Chapter 260

Wu An went to the car shed and pushed the cart out.

Wu Yingwei glared and said, "Going out again?"

Wu An nodded and said, "I've got a lot going on, so I won't be coming back to eat."

Wu Yingwei clicked his tongue and said, "Then... be careful on the road."

Mei Yueqin added, "Don't drink while riding a bike."

Wu An replied, thought for a moment, and said, "Don't leave the door open for me at night."

"I'll go to Lao Wu to sleep when I come back tonight."

I think I'll go out to sea tomorrow.

He finished speaking.

He got on his scooter and with a roar went out the door.

Wu Yingwei looked back and saw Mei Yueqin starting to pick vegetables, preparing to make dinner, while Wu Ping was on the phone, apparently discussing some scholarship matter with the school.

He came to his senses and realized that he was the most idle person in the house.

Wu Yingwei felt utterly unmotivated.

People are different from each other.

Since losing his wife, Lao Meng has let go and focuses on enjoying life.

Anyway, his son is out there, already settled and doing fine, so he doesn't need to worry.

He just needs to look after himself.

He finds joy in himself.

Watching this, Wu Yingwei felt listless.

He couldn't stand it.

With nothing to do every day, what's the point of life?

To live, one must work and have value.

He also couldn't stand Lao Meng.

Lao Meng couldn't stand him either.

"The vegetable garden... oh, it's all tidied up."

"This scholarship... oh, it's the money A An gave back then, and there happen to be students in need... it's good, it's good, this is a good thing... you need to make a call... you make it, you make it, I've got nothing else to do, so I'll go."

"Yueqin, the vegetables... are all tidied up."

Wu Yingwei wandered around the house but found nothing to do; after talking a lot, Wu Ping and Mei Yueqin said nothing, yet he felt he was being a nuisance.

Finally.

Waiting for Mei Yueqin to start cooking, he hurried to tend the fire.

While tending the fire, Wu Yingwei remained silent for a long time; later that afternoon he suddenly returned from the Village Committee, which made him realize that all along he had contributed little to the family.

Before, there was still Wu An to fall back on.

Nowadays...

Sigh.

His son is too capable, which is also kind of depressing.

…… -> none.

Shangwan Village.

It's also a mixed-surname village, though a bit better than Xixi Village, mainly consisting of the Chen Family; actually, in this town, the Chen surname is the most common.

Chen Long's extended family is the main house of the Chen Family, plus Chen Lao Da and Chen Zhong's generation; they're doing quite well and have considerable influence and power in the village.

After all, quite a few people in the village rely on the Chen Family for their livelihood, such as Lao Fu Tou and Fu Yongning, who work on others' ships and naturally have to depend on the Chen Family.

As the saying goes, fame brings trouble.

When one is in power, everyone naturally flocks to them; but once something goes wrong, there are plenty who kick them when they're down.

Recently, the Chen Family has been dealing with one thing after another.

Chen Zhong was taken in for investigation and hasn't been released yet.

Chen Long is also a hooligan; he twice caused trouble in Xixi Village and got beaten up, and he's still lying in the hospital, while Wei Zhen has been extorting people, ending up having to pay a lot of money, which is really embarrassing.

Anyway, all kinds of rumors are flying around, saying all sorts of things.

Some outrageous rumors claim that Chen Long's misdeeds are so bad they deserve execution, but the Chen Family is too powerful and managed to smooth things over.

Upon hearing this, Chen Lao Da couldn't help but laugh angrily.

How could he not know his family is so impressive?

And on this fishing trip, the trawler had an accident, which gave even more people something to gossip about.

These bastards can't stand seeing others do well or make money!

They've all got a case of jealousy!

Chen Lao Da was cursing under his breath, and even drinking tea couldn't quell the fire in his chest.

Chen Baosheng, who had been complaining nonstop, saw this and angrily shut his mouth; he dared not speak again, for if he did, Chen Lao Da would surely slap him without hesitation.

Chen Lao Da drank his tea, slammed the cup on the table, and thought to himself, "Good thing he acted decisively; if the trawler had really sunk at sea, everyone's gossip would have been even worse."

Even so.

Lao Fu Tou fell into the water, and in the end someone else saved him, but the incident still got people talking.

No way.

When Lao Fu Tou came knocking, they wouldn't even offer him a cup of tea, let alone a pleasant face.

Lao Fu Tou, you say you're quitting?

Right.

Alright, let's part on good terms, let's go.

"Chen Lao Da, have you forgotten that I still have half a month's salary left..."

"You still want salary?" Chen Lao Da set down his teacup, letting out a "Bang—" sound: "Do you know that because of you, I haven't gone out these two days."

Lao Fu Tou's face darkened: "Then what do you mean?"

"The salary's gone." Chen Lao Da waved his hand, saying: "You give me this notice at the last minute, and I still have to hurry to find someone..."

Lao Fu Tou grew urgent: "Aren't you bullying me!"

Chen Lao Da sneered coldly; "Bullying you?"

"Have you forgotten who saved you back then?"

Lao Fu Tou's angry expression suddenly froze.

Back then, he took a small wooden raft out to sea, accidentally fell into the water, and Chen Lao Da happened to pull him out. So over the years, he has served the Chen Family dutifully, and when occasional disputes arise, Chen Lao Da would use this line to press him.

It's been over ten years!

The greatest debt should be repaid, especially since Chen Lao Da wouldn't save a dying person; then this is a life for a life!

He took a deep breath and said, "I remember."

"It's good that you remember." Chen Lao Da crossed his legs, waved his hand: "Still the same line, part on good terms, don't make things uncomfortable."

"You suddenly notify me, and I have a throbbing headache, worried about where to find people."

"Do you know how big a trouble this is?"

Lao Fu Tou grew angry hearing this, wanted to argue, but didn't know what to say; he also knew that no matter what he said, he couldn't win against Chen Lao Da.

"Exactly, delaying our earnings; we wouldn't even ask you for compensation, that's already good." Chen Baosheng, standing nearby, shouted impatiently: "Stop standing there doing nothing, hurry up and leave."

"You... you all..."

"You want me to say harsh words, right? Get lost!" Chen Baosheng cursed: "You Lao Dongxi, why aren't you dead in the sea, causing us to be gossiped about by the villagers."

"You... you still have the nerve to bring it up, the villagers' words are mild, but clearly you all didn't help the dying!"

"Nonsense."

"If you dare keep spouting nonsense, do you believe I'll hit you?"

Chen Baosheng, angry, walked over.

Chen Lao Da called out, not because his conscience awakened, but because he thought it would reflect badly.

Although Lao Fu Tou is a five‑guarantee household easy to bully, Chen Baosheng is still of the 'grandson generation'; if this got spread and they beat Lao Fu Tou, they'd risk being poked in the spine.

Other boat workers came to advise Lao Fu Tou, and some pulled the loudly shouting Lao Fu Tou away.

After leaving.

Lao Fu Tou alone naturally couldn't cause a scene.

Fu Yongning was standing outside waiting, with a guilty face; "Uncle, I really can't testify for you."

"I..."

Lao Fu Tou sighed; "Alright, stop talking, I understand."

"I'm leaving."

Having said so.

He mounted the cart and headed toward the town.