After lunch, Ye Yaodong went to ask Uncle Zhou to bring the tractor over, planning to take Father Lin, Lin Mother, his two brothers-in-law, and the others home in one trip.
Lin Xiuqing also put all the red envelopes they had brought into a basket for them to take back. She added several new towels as well. These were customary parting gifts in their area, so guests would not leave empty-handed.
She also slipped Father Lin and Lin Mother their wages. With the tractor waiting there, the elderly couple worried about keeping everyone waiting and could not keep refusing, so they accepted the money.
The two Lin sisters-in-law were delighted to see it too. The elderly couple's hard work had not been for nothing.
Ye Yaodong also carried over a burlap sack of dried fish and packed a basket with various kinds of dried shellfish for them to take home.
Only after seeing everyone off did they all breathe a sigh of relief. Even a simple meal between the two families had been no easy task.
Father Ye had drunk enough at lunch to be slightly tipsy now. His face was flushed red, and he let out an alcoholic burp. "Now that you've sent them home, when are you planning to take them to the city?"
"The afternoon after tomorrow, maybe? The dried goods my sisters-in-law and the neighbors have been drying should all be ready tomorrow. I can take those over at the same time."
"Then you decide."
"Wait until you've sobered up tomorrow to talk about it. Every one of you is red-faced and drunk. Hurry home and get some sleep first. Drinking all that liquor-you don't even know to pace yourselves and drink a little less..." Mother Ye supported Father Ye as she nagged, planning to take