The women weaving nets nearby couldn't help but shake their heads.
These few young lads spent all day idling about, like children who had never grown up, only knowing how to play.
And now they wanted to kill a chicken from their own home? Truly a wasteful bunch! If they had really done something so foolish, it would have been better off for them.
But after seeing their antics for so many years, the women had grown accustomed to it.
As long as they didn't cause trouble for other families, that was the only silver lining.
Ye Yaodong rubbed his nose awkwardly, feeling a bit guilty as he watched their angry expressions.
Xiao Xiao laughed cheerfully and said, “Oh, Dongzi is actually worried about his wife now? Don’t worry, just coax her nicely when you come back tonight.”
“Yeah, just coax her when you get back. Hurry up, we need to catch the chicken! It's already past two, and we need to stew it for a long time. If we're late, we might starve!”
Ye Yaodong was pulled along by them, thinking it was too late to turn back now.
He figured he’d just coax her tonight and then take them out to dig for clams tomorrow, to show he was making an effort to win her back.
With this thought in mind, he cast aside his worries and joyfully followed along.
Bai Sha Village wasn’t too large, but it wasn’t too small either.
A-Zheng’s home was closer to Dongqiao Village, with fields right behind their back door.
Despite his boldness in saying he would catch a chicken, Ye Yaodong felt a little guilty.
He feared his mother might see him while weaving at the front door.
To avoid this, he took a longer route, intending to cross the fields and sneak into the yard through the back.
Who would’ve thought his mother was actually sitting at the back door weaving nets today!
And she caught sight of the three of them right away…
“What are you boys up to now?”
A-Zheng gave a sheepish laugh, stepping forward to poke his fingers together. “Mom, I want to discuss something with you. What do you think…”
“No way!”
The three of them were stunned.
Before they could say anything, they were cut off!
His mother lifted her gaze, scratching her head with the shuttle, and after finishing, she resumed weaving.
Then she said, “Whenever you boys get together, there’s never anything good. Don’t even think of discussing things with me, I wouldn’t agree!”
“Mom, didn’t Dad just say he hasn’t had strength in his hands and feet lately…”
“What? You want to buy a blue crab to boost your father’s strength?”
Being from a seaside area, they often ate blue crab to gain strength.
“Not really…”
Ye Yaodong watched, finding it amusing.
Just moments ago, A-Zheng was bold and resolute, but now he seemed to shrink before his mother.
How long had it been since he had seen A-Zheng like this?
A-Zheng thought for a moment, realizing that whether he was upfront or coy, he would still face punishment.
So he decided to be straightforward, saying, “This morning, A-Guang caught a cobra. I thought we could kill a chicken to stew with it, then bring a bowl back for you and Dad to help with his strength. Isn’t Dad always complaining about not having energy lately?”
His mother raised an eyebrow.
She had intended to scold him, but upon hearing the latter part, she refrained.
At least he had some filial piety, thinking about his father.
Seeing his mother not immediately scolding him, A-Zheng seized the opportunity and pressed on, “Mom, this chicken was bought with my money, and I’ve fed it more often than anyone else. So really, if I take one, you’re not losing anything, right?”
“You think I’m stupid? You eat my food, wear my clothes, and live in my house, and yet you dare say you raised the chicken?”
“Hehe, it’s yours, it’s yours. If you don’t mind, I’ll just go take it!”
A-Zheng’s mother shot him a glare, about to scold him when he excitedly called Ye Yaodong and Xiao Xiao to catch the chicken.
Not scolding meant tacitly agreeing, right?
“Get out, get out, if you catch it, just get lost. You can only catch the rooster.” Having four daughters and just one son, how could she not dote on him?
“Which one?”
“That one! That big rooster looks fat! Xiao Xiao, you go first!” Ye Yaodong pointed to the brightly feathered rooster strolling about in a corner.
He really didn’t want to step on all this chicken droppings.
After a quick commotion of clucking from the rooster, a cry of “Damn it, we didn’t catch it!”
“That way, that way… Dongzi…”
“I’ll go… I’ll go…”
The three of them dashed around the yard, but the chickens flew all over the place.
After some chaos, they still failed to catch any.
“Damn it, why can it fly so well? You guys go over there, I’ll head this way, let’s surround it!”
Ye Yaodong quickly stopped them, “Wait, wait, A-Zheng, go grab some rice husks. We'll stand at the corner and wait until they eat before we catch them.”
“Alright!”
A-Zheng’s mother watched, her heart pained.
These little brats! Luckily, she was quick and moved the fishing nets inside; otherwise, it would be a chaotic mess.
After scattering a handful of rice husks, the chickens remained very cautious, circling warily around, not daring to approach.
After a while, realizing there was no danger, they stepped forward to peck at the food.
“Go, Dongzi, you go!”
As soon as he heard this, Ye Yaodong tiptoed forward, aiming carefully, and then lunged.
“Got it!”
His face brimming with joy, he tightened his grip on two wings, “Bring some grass strings! I need to tie it up, or else it will fly away again.”
“Here, tie it as you go, and take it to A-Guang’s place to slaughter.”
This rooster was lively and struggled even while being tied, tilting its neck as it squawked.
Once Ye Yaodong tied it properly, he handed it to them, but looking at his shoes covered in chicken droppings, he casually grabbed some straw to wipe them off.
After pressing his feet hard on the ground a few times to clean his shoes, he happily followed them to A-Guang’s house.
A-Guang's mother had passed away, and his father had gone out to sea with a big ship, which would be gone for several months.
Since no one was around to take care of things, and with no girls around, A-Guang hadn’t married yet.
His household only had him and his two younger sisters, so they often gathered at A-Guang’s home.
The group all gathered at his place to play cards, waiting for the three of them to arrive and start cooking.
“Wow, A-Guang, don’t you know your own name? Daring to play cards in the afternoon?”
“Hahaha, Pei Guang, you’re gonna lose everything!” Ye Yaodong laughed heartily, thinking about A-Guang’s name and how it brought him misfortune.
It had been many years since he had seen A-Guang.
In his last life, when his father had saved enough to buy a boat, the whole family had moved to Zhoushan to catch shrimp and they rarely returned home.
A-Guang looked at them disdainfully, “I didn’t lose today, okay?”
“So who lost? Who won? Whoever wins the most can buy two bowls of seafood at the dock! A-Zheng brought a chicken over from home; let’s make a rich Dragon and Phoenix soup for dinner!”
A-Guang waved the cash in his hand, puffing out his chest. “I’ve won against three families—this is the first time! I’ll head to the dock and see what’s fresh. You guys kill the chicken first!”
They enjoyed a little friendly gambling among friends, and the winnings usually went to buy food so they could all share a meal together.
Even if they hadn’t made anything of themselves, everyone shared a strong bond, and Ye Yaodong, especially excited, volunteered, “You just keep playing, I’ll kill the chicken and clean it up.”
“Sure, then it’s all yours! I’ll play for a bit; call for me when you’re done with the clean-up!” Xiao Xiao felt like a heavy burden had been lifted as she handed the chicken to him and then returned to the table.
(End of Chapter)