Ye Eldest Sister-in-Law frowned too. "They're practically inhuman. People aren't even allowed to have many children these days. Losing a child would be heartbreaking."
"Exactly. The previous generation had eight, nine, even a dozen children, and they'd still grieve if one or two didn't survive. Only the heartless could act like it didn't matter. Thank goodness no children have gone missing in our village."
"One nearly did! Luckily, everyone in our village kept a close watch during New Year. Whenever a peddler came into the village with his carrying pole, everyone watched him from beginning to end..."
"I heard our village was commended for helping catch the child traffickers. Apparently there'll be a reward too..."
The conversation quickly veered off, and they stopped dwelling on getting Mother Ye to help.
Lin Xiuqing had already heard all about it at home. She offered no opinion, simply stroked her two sons' heads and told them not to make trouble, and to work properly if they were going to help.
After standing there a little longer, Mother Ye called her two friends back to continue cleaning fish. Since her two daughters-in-law couldn't bear to spend money hiring help, they would have to do it themselves. She would help if she could spare the time, but if she couldn't, there was nothing she could do.
She looked at Father Ye, who was squatting there. "Have all these shellfish been carried over? Why don't you go inside and eat first?"
Father Ye nodded.
But once inside, he piled the dishes onto his rice in a large bowl and carried it back out. He squatted beside the heap of shellfish and ate while watching the children work.
Ye Yaopeng and Ye Yaohua did the same. Each of the three men held a large bowl, either sitting