The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 271: Chapter 271: Don’t Let Her Get Too Tired

Chen Wenxuan quickly brought over some water. Han Xiaoqing and Wu Yunqian rapidly filled the small fish tanks, then placed the different types of ornamental fish into separate tanks.

The herbivorous and carnivorous ornamental fish couldn’t be put together. Otherwise, the meat-eaters would quietly devour all the plant-eaters.

They were called ornamental fish for a reason—they were beautiful to look at.

These little fish looked truly beautiful inside the small, transparent glass tanks.

Any girl who saw them and had some spare money would buy one.

The boys who looked weren’t originally planning to buy any, but Zhang Zheng’s words gave them a great idea: they would buy them as gifts for the girls they liked.

Thanks to Zhang Zheng’s hawking, business got even better.

They sold out of all the ornamental fish by noon, long before nightfall.

Han Xiaoqing called the ornamental fish farm and had more sent over.

They would be back in the afternoon to continue selling.

The afternoon delivery was double the morning’s quantity, and there was a wider variety of species as well.

Han Xiaoqing thanked Chen Wenxuan. ”Chen Wenxuan, thank you. You helped us sell fish and even treated us to lunch.”

”Aren’t you going to thank me? I worked really hard too,” Zhang Zheng said, putting on a wronged expression with a pout.

Han Xiaoqing smiled. ”A big thank you to our classmate Zhang Zheng, too. Thanks for your help.”

Wu Yunqian nodded. ”Zhang Zheng, if you and Chen Wenxuan ever visit our school, I’ll treat you to a meal.”

Zhang Zheng’s eyes lit up, and he beamed. ”Then it’s a deal! No take-backs.”

”No take-backs!” Wu Yunqian smiled. ”But we’re broke right now. Aside from money for food, all our earnings have been donated to our good friend for her medical bills.”

Zhang Zheng had already heard during lunch why they were running the business. When he learned it was to save a classmate, he was suddenly filled with respect.

”She’s so lucky to have friends like you.” Medical bills are expensive; not everyone can afford them.

The person responsible for the accident had vanished without a trace and was nowhere to be found.

”We just want to do our best so our friend doesn’t have any regrets,” Wu Yunqian said, a little embarrassed. ’Without Han Xiaoqing, we never could have earned this much money.’

By the time it got dark, they had finally sold all the ornamental fish.

Chen Wenxuan and Zhang Zheng wanted to treat them to dinner again, but Han Xiaoqing refused. ”Thank you, but it’s getting dark, and my sister doesn’t want me walking around at night. We can still catch the bus. Goodbye.”

”You’re right. Be safe,” Chen Wenxuan agreed. He looked at Han Xiaoqing’s slightly sunburned face. ’Good thing I already took action so she won’t have to work this hard anymore.’

Back at school, Han Xiaoqing gave the money they had earned to Teacher Wei.

Seeing Han Xiaoqing’s and Wu Yunqian’s sunburned faces, Teacher Wei’s eyes filled with both sympathy and deep emotion.

”Xiao Jing, Yun Qian, you’ve worked so hard.” Teacher Wei poured them both a glass of water.

Han Xiaoqing shook her head. ”It wasn’t hard. This is the money we earned.”

Just then, Sun Dandan arrived.

As soon as she entered, she excitedly placed a sum of money on the table. The vice president of the student council was with her.

Teacher Wei was deeply moved by her students’ efforts. ”Dai Wencui already had her surgery today, and it was a success. This should be enough money, so you don’t have to work so hard selling ornamental fish anymore.”

”She’ll be in the hospital for the next two weeks, and then she can be discharged! Dai Wencui’s parents are preparing to take her home to care for her.”

Han Xiaoqing was slightly taken aback by this. ”Teacher, how did the medical fees get raised so quickly? Did the school contribute more money?”

Teacher Wei smiled. ”An overseas Chinese person with the surname Chen, who has returned to the country, donated to a charity fund and specifically designated it for Dai Wencui’s treatment.”

”The donation was incredibly timely. With that money, the hospital was able to perform the surgery right away and use very good medicine.”

The moment she heard the surname Chen, Han Xiaoqing thought of Chen Wenxuan.

She remembered that Chen Wenxuan had offered to sponsor Dai Wencui.

Han Xiaoqing smiled. ”That’s wonderful! Please take this money to Wencui. She can use it for her recovery.”

Teacher Wei held their hands and thanked them again.

The three of them left Teacher Wei’s dorm room, all feeling very happy.

”Even though it’s been really hard lately, going to school during the day and then selling things, it’s been so meaningful,” Sun Dandan said.

”Yeah, I never thought I could be so proactive about doing something at school,” Wu Yunqian added with a nod. ”But it’s all thanks to Han Xiaoqing.”

”If it weren’t for Han Xiaoqing’s ornamental fish, we never would have found such a great way to make money.”

Han Xiaoqing smiled. ”We have class again tomorrow. Let’s go visit Wencui over the weekend.”

”Okay!” Wu Yunqian nodded. ”Xiao Jing, my second uncle is also in business, but he sells furniture and appliances! If he knew there was so much potential in ornamental fish, he’d definitely be very interested.”

Han Xiaoqing’s eyes lit up. Although most of the farm’s customers were currently overseas, the domestic market for ornamental fish was also very important.

They needed to plan ahead and slowly build a presence in the domestic market.

”Yun Qian, if your second uncle is interested in the business, he’s more than welcome to come visit my sister’s ornamental fish farm.”

”Right now, my sister’s company is recruiting distributors in major cities across the country. Your family is in Nanjing, so you should meet the requirements.”

Wu Yunqian nodded eagerly. ”Okay, I’ll write a letter to my second uncle about it.”

Back in her dorm, Han Xiaoqing wrote a letter to Chen Wenxuan, asking if he was the one who had sponsored Dai Wencui’s medical fees.

Three days later, the letter arrived in Chen Wenxuan’s hands.

As Chen Wenxuan read the letter, written in elegant handwriting, it was as if he could see Han Xiaoqing herself. A smile touched his lips as he wrote his honest reply, admitting that he was the one who had sponsored it.

The reason he hadn’t told Han Xiaoqing was that he had wanted to keep selling ornamental fish with her.

Starting from this experience of selling fish, Han Xiaoqing and Chen Wenxuan began to correspond through letters.

Their letters went back and forth, and they gradually grew closer.

Back at school, Han Xiaoqing found three people through her teachers who were willing to go with her to the trade fair in Yue Province.

Two of them spoke English, and one spoke Japanese.

Han Xiaorui was offering high pay, so they were very willing to go.

Because it was a long distance and the ornamental fish couldn’t be jostled too much, they would ship them directly by train freight.

The team in Shencheng applied for a freight container on a train headed straight for Yue Province.

Zhou Wei took some employees ahead to set up and receive the shipment.

Meanwhile, Han Xiaorui took the rest of the employees and traveled with them on the train.

They bought sleeper car tickets. They were expensive, but appropriate for the situation.

Since they were traveling for work, taking hard seats would be too tiring, and they wouldn’t be able to get into work mode quickly upon arrival.

Wu Lingling was very excited. Before leaving, she gave instructions to the staff at the shop, telling them not to worry while she was gone.

”Sister Xiao Rui, we’re going to the trade fair in Yue Province! We can buy lots of things then. I brought all my savings with me.”

Han Xiaorui covered Wu Lingling’s mouth. ”Keep your voice down, or a thief might hear you! Not only would you lose your money, but we could also be in danger.”

Wu Lingling nodded repeatedly, a wave of fear washing over her. ”I’ll shut up. I’ve never traveled far from home, so I don’t have much experience, but I’ve often heard people say it’s chaotic out there.”

Han Xiaorui instructed, ”When we get there, follow my lead. After the exhibition is over, I’ll take you all out shopping. I guarantee you’ll be able to buy things that are both nice and cheap.”