Chapter 25: Dad, Your Hand Can’t Drink Anymore

Even including the cost of the stove and labor, and the glass bottles she would buy for the milk tea, the cost wouldn’t exceed twenty cents.

The materials were cheap; the glass cups were more expensive.

“Isn’t that a bit expensive?” Ji Yang was surprised by the price.  If she sold them for one yuan, the profit margin would be too high.

“It’s not expensive,” Su Ai shook her head.

“Movie tickets cost two and a half or three yuan now.”

“People who can afford movies won’t mind a yuan or two.”

One yuan for milk tea, one yuan for popcorn, and one yuan for a bag of candied hawthorns.

“And this business won’t last long.” The technology is simple; anyone can do it. Once Su Ai’s business is successful, many people will start price wars.

That’s why Su Ai wanted to make a quick profit and leave.

“Don’t worry. I’ll process the corn this afternoon and take care of you before your surgery tomorrow.”

“After the surgery, I’ll set up my stall. The corn will be dry by then.”

“Mommy, I won’t play here this afternoon; I’ll help you.”

“Mommy will be super tired alone,” Lele said, offering his help.

“Mommy can manage alone. Lele can stay here with Daddy, okay?”

“Daddy needs an IV this afternoon; someone needs to watch it. If the blood flows back and no one is there, the blood will be drawn out!”

Su Ai forcefully kissed her son’s cheek.  He was so adorable.

A heartwarming little angel.

“Then…okay.”

Lele looked at his father and then at his mother, finally deciding to stay and care for his father.

After dinner, Su Ai helped Ji Yang with his personal needs, then left with the dirty dishes.

Su Ai steamed the corn and then spread it out to dry.

The surgery was tomorrow, giving her another day to dry it. The weather was good, so it should dry.

Steaming a hundred kilograms of corn wasn’t easy.  While steaming rice, Su Ai went to a glass factory to inquire about glass bottles.

But glass bottles were too expensive.

Most glass cups didn’t have lids.  Su Ai only needed about a thousand; the factory wouldn’t make a separate batch of lids.

The cost was too high, so Su Ai gave up.

She bought red and white plastic cups with lids. They were more expensive but affordable.

The shopkeeper asked Su Ai: “What do you want printed on them?”

Su Ai instantly recalled the ubiquitous “I love you,” “Honey Snow Ice City Sweet Sweet” slogans of the future.

“I love you” was a bit bold for this era, but “Sweet Sweet” felt appropriate.

“Let’s call it Sweet Sweet.”

Su Ai wrote “Sweet Sweet” in a decorative style.

She added a heart and a flower at the end of the strokes.

The shopkeeper was stunned.

“Girl, your handwriting is beautiful.”

“Mm.”

“Then add a small line: Love is sweet, life is sweet, drink Sweet Sweet, life is even sweeter!”

The shopkeeper gave Su Ai a thumbs-up.

“Good.”

“Young comrade, you’re lucky.”

“That’s a good slogan.”

Su Ai smiled.  Slogans then were simple and down-to-earth.

Like “Wang Wang Wang, Wang Wang”

People liked auspicious words.

“Thank you. I’ll pick them up tomorrow.”

“Okay, you can count on it.”

“I’ll definitely have it ready for you tomorrow.”

Su Ai went back and steamed and dried the large bag of corn, working hard.

After finishing, she cooked and delivered food to her husband and son.

As soon as she entered, she heard them causing trouble.

Her three-year-old son said in a childish voice: “Dad, I think your hand is full; it’s starting to vomit.”

Ji Yang was still spacing out, but Su Ai reflexively looked at his hand.

Case closed.

The IV needle had come loose; a large lump had formed on his hand.  The liquid was leaking out.

Su Ai twitched her mouth.

She patted her son’s head, sighing: “You have such a sharp mind and mouth; your words are fresh.”

Ji Yang finally snapped back to reality; Su Ai had already removed the needle.

Ji Yang looked at the lump on his hand and then at Su Ai, nervously touching his nose.

“Doesn’t it hurt?” Su Ai pressed his hand.

Luckily, Su Ai arrived in time; there was little liquid left in the bottle, so there was no need for another needle.

It did hurt a little.

But Ji Yang, feeling guilty, shook his head: “It doesn’t hurt.”

Lele looked around.

“Mommy, did Lele not watch Dad’s IV properly?”

“The tube didn’t turn red this time, right?”

Lele felt troubled by his task of watching his father’s IV.

Last time, the tube changed color, and he thought it had magical powers.

This time, Dad’s hand swelled, and he thought it was full, so he reminded Dad.  Wasn’t that right?

“It’s not your fault; Dad keeps spacing out.”

“You’re too young; it’s normal not to know.”

“Then Dad can explain it to me, so I’ll know next time.”

Ji Yang patted Lele’s head: “Okay, Dad will explain.”

“Our bodies have blood vessels.”

“They go everywhere in our bodies.  The needle was inserted into Dad’s blood vessel.  The flowing blood carries the medicine to all parts of the body, curing the illness.”

“But Dad moved, and the needle shifted. It might have punctured the blood vessel, so the medicine didn’t flow into the blood vessel.”

“It went into the flesh.”

“The medicine accumulated under the skin, forming a lump.”

“So that’s wrong. Next time you see this, remind Dad early.”

Lele’s eyes shone with knowledge.

“So that’s how it is.”

“The needle is naughty; it runs around.”

Su Ai burst into laughter.

The world is full of wonders; even needles get scolded.

“Time to eat.”

Ji Yang also patted his son’s head.

Children’s words are always full of childishness and laughter.

“Eat.” Su Ai made Beijing-style shredded pork with thin pancakes. Adults could add scallions; children could eat it directly.

“Mommy, delicious.”

“Awoo delicious.”

Although the child spoke unclearly, his bright eyes said it all.

“If it’s delicious, eat more.”