Wealthy Beauty in the 60s
Chapter 89 - 88 Wild Ginseng (2000+ votes)

Chapter 89: Chapter 88 Wild Ginseng (2000+ votes)

Xia Xiao felt ashamed, she had indeed never seen ginseng from the mountains before, and she could not recall ever having ginseng before. Furthermore, she did not understand much about ginseng, only that in novels, ginseng was described as a life-saving medicine and a great tonic.

"Brother Gao, what kind of ginseng is this?" Xia Xiao remembered that there were many types of ginseng and most were produced in the Northwest Region. She hadn’t expected that this small place in the south would have ginseng as well.

"Wild ginseng," said Gao Jiaxing, "Let’s keep looking, maybe there’s more."

Unfortunately, Xia Xiao and Gao Jiaxing did not find any more. Shitou said, "Xiaoxiao, you didn’t ask me to help you look."

Xia Xiao’s eyes suddenly lit up, only then did she remember Shitou and whispered, "Can you really help?"

"Yes, I can help with many small things," said Shitou.

"Then help us look for wild ginseng," Xia Xiao thought of Shitou’s ability to find natural treasures, and it was indeed a great surprise.

With Shitou’s help, Xia Xiao and Gao Jiaxing dug up four or five pieces of wild ginseng, then Xia Xiao stopped letting Shitou look.

"Two pieces of wild ginseng, you guys are really lucky to have found them," Gao Jiazhi said with a smile, holding two pieces of wild ginseng and showing them to Li Zhenchuan.

"Wow, these two pieces of wild ginseng are quite old, they are good stuff. Comrade Gao Jiaxing and Comrade Xia Xiao, well done, I have heard of your deeds. You are brave, daring to fight and take risks, focusing on practical work, and wholeheartedly contributing to the production team. The country needs talented individuals like you."

He was indeed an old cadre; his way of speaking was different.

Xia Xiao blushed from the praise; she hadn’t been so selflessly dedicated. Moreover, including the one that Gao Jiaxing initially dug up, they had a total of six pieces, and after giving two pieces to the production team, both she and Gao Jiaxing still kept two pieces each.

Gao Jiaxing was a bit thicker-skinned and didn’t show much reaction on his face.

Li Zhenchuan joined everyone in picking herbs and digging bamboo shoots, showing no airs and integrating quickly into the group.

Everyone accepted Li Zhenchuan quite well, and as he was not much older than the rest, he was also able to join in the conversation.

Back at the Gao family, Xia Xiao took out two pieces of wild ginseng and gave them to Gao Jiaxing, "Brother Gao, could you sell these two pieces of wild ginseng for me?"

"Not keeping one?" Gao Jiaxing asked.

Xia Xiao shook her head, "Since there is ginseng in the mountains, we will surely encounter it again in the future."

"Do you think it’ll always be such good luck?" Gao Jiaxing was speechless. Wild ginseng was so hard to come across, yet Xia Xiao spoke as if it was easy.

"Brother Gao, don’t say that, I really have such luck. Do you see that when you hunt with me, we have better luck than usual?" Xia Xiao lifted her chin confidently.

Gao Jiaxing nodded, "That’s true. Alright then, I’ll take care of your two pieces of wild ginseng and sell them for you when the time comes."

"Thank you, Brother Gao. I’ll get going now. Remember to check the traps. If there’s anything, help me sell it. I trust you," Xia Xiao said, then left, preparing to set traps for pheasants and to check on the Black Bears at Black Bear Cave.

After safely storing away Xia Xiao’s wild ginseng, Gao Jiaxing saw Gao Jiazhi coming in, "What’s up?"

"How many pieces of wild ginseng did we dig up today?" Gao Jiazhi asked.

Gao Jiaxing gestured with his fingers, "Four, and we gave two to the production team."

"You thinking of selling them?" Gao Jiazhi continued.

Gao Jiaxing shook his head, "Thinking of keeping them at home."

Gao Jiazhi patted Gao Jiaxing on the shoulder, "Mm, it’s good to at least keep one at home. Well done."

Gao Jiaxing didn’t say anything. The production team was the collective, but he had his personal desires. If it was just one piece, he definitely wouldn’t have given it up, but having extras, Gao Jiaxing would contribute to the production team.

After Gao Jiazhi left, Gao Jiaxing gave one piece of the wild ginseng to Zheng Xianghong, kept one for himself, and carefully wrapped Xia Xiao’s wild ginseng and tucked it into his coat pocket before heading out.

The next afternoon, Xia Xiao received the money Gao Jiaxing had obtained for her, a total of one hundred sixty.

"If it were before, these two pieces of wild ginseng would be worth more, but now, when people have nothing to eat, wild ginseng is less valuable to some than a sweet potato. Only some families who are well-off or in need of it for emergency will buy it."

"It’s alright, I’m happy just to have some money. Thank you, Brother Gao," Xia Xiao said.

After giving thanks, Gao Jiaxing added, "I had Ge Lai help with the sale. That guy goes hunting in the mountains every day and then sells in the black market. He has connections there, so they take some commission, which benefits Ge Lai, and he can keep our dealings secret."

Xia Xiao nodded, "Brother Gao, I’ll leave it to you. I don’t really understand these things, and since you have a good relationship with Ge Lai, it’s easier for you to talk to him."

"Alright, you can trust me. From now on, leave these matters to me, I won’t take advantage of you," Gao Jiaxing said.

"Brother Gao, just be careful as well. If Ge Lai is discovered, others might suspect you too," Xia Xiao was concerned that if trouble arose, it would be problematic.

"Ge Lai is a man of honor and easy to deal with. He doesn’t know these are yours; he thinks they’re all mine. Don’t worry about him, it’s Liu Haihua that concerns me," Gao Jiaxing frowned, "If Ge Lai ends up marrying Liu Haihua, who knows what might happen."

Xia Xiao also had doubts about Liu Haihua’s reliability, "Then tell Ge Lai not to tell Liu Haihua everything. She might not be fully on his side."

For now, it seemed okay, but during a special period, that could lead to being denounced. Xia Xiao didn’t think Liu Haihua would report on Ge Lai, as he was her man, but Xia Xiao was worried that Liu Haihua might turn on Gao Jiaxing if she found out about him.

Gao Jiaxing nodded and Xia Xiao continued, "When are Ge Lai and Liu Haihua getting married?"

"Next year, I guess," said Gao Jiaxing.

"That soon." Xia Xiao was surprised, "They are only eighteen this year, right? They’ll be just nineteen next year."

"Some in the village marry at fourteen or fifteen. Eighteen or nineteen isn’t considered young," Gao Jiaxing replied.

"Fourteen or fifteen seems much too young," Xia Xiao struggled to accept such young people getting married.

"So, don’t think everything regarding human affairs is good. My grandmother gave birth to several daughters, and all were abandoned."

Xia Xiao had heard about this and felt Old Lady Gao was rather heartless. Sighing, she said to Gao Jiaxing, "Brother Gao, stop talking about these things."