The yard is quite large and kept relatively clean. There's a fence in the corner where a few chickens are kept.
"Please sit down, please sit down, I'll go get you some water." Aunt Li was a little nervous. She asked the two of them to sit down in the courtyard, and then went into the house to get some water.
But she came out as soon as she went in, holding two bottles of cola, and tentatively asked,
"Do you young people like to drink this?"
Ye Cheng was surprised to find that there was cola available here.
"Auntie, let's just have some Coke."
Upon hearing that she had guessed correctly, Aunt Li immediately said happily,
"Hey, I'll get you an iced one, it tastes better iced."
Soon, the old lady came out with two bottles of iced cola.
"Auntie, I didn't know what you usually like to drink, so I brought you two cases of milk." Ye Cheng put the milk on the ground.
"Look at you all, coming all this way and bringing gifts, you're being too kind." Although she said that, Ye Cheng could see the joy in the old lady's eyes, a genuine joy from the bottom of her heart.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the old lady sat down as well. Ye Cheng chatted with her casually, finally getting a general idea of their family's situation.
The old lady's husband died early, leaving the family without a main breadwinner. She raised her four brothers by raising chickens and doing odd jobs.
As she spoke of the past, the old lady couldn't help but shed a few tears.
Life was tough before, but according to her, her sons were quite filial when they grew up.
Because I have an illness that requires long-term medication and regular hospital checkups, the expenses are very high.
Most of the money her sons earned was spent on her, which is why they still can't get married.
Moreover, in order to take care of her, they didn't dare to go to the city to work like others, and could only pool their money to get a second-hand fishing boat to fish.
As he listened, Ye Cheng exchanged a glance with Xiao Hu. The old lady was only praising her son; she probably had no idea what the four Zhu brothers were up to outside.
Ye Cheng hadn't come just to listen to these things; after seeing that the conversation had gone on for a while, he finally spoke.
"Auntie, actually we came here mainly to talk about me and your four sons."
The old lady was initially very happy; after all, she was getting old and enjoyed chatting with people.
Upon hearing Ye Cheng say this, the old lady's face immediately darkened, and she looked at the two of them with a guilty expression.
"Xiao Ye, I'm so sorry, I didn't know they were such scoundrels who stole your fish. They deserved to have their boat sink."
Don't worry, when they get back today, I'll definitely give them a good talking to. They can earn less money, but they can't do such despicable things.
The old lady started to shed tears again as she spoke, slapping her thigh and promising that she would definitely take good care of her four sons.
Seeing that the old woman was so reasonable, Ye Cheng felt embarrassed to say anything harsh and could only offer a few tactful words.
"Actually, our main concern is that once they come out, they will cause trouble at the docks again."
"Auntie, you know we fishermen don't earn much money. If things get chaotic at the docks, our lives will be affected too."
"So," Ye Cheng paused, glanced at Aunt Li's unpleasant expression, hardened his heart, and continued,
"So, we wanted to talk to you, ma'am, and tell your son and the others to try not to go to the dock after they come out."
"Do you think this will work?" Ye Cheng asked the old lady.
The old lady's facial muscles twitched slightly, and she lowered her head a little embarrassedly, then said softly,
"Xiao Ye, don't worry, I'll tell them when they come back. They listened to me and won't go again."
Hearing what Aunt Li said, Ye Cheng breathed a sigh of relief.
At least this lady here is reasonable.
"Alright, ma'am, we've said what we needed to say, so we won't bother you any longer." After saying this, Ye Cheng prepared to stand up and leave.
After all, awkward conversations are hard to bear, especially since Xiaohu just sits down and drinks Coke like a big shot, without saying a word.
Upon hearing that he could leave, Xiao Hu immediately stood up. He was in terrible discomfort sitting down, and he was too embarrassed to even speak loudly to the elderly woman he was talking to, so he could only hold it in.
Unexpectedly, just as Ye Cheng stood up, Aunt Li also suddenly stood up and grabbed Ye Cheng.
"Xiao Ye, you can't leave. You've come all this way, you must have lunch before you go."
"Oh? Auntie, this isn't necessary. We're going out to sea this afternoon." Ye Cheng quickly declined. He felt bad letting an old lady, whose family didn't seem to be well-off, arrange lunch for him.
They thought the old lady was just being polite, but to their surprise, Aunt Li directly blocked their way and said with absolute certainty,
"No, you've come all this way, and you didn't ask us for medical expenses before. It wouldn't be right not to have a meal with you. You must stay."
Don't worry, although our vegetables here don't have much meat or fish, they're all home-grown.
Ye Cheng looked at the old lady with a helpless expression.
"No, ma'am, we really have things to do this afternoon, we have to go out to sea."
"Eat before you go out to sea. You'll be on a motorcycle, it'll be quick," Aunt Li insisted.
Ye Cheng talked for a long time afterward, but Aunt Li stubbornly insisted on having the two of them stay for dinner, saying it was to apologize.
Finally, Xiaohu couldn't hold back any longer and blurted out.
"Auntie, your son and his friends will be back soon. They might start fighting again when they see us."
Today is the day the Zhu brothers are released. If they come back, we might actually run into them, and it's hard to say whether a fight will break out.
"They dare!" The old lady suddenly unleashed her full power and shouted sharply, her imposing aura stunning even Xiao Hu.
After shouting, Aunt Li looked at Xiao Hu and said in a serious tone,
"Young man, don't worry. As long as your auntie is still alive, if they dare to touch you, I'll smash my head against this house and die!"
"You can eat here without worry. I want to see if they even respect their old mother anymore!"
Ye Cheng and Xiao Hu exchanged a speechless glance. What the old lady said was too frightening, as if she wanted to kill herself, so they didn't dare to say they wouldn't eat it.
According to Ye Cheng's estimation, the old lady also wanted to take this opportunity to establish her authority over her sons and force them to submit.
"Then we'll stay for dinner, but please don't cook too much, Auntie, so you don't work too hard," Ye Cheng agreed.
Upon hearing Ye Cheng's agreement, Aunt Li immediately clapped her hands happily.
"That's right. Sit down, I'll go kill a chicken for you. Let me tell you, my chickens are delicious, the meat is firm."
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