Back To the Small Fishing Village In 1982 - Chapter 21

Chapter 21: Restless Desire to Sleep with Wife

Ah Zheng pinched Ye Yaodong’s cheeks, looking left and right, “We’re all from the seaside, why don’t you get tanned? If I were as fair-skinned as you, I wouldn’t still be single!”

“Are you sure being fair-skinned is enough? This is the real problem!” Ye Yaodong teasingly put his hand on Ah Zheng’s head, then made a slanting gesture down to his shoulder!

Ah Zheng got angry, “Damn it, I’m 170cm!”

“169cm rounded up to 170?”

“That’s still 170!”

“Hahaha~~”

Everyone joked around, each taking turns making witty remarks, creating a lively atmosphere.

It had been a long time since Ye Yaodong had such relaxed banter with his friends. The latter half of his life had been mostly spent hustling for a living – if you don’t work hard when you’re young, you’ll regret it when you’re old – that’s exactly his case!

After eating and drinking their fill, the sky began to darken, and the table was a mess of dishes and cups.

Ye Yaodong let out a burp, “You guys clean up, Fatty and I have been busy all afternoon!”

“No worries, leave it to me to clean up.”

“Hell no, you’ll definitely make your sisters do it. Nobody’s drunk today, and it’s not completely dark yet, let’s all clean up together.” Ye Yaodong was much more mature now than in his youth. This wasn’t a restaurant – in civilized society, people clean up after themselves.

“Alright, alright, everyone do a bit, it’ll be quick.”

After his reminder, others started moving too. It was just a few bowls, simple!

“There’s still some dragon-phoenix soup in the pot, do you want more? Though it’s a bit cold.”

Ye Yaodong went over to look – not much meat left, but plenty of soup. “Pack me a bowl to take home, let my wife and son have some too.”

“Since there’s leftovers, pack me a bowl of soup too,” said Xiao Xiao.

The others didn’t ask for any – they were either single or like Fatty, well-off enough not to worry about food.

They were all childhood friends – what did it matter who ate more or less?

Ye Yaodong filled a big bowl with soup and a few pieces of meat, then left first to take it home.

Ah Guang’s house was at the foot of the back mountain, not far from their home – about a fifteen-minute walk, but carrying the soup, he couldn’t walk too fast for fear of spilling it.

By the time he got home, it was completely dark. The neighbors, having nothing to do after dark and wanting to save on electricity, had all gone to bed early. Their house lights were off too.

He pushed the main door, “Damn, it’s locked? Who locked it?”

After cursing quietly, he went to the window of his room on the side of the house. The window was open, but there was no sound inside.

He knocked gently twice and called softly: “Ah Qing, Ah Qing? Are you asleep? Open the door for me, it’s locked.”

“Dad!”

“Dad!”

The two children, though lying down with closed eyes, weren’t asleep yet. Hearing the noise at the window, they quickly got up.

Lin Xiuqing was furious – she had almost gotten both children to sleep, and now they were awake again!

This troublemaker!

“You’re not asleep yet? Perfect, I brought you something good to eat. Quick, tell your mother to open the door for me!”

The older son, hearing about food, immediately perked up, “Mom, quick, open the door, Dad can’t get in!”

“I know, keep it down, don’t disturb others’ rest. I’ll go open the door, you two wait in the room.”

Lin Xiuqing put on her slippers and carefully opened the door, trying to make as little noise as possible to avoid disturbing others. Father Ye and Ye Yaopeng needed to go out to sea at night, so they must be sleeping by now.

Ye Yaodong walked back to the main door, watching his wife open the door with a dark face. He patiently coaxed her: “Don’t be angry, I’ll definitely come back earlier next time. I brought you dragon-phoenix soup, heat it up and eat.”

“What dragon-phoenix soup?”

“Cobra stewed with chicken, plus some ribs. It’s good for clearing heat and detoxifying, also nourishing. I deliberately scooped more soup, but it’s cold now, needs reheating. Who locked the door? Was it on purpose?”

Lin Xiuqing took the soup and gave him a ‘you know very well’ look, letting him figure it out himself.

“My mother locked it?”

“Mm-hmm, told me not to open it, said you should sleep at the front door tonight to clear your head!”

Ye Yaodong: Dear mother!

“Heat up the soup, I’ll go take a shower at the back door.”

In the hot weather, he didn’t need hot water – drawing a bucket of well water from the back door for a quick wash would be more refreshing.

When he came back inside, there was only a small fire left in the stove, lighting up the main hall slightly, and light was also seeping through the crack of his room door, particularly noticeable in the darkness.

Opening the door, Lin Xiuqing was sitting on the bed feeding their two sons, who were taking turns with one mouthful each.

“It’s heated up already?”

“Yes, in this hot weather it doesn’t need to be too hot, just warm enough that the oil doesn’t float is fine.”

“Dad, what meat is this? It’s all bones, not good!” The older son complained while eating.

“Not good? Yet you keep eating one bite after another. After you finish, go pee before sleeping. If you wet the bed at night, you’ll get a beating!”

“I won’t wet the bed!”

Ye Yaodong took a pair of shorts and went to the side of the bunk bed to change, casually putting his changed clothes on a stool in the corner, then got into bed.

“How much did the two crabs sell for today?”

“One yuan fifty cents. Mom gave it to me, I’ve put it away.”

He grimaced – damn cheap!

“Leave some for your mother, don’t eat it all.”

Lin Xiuqing said gently, “It’s fine, let them eat it all if they want.”

It hadn’t been long since they’d finished dinner, and the children weren’t very hungry, so after drinking some soup and eating two pieces of meat, they stopped.

“If they’re done, you eat the rest. I’ve already eaten outside.”

“Oh!”

After eating, the children started jumping on the bed, giggling and playing around. They accidentally stepped on Ye Yaodong’s foot and fell sitting on top of him.

Ye Yaodong grunted – fortunately, his hand had been covering his important parts, so they didn’t crush them!

He gave each of their bare bottoms a slap, “No more noise, lie down and go to sleep.”

“Don’t want to, I’m not sleepy!”

“Playing crazy all day and still not sleepy? Even if you’re not sleepy, lie down properly, everyone in their places.”

Submitting to his authority, the two children obediently lay down side by side on the inside.

Lin Xiuqing finished the remaining soup and meat, then turned off the light, lowered the mosquito net, and lay down beside Ye Yaodong, reaching out to pat the children’s chests to help them sleep.

Earlier they were saying they weren’t tired, but after just a couple of pats, they were both asleep.

In the moonlight, Ye Yaodong looked at his wife lying beside him, facing away from him, wearing only a tank top and shorts, feeling somewhat restless…

But he was also a bit timid, afraid to reach out…

Just as he turned over, ready to extend his hand, she sat up again, and he quickly asked, “What are you doing?”

Lin Xiuqing gave him a puzzled look, “Going to sleep!”

She turned around and lay down at his feet.

Ye Yaodong then remembered – the bunk bed was too narrow for four people to sleep side by side. Ever since their second child was born, after putting the children to sleep, his wife would crawl to the other end to sleep offset.

Damn it, it could have been so easy just reaching out!

Now he had no choice but to get up and move to the other end too.