The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 282: Chapter 282: So Many Feng Shui Fish

Han Xiaorui looked surprised by Mr. Zhao’s words. ”You’re right, sir. The nation’s fortunes are on the rise. Besides turtles, what other fish have a role in Feng Shui?”

Seeing Han Xiaorui’s interest, Mr. Zhao smiled and said, ”Koi, especially high-quality specimens, are very popular. The carp leaping over the dragon gate—everyone knows that story.”

Han Xiaorui nodded with a smile. ”With their powerful swimming form, koi are high-end ornamental fish that are all the rage worldwide. They’re practically swimming works of art. The ancient legend of the carp leaping over the dragon gate symbolizes soaring to success and having a prosperous official career.”

The high price of koi, it must be said, is thanks to Japan’s knack for generating hype.

The koi bred at Han Xiaorui’s farm were now even more beautiful than those from Japan. Kuno Hiroo had already captured the high-end market of clients who believed in the power of koi.

Kuno Hiroo sold his fish at a high price, so Han Xiaorui’s prices were naturally high as well.

Mr. Zhao smiled. ”Besides koi, there are also goldfish. Red-Capped Orandas are especially popular. They’re also known as ’good fortune on your head.’ They have a red cap, a pure white, lustrous body, and a short, wide shape. The fish lives up to its name.”

”There’s also the all-black Black Moor. From a Feng Shui perspective, no matter how many goldfish you keep, you must have one black fish. Black corresponds to the element of water. The Black Moor is as black as ink, with well-developed tail fins. It’s been famous since ancient times.”

Han Xiaorui took notes. ”Besides goldfish, are there any others?”

Mr. Zhao listed them one by one. ”Of course. There’s the Golden Arowana and the Silver Arowana. If you add the Elephant-Nose Fish and raise them together, it symbolizes ’the dragon and phoenix bringing prosperity.’”

”As for ornamental datnoids, there are Siamese Tigers, Indonesian Tigers, and so on. They get their name from the stripes on their bodies and their dominant presence, which resembles a fierce tiger. Raising a datnoid with an arowana aligns with the Feng Shui pattern of ’sky dragon, earth tiger.’”

Even though Han Xiaorui didn’t believe in this stuff, she listened carefully.

People who could afford to hire someone for a Feng Shui consultation were generally wealthy.

Furthermore, when setting up a Feng Shui arrangement to change one’s luck or for other purposes, the items used certainly couldn’t be cheap.

Therefore, Han Xiaorui felt there was great potential in these ornamental fish with Feng Shui properties. As long as the quality was good, the prices could be quite substantial.

Han Xiaorui followed Mr. Zhao to look at the adjacent property. It was indeed a good location for an ornamental fish store.

”Mr. Zhao, I see your sincerity. Next, shall we discuss the distribution contract? Do you have time?”

Mr. Zhao nodded repeatedly. ”Yes, of course I do. Come, let’s talk in my office.”

After more than an hour of negotiations, the terms of the contract were mostly settled.

The ornamental fish from the exhibition, with the exception of the Panda Butterfly-tails, would all be sold to Mr. Zhao at a set price.

The Panda Butterfly-tails involved many foreign clients, so Han Xiaorui wouldn’t budge.

Mr. Zhao had no choice. ”Well, when you have more in the future, you must ship them to me.”

Han Xiaorui nodded. ”Of course, Mr. Zhao. Also, when you design your storefront sign, you must use our design and include our name, ’Jinshan Bay Ornamental Fish’—those four words.”

Mr. Zhao agreed. ”That’s fine. Your ’Jinshan Bay Ornamental Fish’ is already famous here. After all, not just any fish can sell for one thousand dollars apiece.”

Han Xiaorui smiled. ”Scarcity creates value; that’s just a law of the market. We won’t be taking any of this with us. Once you’ve finished renovations, you can just set up the tanks and the fish.”

”As for payment, we’ve already agreed: payment before delivery. For security, we generally ship by rail freight. When you receive the shipment, it’s best to have a good relationship with the local train station to make pickup easier.”

”After all, we’re dealing with live animals and fragile goods, not light industrial products. You must be careful.”

Mr. Zhao nodded. ”Understood. I know what to do.”

Han Xiaorui had not only found a distributor for herself, but Zhou Wei had also benefited by finding a new client.

Mr. Zhao invited Han Xiaorui to dinner, but she declined.

”There’s no need, Mr. Zhao. I still need to visit the local ornamental fish stores to buy the Golden Arowanas, Silver Arowanas, and Money Turtles you mentioned.”

Mr. Zhao didn’t offer to take Han Xiaorui, as it would be considered poaching business from the locals.

He was a local and saw these people all the time.

Han Xiaorui didn’t ask Mr. Zhao for an introduction either. She and Zhou Wei went straight to the local ornamental fish stores.

They were in a hurry and had no time to bargain, so they bought the Feng Shui aquatic creatures Mr. Zhao had mentioned at rather high prices.

After everything was packed up, they grabbed a quick bite at a small eatery outside and headed straight for the guesthouse.

When Wu Lingling returned with the others, it was almost two o’clock. Luckily, everything was already packed. Carrying bags of all sizes, they boarded the special charter train.

Once on the train, after stowing all their things, Wu Lingling finally let out a long sigh. ”I’m exhausted.”

Han Xiaorui handed Wu Lingling her water cup. ”Hurry and rest. Have some water! What did you all buy today?”

At this question, Wu Lingling was too excited to even drink, her face beaming.

”I bought 20 pairs of aviator sunglasses, 20 pairs of jeans in different sizes, a bunch of trench coats, and some nice leather shoes.”

”Oh, and I also bought a lot of digital watches, plus some of those puffer jackets and ski coats that came from abroad. Things are so cheap here! No wonder people source their goods here to sell back home.”

”It’s a bit tough, and there are inspections on the road, but the profits are really high.”

”If I hadn’t run out of money, I would’ve bought more. Anyway, we’re on a special charter train, so we probably won’t get inspected.”

”I have everything with me. I’ll give you an expense report when we get back and give you the things I bought for you.”

Han Xiaorui nodded. ”Good work!”

Wu Lingling shook her head, grinning from ear to ear. ”It was a little tiring, but it was a real eye-opener. I learned so much.”

”When I get back, I’m going to keep studying foreign languages to develop more clients.”

Han Xiaorui nodded in approval. ”Keep up the good work. If you produce results, I won’t treat you unfairly.”

Everyone started chattering at once, recounting their experiences shopping at the wholesale market.

Wu Lingling remarked, ”I just heard some people say they got ripped off buying things over there. We were lucky to have an insider show us the way.”

”Boss, if we come to the exhibition again in the future, can we ask Yao Ziqian for help again?”

Han Xiaorui nodded. ”Of course! His master is our distributor now. We’re partners.”

”If you come to the exhibition next time, he should be willing to help. But you’ll have to repay that favor yourself.”

Wu Lingling nodded. ”That’s great! We really owe it to Yao Ziqian this time. Not only did he help us bargain, but the shop owners didn’t dare to cheat us. They gave us all high-quality goods.”

”When I get back to Shencheng, I’ll find some of our local specialties and mail them to him to thank him for his help.”

”You can handle it as you see fit,” Han Xiaorui said with a nod. This was a personal matter between her employees, and she wouldn’t interfere too much.

Little did she know that a thread of fate, stretching a thousand miles, would lead to many more stories between Wu Lingling and Yao Ziqian.