After a short wait, Lin Xiuqing put down her abacus and said, "It's 7,628 pounds, 1,601 pieces, and 88 cents. No mistake."
"I knew there wouldn't be a mistake. We’re all from the same village. I won't cheat you on weights. In business, honesty is what truly matters," Ye Yaodong grinned.
"I never said you were cheating us on weights, just that with such a big number, it's easy to make a mistake if you only count once," he replied.
"It’s fine, nobody can guarantee they won’t make a mistake. Since everything is fine, I’ll give you a receipt."
"Ah, we can’t get the money right away?" A Guang's eyes widened.
"How could I have so much cash? This mackerel isn't like the high-priced yellow croaker that requires finding buyers first. This fish sells well, so I'll just give you a receipt. You can come by to settle up tomorrow or the day after. It’s only a bit over a thousand; why would I run off? I have to collect so many goods every month!"
"Alright, then let's get that receipt sorted."
The villagers understood that the purchasing spot didn’t pay cash on the spot; they had to wait until the funds came back.
They didn’t mind a day or two's wait, but A Guang was just overly excited.
"Dongzi, you keep that receipt for us and let your wife keep it safe. When it’s time to settle, you let us know."
"Sure thing!"
After the lively business was done, the villagers were reluctant to leave, huddling around the pickup spot still chatting about the baskets of mackerel.
Xiao Xiao, A Zheng, and A Guang excitedly followed Ye Yaodong back to his home, bragging about how clever and lucky they had been during their fishing adventures…
Their laughter filled the air as they walked.
Once they arrived at Ye’s home, they each returned to their own places.
Ye's mother smiled warmly, "Dongzi, are you all going again tomorrow?"
"I’ll check with A Guang after he gets home to see if we can rent for another day. We were originally going to the lonely island tomorrow, but running into the mackerel was just a stroke of luck."
Lin Xiuqing, looking disappointed, said, "Our house is starting construction tomorrow, so we need to help at home. Otherwise, I could have gone with you to fish."
"It’s alright, I can go alone. You guys can do what you need to do."
Seeing him being so diligent and thoughtful, Ye's mother felt quite relieved.
"It’s just as well, you won’t be much help anyway. You can go get some seafood to bring back for the workers’ meals. There are so many workers; they need plenty to eat. With your elder brother around tomorrow, we’ll be fine."
"Who knows if the boat will be rented out tomorrow or not?"
"If they won’t rent, then you can go up the mountain to haul dirt or sift stones by the river in Dongqiao Village, giving the family an extra pair of hands!"
Ye Yaodong rolled his eyes.
If he told his mother about falling off the cart while hauling dirt that morning, she would surely be upset.
He hadn’t done much labor in his past life—just a waste of space.
"We’ll see about it tomorrow."
He headed to the back yard for a quick wash.
He didn't mind that his clothes hadn’t dried; he just slipped into a pair of shorts and swaggered back inside, collapsing onto his bed.
Until evening, when his clothes dried, he planned to visit A Guang for some drinks, saving some rice for the family…
Lin Xiuqing followed him inside and quietly said, "Did you notice how Er Sao hesitated to speak several times just now?"
"What do you mean?" he asked, confused.
"I think she might be wanting to ask about the money from selling the mackerel!"
Ye Yaodong looked at her in bewilderment.
"Why should that matter to her? Our family has always been about each household earning their keep."
"Maybe she feels it’s unfair that Da Ge and Er Ge go out to sea and turn in their earnings to build the house, while you don't go with them and instead rent a boat to make money for yourself. She might have some thoughts about that."
Women have so many thoughts and calculations! It’s a headache!
"The boats belong to our father. What's wrong with the sons helping out? Sure, I've been a little lazy, but haven't I been helping gather seafood to save a bit on groceries? We all work hard. Why can’t I keep the money I've earned?"
"Shhh, keep your voice down!" Lin Xiuqing shot a glance at the door, fearing they might be overheard.
"What’s to be scared of!" he replied assertively.
It was his hard-earned money; it wouldn’t be right for his Er Sao to think she could take a share of it.
Lin Xiuqing didn’t dare speak anymore, worried he’d push the door out and confront her.
Since Er Sao wasn’t saying anything, they would just pretend they didn’t know anything for now.
Seeing her quiet, Ye Yaodong reassured her, "Don't worry about her. In a few months, when the house is done, we can split off. Each family will manage their own affairs."
She softly acknowledged, "Mhm."
When Ye's father returned with the fishing boat, his clothes were still wet, and with no dry clothes to wear, he didn’t go to the wharf to help sort the catch, feeling justified staying home instead.
When Ye's father arrived, he seldom smiled at Ye Yaodong, but today he did.
"Not bad! You caught over 7,000 pounds of mackerel."
"It’s not too much. With four people sharing, it’s only about 400 dollars each."
"That’s still pretty good. It would be better if you had gone alone."
Ye Yaodong thought: If he had gone alone, it means you'd have one less son to invite friends and relatives over for a feast!
Ye Er Sao finally found a chance to voice her thoughts after holding them in all afternoon.
"Father, since Da Ge and A Hua are alternating with you at sea, their earnings go to building the house. Doesn’t Ye Yaodong’s fish money also belong to building the house?"
"Really?" Ye's father frowned, about to speak, but Ye Yaodong quickly repeated what he had said to Lin Xiuqing in the afternoon.
"But it’s not the same. They all put in hard work too, yet their earnings go towards building a house. Ye Yaodong isn’t going with you all to sea. He’s earning for himself while we end up splitting our earnings to help him build a house. That seems a bit unfair, doesn’t it?"
Ye's father frowned.
"Who says that? Where did that logic come from? If I give you money to build a house, isn't that a loss for me? The boat is mine, not a public one. I’ve been repairing it bit by bit these past two years, did I ever ask you for money?"
"Da Ge and Er Ge going to sea is considered helping the family, and Er San gathering seafood is the same. Besides the money earned, what they’re contributing is also valuable. Besides, Er Er said that Er San has also been helping out at the homestead these past few days."
"To put it another way, if Da Ge and Er Ge are out at sea, do their earnings cover the cost of building your houses? Why is it that you think you should profit from him for his house? Isn’t it me providing subsidies for your house? Er San's seafood can save on some groceries too, which is also a contribution and just in a different form."
It seemed he understood Er San’s point that what he earned should be his, and there was nothing wrong with that.
Moreover, with the financial situations of the three sons, Er San had the least.
Parents naturally worry more for the weaker child, feeling a little biased despite their frustrations.
Seeing their discontented faces, Ye's father continued, "Tomorrow, if he doesn’t go gather seafood, I’ll break his legs and carry him to the homestead to help out, no arguments about that, right? Do you think going out to sea is tiring or sifting stones and dirt is?"
They were already starting to quarrel over how little was earned; what would happen if they made a lot more in the future?
The second daughter-in-law was too calculating.
All these years, they had kept their earnings to themselves; their food was all from the family’s produce, and they hadn’t spent much.
Now that Er San finally earned some money, she was so quick to jump in and claim a share.
Ye's father understood his household and its members very well by now; he had long wanted to split off and let them all live independently.
Children will have fortunes of their own; let them live whatever lives they choose!
(End of Chapter)