Chapter 135 - 137: Digging Up a Ginseng
It was a ginseng plant, and it must be at least a hundred years old based on its apparent age. If it was sold, it could fetch quite a sum of money, considering that most of the family’s savings were spent on her second uncle’s wedding.
The villagers cultivated a few acres of land, barely enough for subsistence. The Tang Family had hardly any spare money. If they hadn’t sold coriander a few years ago to earn some income, they would still be at the bottom of the village hierarchy. It was impossible to improve their financial situation by following the same old routine.
Hence, she needed to think of a way to make money. In her previous life, she barely paid any attention to the stock market or lotteries. She was a bland and dull woman who preferred a simple way of life. She didn’t buy lottery tickets or daydream about getting rich, and neither did she invest in stocks. She focused on her studies, working to earn money, and paying off her mortgage – she even barely knew how to use a computer.
So, her rebirth in this life could be seen as being without any golden touch. Unlike other reborn women who manage to make their families wealthy with ease, her rebirth seemed to be underwhelming.
She was plain and ordinary and lacked foresight.
Be careful, she dug out the ginseng, a rather big one with distinct features, and it appeared complete. She plucked a few leaves and carefully wrapped the ginseng, reluctant even to break a tiny root hair. Each root hair of this century-old ginseng was worth a fair bit of money.
Ginseng is used to save lives, and while money can’t buy life, it can certainly buy security. Hence, this ginseng could be sold for a decent amount.
She brought the ginseng home, and then approached Chen Zhong.
“Oh, good ginseng,” Chen Zhong’s eyes shone with glee the moment he saw the ginseng. He stretched out his hand and touched Tang Yuxin’s forehead, then plucked a few root hairs from the ginseng, much to Tang Yuxin’s heartache.
“Look at your miserly face.”
Chen Zhong pinched the troubled face of his young apprentice.
How could she not feel heartbroken? Every root hair that Chen Zhong plucked out felt like a hand clutching at her heart, causing an ache that was hard to bear. Chen Zhong plucked out a few more root hairs, then wrapped them in paper and placed them in front of Tang Yuxin. “This is good stuff; it can save lives.”
“As for this…” he asked Tang Yuxin seriously.
“Are you really selling it? Not everyone is lucky enough to find such good quality ginseng. As more people dare to venture into the mountains, it becomes increasingly hard to find ginseng.”
Tang Yuxin understood that no matter how hard she tried, money was easier to make than finding ginseng. But, at this stage, if her family wanted to improve their living conditions, they had no other choice but to sell this ginseng plant.
“Master, can you help me sell it?” she took the paper packet containing the root hair, her heart filled with sorrow. It felt like selling her own child.
“Alright,” Chen Zhong carefully kept the ginseng and prepared to go out to sell it.
He certainly had his own channels. Apart from getting a reasonable price, the most important thing was not getting swindled. This was why Tang Yuxin entrusted Chen Zhong with the task of selling the ginseng.
She was not foolish, but people still thought she was.
Being an 8 or 9-year-old child, adults will inevitably harbor intentions of deceit, especially with such good quality ginseng on the offer.
Tang Yuxin returned home and placed the ginseng root hairs in her little drawer.
The Tang brothers outside were still deliberating on what crops to plant. The entire family, with so many mouths to feed, depended on their fields to make a living.
Tang Yuxin went over and placed a small stool in front of the two of them.
“Dad, how about planting tomatoes and cucumbers? They fetch a good price during the New Year.”
Indeed, they were quite expensive. These were premium vegetables which were not very expensive during the summer. But during the New Year, their prices skyrocketed.
No matter the price, many people came over with money in hand to buy them. Furthermore, the vegetable wholesale market was about to open right across from their house, which made it very convenient for them to sell fresh produce wholesale and retail.
“Planting these would be good.”
Tang Zhijun was somewhat tempted. Both brothers were skilled at cultivating vegetables, and they knew that tomatoes and cucumbers could make money. Now that they wanted to cultivate these, as long as they have a warm greenhouse, if they could sell them before the New Year, these off-season vegetables could earn back their costs in just a few days.
But their spare money was running low. The original ten thousand yuan was intended for Tang Zhijun’s wedding. With the wedding just a few months away, the money for the banquet was indispensable. Although Zhang Xiangcao had no immediate family, they could not compromise on customary norms, such as the betrothal gifts, which needed to be bought for the household. Therefore, they absolutely could not touch this ten thousand yuan.
“Brother, should we break up that ten thousand yuan? I think planting tomatoes and cucumbers seems promising. I had this idea last year, but we sowed the seeds too late. Look at the prices last year. These tomatoes and cucumbers are not one-time sales. We can sell them before and after the New Year, and the price is high.”
Indeed, these were premium vegetables. However, the initial investment was quite substantial, such as the cost of the plastic sheet, bamboo poles, and stove. Both brothers had experience in farming, especially Tang Zhijun, who was sharp and had gathered a lot of knowledge over the years. They definitely had no problem setting up the most advanced greenhouse. The issue was that they didn’t have any spare money.
Purchasing plastic sheets, stoves, bamboo poles would cost quite a sum. Moreover, the greenhouse had to be built with real bricks and steel rebars to prevent it from collapsing under heavy snow, to ensure proper load-bearing, and to protect the quality plastic sheet. Everything had to be of good quality, and the bamboo poles had to be new.
This would cost a considerable amount of money. The greenhouse is not an ordinary canopy; it requires a lot of funds.
“No way,” Tang Zhinian flatly refused, leaving no room for negotiation. “Our parents died early, and you are my only brother. No matter what, we cannot compromise on your wedding. That money cannot be touched.”
No matter how he was wronged, he couldn’t wrong his own brother. The Tang family still had to live in Li Tang Village and maintain their standing amongst others. This was a matter of their honor. Even if he could discard his own dignity, he couldn’t forfeit the honor of their late parents.