Chapter 30: Playing Dad for a Day

As the men headed back, the women were still digging along the beach, while the kids kept playing, oblivious to hunger. Covered in sand and sweat, they were laughing and having the time of their lives.

The Ye family kids had dug a big pit and buried the youngest, Ye Chengyang, so only his shoulders were sticking out. If Ye Yaodong had arrived any later, the boy’s head might have been all that was left visible.

He frowned, “You little troublemakers! Do you realize how dangerous this is? What if someone trips and falls on him or steps on him? Get him out, now!”

“Yes, Uncle!” The kids quickly started digging him out.

“Come on now,” Ah Zheng chuckled as he squatted down to look at the half-buried boy. “It’s fun, right?”

“So much fun!”

“You little fool!” he teased, then called out to his wife, “Ah Qing, come see what a goof your son is.”

Lin Xiuqing turned to see her youngest buried in sand and, despite her aching legs, walked over with a frown.

“What are you thinking? You can’t bury Chengyang like that! What if he can’t breathe properly? Get him out now! You kids are too wild—everything’s a game for you!”

Ye Yaodong shook his head, looking at their sweaty, sand-covered faces. “Come on, everyone. Let’s head home. You’re all filthy from playing in the sun all day.”

“Now? Are our moms coming back too?”

“Go home with me first to get cleaned up. You’ve played long enough.”

Lin Xiuqing was relieved to hear him volunteer to take the kids home. “Listen to your uncle. Go wash up and eat. We’ll be back soon.”

“Alright, then.”

With the eldest, Ye Chenghai, agreeing, the others didn’t protest either—they were all getting hungry.

Ye Yaodong handed Ah Zheng the bucket, “Keep this at your place. I’ll head to Ah Guang’s later.”

“Just dump it in my bucket and take yours back, so you don’t forget it.”

“Works for me.”

After getting his youngest son out of the pit, he lifted him up and said, “Let’s go home, now.”

Lin Xiuqing glanced at the now-empty bucket but said nothing. At least the valuable tiger grouper and snow frog were brought back, making it a worthwhile day. As for the smaller sea catches, it was fine if they went elsewhere.

As they walked, Ye Chenghai, trying to act mature, piped up beside him, “Uncle, what got you to come out and catch sea creatures today? Mom says it’s like the sun rose in the west.”

Looking down with a sidelong glance, he said nonchalantly, “Ran out of snacks and got no money. Figured I’d get some free seafood to go with my drinks.”

“See? I knew it!” Ye Chenghai replied with a knowing grin, looking a bit too smug.

Unable to resist, he flicked his nephew’s head. “And what do you know, kid? Have you even started your summer homework?”

“Geez, it’s only been a few days since break started. There’s plenty of time! I hate it when people ask about homework or grades.” With that, he quickly walked ahead, putting some distance between himself and his uncle.

Ye Yaodong rolled his eyes—no one in their family was ever much for school.

The college entrance exams had been open for a few years now, but their village hadn’t seen a single university student. In Baisha Village, just being able to read and write a bit was already something.

“Walk properly, no roughhousing! Fall once on this dirt road, and your knees will be bleeding in a second. And you—what are you doing in those bushes? Hurry up and get home…”

All the way back, Ye Yaodong yelled and scolded like he was herding ducks, his voice going dry from wrangling this band of troublemakers.

As soon as they got into the house, he went straight for the water jug, gulping down water. But the kids wouldn’t leave him alone, tugging at his shirt, pulling on his arm.

“Uncle, are you done drinking?”

“Uncle, hurry up!”

“Uncle, don’t drink it all! We’re thirsty too!”

“Dad, I want some water too…”

Cough cough “Alright, alright, here, take it!” He got so flustered by their pulling that he ended up choking on his drink. These little rascals!

Their grandmother chuckled from nearby, watching them with amusement. “When you’re done, take them out to the back to rinse off. I’ve already heated two buckets of water, and there’s another big pot boiling. Dongzi, grab some hot water and mix it with well water for them.”

“Got it, you just sit down and take it easy. No need to walk around so much.” He helped her to a chair.

“Oh, it’s nothing, I just heated some water. Your mother left for the pier and said we’d be having sweet potato noodles for lunch, so I didn’t even cook any rice.”

“Oh, sounds good. You rest, and I’ll take them out back to wash up.”

He himself wasn’t too dirty—just sweaty—but the kids were covered in sand, even in their hair. They’d need a full rinse, with his help.

The three nieces took their water to wash inside, leaving the five boys stripped down, standing out back. The older ones could manage on their own, but his two youngest still needed him.

“Hold still, stop squirming! Dad, you got soap in my eyes! Do you even know how to do this?”

“Be glad I’m washing your hair at all! Just rinse it, now hurry up!”

“Mom uses a stool and basin and lets me lie in her lap to wash my hair! Forget it, I’ll do it myself. You wash Yangyang.” Ye Chenghu grumbled, dodging away and attempting to wash himself.

“Fine, do it yourself then. Who wants to be your babysitter anyway?” He looked at his youngest son, who was waiting nearby, and suddenly felt uncertain. “Never mind, let your mom wash your hair later. Sit in the basin, and I’ll just rinse you off.”

“Hehe! Haha! That tickles, Dad! It tickles so much!”

His son’s little voice was so cute that it brought a smile to Ye Yaodong’s face—he hadn’t really noticed before how adorable his youngest could be.

“Alright, your neck’s done. Arms up so I can get under there!”

“No! It tickles too much!”

“You little troublemaker, you’re splashing water everywhere!”

Yangyang started splashing the water playfully, giggling as he got his father soaked.

Nearby, his eldest nephew finished washing and dumped his entire basin of water over his younger brother, dousing Ye Yaodong in the process.

Wiping his dripping face, he turned to the culprit, resigned. “Ye Chenghai, you did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

“Huh? Haha! No, Uncle, you were just… right there!”