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

After lunch, Wu Gang and Wang Feng packed up, took two boxes of pastries, and rode their bicycles back to Wang Feng's parents' house.

Wu Sui brought two bottles of good wine and a carton of good cigarettes from home.

After Chen Xue finished cleaning the kitchen, she saw him leaving and hurriedly stopped him.

"Ah Sui, Sister-in-law Linghua has a stubborn temper. When you go, speak to her politely and don't get angry with her."

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Wu Suixian went to Uncle Chen's house.

When Uncle Chen heard that Wu Sui offered a base salary of 1800 plus bonuses, he agreed on the spot without much thought.

Chen Yongqiang didn't hesitate at all; he had long since given up on working for his father.

Not only do I not make any money, but I also get lectured every day.

At just 20 years old, who can stand being nagged every day?

After leaving Uncle Chen's house, Wu Sui, carrying cigarettes and alcohol, along with several packets of candy and cookies for the children, familiarly pushed open the half-closed gate of Wu Lei's house.

The courtyard was quiet, with a few patched clothes hanging on bamboo poles, swaying in the wind.

Wu Lei was squatting by the water tank cleaning fish when he heard the noise. He looked up, was startled at first, and quickly wiped his hands haphazardly on his apron before coming over.

"Ah Sui, what brings you here? Come in and sit down."

Wu Sui placed the items on the table in the main room and casually took out several packets of White Rabbit milk candy from the bag.

Three children were peeking out from behind the curtain in the inner room. Two thin girls were pulling a snotty-nosed little boy, their eyes fixed longingly on the treats in Wu Sui's hands.

"Laidi, Zhaodi, bring your little brother over, Uncle will get you some good food." Wu Suichong's three children waved.

The three children swallowed hard and timidly moved closer.

Wu Lei rubbed his hands together, his dark red face full of embarrassment.

"Ah Sui, you've come all this way, why did you bring anything, especially these things for the child..."

"Brother Lei, we're brothers, no need to be so polite." Wu Sui stuffed snacks into the children's hands.

Wu Lei quickly lowered his head and urged, "Quickly thank Uncle Sui."

Just as the children were about to speak, the curtain in the inner room was suddenly lifted.

Linghua came out carrying a basin of clothes, her face long and drawn.

She strode over, snatched the milk from the three children's hands, and threw them all onto the table with a thud.

"Eat, eat, all you do is eat! You dare to take food from anyone, aren't you afraid of getting a stomachache!" Linghua scolded the three children.

The children shuddered in fright, and the little boy burst into tears.

"Stop crying! Go back inside!" Linghua glared at them, and the three children quickly slipped back into the inner room.

Wu Sui's outstretched hand froze in mid-air, his face burning with embarrassment.

This isn't disciplining a child; it's clearly slapping him in the face.

He was certain he hadn't offended this woman, and he had come to invite Wu Lei today with sincerity. What was going on here?

Wu Lei got anxious and grabbed Linghua.

"What are you doing? Ah Sui came to see us out of kindness, what's wrong with you!"

Linghua flung Wu Lei's hand away and put her hands on her hips.

"Am I going crazy?"

"Wu Lei, I'm warning you, if you dare to get involved with Wu Lao Er, we can forget about living together. I'm taking our son back to my parents' house tomorrow."

Wu Lei blushed deeply after being rebuked and kept smiling apologetically at Wu Sui.

"Ah Sui, don't take it to heart. Your sister-in-law has been in a bad mood these past few days..."

"Who's in a bad mood?" Linghua's voice rose eight octaves as she pointed at Wu Sui.

"Wu Lao Er, don't think that just because you've made a little money now you can act like a big shot in the village."

"You used to be idle and petty thieves, and the whole village was wary of you."

"Now you've really grown bolder, and your heart has become even more ruthless."

Wu Sui was completely dumbfounded.

He came here today to hire a boatman, how did that make him seem malicious?

"Sister-in-law Linghua, what are you talking about? I haven't caused any trouble lately, have I?"

Linghua sneered, pulled over a long bench and sat down, looking like she was going to settle accounts properly.

"Didn't cause any trouble? Go out and listen to what's being said in the village right now."

"Everyone says you, Wu Lao Er, are a living devil; whoever gets involved with you is doomed!"

Wu Sui was completely confused; what was going on here?

Seeing that he didn't believe her, Linghua started counting on her fingers to give him a list.

"Lai Er used to be a scoundrel in the village, at most he would take advantage of others."

"And what happened? Just because he followed you to the mudflats to go beachcombing and took over your territory, he was arrested a few days later and is still in jail."

Wu Sui touched his nose. This matter... seemed to really be his fault.

Before he could explain, Linghua broke off her second finger.

"Cheng Kaixuan isn't exactly a good person either; he promised to rent you a boat, but then went back on his word."

"But you're too cruel, sending her straight to jail. She's a widow and her child, and the old lady sits at home crying every day now."

Wu Sui was completely speechless. How could this be his fault?

Cheng Kaixuan is not greedy, and Old Lady Liu is not trying to extort money. He can find a way to resolve this problem.

"These two are alright; Li Daqiang's body can't even be found now."

"His father went mad, his wife ran away with the children, and a perfectly good family was destroyed just like that."

Linghua stared at Wu Sui, her face full of vigilance.

"Wu Lao Er, put your hand on your heart and do the math. In the past few months, anyone who opposed you or got involved with you, has anyone ended up well?"

"They're either inside or dead!"

"You come to my house now, bringing cigarettes and alcohol. What are you up to?"

"Let me tell you, although my son Wu Lei may be a good-for-nothing, I don't want him to risk his life because of you."

Wu Lei, who was listening nearby, broke out in a cold sweat and quickly covered Linghua's mouth.

"Can you just shut up? They committed the crime themselves, what does it have to do with Ah Sui?"

"How can it not be his business? Flies don't land on eggs without cracks!" Linghua broke free and continued to speak.

Wu Sui stood there, listening to these words, his heart churning with turmoil.

Upon closer examination, he realized that this matter was indeed related to him.

To the unsuspecting villagers, these events, taken together, seemed truly bizarre.

With his current physical condition, he's practically a walking jinx; whoever messes with him is doomed.

No wonder I've noticed people in the village giving me strange looks these past few days. Even some of the older women who used to joke around with me now avoid him.

They really treated him like a plague.

Wu Sui was both amused and exasperated.

How can he explain this?

Wu Sui sighed and pushed the cigarettes and alcohol on the table toward Wu Lei.

"Brother Lei, sister-in-law, there's nothing I can do about the gossip in the village."

"But I'm here today because I genuinely want to ask Brother Lei to come and help me on my boat."

"Base salary of 2000, plus 0.5% bonus. Brother Lei knows how to repair ships, I will definitely not treat him unfairly."

"I've left the things here. You two should discuss it carefully."

"If Brother Lei is willing to come, give me a definite answer when you come to my house."

"If you don't want to, consider this tobacco and alcohol a gift from your brother."

After saying that, Wu Sui turned and walked out, her back view revealing a hint of helplessness.