Chapter 257

Chapter 257: Chapter 257

Zhao Jing had taken her child to the zoo last week and seen the giant pandas.

The goldfish had been black and white before, so she hadn’t paid them much mind. But once their patterns developed, her first thought upon seeing them was of giant pandas.

Hearing this, Han Xiaorui’s eyes lit up. "Giant pandas! Those are our national treasure! A Butterfly Tail that looks like a giant panda would definitely become a treasure in the ornamental fish world. Brother Jianguo, you guys go ahead and hand out the money. Zhao Jing and I are going to take a look."

Yang Jianguo smiled. "Alright. I’ll come take a look after I’m done giving out the bonuses."

Zhao Jing led Han Xiaorui to the goldfish breeding area, to the section dedicated to Butterfly Tails.

After Han Xiaorui bought all sorts of Butterfly Tails from various ornamental fish markets, she had been modifying and improving them, giving them the potential to evolve.

Coupled with the special feed, they were growing more and more beautiful.

"Boss Han, they’re right here," Zhao Jing said. "I kept a few dozen of the black and white ones together. They slowly mutated, and their patterns gradually appeared. The black and white markings just kept getting more and more beautiful."

Han Xiaorui leaned in for a closer look, her eyes shining. "They really do look like giant pandas. Zhao Jing, you’ve done a great job."

Han Xiaorui then used a bit of her superpower on a few of the best-looking Butterfly Tails to stabilize their genes. This would prevent the next generation from mutating into ugly ducklings.

Zhao Jing was thrilled. "It’s what I’m supposed to do! I absolutely love these goldfish. If I don’t see them for a day, I can’t eat or sleep properly."

Han Xiaorui encouraged her, "I know you put your heart into your work. As a sign of my appreciation, you’ll get double pay this month."

Zhao Jing’s eyes lit up, and she was overcome with excitement. "Boss, thank you! I’ll keep working hard."

Zhao Jing was a very serious person who loved to delve deep into her work.

Every day, she would read through numerous books, trying to find ways to make the goldfish evolve and become even more beautiful.

Of course, some of them also grew to be uglier.

This job not only gave her a high salary and big bonuses, but it also brought her joy.

Han Xiaorui pondered for a moment, then named these beautiful and unique Butterfly Tails. "We’ll call these ornamental fish... Panda Butterfly Tails."

After they finished handing out the bonuses, Yang Jianguo and Liu Xiangnan came over to see the fish.

"Panda Butterfly Tails?" Yang Jianguo was quite surprised to hear the name. The image of an adorable giant panda popped into his head.

But Yang Jianguo hadn’t seen the Panda Butterfly Tails in the tank yet.

When he got closer and took a look, Yang Jianguo immediately bent over, his eyes nearly popping out of his head and into the water.

"I knew they had giant pandas at the zoo, but I never thought we’d have panda goldfish!"

Liu Xiangnan was astonished. He circled the breeding tank. "My god, these pandas are gorgeous! No, I mean, these Butterfly Tails are gorgeous!"

"Panda Butterfly Tails? The name is a perfect fit! They’re beautiful and unique. Sister Han, we can make this fish our main feature at the upcoming Yue Province trade fair. It’s sure to cause a sensation!"

Han Xiaorui nodded. "I think so too. They’re so rare! We can take them there and really open some foreigners’ eyes."

"You can’t necessarily buy a real panda with money, but you can buy our Panda Butterfly Tails! Our giant pandas are so popular abroad, so the Panda Butterfly Tails are bound to be as well."

Building on their previous experience at the Shencheng foreign trade fair, attending the Yue Province trade fair—which had a longer history and drew more clients from around the world—would surely allow them to find even more customers.

Even if some attendees weren’t ornamental fish customers, they could still bring information back to their clients abroad.

If they couldn’t make a deal this year, there was always next year! And if not next year, then the year after that!

When it came to valuing the Hua Country market and having a keen sensitivity to it, one had to mention their neighbor, Japan.

That country had long coveted what Hua Country had, so of course, their understanding was deeper and more profound—in some aspects, even more so than the Hua Country people themselves.

It’s not the thief who steals that you fear, but the one who is always watching.

In order to steal something, to snatch it away, you naturally have to understand it first.

Han Xiaorui was certain that this Panda Butterfly Tail model would cause a sensation in Japan and sell for a high price.

Because she had signed an exclusive distribution contract with Kuno Hiroo, all her ornamental fish were sold to the Japanese market through him.

Therefore, Han Xiaorui planned to attend the Yue Province trade fair first, drive up the price, and then negotiate with Kuno Hiroo.

Rarity creates value.

This way, Han Xiaorui would have the upper hand in the price negotiations.

Han Xiaorui rewarding Zhao Jing with a month’s salary made all the other farm workers envious.

But they had to admit, she deserved it.

Anyone who bred a fish like that would be incredibly proud.

Han Xiaorui smiled. "From now on, there will be a reward for any new breed that appears! A bigger bonus for the good-looking ones!"

Hearing this, a man named Yang Jianhu asked, "Boss, does that mean there’s no reward for breeding ugly ones?"

"Well..." Han Xiaorui faltered. She was about to say no when she remembered Kuno Hiroo’s peculiar tastes. "Ugly ones that are particularly unique will also get a bonus!"

’If they can be ugly in a cute way, maybe someone will actually like them.’

’What they find unattractive, people in other countries might find beautiful.’

From that day on, after finishing their regular duties, the breeding workers threw themselves into the cultivation work with immense enthusiasm.

The holiday was over, and Han Xiaorui went out to sea again with her boat crew.

This time, Han Xiaorui was wearing a sparkling diamond ring on her hand, which Chen Yishui and the others noticed as soon as they came aboard.

"Shipowner, did you get a marriage proposal?" Chen Yishui asked curiously. Han Xiaorui had never worn a ring before.

Han Xiaorui held out her hand, the glittering diamond ring on display for all to see. "Yes, I accepted Ye Feng’s proposal. When I get married, I’ll invite you all to the wedding feast."

Chen Yishui smiled. "Congratulations, Shipowner! We’ll definitely be there for the feast."

Sister Tang chuckled. "The Shipowner is young; she should get married again. There’s no need to stay single, it’s so lonely! If I were ten years younger, I’d remarry too."

They were all people who had been through it, so they all understood what she meant.

Just then, Sister Yun mustered her courage and asked Han Xiaorui, "Shipowner, that security captain you mentioned... I secretly went to take a look at him. He’s quite handsome."

Busy with the holiday, Han Xiaorui had forgotten about Sister Yun’s matter.

’I was supposed to be her matchmaker!’

Seeing the situation, Liang Xiaoyu knew Han Xiaorui had been too busy to handle it. She quickly smiled and said, "Sister Yun, Xiao Rui has been busy these past few days and hasn’t had time to ask around, so she had me do it. How about I tell you what I found out?"

Everyone had just returned from the holiday, full of energy, and they gathered around to chat.

Sister Yun nodded and smiled. "Thank you, Shipowner, and Sister-in-law Xiao Yu. What did you find out? I really want to get married now. As long as he’s a reliable person, I’m fine with it."

This Mid-Autumn Festival, she had already bought lots of clothes for her parents, as well as clothes and food for her nieces and nephews at home. She had also given them money for the holiday.

But her parents and sisters-in-law just pleaded poverty in front of her.

But besides the children who were in school, everyone else in the family had a job. How could they be poor?

She had used most of her money to buy a house. The only liquid cash she had left was the commission she got from the Shipowner.

If she didn’t give them money, her parents and sisters-in-law would get upset.

For the sake of the poor children, Sister Yun could only pinch her nose and accept it.

If she moved out without being married, her own mother would accuse her of looking down on her, of not knowing who was family and who was an outsider, of not knowing who to be close to.

All this bullshit was so annoying!