Chapter 226 - 173: Waiting and Anticipating

Chapter 226: Chapter 173: Waiting and AnticipatingHan Xiangning has been extremely studious since she was young, seldom reading miscellaneous books. Han Xiangmeng’s personality is completely different; she has been playful since childhood, likes to read romance novels, and even subscribed to "Zhi Yin" at her own expense after she started working and had the money. For magazines that don’t cost money, why not read them if they’re free? Han Xiangning vividly remembers an article in the magazine that said life is spent in waiting and anticipation, with time being the most enduring confession of love. Before, she thought this sentence was philosophical and poetic; now, she feels it makes a lot of sense. When she was a child, she awaited the New Year, eagerly anticipating new clothes and delicious food. As she grew a bit older and understood things better, she waited for her mom’s vacation, looking forward to the trips to Xichuan to see her grandparents, or more precisely, she enjoyed the feeling of traveling far. During her school years, she looked forward to exams, hoping for good grades, receiving awards, and being praised by teachers, making her parents happy and even getting rewards. Later, she awaited graduation, aspiring to be assigned to a good unit and to have a good job. Now, she’s looking forward to time passing quickly, so she can accumulate enough vacation days to visit Little Salted Fish at East Sea, and then take Salted Fish’s ship to Qingdao for a trip... To the people on shore, the Port Supervision Bureau Traffic Control Center is very distant, and even mysterious to those navigating on the river, and can be described as "heard but not seen," communicating solely by radio. Some crew members even think that the Port Supervision traffic personnel should have it easy, sitting at desks listening to the radio, giving commands when necessary, and enjoying tea and newspapers when there’s nothing to do. In reality, the work pace at the Traffic Control Center is fast, operating on a three-shift system every day, unlike other departments that can work "from eight to five." It gets even busier during holidays, resembling a battlefield, with a high degree of mental tension and no room for even a moment’s negligence. Han Xiangning is the youngest staff member at the Traffic Control Center, and being young means one has to work more, especially taking on more night shifts. Although night shifts are exhausting, she is still passionate about her job and even very proud. Because the qualifications required for the Traffic Control Center are very high, normally it’s necessary to have marine experience, both for practical knowledge and so that the coordinators can consider issues from the perspective of shipmen. Secondly, this job truly instills a sense of achievement; yes, it is tiring, but the thought of so many ships safely docking in the jurisdiction, and so many crew members safely returning home makes her feel that all her efforts are worthwhile, and the job is very meaningful. Having just directed an ocean liner unfamiliar with Binjiang Waters through the radio with a senior who had extensive marine experience and had been a Captain for more than a decade, she finished her shift and was ready to go home to rest, but surprisingly ran into Sister Zhu on the way down the stairs. "Sister Zhu, how come you’re only just getting off work now?" "You think you’re the only ones who have to work through the night, our office is also working overtime." Sister Zhu yawned and rubbed her eyes, smiling, "The superiors want some materials; they called this afternoon and want them faxed over first thing tomorrow. They say if it’s mentioned, it should be on hand. Everyone else left the office, so I had to do it." Han Xiangning asked, "Have you finished it?" "It’s done; I’ve already faxed it over, otherwise, I wouldn’t dare to go home." "It’s late; how will you get back? I can drive you." It’s not very safe for someone to cycle back to the city center alone in the middle of the night. Sister Zhu considered for a moment and then replied with a smile, "Sure, I’ll catch a ride with you." "How will you get here tomorrow morning?" "You’re on the late-night shift; sleep in a bit more tomorrow. I will take the bus here in the morning." "I’m working normally tomorrow; I’ll come and pick you up in the morning." Sister Zhu followed her to the bike shed, looked at Salted Fish’s small motorcycle curiously and asked, "Ningning, how are your shifts arranged? How come after a late-night shift, you have to work a regular shift the next day?" Han Xiangning opened the trunk, took out the helmet, turned her head back, and smiled, "I swapped shifts with Brother Qian." "Is it because you have something to do, or does Xiao Qian’s family have something going on?" "There’s nothing going on at Brother Qian’s home; it was me who wanted to switch." "What do you need to do?" "I want to go to Qingdao for fun..." Han Xiangning explained the reason for the shift change, worried that Sister Zhu might not be reassured, then thought for a moment and added, "It’s just a shift change; it won’t affect the work." The Traffic Control Center has a director and a deputy director, but Sister Zhu is not one to pry further, instead, she asked with a smile, "Taking the ship to meet Salted Fish, and then going together to Qingdao?" "I discussed it with him in advance, and my parents know as well." "Does Salted Fish have time to hang out with you?" "He wrote to me a few days ago, saying his current superiors are aware that I’m visiting. They plan to give him a few days off when I arrive so he can take me ashore to play." Han Xiangning handed the newly retrieved helmet to Sister Zhu, bent down to pick up the other helmet from the bike basket to put it on, and then chuckled, "I initially planned to go next month, but then I decided to go the month after." Things are progressing quickly; there’s already a plan to travel together. Wait a minute! She and Salted Fish have already been to East Sea once, riding the small motorcycle. The more Sister Zhu thought about it, the more amusing it became, and with a suppressed laugh, she asked, "Why wait until the month after next?" Straddling her small motorcycle, Han Xiangning steadied the handlebars and explained, "He’s signed up for a self-study exam. He has to come back for the tests in October, taking two subjects. I’m a bit scared to go there alone and then come back by myself, so I plan to come back with him." "Coming back together sounds good. By the way, has he grown taller? I haven’t seen him since his last return." "He has grown; he’s taller than me now!" "Really?" "Really, he just shot up. Last year he was still a kid, and this year he’s turned into an adult." "Turned into a young man?" "Yeah, next time he comes back, I’ll bring him to the office to show you." Hearing how Little Salted Fish still listens to her as he used to, and remembering that Salted Fish let her use his small motorcycle for most of the year, Sister Zhu felt that Xu Sanye’s wishes had largely come true. Feigning curiosity, she asked, "Ningning, as his sister, you should take more interest in his personal matters." "What personal matters?" "Finding a partner." "Although he’s grown taller, he’s only seventeen. I haven’t even started dating, let alone him." "What about Lin Xiaohui? Doesn’t he like Lin Xiaohui?" "It’s over already!" "Over?" Sister Zhu asked subconsciously. Han Xiangning couldn’t help but laugh: "Sister Zhu, just think about it, how old is he? He doesn’t know what it means to be in love. In the past, it was just unrequited love, just a secret crush. The result is she has high aspirations, likes staying in East Sea, and even wants to buy a house there; she absolutely doesn’t think highly of him." "Then he must be really heartbroken and sad." "A little, he looked like frostbitten eggplant last time he came back, completely listless." "You should persuade him, there are plenty of good girls in the world. I’m not saying that Lin Xiaohui isn’t good, just not quite suitable for him." "It’s not a bit unsuitable, but very unsuitable." Afraid of falling, Sister Zhu hugged her and asked with a laugh: "How is it very unsuitable?" Thinking of the things Dead Salted Fish said in his letters, Han Xiangning felt a bellyful of gloom and said unpleasantly, "Knowing that she looks down on him, he still can’t let go, always calling her whenever he has time. He said that the Textile System is going to hold a fashion model competition in East Sea. There aren’t many Hong Kong-funded garment enterprises in East Sea; the relevant departments have asked the factory where Lin Xiaohui works to participate. Hong Kong people like beauty contests, so the Hong Kong boss encouraged the young female workers to sign up." A model competition, it sounds indecent just hearing it! Sister Zhu subconsciously asked: "Did Lin Xiaohui sign up?" "Not only did she sign up, but she also passed the preliminary round, and she might even make it to the finals." "A fine girl, joining a model competition." "Who knows." Sёarᴄh the novёlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "What did Salted Fish say?" "What can he say? From his letters, he is very supportive, saying it is an emerging industry. He also said that it was organized by the Ministry of Textile Industry and very formal. It’s different from foreign beauty contests; no need to expose breasts or buttocks." ... Meanwhile, Lin Xiaohui, who had just finished rehearsal, was eating supper at a night market not far from the factory. The factory wasn’t very busy these days; Liu Xiaomei went to watch a night of rehearsal. Previously, she just thought Lin Xiaohui, whom she grew up playing with, was beautiful. Only today did she realize that Lin Xiaohui was a natural clothes rack. During the rehearsal earlier, she wore a white short-sleeved shirt and a red skirt, showing off two completely different styles against the backdrop of the two colors. White was dignified; red was charming and seductive. Added to that her calm gaze, composed stride, and the cool aura about her, she really looked very beautiful. "Xiao Hui, if only we had a camera." "What do we need a camera for?" "To take photos, you looked so good just now." "People will take pictures during the competition." Lin Xiaohui didn’t want to be ogled by a bunch of disreputable men, so she hurriedly paid the bill and pulled her back. Liu Xiaomei glanced back and muttered, "It would be nice if Salted Fish were here; Salted Fish is police, even the worst people have to behave when they see him." "All he knows is running boats. I even have tickets for him, and he doesn’t have time to come see me in the finals." "I’ll go when the time comes; I’ll just take half a day off." A woman dresses up for the one who adores her. Lin Xiaohui, who had finally gotten a chance to be on stage, felt very bittersweeet knowing no one she cared for would be there, and said softly, "It’s not the same." Liu Xiaomei understood her feelings and, holding her arm, asked, "Did you say something to Salted Fish? He used to come to see us even when he was in Bailong Port; now that he’s in East Sea, which is closer than before, he hasn’t come once." As for suitors, there were many. But none like Salted Fish. Lin Xiaohui took a few deep breaths and said in a low voice: "I said the wrong thing, I might have scared him off." "What did you say wrong?" "He said that the Binjiang Police Department was collecting funds to build houses, and he would soon have a home in Binjiang. He asked if I was happy. I said I liked East Sea and didn’t want to go back to Linghai, let alone Binjiang. I was muddled that day; I even said that I wanted to buy a house in East Sea." "How can you say these things? It’s not easy for a shipman to have a home on land!" "That’s why I said I was confused that day. I should have said I was happy and cheer him up." Liu Xiaomei exclaimed, "What do you mean by cheering him up? This is really something to be happy about!" Lin Xiaohui was silent for a while and then patted her arm: "I know I hurt his heart, but I don’t regret it." Liu Xiaomei reminded her, "Salted Fish is really nice; Xiao Hui, you need to think this through." "He is nice, but I am different from him." "What’s the difference?" "He has a job in Linghai, a unit, his leaders treat him well, his unit is almost like a family. What do I have in Linghai, and what is there in Linghai for me to miss? I can only rely on myself, and so can you." Speaking of Linghai, Liu Xiaomei also felt complicated. Calling it a hometown, but in Linghai, there’s no home to speak of, have to board a ship when returning, sometimes the ship isn’t even in Linghai, have to stay at relatives’... For shipman, what hometown do they have? If they have one, it’s the four seas. Liu Xiaomei felt that Lin Xiaohui’s words made sense and couldn’t help asking: "After the model competition, what do you plan to do?" "Come back to work." "Sister Hu said if you get good ranking, you could become a star!" "It’s not as simple as you think. Besides, modeling is like eating off one’s youth—now there are people asking me to model for calendars, but what about a few years later when my figure isn’t as good as now? Will they still want me?" Lin Xiaohui looked towards the brightly-lit factory in the distance and continued: "We grew up on the ship, but we are not lowly, we can’t rely on our looks to make a living. I’ve made it clear to Manager Liu, after the finale, whether I win or not, I’ll come back." "You’re already modeling, yet you want to come back and sew zippers?" "Come back to learn pattern-making. Salted Fish is right, no matter what you do, you can’t be without education. I also want to take self-study exams, not anything else—just fashion design!"