The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 92: Chapter 92: Buying Tickets, Malt Candy

Han Xiaorui had promised to take the children to the amusement park over the weekend, and she kept her word.

Liang Xiaoyu brought Cai Wenjun, Han Xiaorui brought her two daughters and younger sister, and Wu Cuicui brought Yang Minmin, spending the entire day at the amusement park.

They ate lunch at the amusement park as well.

Although the food was just okay, the main point of being at an amusement park was to have fun. As long as they were happy, that was all that mattered.

She let the kids try any ride or activity they were able to.

As the saying goes, a happy childhood can heal a lifetime, but a miserable childhood takes a lifetime to heal.

Han Xiaorui did her best to provide her children with a good material life, but she also made sure to teach them good values.

She could accept it if her children didn’t grow up to be geniuses, but they had to be well-adjusted adults with at least one marketable skill.

Han Xiaorui brought a camera to take photos of the children, capturing beautiful memories for them, Wu Cuicui, Liang Xiaoyu, her sister, and herself.

Yang Minmin had grown to like Han Xiaorui and the two little sisters even more now.

Whenever she got anything nice, she would think of the two sisters and remind her mother to send some over to Auntie Xiao Rui.

By May, her younger brother’s wedding was only two weeks away.

Han Xiaorui and Han Xiaoqing both had to return home. Besides the wedding, they also needed to sort out the paperwork for Xiao Qing’s night school enrollment.

Han Xiaorui planned to bring her two daughters along, wanting them to travel and see more of the world to broaden their horizons.

She wanted to buy sleeper tickets.

She didn’t plan on asking Yang Zhigang for help with the tickets, and Yang Jianguo was too busy.

After thinking it over, the only person she could ask for help was Ye Feng.

’He’s the one!’

When Han Xiaorui called, Ye Feng had just returned from the cafeteria after dinner.

The moment he heard Han Xiaorui’s voice, he sat bolt upright. ”Comrade Xiao Han, did you find another reconnaissance device?”

Hearing this, Han Xiaorui retorted playfully, ”Mr. Ye, do you really think these advanced reconnaissance devices are like little fish and shrimp in the sea, that we can just scoop them up whenever we want?”

”Your boat’s already been arranged, so I couldn’t guess why you might be calling me,” Ye Feng said with a smile, leaning back in his chair to relax.

Han Xiaorui chuckled. ”Of course there is. My younger brother is getting married, so my sister and I have to go back home. I’m taking my two daughters with me, and I’d like to get sleeper tickets.”

”The tickets are hard to come by, so I was hoping you could help me buy them. I need at least one lower bunk ticket, since it’s more convenient with children.”

”No problem!” Ye Feng chuckled. A small favor like this was effortless for him. ”What day?”

Han Xiaorui replied, ”For May 9th. Tickets from Shencheng to Guishi.”

”Alright!” Ye Feng smiled. ”I’ll bring them over to you once I get them.”

”Thank you so much!” Han Xiaorui said gratefully.

Ye Feng chuckled. ”Don’t mention it. After all, you gave me that honey! I often pull all-nighters. I used to smoke a cigarette to stay awake, but now I just drink some honey. I feel more refreshed, and it’s better for my stomach.”

Hearing this, Han Xiaorui said, ”I still have more at home. I’ll give you another bottle next time you come over.”

”No, that’s alright. One bottle is plenty,” Ye Feng refused, but then suddenly felt as if he had missed an opportunity. ”Wait, when I finish it, I’ll ask you for more.”

The corners of Han Xiaorui’s mouth curved up into a wide smile. ”Alright.”

Ye Feng got the tickets and brought them to Han Xiaorui. He also brought two cloth dolls for Pingping and An’an.

Pingping and An’an loved them.

Han Xiaorui prompted her daughters, wanting to give them opportunities to practice their language and social skills. ”Say, ’Thank you, Uncle Ye.’”

Ye Feng bent down to meet their gazes and smiled gently. ”You’re welcome!”

The children, clutching their dolls, ran back into the yard to play.

Ye Feng looked up at Han Xiaorui. ”Since you’re traveling with the kids, try not to bring too much luggage. The head conductor on that train is an uncle of mine, Chen Guanghua. If you run into any trouble, you can go to him.”

Han Xiaorui nodded. Looking at the tall, handsome man before her, she pursed her lips into a faint smile. ”Thank you, Mr. Ye.”

”Don’t mention it.” Ye Feng gave a slight smile. The summer breeze seemed to carry a heat of its own, warming the air between them. ”I’m not on duty that day. I’ll take you to the station.”

”Oh...” Han Xiaorui was at a loss for words. ’Does this mean Ye Feng has started pursuing me?’

As if worried she might refuse, Ye Feng opened his car door and started the engine. ”It’s settled, then!”

Watching Ye Feng beat a somewhat hasty retreat, Han Xiaorui couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

Ye Feng usually had such a stern, cold, and unapproachable air about him; she never expected to see this flustered side of him.

At least the interest wasn’t one-sided. She was certain now that Ye Feng had feelings for her.

However, it was clear they were both very cautious and wouldn’t voice their feelings so easily.

Perhaps neither was sure if the other was the right person to be their future partner.

But as the saying goes, good things come to those who wait.

’One step at a time.’

Once the travel dates were set, Han Xiaorui went to the hospital in person to request time off from Expert Wang.

Han Xiaorui also settled up with Liang Xiaoyu, paying her wages and commission for the past half-month.

They had sold a Yellowlip Fish on one occasion, which fetched a very high price. As a result, her commission and wages for the month totaled a whopping 2,450 yuan.

When Liang Xiaoyu took the money from Han Xiaorui, her hands were trembling.

”Oh my gosh, I can’t believe I earned this much in one month! And we were only actually out at sea for a total of nine days.”

Han Xiaorui smiled. ”Go on, put it away! I’ll be gone for a while, so here’s my key. Just come over every day and help me feed the chickens, ducks, geese, cats, and dogs.”

Liang Xiaoyu took the key from Han Xiaorui. ”Don’t you worry. Everything will be exactly as you left it when you get back!”

”I’m counting on you, then!” Han Xiaorui smiled. She felt at ease entrusting her home to Liang Xiaoyu.

’Besides, even if a burglar did break in, the furniture and decorations would be difficult to steal.’

’As for her bank passbook, she’d be keeping that on her person anyway.’

Han Xiaorui dug out some of her old clothes. They didn’t quite fit anymore, so she altered them slightly.

Han Xiaoqing did the same, also wearing older clothes for the trip.

Even so, clothes like these would still be considered quite stylish back in their hometown.

Liang Xiaoyu came with Granny Cai and Cai Wenjun to see them off.

Granny Cai had specially made two boxes of pastries that would keep well during the journey for them to take along.

Yang Jianguo, Wu Cuicui, and Yang Minmin also came to see them off. Han Xiaorui asked Yang Jianguo and Wu Cuicui to check on her boat at the pier whenever they had a free moment.

They all readily agreed to help.

Wu Cuicui asked, ”When is Song Sixth’s car getting here?”

Han Xiaorui replied with a smile, ”Mr. Ye said he would be passing through the area and offered to drive us to the train station. He’s the one who helped me buy the tickets this time.”

No sooner had she spoken than an army-green jeep appeared, rounding the corner at the end of the street.

Ye Feng saw the group and gave them a polite nod before opening the trunk. ”I’ll load the luggage!”

Ye Feng took out two bags of malt candy and handed them to Pingping and An’an.

It was from a time-honored brand he remembered from his youth. The taste was excellent, one of the few sweet treats from his childhood.

When he was wondering what gift to bring for Pingping and An’an today, this was the first thing that came to mind.

”Thank you, Uncle,” Pingping and An’an said with sweet smiles, not hiding from him this time.

’This uncle gave us dolls last time and candy this time. He must be a good person!’

Ye Feng finished loading all the luggage from the ground into the jeep. ”Alright, let’s get in. Better to be early than late.”

”Okay!” Han Xiaorui helped the children and her sister into the back seat, then got into the front passenger seat herself.

As they watched the jeep drive away, the small group left standing on the road had mixed feelings.