The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 207: Chapter 207: Hiring at a High Price

Professor Wang looked embarrassed and bitter. ”Sigh, laymen leading experts... it’s so frustrating. They’re withholding my salary, but I can hold on for a bit. My wife has a job, so at least we have food on the table.”

”But if the funding doesn’t get approved, I can’t continue my research. I’ll have no choice but to go back to the university and teach, just spouting theories from a textbook.”

After hearing this, Han Xiaorui thought for a moment. ”Professor Wang, I’ve leased several islands off the coast of Jinshan Bay to farm seafood. How about I hire you to be our aquaculture consultant?”

”Research is research, no matter where you do it. You can conduct your studies at my farm. I’ll provide the funding and the facility. My only requirement is that you monitor the condition of the stock and resolve any issues that come up promptly.”

The fact that Professor Wang had resisted pressure from his superiors to let her take the little dolphin told Han Xiaorui that he was a man of his word.

The little dolphin let Professor Wang pet its head, but it wouldn’t let anyone else at the institute do so. This was a clear sign that the professor had cared for it meticulously and earned its trust.

’Aquaculture will be a major industry in the future,’ she thought. ’I’m just getting a head start.’

Hearing this, Professor Wang was taken aback. ”Comrade Xiao Han, research is incredibly expensive, and it might not generate any financial returns in the short term.”

Han Xiaorui smiled. ”I’m patient. Once we develop high-quality fry, we can make an income just by selling them.”

”That Director Liu from earlier is clearly not someone to be trifled with. Staying here would be a waste of your time. Why don’t you go back to teaching at the university while also conducting your research at my facility? It would be a perfect combination of theory and practice.”

”By the way, Professor Wang, what’s your salary here?”

Professor Wang answered, ”It’s a little over two hundred yuan a month, all included. I’ve even stopped teaching my classes at the university for this research.”

Han Xiaorui was slightly taken aback. ’A professor’s salary isn’t very high, huh.’

Han Xiaorui smiled. ”Professor Wang, I’ll pay you three hundred yuan a month, and I’ll cover all expenses. As for your assistants, I’ll pay one hundred a month to those who can work independently, and eighty a month to those who can’t.”

”You can still teach at the university while you’re conducting research. I won’t interfere with that. I’ve leased a large sea area and tidal flats. You can take your team there to survey the area and plan what to cultivate. I don’t know anything about aquaculture, so I’ll rely on your advice.”

When Professor Wang heard he would get a salary of three hundred yuan and could still teach at the university, he realized he could make a total of five hundred yuan a month.

’That’s a huge salary!’

’If I save for two years, I can buy a house for my kid and they can move out. The whole family won’t have to be crammed into one house anymore.’

”Alright. I’ve heard about you, and I accept your offer. Director Liu can’t stand me and won’t give me funding anyway. I’m just wasting my time here.”

”I’ll resign right away and leave with my assistants. I’m done being mistreated here.”

Han Xiaorui smiled. ”Okay. Once you’ve settled things here, head to Jinshan Bay and find Yang Jianguo. I’ll be out at sea, but he can help take care of things for me.”

”I also have a small boat, and there are people in the village who can operate it. I’ll arrange for someone to take you to inspect the leased sites. If your assistants have any doubts, I can draw up a contract with you.”

”We’ll finalize the salary and benefits to put everyone’s mind at ease. I, Han Xiaorui, am serious about this aquaculture venture; these aren’t just empty words.”

”I have the means and the sincerity to invite you to join my seafood farming enterprise.”

Professor Wang let out a huge sigh of relief. He knew that Han Xiaorui earned hundreds of thousands of yuan in revenue each time she went out to sea.

’She has more money than our entire research institute. It’ll be great to work on my own research while helping her solve her aquaculture problems.’

’Combining theory with practice yields better results.’

”Alright, it’s settled. You can head out to sea tomorrow without any worries. I’ll take this time to talk with my assistants. If they’re willing to follow me, we can sign the contract when you return.”

Han Xiaorui nodded. ”Okay!”

After looking at the marine life at the institute, the group took a taxi to lunch.

It was Han Xiaorui’s treat.

After eating, they went to have fun at Jinjiang Park, which had just opened that year.

The amusement park was a paradise for the children.

Pingping and An’an grew more energetic, and Han Xiaorui accompanied her two daughters on every single ride they could go on.

Yang Minmin was a bit older, and Han Xiaoqing stuck close to her, keeping her safe.

The weather was hot, so they ate ice cream bars.

Everyone got one. Each lick and bite was cool and refreshing.

Mianmian was too little and could only lick her bar, unable to bite into it. She grew anxious. ”I want to eat it! Mommy, I want to eat the ice cream!”

It was Wu Jiao and Wu Yao’s first time at an amusement park, so they made sure to ask Han Xiaorui to take photos for them.

The adults and children all created memories there, captured in photos of their youthful, happy smiles.

The children didn’t care that they were drenched in sweat or getting tanned by the sun.

Chen Yupeng got off work and came over to pick up his wife and child.

Han Xiaorui took her children home in a taxi. They had played so hard that they all fell asleep as soon as they got in the car.

Han Xiaorui held Pingping, and Han Xiaoqing held An’an. Minmin, who was sitting beside them, had also fallen asleep, leaning against Han Xiaorui.

It was the same in the other taxi, where Liang Xiaoyu was holding a sleeping Cai Wenjun.

And so, a wonderful day came to an end.

Han Xiaorui took Yang Minmin home. That evening, she spoke with Yang Jianguo, asking him to host Professor Wang and find an old fisherman to show the professor the areas she had leased.

’Even though I have a superpower, I still have to respect the laws of nature.’

’I can’t use my superpower for everything.’

’Especially with aquaculture. It needs to be scientific.’

The next day, Han Xiaorui took the children, gathered her crew, and set out to sea.

After several days of rain and high winds, the sea had calmed down again.

The sea breeze was gentle, and the waves were low.

It was the perfect time for fishermen to be at sea.

Two large ships pulled away from the dock, heading for the deep sea.

Not long after they boarded, the radio crackled to life.

It was a call from Yang Zhigang.

”Xiao Rui, that reef—the one rich with scallops, oysters, and sea cucumbers—the location was definitely leaked by someone on my boat! You could even say he sold the information!”

Han Xiaorui was curious. ”Who was it? Uncle Yang, you’re always so generous with your people. Who would do something like that?”

’That area was so abundant. Now that other people know about it, it’s probably been picked clean.’

Yang Zhigang replied, ”It was Cao Jun, my army buddy’s son! After I confirmed it, I personally went to his father and explained the situation.”

”I can’t allow someone like that on my crew; otherwise, how could I ever manage my employees in the future? Even though Cao Jun was crying his eyes out, saying he only blabbed because he couldn’t resist the temptation to make money for his own boat.”

Han Xiaorui sighed. ”That young man, Cao Jun, is too clever for his own good. If he wanted to buy a boat, he could have taken out a loan or even asked to borrow money from you.”

Yang Zhigang agreed completely. ”That’s right. He could have borrowed from me. For his father’s sake, I would have lent him some.”

”But he’s the kind of person who, despite having perfectly legitimate options, chooses to take a crooked path. I can’t dare to employ someone with such a corrupt character.”