Chapter 48: Mutual Benefit

Seeing what she was carrying in her hand, Liu Chuxue understood why she asked that, and replied politely, "Yes."

Hearing the answer she wanted, the woman let out a sigh of relief: *It’s good that it’s yes; there’s still a chance to fight for it.*

She looked down at the big fish in the bucket, her eyes shining with light, thinking: *Whether my grandson can get milk to drink all depends on whether I can find a way to make this girl share some fish with me.*

She had sent her family to the market and the non-staple food store, and they were told that if they wanted fish, they should come early the next morning. But her little grandson was waiting for milk, and as a grandmother, she had to get this done even if she had to throw away her old face.

Not to mention that the fish in this bucket were not only alive, but they were also rare snakeheads.

She had inquired before that, besides crucian carp soup, snakehead soup could not only help with lactation but also had the effect of assisting in improving Qi and blood deficiency. Her daughter-in-law had suffered so much; if she could drink a bowl of snakehead soup, that would be the best thing.

No matter what, she had to pester this young girl into sharing some of the fish with her.

Soon, the bus arrived at the stop, and Liu Chuxue got off with her things.

The woman followed closely behind, afraid of losing her if she looked away for a second: "Miss, who in your family is hospitalized?"

Liu Chuxue didn't hide it: "My father injured his leg and just had surgery today."

The woman's eyes rolled, and she immediately thought of a way: "Miss, I’ll trade meat coupons with you for the fish. That way, we can both solve our immediate problems. What do you think?"

Liu Chuxue thought about it; it wasn't impossible.

After all, her cheap father had just finished surgery and wasn't really suitable for drinking fish soup right now. Fish contains arachidonic acid, which converts into prostaglandins after entering the body, affecting platelet aggregation and subsequently affecting the healing of the incision.

Since it was a mutually beneficial matter, why not: "Fine, Auntie, I’ll just take it as soaking up some of your little grandson's good fortune. How do you plan to trade?"

Seeing that Liu Chuxue was so sensible, the woman was all smiles and probed: "If you don't mind, I’ll trade for this whole fish."

Liu Chuxue thought for a moment: "That’s fine, we’ll do as you say, Auntie."

It was impossible to buy meat at this time of day, but with meat coupons, she could go directly to the state-run restaurant and pack a meat dish to bring back.

However, Liu Chuxue was a bit cautious: "Auntie, then I’ll have to trouble you to make a trip with me and tell my mother, so she doesn't worry that my meat coupons came from an improper source."

For the woman, as long as she could get the fish, doing anything was not too much: "That’s no problem."

As the two talked, they headed toward the ward. Only then did Chuxue learn that the woman before her was named Ji Ganlan, an accountant at the steel rolling mill. Her daughter-in-law had gone out for a stroll after eating in the morning when she was bumped by a child darting out from next door, causing her to go into labor more than twenty days early.

Perhaps due to the shock, she hadn't produced milk yet, and the little grandson wouldn't really eat formula, crying out in hunger, which broke the heart of this grandmother.

As they talked, they arrived at Liu Fu's ward.

Liu Mu saw her daughter walk in immediately: "Chuxue, why are you only just back?"

Liu Chuxue didn't answer right away, but looked at Liu Fu, who had already woken up on the hospital bed: "Father, you're awake. How do you feel?"

Liu Fu squeezed out a smile: "Much better than before."

In fact, he wasn't feeling well at all now. Due to the residual anesthesia and surgical trauma, the surgical site was very painful, and because it was general anesthesia, he also suffered from dizziness. He only said this because he didn't want his daughter to worry.

Liu Mu then noticed the bucket Liu Chuxue was carrying: "Where did the bucket come from?"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 50 =====