Back To the Small Fishing Village In 1982 - Chapter 31

Chapter 31: Sweet Potato Noodles

Lin Xiuqing heard movement at the back door when she returned and hurried out, concerned about her unreliable husband.

When she came out, she saw his disheveled state and, worried he might get angry and hit their eldest nephew, quickly said, “Let me wash our son, you go wash yourself.”

“You’re finally back, I was about to die here!” Ye Yaodong stood up glumly, immediately taking off his shirt to wipe his still-dripping hair.

Seeing that he wasn’t angry, Lin Xiuqing felt somewhat relieved.

“Mother is already cooking noodles. They’ll be ready by the time you finish washing.”

“Got it, I’ll wash my hair first. Those of you who are done washing, get out quick and leave me a basin.”

The children went inside giggling and pushing each other, their bottoms bare, leaving only the youngest, Ye Chengyang, still sitting in the basin. He stood up anxiously.

“Brother~ Brother~”

“You little tail-follower, always calling ‘brother, brother.’ Hurry up and wash so you can go inside too.”

Ye Yaodong didn’t bother with hot water, just drew a bucket of well water, poured it into the basin, stripped down to his shorts, and started splashing himself one ladle at a time.

After two days in the sun by the sea, his face and neck were noticeably darker compared to his body, but he was still fairer than his first and second brothers.

His two sons were also fair-skinned, only darkening after growing up. Actually, everyone in his family wasn’t bad-looking, just short…

This was a common problem for most southerners!

Actually, it was because of poor living conditions and lack of nutrition. He could grow to 1.8 meters tall thanks to his grandmother’s favoritism. Since childhood, he never lacked eggs, and whenever they killed a chicken, one drumstick was always his.

Back when the production team still had sheep, when he was little, his grandmother would secretly bring back a bowl of sheep’s milk, boil it with tea leaves for him to drink. His brothers and cousins were already too old then and could only watch, while his little sister, still nursing, could occasionally get a taste.

Because of this, his genes mutated, making him the tallest in the family and among his friends.

In those days, in their countryside, people who were 1.8 meters tall were rare.

After half a day’s work, apart from some sweat, his body wasn’t dirty, so he didn’t use soap, just rinsed quickly, went inside to dry off with a towel, then took off his shorts and went to the cabinet to find his clothes.

Opening the wardrobe, he remembered he only had one set of summer clothes for changing, which were probably still hanging outside to dry.

“Creeak~”

The door suddenly opened, startling him into running to the bed and wrapping a sheet around his lower half. “I thought who it was, why didn’t you knock before coming in?”

“Father~ shame shame~ shameful face~”

“Get out of here, you’re still naked yourself, how dare you laugh at me!”

Lin Xiuqing glanced at the shorts thrown on the chair, “Why should I knock to enter my own room? Standing there naked, not even wearing pants, aren’t you embarrassed?”

“I was about to look for clothes when you came in. Didn’t you say there were only two sets? They’re all drying outside, what am I supposed to wear? Besides, it’s not like you haven’t seen it before, what’s there to be embarrassed about?” Ye Yaodong moved closer to her side with a mischievous smile and wiggling eyebrows.

“Stop being glib. You only have two shirts, but there are 4 pairs of shorts, not in the wardrobe but in the drawer,” she irritably pushed him away, put the child on the bed, and went to get shorts from the drawer, throwing them at him. “Put these on quickly, I’ll go outside to get your clothes.”

“Your ears are all red, you think I didn’t notice? We’ve been married for years, what are you being shy about?”

“Shameless…” Lin Xiuqing turned to glare at him before closing the door.

He cheerfully took the shorts and walked to the side of the bunk bed, about to change, when he saw his youngest son lying on the bed rail watching him.

“What are you looking at? When you grow up, you’ll have your father’s assets too.”

Then he lifted the mosquito net and threw the wrapped sheet over Ye Chengyang’s head, covering him completely.

“Ahaha~ Father~”

“Thud~”

The sound of a head hitting the bed board was followed by loud crying. Ye Yaodong quickly pulled on his shorts and stretched his head over, “This silly boy!”

Lin Xiuqing came in with clothes at that moment, “Why is he crying again?”

She walked over quickly and saw their youngest son wrapped in the sheet, kicking and pulling, unable to get out and calling for his mother. She shot Ye Yaodong an annoyed look.

“How old are you to still be bullying him? Mother has finished cooking the noodles, hurry up and get dressed to eat.”

Ye Yaodong rubbed his nose; he was just playing around with his youngest son.

Hearing her comfort the child, he quickly put on his clothes, his stomach completely empty.

Lunch was sweet potato noodles, made from their home-grown sweet potatoes ground into paste and processed into sweet potato starch for storage. When needed, they’d take out two bowls, mix with water until even, then spread a small amount in the pot like making pancakes, cooking both sides until done, then cutting into strips, repeating multiple times.

With some side dishes and clam soup made from yesterday’s digging, it was absolutely delicious.

Ye Yaodong ate a huge bowl by himself. This stuff only needed sweet potatoes and labor, they could make it themselves without spending money. His family planted many sweet potatoes every year, making lots of sweet potato starch, available whenever they wanted to eat.

When he finished eating, Mother Ye was still making noodles – no choice with so many people in the family.

“I’m leaving, don’t cook dinner for me.”

“Can’t stay still for a moment, eating and running off like you’re still a child, haven’t grown up yet?”

“Didn’t I work half the day today? There’s nothing to do now, right? I’ll definitely come back early tonight, Mother, don’t lock the door.”

He was about to slip away when Mother Ye called him back, “Wait, when we came back we saw the wind picking up and the waves getting bigger at sea. Your father and the others will probably be back soon. Don’t run around, go help collect the catch at the dock in an hour.”

Mother Ye only asked him to help because she saw he’d been more diligent these past two days.

“Where’s Hua?” He was still thinking about socializing with friends after finishing the household chores.

“The old lady said he ate noodles at noon, scattered wood ash in the backyard vegetable garden, and went to work in the fields. He won’t be back so soon. You think everyone’s like you, idle all day?”

“Ah, stop scolding, stop scolding, didn’t I work hard with you all today? In an hour, I’ll definitely go to the dock to help collect the catch.”

“Remember, if you don’t go, don’t come back tonight.”

“Don’t worry, I remember.”

If he didn’t come back, he had plenty of places to sleep, but he would definitely go help. Yesterday they netted large yellow croakers, who knows what they’d catch today?

It was too long ago, without special cargo, he couldn’t remember clearly.

If possible, he also wanted his own boat. Live off the mountains if you’re near mountains, live off the sea if you’re near the sea.