The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 419: Chapter 419: A Good Helper Arrives

After carefully taking stock, Wang Liwen found that deep down, she was still grateful to Han Xiaorui.

She personally went to an old tailor shop and had handmade clothes and shoes made for Han Xiaorui’s two unborn children.

She also sent over exquisitely crafted tiger-head shoes and hats.

She also wrote a letter, mostly about the changes in her two sons and thanking Han Xiaorui for her help.

’Although it was mostly just pleasantries, that was the right way to be with a step-mother-in-law you didn’t live with.’ ’There was no need to be too close or overly friendly.’

「August 31st. School was starting.」

Pingping and An’an put on nice clothes and attended their kindergarten’s opening ceremony.

They were thrilled to see so many other children.

Notably, the new campus for Jinshan Bay School, which included the primary and junior high sections, was now in use.

The students registered and began attending classes at the new school.

Yao Yulan had transferred from one of Shencheng’s top schools to become the Vice Director of Academics, responsible for the school’s performance.

She also had oversight of the school’s finances.

Today, Yao Yulan was wearing a dress, a warm smile on her face as she handled official business with her colleagues.

Registration went smoothly. The first grade had one more class than the previous year, with a total of forty-three students enrolled.

That evening, Yao Yulan made a special trip to see Han Xiaorui. ”Xiao Rui, our school is just gorgeous. The green trees, the lawns, all the bamboo and flowers...”

Han Xiaorui had already gone to see it before the school year began.

She had looked over and inspected everything. ”As long as the teachers and students approve, I can rest easy.”

”Approve? They absolutely approve! I can say for sure that it’s the school with the best environment in all of Shencheng,” Yao Yulan said excitedly. ”There aren’t many students or teachers, so everyone gets along really well. I absolutely love working here. Thank you, Xiao Rui.”

Han Xiaorui shook her head and chuckled. ”You’re helping me by coming here, too. It gives me another friend to talk with. What’s most important is that you’re happy. If you notice anything about the school that needs improvement, just let me know, and I’ll do my best to have it fixed.”

”No, really, it’s already wonderful,” Yao Yulan said. ”The teachers and students are so lucky to have a learning environment like this. Xiao Rui, thank you.”

Han Xiaorui smiled. ”Don’t thank me. What’s the point of making money if you don’t spend it? In a couple of years, Pingping and An’an will be starting primary school there, so just think of it as preparing for them. But what about you? Are you getting used to things here?”

Yao Yulan’s face lit up with a grin. ”Hahaha, Xiao Rui, let me tell you, I’ve never been this happy in my life! I feel like I’ve been completely set free. My whole body feels light.”

”When I graduated, I couldn’t get assigned to that school, even with my excellent grades. It was Yupeng who pulled some strings to get me in.”

”And even though I’m a very capable professional—highly skilled in both teaching and curriculum development—many people still saw me as someone who only got in through connections, someone without real merit.”

”My parents-in-law were the worst. They always held it over my head, saying I never would have gotten such a good job without their family’s help. Basically, besides the school itself being good, nothing else about that situation was good for me.”

”But now, things are different. I chose Jinshan Bay School myself. There aren’t too many students, the academic pressure is low, the environment is wonderful, and the teachers and principal are all fantastic.”

”I’m so happy working here, and I’m confident I can significantly improve the academic performance at Jinshan Bay School. I’m especially good at creating test questions and designing targeted practice for students.”

It was as if a floodgate had opened; Yao Yulan was incredibly talkative.

Han Xiaorui nodded. ”That’s all that matters! When you’re happy at work, the rest of your life becomes a lot easier too!”

Yao Yulan smiled. ”It’s true! Mianmian is so full of life now, always bounding with energy. And there are no more of those pointless arguments between Chen Yupeng and me.”

”His parents are over there, and he can’t let them go, so he can visit them whenever he wants! I’ll never stop him. But I won’t be going! And I won’t let my daughter go, either!”

The change of scenery had done wonders for Yao Yulan’s state of mind.

Ye Feng clapped Chen Yupeng on the shoulder. ”See that? The Yao Yulan you see now... she’s just like the one who came to visit you at the military base back in the day.”

”She’s a good woman. You have to cherish her. If you can’t solve the conflicts in your life, then don’t. Just live separately and let it be. In the evenings, if I’m home from work, I’ll call you guys to come over for dinner.”

”It’s more fun with more people! Your Mianmian is about the same age as my Pingping and An’an. They can grow up like little sisters and look out for each other in the future.”

Chen Yupeng’s gaze shifted from his beaming wife to his adorable, energetic daughter, Mianmian.

Mianmian, Pingping, and An’an were playing with spinning tops, giggling and jumping with joy every time they whipped them.

Chen Yupeng smiled and nodded. ”Sounds good! Sometimes I even run into Yaowu and some of our other old army buddies. We can all get together at your place on the weekends.”

Ye Feng nodded. ”Of course. I couldn’t ask for more! For guys like us, who scraped through hell and back, to be able to get together now... we’re truly blessed.”

Ever since Yao Yulan and Mianmian had moved over two weeks ago, he and his wife hadn’t argued once. Life was peaceful.

During dinner, Chen Yupeng said to Han Xiaorui, ”Xiao Rui, I saw that street you built. It has a great local flavor and a nice atmosphere. It could become a great tourist destination in the future.”

”However, tourism aimed at adults isn’t doing too well right now. But if you built a water park in Jinshan Bay, you’d at least get parents from Shencheng and the surrounding areas bringing their kids here to play.”

”When they come, they’re bound to spend money on the commercial street and stay in the hotels. The economic impact would be huge. Haven’t you considered building something like that?”

Han Xiaorui nodded. ”I want to! But I don’t have the money right now. The initial investment in marine aquaculture was huge. Even though we’ve started selling product, we haven’t turned a profit yet.”

”The only profitable part of my operation right now is the two fishing trawlers! But it’s the off-season for fishing, so they can’t operate for half the year. The only steady stream of income is from the Jinshan Bay Ornamental Fish Farm.”

”But as you can see, I’m spread so thin right now that I simply don’t have the extra cash to build a water park. In fact, I want to build a marine aquarium, too, not just a water park.”

”It’s just a matter of cash flow. I have to put it off for now. Once my finances are in better shape, I’ll build the water park and the aquarium.”

Chen Yupeng thought for a moment. ”That makes sense. A couple of days ago, my superior mentioned it to me. He also said that if Jinshan Bay wants to see major development, it needs attractions like these to draw people in.”

Ye Feng smiled. ”What about a loan? Or borrowing the money?”

Han Xiaorui froze for a second. ”I already mortgaged the Jinshan Bay Ornamental Fish Farm for a ten-million-yuan loan! What would I even use for collateral on another loan? And borrow money? From who?”