Chapter 117: Each person is limited to purchasing one jar of peach preserves

Adults have self-control, but children do not. Once they have tasted something, they want more. When it’s gone, they start crying and throwing tantrums.

“Grandma, I want more.”

“Be good, darling, there’s no more.”

“No, no! I want more! If I don’t eat them, my sickness won’t get better.”

Upon hearing this, the elderly woman was immediately alarmed and quickly spat three times for good luck. “Good boy, you shouldn’t say such unlucky things.” She then turned to Qiu Yinuo, offering a flattering smile. “Miss, you’re a mother yourself, you understand how urgent it is when a child is sick. How about selling me two jars? Let my grandson have something sweet, even if it’s a bit more expensive, I don’t mind!”

The other parents in the nearby beds were a little taken aback, glancing at Qiu Yinuo in suspicion, wondering if this was some sort of performance she had orchestrated.

Qiu Yinuo hadn’t expected to encounter such a determined customer and immediately waved her hand. “Auntie, these canned peaches are really heavy, and they come in glass jars. It was hard enough to bring them back from my hometown, so I really don’t have any left.”

The old woman looked disappointed. If she wouldn’t even sell for extra money, then she probably wasn’t lying.

Meanwhile, the children in the other beds also started to fuss, pestering their mothers to buy the preserves.

“Mommy, the yellow peach preserves are so delicious. I want more. Can you buy some for me, please?”

“It’s pitch dark outside. Where do you expect me to buy them now? Be good. Mommy will go get some tomorrow, alright?”

“No! I want it now!”

“Don’t make me slap you. Go to bed!”

The little brat, realizing that his nagging wasn’t working and that he had even made his mom angry, immediately climbed into bed, pulled up the covers, and shut his eyes.

Of course, there were still some kids who wouldn’t give up, making their parents even more irritated.

Qiu Qianjin coughed lightly and said, “Whoever doesn’t listen to their parents won’t be allowed to be my little brother anymore.”

The group of kids who all wanted to be Qiu Qianjin’s “little brother” immediately fell silent, their big eyes staring up at him.

As if to say: I’ll be good. Please let me keep being your little brother!

The parents of the naughty children: !!!

“Alright, it’s getting late. Listen to your parents and go to bed.”

“Yes Brother Jin!”

The ward instantly quieted down. Even the nurse, who had been about to scold them, pulled her hand back from the door. It seemed these kids had a strange habit of wanting to be someone’s little brother.

Qiu Yinuo quietly gave her younger brother a thumbs-up, whispering, “Well done, I’ll make you pig’s knuckle when we get home.”

“…I want half.”

“So stingy. I’m on a diet anyway. Fine, I’ll let you have half.”

Only then did Qiu Qianjin nod in satisfaction. “Sis, do you think I can get discharged tomorrow?”

“That depends on what the doctor says.”

“I want to be discharged.” The official sale of the peach preserves at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative would happen the day after tomorrow. If people couldn’t buy it tomorrow, wouldn’t they tear him apart?

He was scared! “It’s supposed to be sold the day after tomorrow, why didn’t you wait until tomorrow to perform this scene?”

“You don’t understand, it’s only when people can’t get something that they really want it.”

Qiu Qianjin thought: This is seriously devious. My sister really knows how to play people like a fiddle.

…

The next day, in just a single morning, not only the children in the neighboring ward knew about the Jinxiu peach preserves, but even the adults in the wards upstairs and downstairs were aware of it.

Many of them, early in the morning, went to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative to inquire. “Comrade, I heard you have Jinxiu peach preserves for sale, how much is it per jar? I’d like two jars.”

“Comrade, I want two jars as well.”

“I’ll take four!”

It was a typical mentality among people. At first, they may not have been interested in something like this, but when more people started buying it and more inquiries were made, naturally, curiosity kicked in. They wanted to know what it was, whether it tasted good, and they would follow the trend to buy a couple of jars.

For the past few days, Gao Xiulan had been promoting the Jinxiu peach preserves, and when she heard someone asking, she immediately responded, “We’re recording inventory today, and it will be officially on sale tomorrow. Be early, everyone! Our peach preserves is limited, one jar per person per day, and you’ll need a ration card for supplementary food.”

“What? It’s only available tomorrow? My grandson is sick and is counting on this peach preserves to save his life! Comrade, can you please do me a favor and sell me one jar?”

“Comrade, my son is also sick, and he’s throwing a tantrum because he can’t get the peach preserves. I only want one jar, please sell it to me. I’m begging you.”

“My daughter too. She had just one bite last night, and now she’s craving it so badly.”

Several people lined up, all insisting that their sick children desperately needed the preserves. Some bystanders who weren’t in the know were puzzled. “What’s going on? Can yellow peach preserves cure illnesses now?”

Those who had rushed over from the hospital didn’t have time to explain in detail, so they vaguely replied, “Yeah, they help. You should buy some too!”

Gao Xiulan was dumbfounded. What in the world is going on?

She had been handing out promotional flyers for days with minimal effect, yet now, just overnight, everyone was suddenly convinced these preserves could cure illnesses. Who had started such an outrageous rumor?

But she wasn’t about to ruin her brand by correcting it.

While people hadn’t managed to buy the Jinxiu peach preserves, they had learned that there was a limit of one jar per person. Now, they regretted not buying the remaining jars from Qiu Yinuo yesterday, before everyone caught on. They could have let their kids eat as much as they wanted and avoided the early morning chaos today.

A miscalculation, a big miscalculation!

Under the watchful eyes of the little ones, Qiu Qianjin left the ward to undergo a detailed examination.

Naturally, he didn’t know that after he left, several children burst into loud, heart-wrenching cries because they couldn’t get any peach preserves.

The crying was so sincere and heart-wrenching, even worse than when they had gotten their injections.

Some adults, unable to hold it in any longer, began swearing, “Damn it, who was the idiot who said peach preserves could cure diseases?”

“Stop crying, it will be available tomorrow. Can’t we wait a day?”

“At least the people in your ward got to eat it, but what about us? We don’t even know what the peach preserves looks like, and we haven’t even smelled it. Now we’re all crying for it. The Supply and Marketing Cooperative is only selling it tomorrow, where am I supposed to get it now?”

“Why don’t we go somewhere else to see if they’re selling it? We could even make our own with peaches.”

After a series of tests, Qiu Qianjin was diagnosed with acute appendicitis and needed surgery.

He grabbed the doctor’s hand, but before he could say anything, the doctor patted his hand and said, “Young man, don’t worry. Acute appendicitis is not a big deal. Once it’s removed, you’ll be fine. Don’t be scared!”

“Doctor, I trust your skills, but I do have a small request.”

“Go ahead.”

“I want to change rooms.” He couldn’t stay in the previous room anymore.

During the examination, many people had badmouthed the siblings. Even those who had never met them felt compelled to join in the criticism. If they went back now, they would surely be torn apart.