The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 232: Chapter 232: Delivering a Surprise

It was already dark by the time Han Xiaorui got home.

Liang Xiaoyu was at home playing with Pingping, An’an, and Cai Wenjun.

But Pingping and An’an couldn’t play peacefully; they kept looking toward the door.

They were waiting for their aunt. Where had she gone?

When they saw their mother return, Pingping and An’an looked behind her. ”Mama, Auntie.”

”Auntie went to school, just like Pingping and An’an have to go to school,” Han Xiaorui replied, deftly changing the subject. ”Come, come, tell Mama, were you happy at kindergarten today?”

Their attention successfully diverted, Pingping and An’an blinked, then nodded repeatedly. ”It was fun! Other kids!”

Han Xiaorui asked again, ”What toys were fun?”

”Rocking horse, slide, seesaw...” Pingping and An’an began to tell her about their day at kindergarten.

Cai Wenjun would chime in now and then, stammering out a few words to describe what happened.

Although there was still a gap between him and other children his age, he was already doing much better than before.

During dinner, Han Xiaorui asked Liang Xiaoyu, ”Sister-in-law Xiao Yu, the children aren’t going to the hospital for their intervention classes anymore. When is Expert Wang sending people over to teach and do research here?”

Liang Xiaoyu replied, ”I know about that. They’re coming the day after tomorrow. Two intervention therapists are coming this time. One is experienced, but the other was just recently assigned and doesn’t have any.”

”They’re based in the city, so commuting is inconvenient. My mother-in-law tidied up a room for them to use as a dorm and even set up a small kitchen. Rice, flour, oil, and all that stuff—it’s all ready.”

Han Xiaorui nodded. ”Good. I’ll have to trouble Sister Cai, then. We’re doing this for our own kids, after all. By the way, how many children did the kindergarten enroll?”

Liang Xiaoyu answered, ”They enrolled eleven children. With our three, that makes fourteen in total. They’re all in the preschool class.”

”The other parents must have spoken to their children at home. No one bullied Pingping, An’an, or Wenjun. In fact, they even took the initiative to play with them.”

”I used to think opening a kindergarten was unnecessary, but seeing Wenjun, Pingping, and An’an actively learning to speak from the typically developing children today made me realize just how right you were.”

Han Xiaorui nodded in agreement. ”I heard Expert Wang say that in regular classes, it’s just adults trying to cram knowledge into a child’s head.”

”But playing and interacting with their peers is a process of active learning, and it’s much more effective.”

The two mothers were thrilled that their children had such a good environment to learn and grow in.

The weather had been perfect for going out to sea the past couple of days, but Han Xiaorui wanted to make sure the children were settled in before she went out fishing.

The next day, Pingping and An’an happily went to kindergarten with their little backpacks on.

At the kindergarten gate, they met some other children from the village and went inside holding hands.

Han Xiaorui watched quietly from the side. The teachers were very professional, and the children were clearly having a great time.

Some of the younger children, following their instincts, would try to bully the smaller kids.

But the teachers were quick to intervene and educate them, ensuring a positive atmosphere in the kindergarten.

Pingping and An’an were tall for their age, about half a head taller than their peers.

Although their language skills and developmental levels were behind their peers, they were tall and strong.

If any kids tried to bully them, they would use their height and strength to fight back.

But it was only ever in self-defense. Once the other child stopped attacking, Pingping and An’an wouldn’t hit them anymore.

This showed that the two girls didn’t have a violent streak.

At noon, Han Xiaorui went to the kitchen to check on things and found Granny Cai busy working all by herself.

Seeing this, Han Xiaorui said, ”Sister Cai, you’re cooking for so many people all by yourself, on top of grocery shopping, washing vegetables, cleaning up, and washing all the dishes and pots.”

”This is too much work! I won’t allow it. I’d feel terrible if you wore yourself out! Sister Cai, you know everyone in the village well. Please, pick someone honest, clean, and diligent to be your kitchen assistant. It won’t even cost that much per month!”

Granny Cai was about to refuse, but Liang Xiaoyu quickly cut in, ”Mom, our lives are better now, don’t be so set in your ways!”

”If we spend a little money to hire someone, it’ll make your job easier, and someone else gets to earn some money. It’s a win-win, what’s not to like?”

”What about Aunt Cuihua? Aren’t you two close? Her husband passed away in a car accident last month, and her son is in high school! She’s out doing odd jobs all day for not much pay, and it’s exhausting work!”

Hearing this, Granny Cai paused for a moment, then nodded. ”Xiao Rui, Xiao Yu, you have a point. I really was exhausted after just one day yesterday!”

”I’ll go find Dacui tonight and ask her to come work here. She’s very tidy and a fast worker.”

Han Xiaorui replied, ”If you think Aunt Cuihua is the right person, then let’s have her come. If a family is in trouble, we should help out as much as we can!”

Granny Cai smiled. ”How much should we pay her?”

Han Xiaorui thought for a moment and replied, ”The same as the other childcare staff here, plus a bonus.”

Granny Cai beamed. ”Okay, okay, great!”

After lunch, the teachers took the children to play some games in the shade of a tree.

Half an hour later, they brought them back to the classroom, set up their little cots, and put them down for their afternoon nap.

Seeing that everything was going well, Han Xiaorui went with Wu Jiao that afternoon to take their motorcycle license tests.

They passed on the first try. It went incredibly smoothly.

They would be able to pick up their motorcycle licenses the next day.

Then they could finally buy motorcycles, which would make getting around much more convenient.

That evening, Han Xiaorui was on the phone with Ye Feng, showing off a little. ”I’m going to buy a motorcycle tomorrow. Do you have any recommendations?”

Ye Feng, who was lying in bed, took the call. ”No need for recommendations. I’ve already bought one for you. I’ll have it delivered tomorrow morning.”

Han Xiaorui was taken aback. ”When did you buy it? How come I didn’t know?”

”It wouldn’t be a surprise if you knew,” Ye Feng chuckled. ”It just came in from the docks recently.”

”The docks?” Han Xiaorui was surprised again. ”Don’t tell me it’s an import?”

”I’m a patriot, but I have to admit that the domestic motorcycles just aren’t up to snuff right now,” Ye Feng replied. ”I’m busy tomorrow, so I’ll have my driver bring it to you.”

”Okay!” Han Xiaorui didn’t bother being polite with Ye Feng and simply waited eagerly for her motorcycle to arrive.

The next day, two red scooters designed for women were delivered.

Although they were lightweight and looked good, Han Xiaorui felt they lacked the imposing presence of a men’s motorcycle.

Still, they really did make getting around much more convenient.

Han Xiaorui put on a helmet, hopped on her new little scooter herself, and took Wu Jiao out to buy groceries.

Wu Yao wasn’t at home; she was over at the kindergarten, working as the security guard.

Meanwhile, Ye Feng was at the airport, picking up his friend, Kuno Hiroo.

”What made you decide to come over?” Ye Feng asked Kuno Hiroo after taking a sip of tea.

Kuno Hiroo smiled. ”After speaking with Xiao Rui last time, I got interested in the ornamental fish business. I came to take a look.”

Ye Feng’s eyes narrowed slightly. He felt that this typically mercenary Kuno Hiroo was acting a bit differently. ”Hiroo, that’s out of line. She’s my fiancée. You will address her as Ms. Han.”