Chapter 49: Mutual Benefit

Seeing Liu Chuxue, she understood why the woman asked, and politely replied, "Yes."

Hearing the answer she wanted, the woman sighed in relief: "Good, there's still a chance to try."

She looked down at the big fish in the bucket, her eyes shining, thinking: Whether her grandson gets milk depends entirely on whether she can find a way to get this Miss to share some fish.

She had sent family members to the market and the grocery store earlier; they said if they wanted fish, they had to come early tomorrow, but her little grandson was still waiting for milk, so she, as a grandmother, had to put aside her old face and get this done.

Besides, the fish in the bucket weren't just live fish; they were rare black catfish.

She had asked around before; besides carp soup, black catfish soup not only promotes milk production but also helps improve qi and blood deficiency; her daughter-in-law had suffered so much, and if she could drink a bowl of black catfish soup, that would be the best.

No matter what, she would pester the little girl until she got some of that fish.

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

The woman followed closely behind, afraid that if she lost sight for a moment, she'd lose the person: "Miss, who in your family is hospitalized?"

Liu Chuxue didn't hide it: "My father hurt his leg; he just had surgery today."

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

Liu Chuxue thought for a moment; it wasn't impossible.

After all, her cheap father had just had surgery and really wasn't suitable for fish soup right now; fish contains arachidonic acid, which converts into prostaglandins in the body, affecting platelet aggregation and thus hindering wound healing.

Since it was a mutually beneficial deal, why not: "Alright, Auntie, I'll just take advantage of your little grandson's good fortune; how do you plan to trade?"

Seeing Liu Chuxue speak so well, the woman's face was all smiles; she ventured: "If you don't mind, I'd like to trade for the whole fish."

Liu Chuxue thought briefly: "Alright, then we'll do it as you said, Auntie."

At this time, buying meat was definitely impossible, but with the meat coupons, she could go directly to the state-run restaurant and pack up a meat dish to bring back.

However, Liu Chuxue was cautious: "Auntie, could you please come with me? I need to tell my mother so she doesn't worry that my meat coupons might be from an improper source."

For the woman, as long as she could get the fish, nothing was too much to ask: "No problem."

As they talked while heading toward the ward, Liu Chuxue learned that the woman before her was named Ji Ganyan, an accountant at the rolling mill; her daughter-in-law had gone out for a walk after breakfast this morning, was bumped by a child who suddenly ran out from next door, and went into premature labor more than twenty days early.

Probably frightened, she still hadn't produced milk; the little grandson wouldn't drink much formula and was crying hungrily, which made the grandmother, who wanted to nurse him, heartbroken.

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

Liu's mother immediately saw her daughter coming in: "Chuxue, why are you only back now?"

Liu Chuxue didn't answer immediately; instead, she looked at Liu's father, who was already awake on the hospital bed: "Dad, you're awake. How do you feel?"

Liu's father forced a smile: "Much better than before."

Actually, he wasn't feeling well either; the lingering effects of anesthesia and the surgical trauma made the operation site very painful, and since it was general anesthesia, he also felt dizzy, but he only said this because he didn't want his daughter to worry.

Liu's mother then noticed the bucket Liu Chuxue was carrying: "Where did you get that bucket?"

(End of this chapter)