The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 105: Chapter 105: How Should I Thank You?

Ye Feng was slightly taken aback. He hadn’t expected Han Xiaorui to think of donating money.

Her ruthlessness was reserved only for bad people.

As for those who had helped her, Han Xiaorui always kept them in her heart.

Chen Nanyang thought for a moment, then said, ”Instead of just donating money, it would be better to fund a new school building. I haven’t seen the other places, but I saw that Yangkai High School in the county town is a bit rundown, to say nothing of the elementary schools in the townships and villages.”

Ye Feng nodded in agreement with Chen Nanyang. ”If you donate money, it might not necessarily be spent on the school or the students. But if you choose to fund a building for the school, you just need to find someone trustworthy to oversee the construction of the classrooms.”

”Having bright and clean classrooms is a tangible benefit for the students, and the teachers will also have a better environment to work in.”

Seeing that both Chen Nanyang and Ye Feng were saying the same thing, Han Xiaorui chose to trust them. ”Alright, I’ll fund a new building then. But I don’t have anyone I can trust here. Ye Feng, can you recommend someone?”

Ye Feng smiled. ”I can. Liu Zhan, who’s been helping me out, works for Guishi Second Construction. They specialize in all kinds of construction projects, and building houses and classrooms is one of them.”

Han Xiaorui nodded. ”Okay, then. I can put up one million right now. Six hundred thousand for Yangkai High School, three hundred thousand for Ping Shui Middle School, and one hundred thousand for the elementary school. Is that enough?”

Her money was a gift from the sea.

If she didn’t have money, it would be one thing. But now that she did, she wanted to repay the people who had helped the original Han Xiaorui along the way.

Ye Feng was stunned for a moment, then he smiled. ”That’s more than enough to build classrooms.”

Han Xiaorui thought for a moment. ”Lawyer Chen, Ye Feng, let’s go to the school and the Education Bureau tomorrow to get this done.”

When Yangkai High School learned that Han Xiaorui wanted to fund a new academic building, Principal Wang was so moved he was on the verge of tears.

Six hundred thousand yuan was enough to build three three-story academic buildings, with a total of seventy to eighty classrooms.

The students would be able to attend class in clean, bright classrooms, and the teachers could work in a better environment.

”Student Han Xiaorui, on behalf of all the teachers and students of Yangkai High School, I thank you.”

Han Xiaorui said humbly, ”Principal Wang, please don’t say that. My sister and I were only able to attend school because of the help from our teachers and the school all along the way.”

”Not only did you waive our tuition, but you even gave us awards and living expenses when we did well on our exams. I didn’t have money before, but now that I’ve earned some, of course I have to give back to the school and my teachers.”

”I hope the younger students will cherish this opportunity to learn. In the future, when they get into university and have more chances to change their own lives, I hope they will also contribute to building our country.”

Han Xiaorui received praise and commendations for her donations to the middle school and elementary school.

In addition, she signed a contract with Guishi Second Construction to have them handle the design and construction.

Han Xiaorui would make payments according to the construction schedule.

Liu Zhan’s company, Guishi Second Construction, hadn’t actually been established for very long and primarily focused on building civil architecture.

Liu Zhan was new to the company and wasn’t given much responsibility. Suddenly, thanks to Ye Feng and Han Xiaorui, the company received such a large order. They were overjoyed and put Liu Zhan in charge of it.

Chen Nanyang had to come over often for court appearances and lawsuits anyway, so he could also keep track of the classroom construction progress.

After handling all these matters and making the initial payment, Han Xiaorui took her children and her sister and headed back to Shencheng with Ye Feng.

Following Chen Nanyang’s advice, Han Dayong and Wang Cuilan insisted that they had been coerced and lured into selling the acceptance letter against their will.

Although they ultimately avoided jail time, they had forever lost their two capable daughters.

By the time they were released, Han Xiaorui and Han Xiaoqing were already on the train.

Ye Feng was carrying six large mesh bags full of local specialties that his comrades had prepared for him.

Ye Feng had tried to refuse them, but his six comrades just shoved them through the train window.

Looking at the piles of stuff, Ye Feng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

’How am I supposed to carry all this back?’

Ye Feng took a sip of water and looked at Han Xiaorui, who was sitting across from him. ”I usually eat at my work cafeteria. My home is just a place to sleep, so leaving all this with me would be a waste.”

”When we get back, you should take it all home with you. It’s all local specialties. Since you’re from around here, you should enjoy it.”

Han Xiaorui looked at the bags. To be honest, she felt a little envious.

This was clearly her and Han Xiaoqing’s hometown, but their family didn’t feel like family, offering no warmth at all.

Teacher Zhou had wanted to give her some local specialties, but Han Xiaorui hadn’t accepted them.

Teacher Zhou already spent one-third of her salary helping students in need.

”I don’t need that much, just give me a little of each! You should take the rest back for your relatives!”

Ye Feng smiled. ”Anyway, I don’t want to deal with all this. Let’s just drop it off at your place first, and you can give me a little of each later.”

Han Xiaorui broke into a radiant smile. ”In that case, I won’t be polite! We’ll take it to my place first, and you can come get your share after I’ve sorted it all out!”

”Your comrades have been running all over the place helping me these past few days! When I get back, give me their addresses.”

”I’m a ship captain, a woman with a fishing boat. When I repay someone’s kindness, of course I’m going to use things from the sea!”

”There’s plenty of dried seafood. I’ll mail them some! Let them have a taste of Shencheng’s specialties too.”

”There’s no need!” Ye Feng thought Han Xiaorui was being too formal; he would send them something himself later.

Han Xiaorui insisted, ”Ye Feng, you have to do as I say on this! If I had nothing, that would be one thing. But I do, so I can’t just accept things from others with a clear conscience.”

”Besides, they’ve helped me so much recently, handling many things for me. Words aren’t enough to express my gratitude, so sending some local specialties is just a small token of my appreciation.”

Seeing Han Xiaorui’s serious expression and resolute attitude, Ye Feng looked up and smiled faintly. ”Since it would be rude to refuse such a kind offer, I’ll accept on their behalf!”

Pingping and An’an were learning origami from Han Xiaoqing.

Han Xiaoqing was doing two things at once, folding paper while pricking up her ears to eavesdrop on her sister’s conversation with Ye Feng.

Han Xiaorui said with emotion, ”Ye Feng, if you hadn’t helped me this time, this matter definitely wouldn’t have been resolved so easily!”

”What should I do to thank you? Or rather, if there’s anything you need me to do, just say it directly! Don’t make me guess!”

Ye Feng was slightly taken aback, then he thought for a moment. ”Honestly, I did all of this willingly. You don’t need to thank me.”

Hearing this, Han Xiaorui grumbled inwardly, ’This Ye Feng is so reserved!’

”Since you can’t think of anything, take your time! But in the meantime, I’ve come up with a way to show my gratitude. I’m taking you out to dinner! You can’t refuse!”

Ye Feng smiled. ”I couldn’t ask for more!”

Hearing him say that, Han Xiaorui smiled too. ”Then it’s settled. After we get back and I’m all settled in, I’ll find a time when you’re free and treat you to a meal!”

”Okay!” Ye Feng agreed. In that moment, he knew he was happy, even blissful.

After getting to know her during this time, Ye Feng was even more certain that he admired Han Xiaorui deeply.

’He wanted to take things further with Han Xiaorui!’

’But Han Xiaorui had just gone through a failed marriage and was very cautious about starting a new relationship.’

’Patience was one thing he had in abundance. He would take it slow!’

With Ye Feng around, whether it was buying meals or fetching water, he took care of everything, not letting Han Xiaorui or Han Xiaoqing lift a finger.

Seeing that it was mealtime again, Ye Feng took their meal containers to go get food.

Han Xiaoqing asked in a low voice, ”Mr. Ye seems nice. Sis, what do you think?”