The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 459: Chapter 459: Great Wisdom

In fact, that was exactly what Han Xiaoqing did. Whenever she wasn’t needed to help her sister with the children, Han Xiaoqing was either exercising or reading.

Han Xiaorui poured out some distilled water infused with her Water Ability. ”Remember to put this on your eyes. Straining them like this for so long will make them very tired, and you’ll become nearsighted.”

Hearing this, Han Xiaoqing quickly put down her book and applied the distilled water to her eyes with her clean hands.

”Thanks, Sis. I really don’t want to wear glasses. I’ve seen how professors’ glasses keep sliding down their noses when they sweat in the summer. And in the winter, the big temperature difference between indoors and outdoors fogs them up the second they walk into a room.”

After spending three days in the city, Han Xiaorui and Ye Feng got ready to head back with their four children.

”Sis, I’m not going back with you! I’m going to live in the house you bought for me!”

Han Xiaorui heard this and asked, ”Why are you staying in the city? That neighborhood is full of overseas Chinese and foreigners. You’ll be all alone. Aren’t you scared?”

Han Xiaoqing laughed and replied, ”What’s there to be afraid of? It’s not like we’re living in the old days, and I won’t be walking around alone at night.”

”There’s a huge library over there, and it has the books I need to borrow. I want to spend more time there reading and studying.”

Hearing Han Xiaoqing’s reasoning, Han Xiaorui agreed. ”Alright, but be careful and stay safe!”

Han Xiaoqing clenched her fists, trying to look tough. ”I’m practicing kung fu now. I’m pretty strong.”

Han Xiaorui suppressed a smile. ”Right, you’re the strongest! You’re a grown-up, I won’t restrict your freedom!”

Her little sister was grown up and had her own life now. Han Xiaorui decided not to interfere too much.

Before, she’d had no choice and needed her sister’s help with the children.

Now that she had help with the kids, her sister deserved to have more of her own space.

When the people of Jinshan Bay and the crewmen heard that Han Xiaorui had returned from the city, they flocked to her house to give their New Year’s greetings.

Han Xiaorui’s home was bustling with activity. Pingping and An’an ran wild with the other village children, playing and setting off firecrackers everywhere.

Worried, Ye Feng followed close behind them the entire time.

By the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, the crewmen were already eager to set sail.

Good weather waits for no one, and the fishing moratorium was less than three months away.

Han Xiaorui had originally planned to extend the holiday to the eighth day of the New Year, but the crewmen protested.

While their base salaries weren’t low, the commission from each trip was far more enticing.

Han Xiaorui and Yang Zhigang took the captains to the Mazu Temple to burn incense and present offerings.

Furthermore, when they set out to sea, they also made an offering to the Dragon King.

The docks at Jinshan Bay were no longer home to just Han Xiaorui and Yang Zhigang’s two large fishing boats.

Now, a full twelve vessels belonged to the Jinshan Bay Seafood Catching Company.

Each fishing boat had a captain, a first mate, ten crewmen, and a safety officer.

Mechanics were scarce, with only one assigned to every two boats. Fortunately, they always set out as a fleet, allowing them to watch out for each other and ensuring their safety.

Every able-bodied crewman in Jinshan Bay had a position on the boats. Typically, two-fifths of the crew on any given boat were from Jinshan village itself, while the other three-fifths came from elsewhere.

This was an intentional arrangement by Yang Zhigang to ensure mutual accountability.

Commissions were calculated based on the sales from each boat’s haul. Therefore, to earn a larger commission, every captain and crew member worked incredibly hard.

This time, Yang Zhigang was once again the one going out with the fleet.

A look of envy crossed Han Xiaorui’s face. She actually wanted to go with them, but the thought of her two children at home made her dismiss the idea.

’As a mother herself, she was beginning to truly understand how hard it was to be one.’

’Not just in terms of personal life, but in one’s career as well.’

Watching the fishing boats set sail, Han Xiaorui waved. At the same time, a single sea snake began to follow each vessel.

The original little sea snake had found a mate and produced a clutch of young. The most exceptional of them were chosen to accompany the fleet.

This was the key to the fleet returning with a full haul every time. Even without Han Xiaorui present, the sea snakes could actively herd schools of fish.

With the new year came a fresh start, and Han Xiaorui and the crewmen all gradually settled back into their work routines.

Han Xiaorui took a small fishing boat to the Jinshan Bay hatchery to find Professor Li. ”Professor Li, by how much can we increase fry production this year compared to last?”

Professor Li replied, ”We can triple it. By next year, we can increase it fivefold. If you want to increase it further, we’ll have to invest in building more facilities.”

Han Xiaorui was surprised. ”That much?”

Professor Li chuckled. ”Last year, we barely broke even, yet you still gave us such generous salaries and bonuses. We felt we hadn’t earned it, so of course, we’re planning to go all out this year.”

Han Xiaorui nodded. ”Are you confident you can do it?”

”Yes,” Professor Li replied. ”With the experience we gained last year, there shouldn’t be any major issues as long as we don’t run into extreme weather.”

Han Xiaorui smiled. ”Thank you for all your hard work, Professor Li. I actually came to discuss something with you today.”

Professor Li paused. Seeing Han Xiaorui’s serious expression, he grew curious. ”What is it?”

Han Xiaorui answered, ”I want to release one-tenth of the fry into the ocean each year.”

”Huh?” Professor Li was taken aback. ”That’s a significant amount!”

Han Xiaorui smiled. ”It is, but I feel I take far more from the ocean. Once my other investments turn a profit, I plan to increase it to one-fifth.”

Professor Li’s expression filled with deep respect. ”President Han, you are a person of great wisdom.”

Han Xiaorui felt a little embarrassed by Professor Li’s praise and quickly waved her hands dismissively. ”You’re too kind; I don’t deserve such high praise. I just feel that I take too much from the ocean. No matter how vast it is, its resources are finite. If we overfish, the marine life will just keep dwindling.”

”I didn’t have the means to do this before. But now that we’re using scientific breeding methods, we can wait until the fry are a little bigger before releasing them, which will increase their survival rate. Let’s just consider it a contribution to the ocean’s sustainable future.”

Professor Li shook his head. ”I’ve seen so many people use fine-mesh nets that destroy fish populations just to make money. But that has never happened in Jinshan Bay. Your fishing boats don’t even carry nets like that.”

”And now you’re preparing to release fry back into the wild—prized species, at that. Someone without great wisdom and the ability to see the bigger picture would never do something like this. President Han, I truly admire you.”

The student assistant standing nearby also looked at Han Xiaorui with a gaze full of admiration.

’I want to come work here after I graduate,’ he thought.

Professor Li was very supportive and agreed to the plan, adding that they would release the fry into the ocean during the fishing moratorium.

This was originally something Han Xiaorui had intended to do on her own, but Professor Li felt it was a project of great significance for the protection of marine resources and reported it to his superiors.

Chen Yupeng heard the news from others and immediately came to visit Han Xiaorui at her home, bringing his wife and child along.

His tone was slightly reproachful. ”Xiao Rui, you’re planning to release such a huge number of valuable fry. Why didn’t you tell me beforehand?”

Han Xiaorui was bewildered. ’I haven’t even done the good deed yet, and word has already gotten out?’

”Huh? The fry haven’t even been raised yet, and I certainly haven’t released any. How did you find out?”