The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 128: Chapter 128: Retribution Came Too Fast

When Wu Cuicui saw Han Xiaorui, her face filled with gratitude. ”Thank you so much for taking my Minmin to school.”

”It’s no trouble. Minmin is very well-behaved and not a picky eater,” Han Xiaorui said with a smile. ”I have to keep an eye on the big boat for the next few days anyway, and we’re not fishing. I can watch Minmin for you, so you can handle your business without worrying.”

Hearing this, Wu Cuicui was so moved her nose began to sting. ”Sigh, normally I’d have my parents watch her, but my dad’s health hasn’t been good lately, and my mom has been getting dizzy spells. They can’t manage taking her to and from school.”

”Yang Jianming’s been detained, and the Zhang Family isn’t backing down. Zhang Xiufang had a stroke. They managed to save her, but the doctor said she won’t get around as easily as before.”

”And Zhang Lili... ugh, she’s been through hell. She went into premature labor, her water had nearly run dry, and she was barely dilated. The doctor recommended a C-section, but can you believe it? Zhang Lili’s mother said a scar on her stomach would be too ugly and insisted on a natural birth.”

Han Xiaorui was dumbfounded. ”But her life is more important! Who cares if it looks ugly or not? You have to save her life first! Is that really her own mother?”

Wu Cuicui rolled her eyes, her tone full of exasperation. ”The woman isn’t thinking straight. They ended up using medication to induce labor. The baby was born, but it was blue and purple all over. It’s premature and so small, they had to put it in an incubator.”

”The doctor said it would cost a lot of money to save the baby, and Uncle Yang paid up without a second thought. He just wants to save the baby’s life. Of course, he also told the hospital to give Zhang Lili the best possible care.”

”And what about that bastard Yang Jianming?” Han Xiaorui asked. ’I hope Uncle Yang plays hardball this time and doesn’t clean up his mess.’

Wu Cuicui, sharing Han Xiaorui’s indignation, ground her teeth. ”The Zhang Family said that if Uncle Yang pays them one hundred thousand yuan in compensation, they won’t press charges against Yang Jianming for domestic abuse.”

”Uncle Yang was furious this time. For Yang Jianming to actually lay hands on his pregnant wife... he said it right then and there. He’ll sell everything he owns or borrow the money to pay for the baby’s and Zhang Lili’s treatment. But as for spending a single cent on that worthless son of his? Not a chance.”

Han Xiaorui gave her a thumbs-up. ”Uncle Yang finally put his foot down. If he had been firm earlier instead of always cleaning up Yang Jianming’s messes, his son wouldn’t have gotten so arrogant that he landed himself in jail.”

Wu Cuicui nodded and sighed. ”In the past, Uncle Yang was always busy earning money, so it was always Zhang Xiufang who raised the kids. Whenever there was trouble, they’d just throw money at the problem, and that’s what cultivated Yang Jianming’s arrogant personality.”

”I just never thought Yang Jianming would go so far this time. Even if he was implicated because of Zhang Lili’s uncle, she’s a pregnant woman. You can’t hold things like that against a pregnant woman or blame her for it.”

A mocking glint appeared in Han Xiaorui’s eyes. ”When you’ve got someone new, the old one naturally becomes an eyesore.”

”What?” Wu Cuicui was dumbstruck, unable to believe it. ”Xiao Rui, is Yang Jianming seeing someone on the side?”

Since they were on the subject, Han Xiaorui decided not to cover for Yang Jianming and keep Wu Cuicui in the dark. ”Yeah. A few days ago, I was at my sister’s place in Fuli District making some nutritious soup for Ye Feng, and I ran into him.”

”That disgusting Yang Jianming is involved with a foreign woman. I saw them, and he had the nerve to warn me not to say anything. The way he was acting, so sleazy... it made my stomach turn.”

”Just keep this between us. Don’t say anything in front of Zhang Lili. Even though she’s done things to hurt me and said some nasty things in the past, she’s getting her karma now. She’s a pitiful person at this point.”

Wu Cuicui was so angry she started to tremble, her eyes turning red. ”That bastard. What an absolute bastard. If Zhang Lili and Yang Jianming are going to divorce, what’s going to happen to that premature baby?”

”What a sin,” Han Xiaorui lamented. ’The adults create the mess, and the children are the ones who suffer.’

’If this premature baby doesn’t survive, it’s a tragedy. But if it does survive, it might be even more tragic for the child.’

’Knowing the Zhang Family’s money-grubbing nature, they’ll definitely use the baby to extort Uncle Yang.’

’Uncle Yang couldn’t bear to give up Pingping and An’an back then. He probably won’t be able to abandon this poor baby, either.’

’He’s given up on his son, but he’s sure to have a soft spot for his newborn granddaughter.’

”Tell me about it,” Wu Cuicui said through gritted teeth. ”Xiao Rui, I have to go. I need to get some clothes to bring to Jianguo and Uncle Yang. Can you watch Minmin for me again tomorrow?”

Zhang Xiufang didn’t have a daughter, and no one from her side of the family would come to care for her. So it was all on Wu Cuicui, who even had to stay with her at the hospital overnight.

Han Xiaorui nodded, happy to help. ”Sister Cuicui, don’t you worry. Tomorrow’s Friday. After her classes, she can stay with me for the weekend since there will be people at my house. My sister can even help Minmin with her homework. You just focus on being at the hospital and try to comfort Uncle Yang and Brother Jianguo.”

’These people will be Pingping and An’an’s family someday. If something ever came up and I needed Wu Cuicui to watch my kids, I’m sure she and Yang Jianguo would agree without a second thought.’

’That’s what family is for—helping each other out. When times get tough, you help each other through it.’

”Xiao Rui, thank you,” Wu Cuicui said. ”If you get too busy, you can just take Minmin to my parents’ house.”

Han Xiaorui smiled and waved her hand dismissively. ”It’s settled. I’ll watch Minmin. Don’t worry about it, just go do what you need to do. Look at those dark circles under your eyes—make sure you take care of yourself, too.”

”Okay!” After speaking, Wu Cuicui hurried home to pack some clothes and other daily necessities.

When Han Xiaorui got home, she found the clothes on the line were already dry.

The sisters, Wu Jiao and Wu Yao, were wearing white t-shirts and red sweatpants. They found the outfits cool and comfortable. ”Thank you, Sister Xiao Rui.”

Han Xiaorui smiled. ”Don’t mention it. If you’d rather wear skirts, I can buy you some.”

Wu Jiao waved her hand. ”We don’t wear skirts. We’re here to protect people, and skirts aren’t practical for that. These clothes are really comfortable.”

Wu Yao liked them too. The size was perfect, and even the shoes fit just right. ”Thank you, Sister Xiao Rui. We’ve never worn clothes this nice before!”

”Well, you will from now on. This is all part of your benefits package, so wear them without any worries. No need to thank me,” Han Xiaorui said with a smile. ’I need to get to know these two sisters as quickly as possible.’

’That way, I can entrust my sister and kids to them without any worries when I go out to sea.’

They didn’t have a car, which made getting around difficult. But Han Xiaorui had a boat. Since there was a post office not far from the county pier, taking the boat was actually more convenient.

Wu Jiao and Wu Yao were landlubbers. Even though they knew how to swim, it was their first time on a boat, and they got horribly seasick. They vomited buckets.

Fortunately, they reached the county seat in about twenty minutes. Han Xiaorui looked apologetic. ”I didn’t realize you got seasick. That was thoughtless of me. I’ll take you back on the bus later.”

Wu Jiao smiled. ”Don’t worry about it. Maybe if we ride a few more times, we’ll get used to it.”

Once they got to the post office, the two sisters sent a telegram.

Han Xiaorui took out six hundred yuan and handed it to them. ”Wu Jiao, Wu Yao, since you’re working here, you can’t look after things back home. This is one month’s salary for the both of you. Send it home. With this money, your mother can take better care of your younger brother and sister.”

Wu Jiao wanted to refuse, but then she thought about the poverty back home and how her younger siblings could barely afford their school fees. ”Thank you, Sister Xiao Rui, but we can’t send this much back. Let’s just send one hundred. If we send too much, it will make people jealous.”

Hearing this made Han Xiaorui’s heart ache. ’There must be a long, humiliating story behind that.’