The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 180: Chapter 180: Xiao Dai Is Here Again

Master Zhao froze, completely stunned.

A great man once said that women hold up half the sky.

Master Zhao had lived through the era of ”every citizen a soldier,” where women learned to shoot rifles and even operate artillery.

But when it came to driving, men usually had the upper hand.

But from the looks of it today, society was progressing, and so were the women.

”Ms. Han, Ms. Wu, you’re both excellent students. However, the rules state you need a certain number of hours before you can take the test. I can be flexible and not make you practice for the full time when you come, but you do need to show up regularly.”

Han Xiaorui nodded. ”That’s fine. We’ll follow the rules. But when the weather’s good, I have to be out at sea fishing. I can only come practice when I’m back on shore. Would that be all right?”

Coach Zhao nodded quickly. ”Yes, of course. I’m almost always here, so you can practice whenever you come by. If I’m not around, just look for Coach Wu.”

”Alright, we’ll practice a bit more then.” Han Xiaorui couldn’t wait to ride a motorcycle. ’It’s so much faster than a bike, and you look so cool wearing a helmet.’

Wu Jiao was thrilled too. Back in her hometown, she never even got a chance to drive a tractor, let alone a motorcycle. ”Sister Xiao Rui, once we get our licenses, does that mean we can ride motorcycles?”

Han Xiaorui nodded. ”That’s right. As soon as we get our licenses, I’ll go buy them, and we can ride them straight home.”

”Awesome! We should be able to get our licenses in about two months,” Wu Jiao said with a smile. ”Getting around will be so much easier then.”

After leaving the driving school, Han Xiaorui and Wu Jiao hailed a three-wheeled taxi to go home.

There was a bus, but Han Xiaorui figured the wait would be too long to be worth it. ’After all, for someone who makes hundreds of thousands on a single fishing trip, there’s no reason to stress over a little bit of money.’

’If even people with my kind of income are too stingy to spend, how are people who earn less supposed to make money from the wealthy?’

’Her philosophy was simple: earn it and spend it.’

They passed a food market on the way and bought a lot of groceries.

’We’re heading out to sea tomorrow, so let’s eat well today and enjoy being home.’

「The next morning」

Han Xiaorui said goodbye to her family and boarded the boat once more.

This time, Yang Zhigang didn’t come aboard. Captain Qi was still with them, following Han Xiaorui’s lead.

After the massive hauls from the last two trips, Captain Qi was more than willing to cooperate.

Han Xiaorui was happy to have two boats traveling together for added safety.

’If something really went wrong with the boat, she’d rather abandon it than risk the lives of her and her crew.’

They sailed across the vast ocean, riding the wind and cresting the waves.

To Han Xiaorui, the boat’s rocking felt like a gently swaying cradle, rhythmic and comfortable.

The crew, long accustomed to the motion, remained unfazed.

A seabird soared overhead, skimmed the surface of the water, and snatched a fish from the depths before powerfully beating its wings to climb high into the sky, its hunt complete.

Chen Yishui came over with an enamel mug filled with iced peach juice. ”Xiao Rui, Huamei just made this. Have some.”

Han Xiaorui turned and was greeted by the rich, inviting aroma of peaches. Her eyes lit up with appreciation. ”This looks amazing. Thanks, Sister Shui. Did everyone get some?”

”Yes. I just told Huamei we’d be pulling in the nets in half an hour and asked her to make a refreshing drink for everyone,” Chen Yishui said with a smile. ”By the way, on the last trip, Sister Tang’s net had that Yellowlip Fish, which had the highest price per fish. You mentioned a special reward for whoever netted the most valuable fish, right? You didn’t forget, did you?”

Han Xiaorui tapped her forehead. ”I didn’t forget! It’s in my bag. I’ll go get it as soon as I finish this juice.”

Hearing that Han Xiaorui had it ready, Chen Yishui smiled. ”The high commission we’re getting has already boosted everyone’s morale. You really don’t need to give out these little rewards, you know.”

Han Xiaorui shook her head. ”No, they’re important. These little prizes might not be worth much money, but they’re useful and fun. The open sea can get pretty monotonous, so it’s nice to have something to liven things up.”

”Even if we could haul a TV onto the boat, we wouldn’t get any reception. And once we’re in international waters, the only radio stations we’d pick up would be in foreign languages nobody understands.”

’Yang Zhigang had reminded her several times that a boat owner shouldn’t be stingy. If you’re generous and treat your crew with sincerity, they’ll give you their all in return.’

Chen Yishui sighed with admiration. ”Xiao Rui, you’re so thoughtful.”

Han Xiaorui smiled. ”I just try to see things from their perspective. I want everyone who works for me to make good money, take their jobs seriously, and protect my interests. That’s all that matters.”

”That way, when they eventually leave or retire, they’ll have more than just a good salary to remember—they’ll have fond memories, too.”

After finishing her juice, Han Xiaorui took the enamel mug to the galley. She then returned to her cabin and pulled three gift certificates for a seafood buffet from her bag.

The crew came out on deck to get ready.

Sister Tang was among them.

Han Xiaorui handed the certificates to Sister Tang. ”Sister Tang, on our last trip, you were the one who netted the most valuable fish. This little gift is for you. When we’re back on shore, take your two kids into the city to have some fun, and then go eat at this place.”

”You can eat whatever you want with these—it’s on me. And if you’re not big on seafood, they have lots of cakes and desserts that the kids will love.”

Sister Tang’s husband had died from alcohol poisoning after drinking counterfeit liquor, leaving her to raise their two children alone.

Sister Tang froze. ’I thought the boss had forgotten all about it!’

A smile spread across Sister Tang’s face. She quickly wiped her hands on her apron before accepting the certificates. ”Thank you, Boss.”

Afraid of getting them wet, she rushed to put them safely in her bag.

The others looked on with envy, but they all knew it was just the boss’s way of keeping things fun and spirits high.

Rather than just being envious, they looked forward to their own turn at the nets, hoping they’d be the one to pull in the most valuable fish this time.

The net was hauled up. A tan-faced woman, whose turn it was, began to work it open. SLOSH! Fish tumbled out onto the deck.

They were a dull, unappealing gray.

When everyone got a clear look at the fish, their faces fell in disappointment. It was a net full of chub mackerel, also known as Pacific mackerel. They were a common commercial fish in the waters around China, Japan, and Korea.

It’s a food high in protein, low in fat, and easily absorbed by the body. It also contains EPA and DHA, which help dilate blood vessels, act as an anticoagulant, nourish brain cells, promote growth, and are beneficial for preventing cardiovascular disease.

It has a sweet flavor and is considered a nourishing food that strengthens the body.

The flesh is firm and the price is low. The only downside is its strong fishy smell, so it’s usually pan-fried or grilled with heavy spices.

”Ugh, this stuff is worthless,” a crew member grumbled, their tone disdainful. It seemed the entire haul was a letdown.

Chen Yishui didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ”Look at how spoiled you’ve all gotten! This net is over two thousand kilograms. Even at one yuan per half-kilo, that’s still four or five thousand yuan. Now hurry up and stop dawdling! Get to sorting. The bigger ones are still worth a bit more, the small ones are cheap.”

The previous trips had spoiled the crew, raising their expectations.

Han Xiaorui remained silent, heading to the bow of the boat to look out at the water.

’Will Xiao Dai show up again?’

’And if it does, what surprise will it bring me this time?’

As if on cue, the slightly cross-eyed head of Xiao Dai popped out of the water. Han Xiaorui could have sworn the dolphin was grinning at her.