The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 143: Chapter 143: Don’t Blame Me for Speaking Out of Turn

Han Xiaorui left Fortune Seafood Restaurant and headed to Chen Yupeng’s workplace.

”Comrade Xiao Han, you really don’t have to be so formal,” Chen Yupeng said with a smile, looking at the two large baskets of peaches.

Han Xiaorui smiled. ”We grew them ourselves and have more than we can eat. I brought some for you to share with your colleagues at lunch.”

Seeing this, Chen Yupeng dropped the formalities. ”Well then, I won’t say no.”

Han Xiaorui had a very cheerful personality. If she took a liking to someone and considered them a decent friend, she was always happy to get along with them.

”There’s no need for formalities. They’re from our own Peach Garden. When you get a craving, bring your wife and daughter over to my place on the weekend. Pingping and An’an will be there, so they can play with the little one.”

And with the connection to Ye Feng, Han Xiaorui was even friendlier toward Chen Yupeng.

”Alright, Comrade Xiao Han, it’s a deal. I’ll bring my wife and kid over to visit next time, and I’ll call you beforehand,” Chen Yupeng said with a laugh. He had been much more courteous ever since he found out Ye Feng and Han Xiaorui were dating.

Honestly, Han Xiaorui’s way with people was impeccable.

Just as Han Xiaorui was about to get in her van and leave, Chen Yupeng called out, ”Xiao Han, you... no matter what happens, you have to trust the Captain.”

”Huh?” Han Xiaorui froze. ”Yupeng, I consider you a friend. Just speak plainly. Don’t beat around the bush.”

Chen Yupeng slightly regretted opening his big mouth, but that Yu Lina was a real nuisance, and the Captain truly disliked her.

Since he’d already started, he decided to say it all. ”This is technically the Captain’s private business, but I know he genuinely likes you, so I don’t want you to have any misunderstandings.”

”Mm-hmm,” Han Xiaorui nodded, her gaze sincere and confident. ”Ye Feng is indeed a man of good character. Yupeng, tell me the truth. I won’t get angry. At least I’ll be mentally prepared for whatever it is.”

Chen Yupeng scratched his head. ”The Captain has a crazy admirer named Yu Lina. She started relentlessly pursuing him back when we were in the service. If anyone else liked the Captain, she’d go after them. It caused a huge incident once.”

Hearing this, Han Xiaorui breathed a sigh of relief. ”Does Ye Feng like her?”

”Not at all.” Chen Yupeng shook his head back and forth like a rattle. The real reason he’d meddled was his fear that Yu Lina would cause the Captain to end up alone for the rest of his life. ”He doesn’t like her one bit, but Yu Lina’s family has some influence, so you should be careful. But the Captain is very capable, too. He’ll protect you.”

Han Xiaorui chuckled. ’He’s really treating me like a friend now.’ ”No need. I can protect myself. Thank you for telling me this, Yupeng.”

Chen Yupeng scratched the tip of his nose. ”In that case, could you not tell the Captain? If he finds out, he’ll probably think I’m being a busybody.”

Han Xiaorui laughed heartily. ”I won’t tell. You’re just looking out for him. If you hadn’t said anything, he—being the tight-lipped gourd he is—never would have told me himself.”

”Alright, you should get back to work. I’m going to visit Ye Feng in a bit to bring him some peaches.”

Chen Yupeng smiled and waved. ”Goodbye, Xiao Han.”

Watching the van drive away, Chen Yupeng felt happy for his Captain. Such a strong and charismatic woman liked their lone, proud Captain.

’His Captain is such a good person; he deserves to be happy!’

Passing by the Nanyang Law Firm, Han Xiaorui dropped off a basket of peaches and happened to run into Chen Nanyang, who was just coming out.

”What a coincidence. I just tried calling you, but I couldn’t get through.” Seeing the peaches, Chen Nanyang quickly grabbed two and washed them. ”Wu Cuicui called me. I just finished up with something and was about to head to the hospital.”

Han Xiaorui smiled. ”I’m the one who gave her your card. It’s mainly about a lawsuit for my former father-in-law, so it has nothing to do with me. Just do your best. I was just dropping off some peaches. Anyway, I’m off. Call me if anything comes up.”

”Alright, I understand.” After finishing his peach, Chen Nanyang walked out with Han Xiaorui.

Chen Nanyang went to the hospital to meet with Wu Cuicui, Yang Jianguo, and Yang Zhigang.

Han Xiaorui had Song Sixth drive to the Xu Mansion.

Song Sixth stopped the van and looked at the surrounding buildings, sighing with emotion. ”Back in the day, this was where all the big capitalists of Old Shencheng City lived. My grandfather and my father used to pull rickshaws here. I never thought I’d be following in their footsteps, still a driver.”

Hearing this, Han Xiaorui smiled and said, ”Uncle Six, driving might be hard work, but it’s also a skilled trade. And your kids are making you proud. Daquan is learning to drive, Erquan is learning to cook, and Sanying gets good grades, always ranking first in her class. It’s good to have money, but isn’t it even better to have promising, down-to-earth children?”

”Yes, yes, you’re right!” Song Sixth beamed, amused by Han Xiaorui’s words.

Han Xiaorui was still smiling, but her tone turned a bit serious. ”Especially Yingzi. I heard just the other day that Sanying’s maternal grandmother thinks that since Sanying’s a girl, she doesn’t need so much schooling and should quit to go work and earn money.”

”Uncle Six, the old woman has bound feet; she’s from the old feudal way of thinking. You can’t think like that. It’s not like your family can’t afford it. Besides, shouldn’t whoever is capable of studying be the one to do it?”

Song Sixth didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ”Sanying has two younger brothers, so her grandma wants her to drop out of school. But I shut that down. Xiao Rui, you’re right. Studying really depends on talent. I tried to make Daquan and Erquan study, but it just wouldn’t sink in.”

”So what if she’s a girl? Does being a girl mean she’s not my child? I’d rather work harder myself, drive more, just to keep Sanying in school. When she has a bright future, is she not going to be a filial daughter to the two of us?”

A look of approval appeared in Han Xiaorui’s eyes. ”Uncle Six, that’s the right way to think. This is a new society now; women can achieve great things in any field. If you’re ever under real financial pressure, just let me know.”

Sixth Uncle Song waved his hand. ”Xiao Rui, thank you. But your Aunt Six and I can manage. Thanks to you, our family’s income has increased, and life is better.”

Even though Han Xiaorui was willing to help, Song Sixth wouldn’t let her.

Everyone knew Han Xiaorui was wealthy and capable, but you couldn’t just run to her for help with every little thing.

’Once you use up a favor, it’s gone for good.’

’You save a friendship like this for a hurdle you truly can’t overcome. When they lend a hand then, you get past the crisis. That’s when it truly matters.’

”Uncle Six, drive safe, and please deliver the remaining basket of peaches to Lingling and Wenwen.” Han Xiaorui thanked him and had Sixth Uncle Song help her unload the peaches.

”Got it,” Sixth Uncle Song acknowledged, then drove away.

After waving goodbye to Sixth Uncle Song, Han Xiaorui rang the doorbell.

The door opened quickly. Uncle Xu’s eyes lit up when he saw Han Xiaorui. ”Xiao Han, please come in.”

Han Xiaorui pointed to the peaches. ”Uncle Xu, these are peaches from my family’s Peach Garden. I brought them for everyone to try.”

Uncle Xu, who was in his fifties, swallowed hard at the sight of the rosy red peaches. ”These are Shencheng’s famous honey peaches, aren’t they? They’re beautiful!”

Uncle Xu bent down to move the basket, and Han Xiaorui moved to help carry the other side.

”Xiao Han, don’t! I’ll get it,” Uncle Xu protested. ’This is the young master’s girlfriend! How can I let her do heavy lifting?’

Han Xiaorui laughed heartily, poised and graceful. ”Uncle Xu, it’ll be lighter if we each take a side. This basket is very heavy.”

Unable to dissuade her, Uncle Xu could only move the peaches together with Han Xiaorui. ’No wonder the young master likes her,’ he thought. ’She’s not just beautiful, but also warm and generous.’

Just as Uncle Xu was about to praise Han Xiaorui, he suddenly saw someone approaching outside and quickly shut the door. He couldn’t let that person in.