The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 132: Chapter 132: The Great Ship Finally Sets Sail

Ye Zheng looked at Han Xiaorui with sincerity in his eyes and a hint of a smile. ”Xiao Rui, I’m entrusting Ye Feng to you from now on.”

”Huh?” Han Xiaorui was stunned. She never expected Ye Zheng to say that. ’This uncle looks so formidable, yet he’s accepting me as Ye Feng’s girlfriend just like that?’

”Uncle Ye, you trust me that easily?”

Ye Zheng shook his head. ”It’s been too short a time for me to know you completely. But even if I don’t fully trust you yet, I trust Ye Feng’s judgment.”

His words managed to praise both her and Ye Feng.

Han Xiaorui smiled. ”Alright. Even if you hadn’t entrusted him to me, I’d still be good to Ye Feng. He’s been so good to me.”

After just one phone call, Ye Feng had rushed all the way from distant Shencheng to her hometown to help her.

”Then that’s enough,” Ye Zheng said with a nod, turning to leave.

His once-straight back was now slightly stooped. His figure seemed to carry a touch of desolation as he walked down the hospital corridor.

”Uncle Ye, aren’t you staying for dinner?” Han Xiaorui called out from behind him, having almost forgotten the main reason she was there.

”Thank you, but I can’t.” Ye Zheng waved without turning fully around. ”Today is the anniversary of Ye Feng’s mother’s death. I’m going to visit her.”

Ye Zheng was gone. He bought the egg flake rolls and sour plum soup his late wife had loved and went to her grave. His security detail stood at a distance.

His mother-in-law had been hospitalized after he’d upset her, so Ye Zheng didn’t dare visit. Instead, he went to see his father-in-law.

While Mr. Xu was also grieving, he was a more rational man.

Ye Zheng held a high-ranking position. The Xu family was wealthy overseas, but domestically, they still needed to rely on him.

Old Madam Xu was discharged after two days in the hospital.

Ye Feng was discharged at the same time.

He could already manage on his own, and he would have someone to look after him at home. This would save his grandparents and aunt from the exhausting trips to and from the hospital.

Han Xiaorui personally picked Ye Feng up from the hospital. She had even stopped by the best flower shop in the city center to buy a bouquet of carnations.

Han Xiaorui followed Ye Feng to the Xu Family Mansion. ’So this is a great family,’ she thought. ’No wonder they looked down on a ”Little Fish Girl” like me before.’

”Ye Feng, you get some rest. My large boat’s maintenance is done, the crew is assembled, and the weather is perfect. I’m getting ready to set sail.”

Ye Feng was touched. Han Xiaorui had postponed her voyage for his sake.

Now that he was out of the hospital, he congratulated her aloud. ”Xiao Rui, I wish you smooth sailing and a full haul.”

”That’s a given,” Han Xiaorui said confidently. Her heart leaped with excitement, and her longing for the sea grew even more intense.

After lunch, Han Xiaorui said her goodbyes and left.

Ye Feng had the Xu family’s driver take Han Xiaorui home.

Back at Han Xiaorui’s home, things were especially lively. Grandma Chen San and Granny Cai were both there.

Wu Cuicui had also come over to help entertain the crew members.

Grandma Chen San’s daughter had a beautiful, poetic name: Chen Yishui.

She had average looks and slightly tanned skin. At 1.68 meters, she was considered tall for a woman from the south.

The other person who could pilot a large boat was Grandma Chen San’s apprentice, Wu Mengyue, who also had a lovely name.

Han Xiaorui was the owner and captain, while Chen Yishui and Wu Mengyue were the first mates, primarily responsible for piloting the vessel.

The other eight crew members came in all shapes and sizes, but they were all seasoned hands on the open sea.

With the addition of a few other women from the village who wanted to work on the boat, the crew totaled sixteen people.

In the kitchen, Granny Cai’s apprentice, Liu Huamei, was busy cooking.

Liu Huamei was the ship’s cook, responsible for everyone’s meals.

Yang Zhigang’s boat didn’t have a dedicated cook. He just had two crew members who knew how to cook take turns in the galley.

Han Xiaorui was a foodie and took her meals very seriously.

Even while adrift at sea, she wanted to eat well.

She had specifically asked Granny Cai for a recommendation to hire a skilled cook.

That way, the seafood they caught would go straight from the net to a wash basin, still kicking, and then directly into the pot.

Now *that* was what you’d call true freshness!

She had set up two tables for a feast today to welcome the crew.

Everyone present was a woman, and since most of them already knew each other, the conversation was lively.

When Han Xiaorui returned, she greeted everyone.

Han Xiaorui stood up, holding a bottle of soda. ”Thank you all for agreeing to work for me. We’ve already discussed compensation, so I won’t go over it again.”

”Also, I want to tell you all something. I’ve bought insurance for everyone on board. I know it might sound inauspicious, but I wanted to give you all an extra layer of security.”

Hearing this, Grandma Chen San asked, ”Xiao Rui, do you mean the kind of insurance that pays compensation if there’s an accident?”

Han Xiaorui nodded. ”Yes, Grandma Chen San. In this new era, we shouldn’t be superstitious about these things.”

”That’s right!” Grandma Chen San said with a smile. ”Ah Shui’s and Ah Fen’s husbands were both lost at sea. If they’d had insurance, maybe life wouldn’t have been so difficult for them.”

This was a tangible benefit, and everyone was very pleased.

Chen Yishui smiled and raised her soda bottle. ”Thank you, Captain! Let’s all toast to a safe and sound journey and a full haul!”

Pingping and An’an, who were busy stuffing their faces, heard the phrase ”safe and sound”—which sounded just like their names. They looked up, but seeing that no one was looking at them, they went back to eating, their little cheeks puffed out.

Once everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, Han Xiaorui handed out red envelopes for good luck before they left. She gave the two first mates 88.88 yuan each, a number that sounds like ”get rich,” and the other crew members 66.66 yuan each, a number that sounds like ”everything goes smoothly.”

That evening, only family was left at the house.

Han Xiaorui said to Wu Jiao and Wu Yao, ”Wu Jiao, Wu Yao, while I’m away, you must protect my sister and my two daughters.”

”Wherever they go, you go. At night, keep your weapons close. If anyone dares to break into our house in the middle of the night, beat them senseless. If the intruder has a knife, don’t you dare hold back.”

After staying there for a few days, Wu Jiao and Wu Yao finally understood why Han Xiaorui had hired bodyguards.

It was mainly because Han Xiaorui was so wealthy, and her household consisted only of women and children. The consequences of a break-in would be unthinkable.

Wu Jiao’s face was stern. ”Sister Xiao Rui, you can set sail without any worries. We will definitely protect Sister Xiao Jing and Pingping and An’an. Anyone who wants to hurt them will have to get through us first.”

Wu Yao nodded in agreement. She cherished this job. Her initial unease was gone, replaced by a determination to do her work well.

After all, Sister Xiao Rui not only paid well but also treated them with great respect.

Besides, Sister Xiao Rui was Brother Ye’s girlfriend. For both personal and professional reasons, they were determined to give it their all.

”When I get back, I’ll make you all a huge seafood feast,” Han Xiaorui said with a smile to her daughters and her sister.

「The next day, the sky was clear and the sea was calm.」

Grandma Chen San personally presided over the departure ceremony with solemn reverence.

How could they not take photos at such a momentous occasion?

She took pictures not only of Han Xiaorui but of the all-female crew as well. She planned to bring the camera on board to take more photos at sea.

Han Xiaorui and the crew boarded the ship one by one.

They brought enough clothes for a week, along with eggs, meat, vegetables, and all sorts of seasonings.

Han Xiaorui stood at the bow, wind in her hair, waving to her sister, her daughters, and the villagers on the shore.

Han Xiaorui’s heart thrilled with excitement, and she could feel her superpower growing stronger in response.

The little sea snake swam out from under the small boat and moved beneath the large vessel. As if infected by Han Xiaorui’s excitement, it surged forward joyfully.

And just like that, a ship crewed entirely by women slowly pulled away from the dock, heading for the depths of the ocean.

Yang Zhigang watched Han Xiaorui’s large ship up ahead, a mixture of joy and disappointment in his eyes.