Chapter 977

For two consecutive days, as soon as it got dark, the workshop was bustling with activity.

But it wasn't killing fish to ferment fish sauce, but a late-night bonfire snack.

After hearing about it during the day, the little brothers couldn't bear to leave and specifically stayed behind at night to help, all wanting to continue following them up the mountain and take the opportunity to touch the gun barrels.

But Ye Yaodong and the others hadn't finished the muntjac and didn't plan to go up the mountain again. It was cold and pitch black, so they prepared to start a fire in the open air inside the workshop, which was comfortable enough to roast and stew, and there was still food to eat anyway.

A few more people didn't matter. He also got more wine and added two bowls of different dried fish; dried fish was originally a fine accompaniment to wine.

With muntjac meat stewing in the pot, they roasted by the fire, drank wine, and chatted, which was both comfortable and leisurely.

When there was nothing left to eat on the third night, Ye Yaodong thought about letting Wang Guangliang and the others secretly catch his family's big goose and kill one on the sly.

He had been thinking about stewed goose in an iron pot for many days. Now that the atmosphere was so good and he could see he wouldn't be able to wait until the New Year, he would slaughter one while everyone was in such high spirits.

Fatty asked uncertainly, "If it's discovered tomorrow that a goose is missing, will your wife scratch you?"

"How is that possible? Do you think she's like your wife? She's too busy feeling sorry for my hard work. She said a few days ago that she wanted to stew one for me to nourish myself for the New Year."

"Don't people always slaughter chickens and ducks for the New Year? It's not specifically to nourish you."

Ye Yaodong glared at Azheng. "She just said it was to nourish me. Don't distort the facts."

Everyone rolled their eyes and looked at the sky.

He looked at Wang Guangliang again. "Remember to be quiet when you catch it, and don't get pecked by the goose. Those geese have strong fighting power."

"Got it."

"Start the fire first. We'll talk after we catch the big goose. I'll lead the way and take the opportunity to go home and get some dried vegetables and dig up a few potatoes."

"Sure. Anyway, we're just providing the mouths. Let's treat it as celebrating your big boat arriving home tomorrow in advance."

Ye Yaodong nodded in agreement. "Right, it's to celebrate the big boat arriving home, that's why we're slaughtering a goose."

He straightened his back, not afraid of being questioned tomorrow.

But when he led people home to catch the big goose, he was still sneaky as usual.

The big goose honked twice, and he looked into the house nervously, only feeling relieved when no one ran out.

Watching them catch the big goose and run away quickly, he went into the house to rummage for dried vegetables, specifically using a basket to hold them, and then took a hoe to the field to dig up potatoes.

Just then, he heard someone calling his name, and he was startled.

This was probably what it meant to have a guilty conscience.

"Dong Zi? What are you doing? In the middle of the night, I was wondering who it was. I looked for a long time. Good thing the light in the main hall wasn't off, it could still shine a bit so I could see clearly who it was, otherwise I would have been scared."

Ye Yaodong patted his chest, looking at the dark old head appearing on the iron bars of the window, and said irritably, "I was scared by you too. You're not sleeping in the middle of the night, what are you looking at here at the window?"

"I heard the big goose suddenly honk very loudly, so I got up to see. Who knew I'd hear the sound of digging the ground again, which made me nervous. What are you digging the ground for in the middle of the night?"

With treasures buried underground, the old lady wished she could sleep with one eye open. It would be strange if she could sleep after hearing the noise outside.

"Nothing, I'm just digging up a few potatoes. You go back to sleep."

"What are you digging potatoes for in the middle of the night?"

"Stewing in a pot. We're having a late-night snack and drinking at the workshop. You can sleep in peace."

"With you doing one thing after another, how can I still sleep? Why did the big goose honk just now? Did you mess with it?"

"Mm, right. When I just came back, I didn't stand steady and kicked their nest. If you can't sleep, then don't sleep. I'll dish out a bowl of late-night snack for you to eat later."

The old lady laughed. "We only just ate, how can I still eat? Only you young people have good appetites."

"I'm leaving. There's a group of dogs watching the house, you can sleep in peace. We're all nearby too."

He carried a basket of small potatoes and dried vegetables and immediately ran back to the workshop.

Lin Xiuqing had also heard the big goose honking in the house. However, she was breastfeeding and coaxing the child to sleep, thinking that Adong and his group were in the workshop not far from the door, so she didn't specifically get up to look.

Who knew that when she woke up the next morning, she would find out a goose was missing.

The old lady got up the earliest and was the first to discover it. After finding one missing, she searched everywhere from the front door to the back door and didn't see a shadow. It wasn't until A Qing got up that she told her.

Lin Xiuqing was also taken aback. "How could it suddenly be gone? Was it stolen last night? I suddenly heard the big goose honking last night. I was just breastfeeding and coaxing the child to sleep, thinking Adong was nearby, so I didn't get up to look."

"When the big goose honked last night, Dong Zi happened to be in the courtyard. I saw him digging potatoes..."

Ye Yaodong also got up very early. Today he had to go to the county to accept the big boat and test the water, so as soon as the sky brightened, he got up early too.

As soon as he pushed the door open, he heard this and coughed awkwardly.

Lin Xiuqing saw he was up and asked hurriedly, "Why were you suddenly digging potatoes last night? The old lady said a big goose is missing..."

"Cough... there was nothing to accompany the wine last night, so I slaughtered a big goose to stew in an iron pot, took some dried vegetables, and dug up some potatoes to put in to make it more fragrant..."

Lin Xiuqing's face turned black.

"Then couldn't you have told me in advance? You slaughtered such a big one just like that. I was planning to save it for the New Year."

"Aren't there still quite a few left? There are plenty of chickens and ducks. We can slaughter chickens and ducks for the New Year too. I left a small bowl on the table for you guys, you can have it with rice today."

"I thank you!"

"Hehe, you're welcome."

It was mainly because the goose was too big and he added a lot of side dishes, making it a huge pot. They couldn't finish it, so it was just right to have leftovers, otherwise, he definitely would have destroyed the evidence.

The old lady also shook her head helplessly. "I guessed if you secretly caught one last night to slaughter and eat. I guessed that the small bowl of meat on the table was probably goose meat."

"Mm, it just so happens we're going to sail the boat today. Last night was just celebrating in advance and treating them to a drink."

"Drinking for three consecutive days."

"Don't you have a share too? I specifically brought a bowl back for you the first two nights. Look at how rosy your face is from the nourishment."

Lin Xiuqing rolled her eyes at him. "Hurry up and wash up and eat. Go to the county seat early. Good thing Mom picked the afternoon time, so you don't have to get up in the middle of the night and rush over."

"Mm."

The old lady muttered a sentence beside him, "Next time you want to slaughter a goose or a chicken or duck, tell me in advance. When I got up in the morning and saw one missing, I thought we were robbed last night and was scared for a moment."

"Got it."

While he was brushing his teeth, everyone came over to wait. He immediately sped up, washed his face perfunctorily, and poured the porridge that had long since cooled into his mouth while eating.

It was faster to go by tractor. He had long planned to let Chen Shi go with them, take the whole carload of people, and when they got on the boat, let Chen Shi drive the tractor back.

As for the people helping on the boat, A Guang, Hearing Xiao Xiao, Azheng, his father, and his second brother were enough. His eldest brother stayed home to set off firecrackers.

Everyone brought baskets and buckets, chatting as they walked toward the workshop.

"What's the name of your new boat? Have you thought of it? Did you have the factory print it on?"

"Yes, of course. I had the factory paint it on a few days ago."

"What's the name?"

"Dongsheng! It means a star slowly rising in the east, and it carries my name inside, symbolizing that I will slowly rise, step by step, and become more dazzling. How is it? A good name, right?"

A Guang couldn't help but give a thumbs up. "You really know how to pick names. This name sounds as good as my Fengshou."

"That's for sure. Your name was also picked by me. Peishun, Peishun, smooth sailing."

"Hehehe, both boat names are quite good." Ye Fu said happily.

A Guang said again, "When the time comes, your fish sauce can also be named Dongsheng Fish Sauce, Dongsheng Dried Fish."

"Sure. The shop in the city can also have the two big characters 'Dongsheng' posted. Doesn't your shop not have a sign either?" Ye Fu was all smiles.

Once it was said like that, Ye Yaodong also started pondering the sign above his head. It didn't matter originally; there weren't many shops in the market, and regular customers who knew the ropes all knew the location of his shop.

"Can call it Dongsheng Ji."

Ye Yaodong: "?"

What is that?

"Call it Dongsheng Wholesale Shop."

"That works too."

"Wait a few days and let the carpenter make a wooden plaque, carve the words 'Dongsheng Wholesale Department', and then paint it with some color. Just make a simple one, having a sign is more attractive."

Ye Fu nodded repeatedly. "This is good, this is good."

"You guys get on the tractor first, finish today's business first, I'll go to the front to drive."

Azheng was itching after hearing what they said. After getting on the car, he said, "Hearing you guys talk so enthusiastically, I want to name my boat too."

"Hahaha, then you might as well order a big one, similar to Dong Zi's."

"When you guys want to order a new boat again, give me a heads-up and let me join in. I don't have the ability to order one alone."

"I don't have the ability to order a new one either. Having one Fengshou is already quite enough. Even if I ordered one, there'd be no one to drive it. I don't have my dad's ability."

"Forget it, my boat isn't bad either. Now the neighbors on the left and right are all praising me for having ability." As he spoke, the corners of his mouth curled up.

"Once Dong Zi's boat is sailed back, he'll be in the limelight again. The whole village will be praising him, and it won't stop until the New Year at least."

Hearing Xiao Xiao also patted Ye Fu enviously. "Uncle's face has a glow, and he walks with a breeze. Isn't the village praising either Dong Zi or A Guang every once in a while?"

"You guys are the same, you've all made something of yourselves, and your parents will have blessings when they're old."

Azheng: "Dong Zi, after the big boat is launched later, are you going to cast a net like Fengshou, calculate the time, and then sail back to set off firecrackers?"

Ye Fu: "Right."

Azheng: "The two giants of Bai Sha Village!"

A Guang: "Forget it. My house only has one big boat, two trawlers, can't compare to Dong Zi. He is the first giant of Bai Sha Village, with dried fish and fish sauce at home."

Azheng: "Makes sense! Treat him to drinks tonight."

Hearing Xiao Xiao: "I think you want him to treat you every day, treat you until the New Year, and eat all the chickens, ducks, and geese in his house."

Azheng: "That's not it. Ye San Shu is watching here, how could I have the nerve."

Hearing Xiao Xiao: "You mean if Ye San Shu wasn't watching here, you would."

Azheng: "I didn't say that. I just know you're very greedy, actually thinking so beautifully, wanting to eat until the New Year. I'll have Adong's wife take a broom and drive you out tonight."

"Driving you out is more like it..."

Ye Fu laughed, not caring about their banter.

Today was a good day. Since he got up in the morning, the corners of his mouth hadn't come down, his face glowing.

He didn't have much ability himself, but his son had made something of himself. His son making something of himself made him happier than if he had made something of himself. Now who didn't praise him for having good sons, even the son-in-law he found had made something of himself.

A Guang: I'm at home every day, my dad does it for me, it's your in-law who made something of himself.

Ye Yaodong was also very expectant, his heart surging infinitely. Once this boat was in his hands, he could run a bit further.

However, when could he buy the kind of thirty-meter boat he had when he was a boat worker in his previous life? That would really be called infinite glory.

Better to enjoy the present first. It was already quite good now. He was already the first person in the whole village, no, the first person in the surrounding ten miles and eight villages.

The tractor clattered all the way. There were also some scattered passersby carrying poles on the road waving at them, wanting to hitch a ride. He waved his hand at them, not taking passengers.

It wasn't even eight o'clock when they arrived at the county shipyard.

As soon as his tractor stopped, Factory Manager Wu had already heard the noise and ran out.

"You guys finally came. Good thing the time hasn't arrived yet."

"Launching between nine and eleven, it's still early, what's the rush."

"Isn't it that I still have to let you accept the boat and take a look? Naturally, you have to arrive early to accept the goods. Good thing you didn't arrive late, it's not even eight o'clock yet, it's in time. Come in and take a look first."

"Does your factory never rest all year round? Every time I come, there's a bunch of people busy there, same when I come in the middle of the night." Ye Yaodong asked as he walked beside the person.

"We work in three shifts. Of course, there are subsidies for overtime. What's more, the efficiency is good now, so we definitely have to work overtime to rush the work. The boat you ordered can probably be delivered one in May or June in advance, and the rest will come slowly."

"What boat?" Ye Fu asked curiously.

Ye Yaodong ordered seven boats, making up the number of ten. He didn't tell his father about this, and his father didn't know. Only he and A Qing, the couple, and A Guang and his father knew.

"We'll talk when we get back. Now look at my Dongsheng first. Is it still in the same place? That boat is it, right?"

He looked over happily. A boat twenty-four meters long, painted blue all over, with red paint below the waterline, and the two-story cabin on the boat painted white all over, looking exceptionally refreshing and majestic.

The boat body was painted with the three characters "Dongsheng", which were painted in white, blue background and white characters, also exceptionally clear and eye-catching.

Fishing boats nowadays didn't have numbers yet, some policies hadn't been promulgated, laws weren't perfect, mainly because such big boats were rare, industry had just started to develop vigorously, marine development had just started, and everyone was a miscellaneous army.

Waiting for policies to come out and add numbers, that was a matter for a few years later.

"Damn, your boat is too handsome, right?"

"Looking majestic..."

"Tsk tsk tsk... this boat is really good-looking..."

"A new boat is different. It looks really new and good-looking. Our boat is covered with barnacles at the bottom, dense and dense, scaring people to death."

"Stop blowing. Isn't this boat exactly the same as Fengshou's appearance? It's just two meters smaller in size, not much difference." Ye Yaodong said insincerely with a full face of smiles, actually feeling very satisfied in his heart.

"Fengshou was already a matter of last year. After it was launched, we only saw it from afar once or twice, where else have we seen it so close?"

A Guang listened to them flattering him speechlessly. Clearly, they were in and out together when they were catching jellyfish a few months ago, and everyone was quite close.

New love and old love.

However, such a big new boat was naturally worth boasting about.

Factory Manager Wu held the order and followed Ye Yaodong. "Check the boat body, boat hull, boat cabin, and machine. Did you bring the order contract? Check the things on the order, measure the dimensions that should be measured."

"Okay."

Ye Yaodong touched his pocket and took out the order A Qing had prepared for him early in the morning.

As soon as it was taken out, there were heads stretched over.

He flicked his finger at one, one by one. "Can you understand? So many heads stretched over."

"Can't understand other things, I understand the numbers."

"Go, go, go, you guys help me check the boat hull, I'll climb onto the boat to check and see if the promised machine equipment is all arranged."

Factory Manager Wu also followed him up and introduced the equipment and machines currently installed on the boat, checking them one by one for him.

Net winch, net roller, power pulley, net lifting boom, and guide pulley, etc., fishing equipment, the engine was also equipped with two, mechanical and manual dual-purpose steering gear, steering wheel driving, 120 horsepower, load capacity about 35 tons, fresh water storage tank, fish cargo hold, they looked at them one by one.

His was still a wooden and iron motorized boat, not steel, steel probably had to wait until after the nineties.

It was just a trawler, could only trawl, couldn't serve as other things.

If it served as other things, the equipment had to be more, different types, the equipment needed was different, and now there was no such equipment in the country.

The second-floor cabin also climbed up to see, there were three bunk beds, just squeezed and short, only one person could pass, and with his height, he couldn't stand straight, could only hunch his body, his father's 160 height was just right.

However, having these was already very good, at least there was a place to lie down and rest, and could sail on the sea for a few days.

Now could only take a rough look, after all the necessary equipment was equipped, no problem, could call people over to help push it down together.

The boat hull bottom still had things supported there, placed several sliding woods, just waiting for him to finish accepting, proceed to the next step.

Ye Yaodong also followed Factory Manager Wu's explanation, checked one by one, all the equipment was complete, all had to be equipped according to requirements, and all were new.

"Now just a rough explanation of the equipment, let you have a number in your heart, others have to wait until the boat is in the water, run up to see, wait for a net test, then you will know."

"Good, good, good, thank you for your hard work, can, can, things are all very good, no problem."

"No problem is good, we are also doing things according to order requirements, if there is no problem, then I will call people over to help together."

Ye Yaodong looked at his watch, ten minutes to nine, that was about the same.

"I'll go down and look at the boat hull."

"Okay, still have some time before the time."

They under the boat were all touching here and there, muttering in their mouths.

"This red paint feels useless, my boat only opened for half a year, the bottom of the boat was already covered with dense barnacles."

"Can't stop, can only reduce."

"Just happened to take an early break these two days, I let my dad go to shovel the barnacles at the bottom, otherwise he was still muttering there saying I didn't go out to sea, just had to find him some work to do, have things to do, he wouldn't stare at me."

"Makes sense, our previous one also opened for a whole year, just happened to need to get it up to shovel, save some oil."

"If it didn't matter how long it opened, the bottom of the boat was clean, like a new boat, how good it would be."

"Thinking beautifully, scrape the bottom of the boat, can still hit some oysters to add a meal."

"Give it to me, I don't want it..."

Ye Yaodong patted one from behind. "Did you guys check it for me? No problem, then go into the water."

"No problem, a new boat, what problem can there be? Very good, push it directly."

"Just measured the dimensions, twenty-four meters from the sharp head to the stern, no mistake, turned a big circle, didn't see any problems, anyway, we are also laymen, go into the water and try it, then you will know."

"Then that's it, no problem, push it into the water."

"Okay, I'll call a few more people to push, you guys also help, wait a while, by the way, go to the shore and set off a few strings of firecrackers for you."

"Good, good, thank you very much. Into the water, will you follow two old masters?"

"This is certain, when the time comes on the boat, will also let the old master teach you how to use, explain some individual functions."

"Good, then the payment, wait until the boat docks, then sign and settle?"

"Right, anyway, after trying the water and catching a net, all have to come back to shore, when the time comes, sign and complete the follow-up of the order, settle the account, you can sail home."

Ye Yaodong nodded happily. "Good, good, good, just nine o'clock, push it out into the water, the time is just right."

Factory Manager Wu called the strong men in the factory to come over.

Dozens of people helped together, the bottom of the boat originally had several sliding woods placed there, a group of them pushed and rolled the wood, everyone worked together.

And some old masters working in the factory also stopped their work, looking at the movement here.

Shipyards were all built along the sea, convenient for launching after building.

Early in the morning, everyone was full of strength.

After pushing to the factory gate, the sea was on the side, the boat was slowly pushed forward, everyone used their milk-feeding strength, their faces were flushed red, and the biceps on their arms bulged.

"One, two, three... hey..."

As soon as it was pushed into the water, the firecrackers on the side crackled.

Broken red paper floated all over the ground.

"Congratulations, new boat launched, smooth sailing, great luck!"

"Thank you, great luck."

"Go up."

"Okay, everyone go up first."

"You guys go up first, I'll go get the basket and bucket."

Ye Fu's mouth couldn't close with a smile the whole time, and he was even happier after getting on the boat.

"Waited for more than a year, finally got it, it's really not easy to build such a boat."

"Mainly because there was an order lined up in front, people also have to deliver goods according to the delivery period, one by one, otherwise, it wouldn't take so long to build such a boat."

"Didn't expect that the boat I saw at the beginning would finally fall into your hands."

"A Guang picked up a big bargain, just happened to have someone Pei Shu knew, took over directly, didn't even have to wait, too cool, I waited for more than a year."

A Guang was also happy. "This shows that I have this boat in my life, so I picked up the ready-made one without even lining up."

"All the boats in your house are ready-made."

"That's right."

Factory Manager Wu also smiled on the side. "This is all about luck, good luck, what should come will come. You people don't have bad luck, looking like you can earn big money."

"Hehe..."

"This boat is also quite stable."

"Do you want to look again? If you don't look, I'll go down the boat, let the old master take you out to sea to catch a net."

"No need, no need, wait a while in the process of driving, we will ask the old master, you go back to your work."

"Okay, then I'll go down first, go back to my work, wait for you to come back in the factory."

Ye Yaodong waved his hand, long ago didn't care about him, watching the old master walk to the cockpit, he also followed in.

Have to see if the current way of driving the boat is not much different from later, and the use of that maritime radio station also has to ask the old master.

Ye Fu also squeezed into the cockpit, asking the old master with a full face of smiles.

"This is not much different from the previous big boat?"

"The same, the core technology is the same."

"Then I know, let me drive first?"

"Okay."

Ye Yaodong watched his father take control of the boat one step ahead of him.

His father also turned his head and said to him: "You watch more, I'll teach you later."

"Okay."

Who let you be my father.