The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 285: Chapter 285: Talking Money Hurts Feelings, Talking Feelings Costs Money

The foreign investors rested overnight and came directly by bus the next day.

The trip was arranged by the government, and Yu Zhenxing was on the bus, accompanying the foreign investors.

Han Xiaorui and Yang Jianguo were waiting at the factory. They took the visitors directly to the newly constructed and operational high-tech vertical aquaculture facility.

Inside, everyone wore blue work uniforms, hats, and masks, presenting a very professional image.

Professor Wang and Professor Li had also been invited by Han Xiaorui. The two gray-haired experts looked very convincing.

However, the two professors spoke Russian, not English, but their serious and scholarly demeanor was persuasive in itself.

It was then that they finally believed what Han Xiaorui had said at the previous exhibition was true—she hadn’t been lying.

The variety of fish here was indeed greater than what she had shown at the exhibition.

There, Han Xiaorui presented everyone with a catalog of their ornamental fish, compiled in a loose-leaf binder.

Each variety was assigned an item number. When placing an order, customers had to specify not only the English name but also the number.

Everyone who signed a contract received a copy of the catalog to make future orders easier.

Those who were just visiting and hadn’t placed an order yet were also given a brochure in the hope of future collaboration.

However, after touring the ornamental fish farm, most of those who hadn’t intended to buy anything ended up placing orders on the spot.

The ornamental fish farm completely changed their impression of Hua Country as being backward.

They realized Hua Country wasn’t backward in every respect. At least in the field of ornamental fish breeding, it had many strengths.

They were busy from Monday all the way through Thursday.

All the clients gradually departed, and the next step was for the farm to ship out the orders on schedule.

「Kuno Hiroo arrived.」

When Ye Feng heard Kuno Hiroo was in town, he invited him out for a meal.

”Hiroo, I owe you my thanks for this.” Ye Feng raised his glass to Kuno Hiroo.

Kuno Hiroo lifted his glass. ”No need for thanks. I benefited from it as well. And while I think Ms. Han is great, men in Hua Country tend to like gentle, submissive women. Don’t you find her a bit... intense?”

Ye Feng smiled. ”You’re worrying too much. We have a great relationship. As for her being ’intense,’ I don’t see it that way. She just sticks to her principles. Besides, she’s earned the right to be assertive, so why shouldn’t she be?”

”I’m looking for a life partner, not some meek little pet who just endures whatever comes her way. We can fight side-by-side and face risks together. Or would you rather have a partner who only drags you down and is completely useless when you hit rock bottom?”

Kuno Hiroo paused, mulling it over. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. ”Ye Feng, I see your point! To think that a powerful man like you is also attracted to powerful women!”

Ye Feng let out a wry laugh. ”You’re wrong. I like her because I love her. Whether she’s strong or weak, I’d love her all the same.”

”No,” Kuno Hiroo said, shaking his head. ”I’ve studied psychology. You were attracted to Ms. Han *because* she’s strong; that’s the quality that drew you in. If she were some meek, gentle woman, you wouldn’t have been attracted to her in the first place, so there’d be no ’love’ to speak of.”

”Be honest, Ye Feng. I know you just like you know me. You know, it’s been three months since I broke up with my last girlfriend, and I haven’t dated anyone. I see women who are my old ’type,’ and I just can’t get excited anymore. I think I might be attracted to powerful women, too.”

Ye Feng was exasperated. ”That’s your prerogative. I’m sure there are women like that in Japan; you just haven’t found one yet.”

Kuno Hiroo blinked. ”What do you think about me pursuing Ms. Han’s sister? You know, we have many great universities in Japan. I could invite her to come study there.”

Ye Feng froze for a moment. He thought of Han Xiaoqing, who was already in college, and shook his head with a laugh. ”No. Han Xiaoqing wouldn’t be interested in you.”

Kuno Hiroo was confused. ”Why not? I’m handsome, I’m rich, and I have businesses back in Japan. If she marries me, she’ll be set for life.”

Ye Feng chuckled. ”First of all, she’s not into foreigners. Second, Han Xiaoqing has suitors who are richer and better-looking than you. The prospect of studying abroad might appeal to other people, but it holds no attraction for Han Xiaoqing.”

”She gets excellent grades, works incredibly hard, and has a gift for languages. If she wanted to, she could get into any top university in the world on her own merit. Japan doesn’t really have a competitive edge in her eyes.”

Kuno Hiroo looked crestfallen. ”You’re being too polite, Ye Feng. When you say she’s ’not into foreigners,’ you really mean she’s not into Japanese people, don’t you?”

Ye Feng shook his head, a wry smile on his face. ”If you already know, why ask?”

Kuno Hiroo sighed. ”Alas, if I hadn’t studied the history after World War II, I might be able to say something like ’I hope you can all let go of the hatred and build a new future together.’ But I can’t bring myself to say it now. I suppose we’ll have to leave it to the future.”

”At least you’re still my friend. I hope we never have a conflict, and that a day of war never comes again.”

Ye Feng said in a solemn voice, ”Indeed. Leave it to the future, and to the people.”

Because Kuno Hiroo had intervened, Shencheng was not only able to purchase the same technology, but they also got it at a cheaper price than before, which got Han Xiaorui out of a tight spot.

Yamamoto Yoshihiko’s plan had failed. Not only did he fail to save his son-in-law, but he also cost his old friend his job.

They could have sold their outdated technology for a hefty price, but now Shencheng wasn’t buying. Without the funds to upgrade their systems, the other party’s development slowed to a crawl.

Kuno Hiroo came to the ornamental fish farm in person to pick up his order, which included a dozen or so precious varieties of butterfly tail goldfish, including the Panda Butterfly Tail, as well as other rare breeds.

The payment had already been received, so the fish were shipped directly by air freight.

Just as Kuno Hiroo was about to bid farewell to Han Xiaorui, he saw Han Xiaoqing arriving with a group of kindergarten children to see the ornamental fish.

Two teachers helped maintain order as the children, wearing little yellow hats and carrying small backpacks, stared wide-eyed at all the beautiful fish.

”Hello, Miss Han. I’m Kuno Hiroo. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” Despite Ye Feng’s warning, Kuno Hiroo took the initiative to greet Han Xiaoqing the moment he saw her.

’There’s a saying in Hua Country: to meet is to be fated.’

’Since fate has brought us together, I should take the initiative and give it a try,’ Kuno Hiroo thought. ’Who knows? It just might work.’

Han Xiaoqing offered a practiced, polite smile. ”Hello. I’m busy right now, excuse me.”

With that, Han Xiaoqing hurried to catch up with the children’s group, not sparing Kuno Hiroo a single glance.

Kuno Hiroo’s heart sank. He already knew Han Xiaoqing was beautiful, but seeing her in person today only piqued his interest further.

’Gentle, but with a sharp edge,’ he thought. ’Like a proud rose.’

Kuno Hiroo started to follow, but Han Xiaorui blocked his path.

”Mr. Kuno, our business is concluded. Aren’t you returning to your hotel?” Han Xiaorui frowned. Even though Kuno Hiroo was a friend, she didn’t like the way he was looking at her sister.

”Ms. Han, you might be causing your sister to miss out on a wonderful romance,” Kuno Hiroo explained. ”I’m a great catch. I can bring you all even more benefits. Our relationship could become much closer. Why not give me a chance?”

Han Xiaorui pulled a crisp, new US Dollar bill from her purse and waved it in front of Kuno Hiroo’s face.

”You said it yourself. It’s about benefits. It’s about ’money.’ So let’s not mix feelings into it. They say talking about money hurts relationships, and talking about relationships hurts money.”

”Love is fleeting, but our friendship and our mutual interests can be long-lasting. Please don’t do anything to jeopardize that.”