The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Finally Understanding My Sister’s Worries and Inner Conflict

Early the next morning, Granny Cai came over with her daughter-in-law.

She’d heard there was high-quality Peach Gum here and had come specifically to gather some.

Han Xiaorui handed the key to Granny Cai. ”Sister Cai, this is the key to my front door. If you see the weather turning, go to my place to take shelter from the rain, and while you’re at it, please bring the Peach Gum I have drying into the house.”

Granny Cai took it and said with a smile, ”Don’t worry. I promise I won’t let the Peach Gum get wet.”

Granny Cai’s impression of Han Xiaorui had greatly improved by now, so she was more than willing to help with such a small favor.

After watching her daughter-in-law and grandson get into the minivan, Granny Cai slung two baskets over her arm and headed to the peach forest to gather Peach Gum.

They took Song Sixth’s minivan to the Municipal Women’s and Children’s Health Hospital.

Her sister, Han Xiaoqing, was peering through the glass window on the door, learning from the teacher inside and taking notes with a pen and paper.

Liang Xiaoyu was there too, a constant smile on her face as she watched her son cooperate with the teacher during class.

’He’s made so much progress. There’s hope!’

Han Xiaorui gave two packs of cigarettes to the security guard, Uncle Liu. ”Uncle, I’ve noticed my sister has something on her mind these past two days. I asked her, but she won’t say. Has she been mocked or bullied here at the hospital?”

After pocketing Han Xiaorui’s cigarettes, Uncle Liu glanced around to make sure no one was listening, then said in a low voice, ”I overheard some doctors from the Pediatric Behavioral Development department talking in the cafeteria. Expert Wang found that your two children and that boy named Wenjun are showing the best results from the intervention among all the children.”

”So Expert Wang asked your sister about it, and Xiao Jing said she gives the kids extra lessons at home based on what she learned at the hospital. She also has them do crafts, chores, feed the chickens, ducks, and geese, and play with the cats and dogs.”

”Through this process, Expert Wang discovered that your sister is a very meticulous, responsible, compassionate, and patient young woman. If she were a university graduate, Expert Wang would have taken her under her wing to mentor her personally.”

”After thinking it over, Expert Wang ended up pulling some strings for your sister to get her a spot in a two-year night school program to earn an associate’s degree. Once she has that, she can come to the hospital for an internship, and Expert Wang will personally supervise her.”

”But despite such a great opportunity, Xiao Jing turned it down.”

After hearing what Uncle Liu said, it all clicked for Han Xiaorui. ’So that’s why my sister has been in such a bad mood!’

”Sigh, that girl... To think she’d refuse such a golden opportunity, one that others couldn’t find even if they searched high and low. I know she doesn’t want me to work too hard, but she can’t just pass up an opportunity like this.”

Uncle Liu smiled. ”Exactly. You should go home and try to convince Xiao Jing. That’s Expert Wang we’re talking about; she’s one of the top specialists in the country. Doctors are respected professionals, no matter the era.”

”Yes, I understand, Uncle Liu,” Han Xiaorui replied. She said goodbye to him and went to find Expert Wang.

At that moment, Expert Wang had just seen her last patient off and was taking a break to drink some water.

Han Xiaorui knocked and entered.

Expert Wang remembered Han Xiaorui well and smiled. ”Pingping and An’an’s mother, what brings you here?”

Han Xiaorui smiled. ”I just found out about the wonderful opportunity you offered Xiao Jing. That silly girl actually kept it from me. She thinks that because I’m a divorced woman who has to fish to support the family, there’d be no one to help me with the children.”

Hearing this, Expert Wang understood Han Xiaorui’s purpose in coming. ”Yes, it is a real shame. Xiao Jing is very smart and eager to learn. But with only a high school diploma, she can’t work in a hospital.”

”I was able to get her a spot in a night school program through a friend. After two years, she’ll have an associate’s degree. Then she can join the hospital and specialize in sensory integration training. I’ll personally mentor her, and I’m certain she can become an excellent autism intervention specialist in the future.”

Han Xiaorui’s eyes lit up. ’This is a chance for my sister to move up in social class! A high social standing that money can’t buy.’

”Expert Wang, my sister meticulously teaches the three children every day when she gets home, and she even carefully summarizes her work at night. She stays up with a dictionary, not going to bed until eleven.”

”She’s so eager to learn, and this opportunity is too good to pass up. I’ll accept on her behalf. As for my two children, I have a way to manage. She doesn’t need to worry. She just needs to wait for night school to begin and go to class.”

Expert Wang was relieved and smiled. ”Alright then. I’ll register her and have an official letter issued. You two will need to take the documents and, if possible, make a trip back to your hometown before June to transfer Xiao Jing’s student records and academic file from the Education Bureau.”

Han Xiaorui nodded repeatedly. ”Perfect. My younger brother is getting married in May, so Xiao Jing and I will be heading back home. We can take care of it then. We’ll definitely get it done before June.”

”Alright. Once I have the official letter ready, I’ll give it to Xiao Jing to take with her,” Expert Wang said with a smile.

Han Xiaorui wanted more information. ”By the way, Expert Wang, where is the night school located? I’d like to make arrangements in advance and resolve any concerns for Xiao Jing, so she can study with peace of mind.”

Expert Wang replied, ”It’s not far, just at a vocational college two bus stops from here. Night classes are from 6:00 to 9:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.”

Han Xiaorui smiled. ”Then that’s even less of a problem. I bought a house near the hospital, so she has a place to live.”

Understanding her sister’s dilemma now, Han Xiaorui breathed a sigh of relief as she left Expert Wang’s office.

She went to find Han Xiaoqing and Liang Xiaoyu. ”After the kids are done with their class, come find me at the ornamental fish shop. I’m treating everyone to lunch.”

”Okay,” Han Xiaoqing said with a smile. ”You should go, Sis. Business at the ornamental fish shop is booming; you really should go check on it.”

Han Xiaorui walked for fifteen minutes and arrived at the ornamental fish shop, where Wu Lingling and Xu Wenwen were busy with customers.

Soon, a customer left happily, carrying the shop’s largest wide, round fish tank, which held over a dozen colorful freshwater ornamental fish.

”You’ve been working hard,” Han Xiaorui said, handing two bags of White Rabbit creamy candies to Wu Lingling and Xu Wenwen.

When the two clerks saw Han Xiaorui, they stood up quickly, their faces lighting up with delight. ”Sister Xiao Rui, you’re here! Business has been great. I have the account book; I’ll get it for you now.”

Han Xiaorui smiled. ”Great!”

Han Xiaorui sat behind the counter, looking at the account book Wu Lingling had kept, and was quite surprised.

The ornamental fish shop had only been open for a total of seven days, yet its revenue had already reached 4,850 yuan.

After deducting the cost of the glass tanks and all other expenses, the profit was 3,100 yuan.

’There are at least four weeks in a month,’ she thought. ’At this rate, we could make over ten thousand yuan in a month!’

Based on the remaining inventory, Han Xiaorui did a quick mental calculation. It seemed Wu Lingling and Xu Wenwen were honest and hadn’t falsified the accounts.

”Excellent!” Han Xiaorui praised. ”Not only will you each get a 1% commission on the revenue, but there will also be a bonus. The bonus amount is a secret, though. You’ll find out on payday.”

Wu Lingling was thrilled. ”Thank you, Sister Xiao Rui! I really love this job. It only gets busy around noon and when school lets out in the afternoon. The rest of the time is manageable.”

”That’s good,” Han Xiaorui nodded. ”Do you have any other feedback for me? Any suggestions? If a suggestion is adopted, there’s a twenty-yuan bonus.”

Wu Lingling’s eyes lit up. ”Sister Xiao Rui, our fish tanks are too small. They’re only really suitable for kids to keep as pets or for small displays at home. They aren’t right for offices or company lobbies. I suggest we purchase some larger tanks.”