The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 283: Chapter 283: The Leaders’ Care

After resting for a bit on the train, Han Xiaorui made a point of going to greet her clients.

The cars for the Chinese nationals on the special train were separate from those for the foreign guests.

Han Xiaorui chatted enthusiastically with everyone in fluent, colloquial English, introducing them to Shencheng.

Her language was mostly conversational rather than formal, which made communication very easy.

The foreigners could understand her perfectly.

Sometimes, with overly formal language, foreigners had to listen carefully and take a moment to process it.

After all, much of the foreign language education in Hua Country at the time came with a heavy accent.

If the foreigners didn’t listen closely, they sometimes couldn’t understand.

But conversational language was different. Paired with tone and a bit of body language, they understood instantly.

A government official next to Director Chen looked surprised.

”Director Chen, is that the owner of the Jinshan Bay Ornamental Fish Farm? I didn’t expect her English to be so good.”

Director Chen smiled. ”She’s a student from one of Shencheng’s best universities. Of course she’s smart.”

”Plus, she’s been dealing with these foreign merchants for several months since participating in the Shencheng exhibition, so she has plenty of experience.”

”The Jinshan Bay Farm has a lot of clients this time! Although the initial orders aren’t large, as long as we can prove the fish can arrive at their destinations safely, there will definitely be many more orders in the future.”

Director Wang nodded. ”That’s excellent. The prices for those ornamental fish are truly astounding.”

”Before we came to the trade fair, our superiors stressed that we must secure more orders and earn more foreign exchange, at all costs.”

Sometimes, they even had to export at a loss.

Director Chen reflected on this. He was on the verge of a promotion himself.

This Yue Province trade fair was crucial, and he placed great importance on the Jinshan Bay Ornamental Fish Farm.

”Who isn’t? We at Eastern International Trade are under tremendous pressure to earn foreign exchange.”

”After all, the entire country needs foreign exchange to import technology, purchase foreign machinery and equipment, and improve ourselves.”

Just then, Han Xiaorui came over and handed Director Chen a box of pastries from Guangdong. ”Director Chen, you’ve worked hard!”

Director Chen smiled. ”It’s nothing! This is our job. Your Jinshan Bay Ornamental Fish Farm did very well this time. When you get back, keep up the steady progress and continue the great work.”

Han Xiaorui nodded. ”I will!”

Director Chen pondered for a moment. ”If the new facility is put into use and still can’t meet the shipment volume, don’t hesitate to request an expansion of the farm’s scale from the higher-ups.”

Han Xiaorui was slightly taken aback by his words. ”There isn’t much usable land left around the ornamental fish farm!”

Director Chen chuckled. ”Not much means there’s still some! And even if there isn’t, we can always carry out demolitions and relocations.”

”We can resettle the villagers elsewhere. They won’t be short-changed, so some should be willing.”

By now, many people had already tasted the sweet benefits of relocation compensation. As long as the money was right, no one would really object.

”Thank you, Director Chen,” Han Xiaorui said gratefully. ”But we are implementing three-dimensional aquaculture now, which will maximize our use of space.”

”This means the farm’s output will far exceed previous numbers, so it should be enough to meet the demand!”

Director Chen nodded. ”I expect more leaders will visit your farm later on.”

”As long as you raise the fish well, our company will handle all the subsequent work. If you encounter any difficulties, you can bring them to us or to the local government.”

Right now, everyone from the top down was advocating for a shift to a service-oriented mindset, for reform and opening up, and for attracting more foreign investment.

The old bureaucratic way of handling government affairs could no longer meet the needs of economic development; it had to transform into a service-oriented model.

Bold experiments in this area had already begun.

Director Chen’s words put Han Xiaorui at ease.

Even if they didn’t need to expand the farm this year, they might need to next year.

The special train didn’t stop along the way, nor did it yield the tracks to other trains, so it traveled very quickly.

It reached Shencheng half a day faster than their trip coming down.

The foreign merchants were taken directly to hotels designated for foreigners by local government staff.

Han Xiaorui, on the other hand, appeared at the train station loaded with bags of all sizes.

Ye Feng had come to pick her up personally, and surprisingly, Pingping, An’an, and Yang Minmin were in the back seat.

It turned out to be the weekend, so the children didn’t have school.

Ye Feng had driven to pick them up and came straight to the train station to wait for Han Xiaorui.

Wu Lingling and the other staff members rented a medium-sized truck right at the train station.

They would follow the truck with all their things back to Jinsha Bay.

”Auntie Xiao Rui, did you bring us any presents?” Yang Minmin asked with a grin, her heart full of anticipation.

Han Xiaorui always brought them gifts when she came back from a business trip—new and exciting things she had never seen before.

”Mommy, presents,” Pingping and An’an chimed in, as if prompted, quickly asking their mother for gifts too.

Han Xiaorui had no time at all during this business trip, but she was sure Wu Lingling must have bought something.

”Yes, but they’re all with your little auntie! There was so much stuff that she rented a truck and is taking it all back with the staff.”

”After we get home and sort through everything, I’ll hand out the presents. Don’t be so anxious now, we’ll talk when we get home.”

”Pingping, An’an, Mommy’s been away for a few days. Have you two been good?”

Pingping and An’an nodded repeatedly. ”We were! Ask Daddy.”

Ye Feng smiled. ”Pingping and An’an have indeed been very good and obedient! Their teacher at kindergarten taught them how to write, and they can already write their own names.”

Han Xiaorui looked surprised and turned to her two daughters. ”Really?”

”Really!” Pingping nodded. ”I can write it!”

”Me too!” An’an pulled a piece of paper from her pocket and handed it to her mother.

Han Xiaorui took it and looked at it carefully in her hand.

The surname at the beginning, Han, had many strokes and was written especially large.

However, the names ”Pingping” and ”An’an” that followed were relatively simple and written quite neatly.

On the way, Han Xiaorui encouraged Pingping and An’an, and also asked Yang Minmin about her studies and life.

The small car filled with laughter and cheerful chatter, washing away Han Xiaorui’s exhaustion.

Not long after they got home, Wu Lingling brought over the things Han Xiaorui had asked her to buy—two huge bags full.

”There are a few kids’ digital watches in here, plus some toys and clothes!”

Han Xiaorui was delighted when she saw them. ”The kids were just asking me for presents. I was so busy I didn’t have time to buy anything. Thank goodness you helped me out.”

Wu Lingling smiled. ”We were both on a business trip, but you were much busier and more tired than us! Anything you might not have thought of, if I could think of it, I took care of it for you!”

”I bought some clothes for Xiao Jing, Wu Jiao, and Wu Yao based on their sizes, and also some aviator sunglasses.”

”You’ve worked hard. You should go home and rest, spend some time with your elders.” Han Xiaorui thanked her and began to distribute the gifts.

Yang Minmin received an exquisite digital watch from Auntie Xiao Rui, and then got another one from her little auntie, instantly feeling very rich.

Wu Jiao and Wu Yao were also ecstatic. They put on the trench coats and jeans, added the aviator sunglasses, and looked incredibly cool.

Only after everything was settled did Ye Feng begin to tell Han Xiaorui about the surprise brought by the fishing boat.