Chapter 16 - Desperate situation
Back home, the family couldn't care less about the grapes, and instead marveled at the glossy Ganoderma lucidum, which was carefully carried by Grandma Liu.
Grandpa Liu's eyes were wide as saucers: "This, this is really Ganoderma …"
"Of course it's real, our Nannan picked it up! I also specifically said that it's for grandma!" Grandma Liu emphasized, the corners of her eyes and ears are shining with pride.
"Yes, yes, look at how proud you are," The old man carefully picked up the Ganoderma lucidum, and the pleats on his face slowly stretched. "Our Nannan is truly blessed. With this Ganoderma lucidum, our family can catch a break, and we no longer have to delay the two boys' education."
Liu Da and Liu Er were sitting next to each other, smiling and looking at each other with ease.
In fact, what concerned them the most now is their children's schooling.
Even in a private school in the neighboring village, a child needs at least one or two silver pieces a year. Then additional silvers are needed to spend on pens, ink and paper. A lot of money needs to be budgeted aside from those two or three silver pieces.
Besides, there are two boys at home.
Just relying on them to earn money and save money wasn't enough. With their current situation, they still have to be tired for two or three years before they can afford their children to study, and that will definitely delay their children.
Well now, with the income from selling this ganoderma, they can solve their urgent needs.
When the two boys heard that they could go to school, they clapped their hands, laughed and jumped with joy.
Grandpa Liu squatted down and stroked Liu Yusheng's head. "Nannan, this Ganoderma lucidum was picked by you. Grandpa has to ask for your opinion. We will sell it for silver and send your two brothers to school."
The rest of the family looked at her expectantly.
Liu Yusheng was caught off guard. A smile slowly bloomed from her face as she nodded, "Sell! brothers, go to school!"
Grandpa and everyone in the family didn't ignore her just because she was young.
A simple inquiry was their respect to her.
"Okay! Good! Hahaha, our Nannan knows best!" Holding the baby in his arms, Grandpa Liu's heart melted again and was unwilling to let go.
"Dad, then we'll go to town tomorrow. Besides, it's just in time for your follow up check up at the medical center tomorrow. I'll go and borrow Li's ox cart and we can all go to town tomorrow, then sell the ganoderma along the way."
"Alright, let's do that!"
This afternoon, the laughter in the family hardly stopped.
Early the next morning, Liu Dalin quickly finished his breakfast and went to Li's home to borrow his ox cart. He pulled up the old man, took his baby daughter, and the water container prepared by Grandma Liu, and set off at the behest of the queen mother.
By the time they arrived in town, the sun had just risen.
The center of the town in the morning seemed relatively quiet. Except for the shops that started to open early on both sides of the street, there were still no pedestrians.
Liu Dalin drove the cart directly to the entrance of Nanfeng medical center. When the old man and his delegation neared the hospital, the staff in the medical center recognized them at a glance, and someone immediately ran to the inner hall to inform Doctor Hu.
They were really impressed by the old man, who recovered when he originally was a dying patient, gasping for his last breath. His case was the very first in Nanfeng medical center.
When the three entered the medical hall, Dr. Hu also came out. At the sight of Grandpa Liu's radiant face, he smiled, "Mr. Liu, you seem to be in good spirits. You must have recovered well during this period."
As he spoke, he motioned for Grandpa Liu to sit down on a stool in the hall and then he probed his hand to diagnose his pulse.
For a second, he gave Liu Yusheng a quick meaningful glance.
"Hahaha, it's because of Doctor Hu's blessings. These recent days have indeed been a good period for recovery. The vitality on my head has also been ample. I can eat and drink, and sleep until dawn," The old man shared happily, not worried about the outcome of the medical consultation.
He could feel that there's really no discomfort in his body.
Liu Dalin on the other hand looked more nervous than the patient.
It wasn't until he heard Doctor Hu saying that his father was in good health, that there were no remaining symptoms, and that even some of the diseases accumulated overtime have disappeared, did he finally put down his heart.
"By the way, Dr. Hu, the family went up the mountains yesterday and blindly picked a medicinal herb. Do you buy them here?" With that, Liu Dalin took out a cloth bag from his arms and uncovered it mindfully.
At first, Doctor Hu thought that it was but an ordinary medicinal herb. There are also farmers who would visit the medical center weekly when they had picked some herbs and sold them for living, and he would buy them for what they're worth.
The whole of the Liu Family somehow has captured his eyes, so as long as it's not a worthless herb, he's thinking of buying it and giving them a helping hand.
But when the fabric was finally bared and the medicinal herb inside was out in the open, Doctor Hu opened his eyes widened as he exclaimed, "Ganoderma!"
He picked the Ganoderma lucidum without delay and examined it in front of his eyes. It is indeed Ganoderma lucidum. And it's medicinal flavor is rich. It's also bright in color, an excellent quality!
"Let's talk in the inner hall."
After hearing that, Liu Dalin and Grandpa Liu looked at each other and followed him inside excitedly.
At the inner hall, Dr. Hu checked the ganoderma again and said, "This ganoderma is of excellent quality. If it is a century-old ganoderma, it would sell for a few hundred taels of silver, but your pick is only about 50 years old, so the price is much lower. I'll give you 40 taels. This price absolutely doesn't cheat neither old nor young. If you take it to the county seat, the same price will be offered by the City Medical Center. What do you say?"
40, 40?
Liu Dalin and Grandpa Liu were once again overcome by excitement. This price has greatly exceeded their estimates.
40 taels of silver is a huge sum for farmers.
Although they have no knowledge of medicinal herbs, Doctor Hu's reputation in the town has always been honorable, and they believe that he wouldn't pit them in this regard.
Liu Yusheng also nodded silently. Her previous estimate was around 30 taels. Doctor Hu' offer of 40 was indeed a high price.
After all, ganoderma lucidum is no better than ginseng, and the age is not too long.
Grandpa Liu finally called the shots on this auction, "Okay, sold!"
Until they walked out of the gates of the medical center, they were still over the moon
This just was entirely unbelievable!
"Grandpa, buy, eat meat!" Liu Yusheng opened her little mouth, her eyes bent in a smile.
"Okay, Nannan wants to eat, so let's buy!"
The old man was on cloud nine. With Liu Yusheng, they started sweeping the streets. At the end of the day, they not only bought pork, wine, candy, cloth to sew clothes, but also ink, pens and paper for the two boys.
Everything that Nannan pointed was all bought.
When they returned to the ox cart, they had already spent more than two or three taels!
Liu Dalin drove the ox cart with his heart dripping with blood, and his face wreathed in smiles.
The ox cart sauntered slowly along the road, against the scorching sun, they weren't stifled at all. Seeing wild flowers that haven't withered yet on the curbs of the road, they broke into bubbly chatters that continued buzzing with the heat of the day.
Hearty laughter sprinkled behind the cart.
From time to time, Liu Dalin would look at the cheery smiles of the old man and the young girl behind him, and then look forward on the road again. He just felt that this day was exuberant because there's hope.
"Grandpa, look, look!"
Midway through the trip, Liu Yusheng suddenly pointed at a big tree on the roadside and cried out.
Grandpa Liu followed her fingers and also yelled, "Yo, what's this! Dalin, stop now, look over there!"
Under the tree, a woman was lying unconscious on the ground. And kneeling beside her was a thin, emaciated boy, holding the woman's head in his arms with what strength he had left, terrified and defenseless.