Back To the Small Fishing Village In 1982
Chapter 86

In the past half month or so, Ye Yaodong had brought home nearly 400 yuan once, and this time over 100 yuan again. The small amounts of a few yuan or a dozen yuan were also quite frequent, all much more than she had earned making fishing nets in the past few years.

She hadn’t even realized that recently, when facing her husband, her face was always smiling, beaming with joy. Compared to her previously indifferent attitude, while it might not be a world of difference, there was clearly more warmth.

She didn’t demand that he must earn a certain amount of money to bring back to her. As long as she saw that he was working hard, she was satisfied.

Ye Yaodong happily encircled her from behind, leaning down to whisper in her ear, “Aren’t I amazing? Calculate how much I’ve earned for you in the past half month. It’s about seven or eight hundred, right?”

“Not that much, maybe over six hundred. We haven’t even received this hundred-plus yet.”

“That’s still quite a bit… Ah~ Damn it~”

He was about to strike while the iron was hot, taking advantage of the good atmosphere to seek some praise, when their eldest son, who had just been on the bed pretending to be a hero with a bedsheet and a bamboo stick, suddenly jumped onto his back. Caught off guard, he almost lost his balance, nearly causing all three to fall.

Reaching back to catch the boy, he cursed, then turned to snatch the bamboo stick from his hand and swatted his bottom once.

“You little rascal, see if I don’t whip you. You think you can just jump whenever you want? What if you fell to the ground? See if you don’t break your neck.”

“Ah ah ah~ It hurts~” Ye Chenghu, after getting hit once, scrambled around on the bunk bed trying to avoid more hits, while talking back, “You can hug Mom, why can’t I hug you?”

“Was that hugging me? That was more like Mount Tai crushing down. I was carrying you on my back, if anything. Besides, your mom is my wife, I paid money to marry her. You haven’t paid me any money, why should I let you hug me?”

“Then I don’t want to hug you anymore, I want to hug my mom.”

“You little brat!”

He had thought this kid would say he’d pay him money when he grew up. Damn, ungrateful little brat, not likable at all.

“Go for it, go for it~”

Ye Chenghu, after being hit several times by his dad, angrily ran towards Ye Chengyang, who was clapping and cheering. He hid behind him and scolded, “You traitor, whose side are you on?”

“Huh?”

“Alright, stop messing around. It’s time to sleep. If you keep jumping, you’ll break the bed.”

Lin Xiuqing snatched the bamboo stick from Ye Yaodong’s hand and put it on the table. Then she untied the bedsheet wrapped around Ye Chenghu, scolding him a bit too.

“Always wrapping yourself in a bedsheet playing tricks, if you tear it, I’ll beat you.”

Ye Chenghu giggled and stood still, obediently letting her untie it.

Ye Yaodong had been tired all day. After the mood was broken, he wasn’t in the mood for flirting anymore. He just collapsed on the bed, letting out a long sigh. Lying down felt so comfortable!

“I’m going to town tomorrow morning. Is there anything you want me to buy?”

“No… Oh, yes. Get some fabric for yourself while you’re there. I’ve been saying I want to make you two more shirts, but I haven’t had the time to go.”

“Huh? I don’t know how to do that. Why don’t we go together tomorrow?”

“There’s a pile of work to do at home, I can’t keep up. The backyard is still piled with several heaps of shellfish. How can I go with you? Just go to the fabric store on the street and tell the owner you want dark-colored cotton fabric. Choose two colors and get 2 meters of each.”

“Oh.” He absent-mindedly agreed, then realized, “Any store will do?”

“If you don’t mind the trouble, ask at several stores, haggle a bit, and buy from whichever is cheapest!”

Ye Yaodong’s mouth twitched. He wished he hadn’t asked. As a grown man, how could he haggle with women over a few cents? And she wanted him to ask at several stores…

“We’ll see. Remember to give me money tomorrow, I don’t have a single cent in my pocket.”

“Alright. Unplug the electric wire and let’s sleep. If we don’t turn off the light, these two won’t sleep.”

Looking at the two sons whose eyes were as wide as gongs, still playing, Ye Yaodong felt for the electric wire by the bed and pulled it. In the pitch darkness, the two gradually quieted down.

The next day, he woke up at the slightest movement beside him, but he didn’t want to move. The restaurant wouldn’t open that early.

“Get up!”

He rolled onto his side, one foot pressing on his eldest son who was lying across the bed, and said in a muffled voice, “Leave the money on the table. I’ll go to town when I get up later.”

“Alright, then when the two kids wake up, take them to the house site first.”

“Mm.”

Maybe it was because he had been getting up early recently and his biological clock had adjusted, but even though he was very sleepy and really wanted to sleep a bit more, after she turned and left, he couldn’t fall asleep again. In fact, he became more and more awake.

He simply opened his eyes and sat up, putting on the neatly folded clothes from the table. He thought that since he couldn’t sleep, he might as well go to town early.

He really couldn’t believe that no one would recognize gooseneck barnacles at this time.

Thinking of this, he didn’t wait for the two children to wake up. He went straight to the back door to instruct Ye Huimei, who was opening oysters, to listen for any sounds.

If they woke up, she should watch them, and they could help her a bit. Washing and sorting was something the kids could do. If she didn’t want to watch them, she could ask the oldest nephew to take them to the house site.

Ye Huimei pouted. Staying at home to help? It was clearly making trouble.

Ye Yaodong hurriedly left with the bucket in hand. Unexpectedly, he ran into Ah Guang at the doorstep. “Why are you here?”

“I brought you watermelons!”

“That’s so nice of you! You don’t need to bring them to my house. Take them to the house site. Only my sister and a few kids who haven’t woken up are at home. They’re all working over there. It’s perfect to take them there to quench their thirst.”

“Huh?” Ah Guang’s eyes flickered for a moment, then he said with a smile, “It’s no problem. I have plenty of watermelons. Since I’ve brought them here, let’s leave these two at your house. I’ll bring another basket to the house site later.”

“That works too. Give them to me then.”

“No need, I’ll take them in for you.”

“Such attentive service?”

“Of course! I’m still counting on you to get rich and help a brother out.”

“Get out of here. Hurry up and order your own small boat.”

Ye Yaodong waited at the door, intending to ask Ah Guang if he wanted to go to town together for a stroll when he came out. But who knew that after taking the two watermelons in, he wouldn’t come out?

He was thinking of going in to check, but as soon as he walked in, he heard laughter and conversation from the back door. “Ah Guang, what are you doing? I’ve been waiting for you for ages. Why are you still squatting here?”

“Huh?” Ah Guang turned his head in surprise to look at him, guiltily saying, “You’re still here?”

“Of course, I was waiting for you at the door. What are you dawdling for?”

He stammered, “Nothing, I just came in to say hello and chat a bit, right?”

“I’m going to town. Do you want to come along?”

“Maybe not? It’s so hot, why go to town? I don’t have anything to do there.”

“To keep each other company.”

“No, thanks. Aren’t I supposed to bring a basket of watermelons to your house site later? I’ll go over and lend a hand, see if there’s anything I can help with.”

“Alright, good brother!” Ye Yaodong didn’t suspect anything. “Then I’ll head off first.”