Ling Chengyan saw his face full of worry, trying hard to sell his chickens while hiding his reluctance, and asked, "Such good chickens, why are you selling them? Does your wife agree?"
The old man pursed his lips, raised his hand to wipe his face, and said, "I have no choice but to sell them. My wife is sick and needs to be hospitalized, which costs money..."
Ling Chengyan suddenly realized. She wondered why there was a strange smell and it was only after the old man spoke that she remembered—it was the hospital's disinfectant smell.
"Why don't you weigh all three chickens for me? I just happen to want to buy two hens to lay eggs for the kids."
The old man was surprised, then delighted, and quickly grabbed the chickens to weigh them at a neighboring stall.
Ling Chengyan took the three chickens, bought a pound of meat and two pounds of ribs, and also bought some marinated dishes before heading home.
