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

Wu Sui looked up at the sky; it was gloomy, and the wind rustled the leaves of the trees in the yard.

"Mother, the sky is so overcast it looks like it's going to rain. Is Blind Li's divination accurate?"

Li Cuihua glared and put her hands on her hips.

"Don't talk nonsense. I went to the Mazu Temple to pray before I went to see Blind Li. He's definitely accurate."

"Blind Li said that tomorrow at Chenshi (7-9 AM), the wind will stop and the clouds will disperse. It will be an auspicious day, a once-in-a-century event. Breaking ground to ward off evil spirits will bring great fortune."

The old lady turned to look at Wu Gang and Wang Feng, and began to give orders at a loud voice.

"Gangzi, Asui, you two, stop sitting around and hurry up and ride your bikes to town to buy things."

"Mom, what do we need to buy?"

Li Cuihua started counting on her fingers.

"The three sacrificial animals must be present: pork belly with skin, chicken that has never crowed, fish that is whole and alive, steamed cake, red glutinous rice balls, and five kinds of fruit. Not one can be missing."

Linghua stood to the side and added loudly.

"Also, buy more joss paper, choose the thickest incense and candles, and don't forget the firecrackers, for good luck."

He thought for a moment and then instructed Wang Feng, "Tomorrow is the day for the groundbreaking ceremony. Those born in the years of the Tiger and Monkey must stay away so as not to offend the homeowner."

"When you go to invite people later, make sure you ask clearly, so that things don't turn out badly."

Li Cuihua nodded repeatedly, agreeing with Linghua's words.

"Did you hear me? Go now!"

Wu Sui got on the motorcycle with a somewhat helpless expression and patted Wu Gang on the shoulder.

"Let's go, brother. We're just running errands today."

The two brothers rode their motorcycle straight to town.

The town market was quite lively in the afternoon.

"Boss, give me ten cartons of cigarettes and two cases of Moutai." Wu Sui knocked on the counter.

Wu Gang was startled and quickly grabbed Wu Sui's wrist.

"Ah Sui, are you crazy? Why buy such expensive cigarettes and alcohol for groundbreaking? A bottle of liquor costing ten or twenty yuan would be fine!"

Wu Sui patted Wu Gang's hand in return.

"Brother, building a house is a major event for our family. How many times in a lifetime can we have such an opportunity?"

"Now so many eyes in the village are watching us. If this banquet is so shabby, people will talk behind our backs."

Wu Gang opened his mouth, but then fell silent.

A bottle of Moutai costs 200 yuan, so two cases cost 5000 yuan, and ten cartons of cigarettes cost another 4000 yuan.

I didn't buy any groceries, but I still spent almost 10,000 yuan.

After buying cigarettes and alcohol, the two went to the vegetable market for a shopping spree.

I bought a whole rack of pork belly, and two sacks full of live chickens and fish.

The motorcycle's back seat and both sides were completely filled with items.

Moreover, local banquets generally do not accept gifts, so the host family usually loses money by preparing the banquet.

Things are still relatively good now; in ten or twenty years, when everyone's conditions have improved, that will be truly outrageous.

Today you're having a celebratory event with lobster and abalone, tomorrow I'll be getting king crab and Buddha Jumps Over the Wall—everyone's trying to outdo each other in extravagance.

When I got home, the yard was already bustling with activity.

Linghua rolled up her sleeves and squatted by the well, helping Wang Feng kill chickens and fish.

She was quick and nimble, wielding a kitchen knife with lightning speed, and gutted the fish in no time.

"Xiaoxue, your family has really made it big now. Who in our village can match Sui's brains?"

While scaling the fish, Linghua teased Chen Xue.

Wang Feng squatted down beside her, washing vegetables, her face beaming with joy.

"That's right. If it weren't for Ah Sui, we wouldn't be able to afford to build a two-story house. Ah Lei is with Ah Sui now, and he'll definitely make a lot of money in the future."

Linghua wiped the sweat from her forehead and lowered her voice.

"That's right, I could hardly believe Da Lei brought home that thousand yuan bonus last night."

"He used to blame me too, because I was afraid he'd be in danger at sea, and as a result, our family's life turned out..."

"Now it's all good. Lei is working with Sui, and he can stand up straight now."

"If anyone dares to say a bad word about Ah Sui in the village, I'll be the first to tear their mouth apart!"

Hearing this, Chen Xue felt relieved, smiled and said a few words of thanks, then buried herself in her work again.

Meanwhile, Chen Jianguo and Li Cuihua were also busy, going door-to-door to notify their close relatives and friends.

The village chief Chen Changgui's family was naturally not left out either.

Upon hearing that the Wu family was going to break ground the next day, he forced a warm smile and readily agreed to attend.

As soon as Chen Jianguo left, Chen Changgui turned around and went back into the house, where he sat on the sofa and sighed repeatedly.

Chen Dongzhe walked over with a teacup in his hand.

"Father, the Wu family is moving way too fast. They started construction as soon as the land was approved?"

Chen Changgui picked up his teacup and took a big gulp.

"Wu Sui is rich and powerful now, we can't afford to offend him. You're coming with me tomorrow, so don't let anyone find fault with us."

Early the next morning.

As dawn broke, the wasteland at the west end of the village was already filled with people.

Gu Lao Er, along with his workers, carrying shovels and measuring tapes, waited early on the side.

The offering table has been set up, with the three kinds of sacrificial animals, steamed cakes, and fruits neatly arranged on it.

Incense and candles are lit, and wisps of smoke rise gently.

Li Cuihua clasped her hands together, muttered some incantations, and bowed in the four directions.

Gu Lao Er glanced at the digital watch on his wrist.

"The auspicious time has arrived!"

He picked up a shovel with a red cloth tied to it and handed it to Wu Gang.

"Brother Gang, let's break ground."

Wu Gang's hands trembled as he vigorously wiped them on his trouser legs before finally taking the shovel.

He walked to the middle of the white line drawn by Gu Lao Er, took a deep breath, dug a shovelful of soil, and shouted.

"rise!"

"Good!" the people around shouted in unison.

Chen Yongqiang and Wu Lei had been waiting nearby with lighters, and upon hearing the shout, they immediately lit the firecrackers.

Not to be outdone, Chen Yang and Wang Dazhu also bought firecrackers and lit them together.

The deafening crackling of explosions sent red firecracker debris flying everywhere.

Wu Gang looked at the red papers scattered on the ground, his eyes reddening, and turned to look at Wang Feng.

Wang Feng covered her ears, laughing until tears streamed down her face.

After the firecrackers were set off, Gu Lao Er waved his hand, and the workers officially entered the site with their tools to begin clearing weeds and measuring for stake driving.

After the groundbreaking ceremony, everyone headed towards the old house to prepare for the grand feast at noon.

The old house's courtyard was too small to accommodate everyone, so tables were set up on the open ground outside the door, totaling eighteen tables.

All the relatives and friends who were notified came, and even those who weren't notified offered their congratulations with auspicious words.

In the kitchen, Linghua and Wang Feng, along with several other women, were working busily, the stewed meat in the large pot bubbling and emitting a fragrant aroma.

The banquet started promptly at noon.

Chen Changgui walked into the courtyard with his hands behind his back, followed by Chen Dongzhe.

"Gangzi, congratulations!" Chen Changgui said with a big smile.

Wu Gang quickly came forward to greet him: "Uncle, you've arrived! Please take a seat!"

Chen Changgui was invited to the main table and sat with Chen Jianguo.

When the food and drinks were served, the villagers gasped in surprise when they saw the Moutai and Huazi liquor on the table.

"My goodness, how much did this cost?!"

"The Wu family has really struck it rich; they're so extravagant!"

The focus of this meal wasn't Wu Gang, who built the house, but Wu Sui.

The villagers, holding wine glasses, lined up to toast Wu Sui.