"Here it is, all of it, seventy-nine thousand four hundred and forty."

Upon hearing this, Sun Yunmei opened her luggage bag, took out six stacks of banknotes, and beamed with joy.

"So much money?" Ming Dahai thought that the fish was worth at most 30,000 yuan, but he never expected it to be so much.

"The boss gave me 98,888 yuan, which I split 30/70 with Dong Li. That's all we got, plus seafood and other things."

Sun Yunmei threw down the clothes in her hands, wiped her hands on her apron, counted them carefully two or three times, and laughed so hard her body shook.

"Oh my goodness, so much money!"

Mingjing took a breath and was about to help herd the chickens when Mingda pulled her back, saying, "You're tired. Don't do these chores. Go inside and rest."

Outside the door, Mingliang took a breath and started talking to the others about Mingjing's affairs in town, leaving Mingdahai stunned.

Just as the group was having a good time, someone knocked on the Ming family's door.

Who is it?

Sun Yunmei put away the money and turned to go inside.

"It's me, Dahai, you have a phone call!" Village Chief Zhang Fan stood at the door and knocked loudly.

Ming Dahai was suspicious. Why would someone come looking for him and go to the village committee?

"I'll go see," Ming Dahai said, opening the door. "Who is it?"

"I don't know, it looks like a woman, and she's quite young," Zhang Fan said, glancing towards the courtyard.

Mingjing stepped forward to block the view, "Dad, I'll go with you to take a look."

Once the door was closed, Mingjing and Mingdahai went to the village committee.

The village committee office used a landline phone. When Ming Dahai heard it was a woman, he had Ming Jing answer it. "Hello, who is it?"

An argument came from the other end of the phone: "He's not my biological child! You want me to raise another man's child? No way!"

The woman sobbed as she retorted, "Enough! You clearly said it was okay back then, but now you've changed your mind. You're deceiving me into marriage."

"Liu Feng, I don't care what you say, this child can't stay here. He can go wherever he wants. Get someone to pick him up right now, or I'll sell him!"

After saying that, the man slammed the door and left.

"Hello?" Mingjing was completely confused.

"I'm looking for Ming Dahai," the woman said, sobbing.

"I am her daughter, Mingjing. Who are you?"

"Liu Feng, Mingguang's wife, no, his ex-wife..."

As soon as Liu Feng finished speaking, Ming Dahai snatched the phone, his voice trembling, "Feng'er, why are you calling?"

"Dad, it's okay. I wanted to tell you that Leilei is doing well lately. I'm planning to send him to stay with you for a few days. It was my fault; I shouldn't have taken him with me."

Liu Feng's voice trembled so much that it was almost inaudible as she spoke.

Upon hearing that his grandson was to be sent over, Ming Dahai was so moved that he burst into tears.

"When is Leilei coming?"

"I'll pack up and send him back in the next few days."

After the woman finished speaking, she hung up the phone.

Knowing that his grandson was coming, Ming Dahai hurried home to tell Sun Yunmei the good news. The two were so happy that they wanted to kill a chicken to celebrate.

"Mom, we don't know when they'll arrive. If we kill them now, won't they spoil by the time they're ready? We don't even have a refrigerator at home."

Mingjing advised that it would be a waste to kill the rooster she bought to crow and the hen to lay eggs.

"Yes, yes, we should prepare more food then." Sun Yunmei was overjoyed; all the good things had come at once.

For dinner, Mingjing steamed a large crab, made sea cucumber and abalone porridge, and a plate of stir-fried sea cucumber with chives. She ate a few simple bites, and then remembered something.

"Mom, how much cash do we have at home right now? It's not safe to keep too much cash around. I'm planning to go to the city tomorrow to open an account and deposit money."

Sun Yunmei nodded, "Okay, just leave enough for living expenses. We need to buy some good groceries for Leilei when he comes back."

She has nearly 100,000 yuan in cash at home, and she wouldn't feel at ease if it wasn't kept in a safe place.

“Mingliang, you go with your sister. It’s more money and safer to have someone with you. I heard you have to fill out all sorts of forms, it’s a real hassle.”

Ming Dahai slurped up his abalone porridge and said, "I'll go tomorrow too. The rice can be sold now. I'll take it to the city tomorrow to ask about the price. I'll sell it regardless of whether it's expensive or cheap."

"Okay."

After finishing her meal, Mingjing tidied up and went to sleep.

The next morning, Sun Yunmei left 1,000 yuan for living expenses and put all the money in a black suitcase and handed it to Mingjing.

"Dad, let's go and get the money back from Qian Jiu'er's family, or let's take the motorcycle back. Going to the city is too expensive."

Ming Dahai, with a pipe in his mouth and a snakeskin bag on his back, threw it onto the flatbed cart.

"Go ahead, this matter can't be left dragging on like this. Mingliang, you don't need to go."

"Dad, don't worry, I will definitely get the money back. I don't want to become a live-in son-in-law in the Qian family anymore," Mingliang said firmly before turning and leaving the Ming family home.

Ming Dahai was taken aback; his son seemed genuinely different today.

On the way, the villagers saw Mingjing and their expressions varied.

“Mingjing, you’ve really struck it rich lately. Even Song Laosan is benefiting from it.”

"Going beachcombing? Can we come along?"

"Mingjing, do you think there's any big catch at the beach today? Why don't you come with us?"

Mingjing appeared, followed by a group of fishermen carrying buckets. Some of them, concerned about saving face, said a few sarcastic remarks and left.

"I'm not going to go beachcombing today, I have to go out for a while."

“Mingjing, stop hiding it. We saw it all yesterday. You were secretly transporting goods to town and made a lot of money. Your wallets must be bulging now.”

"You're mistaken. That's not true. Those were worthless oysters yesterday; they were sold cheaply for a few hundred dollars."

Seeing that Mingjing wasn't heading towards the sea, the group stopped following her, their previously ingratiating smiles replaced by harsh expressions.

"Is it meaningful to make a lot of money and then keep it hidden?"

"That little brat, she's so cunning. Last time her mother hired us to work, so much seafood, I was exhausted and my back ached, and she only gave us that little bit of money, like she was treating us like beggars?"

"Rich people are so stingy. They're afraid we'll steal their money, but they're not wary of us?"

"There's nothing we can do. After all, she's the disciple of the Sea Goddess. How can we compare?"

"Do you think the Sea Goddess is biased? What's so good about Mingjing?"

"Forget it, let's go home. I don't know what's wrong with us these past few days, we've had such bad luck, we won't find anything even if we go."

The group muttered amongst themselves as they walked back.

Mingjing didn't take everyone's words to heart. A small favor is appreciated, but too much will breed resentment. Human nature is greedy, and whatever one does is wrong.

When Mingjing arrived at the Qian family's gate, it was tightly closed. She knocked on the door, but there was no response. She looked up at the courtyard wall, then climbed onto the top of the wall using a crooked tree trunk.

"Grandpa Qian, have you thought it over? My family urgently needs a motorcycle."

Mingjing had a loud voice, and Qian Jiu'er, who was inside the room, stood at the window with a resentful look on her face, biting her lip tightly without saying a word.

"If you're not going to pay me back, then I'm going to have people come here and cause trouble!"

Old Man Qian, having exhausted all other options, stepped forward, chuckled, and opened the door, saying, "Mingjing, this is negotiable. Give me a few days' notice, and I'll give it to you in a while."

Mingliang stood at the door, his resentful gaze making Old Qian feel uneasy.

"Old Qian, I've kept a detailed record of all this money, not a single penny less!" Mingliang said, holding a black notebook and starting to read aloud.

"On March 1st, I'll give Qian Jiu'er a scarf worth ten yuan!"

"On March 5th, I gave Qian Jiu'er a bottle of shampoo, worth five yuan!"

"On March 8th, I gave Qian Jiu'er a string of candied hawthorns, worth five mao..."

Old Man Qian felt embarrassed and interrupted him, "Mingliang, have you and Jiu'er had a fight? Let's discuss the marriage. Don't make a scene here, it's shameful."

"Marriage? Who wants that vixen now? She cheated on me and still wants to spend my money. I wouldn't even take her for free. Pay me back right now, or I'll let the whole village know."

Mingjing stood on the wall dumbfounded, never expecting that this love-struck person could be so clear-headed, actually keeping accounts.