The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 222: Chapter 222: Interesting Kissing Fish

Everyone got out of the cars and walked straight over upon seeing Yang Jianguo and Han Xiaorui.

Director Wu shook hands with Yang Jianguo and Han Xiaorui. ”Mr. Yang, Ms. Han, thank you for your contribution to Shencheng’s foreign trade.”

At his words, Han Xiaorui and Yang Jianguo both froze, their eyes filled with confusion.

They didn’t even recognize the man.

’Weren’t they here to investigate our land contract?’

Just then, Chen Zhipeng chuckled and introduced him to Han Xiaorui and Yang Jianguo. ”Xiao Han, Xiao Yang, this is Director Wu from our Foreign Trade Bureau. He learned that your farm has high-quality export orders and made a special trip to inspect it.”

Han Xiaorui and Yang Jianguo finally understood. It seemed these officials hadn’t come to reprimand them, but to praise and recognize their achievements.

”We’re honored by your visit, Director. It’s just that our farm is a bit small and simple,” Han Xiaorui said modestly.

Although it was built to the highest modern standards, the entire farm was only about an acre, so it wasn’t very large.

So Han Xiaorui had focused on small ornamental fish, creating a three-tiered vertical system to maximize the farming space.

Director Wu smiled. ”The farm may be small, but its capacity for generating foreign exchange is not. By my projections, if all goes smoothly, you should have three million US Dollars in export orders by the end of the year.”

”Xiao Han, our entire country’s foreign exchange earnings this year might not even reach three billion US Dollars. The income from your ornamental fish farm, on just over an acre of land, accounts for one-thousandth of the national total.”

”All the major corporations and folk art exporters in the country might not even be able to match your ornamental fish exports. On top of that, at the Shencheng Trade Fair, you closed the first deals, and the most deals.”

Who would have thought that tiny ornamental fish would come out on top?

Yang Jianguo and Han Xiaorui were astonished. They hadn’t quite processed how impressive their farm was, but hearing all this praise... ’It seems... it seems we really are a big deal.’

The country had been under embargo for many years. Now, with the economic reforms and opening-up policy, foreign exchange was needed for everything, especially purchasing advanced equipment and technology from abroad.

Right now, everyone from the top down was desperate to earn foreign exchange, almost to the point of obsession.

Some goods were even exported at a loss—a necessary sacrifice made just to acquire foreign currency.

”This is all thanks to Director Chen’s keen eye for recognizing potential. He provided us with a booth, which allowed us to get in touch with more international clients,” Han Xiaorui said, thanking Director Chen.

’Without Director Chen, a small farm like theirs wouldn’t have even qualified to attend the trade fair.’

’Eastern International Trade had handled all the subsequent paperwork and procedures, leaving them free to focus solely on raising high-quality ornamental fish.’

’The contract had even been changed to a commission-based model, which allowed the farm to receive substantial tax rebates and significantly boost their profits.’

Han Xiaorui was now more convinced than ever that there was enormous room for growth in the foreign trade business.

Director Wu looked around. The ornamental fish farm was indeed a little small. ’They should be approved for more land,’ he thought, ’to build an even bigger farm.’

’He truly hadn’t expected such a niche product to be so popular overseas.’

Director Wu clapped Chen Zhipeng on the shoulder. ”Old Chen, your abilities are outstanding. I was right about you.”

’Old Chen had a good eye, and he had facilitated numerous trade deals over the years.’

’The year-over-year increase in Shencheng’s foreign exchange earnings was largely due to Old Chen’s contributions.’

’People who could earn foreign exchange were people of merit. A capable person like him should be given more responsibility.’

Chen Zhipeng was still feeling pleased from Han Xiaorui’s praise and thanks.

’Now, with Director Wu saying this, my promotion is in the bag!’

Without waiting for the others in his entourage to introduce themselves, Director Wu eagerly asked Han Xiaorui and Yang Jianguo to give him a tour of the fish farm.

Director Wu had been transferred from an inland region. He rarely ate saltwater fish, let alone had he ever seen such beautiful ornamental fish before.

The sight was dazzling, and he was soon too bewildered to tell them apart.

At first, he could still make out their differences, but the more he saw, the more they blurred together until he could only distinguish them by color and size.

He couldn’t remember their shapes unless one was particularly unique.

Like the kissing gouramis, whose cute little mouths would pucker up and press together.

To a human observer, it looked very interesting and endearing.

In reality, they might have been fighting, or they could have simply been cleaning algae off each other’s mouths.

These kissing gouramis alone came in several colors, including white, purple, and yellow.

This was a rare phenomenon in the fish world.

Whenever two kissing gouramis were together, they would ”kiss,” regardless of whether they were two females or two males.

Even a lone fish would constantly suck on the algae on the aquatic plants or the tank glass, bumping about and giving the appearance of kissing something.

They are tropical freshwater ornamental fish native to the islands of Java and Borneo in Southeast Asia.

A single pair of kissing gouramis could sell for ten US Dollars.

A whole basket of socks might not even sell for ten US Dollars.

Therefore, from the perspective of the foreign trade authorities, these ornamental fish were a high-value-added product.

The tour lasted the entire morning. Director Wu was thrilled, but he also had a distinct feeling.

The space here was already being utilized to its absolute maximum, which limited their potential for growth.

”Comrade Xiao Han, do you have any plans to expand your operations? If you do, the adjacent farmland can be transferred and contracted to you for commercial use.” Director Wu was a highly capable man.

His superiors were pressuring him to generate more foreign exchange.

And how was he to do that?

The answer was obvious: provide as much support as possible to the enterprises under his jurisdiction that could earn foreign exchange, allowing them to grow and thrive.

Who would have thought even fish tanks could be exported?

He had an inspection at the fish tank factory later, and he would have to offer them plenty of encouragement as well.

Han Xiaorui was taken aback for a moment, then replied, ”To be frank, Director Wu, ever since our farm received those orders, someone has filed a complaint against us. The report claims that the price we paid when we first contracted the land was too low, that we took advantage of the state, and that we’re ’fleecing the wool of socialism.’”

”But when we signed the contract this spring, we did so according to the prices at the time, and all our paperwork is complete. Since a complaint was filed, an investigation must be carried out. We were actually waiting for the investigation team to arrive today to clear our name.”

Hearing this, Director Wu tapped his head. ”Silly me, I completely forgot about something so important.”

He already knew the results of the investigation: Jinshan Bay Ornamental Fish Farm had committed no violations.

He had gotten so excited seeing all the beautiful fish that he had forgotten to mention it.

”The people behind me are from the investigation team. I’ll let them tell you themselves.”

Han Xiaorui smiled. ”The documents are all in the office. The comrades from the investigation team are welcome to review them.”

The contract, its term, the payment amount, and the proof of payment were all there.

At the time, it had been a barren plot full of sand and gravel, completely unsuitable for cultivation. Using it to build an ornamental fish farm was essentially a wasteland reclamation project.

In truth, all of this had already been verified through other channels; this visit was merely a formality.

The investigators confirmed that everything was legal and in compliance; there were no problems. A formal report would be issued, and the matter would be considered closed.

Han Xiaorui breathed a sigh of relief. ”Although we are a private enterprise,” she said, ”we keep the national policy firmly in mind: let some people get rich first, so that they may then lead others to wealth.”

”The fishing resources in Jinshan Bay are dwindling, and a strict fishing ban will be enforced starting next year. As a result, Jinshan Bay, which has always depended on fishing, is facing a decline. Our hope in developing this ornamental fish farm is also to create more jobs for the villagers.”