Father Ye

Biodata

Background / History

Inheritance and boat restoration

Father Ye is the youngest of three brothers and was the last to marry. His father left him the old family house rather than building him a separate home, moving into a small room beside the vegetable patch with Ye Grandma. By 1982, Father Ye’s household had become overcrowded: each son’s family occupied one room, while he, his wife, and their unmarried daughter shared the fourth 6.

When his father died two years before the opening events, Father Ye accepted the dilapidated fishing boat because his mother could not bear to sell it. His elder brothers took the money from the estate instead. He then spent two years putting his earnings toward repairs so that he could fish with his sons 1 2 5.

Large yellow croaker windfall

The restored boat brought in more than two hundred jin of large yellow croakers, sold for 1,200 yuan at five yuan per jin. His brothers subsequently demanded a share, arguing that the boat had originally belonged to their father. Ye Yaodong challenged them to put their claim before the villagers, and Father Ye supported having the dispute judged publicly; the brothers withdrew 1 3.

When Ye Yaodong said the catch could have earned twice as much in the county town, Father Ye angrily blamed him for not accompanying the family. He eventually accepted that regretting a completed sale was pointless. Ye Yaodong’s explanation of declining croaker stocks also prompted him to reconsider his supposedly useless son’s knowledge 3.

His brothers later returned to request loans of three hundred yuan each, then proposed renting the boat. Father Ye refused to lend money needed for his own family’s housing. The visit ended in another quarrel after their remarks about a breakdown at sea were taken as a curse on his family 15.

Building houses and dividing the household

Father Ye and Mother Ye decided to use the croaker proceeds, supplemented by later fishing income, to build homes for their sons and divide the household. He secured approval from the People’s Commune for an uncultivable plot at the turnoff toward the beach 6 13.

During the family discussion, he tested which son would take responsibility for the parents in old age. His two elder sons offered, but their wives were visibly reluctant. Ye Yaodong and Lin Xiuqing volunteered together, although Father Ye doubted that his third son could support them. He settled on three houses, one for each son, stating that he and his wife could still work and support themselves 13 14.

He organized workers and building materials while continuing to fish with his elder sons in rotation 14 16 36.

Recognition of Ye Yaodong’s contributions

Father Ye gave Ye Yaodong rare praise after his group caught over seven thousand jin of Spanish mackerel. When Ye Second Sister-in-Law demanded that his earnings also fund the houses, Father Ye defended his right to keep independently earned money. He explained that shore-gathered food and construction work were contributions too, and that he—not the elder sons alone—was subsidizing the houses 42.

His support did not end his demands for responsibility: he ordered Ye Yaodong to help at the building site rather than disappear with friends. Later, hearing about another productive gathering trip softened his attitude, and he suggested renting a boat again when the tide was suitable 43 49.

Personality

Father Ye is hardworking and deeply frustrated by Ye Yaodong’s longstanding idleness. His anger can become physical: he chases his adult son with a shoe and strikes him with a broom. Nevertheless, he immediately stops when his mother intervenes, reflecting his deference to her 4 5.

He values family reputation and brotherly affection, initially tolerating his elder brothers’ demands rather than immediately breaking with them. Those loyalties have limits: he refuses to surrender money needed by his children and angrily rejects remarks that threaten the family’s good fortune at sea 1 2 15.

His judgment of Ye Yaodong changes slowly rather than all at once. Even while recognizing useful work and defending his earnings, he continues to expect backsliding. His fairness is practical: he counts food supplied to the household as a financial contribution, not merely cash income 42 43 49.

Abilities & Skills

Fishing and boat navigation

Father Ye operates the family fishing boat and takes his sons out trawling 5 12.

• Knows how to steer and read a compass; Ye Yaohua urges Ye Yaodong to learn these skills from him 12.
• Arranges for his elder sons to alternate trips because trawling needs only two people, allowing them to rest 12.
• Recognizes that fishing income depends on weather and cannot be guaranteed 15.

Boat maintenance and safety

Father Ye finances the gradual restoration of the inherited boat and checks its condition before use 5 16.

• Hired an experienced boatbuilder to inspect it before its first return to the water 16.
• States that he would not gamble with either his own safety or his sons’ 16.

Equipment / Items

• Inherited fishing boat — An old vessel a little over ten meters long, suitable for coastal fishing but unable to venture far offshore. Father Ye regards it as his property, not communal household property 3 42.
• Water pipe — A prized possession he frequently smokes at home, filling its bowl with tobacco and lighting it with matches 2 5 49.

Relationships

• Mother Ye / Chen Lixiang — Wife and partner in household decisions. They jointly plan the new houses and the separation of their sons’ households 6 7 14.
• Ye Grandma — Mother, who lives with his family. He helps plant her small crop plot and obeys her intervention when she protects Ye Yaodong 4 24.
• Ye Eldest Uncle and Ye Second Uncle — Elder brothers. Their attempts to claim fishing proceeds, borrow money, and rent his boat strain their relationship 1 2 15.
• Ye Yaopeng — Eldest son, fishing partner, and helper with construction arrangements 14 16 33.
• Ye Yaohua — Second son, who alternates fishing trips with Ye Yaopeng and reports Ye Yaodong’s building-site work to their father 12 42.
• Ye Yaodong — Third son. Their relationship combines harsh discipline, concern over his ability to support his family, and growing recognition of his work 4 6 42 49.
• Ye Huimei — Unmarried daughter, who shares a room with her parents before the household division 6.
• Lin Xiuqing — Third daughter-in-law. She supports Ye Yaodong’s offer to live with and care for his parents 13.
• Ye Second Sister-in-Law — Second daughter-in-law. Father Ye rejects her claim that Ye Yaodong’s different work unfairly burdens the elder brothers 42 43.