At dusk, a faint red halo surrounded the orange-red disk of the sun. The heavy clouds had burned red too, and the sky bore the imprint of the lingering sunlight, the sunset glow setting half the heavens ablaze.
Summer sunsets were especially beautiful. After dinner, Ye Yaodong enjoyed a rare moment of leisure in the rocking chair outside his door, feeling the sea breeze and admiring the evening sky.
The scenery around the house really was wonderful: facing the sea, he could watch the waves roll; gazing toward the distant mountains, he could see lush greenery; as the sun sank in the west, he could admire its lingering glow.
He was already very satisfied with his life as it was. He worked when it was time to work and relaxed when it was time to relax. A simple, ordinary life was pretty good too.
After sunset, people came and went along the beach. Some swam, some collected Shellfish, and others played around. There were adults and children, their laughter rising like the waves, each burst louder than the last.
Country children really did have happy childhoods, without much to worry about. Their biggest everyday worry was probably figuring out how to get a few more cents from their parents for sweets. If things went badly, they might earn themselves a beating for nothing.
The moment Secretary Chen arrived and saw him rocking leisurely in his chair, eating mung bean soup, he was green with envy.
"I've been working like a dog. How come you've got it so good?"
"Ah... cough, cough... why are you here again?"
Ye Yaodong choked on the mung bean soup he had yet to swallow. He hurriedly set down his bowl and spoon and coughed a few more times.
"What? Am I not welcome?"
"A little.