Chapter 441: The Fool Who Came to the Door

Chapter 441: The Idiot Who Came Knocking

Ye Xiaoxiao stood up, "I'm coming too."

Ye Changyuan, after all, had served in the military for several years, so he had no problem taking care of himself.

Ye Xiaoxiao placed the peeled garlic in a bowl and took a basin of water to the yard.

"Is water hard to come by here?" Ye Changyuan knew freshwater supply on the island was extremely difficult. This was still an island where wells could be dug—some places had to have freshwater shipped in by boat.

"It’s not as easy as back home, that’s for sure."

Even in Baishi Village, every household had its own well, and the stream in the village was close by, so water was never a concern.

Ye Xiaoxiao: "But I’m used to it by now."

Ye Changyuan thought, *Yeah, right*—he noticed it’s not like Xiao Xiao was the one hauling water at home anyway.

"Hey, Changyuan, do you know about Changjun’s upcoming marriage?"

Mentioning this, Ye Changyuan had plenty to say. "Mom and Dad wrote about it. Once my brother gets married, my parents can finally check one big thing off their list."

The main issue was that if Ye Changjun didn’t marry, their parents would keep nagging him in letters.

Ye Changyuan, on the other hand, was all about moving up in the ranks. Though the military set up mixers, he had no plans to marry for the time being.

Ye Xiaoxiao shook her head—she didn’t get the whole marriage-pressure thing, having got hitched early.

However, she didn’t ask Ye Changyuan when he planned to marry, but he took the initiative to ask her when they were gonna have kids.

"You two have been married for so long—aren’t you thinking about kids?"

"Changyuan, your question is way too forward."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "And it hasn’t been that long—it was only last year!"

"But you two started dating early." Ye Changyuan pointed out, "Let me tell you, guys don’t grow up till they have kids."

Ye Xiaoxiao: "You’re not even married—how would you know?"

Ye Changyuan: "That’s just how guys are. Do I need to be married to know that?"

They hadn’t exchanged many words before Lu Hanchuan came out to prepare the seafood.

Ye Changyuan gave Ye Xiaoxiao a look, signaling her to keep it a secret.

Once the cleaned seafood was brought inside, Lu Hanchuan quickly threw together a whole spread.

Plenty for the three of them. To welcome Ye Changyuan, Ye Xiaoxiao cracked open a bottle of liquor.

"Let’s just have a little."

Lu Hanchuan: "*We* can have a little. You stick to soda."

Mainly because Lu Hanchuan had witnessed Xiao Xiao’s alcohol tolerance long ago—it was nothing to write home about.

"I can handle a little!"

In the end, Lu Hanchuan poured her just a tiny sip—literally just enough to wet her lips.

Lu Hanchuan: "We’re supposed to walk around the island tomorrow, so let’s have soda instead."

Ye Xiaoxiao finally gave in, aware of her low alcohol tolerance.

With Changyuan here today, she should know her limits.

After dinner, they cleaned up the table together.

It was summer, and it stayed light out late, so the three of them went for a stroll along the shore.

Some naval soldiers were still training on the island, which Ye Changyuan found comforting.

Children were running around on the beach while Ye Xiaoxiao collected seashells in the sand.

The sky was painted with sunset hues, the evening glow even more stunning than woven silk.

"I forgot to bring the camera—this would’ve made for great photos."

Lu Hanchuan: "You should get out more. Scenes like this happen every day."

Ye Xiaoxiao glared at him. Sure, the scenery repeats daily, but he wasn’t around every day.

And sometimes he came back very late.

But once Ye Changyuan left, she’d be busy with work too.

Then she wouldn’t have the right to criticize Lu Hanchuan.

Since Ye Changyuan had traveled all day, they didn’t linger long before heading back.

The next day, Ye Xiaoxiao and Ye Changyuan went sightseeing on the island.

Lu Hanchuan went to work.

It was Ye Xiaoxiao’s first time venturing far—some islanders were even ferrying vegetables to a tiny market on tricycles.

Ye Xiaoxiao and Ye Changyuan rented one.

"Changyuan, give me a ride to the other side of the island."

Ye Changyuan laughed helplessly. "You’re full of ideas. Let me find you a cushion."

The tricycle was tricky to handle, but Ye Changyuan managed. Though wobbly at first, he got used to it quickly.

They rode through the island’s neighborhoods toward the opposite side.

Ye Xiaoxiao noticed the terrain sloped from west to east, with cliffs along the western shore.

It took them over four hours to circle the entire island.

Ye Changyuan: "There’s really not much to see here—nothing but shabby houses, not even a single restaurant."

"Nowadays, folks are just glad to have full bellies at home. Who’d go to a restaurant? Unless it’s military personnel with money to spare."

"But the army has a canteen with better meals than most islanders can whip up. No one would bother opening a restaurant."

Ye Xiaoxiao understood—it was just a small, undeveloped island.

Ye Changyuan: "Now that we’ve seen everything, can we head back now?"

Ye Xiaoxiao nodded, "Let’s head back."

They hadn’t run into many people on their way here, only seeing fishermen hanging nets to dry in their yards.

There were no vast cornfields on the island—at most, just a small plot per household for growing vegetables. If they wanted grain, they had to buy it from outside.

The small shop run by Hai Yan covered most of the island’s needs; otherwise, things wouldn’t be so well-stocked here.

On their way back, the two passed through the residential area.

Suddenly, a man darted out from the roadside, like he was trying to fake an accident.

Ye Xiaoxiao took a closer look, "Yu Dahai?"

"Are you the one helping that bitch Hai Yan?"

Yu Dahai had spent a few days in the police station, but instead of learning his lesson, he got fixated on finding who was behind it.

Somebody had tipped him off, claiming that someone was helping Hai Yan.

In Yu Dahai’s eyes, Ye Xiaoxiao was just a young girl—a little scare would shut her up and make her never dare to meddle in the Yu family’s affairs again.

Ye Changyuan hit the brakes hard, almost getting thrown off.

When he looked up, he saw this idiot picking a fight.

Ye Changyuan was in casual clothes today, looking laid-back.

Yu Dahai thought the other man was just an ordinary guy, no match for him anyway, and grew bolder.

Ye Changyuan: "Who are you? I almost ran you over just now—you know that?"

Ye Xiaoxiao patted Ye Changyuan’s shoulder, "Changyuan, don’t bother talking to him. He’s just some local punk asking for trouble. Just beat him up."

Ye Xiaoxiao had had enough of Yu Dahai.

After the lesson he got, he should’ve quit his crap, but he actually had the balls to come at them.

Ye Xiaoxiao figured he must have only heard half the story and didn’t fully understand the situation.

Ye Changyuan, remembering he was military personnel, hesitated before getting off the bike, "Huh? Really?"

Ye Xiaoxiao decisively jumped off the bike, grabbing a rock from who-knows-where.

"Yeah, it’s me. What are you gonna do about it?"

"I suggest you mind your own business, or I’ll end you."

Ye Xiaoxiao had been waiting for those exact words.