Chapter 14: The Generation Shift from Grandparents to Grandchildren

In an instant, Ye Father envisioned living with the third son and working until death; he thought he might as well live alone.

“Dad, I’m sincere!”

“If I believe you, I’ll have to work until I’m eighty!”

“Even if you don’t believe me, you’ll still have to work until eighty! My grandma is eighty and still planting vegetables!”

Ye Father replied irritably, “If I live with you, I’ll shorten my lifespan—I’ll probably be so stressed I won’t even reach eighty.”

“Oh, fine,” Ye Yaodong shrugged. “Then I’ll move out to ensure you live a long life! You can choose between Eldest Brother and Second Brother to live with you here for retirement!”

Knowing that his father planned to build three houses, he deliberately made this remark.

Ye Dasao and Ye Ersao immediately looked displeased but didn’t dare openly express their reluctance.

Ye Father could see through their thoughts but chose not to point it out.

Ye Mother, busy feeding her grandson, stayed silent but felt a chill in her heart. She prided herself on treating her three daughters-in-law well; she had taken care of them during their confinement periods, and they had all helped with the grandchildren. Yet, in the end, only the youngest’s wife was willing to live with them!

Actually, last night before bed, she had discussed with Ye Father the idea of directly building three houses. Their current old home was quite dilapidated, and at just over fifty, if they lived another twenty years, it wouldn’t be suitable for living.

Once they passed away, the land could be sold and divided among the three brothers without worrying about who would care for them. They could still manage on their own, and as long as their sons showed filial piety, they could just enjoy their lives.

Who would have thought Ye Father’s sudden probe would reveal the intentions of the two daughters-in-law? Thankfully, both sons were good, and the youngest daughter-in-law was also kind-hearted.

The children at the table, hearing the adults talk, didn’t dare to interject. They just focused on eating and, once finished, got down from the table to play, ignoring the adults’ concerns.

The three daughters-in-law finally settled down, but none felt like eating; they all waited for Ye Father to speak.

Ye Father was quite unhappy but couldn’t vent his frustration on his daughters-in-law, so he glared at his three sons and stated clearly, “I’ve already discussed it with the commune; we’re building three houses—one for each of you. Your mother and I don’t need you to support us; we’re still capable.”

He regretted not simply saying one house per person from the start!

Upon hearing this, Ye Dasao and Ye Ersao breathed a sigh of relief, their faces breaking into smiles.

At that moment, Ye Yaodong and Ye Ersao understood their wives’ intentions and glared at them disapprovingly.

“Alright, let’s eat quickly. After eating, Eldest and Second, come with me to hire some workers and buy sand,” Ye Father instructed.

Ye Mother added, “I’ll go look for someone to pick a good date for the construction.”

“Okay.”

At the table, only Ye Yaodong and the old lady seemed unaffected by the atmosphere; he smiled as he helped the old lady get some fish.

Since she had no teeth, fish was about all she could eat!

“Grandma, once I earn money, I’ll buy you dentures, and then you can eat anything!”

“Ah, good good!” The old lady beamed at his coaxing.

Everyone else internally thought, “When will that happen?”

However, his actions lightened the atmosphere at the table.

After finishing his meal, Ye Yaodong pushed his bowl aside and reached for the clams. They were better suited for drinking than eating, and they required one hand to shell—too troublesome. He usually saved them for after-meal snacks.

Unfortunately, there was no alcohol in the house; even if there was, he wouldn’t be allowed to drink!

So, he wisely refrained from asking, knowing he’d just get scolded!

However, even with this awareness, he still got berated…

After having a few bites, he reached for more, only to have his mother swat his chopsticks away.

“Finish your meal before getting up! Why do you need to grab more? Can’t you save a little for tonight? If you eat it all now, what will you have for dinner?”

Suddenly finding himself going from the elder generation to the younger, he felt a huge sense of disparity!

Ye Yaodong bit the tip of his chopsticks, feeling frustrated. “I dug up a whole basket this morning—there’s enough to eat until tomorrow! And can’t I just go clam digging again tomorrow? Is there a shortage of clams?”

“Are you going clam digging?”

“I’ll go if I want! Didn’t I already go this morning?”

Ye Mother was about to say something, but the old lady interjected with concern, “It’s so hot in this weather! Remember to wear a hat tomorrow to avoid getting sunburned. I’ll prepare a pot of tea for you to take along to quench your thirst.”

Ye Father replied with dissatisfaction, “It’s just clam digging—how much sun exposure could it possibly be? We’ve been out on the boat from morning till night without complaining, and you’re the only one making a fuss.”

Ye Yaodong felt wronged… he hadn’t said anything at all!

“You’re used to hard labor, but Dongzi still has delicate skin—how can you compare? He said he would go clam digging tomorrow, so why can’t he eat a bit more now? It doesn’t cost anything!”

Ye Father felt helpless against the old lady, saying, “You just indulge him!”

“Being able to eat is a blessing. As long as our children are healthy and safe, it’s fine. Dongzi, eat as much as you like, and tomorrow we can dig up more,” she said.

“Eh.”

His parents looked at him, their expressions filled with dissatisfaction. How had he managed to ignore this before and continue as he pleased?

But now, he couldn’t do that anymore. After just a couple of bites, he got up from the table.

After rinsing his mouth with water, he tossed the ladle aside and noticed two large bowls of clams on the stove, all opening their shells and extending their tentacles. There was still half a bucket of clams on the ground, all stretching their tentacles as well.

With more hands, they had indeed made quite the harvest, digging up so many in just three hours. However, with a big family, they couldn’t eat it all, and it would probably only last two or three days.

“Mom, did you all go to the beach to fetch seawater for them?”

“What else?”

He obediently closed his mouth!

If he had suggested that they used tap water mixed with salt, he would surely be scolded again!

They were currently using coarse salt that had been specially brought in for sale, and it wasn’t cheap. There was no way his mother would dilute seawater with salt; she would rather walk ten minutes to fetch a bucket of seawater.

“Move aside, I need to find a cloth,” she said.

Ye Yaodong was tugged by his wife and didn’t linger in the house; he moved the rocking chair outside to sit in the shade.

Just as he settled in the chair, with his legs barely shaking, he saw his uncles, Ye Da and Ye Er, come to the door again.

Were they still not giving up?

“Ah, what brings you two back here again? This cursed southeast wind! Have you eaten enough?” he joked.

Ye Erbó twitched at the corner of his mouth. “We filled up on northwest wind, so we don’t need to eat southeast wind again!”

Ye Yahuang was rinsing his mouth at the door when he heard this, and he nearly choked, coughing violently. How could they even banter like this?

Ye Yaodong was equally surprised, looking at his second uncle. His mind was quite sharp to respond that quickly!