The villagers were delighted to see him share so generously.
"Dongzi's really getting somewhere. Third Ye, you're a lucky man. All three sons are doing well in their own right, and your family has two boats. If you don't get rich, who will?"
"Exactly. Your family really does seem to be doing better and better. Once our new house is finished, we'll move over too and be your neighbors. Maybe some of your good fortune will rub off on us, and we can trade our small wooden boat for a bigger one."
The speaker was Zhou Yongsheng. Construction on their house had started on May Day that month, also by the beach. Everyone now thought that stretch had good feng shui and would help them get rich.
"How much have you made catching squid lately? Must be quite a bit, right? And with two boats bringing in catches, you must be making more than two or three times as much. You really have struck it rich..."
"Two boats! No wonder you're getting rich... You must have made a killing lately, right?"
"You can enjoy the rest of your life now. Your three sons are getting more and more capable..."
Father Ye grinned so broadly at their compliments that he could hardly close his mouth, hurriedly explaining, "No, no... We've already divided the household. Each family lives separately and earns its own money. How does that count as making two or three times as much? Don't exaggerate. We've split up; we're four households now..."
"Even if you've divided the household, you're still one family. You still have two boats. Think how fast the money comes in with two boats..."
The corner of Ye Yaodong's mouth twitched. These people only saw the money you made, not the money you spent, and they