Around five the next morning, Ye Yaodong got up early and headed to Tianhou Palace.
The entrance to Tianhou Palace was bustling too. Two large cooking pots and two big tables had been set up, and a group of villagers who had come for breakfast were laughing and chatting about all sorts of everyday gossip.
Everyone helping out today would receive free meals all day, and food and drink would be free tomorrow and the day after as well.
The food would not be particularly good, but it would fill their stomachs, and that was enough. Wages were out of the question; it all depended on people volunteering. After all, they were helping the Mazu Temple.
Still, plenty of people had volunteered-not just men, but women and young girls too. After all, Mazu needed people dressed as maids and attendants beside her during the procession. Since Mazu was female, moving her statue around had to be left to the fisherwomen.
Some people had been out at sea and signed up too late to get a place, which left them disappointed. After all, it was a good deed, and everyone was enthusiastic about worshipping the gods.
Porridge was still bubbling away in the two large pots, and Fatty's father was stirring it constantly with a big ladle.
Ye Yaodong looked around and saw quite a few familiar faces. His father and both his older brothers were there too, but none of his friends were anywhere to be seen. Too lazy.
"Dongzi's here! Come have breakfast. There's still a little left at the bottom of this washbasin. Scrape it together and you can get a small bowl." As Father Ye spoke, he pushed the washbasin on the table toward him.
Ye Yaodong looked down at it. Scraping really was the only option...