Chapter 1201: Dry Kiss

"Then we do have to send New Year's greetings to the leader... He has helped us so much and has always been supporting you. However, the New Year is the day after tomorrow, and it's a bit late to send New Year's greetings now. Remember to explain tomorrow, and you will have a rest in the past two days."

"Well, I'll make a phone call later. I don't know if he has a holiday. Tomorrow is the 29th, and the New Year is the day after tomorrow. Maybe he has come back from vacation and is celebrating the New Year in the county."

Lin Xiuqing thought about it and it was right, "That's right, the New Year is the day after tomorrow, and he may not be in the city. After all, his home is still in the county, so he may go back to the county to celebrate the New Year."

"Pack these things, I'll make a phone call first."

Ye Yaodong did what he said, put down the newspaper in his hand, and walked out again.

"Dad, where are you going? Take me with you... Take me with you..."

Ye Xiaoxi came out from nowhere, saw him riding a bicycle, and immediately spread his hands to block his car.

Ye Yaodong was shocked, but luckily he had just ridden out of his house, and the road was all dirt, so he couldn't ride fast, so he braked suddenly.

"What are you doing? Get out of the way, go play with your brothers and sisters."

"No, they all have new banknotes, and I don't."

Ye Yaodong felt his pocket, took out a few new banknotes, and took out two one-cent notes and gave them to her.

"Now you have them, go ahead."

Ye Xiaoxi happily trotted forward to take them, "I have them too, I'll go find my brother..."

After getting the new money, she ran away without even looking at Ye Yaodong.

Ye Yaodong then rode his bike again and headed for the village committee.

The day after tomorrow is the Chinese New Year, and the village has a special flavor these days, with children's firecrackers ringing from time to time.

There are tables of all sizes on the roadside in the village, either shaking dice, playing cards, or gambling, and the women are also preparing all kinds of food to eat during the Chinese New Year.

The nets that needed to be cleaned and dried had been basically cleaned in the past two days and were hung in front of their homes.

Along the way, one could smell either the fishy smell of nets or the saltpeter smell of firecrackers.

The hawkers' calls were one after another, and people kept coming to sell things with their loads, more than ever before.

Ye Yaodong passed by and saw the barber shaving people's hair on the roadside, and he also shouted to him, asking him to remember to go to their beach in the afternoon, and the children at home also had to get a haircut for the New Year.

The barber knew him, of course, because he had shaved dozens of bald heads for him in the past few months, and he was a big customer.

When he arrived at the village committee, his mother was happily carrying two large pieces of fat meat and a basket of soybeans, and his father was holding a bag of flour and a bag of rice.

"The government has distributed welfare?"

"Yes, we have a day off today, so we came to collect the welfare and go home for the New Year. We will take it to your place later. Are your sisters-in-law sitting at the door?"

"They are drying their fishing nets at the door."

"Then I will take it over later."

"What are you afraid of? Taking something is like stealing."

"I am afraid they will gossip and say I am biased. I eat and drink your food, so it is normal for me to take it from you. But it is different when they see me in person. I will take it later."

"Who cares."

Ye Yaodong was too lazy to care about his mother's little fuss. He parked his bicycle at the door, stepped past them, and went in to make a phone call.

It happened that there was also a phone call for him, so he answered his own phone first, and then called Director Chen.

The call was from the army, asking for another batch of goods before the New Year, and Director Chen would not be on holiday tomorrow, but would start on New Year's Eve.

The call came at the right time, so he could go to the army to deliver a batch of goods, and then give Director Chen a New Year gift, and when he came back, he could bring Director Chen back to the county town for the New Year.

On the phone, when he said that, Director Chen only said that he would see tomorrow, fearing that it would be unsafe to walk at night. He originally wanted to return to his hometown in the county town on the morning of New Year's Eve to celebrate the New Year.

So he could only wait until tomorrow.

After the call, he started to count the goods when he got home, and asked the two guys guarding the workshop to load the goods first and cover them with waterproof rain cloth.

In the afternoon, he took Ah Qing to the town again. In addition to wanting to exchange some new banknotes, he also wanted to buy some New Year gifts and bring them with him tomorrow, so that he would not have to rack his brains to think about what to buy in the city.

However, there was a long queue at the post office in the afternoon. It seemed that they were all from their village, and they all smiled and greeted them. Fortunately, the people at the counter kept their heads down and were busy, so they didn't see them.

Otherwise, it would be embarrassing...

The two glanced at the door, greeted the acquaintances, and gave up directly.

"It's all my fault. I said that. There were so many people in the afternoon. It was still deserted in the morning. I didn't see many people coming all morning. Those who came were just making phone calls."

"It doesn't matter. I've exchanged some in the morning. I'll take you to the bank in the city to exchange it tomorrow?"

"That's not good. If you go to the city with so much money, there will definitely be a lot of people in the city."

"Are you stupid? You'll deliver another truckload of goods to the army tomorrow. Can't you just use the money you get to exchange for money?"

"Then you go and exchange it. I won't go. The day after tomorrow is the New Year. I have a lot of things to do tomorrow. I have to fry meatballs and lard. I also have to start making fish balls. I also have to make braised pork feet and drunken shrimps and crabs in advance. I'm very busy."

"Start making fish balls when you go back. Make 10 pounds first. I'll send them to Director Chen tomorrow."

A Qing reminded him when he talked about making fish balls.

"Then I asked A Cai to save some mackerel for me at night. I didn't want to make it so quickly. Otherwise, it would take many days. Fresh ones taste better..."

"It doesn't matter. There is a wharf in the town. We can go to the wharf later. We can buy a few more to take back."

"Okay."

The couple has been running back and forth in the town to buy things, all for Director Chen.

Tobacco, alcohol, canned food and biscuits are all necessary. There must be things on the cards and homemade things.

Lin Xiuqing originally planned to start working early tomorrow morning, but now she has to go back and start working in the afternoon.

After Ye Yaodong returned home, he immediately called his parents to help her.

When his parents were called to work, of course he would not have a share of work.

Ye's mother took advantage of the time when her two daughters-in-law were exchanging money in the town to pick up the annual interest issued in the morning and put it in the pot to boil.

The children in the family were the happiest. They ran around the village and had smelled the fragrance of many families boiling lard. They had been looking forward to boiling lard at home.

Now they can finally eat the fragrant lard residue, and they are so happy.

In addition to the three children each holding a small bowl, Ye Yaodong also got a bowl.

It happened that A Guang took advantage of the twins taking a nap and brought Pei Yu to play, so they organized a game and called Ye Yaopeng and Ye Yaohua, and the four of them started playing cards at the door.

They could eat melon seeds and pig lard while playing cards, and everyone's mouth was full of oil.

Ye's father stretched his neck to chop fish paste, watching them play cards, and shouted, "No, no, you should play a straight, why do you play a pair..."

"Oh, if you play a pair you will win... Do you know how to play..."

"Dad, I won if you don't shout! If you don't shout, how does Dongzi know that I have a straight?" Ye Yaopeng turned his head and glared at his father, angry to death.

Ye Yaodong laughed, "Dad is my spy, give me money..."

"You old thing, I told you to chop fish paste, where are you working, still watching the card game here?"

"I'm doing it, right? I'll just say a few words."

"I think you want to do it yourself."

"It's good that you know."

Father Ye immediately stuffed the kitchen knife into Mother Ye's hand, "You've finished boiling lard anyway, you're very free, you come."

Mother Ye raised the kitchen knife, almost scared Father Ye to death, and quickly stepped back, "What are you doing?"

"Chop you, you don't have any work in your eyes, I called you here to work, did you let you play cards?"

She was also a sharp tongue but a soft heart, holding the kitchen knife high in her hand, and after saying the harsh words, she picked up the knife to chop fish paste.

Father Ye's heart also fell back, so that he could stand aside and watch them play cards.

After a while, he pulled Ye Yaohua up and did it himself.

Ye Yaohua was a little unconvinced, "Dad, do you have private money to lose?"

"What unlucky words are you saying? I sit down to win money."

"Then you have to stand up if you lose."

"Don't keep talking about losing. I'm lucky enough to win money, but you're saying bad things. Shut up."

Ye Yaodong laughed, "Dad, if you lose, it's my fault."

"You said that? No, I'm here to win money, so stop saying unlucky things."

Father Ye was a little happy that someone paid the bill, but then he thought it was wrong. This was another person who said depressing words.

"Then do you want to pay for my loss? Don't let mother know that you hide private money."

"When did I hide private money? You all shut up and watch how I beat you."

"Okay, then I don't have to pay. I'll shuffle the cards."

Mother Ye chopped the fish paste and listened to them talking. Seeing them talking excitedly, she also smiled.

How could she not know whether the old man hid private money? Just turning a blind eye.

Father Ye won money in the first few rounds, and he was so happy that he smiled. When he saw his grandchildren coming around, he generously gave them 5 cents each.

After a while, the other grandchildren knew about it and ran over to ask for money. Father Ye gave each of them.

However, he started to lose in the next round just after he divided the money.

After losing all the money he won on the table, he took out the few dollars in his pocket and lost it all.

"Why did I win at the beginning, but kept losing later..."

After saying that, he finally reacted and slapped his thigh, "Oh, it's bad luck to give money to those kids. I shouldn't give them money..."

"Dad, if you don't have money, get up. It's my turn."

Father Ye looked at Mother Ye, then at Ye Yaodong. He was embarrassed to say anything, so he could only stand up reluctantly.

In his heart, he thought, Dongzi seemed quite clever, but he didn't know how to respond. He just said so nicely, if he loses, it's his fault...

"It's all your fault. You said I lost before we even started playing. You really said bad luck to you."

Everyone laughed.

"Dad, it was obviously you who gave the money and lost. Can you blame me?"

Mother Ye called out to Father Ye, who was still resentful and wanted to speak.

"If you lose everything, don't join in the fun. Hurry up and shave the pig's feet. If you can't shave it off, light a candle and burn it clean."

"Oh, okay."

With his pockets empty, he couldn't have any other ideas.

It was a mistake. Next time, he must not open champagne in the middle of the game. He didn't feel happy for long before he lost everything.

The pig's hair was very hard, and the knife at home was not sharp enough, so he lit a candle and burned it, and then shaved it. After shaving it clean, he went to borrow a machete and chopped it into pieces.

Seeing that he was free, Mother Ye wanted to instruct him to do something else, but Father Ye slipped away quickly and left the house before she could speak.

As long as he is not under his nose, he is free.

You can’t play at the door. There are many people in other places. It’s the New Year. Whose man stays at home?

Lin Xiuqing and Ye’s mother worked all afternoon to get all the things that Ye Yaodong would give away tomorrow.

Ye Yaodong and his friends also played cards all afternoon and dispersed at dusk.

Lin Xiuqing didn’t let them go home empty-handed. She gave them a bowl of fish balls each.

Ye Yaodong looked at the basket full of fish balls, which were still warm to the touch, and stuffed one into his mouth.

“Delicious!”

“Of course it’s delicious. It’s fresh out of the pot.”

“Tomorrow we will make more for the New Year. It’s cold, and it won’t go bad if we leave it.”

“Yeah.”

Lin Xiuqing looked at Ye Xiaoxi who ran in from the door, and also used chopsticks to pick up two for her, asking her to eat with her hands.

But she tried to pull out the fish balls and held them in her hand. Lin Xiuqing quickly patted her on the back of her hand.

"Look at your hands, are they dirty?"

"Dirty."

"So are you going to eat like this or wash your hands?"

Ye Xiaoxi tilted her head, thought for a moment, and took the chopsticks, "Eat like this!"

"You're so lazy, take the chopsticks back after eating, don't throw them outside, and don't run with the chopsticks."

She nodded, and went out happily while eating.

"She's been hanging around me all afternoon, the old people give her this and that to eat, and look at her round face, she doesn't need to eat dinner."

"After dinner, others can't eat, but she can still eat."

Lin Xiuqing laughed and shook her head.

"Hey? The barber is here," Ye Yaodong listened to the voice outside, stretched his neck to take a look, "I'll go out and call the two boys back to get a haircut, and let them wash their hair before eating before it gets dark."

The barber had already arrived at his door.

He was carrying a cloth bag full of barber tools and a small stool, and holding a metal clip about one foot (33.3 cm) long.

A metal rod slides in the clip, making a special sound, which tells him that a barber is coming.

Ye Yaodong told him in the morning, but he didn't come until the afternoon. It shows how many people in the village are getting their hair cut before the New Year.

He brought the children back to get their hair cut, and other adults around also brought their children to line up to get their hair cut.

It's almost the New Year, and business is good no matter what business you are in.

Ye Yaodong pulled the two small tufts tied on Ye Xiaoxi's head and teased her with a smile, "Do you want me to shave your head?"

"No, no!" She quickly protected her head.

"You don't want it now? You insisted on shaving it before."

"No, never again."

Lin Xiuqing said with a smile: "She was very happy after shaving a few months ago, but she ran back crying the next day, and everyone laughed at her."

Ye Yaodong was also happy, "Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"You were gone for a month or two, how could I tell you earlier? When you came back, she had forgotten about it, and her hair had grown back."

The old lady also smiled and said: "She cried bitterly for several days at that time, and didn't dare to go out for several days, afraid of being laughed at. Then I made her a small straw hat, and she went out to play happily again."

Ye Yaodong squatted down and coaxed her earnestly, "Shave another one? Anyway, you have a hat?"

"No, no..." She shook her head like a rattle, ran into the house while shouting, and hid.

She didn't come out for dinner, and was dragged out by force, and she was still vigilantly watching the door to see if the barber had left.

She didn't dare to go out all night, for fear that there was another barber outside.

Ye Yaodong drove the tractor to deliver the goods at dawn the next morning.

After delivering the goods, he rushed to the door to wait for Director Chen before the Ocean Bureau got off work.

After all, it was a New Year gift, so he didn't dare to take it directly to the office.

After Director Chen came out and was stopped by him, he smiled and said: "I've been waiting for you all morning. So you're waiting here."

"I thought it wouldn't be a good idea to deliver it directly to the office, so I'll wait for you to get off work at the door. I'll help you put the bicycle on the tractor? Take the tractor back?"

"Okay."

Ye Yaodong drove and explained to him why he came today. He said that he was very miserable. Even if he made money, he had to work until the New Year before he had time to stop. He was spinning around like a top all day long.

The two walked and talked on the road. After three years of contact, they were very familiar with each other. Ye Yaodong spoke very casually, and his complaints were also very direct.

Director Chen listened with a smile and praised him a few times.

He did not refuse the New Year gift from Ye Yaodong. After all, they were very close, and he thought that giving him a gift was also a token of Ye Yaodong's intention.

Anyway, he had received many specialties in the past, and Ye Yaodong had brought him a lot of good luck. He also treated him as his own junior.

He also planned to take care of him more in the future.

Ye Yaodong knew that he would return to his hometown in the county to celebrate the New Year after work today, so he volunteered to wait for him to get off work before going back together.

For him, it was the same whether he went back early or late. His family was now completely rested, and he didn't need to do any work.

When Director Chen went to work in the afternoon, he stayed at his house to help Director Chen's wife Jin Yuzhi with work, helping her move and pack luggage, and taking the gifts back to her hometown.

Jin Yuzhi was also very familiar with him. After all, they had many contacts and stayed for meals together. She had a good impression of him and treated him as her own junior.

After Ye Yaodong finished helping her with the housework, he also took a walk around the market and looked at the goods in the warehouse.

His two uncles have not rested for the New Year yet. They plan to work until tomorrow, sell for half a day tomorrow morning, and go home at noon.

Then they said they would come back to open the door to do business on the third day of the New Year. They are also working hard to make money.

Ye Yaodong chatted with them for a while, asked them to help him look after the warehouse while they were in the city, and then returned to Director Chen's house.

Because tomorrow is a holiday, Director Chen will also get off work early in the afternoon, and they can leave immediately after returning.

During the chat, he also learned that Director Chen's children are all in various units, and they can only go home after work today. If some live far away, they may not be able to go home until New Year's Eve, or even not come back.

Jin Yuzhi also said with emotion, "Sometimes I would rather my children be unsuccessful, but I can still be with them and see them. If they are successful, I can't see them anymore."

The number of times they meet in a year can be counted on 10 fingers.

Ye Yaodong said, "If I really have no future, I might be disappointed and disliked."

He had no future in his previous life, but he was under the watchful eyes of his parents, so he was disliked.

"Yes, every parent wants their children to be successful, but when they are successful, they will feel lonely without their children."

"Let them send their grandchildren back to you to raise, so they won't be lonely."

"Hehe, you hit the nail on the head. I always tell them this when I call them, but they, as mothers, are reluctant to send their children back. Alas."

"Otherwise, I will be half your son. I don't need you to raise me, and I can be filial to you with a legitimate reason."

Director Chen smiled and said, "Will your parents agree to give half of their son to each of them?"

"What's wrong with that? On the contrary, my father will probably be so happy. It's not like they don't recognize them. Aren't they still their children? They are still under their noses."

Ye Yaodong didn't just say it casually. He had this idea a long time ago.

It's just that he didn't have the nerve to say it, and the atmosphere wasn't there.

If he said it like this normally, it would be too abrupt and seem too purposeful.

Now they took the initiative to talk about it, and he casually brought it up.

He didn't think he had to get any benefits from them, and he really didn't need money now.

He just felt that he had more contacts with Director Chen, and he was good to him, and he couldn't repay him, so it would be more legitimate and closer to recognize a godparent.

Of course, the relationship would be more solid.

The godparents now are real, not as casual as they would be in the future, where you can just recognize a godfather, godmother, brother, and sister.

Director Chen and Jin Yuzhi looked at each other, and they were actually a little moved.

They did have a lot of contacts in the past two years, and the benefits they got were mutual, and Ye Yaodong's character was also seen.

Although he didn't have much education, he was down-to-earth and hardworking. Although he seemed a little lively, he was also smart and didn't go astray.

They had also met his family. His father was honest, his mother was enthusiastic, and his brothers were also honest. It was not a top-notch family that would cause trouble.

"When the kids come back in the next couple of days, I'll discuss with them. It's a good idea to have a godparent. I'm very optimistic about you, a young man, and you're filial to your father."

"You've been visiting us old folks a lot in the past two years, which has made our lives more lively. I really hope you'll come over more often."

Ye Yaodong's smile deepened.

"Oh, if you don't find me annoying, I'll come to your house every now and then when I'm free. Auntie's food is delicious, and it's a change of taste. My wife's food is delicious, but I get tired of eating it every day, haha."

Jin Yuzhi smiled and said, "You're really good at talking. You didn't forget to praise your wife even when she's not around. You praised everyone."

"You're speaking from your heart. I don't tell lies."

Jin Yuzhi said to Director Chen, "Wait until the kids come back tomorrow and tell them about it. If they don't have any objections, we can go to Adong's house during the New Year holidays. We're all from the same county, so it doesn't take time to go there."

"Okay, it's a good time to take advantage of the New Year's holiday to double the happiness."

Ye Yaodong was so happy. Fortunately, he was smart and waited for people to get off work and sent them back.

These two days of New Year's Eve, the atmosphere was right again, and they were both lonely. It was just right for him to talk, so he got the chance to bring it up.

With the two elders agreeing, the matter was almost done.

When he got home, he had to remind the whole family.

Ye Yaodong listened to them happily.

"That's great. I'll go buy some good tea in the next two days and wait to kowtow to you and offer tea to you to get red envelopes."

Director Chen joked: "Haha, if the children at home don't agree, you can't kowtow."

"That doesn't matter. I can still kowtow and wish you a happy new year. After accompanying my wife back to her parents' home on the second day of the New Year, I will go to your house on the third day to kowtow and wish you a happy new year, and send you the collected tea leaves as usual."

"Okay, you are still good at talking. None of the children in my family can talk better than you."

"It's natural. I've been used to coaxing the old lady at home since I was a child. I have trained my tongue. Otherwise, how could the old lady at home love me the most?"

Jin Yuzhi also said: "I am very good at pleasing people."

...

Ye Yaodong was driving a tractor, and Director Chen and Jin Yuzhi sat on his left and right sides. Everyone talked a lot along the way.

He also made them happy, always smiling.

By the way, he asked if the little whale was alive?

Director Chen only said that he was not sure, because after it was sent to the provincial research institute, it was then sent to the special economic zone research institute.

After turning his hand, he was no longer so clear. He only knew that he was still alive when he was sent away.

Ye Yaodong could only give up with regret.

"When I went to town yesterday, I heard someone say that the fishery association in the city seems to be finalized?"

"Yes, all the plans were negotiated and approved before the year, and the personnel have been decided. We will wait for the release after the year."

"Oh...are the positions based on what I mentioned? Are they all in the city?"

Director Chen looked at him with a smile, "You will know after the new year, there will be good news."

"Good news?"

"Well, you have something to report to your superiors. You have done a good job. The two whales are of great research value. Everything is scarce in our country now. As long as there is something of value, we will give some rewards to the masses."

"Oh, that's it. The commendation reward last time has made everyone very satisfied and everyone is very happy. It doesn't matter if there is no reward this time."

"We still have to do what we should do according to the regulations. This is also an encouragement to everyone."

"Let me thank you first for everyone."

"You're welcome, you deserve this."

Ye Yaodong smiled, still thinking about the good news in his heart. He was not a fool.

Director Chen asked him some more about fishing boats. He knew that he had a lot of boats on hand, but he didn't inquire in detail.

Now that I want to recognize my son, I still have to learn more about him.