"Did he ask my dad to help move the goods?"
"I'm not sure. He didn't say. Dad had only just reached the gate when Uncle Pei came rushing over. I didn't hear what they were saying before they went out again."
Ye Yaodong wondered about it for a moment, then let it go. He would find out when his dad came back anyway. Right now, he had to get all the gill nets onto the handcart first.
If his dad came back late, he could only go around the village to see whether A-Guang was home. If he wasn't, Ye Yaodong would have to find someone else to go set the nets with him. It took two people; one person couldn't manage it alone.
The Old Lady was helping him sort the buckets and baskets, stacking them inside one another as she muttered, "Nowhere to be seen when he's needed. Who knows what his in-law called him away for, or when he'll be back? What could be so important that he had to rush off without even eating?"
"There must be something, right? He wouldn't have come to get Dad for no reason."
"Go eat your breakfast first. I'll sort these out for you. There's no room left for them."
"All right. Leave the heavy ones. I'll move them after I eat."
After he finished eating and got all the gill nets ready, he was about to go out and find someone else when his dad came back in high spirits. They met right at the courtyard gate and almost collided.
"Whoa!"
"Dad?"
"What are you rushing around for? Watch where you're going."
Some dried shrimp spilled from the basket in Father Ye's hand. The dogs nearby hurried over, lowered their heads, and stretched out their tongues to lick them