The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 277: Chapter 277: So Charming

Faced with Han Xiaorui’s casual attitude, Kuno Hiroo had no choice but to accept it.

What choice did he have? The ornamental fish from Jinshan Bay were just that popular.

Of all the projects he managed personally, many were profitable, but none were as lucrative or had as much potential as the Jinshan Bay ornamental fish business.

He used to think Japan’s ornamental fish breeding techniques were highly advanced, but after seeing Jinshan Bay’s operation, Kuno Hiroo could only marvel. ’There’s always someone better out there.’

’The Hua Country people are truly brilliant, and their culture is just so captivating.’

’Given the slightest opportunity, they thrive.’

’That old codger, Yamamoto Yoshihiko... his ancestors made off with plenty of good things from Hua Country, including ornamental fish.’

’After breeding them for a while, they started claiming they had developed the varieties themselves.’

’Now, he’d bought some fish from her shop to take back and study. When he couldn’t replicate them, he resorted to underhanded methods—theft.’

’But he didn’t expect to run into such a tough opponent. Not only did the theft fail, but he lost a son-in-law in the process.’

Yamamoto Yoshihiko only had one daughter, and Yamamoto Ichiro was the son-in-law who had married into the family.

’Now that his son-in-law is out of the picture, the old man is probably frantic.’

’Still, I can understand,’ Kuno Hiroo thought. ’After all, the Yamamoto family hasn’t produced a new variety of ornamental fish in a very long time.’

’Yamamoto Yoshihiko wanted the best products but also wanted to protect his reputation. His indecisiveness was what allowed me to snatch up the distribution rights for Jinshan Bay’s fish.’

’It’s a shame the contract term was so short. Now, that gives Han Xiaorui all the leverage.’

’Han Xiaorui really is something else. No wonder she and Ye Feng are a couple!’

He had to admit, Han Xiaorui had earned his respect.

Back at the guesthouse, Han Xiaorui called Ye Feng.

”Ye Feng, they caught Yamamoto Ichiro?” Han Xiaorui asked. ”Can they throw the book at him?”

Ye Feng replied, ”People are already starting to pull strings for Yamamoto Ichiro, but I have no intention of backing down. He will definitely be punished severely.”

”Also, I just called Brother Jianguo. He’s going to the relevant authorities tomorrow to raise a stink. If we make it a big enough deal, no one will dare go easy on him.”

Han Xiaorui smiled, pursing her lips. ”That’s right. They can’t compete fairly, so they resort to dirty tricks. Do they think this is still the era of the Eight-Nation Alliance, when they could bully us however they pleased?”

Hearing Han Xiaorui’s indignant voice, Ye Feng chuckled and asked, ”How’s the exhibition?”

Han Xiaorui’s face lit up. ”It’s going great! Once the exhibition is over, they’re arranging a train for everyone to go to Shencheng to tour the factory.”

”It looks like we’ve secured buyers for the output from the new farm. We won’t have to worry about not being able to sell it.”

Ye Feng smiled and nodded. ”In that case, congratulations on making a fortune.”

”It’s our joy,” Han Xiaorui laughed. ”I’m leaving things at home to you. I’ll head back as soon as I’m done here.”

Ye Feng’s voice was gentle. ”Don’t worry about home. I just got back from having dinner with Pingping and An’an. Wu Jiao is taking great care of them.”

”At kindergarten, Sister Cai is looking after them, and they’re doing great. And after school, Sister-in-law Xiao Yu will bring Wenjun over to play.”

Han Xiaorui smiled. ”Okay. With you at home, I don’t have to worry.”

After hanging up, Han Xiaorui was in a cheerful mood. She returned to her room, took a shower, and quickly fell asleep.

「The next day at the exhibition.」

Kuno Hiroo arrived very early. He started from the first booth and stopped when he saw the one for Han Xiaorui’s company.

’I have to admit, her ornamental fish still have the most variety and the most beautiful colors.’

’No wonder Han Xiaorui is so confident!’

’That’s just how it was. Han Xiaorui had plenty of customers; high-quality goods never have trouble finding a buyer.’

Han Xiaorui was in the middle of introducing her fish. When she saw Kuno Hiroo, she simply gave him a nod.

’An old customer, and my distributor at that.’

’Whether I cater to him or not won’t make much of a difference.’

Besides, Kuno Hiroo had tried to throw his weight around as an importer just yesterday. Han Xiaorui had no intention of indulging him.

Yu Zhenxing, however, greeted Kuno Hiroo warmly, but Han Xiaorui quickly called him over to help a foreign buyer who had just arrived.

Left unattended, Kuno Hiroo didn’t get angry. He just smiled and looked around the booth.

’Just as I thought, there are several new varieties.’ Kuno Hiroo examined them closely.

’These new varieties are stunning. I have to add them to my next order.’

When Kuno Hiroo’s gaze fell upon a fish tank in the very center, his pupils suddenly contracted.

The tank was meticulously arranged with shallow aquatic plants and unusually shaped yet elegant miniature rockeries.

Several black-and-white fish swam around the rockery. Their long, flowing tails drifted through the water like scattered clouds.

What was most remarkable was the black-and-white color scheme. The black patches around the eyes, in particular, immediately made him think of a panda.

He could read Chinese characters.

His gaze fell on the name of the variety: Panda Butterfly Tail.

’It’s just as I thought; the coloring really does resemble a panda’s.’

’It’s absolutely beautiful!’

As a Sinophile, Kuno Hiroo had a deep affection for all things from Hua Country.

He adored pandas, and he was certain that many people back in Japan felt the same way.

’They might look down on Hua Country’s development and its economy, but no one ever dares to look down on its culture.’

’After all, Japan has spent over a thousand years learning from Hua Country. They’ve taken so many things, yet no one would ever dare claim to have completely mastered Hua Country’s culture.’

’Hua Country’s culture is too ancient, too splendid, and too rich. The more you study it, the more captivated you become, and that captivation turns to reverence.’

’Take this Panda Butterfly Tail, for example. Why can Hua Country breed it, when Japan can’t?’

’Is it simply because Hua Country is vast and resource-rich?’

’Of course not!’

’It is the result of countless brilliant Hua Country people constantly delving into their work, the fruit of their tireless efforts.’

Han Xiaorui caught sight of Kuno Hiroo’s expression out of the corner of her eye and chuckled to herself.

”Mr. Kuno, if you could please step aside, I need to introduce our newest variety, the Panda Butterfly Tail, to this customer.”

Hearing this, Kuno Hiroo moved to block the tank completely.

”Ms. Han, I’m your customer too! I want to order the Panda Butterfly Tail.”

Kuno Hiroo spoke in Chinese, not wanting the Westerner to understand what he was saying.

Han Xiaorui nodded. ”Of course. But right now, I need to give my new customer an introduction.”

”Their numbers are extremely limited, so this is just a display model. Mr. Kuno, even if you stand in front of the tank, you can’t buy them right now.”

This made Kuno even more agitated. ”You must fulfill my order first!”

At this, the American man was not pleased.

Although he couldn’t understand Chinese, he could tell from Kuno Hiroo’s body language that the ornamental fish in the tank were definitely very rare.

He took a step to the side and saw the Panda Butterfly Tails in the tank.

”My god, I’ve never seen a fish like this before! I want to buy it!” said Louis. ”Pandas are incredibly popular in my country, too, and this fish is just so elegant!”

As their voices grew louder, a crowd started to gather.

With so many people staring at him, Kuno Hiroo felt awkward and had no choice but to step aside.

All eyes turned to the black-and-white Panda Butterfly Tails in the tank, and murmurs of admiration filled the air.

(The Panda Butterfly Tails are so beautiful, I can’t help but post a picture.)