After Ye Yaodong and the others saw everyone out, they left the television on. Their own children wanted to watch too, after all, and several children who couldn't bear to leave were still standing at the courtyard gate. They left the gate open as well, since they would be going in and out shortly anyway.
They really did need to bring the dried squid and fish out to air; they weren't just saying it, nor was it entirely an excuse. All the neighbors were watching, after all. Giving such a flimsy excuse would really sour people on them.
Everyone in the house got busy. Ye Eldest Brother, Second Older Brother Ye, and their wives all helped, and even the children were called up and forbidden from sitting around watching television. With everyone else working, what would it look like if they just sat there watching?
Children from poor families learned to shoulder responsibilities early. They all had to help with the work.
Their children already had much better lives than other people's children. They all attended school, and none had dropped out early to work for the family because they were poor.
They didn't have much housework to do either. They only had to gather some pig fodder on their way home from school each day, and even when they occasionally slacked off, there were leftover small fish and shrimp to feed the pigs.
Now they were going in and out carrying dried squid, helping the adults. But the television in the courtyard kept distracting them. Whenever they reached the courtyard, they turned their heads, kept stealing glances at the television, and dawdled.
Lin Xiuqing turned and simply switched the television off.
"I'm worried you'll twist your necks. I'll turn it back on for you once we're finished. Get to