Father Zhou

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Zhou Yongfu (周永福)
Alias(es)	Father Zhou; “Zhou Ancestral Tablet”
Species/Race	Human
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Zhou family
Occupation/Role	Fisherman; fishing-boat operator
Status	Alive
First Appearance	15

Background / History

Father Zhou and Mother Zhou raised several sons, including Zhou Chengxin, Zhou Chengsen, Zhou Chengyan, and their youngest, Zhou Chenglei. He initially opposed Zhou Chenglei’s decisions to enlist in the army and later to become a fisherman, but acknowledged that his son’s success proved him wrong. Zhou Chenglei’s injury eventually brought him back from military service, after which he rapidly built a fishing business. 111 172

He and Mother Zhou are affectionate toward their children and grandchildren. Their concern for Zhou Chenglei is particularly pronounced because he had long supported his elder brothers and parents, yet was left without a house, boat, or stable marriage prospects after the family separation. 111

Father Zhou became a regular partner in the family’s fishing work. He operated boats, fished alongside Zhou Chenglei and Jiang Xia, participated in distant offshore trips, and later benefited from the family’s expanding fleet and sea-farming ventures. 22 176 232 411

Personality

Father Zhou is openly competitive, especially with Zhou Bingqiang, his longtime rival. He dislikes losing to him, envies Bingqiang’s successes, and eagerly answers status displays with successes of his own. 54 93 154

He is proud, sociable, and exceptionally fond of attention. He relishes showing villagers the family’s boats, new clothes, prosperity, photographs, and connections; later, he actively seeks newspaper coverage for the family’s businesses. 169 197 347 745 746

He is also deeply superstitious and treats Jiang Xia as a source of prosperity. He attributes fishing windfalls to her “sea luck,” performs wealth-attracting rituals aboard boats, and uses family photographs and even his grandchildren as symbols for drawing wealth. 26 110 232 495 543 706

Despite his vanity, Father Zhou is protective of his family. He worries about Jiang Xia’s safety, supports Zhou Chenglei during conflicts, and objects when Zhou Chengxin attempts to beat a child before understanding the cause of a kitchen fire. 101 112

Abilities & Skills

Fishing and Seamanship

Father Zhou is an experienced fisherman who can identify fish activity, steer fishing boats, cast nets, and manage catches.

• Recognized the sound of a Yellow Croaker school and steered the boat toward it at full speed. 22
• Uses hand cast nets and coordinates fishing operations with Zhou Chenglei. 22
• Continues to join offshore and far-sea fishing trips even after the family becomes prosperous. 232 411 495
• Earned more than 10,000 yuan from a fishing trip after costs and labor, including over 30,000 yuan in prawn sales. 495

Family Business Support

He contributes labor and practical support beyond fishing.

• Repaired the utility-room roof with Zhou Chenglei. 54
• Made iron frames in the family yard. 176
• Helped load, unload, and display catches from the family’s boats. 169
• Assisted with road construction in the village alongside Zhou Chenglei. 733

Wealth-Attracting Rituals

Father Zhou firmly believes that favorable symbols, loving couples, and Jiang Xia’s presence bring prosperity.

• Calls Jiang Xia more reliable than a fish finder and wants her to choose the boat’s direction when seeking fish. 271
• Held a large silver object while chanting for wealth to “flow in” like ocean waves. 110
• Places photographs of Zhou Chenglei caring for Jiang Xia aboard boats to attract wealth. 232 495
• Insists that Jiang Xia touch new boats and equipment first so that her “lucky hand” will bring prosperity. 552

Equipment / Items

• Fishing boats, including the family’s offshore fishing vessels and later a 66-meter boat with a freezer hold. 169 552
• Hand cast net and hand net for fishing and salvaging items from the sea. 22 213
• Family photographs used as auspicious decorations aboard fishing boats. 232 495
• Motorcycle, which he rides during the opening of Qizhi Road so reporters can photograph him. 745

Relationships

• Mother Zhou — Wife and frequent partner in family financial discussions, fishing work, and household decisions. She often tempers or mocks his more excessive superstitious behavior. 110 168 607
• Zhou Chenglei — Youngest son. Father Zhou is intensely proud of Chenglei’s military achievements, fishing ability, and business success, though the two tease each other constantly. 102 172 232
• Jiang Xia — Youngest daughter-in-law. He considers her the family’s “Lucky” figure, praises her constantly, and credits her with the family’s fishing prosperity. 26 110 407
• Zhou Chengxin — Elder son and fishing partner. They work together when Zhou Chenglei is away and share fishing income under an agreed arrangement. 176
• Zhou Chengsen — Son. Father Zhou supports his marriage to Ruan Tang and gives the couple a 1,000-yuan red envelope after their wedding. 826
• Zhou Zhou — Granddaughter. He is part of the household that cares for her and is called “Grandpa” by her. 15 176
• Zhou Bingqiang — Longstanding rival. Their mutual competitiveness centers on fishing hauls, wealth, housing, boats, and village status. 54 154 169
• Father Jiang — In-law. Father Zhou proudly invokes their family connection while entertaining reporters and discussing the Zhou family’s rise. 407 744 746

Story Role / Major Arcs

Rise of the Fishing Household

Father Zhou fishes with Zhou Chenglei and Jiang Xia as the family begins repeatedly finding valuable schools of fish. He publicly credits Jiang Xia’s luck for their unexpectedly lucrative catches, provoking jealousy from villagers and Zhou Bingqiang. 22 26 92

Expansion and Village Rivalry

As the family orders larger boats and builds a new house, Father Zhou becomes both a spokesman for their success and a direct counterpart to Zhou Bingqiang’s displays of wealth. He boasts about the new 24-meter fishing boat and later takes pride in becoming a Ten Thousand Yuan Household. 154 169 350

Offshore Fishing and Prosperity Rituals

Father Zhou joins extended fishing expeditions and turns his belief in Jiang Xia’s good fortune into an elaborate routine, decorating boats with family photos and invoking wealth before successful trips. 232 271 495

Publicity for the Family Businesses

As the Zhou family expands into processing, farming, and factory businesses, Father Zhou pursues public recognition. He distributes photographs to villagers, courts reporters, and schedules visits to the family’s net cages, mussel farm, food factory, and garment factory. 197 745 746

Notable Quotes

“I’m just an Ancestral Tablet, this is all thanks to A’Lei’s Wife!” 110

“People who love their wives will prosper!” 232

“My ambition is not here, but in the landscape.” 626

Trivia

• Father Zhou calls himself an “ancestral tablet” after repeatedly being ignored by Zhou Chenglei and Jiang Xia during their affectionate moments. 54 67 110
• He does not play cards or mahjong, partly because Mother Zhou dislikes it, but he enjoys watching others play and once became popular for drawing winning cards on their behalf. 446
• He wanted to show off each of Jiang Xia and Zhou Chenglei’s triplets in the village for a day, believing their presence would leave him “covered in wealth.” 543
• He considers naming children a major matter and believes names should be chosen only after a child is born. 540