Chapter 557: Chapter 557: Possessing a Self

Han Xiaorui nodded. "Sigh... Even though we practiced having them sleep in their own beds, and they adapted well, I could still see them at night and first thing in the morning."

"But now that I’m out at sea, it’ll be at least three days, all told. Since I’m not home, I have no idea if the kids will cry or if they’re eating properly."

Han Xiaorui was truly happy and felt right at home being back on the ocean.

But her longing for her children was also very, very real.

Most mothers in the world are just like this.

Sister Tang smiled. "Back when I needed to help support my family, I started going out to sea when my baby was just six months old!"

"My mother-in-law raised him on goat’s milk, and back then, it felt like a knife to the heart. But there was no other way. We had to make a living, or the whole family would’ve gone hungry."

Sister Lan smiled. "Boat Owner, we’re so happy you’re out with us. We always have a bigger haul when you’re here. We were just wondering before if you’d still be coming aboard in the future."

"After all, you have so many companies and responsibilities. Won’t being away for a few days affect your work?"

Han Xiaorui smiled. "I delegate all the various tasks to their respective managers. I just have to supervise them and check the results of their work."

"With so much to do, if I tried to handle it all myself, it would be exhausting, and I wouldn’t necessarily do a better job than they do. As for going out to sea, it’s genuinely my favorite thing to do."

"Compared to fancy clothes and high fashion, I much prefer this feeling of drifting on the ocean, the joy of a good catch, and the satisfaction of seeing the creatures of the deep."

"Of course I miss my kids terribly, but I’m a mother, and I’m also my own person with my own hobbies. I can’t completely lose myself just because I have children."

"I also trust that their father and the rest of our family can help take care of them, sharing the responsibility of raising them."

"Besides, I only go out to sea once or twice a month at most; any more than that isn’t feasible. That’s why I really cherish this time out on the water, sharing the ups and downs and the joy of fishing together with all of you."

For these fisherwomen, life on the boat was hard work, but it was never dull.

Especially since the crew on this boat was all women.

When they were busy, there was no time for boredom.

During their downtime, they’d all gather in the small cabin. Some would rest or sleep, while others would talk, chat, and gossip about everything under the sun.

For instance, after they were done checking in on Han Xiaorui, they began asking Liang Xiaoyu about Granny Cai and Old Man Cai’s divorce.

Sister Tang gave Liang Xiaoyu a thumbs-up. "Xiao Yu, your mother-in-law is incredible! She’s thought of every possible angle. It’s obvious she’s been unhappy with Old Man Cai for more than just a day or two."

Liang Xiaoyu nodded. "My mother-in-law is usually very good-natured and rarely argues with my father-in-law. The one thing she couldn’t stand was what he’s doing now. It’s not so much that she’s angry, but that she finds it deeply embarrassing. A total loss of face."

"So now she’s gone ahead and filed for divorce, but on his side, after his lawyer looked things over and told him he wouldn’t get anything, he’s suddenly refusing to go through with it. He’s even claiming they have ’a deep emotional bond’!"

"But really, it’s all because he isn’t getting the money and assets he wanted. Before all this, he was arrogantly demanding at least half of the family fortune!"

Chen Yishui chimed in from the side, "That’s why we women have to be more forward-thinking in everything we do and rely on ourselves."

"If you pin all your hopes on a man... it might be okay if he’s a decent guy. But what if he has a change of heart and he’s the one holding all the money and property? What’s a woman supposed to do then?"

Sister Lan nodded emphatically. "Exactly! As mothers, we usually can’t bear to part with our kids; we always want custody. But then the husband uses the children as leverage, saying, ’Fine, you can have the kids, but you have to leave with nothing.’"

"It’s a bit better if the kids are older and you can send them to school. But if they’re little, the mother has to bring them along. If you want to work, you have to ask someone else to help watch them."

"And even though we live in modern times, it’s not so easy for a married daughter to go back to her parents’ home for help. If you’re not an only child and you have brothers, where’s the room for you?"

This was something Sister Lan knew from personal experience. It was incredibly difficult.

Fortunately, she had come through the worst of it. After remarrying, both her son and her new husband’s daughter were very well-behaved.

Later, she got pregnant and had another son, so now they had three children in the family.

Her mother-in-law came to help with the kids, which allowed her to come back to the boat to earn money.

Once the youngest was old enough for kindergarten, things would get easier. That’s how you get by, one day at a time.

Every family had its own troubles, but they all remained positive, encouraging and helping one another.

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