The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 107: Chapter 107: How Did They Become So Much More Enthusiastic and Lively?

Han Xiaorui said hospitably, ”Ye Feng, Zhou Yang, please make yourselves at home.”

Ye Feng chuckled. ”Thank you for having us.”

Zhou Yang looked from one dish to another. ”These look amazing. I bet they taste just as good.”

Hearing the compliment, Granny Cai beamed. ”If you like it, then eat up.”

They hadn’t eaten or slept well on the train at all.

Now, eating in the comfort of a home with a relaxed atmosphere, their appetites were much better.

At first, Ye Feng and Zhou Yang were still holding back, but after one taste of Granny Cai’s cooking, they threw the word ”restraint” right out the window.

Half an hour later, Zhou Yang popped the last piece of peanut and pork-skin aspic on the table into his mouth, savoring it.

”That was incredible, Sister Cai! Your cooking is amazing. I’m completely stuffed. This chili oil pig ear tastes exactly like the signature dish at our cafeteria—even the dipping sauce is the same.”

Granny Cai said proudly, ”My apprentice, Xiao Chen, works in your workplace’s cafeteria. Everything she knows, I taught her.”

Zhou Yang laid on the flattery. ”It’s true what they say: a great master produces a brilliant student. Your skills are even better than Sister-in-law Chen’s.”

Ye Feng had eaten a bit too much himself. He noticed Han Xiaorui sorting through the contents of six large, woven plastic bags.

There was tea in tin boxes, cured hams, high-quality gastrodia, cured pork...

When he saw Han Xiaorui packing a lot of the cured pork and ham into a bag for him, Ye Feng stopped her. ”Xiao Rui, just one ham and a tin of tea is enough for me. You keep the rest.”

”But this is all such good stuff!” Han Xiaorui exclaimed. ’These army buddies of his are so good to him.’

Ye Feng shook his head with a wry smile. ”I can’t cook them, and I wouldn’t know how. On my grandfather’s side, they mostly eat Western food. They’re very... cosmopolitan.”

Han Xiaorui didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, unable to give away such fine gifts. She looked at Zhou Yang. ”Alright then,” she said to Ye Feng, ”You take all the tea and one ham, and I’ll give Zhou Yang a few pounds of the cured pork.”

”Deal!” Ye Feng agreed, taking what Han Xiaorui offered him. ”You should get some rest. I’m heading back now. Call me if you need anything.”

”Okay. Get home safe,” Han Xiaorui said softly, walking them to the door.

Zhou Yang was thrilled. ”Thank you, Comrade Xiao Han!”

”You’re welcome.” Han Xiaorui waved, watching them leave.

Granny Cai whispered to Liang Xiaoyu, ”Does it seem to you like Ye Feng was more... animated and warm this time around?”

Liang Xiaoyu felt too shy to ask Han Xiaorui directly, so she quickly pulled Han Xiaoqing aside. ”Xiaoqing, what’s going on?”

Han Xiaoqing had been observing Ye Feng throughout their trip. From every angle, she found him to be a pleasant and considerate person who handled things meticulously.

”Of course. Ye Feng helped us so much. Our trip home this time was, you could say, full of twists and turns...”

”What?” Granny Cai and Liang Xiaoyu were dumbfounded. ”Her... her university spot was stolen?”

”What kind of monster would do that? Utterly shameless! Getting something for nothing, stealing someone’s entire future!” Granny Cai cursed furiously. ”Rotten to the core! I hope they die a horrible death and get struck by lightning!”

Liang Xiaoyu was even more worked up. ”Xiaoqing, does that mean you can still go to university? It’s not your fault your spot was stolen! You’re the victim here!”

Thinking of all the people who had helped her, Han Xiaoqing’s eyes welled up. ”The university agreed to let me enroll this September. I can still go.”

Liang Xiaoyu pressed her palms together, chanting, ”It’s Mazu’s blessing, all thanks to Mazu’s blessing! Oh, thank heavens. That’s a great university in Shencheng!”

”Our Nannan is a boarder at her school and only comes home once a month. She studies so hard, but her grades just aren’t that good. It would be wonderful if she could get into a university like Xiao Rui and Xiaoqing someday!”

Granny Cai was more philosophical. ”Come on, you said it yourself. The girl works hard but her grades aren’t good. That just means she doesn’t have the head for it. Look at Xiao Rui and Xiaoqing—they got in despite their poor living conditions. That proves they’ve got the brains.”

”It would be best if Nannan can get in, of course, but if she can’t, it doesn’t matter. She can learn to cook from me. With a trade in her hands, she’ll be set, whether she wants to open her own shop or just cook for her family.”

After hearing her mother-in-law’s words, Liang Xiaoyu felt relieved too. ”You’re right. There’s more than one way to live a life. Xiao Rui is destined for great things. If we stick with her, I’m sure we can find a job for our Nannan in the future.”

People who love good food tend to be big-hearted.

Eat a lot, and you gain weight.

There’s a factual basis to the saying ”carefree and stout.” It’s not just an old wives’ tale.

In the face of a good meal, anxiety’s power is greatly diminished.

If one meal doesn’t do the trick, have two.

Nothing is more important than eating. As for anxiety? That’s long since been swallowed down.

Granny Cai and Liang Xiaoyu washed all the pots and pans, cleaned up the kitchen, and then finally left with Cai Wenjun.

Cai Wenjun hadn’t seen his good friends in a long time and didn’t want to leave.

After locking the gate, Han Xiaorui checked the courtyard to make sure everything was in order before heading back inside.

She bathed the two children, got them into their pajamas, and plopped them onto the bed to play by themselves.

Feeling sleepy, Han Xiaorui lay down on the edge of the bed and fell asleep.

「The chirping of birds at dawn marked the start of a new day.」

Han Xiaorui woke up and made a pot of rice porridge, serving it with eight-treasure paste and braised bamboo shoots.

It was a wonderfully comforting meal for a stomach that had rested all night.

The children couldn’t have the salty condiments, so Han Xiaorui made them scrambled eggs with cucumber to go with their porridge.

Just as they finished breakfast, Liang Xiaoyu arrived with her child. ”Xiao Rui, are we going out to sea today?”

Han Xiaorui shook her head. ”Not today. It’s a good chance for us to go to the hospital together. I have something to discuss with Expert Wang.”

They got into Song Sixth’s van and headed straight for the hospital.

After arranging new classes for Pingping and An’an, Han Xiaorui and Han Xiaoqing went to find Expert Wang while the girls were in their session.

When Expert Wang heard the whole story, their initial disbelief gave way to sudden understanding. ”I knew it! Xiaoqing is capable of teaching herself English from academic papers with just a dictionary. With learning abilities like that, how could she possibly fail to get into university?”

”I never would have guessed! I was at the university giving a lecture a while ago and heard a rumor about someone attending Donghua Normal School under a stolen identity, but I never imagined it was Xiaoqing who was the victim!”

Han Xiaorui remarked, ”We’ve received so much help along the way, including this time. My sister had originally applied to major in education, but after studying with you, she’s discovered she’s interested in psychology.”

Hearing this, Expert Wang grasped Han Xiaoqing’s hands tightly. ”Xiaoqing, you want to change your major?”

”Yes!” Han Xiaoqing nodded, her gaze firm. ”I want to study psychology and specialize in childhood autism. I’ve seen data from other countries showing that with intervention and therapy, many children can recover.”

”Our country is lagging behind in this field. We need to develop our own local expertise and resources, but there’s a shortage of people willing to do it. I want to be one of them.”

Expert Wang was touched. ”But this is a very difficult field. These children require far more patience, love, and careful attention than others. And it’s likely that your salary won’t be nearly as high as what your sister earns from her business or from fishing.”

Han Xiaoqing thought for a moment, then nodded. ”As long as I can make a living, that’s enough. I just want children like Pingping and An’an to have the chance to live normal lives. Some things have to be done, even if they don’t pay well. Someone has to do them.”

Han Xiaorui encouraged her from the side, admiring her sister’s resilient and unpretentious spirit. ”Don’t worry about money. You have me for that. Xiaoqing, you go chase your dream. Don’t let your youth go to waste. If we’re going to do this, let’s aim to be the very best.”