Chapter 485: Celebrating the Festival, Sending Gifts

Carrying three buckets of Earth Dragon, each went home.

Returned home.

Put the buckets down, Wu An hurried to wash off the mud on his body, which was especially hard to clean and required vigorous scrubbing; after washing, he divided the Earth Dragon in the buckets into several portions.

Tomorrow is the festival.

If one were to buy proper gifts to give, it would seem too formal and unnecessary; this Earth Dragon is quite suitable, not only valuable but also good for the health when eaten.

Just as he rode his vehicle to the gate, he happened to meet his elder sister-in-law returning.

Mei Yueqin called out to him: "Where are you rushing off to in such a hurry?"

Wu An said: "Giving gifts."

Having said that.

He then left.

Mei Yueqin entered the courtyard; just then Wu Ping was rinsing off, unable to scrub his back, and shouted: "A An, come help me scrub."

Mei Yueqin looked.

She hurriedly shut the big iron gate.

Then she walked into the bathing room.

Upon seeing her, Wu Ping hastily stepped back: "Yue... Yueqin, why are you here? I called for A An."

Mei Yueqin rubbed her hands: "A An has gone out."

"I'll come help you scrub."

"What, still shy?"

Wu Ping's legs went weak: "Not shy, I'm afraid."

Mei Yueqin gave him a sideways glance: "Don't be shameless; turn around for me."

Wu Ping obediently complied.

They washed for half a day.

Mei Yueqin, having washed herself clean and radiant, first walked out of the bathing room, saw a bucket of Earth Dragon, and said: "Oh, A An caught so many Earth Dragons!"

Wu Ping, leaning against the wall and wiping the sweat from his forehead, walked out and said: "It wasn't A An who caught them; this bucket is what I caught."

Mei Yueqin exclaimed: "You caught them?"

Wu Ping snorted: "You look down on your husband?"

Mei Yueqin laughed: "Then you're really impressive; I left at dawn and have only managed to catch a sack of seafood so far, and they're all worthless."

Wu Ping stepped back half a step: "Talk is talk, don't come over."

Mei Yueqin rolled her eyes.

Wu Ping said: "Divide the Earth Dragons, keep a portion at home, and send a portion to your father; for the festival, eat a few, soak a few—I remember your father likes to soak Earth Dragon in liquor."

Mei Yueqin said: "It's rare that you still remember; that was only soaked once many years ago."

"This Earth Dragon is both expensive and rare."

"The last time we ate it, it was A Qing who caught and sent it."

"This festival, being able to eat what you send, they'll surely be delighted and show off throughout the village."

Wu Ping, listening, couldn't help but laugh heartily.

Letting his parents-in-law show off in the village is the highest honor for a son-in-law.

When he goes to Shangwancun to visit relatives, whoever sees him will have to praise him a few words.

Just thinking about it feels wonderful.

Mei Yueqin poured out the Earth Dragons, divided them into two portions, and said: "This larger portion stays at home; Father is old, working from morning till night, he needs nourishment."

"You also need nourishment."

"I had wanted to look for Earth Dragons for you to eat."

Wu Ping coughed twice.

He picked up the teacup beside him, took a sip, then hastily spat twice, spitting out several goji berries.

Mei Yueqin said: "What are you spitting? It's edible."

Wu Ping felt helpless.

Indeed, once middle-aged, one is helpless; soaking goji berries in a thermos.

……

Wu Anxian gave a portion of Earth Dragon to Gu Anran; Gu Anran had also gone out gathering seafood that morning, and happened to meet him at the gate; besides the Earth Dragon, he bought a few more gifts at Lao Jiang's shop.

The old lady told him not to be polite, and not to bring gifts next time.

Wu An agreed.

But he certainly wouldn't listen.

Originally, this trip was to deliver Mid-Autumn Festival gifts.

No one minds many gifts; he knows the old lady isn't just making polite talk, but whether or not to bring gifts isn't just courtesy—it's also for show to others.

The old women in this village have mouths like machine guns.

One dare not let them seize the opportunity.

Leaving the Gu household, Wu An headed straight for the town.

First he delivered to Lao Mai, then gave a few to Liu Long and Yu Kai Lang, and meanwhile chatted about Gu Jianfa's matter; originally, Gu Jianfa was a victim.

But who let Yu Kai Lang "accidentally" learn that Gu Jianfa had lost money gambling, prompting Gu Jianfa to report and expose him?

Gu Jianfa would certainly not do that.

Then it stalled here; Yu Kai Lang said, anyway, for this Mid-Autumn Festival, Gu Jianfa can only stay in the office, so Wu An can rest assured, ensuring he has food and drink.

Wu An felt relieved.

Gu Jianfa spent the festival at the office, and the Gu family could also enjoy a peaceful and comfortable Mid-Autumn Festival.

After making a round in town, Chen Zhuren and the seat leader's side both received gifts; at first they both said no, Wu An said this was just freshly caught from the tidal flats, frankly just a dish, absolutely not against regulations—it's not like Mid-Autumn is coming up; he's just a fisherman with nothing else to offer, just this skill of catching seafood.

The gift is light, but the sentiment is heavy.

After saying that, Chen Zhuren and the seat leader laughed and accepted it.

Finally they went to Lao Fu Tou's home.

Lao Fu Tou was drinking at home with Fu Yongning; Fu Yongning had drunk too much and began to pour out his true feelings, kneeling to kowtow to Lao Fu Tou and apologize.

He said that back when Lao Fu Tou fell into the water, he shouldn't have stood by and done nothing, shouldn't have failed to step up and speak up, shouldn't have acted like a cowardly dog for the Chen family, shouldn't...

As he spoke, he burst into loud sobs.

Lao Fu Tou remained calm, took a sip of wine, and watched Fu Yongning.

He knew Fu Yongning was not acting.

But he didn't say anything either.

He is a five-guarantees household; his nephew Fu Yongning is relatively close; he doesn't expect support in his old age, but he certainly expects Fu Yongning to handle his funeral.

The two of them are not outsiders.

After crying for a while, Lao Fu Tou called Fu Yongning to get up.

The two of them continued drinking and eating.

Lao Fu Tou asked, "Does shouting it out make you feel better?"

Fu Yongning nodded.

Lao Fu Tou said, "Alright, I've long said I don't blame you; you have a wife and kids, unlike me—we Fus are just a few households in the village, it's only natural not to offend Chen Lao Da."

"If it's because of me that you're implicated, I, as your uncle, would feel bad inside."

"Alright, drink a little less, eat a bit more."

Fu Yongning asked, "Uncle, the Chen family's trawler has been repaired; during this time I haven't spared speaking well of you in front of Chen Lao Da, and I've also given a few Chen-surnamed people some gifts, asking them to speak up for you."

"As long as you go say a few soft words to Chen Lao Da, barring any mishap, you could still work on the boat."

Lao Fu Tou shook his head: "No need."

"On A An's boat, making money isn't the point; the main thing is being at ease."

Fu Yongning suddenly became anxious: "But that's ultimately from another village; I'm not hoping you'll make a lot of money on Chen Lao Da's boat; the key is, if you don't say a few soft words, Chen Lao Da will surely cause you trouble later."

"You don't know... Mei Wu's job..."

Lao Fu Tou looked up: "A Wu was fired by the factory, that was Chen Lao Da's doing, right?"

Fu Yongning was stunned: "How do you know?"

Lao Fu Tou lightly said: "A Wu is now also on A An's boat."

Fu Yongning lowered his voice: "I also overheard this by chance; Chen Lao Da had Chen Shui target Mei Wu, deliberately causing Chen Wu to lose his job."

"The Chen clan is powerful, numerous, and many are capable; I still say that we couldn't possibly defeat them."

At the doorway.

Wu An heard this.

He pushed the door open and came in, laughing: "Fu Yongning, how about we make a bet?"

Fu Yongning saw it was Wu An, his face darkened: "How did you come here?"

"What kind of bet do you want?"

Wu An put down the Earth Dragon and said: "It's Mid-Autumn, after all; let me give your uncle a gift."

"Let's bet on whether I can defeat Chen Lao Da."

"If I defeat Chen Lao Da, you won't follow him anymore; you'll come work on my boat."

"If I lose, I'll let Lao Fu listen to you."

Fu Yongning glared: "You're serious?"

Wu An looked at Lao Fu Tou: "Old Fu, do you mind if I make a bet using you?"

Lao Fu Tou laughed and shook his head.

Fu Yongning hesitated a moment, then said: "Alright, I'll bet with you!"