The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 409: Chapter 409: The Unyielding Chinese Woman

Han Xiaoqing joyfully took pictures of everyone.

Chen Wenxuan served as her assistant, following her every step.

Once all the photos were taken, Han Xiaoqing turned to Chen Wenxuan. ”Come on, let me take your picture.”

Chen Wenxuan took Han Xiaoqing’s hand. ”Let’s take one together.”

Han Xiaoqing flashed a radiant smile. ”Alright! Sister-in-law Xiao Yu, come take a picture for us!”

Liang Xiaoyu walked over, took the camera, and snapped a photo of Han Xiaoqing and Chen Wenxuan. ”A talented man and a beautiful woman. A match made in heaven.”

A little embarrassed by the praise, Han Xiaoqing said, ”Thank you, Sister-in-law Xiao Yu.”

”Don’t mention it.” Liang Xiaoyu handed the camera back.

Han Xiaoqing led Chen Wenxuan into the cabin, where a very pregnant Han Xiaorui was resting on the sofa. ”Come, would you like something to drink?”

”No, thank you,” Chen Wenxuan declined. ”Sister Han, I’ve graduated from university, and my next step is to pursue further studies at the German Imperial College. Xiao Jing is on summer break now too, so I was thinking of taking her on a trip to Europe.”

Han Xiaorui was taken aback for a moment, then she smiled and looked at Han Xiaoqing. ”Xiao Jing, if you want to go, then go. Our family runs an import-export business. I have plenty of US dollars to pay for your trip.”

Chen Wenxuan waved his hand. ”That’s not necessary. My parents will make the arrangements.”

Han Xiaorui shook her head, her tone firm. ”You’re just boyfriend and girlfriend, not a married couple. How could she just spend your and your parents’ money so freely? Besides, our family can afford it. It’s not like we’re short on money.”

She said this to make it clear to Chen Wenxuan that her sister lacked for nothing.

Han Xiaoqing was with him not for his money, but for him as a person—for love.

At the same time, it was also a message for her sister.

As long as they were from two separate families, they needed to maintain a certain distance and not blur the lines.

Han Xiaoqing smiled. ”Thank you for funding my trip to Europe, Sis.”

”You’re young, so you should travel and see more of the world. But be careful when you’re abroad in an unfamiliar place,” Han Xiaorui advised. ”Other countries industrialized before us, so they developed earlier. Their infrastructure and even some of their social benefits are excellent. When you’re over there, don’t start looking down on our own country.”

Han Xiaoqing nodded. ”Of course. There’s no place like home, after all. Development here in Shencheng is so rapid. Every week when I come home, I notice something new.”

”At this pace of development, our country will definitely catch up. Wenxuan, once you’ve acquired new skills, you must come back to help build our nation.”

Chen Wenxuan nodded. ”Of course. The country raised me. From the moment I was born, I was drinking state-provided formula. Even in such difficult times, the orphanage still managed to provide it. Without the country, I wouldn’t be here. I will absolutely not stay abroad.”

”That’s wonderful!” Han Xiaorui said with a smile. ”If our generation works hard, we can definitely catch up.”

With Chen Wenxuan’s help, Han Xiaoqing’s visa application went smoothly.

They bought their plane tickets, and a few days later, Han Xiaoqing, carrying the US Dollars and Marks her sister had exchanged for her, boarded a flight to Germany with Chen Wenxuan.

First, she would meet Chen Wenxuan’s parents, brother, and sister, and then travel with him.

Once she was abroad, Han Xiaoqing finally understood what her sister had meant. No wonder people always said that foreign countries were so developed.

Han Xiaoqing had always been good at history, so she understood how these so-called developed nations had made their fortunes.

Besides industrialization, it was through plunder.

They traveled across Europe by train.

Experiencing the foreign atmosphere was certainly a unique experience.

She found it hard to get used to the foreign food, but as long as there was bread, pizza, and pasta, she could at least fill her stomach.

Han Xiaoqing was crying by the time they left the British Museum.

Chen Wenxuan, his own eyes red-rimmed and his spirits low, handed Han Xiaoqing a handkerchief. ”Don’t cry. We never experienced the wartime generation, but at this moment, that saying—’the backward get beaten’—has become a concrete reality.”

”Even the Emperor’s Sword of Zhu Di, a symbol of our Hua Country’s power, was plundered. So many treasures, hacked to pieces and brought here. This so-called British Museum is just full of other countries’ cultural relics. They’re nothing but robbers.”

Having witnessed the wealth and power of foreign countries firsthand, Han Xiaoqing felt a sense of despair. ”Wenxuan, can we still catch up? Can we become strong again?”

Chen Wenxuan nodded. ”Of course, we can. Of course, we can become strong again. My professor always encouraged us: the road is tortuous, but the future is bright. We’ve been lagging for the past century or so, but in the long river of history, that’s not a long time.”

”After a period of great turmoil, our nation was unified. In the last thirty years, we’ve completed our industrialization, laying the foundation for reform and opening up. Don’t overthink it. We just need to roll up our sleeves and get to work. We have to strive, to learn advanced technologies, and to secure a future for our country and the generations to come.”

Han Xiaoqing took the handkerchief and wiped her tears. ”Okay. Let’s work hard, then. All I need is a life with enough food to eat and warm clothes to wear. I don’t need designer brands, fancy dresses, or gold and silver jewelry. But you—you must work as hard as you can to reach the peak of scientific and technological achievement.”

”If we get married in the future, I’ll also work hard to become a doctor and help more children with autism. I won’t let you worry about the house or the kids. My only requirement is that you reach the absolute pinnacle of your field.”

This is the unyielding spirit of a strong-willed Chinese woman!

Chen Wenxuan’s spirits had been low, but hearing Han Xiaoqing’s words made his eyes sparkle with an unshakable resolve.

In that moment, his understanding of Han Xiaoqing deepened significantly.

”Alright. I promise you,” Chen Wenxuan said with a smile, taking Han Xiaoqing’s hand as they continued their tour.

Wherever there were Chinese artifacts and photography was allowed, Han Xiaoqing took pictures, planning to use them to educate children back in China.

After a month of traveling in Europe, Han Xiaoqing packed up the things she had bought and mailed them back home.

Since her family’s living standard was already high, she mostly bought items with a unique, local European character.

Before it was time to leave, Chen Wenxuan contacted the most famous experts on autism in Germany and the hospitals where they worked.

Although Han Xiaoqing couldn’t understand German, Chen Wenxuan did and translated for her.

She learned an incredible amount during that week of study.

Han Xiaoqing discovered that the research in this field was indeed much more advanced abroad.

There was so much she needed to learn.

Carrying the books Professor Hans had given her, she boarded the plane home.

At the airport, Chen Wenxuan bid a reluctant farewell to Han Xiaoqing. ”How about you come to Germany after you graduate?”

Han Xiaoqing smiled. ”You’ve already introduced me to such a wonderful mentor. If I didn’t come, wouldn’t all your effort be wasted?”

Chen Wenxuan gave a sheepish smile. ”If we’re in two different countries, so far apart... we’ll be separated for even longer. The longing will be impossible to bear.”

”Alright. I’ll start studying German when I get back,” Han Xiaoqing replied. ”And I’ll do my best to finish my university courses in two years so I can graduate early.”

Hearing this, Chen Wenxuan’s eyes lit up. ”Two years? Won’t that be too much coursework? You’ll be exhausted.”

Seeing his insincere expression, Han Xiaoqing shook her head and chuckled. ”So you don’t want me to come to Germany early?”

”I do! Of course I do,” Chen Wenxuan said, nodding repeatedly. ”I just don’t want you to be too tired. In the meantime, I’ll write to you, and you have to write to me, too.”

”Okay!” Han Xiaoqing agreed.

After bidding her boyfriend farewell, Han Xiaoqing waited for her flight home, full of spirit and determination.

Having seen the development in the outside world, she felt that time waits for no one. If you don’t work hard, you get left even further behind.

This was the mindset of many students studying abroad, especially those who were determined to return to help build their country.