The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 110: Chapter 110: Unfortunately, He Didn’t Have the Guts

Ye Feng was surprised, too. He was actually starting to think about the future.

”As for a driver, anyone who can drive these days, even if they’re retired from service, will be assigned a job by the state,” Ye Feng answered. ”Just wait. I’ll find you a reliable driver later.”

Han Xiaorui nodded. ”Okay, I trust you. Come on, let’s go get the money. I’ll treat you to a meal.”

Ye Feng looked at the watch on his wrist. ”I have things to do this afternoon. Tonight, I’ll treat you!”

”That won’t work!” Han Xiaorui’s voice was crisp. ”Tonight, Sister Cai is using ingredients from Guishi to make me something delicious. I’m treating you!”

Ye Feng smiled. ”Okay!”

After getting the money, Han Xiaorui was very happy. ”I’ll head back first, then. You can get back to your work.”

”I’ll have someone drive you.” Ye Feng looked up at the big sun. It was a little hot.

Han Xiaorui started to jog away, looking back over her shoulder. ”Ye Feng, you don’t have to. Go on, get to your work.”

Watching Han Xiaorui run off into the distance while holding the hem of her skirt, Ye Feng smiled. ”Alright. Be safe on your way.”

”I will!” Han Xiaorui called back with a laugh, then greeted Uncle Wu at the guardhouse. ”Goodbye, Uncle.”

”Goodbye, come again soon.” Uncle Wu was also in a humorous mood. One of the young men at the work unit had found someone, and he was happy for him.

Han Xiaorui went to the bus stop to wait, but unexpectedly, a Santana stopped right in front of her.

The car window rolled down. It was the seafood restaurant owner, Zhang Fa Cai. ”Xiao Han, where are you headed? I’ll give you a ride.”

Han Xiaorui waved her hand. ”No need, Boss Zhang. I’m heading home. The bus will be here any second.”

”Xiao Han, hurry and get in. It just so happens I have something I need your help with!” Lately, Boss Zhang had been so anxious that his back molars were throbbing with pain.

Han Xiaorui was taken aback. ”What is it?”

Boss Zhang didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ”I run a seafood restaurant. Of course I’m worried about not being able to get good seafood! Xiao Han, hurry up and get in.”

Since Boss Zhang put it that way, Han Xiaorui had no choice but to open the car door. ”What kind of fish have you been short on lately?”

Boss Zhang sounded frantic. ”Do you remember when I asked you to catch a Moonfish before?”

”I remember,” Han Xiaorui replied. ”They’re quite pretty, and they taste good too. What’s wrong? Does someone want another one?”

Boss Zhang nodded repeatedly. ”Yes! The boss from Singapore who bought one for his father’s birthday last time did it for good luck. Unexpectedly, the very next day, he landed a huge order—and a long-term contract at that.”

”And that’s not all. After his elderly father and mother ate the Moonfish, they felt their health improve. This time, for his mother’s birthday, he’s specifically requested another Moonfish.”

Han Xiaorui remembered this. ”Why don’t you just keep buying from whoever you bought it from last time? I remember you telling me about it, but my fishing boat is too small. I can’t go into the deep sea to catch them.”

Boss Zhang was now desperate enough to try anything. ”I asked, but they haven’t caught any recently. That boss said that as long as someone can catch a Moonfish over fifty-five pounds, he’ll pay 10,000 yuan for it.”

Han Xiaorui was surprised. ”That’s quite expensive. Okay, I get it. If I catch one, I’ll save it for you.”

Zhang Fa Cai’s tone was urgent. ”Xiao Han, while you were back in your hometown, I still got a lot of good fish, but they were clearly a notch below the ones you catch.”

”Now that you’re back, when are you finally going out to sea? The fish in the sea don’t belong to anyone; whoever catches them, owns them. Don’t be so lazy, you need to be more diligent! I can’t think of anything more fun than making money.”

Han Xiaorui didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. This Boss Zhang really was a businessman through and through.

Other people found pleasure in spending money; Boss Zhang found pleasure in making it.

”I’ll go out tomorrow, but I can’t guarantee I’ll bring up a Moonfish.”

Boss Zhang was extremely confident in Han Xiaorui’s catches. His growing fame in the seafood restaurant business was also related to the high-quality fish Han Xiaorui brought in.

Once, even the best seafood restaurant in the city had to source fish from him.

Boss Zhang nodded repeatedly. ”Great! Then I’ll see you at the docks tomorrow without fail!”

After speaking, Boss Zhang took out ten seafood buffet coupons from his bag and handed them to Han Xiaorui.

”Xiao Han, these are coupons for the buffets at the two seafood restaurants under my name. Take them, go over, and eat and drink for free. You won’t have to pay a single cent!”

Han Xiaorui saw that they were marked at 49 yuan per person, meaning these ten coupons were worth 490 yuan.

”Boss Zhang, you’re a businessman. I can’t accept these!”

Boss Zhang roared with laughter. ”It’s precisely because I’m a businessman that I’m giving you these coupons! I’m afraid you’ll stop selling your seafood to me, so I have to give you some nice things every now and then to keep our relationship strong!”

”To be honest, the seafood at the buffet is all slightly cheaper stuff. Someone like you, Xiao Han, might not even think it’s worth a second look. But you can give them to your friends; it’s a very respectable gift.”

Hearing this, Han Xiaorui accepted them. ”In that case, I won’t be polite!”

Boss Zhang was very humorous and witty, telling local jokes that made Han Xiaorui giggle endlessly.

He drove Han Xiaorui all the way to her door before stopping the car.

Han Xiaorui waved. ”Goodbye, Boss Zhang!”

”Goodbye, Xiao Han.” Boss Zhang waved back, being exceptionally polite.

After the car drove away, the driver, who was Boss Zhang’s younger cousin, asked, ”Cousin, that Han Xiaorui is so beautiful. Are you interested in her?”

Hearing this, Boss Zhang quickly waved his hands, his expression changing slightly. ”Cousin, you can say that to me once, and that’s it! Don’t you dare say it outside!”

”Xiao Han is no ordinary person! She’s a woman from out of town who, even after divorcing her husband, has a house, a child, land, a boat, and can still make her ex-father-in-law, Yang Zhigang, treat her with respect.”

”I’ve been dealing with seafood since I was a kid. I’ve seen countless fishermen, and I’ve never seen anyone with such good luck! Whether it’s a Luo Duan of over a hundred pounds, a Yellowlip Fish, or a Big Yellow Fish or tuna weighing dozens of pounds—which of those isn’t a once-in-a-lifetime catch?”

”But look at Han Xiaorui. For her, it’s like she’s just stocking inventory! The money she makes from the catch of one small boat isn’t any less than that of a big ship!”

”A person like that has immense fortune; she’s blessed by Mazu! Even if I like beautiful women, I wouldn’t dare mess with someone like her. I only see her as a business partner!”

The driver chuckled. ”Cousin, no wonder you’re so rich! If I were as wealthy as you, I would’ve given in to my crooked thoughts long ago!”

Zhang Fa Cai said smugly, ”Some women, as long as you have money, you don’t even have to beckon. A single look is enough to reel them in!”

”But other women... forget giving them money, even if you moved a mountain of gold for them, they might not even give you a second glance! Han Xiaorui is that kind of person!”

”When we do business, not only do we need integrity, but we also have to be good judges of character. Know who you can mess with and who you can’t. You kid, you still have a lot to learn!”

Despite saying all that, Boss Zhang had a mistress on the side. How could he not have *some* ideas about Han Xiaorui?

He just didn’t have the guts!