Li Yue'e

Biodata

History

The Breakup with He Lijuan

When Wei Donglai returns home in 1982, Li Yue'e intervenes after Wei Guoqing’s whipping leaves bloody welts on their son’s arms. Although she had agreed that Donglai needed discipline, she pushes her husband aside and shields him 1.

She initially accepts He Guangrong’s account of Donglai’s fight and reluctantly agrees to end his relationship with He Lijuan. Donglai’s unemployment and poor reputation leave her unable to counter the other family’s contempt. Once he exposes He Lijuan’s affair with Zhang Hui, however, Li Yue'e angrily condemns the father and daughter and orders them out 1 2.

Teaching Donglai Independence

Li Yue'e distrusts Donglai’s sudden willingness to work, interpreting his chores and net-mending as signs that the breakup has shaken him. She favors a steady job at the meatpacking plant and urges him to marry. Her attempt to enlist her daughters-in-law as matchmakers falters when Chen Fengying asks whether she herself would marry someone like Donglai 3 4.

After Donglai proves he can cook, she supports moving him into the family’s old house so that he can become self-reliant. Despite calling this a stricter form of love, she later worries that he might resent his parents for sending him away 5 8.

Defending Her Son at the Shore

During an oyster-gathering trip, Li Yue'e confronts Sister-in-law Yang and Sister-in-law Hu for mocking Donglai. Her rebuke silences them, and nearby women support her rather than indulge their complaints 12.

Donglai subsequently retaliates by following the pair and taking the best oysters until they leave. Li Yue'e scolds him for behaving like a hooligan, but cannot conceal her smile at his defense of her 13.

Accepting Donglai’s Fishing Career

Donglai’s profitable catches gradually challenge Li Yue'e’s doubts about his abilities. She accompanies him to sell his groupers, encourages him to fish after hearing about another valuable catch, and continues warning him against spending his earnings too freely 15 18 19.

She nevertheless opposes his plan to buy a boat, preferring the pending meatpacking job. His serious explanation of his earnings, willingness to work, and desire to pay for his own marriage and house weakens her resistance. She finally consents after he promises to bring her a daughter-in-law within a year, while insisting that he stay safe 38.

Treasure and the First Voyage

After Donglai discovers a purple jadeite pendant inside a broken Buddha statue, Li Yue'e takes responsibility for keeping it safe. Alarmed by its value, she hides it and instructs the family not to reveal how it was obtained 43 44.

At the celebration for Donglai’s new boat, she reminds him of his marriage promise. Before his first voyage, she burns incense and joss paper, presents offerings, and prays for Mazu’s protection. She then gives him an aluminum lunchbox and another warning to take care 48 49.

Personality

Li Yue'e combines fierce protectiveness with strict discipline. She explicitly distinguishes defending Donglai before outsiders from punishing him at home: after driving away the He family, she shuts the gate and calls for another whipping over his night away. She also pulls his ear and strikes him with a stick when she believes he is being irresponsible 3 7 11.

Her thrift reflects concern for the family’s livelihood. She objects to eating valuable seafood instead of selling it and reminds Donglai that his brothers work hard at sea while supporting their families. Although pleased by his gifts, she repeatedly urges him to save for marriage and a home 7 19 37.

Her sharp tongue does not make her a habitual troublemaker. The village women regard her character favorably and recognize that Yang and Hu provoked their confrontation. She can also acknowledge a mistake: when she learns that most of Donglai’s purchased pork is a gift for her household, she softens and apologizes 11 12.

Abilities & Skills

Oyster Gathering and Processing

Li Yue'e gathers oysters alongside her daughters-in-law and directs the end of their afternoon’s work 12 13.

• Understands that drying oyster meat raises its sale value 15.
• Agrees to handle Donglai’s oyster meat after he offers her the proceeds 15.

Verbal Confrontation

Her rapid, cutting replies overwhelm Yang and Hu when they ridicule Donglai 12.

• Defends her family openly rather than allowing the insults to pass.
• Leaves both women unwilling to continue arguing 12.

Notable Possessions

• Purple jadeite Buddha pendant — Found by Donglai inside a broken statue and valued by him at more than ten thousand yuan. Li Yue'e refuses to wear it for fear of losing it, keeps it safe on his behalf, and intends to pass it to his future wife 43 44.

Relationships

• Wei Guoqing — Husband. They cooperate in disciplining Donglai and encouraging his independence, though she intervenes when a beating becomes too harsh. She also monitors Guoqing’s spending and drinking 1 4 5 6 43.
• Wei Donglai — Youngest son. His former idleness makes her skeptical of his promises, but his sustained work gradually earns her support. Finding him a wife remains a persistent priority 3 12 26 38.
• Wei Fangchun and Wei Fanghua — Older sons who fish for the family. Their demanding work underlies her insistence on thrift 6 7.
• Xue Li — Eldest daughter-in-law. Li Yue'e works alongside her but considers her overly timid 4 13.
• Chen Fengying — Second daughter-in-law. More willing to challenge or tease Li Yue'e, including about Donglai’s marriage prospects and her concealed pride in him 4 13.
• Wei Ning, Wei Hai, and Wei Yuanyuan — Grandchildren. She helps care for them and joins in the family’s playful exchanges 7.
• He Guangrong and He Lijuan — Initially treated as prospective in-laws; expelled from her home after Donglai reveals Lijuan’s infidelity 1 2.

Notable Quotes

“We're not abandoning you. We're just loving you in a stricter way.” 5

“I'm not eager to hold a grandson. I'm afraid you'll stay a bachelor.” 26

“Take this and eat it for lunch on the boat. And be sure to stay safe.” 49