"Heh, so just think of it as doing me a favor, Dad. Let my two older brothers-in-law work the fields and tend the fruit trees on the mountain. You're getting on in years anyway, so think of it as going to the city to enjoy life. You won't have to worry about the work at home, and I'll still pay you wages."
Father Lin was torn. He had farmed all his life, and now, at his age, he was being asked to mind a shop? What did he know about minding shops?
"Why don't you ask someone else in your family, or one of your relatives?"
"There's nobody suitable. I don't know my relatives all that well, and I wouldn't feel as reassured with them as I would with you. Besides, with all your years, your experience, and everything you've seen, you'd be more useful than anyone."
"But I can't speak Mandarin... How would I...?"
"That doesn't matter. Plenty of people can't speak Mandarin. They're everywhere. You can use gestures, and it doesn't matter if your speech is a little broken, as long as people understand what you mean."
Ye Yaodong kept at it. "It's not as if I'd just leave you there on your own. I'll bring a load of goods over every few days, and whenever I have time, I'll cover for you for a few days. If something comes up and you want to come home, that's easy too. Just ride back on the tractor that delivers the goods."
Father Lin felt a headache coming on. He had never imagined his son-in-law would take his business all the way to the city.
Lin Mother didn't know what to say about this either. Unable to make up her mind, she could only look from one to the other.