The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 270: Chapter 270: Social Master Zhang Zheng

Han Xiaoqing waved her hand and quickly explained, ”Director Zhou, we won’t be selling them at school. Tomorrow is the weekend, so we were planning to sell the fish on the street. Teacher Wei, please make sure you tell Dai Wencui not to lose heart and to continue her treatment.”

Director Zhou saw that even at a time like this, Han Xiaoqing was still thinking about helping her classmate and had no selfish intentions.

He considered that if he forbade them from selling at school, they would just go elsewhere to sell the ornamental fish. ’What if they run into some thugs? It would be easy for something to go wrong.’

After a moment of thought, Director Zhou said, ”Don’t go selling ornamental fish on the streets. There are a lot of thugs out there, and it’s not as safe as you might think. It’s very dangerous.”

”How about this? I’ll have the student council organize a charity sale. The profits can be used to pay for Dai Wencui’s medical bills.”

Han Xiaoqing hadn’t expected Director Zhou to agree. She immediately bowed to him. ”Director, thank you! You’re a great director.”

Director Zhou didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ”So if I hadn’t agreed, I wouldn’t be a great director?”

Han Xiaoqing giggled. ”You’re great either way, great either way!”

Director Zhou smiled. ’I almost misjudged these students.’ ”All right, I’m not an unreasonable person. Let’s all work together to raise the money for her medical bills and help our classmate Dai Wencui get well soon.”

Just then, Han Xiaorui and Ye Feng arrived. Since they knew Principal Wang, they were able to enter the campus directly.

By the time they arrived, the matter had already been resolved.

”Sis, what are you doing here?” Han Xiaoqing was just about to leave when she saw her sister and Brother Ye standing at the door.

Han Xiaorui smiled. ”It’s getting dark, so I came to take you home. Is everything sorted out?”

Han Xiaoqing replied, ”It’s all sorted out! Director Zhou found out why we were selling the fish, and he’s going to have the student council take the lead in organizing a charity sale at the school to raise money for Dai Wencui’s medical bills.”

Han Xiaorui smiled. ”That’s great, as long as it all worked out perfectly.”

As they went downstairs together, Han Xiaorui saw Teacher Zhao and greeted him. ”Teacher Zhao, sorry to have caused you trouble.”

Teacher Zhao smiled. ”It’s no trouble at all. The spirit shown by Xiao Jing and the other two students is worthy of praise.”

After taking Sun Dandan and Wu Yunqian back to their dorm, Han Xiaoqing went home with her sister.

Han Xiaoqing felt a little embarrassed. ”Sis, I’m really fine. You don’t have to worry about me.”

Han Xiaorui smiled. ”I’m not worried. We’re having a barbecue at home, and I came to get you for dinner.”

”Next week, I have to go to Leshan for a trade fair, so I wanted to see you before I leave.”

Han Xiaoqing thought back to the bustling scene at the last foreign trade fair in Shencheng.

”Sis, who else is going besides you?” Han Xiaoqing asked.

Han Xiaorui replied, ”This time, we’re sharing a space with the fish tank factory. We’re combining two booths, knocking down the wall between them to make it bigger.”

”It’ll be me, Wu Lingling, and Zhou Wei is bringing two more people. The problem is, it seems I’m the only one fluent in English. Lingling has learned a little and can handle basic conversation, but she’d have a hard time negotiating a deal.”

Han Xiaoqing smiled and said, ”My university has an English department. Why don’t you hire a few students or teachers who speak English?”

Han Xiaorui nodded. ”That’s a good idea. Preferably male students or teachers.”

Han Xiaoqing was taken aback, her expression puzzled. ”Why not female students or teachers? They’re often better at learning languages than men are.”

Han Xiaorui shook her head and patiently explained, ”I’m not saying female students or teachers aren’t good at foreign languages. But with the economic reforms in the south, there are a lot more outsiders, and I’m worried about safety. It’d just be better with male teachers or students. It’s one less thing for me to worry about.”

Han Xiaoqing’s eyes lit up with understanding. ”Oh, I see. In that case, I’ll ask around at the student council for you, or talk to the teachers in my school’s English department. You’ll be paying, and they can earn some money. It’s a win-win, right?”

Han Xiaorui nodded. ”If any of the female students complain, just tell them that we’ll hire more of them for the Shencheng trade fair next year.”

”That one’s in our own city, so it’s close. There’s a direct bus from the convention center to your campus, so it’s very convenient and safe.”

”Okay, I get it,” Han Xiaoqing agreed.

By the time they got home, everyone else had already eaten their fill.

Wu Jiao said with a smile, ”Xiao Jing, go wash your hands, and I’ll start grilling for you guys.”

”Thanks,” Han Xiaoqing said.

The seafood barbecue was delicious, and she enjoyed chatting with everyone.

After confirming the dates of her sister’s trip to the trade fair, Han Xiaoqing decided that while her sister was away, she would have to come home on the weekends to keep Pingping and An’an company.

Early the next morning, Han Xiaoqing ordered another large shipment of ornamental fish and tanks from the fish farm and had Song Sixth drive them to the university.

This was for the university’s charity sale, so she put Sun Dandan and the other student council members in charge.

Meanwhile, Han Xiaoqing took some of the stock and went with Wu Yunqian to the gates of Fudan University.

Chen Wenxuan was already waiting for them, having saved the best spot right by the university entrance.

”Xiao Jing, over here!” Chen Wenxuan waved when he saw Han Xiaoqing, his handsome face breaking into a wide smile.

Han Xiaoqing spotted him right away. ”Chen Wenxuan, you’re amazing! How did you manage to get such a great spot?”

Zhang Zheng, standing beside him, was Chen Wenxuan’s classmate. He had been dragged here early in the morning to save the spot and had been sulking about it, but his eyes lit up the moment he saw two pretty girls approaching.

”Hello, ladies. My name is Zhang Zheng, and I’m a good friend of Chen Wenxuan’s. The reason you have this prime location is because I came here bright and early to save it. It’s a pleasure to meet you both, and I’m happy to be of service.”

Zhang Zheng introduced himself without waiting for Chen Wenxuan, a classic social butterfly.

Chen Wenxuan was exasperated to see Zhang Zheng standing in front of him. ”Xiao Jing, Wu Yunqian, don’t be alarmed. My classmate is just very... enthusiastic.”

”That’s right, that’s right! I’m one of the good guys,” Zhang Zheng nodded, quickly chiming in.

Chen Wenxuan shook his head and let out a helpless laugh.

Han Xiaoqing smiled. ”Hi, Zhang Zheng. Thanks for your help. It’s getting late, so we should set up our stall.”

’Weekends are a rare opportunity, the perfect time to run a stall and make some money.’

Chen Wenxuan chuckled, deftly helping them spread out a plastic sheet. He handed a bucket to Zhang Zheng. ”Go get some water.”

Zhang Zheng shook his head, refusing. ”My silver tongue is better suited for making sales. Come on over, everyone, and take a look! We’ve got beautiful ornamental fish and palm-sized tanks perfect for your windowsill or desk! Step right up, take a look! Don’t just walk on by and miss out!”

”Are you struggling to find a gift for your sweetheart? Are you bored with no pet to keep you company? Are you far from home and feeling homesick? Well, we have the perfect pet for your dorm room—small ornamental fish in a desktop tank! They look fantastic!”

Chen Wenxuan stared at Zhang Zheng, dumbfounded. He knew his friend was an extrovert, but he hadn’t realized he was *this* extroverted.

’I was worried we wouldn’t have much to talk about when we met and that it would be awkward.’

’But Zhang Zheng had single-handedly turned things around. If he had Zhang Zheng entertain Wu Yunqian, then he could get more time to spend with Han Xiaoqing.’

However, Han Xiaoqing and Wu Yunqian were only thinking about selling the ornamental fish as quickly as possible. They saw that a crowd was already starting to gather, drawn in by Zhang Zheng’s loud calls.

With a complicated expression, Chen Wenxuan picked up the bucket to get water, watching as Zhang Zheng greeted the customers.

’I can talk a mile a minute around other guys,’ he thought, ’but in front of girls, I just freeze up.’