MMB Chapter 1886 Provincial Capital
Chapter 1886 Provincial Capital
Chapter 1886 Provincial Capital
The couple walked on either side of Ye Yaodong, chatting as they went. They greeted everyone they met with cheerful smiles and then told each other that Dongzi had come back to take care of some business.
The fatigue had long since dissipated when I met people; now I only feel happy and excited.
When they finally made it home, the old lady had been looking out the door for a long time and waved to them as soon as she saw them.
"Why did you take so long? The eggs are already stewed, they'll get cold if you don't come back soon. Eat them while they're hot, they won't taste good when they're cold."
"You even made steamed eggs?"
"I'm afraid you're hungry. I can't cook anything else. My eyesight isn't good enough, and I'm afraid I'll cut my hand with the knife. Eat something first to fill your stomach, and then ask your mother to cook some noodles or something."
"No need, I'll just have steamed eggs. I've already eaten in town. I'll save room for dinner later."
Mother Ye said, "Then I don't need to cook it."
Ye's father quickly said, "I'm still hungry. Just cook whatever you think is best. I'm exhausted from working here."
"You've worked so hard, why don't you enjoy your good fortune?"
"We're just idling around anyway..."
After finishing her words, Mother Ye went inside, rolled up her sleeves, and used the little embers in the stove to reignite the fire.
They have a gas stove at home, but they still use a traditional earthen stove. Everyone is used to the earthen stove and prefers to use firewood. They only use the gas stove to cook together when they have a lot of food to cook during the Chinese New Year.
Ye Yaodong and his father sat down at the dinner table and started chatting, talking slowly about the seaweed harvest.
He also mentioned that he was waiting for notification from Linji that the truck could be delivered before going to the provincial capital, so as not to stay in the provincial capital for too long and waste time.
Given the time to wait, I'd rather wait at home than in the provincial capital.
He only planned to go to the provincial capital to get everything done in one go, and then come back as soon as possible.
The old lady sat at the table, smiling as she watched the father and son. She didn't say anything, just listened quietly, occasionally urging him not to just talk and to remember to eat.
As soon as Ye Yaodong returned, Ye's parents dared not go to work early in the morning and return late at night to collect and dry seaweed. They could only follow his instructions, go in the morning and come back at noon. After eating, they would rest at home and watch TV, or occasionally go to the workshop for a stroll.
Although both of them were a little disappointed that they could only earn half the wages, it was indeed much easier and less tiring than before.
When they went to help out at the workshop out of boredom, everyone said they were lucky.
"If you ask me, you two should just rest. What's the point of doing anything? We have no choice but to earn more money. You're both so rich, and your children and grandchildren are so filial and successful. What's the point of doing anything? Just enjoy your retirement."
"I'm enjoying my retirement at home, while you guys go and do that hard work and suffer too much."
"Ah Dong only let you two stay home to rest because he felt sorry for you. What if you overwork yourselves and something bad happens?"
"You're destined to live a life of luxury right now. Isn't that wonderful? You have money and connections at home."
Mother Ye listened with a smile, "My husband and I just can't stay idle. Everyone in the village is working, even those older than us are doing it. We feel uncomfortable if we rest. We're just destined to be busy."
"It would be nice to do something easy, like now, working half a day and resting half a day..."
Half a day without doing any work isn't boring. You can chat and brag a bit, and the time will pass quickly. You'll feel fulfilled on a spiritual level without expending too much energy.
Ye Yaodong wasn't idle at home all the time. He planned to spend half a day at home in the morning and half a day at the factory in town in the afternoon. It was rare for him to have a few days of free time recently.
He also took the opportunity to visit the city, where he stayed for two days to review the city's accounts and the operation of the fish sauce factory, and also paid a visit to his godfather.
He had a very fulfilling time at home and got quite a few things done.
Normally, he would come back two or three times a year to inspect the various industries.
A week later, Linji called his home, and he happened to be back from the city when he received the call. He was told to bring money to the provincial capital to pick up the car.
Ye Yaodong went outside the dock to tell his father, who was beaming with joy and raised his voice.
"Going to the provincial capital to pick up the car? Great, I'll get ready and won't be coming to work tomorrow."
"You're picking up the car? Wow, is Dongzi really going to buy you a second car?"
"You're so lucky, Ye Laosan. Why are you still working? You're working with us every day. You must be bored."
"Haha, he's just making things difficult for himself..."
"If it were me, I'd be lying at home enjoying a life of luxury. It's all because my son is such a good-for-nothing..."
Those working nearby, hearing Ye's father raise his voice, all joined in the teasing and expressed their envy.
Mr. Ye said with a smile, "Dongzi said that the tractor couldn't protect me from the wind and rain, and it was inconvenient on rainy days, so he bought me a car. The old one was left at the factory, so we bought a new one."
"So lucky..."
This made all the workers envious.
If everyone didn't have to work, they would all be envious of them.
It's working hours now, and we're rushing to harvest. I didn't dare talk for too long, just said a few words while I was busy moving things, and then quickly went back to the ship to unload the goods.
Everything relies on manual labor now, without the possibility of mechanization in the future, resulting in low efficiency. We can only work as quickly as possible.
Ye's father went back with Ye Yaodong to prepare. It was only a few minutes before the end of the workday, and since they were all villagers, it didn't matter.
"Dongzi, do I need to bring anything? Or like last time, do I not need to bring anything, and you can just drive to the dock and load the car onto the ship after you get it?"
"You need to bring your ID card and driver's license. We'll be staying for two days, and we'll definitely need to drive in the provincial capital during those two days."
"Oh, okay, I'll also bring two sets of clothes for changing. I need to talk to your mother about it; she's been saying for the past few days that she wants to send things to your sister-in-law and Ah Hai and his wife."
"Then let her get ready. We'll leave early tomorrow morning, pick up the car the day after, and then go find Ahai."
"Row."
Ye Yaodong also called Ye Chenghai and informed the boatmen who had returned with him of their departure time.
Larger fishing boats simply cannot operate without a few workers.
When Ye's mother came back at noon and cooked, she started preparing things for them to take on their trip. Ye Yaodong only had a backpack containing his clothes, money, and mobile phone. Ye's mother mainly prepared things for Ye's father and things to bring to Ye Chenghai.
The next day, before dawn, the father and son led the workers to the town's dock. After a whole day's journey, they finally arrived in the provincial capital after dark.
Ye Chenghai timed his pick-up at the dock and also booked a guesthouse near the dock for the boatmen to rest. The father and son naturally went home with him.
"Grandpa, Third Uncle, are you hungry? Let me take you to get something to eat."
"No need, we just ate on the boat not long ago. There's no need to take us to eat anything else, we can just go to your house," Ye Yaodong said.
"Then we'll wait until we get home to eat. We'll ask Xiaoqin to cook you a late-night snack then."
His wife's name is Bai Xiaoqin.
"Let's go home first, I'm not hungry right now."
Ye Chenghai was still living in the staff housing that Ye Yaopeng had bought for him. They had all been there before, but they didn't really know the way. However, once they got to the staff dormitory building, they became familiar with it again.
The elderly people downstairs greeted Ah Hai familiarly, asked him a couple of questions, and looked at him curiously.
After Ye Yaodong arrived at his house, he handed him the signed contract and said, "Tomorrow we'll pick up the car first, and after that, we'll drive over to see the land and mark out the area for you."
Ye Chenghai looked at the contract; it was indeed the one he had sent. His third uncle's name was already signed on it, and he also signed his own name. He then took out the copy he had on hand and had them both sign it together.
Everyone has to get a share; even close brothers should keep clear accounts. Land is no small matter.
"Then let's do as Uncle says. I'll go with you to pick up the car tomorrow morning if I have time."
"Okay, it's good to have more people go together."
From the moment Ye's father entered the house, he followed behind his two great-grandsons, fawning and trying to please them. His sister-in-law even held his younger sister in her arms, trying to avoid him.
The older brother ran around the house laughing and joking, wanting Ye's father to chase him, deliberately keeping him in suspense without yelling.
Sister-in-law Ye and Bai Xiaoqin coaxed the children to call out to the people.
The two of them slowly and quietly called out "Grandpa" one after another.
After finishing his work, Ye Yaodong went to play with the children. As soon as he teased them, the little girl called out in a clear voice, "Grandma, call me Third Uncle."
The eldest brother ran over and hugged his leg, calling him Third Uncle.
Ye Yaodong laughed heartily, "Give me a hug."
Ye's father looked on with longing, "Why are you treating me differently? I told you to call me, but you didn't, and I didn't let you hug me. But when it's his turn, you come over and hug him willingly."
"Hehe, Grandpa will hug you later."
With the children being looked after, Sister-in-law Ye also had some free time to prepare late-night snacks for them.
The three of them sat together and talked about Ahai's development in the provincial capital over the past few years and the current situation of the factory.
They chatted until late at night before going to their respective rooms to sleep.
There was only one room left. Ye Yaodong shared a room with his father. He let his father sleep on the bed, while he slept on a makeshift bed on the floor. It was April now, and it wouldn't be cold even when spring came.
The next day, Ye Yaodong took the two men to the abandoned warehouse where they had delivered goods a few years ago. It was not far from the dock, the money was the same amount, and the people were the same as before. They were all old acquaintances.
This time he bought a Mercedes-Benz, an upgrade for his father. Having had experience before, everyone completed the handover of the car smoothly and quickly.
After inspecting the car, Ye's father waited for Ye Yaodong to pay and then invited Ye Chenghai to get in the car first.
"Grandpa, none of our family members are as capable as you. You were the first person to drive a car."
"Hahaha... It's because Dongzi is filial. Otherwise, how could I have the ability to sell me 100 times? Even if I were sold to mine, I wouldn't earn this much money."
"Being able to give birth to a third uncle is a skill in itself, the greatest skill of all."
Mr. Ye beamed with joy, “That’s right, raising a good son is more important than anything else. This car is even better than the previous one. Your third uncle is making money now, and he’s willing to spend it all. I would have to be careful with my money, I wouldn’t dare to spend it like this.”
"So with your third uncle around, you don't need to do those hard jobs. You could collect seaweed your whole life and still not earn enough to buy this one truckload. What's the point of doing that?"
“I only do odd jobs when I’m free. Now I only work half a day. Don’t listen to his nonsense. We’re in great health. How can we not do any work every day and just sit around? We’ll all go to waste.”
"Do less..."
"Yes, yes, yes, I don't do much work now, I'm quite idle. When I was young, I was incredibly hardworking..."
After handing over the work, Ye Yaodong pulled open the back seat and got into the car. "Let's go see the land."
"Okay, tell me where it is."
"Let Ah Hai give you directions. He knows the provincial capital well, and he's sitting in the front, so he knows where it is."
The three of them, grandfather, grandmother, and grandson, happily headed towards their destination.
Another car arrived. Mr. Ye rolled down the window with a triumphant air, his hand resting on the window, occasionally checking his appearance.
Whenever he sees a passerby or walks through a busy area, he always feels that someone is looking at him through the car window. Just thinking about this makes him straighten his back.
Then, I'll touch my chin and feel the stubble growing back. I'll also touch my gray hair, feeling like I haven't taken good care of my appearance today.
A series of small actions.
Ye Yaodong sat in the back row, taking in everything and chuckling to himself.
"After we finish our business, if we still have time, how about I take you to the store to buy a couple of outfits and shoes, and get your hair cut?"
"Huh? Why buy clothes when it's not a holiday? It's a waste of money. You could get your hair cut, though. It hasn't even been a month and it's already grown back."
Ye Chenghai chimed in, "You can buy clothes even if it's not a holiday. I'll take you this afternoon. I'll buy them for you as a way of showing filial piety. You can also brag to your neighbors and friends when you get home. I can't let you go back empty-handed."
"The sweater I'm wearing was just knitted for me by your mother during the Chinese New Year. I don't need to buy a new one; it's enough. Having two sets to change into is fine, otherwise I'll have too many clothes to wear."
"Clothes in the provincial capital are cheap and nice, so wear something pretty. You can drive home tomorrow. Keep your old clothes for you to wear while working."
Hearing what Ye Yaodong said, Ye's father was tempted again. Driving a car home would indeed require a more presentable outfit to match.
"Then don't buy anything too expensive, just one piece will do."
He was overjoyed, grinning from ear to ear; no one could compare to his life in his later years.
"Oh right, I also need to buy two for your mother, otherwise she'll scold me, and I'll have to shut her up."
"Ha ha……"
The land that Ye Yaodong bought a few years ago is still lying there, overgrown with weeds. The land certificate clearly states the area, how many meters to the east, and how many meters to the west.
The marks that had been marked out before were long gone, vanished under the long-term exposure to wind, sun, and rain, and he did not re-mark them out.
But it's not complicated. They just need to measure according to the land registration certificate, as there are reference points.
The three of them got to work quickly.
Once the land is fenced off, Ah Hai can simply find people to come and carry out the construction. His land will not be abandoned, and the government will have no reason to take it back.
"Go measure the remaining piece of land later, and I'll leave it to you to keep an eye on. If someone wants to rent it, you can help me rent it too, but make sure it's a reliable one."
"Okay, then we definitely need to find a reliable one. If there's no reliable one, we'd rather leave it there for now."
"It would be best if you expanded your business further and then rented that area to build a warehouse."
"That would be best."
P.S.: I've been eating at home for a few days now, and the dinner table is full of gossip. Who broke their leg? Who got caught for fraud? Who's been married for years but can't have a child and is going to the doctor for tests everywhere? Who's over 30 and still can't find a wife? Who's daughter-in-law complains that her mother-in-law is taking care of her grandson and doesn't even let her parents take care of him, and still makes her mother-in-law pay 5000 yuan a month... It's all gossip, and every meal has a different piece of gossip.
(End of this chapter)