There Is a Boat on This Shore

Xu Yan returned to Baisha Town and picked up the buyer first. He planned to sell his father's shipyard, pay off the arrears of wages, and then take the old man who had suffered a stroke away. But half of the wood in the shipyard was missing, and there was only more than 600 yuan left in the bankbook. My father spent the money on an old boat and still owed 7,000 yuan for materials. Seventeen years ago, my brother fell into the water from that boat and never came back. A new bridge over the river is about to open to traffic. Some people are looking forward to not having to wait for the ferry anymore, while others are thinking about their future livelihood. Xu Yan also wanted to leave early, but had to pick up the tools again, clean up the work left by his father, and face the promises he owed outside. If my father cannot explain clearly, he must listen slowly. The morning after the buyer left, he first had to tell his coworkers waiting at the hospital: He still couldn't get enough money for today.