The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 397: Chapter 397: New Variety of Pearl Goldfish

Seeing the confusion on Han Xiaorui’s face, Kuno Hiroo quickly explained, ”I heard the seafood you farm here is quite delicious. Not only that, but your fish fry are excellent as well. I’d like to import some for our fish farmers back in Japan.”

Han Xiaorui was stunned. ”Fish fry? Farmed seafood? Japan needs to import seafood from us? We’ve visited seafood farms in Japan before; they’re very advanced. You shouldn’t need to import our fish fry.”

”By the way, how do you know my farmed seafood is tasty and my fry are high-quality? Do you have a mole on my farm? Kuno Hiroo, I’m warning you, don’t get any funny ideas.”

Seeing her misunderstanding, Kuno Hiroo gave an awkward smile. ”Ms. Han, you’re being overly sensitive and suspicious. I have a trading company in Shencheng, and my designated restaurant for hosting clients is Zhang Guangnan’s seafood restaurant.”

”My employees ate your farmed seafood there and told me it tastes better than what’s farmed back in Japan. While chatting with Zhang Guangnan, they learned that your farm not only raises seafood but also produces fish fry.”

”I really haven’t bribed anyone at your farm, you can rest assured. However, when you’re able to export the fish fry, you should apply for patents in China and Japan to prevent Japanese aquaculture organizations from registering it first.”

”That...” Han Xiaorui was taken aback. ”Isn’t that a bit too shameless?”

Kuno Hiroo was direct and didn’t beat around the bush. ”Morally, it is shameless, but in business, that’s just how it is. Whoever registers it first, owns it. If you export to Japan after that, you’ll have to pay royalties. If someone else files for an international patent and you don’t have a domestic patent to back you up, you’ll have no chance of winning a lawsuit. You’ll have to pay royalties when exporting to other countries, too.”

Hearing this, Han Xiaorui smiled smugly. ”No one can steal our techniques for breeding ornamental fish.”

”I know they can’t. Take the Yamamoto family, for example. They tried to steal your techniques, but they failed. Now they’re trying to apply for related patents, but I’ve blocked every attempt and even reported them for trying to preemptively register another’s patent.”

”I was able to do that because I found out in advance. As your agent in Japan, I have the ability and the duty to protect your interests. But if I hadn’t known beforehand, or if you had an agent who was incapable of protecting you, your future losses could have been substantial.”

”Even if you don’t apply for international patents, you must secure your domestic patents to protect your rights. Of course, if you can get international ones, you absolutely should.”

Han Xiaorui nodded. ”You’re right. I get it. I’ll consult a lawyer about this. As for exporting the farmed seafood, it’s not possible this year. We don’t even have enough to meet domestic demand. The same goes for the fish fry. The quantity is low and production is still unstable. We can discuss it in the future.”

Kuno Hiroo sighed. ”It’s torture watching all this money right in front of you and not being able to make it.”

”Making money is great, but if it becomes such a burden that it makes you unhappy, what’s the point of earning so much?” Han Xiaorui said with a smile. ”You’re not even married yet. You’re single, with no one to support but yourself. Don’t put yourself under so much pressure.” Seeing as Kuno Hiroo had given her that helpful tip, she decided to offer a few words of comfort in return.

Kuno Hiroo’s gaze fell on Han Xiaorui’s face, then drifted down to her pregnant belly. ”You’re right. Ye Feng is about to be a father, and I don’t even have a girlfriend. I really should think more about my personal life. Otherwise, who knows who’ll end up getting all this money I’m making!”

Han Xiaorui burst out laughing. ”Exactly! Whether it’s finding love on your own or going for one of those so-called arranged marriages between powerful families, don’t miss your chance. After all, men get old just like women. Once you pass a certain age, that’s it.”

Kuno Hiroo, who considered himself quite young and handsome, was speechless. ”Ms. Han, do you think I’m old?”

”You’re young now, but what about in ten years? Or twenty?” Han Xiaorui retorted. ”Even if you got married this very second and had a child a year later, by the time you’re forty, your kid will only be nine. When you’re fifty, they’ll be nineteen.”

”Just think, if you hit fifty and you’re still all alone, won’t you feel lonely? Won’t you be afraid? After all, you need to have children to carry on your legacy, right?”

Kuno Hiroo paused, taken aback. ”You’re right. I can’t keep being deluded by so-called ’Western freedom.’ I should get married sooner.”

Han Xiaorui had just been making small talk; she never expected Kuno Hiroo to take it to heart.

’Oh, dear. It’s all my fault for chatting with the village aunties recently. I must have been ”infected.” I’ve picked up their love for nagging people to get married, so much so that it just slipped out in casual conversation.’

”Uh... Hiroo, don’t take it so seriously. Marriage is a huge deal. You have to be careful and not rush into it.”

Kuno Hiroo smiled. ”I understand. Only a very good friend would bring up such a personal topic. By saying this, you’re treating me like a friend and telling me to cherish my time and take charge of my life.”

Han Xiaorui froze for a second, then gave an awkward laugh. ”Well, as long as you don’t think I’m being nosy.”

’I’ll have to be more careful in the future. Can’t just speak without thinking.’

’All this talk about family matters and idle gossip is just too tempting. Looks like I should stay away from the ”intelligence hub” at the village entrance from now on.’

’Otherwise, I’ll turn into a gossipy old woman who loves to hear and spread rumors while I’m still young.’

Kuno Hiroo followed Han Xiaorui to the ornamental fish farm to see the latest varieties of fighting fish.

Kuno Hiroo was very impressed and placed a large order on the spot.

He came well-prepared, ordering a large quantity at a very good price.

Although Yang Jianguo disliked the Japanese, he had no problem with Kuno Hiroo. This was not just because Kuno Hiroo was very humble, but more importantly, because he placed a huge order every time he visited.

”Can you give me some more of the Panda Butterfly Tails?” Kuno Hiroo asked. ”People back in Japan really love them. There was a professor who bought some and tried to breed them, but the offspring turned out incredibly ugly, unhealthy, and listless. He couldn’t figure out why and got so angry he had to be rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment.”

Hearing this, Han Xiaorui didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. ”That old fellow has quite a temper.”

Kuno Hiroo shook his head. ”This just proves how significant the Panda Butterfly Tails are to us, especially to the rich and powerful, who have a particular fondness for goldfish.”

Han Xiaorui replied, ”I can give you the same quantity of Butterfly Tails as in the last contract, but no more than that. That’s all we have.”

Disappointed, Kuno Hiroo’s gaze shifted to the new varieties. ”That goldfish over there, the one whose body looks like it’s covered in pearls—what’s it called?”

Han Xiaorui praised him, ”You have a good eye, Mr. Kuno. That’s a Pearlscale Goldfish. It’s an improved version of an older breed. Its form is more elegant, and it comes in a wider variety of colors.”

Kuno Hiroo’s eyes were fixed on them as he pointed at a white Pearlscale. ”This pure white one will be a huge hit. I’m certain of it.”

Han Xiaorui smiled. ”That’s wonderful! We actually have other colors of the same type. Would you like to see them?”