However, after returning home, Ge Liutao was startled to see the basket of eggs.
"Little, where did these come from?"
"I bought them from Sister-in-law Shi Zhuang, five cents each, and paid for them," Chiang Xiao replied as she opened the cupboard door and carefully placed the eggs into a bamboo basket designated for eggs.
Currently, the eggs laid by chickens at home were very small, but they tasted incredibly good and fragrant, incomparable to those from feed chickens sold in stores decades later.
"We don’t have any money left, right?" Ge Liutao, who was wiping around with a cloth, couldn’t help but worry as she watched Chiang Xiao’s actions.
They were running out of money and yet Chiang Xiao was buying so many eggs...
"Grandma, can we talk about something and come to an agreement?" Chiang Xiao turned around and looked at her seriously.
Her solemn and earnest demeanor made Ge Liutao’s heart skip a beat.
"You tell me, what is it? Grandma will listen to you."
Ever since she fell into the water, Chiang Xiao had become much more resolute, and now Ge Liutao found herself instinctively wanting to follow her words.
The roles seemed to have switched.
But she didn’t think there was anything wrong with that; as long as Chiang Songhai had no objections, she naturally had none either.
"Can I manage the family finances from now on?" Chiang Xiao asked. "I promise I won’t spend recklessly. The money will only be spent where it’s needed. But Grandpa and Grandma, don’t question every single thing, okay?"
Chiang Xiao didn’t want to speak so harshly to her grandmother, but she felt this might be the best method. Instead of constantly trying to persuade and painstakingly negotiating each time without solving the problem, erupting with frustration in the end, it might be better for her to take charge and make the decisions for the household herself.
After all, she would never let them suffer or lose out.
Ge Liutao was taken aback by her suggestion and it took her a while to respond, "Let’s wait until your grandpa wakes up and we’ll discuss it then, but he will definitely not object. Little, then Grandma won’t ask anymore."
Although Chiang Xiao knew this would be her response, she still breathed a sigh of relief to hear her say it.
"Alright then." She closed the cupboard door and added, "You heard what the doctor said too, Grandma. Grandpa’s health is the most important, so we have to take good care of these eggs. If my aunt comes again, you can’t let her take the eggs away, okay, Grandma?"
Seeing Ge Liutao looking troubled, Chiang Xiao delivered a strong statement, "If my great-uncle and his family really come to our house tomorrow, shouldn’t we cook them a sweet egg soup? Also, my cousin is still in the hospital, and she needs to recover too. When Great-Uncle arrives, you have to give him a dozen eggs to take back for my cousin to nourish herself."
"Exactly, exactly, Little, you think so thoroughly!"
Ge Liutao loved hearing that sort of thing, and when she heard that Ge Dejun’s family might visit, she immediately broke into a smile, as joyful as if they were actually coming.
Chiang Xiao quickly followed up, "So our eggs here are very important, and not a single one can go to Aunt."
"Alright, I’ll listen to you!" Ge Liutao nodded eagerly.
Chiang Xiao breathed another sigh of relief.
"I’m going to check on Grandpa and apply his medicine."
When Chiang Xiao entered the room, she found that Chiang Songhai was already awake, apparently having overheard their conversation, his expression somewhat bewildered.
"Grandpa, you’re awake? Have some water first." Chiang Xiao brought over the enamel cup, its Ganoderma water still a little warm, and quickly helped him sit up to drink.
"What kind of water is this? Why does it have a taste?"
Chiang Songhai had never consumed Lingzhi and didn’t recognize its flavor. However, the faint bitter fragrance made his originally bitter mouth feel a bit sweet after tasting it, and as he savored it, he could detect a hint of sweetness.