Unusual news always spread especially fast. By the time Ye Yaodong returned that evening, he had heard that all the surrounding villages were talking about someone in White Sand Village hauling a Great Ding out of the sea and offering it to Mazu.
Curious villagers even went to Mazu Temple to see what the Great Ding looked like. They all praised Ye Yaodong for being public-spirited rather than greedy, saying he had done well to offer it and that the temple could put it to use, and so on.
"He used to be such a layabout. Not a family in the village dared marry their daughter to him. Who would've thought he'd do so well for himself in just the last year or two?"
"Exactly. He used to be unreliable. He still laughs and jokes around now, and he's still a bit rough around the edges, but he's become quite dependable."
"What do you mean, dependable? He's just making money now!"
"Isn't that the truth? How long has it been? He's already traded his little boat for a big one, and every so often he hauls in something valuable. You can see his family doing better by the day..."
"That's right, and he's had a daughter too. Another member of the family..."
"Money rolling in, new additions to the family-he's got it all..."
"Who knows how he got so damn lucky..."
"Back then, his mother was asking everywhere for a match for him, worried he wouldn't find a wife. If I'd known, I'd have married my daughter to him. She'd be enjoying a good life now and could help out her family too..."
"In your dreams! Your daughter's face is covered in pockmarks, and she's short too. However unreliable A-Dong was, at least he had a handsome face..."
"What's wrong