After being jilted, the entire neighboring village was filled with deep regret.

Chapter 416 Changes in the Fishing Village

Shen Yi didn't want them to know too much, so he turned to his brothers and said, "You can wander around the fishing village and chat with the local fishermen. They may have some seafood. If you see anything you like, you can ask the price and buy it."

The constables were somewhat tempted.

He asked jokingly, "Sir, can we still take this seafood back? Won't it die?"

Shen Yi laughed, "They definitely can't bring live seafood, but the local fishermen preserve some seafood, maybe pickled or dried. How will you know if you don't go and check?"

“You’re right, sir. We’ll be going then.” The constables discussed their plan to act together.

Yu Xinghai was very excited and hurriedly said ingratiatingly, "I asked a villager to guide you. They learned some of the Langya language from me this year and can barely answer your questions."

Shen Yi gave Yu Xinghai a deep look and smiled, "Village Chief Yu is indeed farsighted."

After the constables left, Yu Xinghai led Shen Yi's family into the village, and casually mentioned the changes that had taken place in the village over the past year.

"Since the adults gave us fishing boats, the villagers' lives have become much better. In the past, several families would go out to sea together, and accidents would often happen at sea. This year, all the men in the village went out together. They put on those floaties as soon as they got on the boat, and some people actually fell into the sea. Only one person went missing due to improper operation, but the others were all rescued and survived."

This is something we've never experienced before.

The villagers are all hardworking, going out to sea every day. Sometimes they don't catch much, but sometimes they are lucky enough to catch a school of fish and return with a full load. We take the seafood to the town far from the sea, which is an extra hour's journey, but we can sell it for much more money.

Look at this! Last year, everyone in the village lived in small stone houses. This year, several families are preparing to build houses, and the land they've fenced off is more than twice as big. We owe all of this to the adults and their wives!

Su Tai listened from the side and felt very pleased. She really did something meaningful by using the portal to help many people.

"Has anyone come to buy seafood from you this year?" Su Tai asked.

Yu Xinghai nodded hurriedly, "There were indeed several groups of people who all said they wanted those valuable big fish, weighing three or four hundred catties. When we heard that, we all thought they were just making trouble. Big fish weighing three or four hundred catties are mostly in the deep sea. Unless you encounter special weather, you can only find them. Even if you do find them, you may not be able to catch them. So we said we didn't have any."

There were a lot of mackerel around that time; the fishing boats caught mostly those for several days in a row. They weren't interested but didn't want to go home empty-handed, so they bought a whole boatload. Later, I heard they even went to other villages to buy more, but I don't know how that went.

Su Tai covered her mouth and chuckled, "It's good that someone is willing to buy mackerel."

As they were talking, the group passed by Yu Mengzi's house and found that Yu Mengzi's three children were working in the yard, and they had grown quite a bit.

“I remember that child,” Su Tai said, pointing to Yu Xiaoyu.

Yu Xinghai sighed, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "Madam is kind-hearted and still remembers them. It's such a pity! Yu Mengzi was unlucky and passed away in the winter, leaving behind three poor children. Xiaoyu now has to raise her two younger brothers all by herself. Sigh! I don't know what to say."

Su Tai stopped in her tracks, her smile gradually fading as she watched the three children working hard.

“Yu Mengzi is dead, how will they survive?” Yu Xinghai sighed again. “That’s why I said it’s all thanks to you, sir and madam. In the past, everyone was struggling, and no one would care for a child like that. But this year, every household had a lot of salted fish left over, and some families who couldn’t bear to see them suffer would give them some.”

The three children were also quite principled; whoever gave them food would help with chores, and they would go beachcombing when the tide went out. Although they couldn't catch much, they were at least not starving.

It's just that life is extremely difficult.

Su Tai looked at the three of them carefully and noticed that their clothes were not as clean as before, and some parts were worn out. Without the adults to mend them, and with a long road ahead of them, what would become of them in the future?

The couple exchanged a glance and instantly understood each other's thoughts.

Shen Yi turned to look at Yu Xinghai, "Village Chief Yu, actually we have another matter to discuss with you. We want to buy some servants to help us. We don't care if they are adults or children; we'll buy as long as they are suitable."

"My lord, is what you're saying true?" Yu Xinghai's eyes welled up with tears with excitement. He thought of his past self. Back then, he was all alone and only survived because he went to work for a wealthy family in Langya Kingdom. In the end, he even became the village chief of Xiaogang Village. In his opinion, as long as you follow the right master, being a servant is much better than suffering in this barren place.

Shen Yi and Su Tai are clearly the right people for each other. If the villagers can go out with them, it will be a change of fate.

Yu Xinghai couldn't wait to lead Shen Yi's family back, first showing them the account books, and then hurriedly went to the village to inform the villagers.

The first place he went to was Yu Xiaoyu's house.

Yu Xiaoyu and her two siblings knew that a distinguished person had come to the village, but they dared not go forward or utter a sound, and could only bury themselves in their work. Now that they saw the village chief, who was there to entertain the distinguished person, they couldn't help but feel strange.

"Uncle Village Chief!" Yu Xiaoyu and her two siblings called out in unison.

Yu Xinghai, disregarding formalities, said with a beaming smile, "Xiaoyu, this is great news, fantastic news! The noblemen just said they're here to buy some servants. You three siblings should think it over carefully. If you go with them, you won't have to worry about survival every day anymore."

Yu Xiaoyu's two younger brothers didn't understand what Yu Xinghai was talking about, and they both looked at their sister.

Yu Xiaoyu pursed her lips tightly, tears welling up in her eyes, but she bravely refused to let them fall. "Uncle Village Chief, what are we going to do by following this important person? We don't know anything. What if the important person is unhappy and beats us to death?"

She once went with her grandfather to sell fish in a remote town. The wealthy people in that town would whip the people around them if they were unhappy, and it hurt terribly.

Yu Xinghai was taken aback and hesitated before saying, “Little Fish! Not all masters are so cruel! The benefactor gave our village a large fishing boat, and the villagers’ lives have improved a lot this year. I think your worries are unnecessary. Of course, if you are still worried, you can ask the benefactor yourself in a while. With me here, just say the word. I also want to find a way out for you.”

To put it bluntly, fishing depends on the weather. The sea is full of dangers. Last year's favorable weather does not mean that the weather will be favorable in the future. The three children's basic needs are not guaranteed. Now that an opportunity to escape their suffering has been presented to them, they must seize it.

Yu Xiaoyu lowered her eyes, and after a struggle, gritted her teeth and said, "Uncle, let me discuss this with my brother. Can we go over by ourselves in a bit?"

"Alright, alright! I still need to inform the other families. You all think it over carefully."

Yu Xinghai left in a hurry.