C15 Selling Ginseng

The following day, Situ Yu set out to sell one of his orchid pots. He also planned to dig up a ginseng root to see how it would fare on the market.

The vegetable catalysis had been canceled after a day, which significantly boosted the energy catalysis for the ginseng. As a result, the root had grown considerably in just three days.

The previous evening, the mischievous little loli, Ke Lianna, had made an appearance, brandishing a sign that read "Protest against abuse," "No food," and "Determined to strike."

It took Situ Yu over half an hour of cajoling before she finally settled down.

Armed with his newfound experience, he grabbed a large plastic bag and gently placed the orchid inside. He fetched a small shovel to unearth the ginseng, cleaned off the dirt, washed it, and dried it with a cloth. Then, he wrapped it in another plastic bag and tucked it into his pocket.

The ginseng was just a tad larger than a thumb, resembling a tiny human figure, but it was quite small, weighing around 30 grams. He was uncertain about its potential selling price.

He drove leisurely to the flower and bird market, which was bustling with people, likely fellow enthusiasts.

Determined not to return to the stout shopkeeper from his last visit, Situ Yu decided to try his luck at a different store to see how much he could get for his items. He couldn't afford to limit himself to just one shop.

He entered a larger store not far from the previous one, named Green Herbs. The shop was split into two sections: a vast array of plants dominated the space, with a small corner dedicated to pets. Situ Yu was curious about the owner's approach, as the two sections seemed unrelated.

Inside, several customers browsed the plants with keen interest, while a salesperson stood by, ready to answer any pricing inquiries.

A striking young woman caught Situ Yu's attention. Her shoulder-length, wavy hair framed her finely chiseled features. Dressed in a chic gray suit, her figure was impressive, and her bare, shapely calves were on display. Her face was adorned with a gentle smile, exuding a warm and approachable aura.

As Situ Yu walked in, the young woman approached him with a welcoming smile. "Welcome! How may I assist you today?"

She didn't judge Situ Yu for his simple attire, maintaining her warm demeanor. Situ Yu took a liking to her, particularly impressed by her customer service. Her outfit set her apart from the other shop assistants; she was likely the manager.

"I'm looking to sell a pot of orchids. Do you buy them here?" Situ Yu asked, returning the smile.

"Of course. Could you please show it to me?"

"Certainly." He proceeded to the counter and pulled the orchid from the plastic bag.

Initially, the woman's brow furrowed at the unusual presentation, but her expression quickly turned to delight upon seeing the orchid's quality. It was a rare find, cultivated so well.

The orchid's value must be around 250,000 yuan, and her gaze at Situ Yu shifted.

"This orchid is exceptional, with a market value of about 250,000 yuan. I'm willing to offer 200,000 yuan for it."

"What? 200,000 yuan?! Last time, a deceitful fat man paid just over 50,000 yuan for another orchid of mine. That's daylight robbery," Situ Yu burst out before she could finish.

Narrowing her eyes with a knowing smile, the woman said, "Ah, so you're the 'silly boy' that Fatty Chi mentioned. Hehe."

"That swindler took advantage of me and has the nerve to mock me? Damn it, I'm done with his shop," Situ Yu fumed, his fists clenched as if ready for a fight.

"The offer of 200,000 yuan is the best I can make. I can't go any higher," the woman stated firmly.

The commotion drew the attention of onlookers, and an elderly man stepped closer to admire the potted plant. "Well done, young man. You've raised a fine specimen," he complimented, giving a thumbs up.

Situ Yu's mood softened, and he managed a grateful "Thank you." The thought of the previous loss still stung—over 140,000 yuan gone. To earn that back through mining would take a lifetime. Damn it, indeed.

"Alright, let's settle on that price," Situ Yu said agreeably.

He then pulled out his bank card and passed it over.

"Charge it to this card, please."

"Sure thing." The young woman accepted the bank card with a smile.

She returned to her computer and expertly navigated through the transaction. Shortly after, her phone chimed with a text message confirming a deposit of 200,000 yuan.

Satisfied, she nodded and handed Situ Yu's bank card back to him, along with her business card.

He glanced at the card. Name: Qiu Xintong. Phone number: 18XXX... She was the owner of the establishment, and evidently, a wealthy one at that. He couldn't help but wonder, 'Does a beauty like her need a handsome man to take care of?' But he kept the thought to himself.

Driven by curiosity, Situ Yu turned to Qiu Xintong and inquired,

"Boss Qiu, this is clearly a plant shop, so why are there small animals over there?"

"Well, my primary focus is on plants," she explained. "However, I have certain connections that allow me to source some rare items. Those over there have been specially ordered. If someone places a reservation and pays a deposit, I can procure it for them promptly."

Situ Yu inwardly took a sharp breath. Was this what they called smuggling? This modest-looking plant shop had some serious clout.

He reassessed the attractive young woman and said with a grin, "I might just have to ask for your help in the future to acquire some unique items, Boss Qiu."

"You're most welcome. Just be aware, the prices aren't exactly low."

"That's to be expected."

"I should get going now. Farewell."

"Goodbye." Qiu Xintong escorted Situ Yu to the door.

An old man was there, admiring an orchid.

"If Elder Yun is fond of it, I'd be happy to gift it to you," Qiu Xintong offered cheerfully.

"I couldn't possibly. If I brought it home, it would be taken by those old rascals in no time. I'd rather come here to enjoy it," he replied.

Qiu Xintong's laughter filled the air, "Hahaha!"

After departing from the Green Herbs Store, Situ Yu didn't head directly for the herbal medicine shop. Instead, he strolled through the market, pondering his future need for biological genes, though he had no clear plan just yet.

Since he was already at the flower and bird market, Situ Yu decided to check out the animals. A cute Pomeranian, a goofy parrot, and a haughty cat caught his eye. They all seemed to be brimming with mischief. No wonder Ke Lianna had given him such a hard time the night before.

After browsing with no particular inspiration, he left the market and, quite by chance, stumbled upon a herbal medicine shop named Hundred Herbs Hall. The calligraphy on the signboard suggested the work of a master, or so Situ Yu mused to himself. It was a shame he couldn't read it; he was just faking his appreciation.

Entering the shop, he was greeted by the pungent aroma of traditional Chinese medicine. He watched the shop assistant busily preparing prescriptions and decided not to rush. Instead, he took his time perusing the various herbs and their prices, hoping to broaden his knowledge. The ginseng prices were indeed steep, but not quite as exorbitant as he'd heard, and they didn't match the quality of his own.

Once the assistant was free, Situ Yu approached and inquired, "Do you purchase ginseng here?"

"We source regular ginseng through our own channels, but we're open to buying special varieties," the assistant answered earnestly.

"What about this one?" Situ Yu casually produced a plastic bag from his pocket.

The assistant's eyelids twitched at the sight of the bag, silently scoffing at the seemingly ordinary packaging that surely couldn't contain anything of age. How else could it be preserved in such a way?

Upon opening the bag and revealing the ginseng inside, the assistant was taken aback. Though he had only been working there for a few years, he recognized the rarity of the item. He had seldom seen such specimens in person, but the shape was unmistakable.

He hastily called out, stuttering, "Medic—Medicine Elder, come, come take a look at this!"

Yao Lao, the elder, was momentarily at a loss for words upon seeing the assistant's flustered state. The kid never stuttered before. What had gotten into him?

Yao Lao approached leisurely, but as soon as he caught sight of the item on the counter, he nearly tripped over himself. Hastily closing the distance in two quick strides, he donned his reading glasses and examined the ginseng intently.

"Yes, this is definitely it. Remarkably well-preserved. Hmm? Isn't this a bit too fresh? Could it have been recently unearthed?"

"Young man, where did you find this wild ginseng? It must be over fifty years old," Yao Lao said, his eyes filled with eager anticipation as he looked at Situ Yu.

Situ Yu offered a wry smile. "Are you asking me to tell a lie upon a lie upon a lie? Even if I spoke the truth, you wouldn't believe me. And it would take some nerve to say it, too."

Yao Lao caught sight of Situ Yu's bitter smile and instantly knew he had crossed a line. "My apologies, I was out of line to ask such a question. I'm truly sorry."

"May I inquire, young man, are you intending to sell this 50-year-old wild ginseng?"

"Yes, I am. But I'm not sure what it's worth."

"Wild ginseng of such advanced medicinal age has become quite scarce in recent years. A hundred-year-old specimen recently fetched around 1.6 million for about 50 grams. Your ginseng, at roughly 30 grams, is in excellent condition. I'd estimate its value at around 450,000. I can offer you a maximum of 400,000 for it; any more than that wouldn't be a prudent purchase for us."

Well, I'll be—just three days of growth and it's already aged 50 years. A few more days, and it could reach a century, worth 1.6 million! Situ Yu was inwardly overjoyed.

"Sold. I'm unlikely to find a better buyer in short order, and I trust your reputation."

Yao Lao offered a slight smile. "Then, if you would, please hand me your card, and I'll make the transfer. I assume you're not interested in cash."

"Absolutely." Situ Yu nonchalantly passed over his card. Yao Lao took it and instructed the finance department to transfer 400,000 to Situ Yu's account. The notification of the completed transaction came through promptly.

With the money and ginseng exchange confirmed to their mutual satisfaction, Situ Yu left the herbal medicine shop. He had barely walked a few steps when he saw a stunning duo being accosted by a group of men, blocking their path.

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