The Sea Queen of 1985

Chapter 447: Chapter 447: Reaping What You Sow

Sun Leader was taken aback. ”Actually, we were wondering about this before. Why is it that even when we use the same methods to train police dogs, the ones you train are smarter, stronger, and more agile?”

”Now that we’ve heard you admit it yourself, we have no choice but to accept the fact that some people might just be born with a natural affinity for certain animals.”

”For example, we know of someone who is especially good at teaching parrots and mynas to talk. Even the dullest parrot can learn to speak in his hands.”

Han Xiaorui nodded. ”Yes, that’s exactly it! If I could train more, I wouldn’t refuse.”

Hearing Han Xiaorui’s direct answer, Sun Leader gave up on the idea completely. ”Alright, just do what you can.”

Having just returned home, Han Xiaorui took a sip of warm water. She had just picked up her children to play for a moment when she heard a car pull up at the gate.

Wu Yao opened the door and saw Kuno Hiroo. ”Mr. Kuno, we haven’t seen you in ages. What have you been busy with lately?”

Kuno Hiroo chuckled. ”I’ve caused some trouble, so I didn’t dare visit. I was afraid Xiao Rui would throw me out.”

Hearing this, Wu Yao recalled the issue with contracting those islands. ”So that’s it. No wonder you didn’t dare to show your face!”

Kuno Hiroo followed Wu Yao inside, carrying an exquisite gift.

When Han Xiaorui saw who it was, her face instantly darkened. ”Wu Yao, show him the door!”

Han Xiaorui was certain Kuno Hiroo likely knew about the treasure, but he hadn’t said a word.

’From his country’s perspective, it was understandable that Kuno Hiroo kept quiet. After all, he’s the descendant of robbers, still looking to snatch even more.’

’But from a friend’s point of view, what Kuno Hiroo did was underhanded. He was screwing her over.’

Kuno Hiroo smiled. ”I came specifically to apologize. To be honest, I didn’t know there was so much treasure on those islands. I only heard that someone wanted to invest in Jinshan Bay.”

”Compared to the requirements for an aquarium or a water park project, the conditions on those islands in Jinshan Bay weren’t exactly ideal. Although I had my suspicions, I really didn’t know what was there.”

”Besides, when you mentioned it back then, didn’t I tell you there might be complications? You didn’t think much of it at the time, so you can’t put all the blame on me!”

Listening to Kuno Hiroo’s silver-tongued explanation, Han Xiaorui’s anger slowly began to fade.

’He’s a business associate for making money, not a friend at all. Why should I hold him to the standards of a friend?’

Thinking this, Han Xiaorui put on a beaming smile. ”Oh, it’s Mr. Kuno! You’ve come all this way with such precious gifts. Is there something you need?”

Kuno Hiroo froze, then shook his head with a wry smile. He would have preferred it if Han Xiaorui had cursed him out a bit; at least then she would be treating him like a friend.

But now, with that fake smile and undisguised insincerity, she clearly wouldn’t be genuine with him.

Kuno Hiroo bowed. ”I’m sorry. I sincerely hope you can forgive me.”

Han Xiaorui shook her head. ’Bowing and apologizing whenever something goes wrong... what’s the use of that?’

”You haven’t done anything to wrong me. You have your own interests and principles, which I can understand. Is there something you need? If not, I have to get back to my children.”

Kuno Hiroo glanced at the two adorable children in the stroller, a touch of envy in his eyes. ”Alright. It seems you won’t be forgiving me anytime soon, so I’ll get straight to business.”

”I’m getting married, and I came by especially to give you an invitation. If you and Ye Feng are free, please come to my wedding. Thank you.”

Han Xiaorui was surprised. She took the invitation. ”Congratulations. Ye Feng and I will do our best to make time. If we can’t make it, we’ll be sure to send a gift.”

Kuno Hiroo gave an awkward smile. ”It would be even better if you could come in person. I could introduce you to many of my friends, and perhaps we’ll have opportunities to collaborate in the future.”

Han Xiaorui smiled. ”Thank you.”

Wu Yao brought over a cup of tea.

”Thank you,” Kuno Hiroo said courteously.

”You’re welcome.”

While sipping his tea, Kuno Hiroo looked at the two children in the crib. ”They’re so adorable. I never used to look forward to marriage, but seeing such cute children now, I’m really looking forward to it.”

Han Xiaorui smiled. ”Children are very cute. May you be blessed with children of your own soon.”

After five minutes of awkward small talk, Kuno Hiroo’s demeanor changed, the earlier tension gone. He smiled and said, ”I have some good news. Would you like to hear it?”

”If you want to say it, then say it.” Han Xiaorui looked up, unimpressed. ”If it’s not convenient to say, then forget it.”

Kuno Hiroo shook his head. ”It’s fine. A related agency in Japan procured five police dogs from the Shencheng K-9 base. After just one week, they were able to start working in excellent condition.”

”On their first day of work, two of them were at the airport and immediately found five drug traffickers. Another two, assigned to find murderers, solved two separate homicide cases back-to-back.”

”The last one was assigned to find missing girls and has already located three. Unfortunately, one of them had been tortured to death, and the other two were found locked in an attic.”

”You would never imagine how evil people can be. A six-year-old girl was hidden in her neighbor’s attic for ten years, suffering inhuman torture. Even though she’s been found, the girl’s mind is broken.”

Han Xiaorui cursed, ”Bastards! People like that should be shot!”

Kuno Hiroo shrugged. ”I’d also like to see them get the death penalty, but it’s not possible in Japan. However, the excellence of the police dogs has caused a huge stir back home. We want to acquire more, at a high price.”

Han Xiaorui shook her head. ”We don’t even have enough for our own needs in Hua Country. The five you got was already a lot. Don’t even think about it.”

”If I can persuade the relevant authorities, then you can’t refuse, right?” Kuno Hiroo asked, finally revealing the real reason for his visit.

Han Xiaorui was taken aback. ”I just do my part. I don’t get involved in anything else.”

Kuno Hiroo breathed a sigh of relief. ”That’s good. I was worried you would refuse. If you did, then no matter what price I offered, I wouldn’t be able to achieve my goal.”

’I’ll have to tell the leadership,’ Han Xiaorui grumbled to herself, ’that if they agree to another exchange, they have to make Japan bleed for it. They can’t be allowed to get the dogs so easily.’

After a bit more small talk, Kuno Hiroo took his leave.

After lunch, Han Xiaorui went straight to see Sun Leader that afternoon and told him about Kuno Hiroo’s proposal.

”Xiao Rui, rest assured,” Sun Leader said. ”We already exchanged five excellent police dogs. There won’t be a next batch. Scarcity creates value. If we give them everything they want, won’t we be giving them all the leverage?”

Han Xiaorui nodded. ”That’s exactly how it should be.”

Another leader hesitated. ”Won’t this offend the Japanese investors? After all, there are many Japanese people investing here in Shencheng.”

Han Xiaorui raised an eyebrow. ”Leader, you don’t need to be afraid. Don’t treat their investment like it’s some kind of charity. They may have the technology, but they need our market and our cheap labor. We’re trading our market and labor for their technology. It’s a fair deal.”

”If they’re not happy about it, fine. Europe and America are actively improving their relations with Hua Country anyway. There are others willing to come and grab a piece of the market. First come, first served. We can’t let these Japanese investors put on airs and complain all the time. We can’t spoil them.”

Sun Leader strongly agreed. ”Exactly. Competition is what allows us to benefit. Anyway, whatever Japan has, Europe and America have too. We can take our time, import things slowly, negotiate. There’s no rush.”

Sure enough, despite all his efforts, Kuno Hiroo was rejected across the board.

Kuno Hiroo could only smile wryly. He had truly offended Han Xiaorui, and now he was reaping what he had sown.