Beachcombing: The beach is full of amazing seafood, but my wife won't let me get out of bed!

The next morning, the sea breeze rattled the windows.

Wu Jianguo squatted under the eaves, holding a pipe in his hand, taking a couple of puffs, his brows furrowed.

"The wind is quite strong; it looks like we won't be able to go out to sea today."

Wu Sui, holding a large bowl of sweet potato porridge, squatted down and slurped down half of it.

"Dad, it's good that we can't go to sea. My older brother and I will go to the county today."

Wang Feng was carrying freshly made scallion pancakes out of the kitchen when she heard this. She slammed the plate down on the table in the main room and wiped her apron.

"What are you going to the county for? Second brother, you just got a couple of bucks in your pocket, and you're already burning it out and want to go to town to show off?"

Wu Sui tore off a scallion pancake, took a big bite, and his mouth was full of oil.

"Sister-in-law, what are you saying? I'm going with my brother to the county shipyard to look at the ships."

"Didn't we just agree yesterday that we'd buy a 17-meter boat together? We can't keep renting Cheng Kaixuan's old wooden boat every day."

Wu Gang also came over with his bowl, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish grin.

"Yes, Dafeng. A 17-meter boat can be built by the county shipyard, and the craftsmanship is quite good."

"If we want to buy a bigger one, we'll have to go to the city."

When Wang Feng heard that it was a serious matter of buying a boat, his face immediately brightened, and wrinkles appeared at the corners of his eyes as he smiled.

"That's good. You two brothers should keep your eyes open. The people at that shipyard are shrewd. Don't get ripped off."

Wu Sui waved his hand repeatedly: "Don't worry, sister-in-law, let's go ask about the price first, there's no rush to buy now."

Wu Gang worked on a deep-sea fishing boat in the city for two years in his early years and has a boat license.

Later, because your sister-in-law gave birth to Xiaohu, and someone had to stay at home, he returned to the village to work.

In recent years, I've also worked on boats with the villagers, but unfortunately, I didn't earn much. In the end, I contracted an orchard on the back mountain.

Now this ship certificate can finally come in handy!

After breakfast, Wu Sui pulled Chen Xue and carried Ya Ya back to the stone house.

As soon as she entered, Chen Xue began to tidy up.

I haven't stayed here for the past few days. Fortunately, the roof isn't leaking, but it's a bit damp.

"Honey, stop fussing around and come sit down. I need to talk to you about something."

Wu Sui pulled over a chair, sat down, and pointed to the edge of the bed.

Chen Xue stopped what she was doing, turned around, and looked at Wu Sui with some confusion.

"Ah Sui, what's wrong?" She obediently sat down on the edge of the bed, her hands folded on her knees.

Wu Sui leaned forward and lowered his voice.

"If we buy this 17-meter-long ship, my older brother and I alone definitely won't be able to manage it at sea."

"Setting anchor, casting nets, and sorting seafood all require a reliable person to lend a hand."

Chen Xue nodded in agreement.

"We need to find someone. Ah Shui from the village entrance, or Er Niu, they're both pretty efficient at their work. If you ask, they'll definitely be willing to come."

Wu Sui shook his head.

"We shouldn't let the profits go to outsiders. The boat's income is substantial, and I don't trust outsiders to handle it."

He paused, looking directly into Chen Xue's eyes, "I want Xiao Yang to come and board the ship."

Chen Xue looked up, her entire expression freezing.

"Little...Little Yang?"

Chen Yang is her biological younger brother. He just turned eighteen this year. He didn't get into university after graduating from high school and now stays at home to help his parents farm and do odd jobs.

Images from the past flashed through Chen Xue's mind.

Back then, Wu Sui went out gambling and drinking every day, and his family was so poor they couldn't even afford to eat.

Chen's parents felt sorry for their daughter, so they secretly sent Chen Yang over with half a bag of rice and a few dozen yuan to help her.

As a result, they happened to run into Wu Sui, who was drunk.

Wu Sui not only didn't appreciate it, but also felt that the Chen family was there to laugh at him.

He kicked over the rice sack, pointed at Chen Yang's nose, and cursed him, telling him to get out and stop pretending to be a good person at the Wu family's house.

Chen Yang was so angry that he tried to talk back, but Wu Sui slapped him across the face, and blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.

From then on, her family never dared to visit again, and Chen Xue felt too ashamed to go back to her parents' home, so she could only secretly wipe away her tears at night.

But now, Wu Sui has actually offered to let Chen Yang work on the ship?

Chen Xue's eyes instantly reddened, and tears welled up in her eyes.

She gripped the hem of her clothes tightly with both hands, her voice trembling.

"Ah Sui...you...you're not making fun of me, are you?"

Wu Sui felt a pang of pain in his heart when he saw his wife's cautious demeanor.

In his past life, he was an absolute scoundrel. After Chen Xue died, Chen Yang, who usually couldn't utter a single word for half a day, rushed into the Wu family's courtyard like a madman.

With red eyes, he held Chen Xue's body, refusing to let anyone touch it. He pointed at Wu Sui's nose and cursed him as a beast, saying that his sister was driven to her death by him.

Wu Sui remembered that deep sibling bond that was thicker than blood for two lifetimes.

"Wife, I can't make fun of our own family, no matter who I'm making fun of."

Wu Sui stood up, walked over to Chen Xue and sat down next to her, reaching out to hold her somewhat cold hand.

"Xiao Yang is a reliable kid. Although he's a bit quiet, he's a very capable worker."

"He doesn't need to talk much on the ship, just be quick and efficient."

"If he works for me, how could I, as his brother-in-law, possibly mistreat him?"

Chen Xue finally couldn't hold back her tears any longer, and they fell onto Wu Sui's hand in a series of drops.

She couldn't believe it was real.

In the past, Wu Sui wouldn't even let her mention her family. If she said even half a word wrong, she would be subjected to a severe scolding.

Now he's actually thinking about his wife's family in every way.

"But... Xiaoyang is a bit stubborn, I'm afraid he'll upset you when he gets on the ship..."

Chen Xue wiped away her tears and choked out her words.

Wu Sui smiled and gently wiped away the tears on her cheeks with his rough fingertips.

"It's good to be stubborn. If you don't have a stubborn temper, you'll be bullied to death when you're making a living at sea. That's settled then."

Wu Sui stood up and patted his trouser legs.

"When I get back from the county today, I'll buy two cartons of good cigarettes and some good liquor."

"Tomorrow morning, I'll accompany you back to your parents' home. We'll go back in style and ask Xiaoyang what he thinks."

Chen Xue looked up, staring at Wu Sui with shock in her eyes.

Going back to her parents' home?

She hasn't stepped into her parents' home for two whole years.

"Ah Sui... are you really willing to come back with me?"

"Of course it's true!" Wu Sui ruffled her hair.

"I was a bastard before, causing your Chen family to suffer and making you unable to hold your head up in your own family."

"Now that we're doing better, I'm going to make sure you get back all the face you've lost!"

Upon hearing this, Chen Xue looked at Wu Sui's earnest yet distressed eyes.

She suddenly threw herself into Wu Sui's arms, hugged his waist tightly, buried her face in his chest, and burst into tears.

All the grievances, hardships, and anxieties of the past few years turned into tears at this moment.

Wu Sui gently patted her back, letting her cry her heart out.

After calming Chen Xue down, Wu Sui walked out of the courtyard.

Wu Gang was getting a little anxious waiting by the roadside at the village entrance.