169: Better safe than sorry

Actually, I really admire the thoughts of some post-2000s and even post-1990s generations: no marriage, no children.

I've chatted with them a few times, and their answer is this: Instead of having a child and making them follow in my footsteps, it's better not to have any.

Nowadays, the conditions for marriage are too high. At the very least, you need to buy a new house in a county town, right? And you still need to buy a new car, right?

I ask you, how many ordinary families nowadays can easily achieve this? Is this supposed to force my parents to their deaths?

In that case, I'd rather not get married. Being alone is quite good!

He spoke very calmly at the time, without any pretense. I asked him if he had any grievances, big or small, towards his parents.

He replied to me, saying: Never. They are just ordinary people and have already sacrificed so much for me.

Then I remembered a video I saw the year before last: A young man, smiling broadly, spoke loudly into the camera:

"If nothing unexpected happens, I should be the last person in my family. From now on, there will be no more poor people in my family. Because I'm not planning to get married or have children."

The video was very short, just this one person saying these few sentences into the camera.

I clearly remember that when I saw this video, I felt a pang of sadness in my heart.

This short video had over a million likes and comments.

I clicked on the comments at the time and casually browsed, and a great many people expressed understanding and empathy.

Among them, there was one dissenting comment that left a deep impression on me. It said:

"Marriage and having children is the continuation of life. You are letting your family die out."

Good heavens, under that comment, over sixty thousand people refuted that statement.

Among them, one refutation had the most likes:

"Continuation of what? Is this to let him continue my poverty? Not having children is the greatest protection for children."

This comment received over 60,000 likes.

There are countless reasons for this social phenomenon, and it's impossible to change it in a short time.

I've gone off-topic, my apologies! Please forgive me, I just have this bad habit of rambling that I can't seem to break.

Getting back to the main point:

Actually, Bai Xue wasn't a younger brother-supporting demon; she just wanted her parents to live a little better. As a young girl new to society, she hadn't thought deeply about it.

In the end, they couldn't agree and could only wait for her father to return to make a decision.

Yang Qi didn't get involved in the argument between Bai Xue and her mother. He took Zhang Jun upstairs to rest, as they had to get up early tomorrow.

Arriving on the third floor, Zhang Jun chose a room by the side and said:

"Why don't you get another house for yourself? You're not short on money anyway. When you get married, you and Bai Xue can move out and live there. How free would that be!"

Yang Qi's eyes lit up. After thinking for a moment, he said:

"That's right! As the Crown Prince's attendant, I should enjoy the treatment of a high-level executive in the group."

"Good! Then I'll take the one next to mine. It's close, and it'll be convenient to freeload on meals."

"Hahaha! Come on, attendant, help me prepare the toiletries!"

"Yes, sir!"

Yang Qi performed a sleeve-dusting salute.

After a burst of laughter and playful banter, Yang Qi went downstairs again and told his mother that he had chosen the house closest to their own.

He made it clear that he would live there from now on. Their family was simple; with only him as a child, anything would work.

By 2:30, Yang Qi and Zhang Jun had finished washing up. Each of them had two bowls of seafood porridge and steamed buns made by his mother. Content, they hurried towards the town pier.

"Hey! Brother Jun, Yang Qi, how did you two come together? What a coincidence!"

"Brother Jun!"

It turned out to be Liu Yao and a young man Yang Qi didn't know. They had arrived early and came over to greet the two of them when they saw them.

"What coincidence? I stayed at Yang Qi's house last night. We'll be at the pier in less than ten minutes."

After Zhang Jun finished speaking, he said to the young man:

"Ah Hua is here too?"

"Ah! Then why didn't you call me to come along?" Liu Yao asked Zhang Jun.

"You didn't say anything. I thought you only liked staying at home. Hehehe."

Liu Yao turned to Yang Qi and said:

"Yang Qi, next time we go fishing out here, I want to stay at your place too!"

Seeing Liu Yao's personality, never treating himself as an outsider, Yang Qi also had a good impression of him. So he said:

"No problem, you're always welcome."

Liu Yao was delighted to hear this and immediately introduced him to Yang Qi:

"This is Yang Qi, and this is Lu Hua. Ah Hua, the soft-shelled turtle and the big green crab you ate last time, Yang Qi took Brother Jun and me to catch them."

The two chatted for a few sentences and became acquainted. He learned that Lu Hua's family owned large supermarkets, with five large supermarkets in the east, south, west, north, and central parts of the city. This person didn't talk much, wore glasses, appeared refined, and was quite handsome.

Another rich second-generation, Yang Qi complained inwardly. That's right, dogs have their way, and cats have their way; this is how circles work.

Zhang Jun and Liu Yao were exceptions, especially Zhang Jun. Last time, he went with Yang Qi to a street stall for barbecue and chatted and laughed with the owner, appearing to have a very good relationship.

In the following time, many people arrived one after another. Many came over to greet Zhang Jun and the others. There were also many people Yang Qi knew, including Chang Jianqiang, Wang Hu, and others.

Through Zhang Jun's introduction, Yang Qi also met many people and became familiar with them.

At three o'clock sharp, a middle-aged man in his forties came over and gathered everyone around, starting to talk about some rules and safety issues for this fishing trip, rambling on and on. Then he had everyone sign.

It reminded Yang Qi of the disclaimer clauses nurses would explain when he was admitted to the hospital.

Finally, it was time to draw lots for fishing spots and berths. Just like last time, they could freely swap if both parties agreed.

Zhang Jun drew number 15 and kept staring at Yang Qi, hoping he would draw a number next to his. If not, he could always find someone to swap places with; he had to be next to Yang Qi.

He didn't know if his prayers worked or what, but Yang Qi really drew number 16. Zhang Jun burst into laughter.

However, Liu Yao and Lu Hua drew numbers 32 and 27. Liu Yao did hope to be next to Yang Qi and the others, but unfortunately, numbers 17 and 18 on Yang Qi's other side were also taken by people who came together and had swapped numbers to be next to each other.

They could only go and swap for two adjacent numbers first.

Yang Qi and Zhang Jun didn't care about that. The two of them, along with the other fishing enthusiasts, boarded the fishing boat and sailed towards the sea.

The large fishing boat was waiting at sea, two nautical miles offshore from the pier. They generally didn't enter the port, fearing the harbor water wasn't deep enough.

Actually, Qingshan Town pier was considered a deep-water port. He didn't know why this large fishing boat didn't enter the port. Later, he asked and found out that because there would be a low tide in the early morning today, they were afraid of accidents. And they didn't mind the small cost of transshipment.

Caution is the parent of safety!

These old sayings all hold truth.