Ye Yaodong watched as his elder brothers, drenched from head to toe, and curiously asked, “Didn’t you go out to fish? Why do you look like you just swam back?”
Ye Yaopeng glanced down at his clinging clothes, feeling a bit uncomfortable.
He shook his hem and said, “The tide was too low when we went out; it was hard to get the boat to move. We had to call a few friends to help push us out, which made us late.”
“Oh, what time are we leaving tonight?”
“Maybe one or two o’clock. Do you want to come? Father said we only need two people to drag the net, so we’re taking turns with him. That way, we can also rest.”
Ye Yaohua, the second brother, sincerely added, “Third brother, you should come with us as well. Learn how to steer the boat and read the compass so we won’t get lost at sea. We live by the sea, and we must know how to find our way.”
“You guys know how to do it, so it’s fine.”
Did he not know how to steer a boat? Of course he could! He could read a compass too.
After years of handling big ships, he wouldn’t get lost at sea.
But after just falling into deep waters, he hadn’t quite gotten his bearings back.
Going out to sea again felt a bit daunting.
At that moment, Ye’s mother chimed in with a sharp tone, “You were just saying in the house this morning that you want to learn from your elder brothers, but now you're all talk. From now on, you aren’t going anywhere. Stay home and help out. If you don’t go out to fish, you can at least help mend nets, or else…”
“Mother, I can’t expect to become a big person in one bite! You have to let me take my time…”
“All day long, you don’t want to do any work, and you want to take your time? How long will that take? Until your son grows up and takes care of you?”
“Hey, that's not a bad idea!”
Ye’s mother glared at him, her hand raised as if to slap him for his foolishness.
Yet Ye Yaodong had already anticipated her reaction.
After saying that, he snuck away, not caring about his own hard-earned bounty or even looking back at his mother.
He dashed a few steps away and called out, “I’m too hot; I’m going back!”
After all, his wife had already come ashore, just a moment before him.
Upon returning home, he was drenched in sweat, his face scorched red from the sun.
His mother looked at him with pity.
“Why didn’t you wear a hat when you went out? You’re so sunburned! Where are your mother and the others?”
“They’re walking behind, they’ll be home soon.”
The old lady handed him a basket of freshly boiled corn. “It’s so late; you must be starving! Have some corn to tide you over— the porridge is ready, and we can eat when your mother comes back.”
“Alright.”
The corn they grew themselves was soft and sweet, never tiring to eat.
This morning, he had only a bowl of sweet potato porridge with preserved vegetables.
He hadn’t had a thing to drink since then, and after sweating so much, he was already hungry; it was past noon now.
“What about the others? It’s lunchtime, and they’re still not back?”
“One of them came back earlier and took a corn before running off again. Who knows where they wandered off to? They’ll be back after yelling a few times.”
“I’ll go call them!” After quickly finishing the corn, he tossed the cob into the corner and got up to head outside.
Just as he stepped out, he bumped straight into his mother, who was holding a basin of clams.
The sudden collision splashed seawater all over him!
“What are you doing? You’re a grown man, but you’re still so careless! Serves you right!”
Ye Yaodong took a step back with a helpless expression.
So, his mother really couldn’t stand him.
She’d been annoyed with him all morning!
He had already planned to be a good person from now on!
So frustrating!
Yet, Lin Xiuqing stepped forward and said, “Just go change your clothes for now. I’ll wash the ones you have on. It’s sunny, and they’ll dry out this afternoon. If you sweat again, you won’t have clothes to change into tonight.”
“Okay.”
Perhaps it was due to his decent behavior on the beach earlier, or maybe because he had caught two crabs; his wife seemed to find him more pleasant today.
She was gently speaking to him.
After heading into the house, Ye Yaodong began rummaging through his things.
He couldn’t find any clothes in the cabinet where he remembered keeping them.
Maybe too much time had passed, and his memory failed him.
He searched everywhere.
After helping the children wash up, Lin Xiuqing was about to grab clothing for them when she noticed him digging around and her anger began to rise, her face turning cold.
“Do you think I’m too idle and need something to do, or do you want me to find some money?”
“Huh? What are you talking about? I’m just looking for clothes!”
Did she think that he didn’t go out this morning because he was out of money? Was he really so hopeless?
Perhaps… maybe… when he was younger, but… but he had just returned after all!
He was exasperated!
“Do you really need to dig through everything just to find clothes? There are only two sets of clothes and two pairs of shorts. The rest are drying in the backyard. What are you looking for here?”
“Just two sets?”
“How many do you want?”
“I don’t know; I just want to find my clothes. I’ll fold them for you now…”
Seeing the disarray on the bed, he felt a bit guilty.
Thankfully, for the last half of his life, he had lived alone, and he knew how to do everything.
He quickly folded all four seasons’ worth of clothes for his family.
As Lin Xiuqing watched his actions, her anger faded a bit.
Perhaps he really didn’t know where his clothes were; she usually took care of such daily matters, folding his clothes after washing them.
Maybe this time she had wronged him, and her tone softened, “I’ll go outside to gather your clothes.”
After changing his clothes, Ye Yaodong sat on the bed and didn’t rush outside; he was reflecting on himself…
Just this morning, he had clearly felt the dissatisfaction of his family towards him.
It turned out that he had been such a disappointment for so long.
He hadn’t felt this clearly in decades.
After Lin Xiuqing dressed their son, she came in to put the folded clothes in the cabinet.
Seeing him still sitting there, she couldn’t help but frown and say, “Get out and eat! What are you waiting for?”
“I’m waiting for you! Without you, how can I eat?”
Ye Yaodong had only been joking, but unexpectedly, his wife’s face turned red, and she shyly turned her head away. “Stop talking nonsense!”
He was intrigued; she could even blush! Women really do like sweet words!
“Let’s eat! If we’re late, there won’t be any food left!”
See? Even her tone was softer…
His mood instantly brightened.
The frustration of being misunderstood faded into smoke, and he straightened up, leisurely following her outside.
The big round table in the main room was already crowded with children, with his wife ready to serve food beside his eldest son, Ye Chenghu.
There was also an empty seat saved for him, while the youngest son sat on his mother’s lap, being fed by her.
In his family, the youngest generation consisted of five boys and three girls.
His eldest brother had two sons and one daughter, while his second brother had one son and two daughters.
He had two sons himself.
The first four boys were named according to rivers, lakes, and the sea from oldest to youngest.
He called his youngest son simply Yang.
He sat in his spot, gazing at the table full of seafood, feeling a bit emotional.
People by the sea truly could only eat seafood.
(End of Chapter)