pots are already set up there; with the fire burning, it's warm, not cold at all, and won't disturb the family."

Xiao Xiao: "That's good, roasting by the fire while drinking."

Ah Guang: "Let's go, let's check the mountain first to see if there are pheasants, hares, or anything; winter isn't as good for hunting as spring."

Ah Zheng: "As long as there are no wild boars..."

Ye Yaodong kicked him. "Pah, jinx! If there are wild boars, you take the rear guard..."

"If I take the rear guard, I take the rear guard."

"Do you want to go out to sea tonight?"

"Don't want to go; rest for a day..."

"I'll just tell my dad; let's take a break for the New Year early and save the money to earn next year."

"Right, to avoid not earning money next year, let's earn a little less this year." Ye Yaodong smiled and agreed with his words, teasing him.

Ah Zheng grinned cheekily. "Right, right; we've earned enough this year; what the God of Wealth approved should have arrived; wait until the New Year to worship more, and earn a bit more next year."

"Can it be like that? Then does the God of Wealth take an early vacation for the New Year too?"

"Definitely; even gods need holidays, so it's no problem for us to take an early vacation with the gods; they don't work, we don't work; syncing up is no problem."

"But it's still early before the New Year..."

"Oranges are round, olives are pointed; the Kitchen God and Kitchen Goddess eat them and go to heaven; do you understand? It means they go to heaven for the New Year on the Little New Year; there are only a few days until the Little New Year... they must be resting; like us, we take an early vacation for the New Year..."

The group chattered as they climbed the mountain, rambling nonsense, saying everything.

However, whether it was because they were too noisy or not, they wandered around the mountain for nearly an hour and didn't see any small animals coming out to forage.

"Not even a rabbit?"

"If I had known, I would have brought two of my family's dogs; those stupid dogs don't run around everywhere anymore; they just huddle in the sidecar every day, and you can't even drive them away."

"Can't you make those animal traps?"

"Who has time to go up the mountain every day? At most, occasionally when bored and craving a taste, just go up to take a look."

"Brother Dong, teach us how to shoot first, so we don't get flustered later."

"There's not even a chicken feather shadow; teaching is Bai Da." He said this, but he still stepped up to teach them how to shoot and how to aim.

Originally, they came up the mountain to teach as a side thing; even if no game was seen, they could teach first.

"Try it; aim at an empty spot and take turns shooting one round; your mission for tonight is complete."

"Alright."

Wang Wang Guangliang held up the gun and swung it left and right, scaring everyone into quickly backing away.

"Don't you fucking wave it around. If you hit someone later, you'll pay with your life."

He instantly behaved, casually aiming at a patch of grass and firing one shot.

"What was that?"

"Seems like something?"

"Looks like something fell over in the grass?"

The whole group was surprised.

"Let's go check…"

They all ran together toward the grass where the shot had been fired.

Suddenly, a muntjac lost its footing on the slope above, slipped, dropped about half a body's length, and then rolled all the way down.

The few of them watched the nearby slope with comical expressions, all dumbfounded. Aguang reacted fastest, raising the gun in his hand and firing a shot.

The muntjac, which had been trying to flee, instantly collapsed to the ground, twitching and writhing nonstop, its hooves clawing at the dirt, unable to run.

Everyone immediately ran over.

"That actually worked?"

"Just one shot, and it scared the muntjac up top into bolting at the noise, then it panicked and rolled down?"

"Maybe that's really what happened?"

"Heh, thought we'd go back empty-handed. Didn't expect to pick up a muntjac—great tonic."

"Right, great tonic. We're in for a treat tonight."

"Good thing I reacted fast, or it would've gotten away. These things run crazy fast."

"Let's go, let's go. Carry this one back. While it's still not too late, kill it and stew it—we'll have a bowl of piping-hot tonic soup tonight."

"Wait, hold on… there's a rabbit here. I just fired a shot into the grass at random and hit a wild rabbit."

Everyone's attention had been drawn away by the muntjac, but Wang Wang Guangliang kept thinking about what he'd hit.

After the muntjac was shot, he'd glanced at it once, then ran off to search the grass—and sure enough, he found a gray rabbit struggling there.

He grabbed the rabbit by its two ears and held it up for everyone to see. The flashlight's beam fell on the rabbit too, and its little legs twitched and kicked in the air.

"Ah! You really hit something—and it's a rabbit."

"Both pots are going to come in handy."

Wang Wang Guangliang was delighted too. "My luck is too good. I just fired randomly into the grass and bagged a rabbit."

"My turn now…"

"Then you just fire randomly at some grass or slope too. Once you've shot, we'll head back. These two are enough to eat."

Adi felt the still-warm gun barrel. He didn't count on having that kind of luck either, so he imitated Wang Wang Guangliang and fired a shot at the slope below. Even though it felt like nothing—he'd fired a blank—he was still satisfied.

"Hehe, my luck is still better… Just said there wasn't even a rabbit, fired one shot and immediately got one."

"Give me the gun, let's go. One muntjac, one wild rabbit—I'm satisfied."

"Let's go, let's go, carry it home and butcher it. This muntjac isn't small either—fully grown, over thirty Jin in weight. Enough for us to eat for two or three days."

Everyone was overjoyed. Taking part in the harvest yourself naturally felt different.

They'd only been up the mountain for a little over an hour, and now they were streaming back down in a group again.

These days, not only were the ocean resources abundant, but the mountain's were too. Of course, their luck played a big part too—none of them were jinxed.

Everyone set off in high spirits—one carrying the wild rabbit, two carrying the muntjac—taking the small path back to the workshop as usual.

Ye Fu saw them at the workshop and shook his head. "Idling around all day, getting into this and that—can't let you lot have any free time."

"Once you eat it later, you won't be saying that."

"By the time you finish butchering and cooking it, it'll probably be dawn. Am I that stupid, waiting around?" Ye Fu said, then turned and walked back with his hands behind his back.

Ye Yaodong didn't bother with him. Once it was cooked, he'd just ladle out an extra bowl and set it aside, then reheat it for him tomorrow.

The workshop had woks and spatulas ready to go. All they needed was to go home, grab a knife and some seasonings.

"Oh wait, can any of you actually cook?"

"Huh?"

Everyone looked at each other.

"I can eat."

"I can eat too."

"I can tend the fire."

"I can kill it, skin it, but I'm not great at cooking." Aguang said glumly.

"We're done for—all any of you can do is eat."

"If you don't mind, I can reluctantly stir-fry it too…"

"Forget it. Is Fatty home?"

"No idea. Isn't he running a shop in town? He doesn't come back every day, does he?"

"Go ask. Dongzi, you ride over…"

"I'm not going. Here's the bike, you ride."

He had no idea how thin Fatty had gotten, and he was afraid of getting beaten up.

"I'll go, I'll go, I'll go call him." Wang Wang Guangliang eagerly volunteered.

"Then you go."

Fatty and his wife came back to stay a night or two every few days to look after the kids, and today they happened to run into them.

As soon as the person arrived, he strode toward Ye Yaodong with menacing momentum. Ye Yaodong had long known this would happen.

Seeing that in just one or two months apart, Fatty had shed a huge ring of weight, going from a dead-fatty to a burly man, he had already gone on alert and started to defend himself under everyone's astonishment.

Because his start was too sudden, the stool was knocked over by him, and he immediately ran toward the open space at the side.

"What are you doing? What are you doing? Murder? Stop, stop, stop…"

"Don't run…"

"Don't chase…"

"What are you two doing?"

Ye Yaodong circled around the small room inside the workshop, running left one moment and right the next, shouting as he ran, while Fatty chased and cursed at the same time, leaving everyone watching dumbfounded.

Not until both were panting for breath, standing in place, hands propped on their knees, bodies bent over gasping, did they finally stop.

"You damn well should thank me for helping you lose weight. Look at you now, totally transformed. Your wife will be gentle with you, right?"

"Pull that crap. She stands by the bed every day waving a knife and yelling at me to get up. I nearly scared to death. It's all your idea. Come here and let me beat you up first."

"Laozi gave you the idea, let you earn money and lose weight. Shouldn't you be thanking me?"

"You nearly cost me half my life with all your schemes. I'm exhausted to death. And you still have the nerve to say that? Lucky for you I haven't run into you lately, or I'd beat you to death."

"A heart eaten by dogs, like the dog that bit Lü Dongbin — ungrateful wretch. You should be bringing a big gift to my door to thank me. Getting rich all depends on me."

"Get lost. Before getting rich, I'd have worked myself to death first. You know how many hours I sleep every day now? Five hours! Damn it, all worn thin from the grind. Look, the fat on my belly is gone."

"Isn't that good? Losing a bit is healthier. Being too fat is no good for the body. Look at all of us…"

"Pull that crap. Laozi just listened to your lies and got badly duped. Now I can't quit even if I want to."

The two shouted at each other from a distance, which let the people beside them finally understand their grudge. At this point, no one bothered to pay attention anymore.

Go ahead, fight, fight, fight however you like. They'd just watch the show.

"Just tell me, isn't your wallet fatter now? Didn't following my advice make you money? Or is it your wife who has sense — when she sees me she greets me so warmly. Only you, like I'm an enemy. Are you even human?"

"You're the one who's not human. I've been worn thin from exhaustion."

Ye Yaodong listened to his aggrieved words and couldn't help but laugh.

"No worries. Work it another two years. Once you're as thin as us, you can switch careers. Open a food stall then, or a seafood restaurant — you'll be the boss."

"I'm a boss right now too. Who comes to buy buns without calling me boss? Wait, I don't want to be thin like you beanpoles. This past half year has been living hell, and I've been watched by a tigress the whole time. Really can't quit even if I want to."

"Who earns money without being tired? We get tired earning money too."

"But have you ever seen a skinny cook?"

"Hahaha, kill me. Cut the crap. I'll let you scoop two extra pieces of meat later."

"Get lost… You only think of me when you need me to work."

"Wasn't I afraid of getting beaten?"

"At least you know that. Got some self-awareness in your heart."

"Heh, everyone's busy too, all busy earning money, going out early and coming back late to fish. I've got a pile of things too. Today was my first day off and I called you right away."

"Calling me to cook. I know."

Ye Yaodong walked over cheerfully, slinging an arm around his shoulder. "A little self-awareness is good. If not to cook, why would I call you? To treat you to a meal?"

Fatty jabbed him with an elbow. "Damn you. Just now you told me to eat more meat, and now you've changed face so fast."

"Get to work. Fry a bowl of dried fish first. Wait till the rabbit is butchered, then into the pot…"

"This rabbit should be smoked rabbit meat to taste good."

"You do it then. Isn't that what we're waiting for you for?"

"Forget it, just stir-fry. Saves trouble. Go back and get the chili peppers."

"Got it!"

Ye Yaodong scurried back to pick chili peppers, and brought over a jar of rice wine on the way.

The two big woks in the workshop were both burning fiercely, the firewood underneath crackling and popping, the firelight reflecting on every face's smile, making the atmosphere even more harmonious.

Some butchered the rabbit, some skinned the muntjac, some tossed the wok — each at their own post, bustling away in full swing.

"You guys really know how to enjoy yourselves, running here to drink and have a late-night snack."

"Aren't you here too?"

"Damn it, I have to get up at three in the morning again tomorrow to open the shop in town and sell buns."

Everyone laughed.

"Being able to earn money is good enough."

"This one muntjac definitely won't be finished today. Continue tomorrow?"

"Sure. We've already taken our New Year break early anyway."

"Damn!"

Fatty held up the spatula high and gestured at them. "I really want to smack each of you with this spatula. Seeing you all so comfortable and cozy, why does my heart feel so awful?"

Ye Yaodong glanced at him with a smile. "Then I see you earning money makes you feel worse than me losing money. How about you stop earning, and take your New Year break early too."

A'Zheng laughed too. "Right, I've got red-eye disease too. Stop earning, take a rest. You've been worn thin from exhaustion."

"Why don't you go tell my wife?"

"Isn't that your wife? Just blow some pillow talk."

"Sigh, she's happy right now — earning money and losing weight at the same time. Says she'll work till New Year's Eve. Isn't that asking for my life?"

"Keep at it. Anyway, you can earn money. Save up more, and next year make the shop a bit bigger." After the joking, Ye Yaodong gave a rare sincere remark.

"We'll talk about it next year."

With just a bowl of stir-fried dried fish and spicy rabbit meat, everyone had already started drinking, chatting and eating as they went.

Half a muntjac was still stewing in the big wok. This thing without two or three hours, the muntjac skin won't stew tender. They weren't in a hurry anyway — drinking and chatting on the side, with snacks to go with the wine, and the slow stew let them warm themselves by the fire.

After eating nearly everything, each person would eat another bowl of venison before heading home to sleep; if there was any left, everyone could pack an extra bowl to bring home for their wife and children to taste.

Lin Lin Xiuqing had already fallen asleep, but he still woke her up to eat.

"I thought you went off somewhere in the middle of the night — up the mountain again? You just got some free time…"

"Eat it while it's hot, stop fussing — it's freshly cooked. I'm going out to eat."

Before Lin Lin Xiuqing could even speak, he had already bolted off again.

He had only just smelled it and taken a sip of the soup before packing a bowl to bring back for his wife — he hadn't even gotten to eat the meat himself yet.