Chapter 41. Did you buy everything?

Chapter 41: 41. Did you buy everything?But thinking that it was something the child wanted, and the child usually didn’t ask for anything, Hua Chengtian didn’t say no about wanting fish. Oh well, they could still afford a few fish. Completely forgotten was the incident last month when the little grandson followed to the market and wanted to buy a few more pieces of candy, only to be refused and glared at several times. Fortunately, the youngest was always carefree; otherwise, he might have become withdrawn. Over here, Hua Chengtian’s wife noticed a change in the old man’s expression. After many years together, she could see right through him and whispered a few words in his ear, making him look in shock at their granddaughter pulling their son towards the fishpond. "Really?" His face was full of disbelief. "Have I ever told a tall tale?" Hua Chengtian’s wife couldn’t help but give her old man a look. The old fellow still didn’t believe her. "That’s not what I meant." Seeing his wife upset, Hua Chengtian quickly apologized, imitating her by lowering his voice. "That’s more like it." Satisfied, Hua Chengtian’s wife spared him, but she cast another glance at their granddaughter, her eyes overflowing with warmth. "Hey, do you know how much our granddaughter earned from her drawings?" Hua Chengtian’s wife lowered her voice after checking for eavesdroppers. "How much?" Being the doting grandfather, how could he not be curious about his granddaughter earning through some drawings? He leaned in closer to hear. Then she gave him a number, leaving him just as shocked as she and their daughter-in-law were earlier, gaping at his wife incredulously. It took a moment for him to recover, stiffly saying, "Wife, surely you must have gotten it wrong." She glared at him fiercely, and had they not been outside, she would have hit him. Was he suggesting she was getting old and forgetful? Regardless of time, women’s concerns remain distinct. If Hua Jin knew what her grandmother was thinking, she would surely sigh. "Even if you forget, I certainly wouldn’t. This just happened; my mind isn’t that slow yet!" Seeing her about to flare up again, Hua Chengtian quickly waved his hands, "No, no, I misspoke. I’m just too surprised." Hua Chengtian gazed at his granddaughter standing with his son in front of the fish stall, still a bit in disbelief. It wasn’t just a penny or two, not even a hundred; it was one tael and five qian of silver, earned from just ten drawings. If exchanged all for grain, one tael and five qian would feed the family for half a year. His granddaughter, no wonder she’s his granddaughter. A broad smile spread over his face, his eyes filled with loving light as he looked at her. Hua Jin and her father reached the fish stall, eyeing the dozen or so remaining fish in the tub with growing desire. Most fish in the tub were quite large; the smaller, regular-sized ones had already been sold off gradually. For poor families, buying even a small fish is a stretch, and larger ones are only bought on special occasions. Even taverns and restaurants wouldn’t buy too big ones since they can’t price them well—a price too high would drive away customers, and a low profit margin means no earnings. Hua Jin looked at the carp, grass carp, and large crucian carp, imagining spicy boiled fish and fish with pickles, making her mouth water, wanting to buy them all to take home. Besides, with the weather getting colder, buying them wouldn’t mean wasting food. They had a well back home where they could keep the fish fresh, or even cure them into salted fish if necessary, since these fish were still alive. Hua Chengtian, unaware that his daughter had secretly made up her mind to buy them all, was negotiating with the stall owner. The two chatted enthusiastically. In no time, they’d become old pals, with the stall owner warmly calling Hua Chengtian "big brother" and even offering a two-penny discount without the need to haggle. "Big Brother Hua, the two fish weigh eleven jin and six liang, just pay one hundred and ten wen." He even waived the fractional part. Hua Chengtian really had a knack for getting along with people. "How can that be! No, it won’t do. You’ve already discounted, so I must pay the full amount," Hua Chengtian replied sincerely, determined not to take advantage. "It’s okay, Big Brother Hua, there are no pesky fractions, trust me, I won’t let myself lose out. Selling fish always has some water weight," the last sentence was whispered by Li Laosan, the fish seller. Sёarᴄh the Novelƒire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hua Jin overheard, admiring her father’s social skills and acknowledging the honesty of the stall owner. After all, aquatic products carrying some water weight is quite normal. "Alright, one hundred and ten wen it is, as long as Big Brother Hua doesn’t mind me collecting the money," Li Laosan chuckled. "What are you saying, how could I mind? So be it, today I’ll take the bargain, and I’ll treat you as a friend. Come by Hua Village someday for a drink, and if there’s any furniture you want to make, just find me. I’ll make it for free," Hua Chengtian laughed, straightforwardly and sincerely. "Absolutely," Li Laosan was also pleased with the new friend, finding Hua Chengtian’s candid demeanor quite agreeable. As Hua Chengtian was about to pay, Hua Jin, who had been trying to speak, finally pulled him aside. "Dad, wait." "What is it?" "Dad, I see these fish are still lively. Why don’t we buy them all?" Who knows when they might come across such nice and big fish again? "All of them?" Hua Chengtian helplessly looked at his daughter, then at the few big fish left in the tub. There weren’t just one or two fish, but seven or eight, and each was quite large. Buying them all would cost a pretty penny. What’s gotten into the child, suddenly being so extravagant? Beside them, Li Laosan paused in surprise, eyeing Hua Jin, a delicate little girl with bright eyes and fair complexion. Truthfully, when he heard the girl’s suggestion, he hoped the new acquaintance, Brother Hua, would buy them all. It had taken considerable effort to catch those fish, and naturally, he wanted to sell them while fresh. Otherwise, taking them back wouldn’t earn him much. He instinctively looked at Brother Hua, although he didn’t really expect him to buy all his fish just because the daughter wished it. Even the most doting parents wouldn’t do that. Facing her father’s gaze, Hua Jin’s eyes reddened slightly but she nodded firmly, "Dad, let’s buy them. With the cold weather coming, we can store them and eat slowly to nourish your bodies. You’re all too thin." By the end, Hua Jin’s eyes were really red. After a tiring harvest season, despite decent meals, every family member had lost weight. Her heart truly ached!