Father Ye and Mother Ye exchanged a glance, both beginning to consider the possibilities.
Their third son was easygoing and didn't fuss over things, which was a good quality. If he returned the boat, they could let their eldest and second sons choose between taking the little boat and working with them.
That would be better than having all three take turns trawling. There were only about thirty days in a month. With the two brothers alternating, then taking time off for rough seas or net repairs, they wouldn't get many days at sea altogether, and the earnings still had to be split three ways.
Having one person operate the little wooden boat and two go trawling would work out just right.
Mother Ye thought it over and asked, "You really wouldn't mind if we took the little wooden boat back and gave it to your eldest or second brother?"
"Of course not!" Ye Yaodong said matter-of-factly. "Wasn't I the one who suggested it? Giving me the boat without charging me anything was already playing favorites. I've earned plenty these past few months. That's enough. You can decide which brother gets it, or just let them work it out themselves, so neither sister-in-law has anything to grumble about."
"All right, we'll see when the time comes. I'll have your father get out more and ask around, see whether we can buy one soon."
"Okay."
Once they finished talking, Ye Huimei quickly pulled Ye Yaodong toward her room. Behind them, Mother Ye was still muttering about how secretive she was being, wondering what needed to be discussed specifically in her room...
The room Ye Huimei slept in now had actually belonged to Ye Yaodong and his wife. Once they moved out and freed it up, she finally had a room of