Back To the Small Fishing Village In 1982 - Chapter 13

Chapter 13: Who Will Care for the Elderly

Lunch was still sweet potato strips with rice porridge!

With so many people in the household, they couldn’t afford to eat plain rice every day. Even for porridge, they had to add a large handful of sweet potato strips.

As for why they didn’t use whole sweet potatoes, it was because shredded sweet potatoes were easier to preserve. When dried into strips, they could last for more than half a year. When cooked with rice, they could use less rice, and the taste wasn’t bad – it was actually quite sweet.

Of course, this sweetness was Ye Yaodong’s perception. The whole family was so tired of eating sweet potato rice/sweet potato strip rice that they couldn’t find it sweet anymore – they were just glad to have something filling their stomachs.

Also, because the family hadn’t split up yet, with many people in the household, the portions of dishes were quite substantial. The vegetables came from their own backyard, and the seafood was kept from yesterday afternoon’s trawling.

The small fish weren’t worth much money. Yesterday, most were cleaned and dried, leaving only a few slightly bigger ones for braising.

The dock wouldn’t take the three-eyed crabs. Eating too many of these could cause allergies and itching all over, so nobody would buy them. But they couldn’t waste them by throwing them back into the sea. Since their family couldn’t eat them all, and they would spoil if kept too long, they had distributed some to relatives, friends, and neighbors yesterday.

Adults could eat two or three without issues, but the elderly and children shouldn’t eat them at all.

They also kept about a dozen swimming crabs, which were safe for children to eat.

There was also a bowl of small sword shrimp and a bowl of clams dug up this morning. These were mixed with seasonings and chili after boiling – delicious and economical on oil…

And there was the family’s favorite – fried oysters!

He liked them too. He had spent half the day prying these oysters from the rocky wall, traditionally called “hitting oysters.”

As soon as he sat down, before taking a bite of rice, he reached for the fried oysters. If he didn’t grab them now, there wouldn’t be any left. How could he miss out on what he had worked so hard to harvest? These were great for replenishing energy.

“Aww~ Third Uncle, take smaller pieces, leave some for me~”

“Haven’t you had enough? I’ve seen you eyeing this bowl of fried oysters the whole time,” Ye Yaodong picked up a piece for himself and didn’t forget to put one in his wife’s bowl.

She hadn’t even sat down to eat yet – by the time she would, there wouldn’t be any decent dishes left.

Lin Xiuqing looked at his rare gesture with gentle eyes, but she couldn’t bring herself to eat it, instead picking up that piece of fried oyster and feeding it to her eldest son.

Oysters weren’t easy to harvest. It took a lot of effort to get just one bowl, and they weren’t available every day. One serving for lunch, one for dinner, and tomorrow they might not have any.

“Third Uncle, you’ve eaten plenty too!”

Ye Yaodong gave his eldest nephew Ye Chenghai a sideways glance, “I harvested these oysters, can’t I eat them?”

“Stop chattering while eating.” Mother Ye tapped her bowl, and they all fell silent.

Today’s dishes were unusually abundant, and no one wanted to talk – everyone was busy eating enthusiastically.

Usually, they only had one or two bowls of shellfish, or fish with some vegetables, but today they had crabs, shrimp, fish, and shellfish – everything!

After all, they now had their own boat, and they had earned a lot of money yesterday, so it was fitting to have a more luxurious meal today.

Father Ye waited until everyone was present before saying, “I just went to the commune to apply for land to build houses. It’s been discussed, and they’ve approved the plot at the entrance of the road leading to the beach. There’s an empty space there that can’t be used for farming, so it’s perfect for building houses.”

Their village was by the sea, with limited farmland. Their allocated fields were at the border with the neighboring East Bridge Village.

The two villages were very close, though East Bridge Village was smaller with only about 100 households. It wasn’t coastal but located along the main road, so during low tide, they would come to White Sand Village for beach combing.

The villagers of White Sand Village were very familiar with those from East Bridge Village, with many intermarriages between the two. Ye Yaodong’s grandmother was from East Bridge Village.

After hearing Father Ye’s words, Ye Yaodong showed no reaction and continued eating his meal, because in his previous life, they had bought this same plot of land, and the three brothers had built their houses right next to each other.

He had lived there until his death.

His indifference didn’t mean others felt the same way. Everyone was excited about having their own homes soon.

Second Sister-in-law excitedly said, “That plot is great, it’s close to the beach, just walk straight down and you’re there!”

“Are we building three houses, Father?” First Sister-in-law frowned, showing some concern.

Logically, two houses would be enough, with one son living with the parents to care for them in their old age.

But who wouldn’t want to live in a new house and have their own life? First Sister-in-law had her own concerns – if only two houses were built, their family, being the eldest, would definitely have to stay in the old house.

Ye Yaopeng looked at his wife uncomprehendingly, “Why do we need three houses? Two is enough.”

Men were generally less sensitive to these matters, and moreover, Ye Yaopeng felt that as the eldest son, it was natural for his parents to live with him in their old age. They certainly couldn’t live with the unreliable third brother.

Ye Yaodong watched his sisters-in-law’s reactions and smirked sarcastically. His two brothers were decent people, but both their wives had their own selfish interests, unlike his wife who was more generous.

In his previous life, he had left after lunch and hadn’t come back until evening, so he didn’t know how things had developed. When he returned at night, he had only heard that they were building three houses, one for each brother.

Now he could see how it would unfold!

After hearing Ye Yaopeng’s words, First Sister-in-law didn’t dare to discuss how to divide two houses or who would stay to care for the elderly – that would surely anger him!

Ye Yaohua, being simple-minded, smiled and said, “Father, Mother, whoever you want to live with, we’ll stay and take care of you… Ouch~ Why are you pinching me…”

Second Sister-in-law glared at him, “If you don’t speak, no one will think you’re mute. The houses aren’t even built yet, and you’re already eager to split the family?”

Though her words sounded nice, everyone present could see through it clear as day – wasn’t it obvious she didn’t want to live with her in-laws in the old house?

Father Ye, seeing his daughters-in-law’s ulterior motives, decided to be straightforward, “Who plans to stay and care for us in our old age?”

“Father, it depends on who you want to live with. I’m the eldest, so by rights, you and Mother should live with us.”

Second Brother also nodded, “Yes, Father, if you and Mother want to live with us in your old age, that’s fine too.”

Second Sister-in-law, with an uncomfortable expression, forced a smile and said, “Father, Mother, you’re only in your fifties, how could you need elderly care already?”

First Sister-in-law quickly added, “Yes, Father and Mother are still so vigorous, you can surely work for another ten or twenty years, there’s no need to think about elderly care yet…”

“So none of you are willing, is that it?” Father Ye’s face darkened.

“No, how could that be…”

Before the two sisters-in-law could protest, Ye Yaodong, with one foot propped on his chair, said casually, “Father, if both sisters-in-law are unwilling, my wife is willing, and so am I. Why don’t we stay and live together with you, Mother, and Grandmother?”

Lin Xiuqing supported her husband at this moment, nodding sincerely, “Yes, please live with us, Father and Mother!”

The old grandmother happily agreed at once, “Good, we’ll live with Dongzi.”

“Get lost, living with him – would he be taking care of me, or would I be taking care of him?”