10：The Ginseng Deal: A Rare Treasure

The elite class is abundant, and wild ginseng is available, but resources like these, with such potent medicinal and nutritional value, are scarce. Usually, they are prioritized for the royal family.

Such premium wild ginseng is hard to come by.

In today's world, artificially cultivated ginseng is everywhere. A six-year-old ginseng costs only a few dozen yuan per root. The so-called "wild ginseng" in the market is typically just seeds planted artificially in forests.

The authenticity of wild ginseng on the market varies, and genuine wild ginseng requires careful identification.

Although it's said that ginseng cannot be harvested, the ones who consume it the most are still the powerful elite. They're also the ones who illegally consume wild game, while the rules don't apply to them.

With Xiao Bing's background, she could definitely get her hands on century-old wild ginseng. The century-old ginseng she bought previously was the right age, but its medicinal effects were lacking.

Unexpectedly, this 50-year-old ginseng had full medicinal potency.

It could be said that in the entire city of Chang'an, even in the whole of Qin Province, within the national ginseng community, Xiao Bing had connections. She had made it clear that anyone selling wild ginseng should notify her.

Li Cheng had surprised her this time.

"Professor Li, where did you get this ginseng?" Xiao Bing asked bluntly.

Li Cheng didn't hesitate and immediately gave Xiao Bing Shen Hao's WeChat and account details.

Xiao Bing nodded and told her assistant, "Check it out."

"Yes."

A moment later, the assistant hurried over, surprised. "Ms. Xiao, this Shen Hao is the one who rear-ended your car."

Xiao Bing was momentarily stunned, then smiled. It really was a small world.

"Good thing I refunded him the money back then; it seems like a good karma. Get in touch with him."

"Understood, Ms. Xiao."

Xiao Bing had added Shen Hao on WeChat back then through the assistant.

At the same time, Xiao Bing was curious about where Shen Hao had obtained the wild ginseng. Pure wild ginseng was rare in the market.

When Shen Hao returned home, he noticed that Xiao Bing, the one he had rear-ended, had sent him a message.

"Mr. Shen, did you sell a 50-year-old wild ginseng today?"

Shen Hao frowned. "Are you stalking me?"

"No, someone came to sell wild ginseng and I wanted to ask if you have more. We need a large amount. Don't worry, it's safe and guaranteed."

Shen Hao thought for a moment. The person was driving several Rolls-Royces, and their background was trustworthy.

Since they refunded the money, it was unlikely they would cause trouble.

If they wanted to pressure him, Shen Hao would probably be receiving a call from his uncle by now, so he was cautious with selling the ginseng. He was only selling one root as a trial.

Unfortunately, the world was such that those with power often ate others up, and you had no say in the matter.

Shen Hao replied directly, "Are you sure it's safe?"

"Of course, I've bought wild ginseng from all over the country. I don't care where your ginseng comes from, as long as it's genuine."

"I actually have a hundred-year-old wild ginseng root. I'm wondering if Ms. Xiao would be interested."

"Of course I am."

The assistant relayed the message to Xiao Bing.

Upon hearing this, before Xiao Bing could respond, both Zhou Peiyuan and Li Cheng's eyes lit up.

Zhou Peiyuan hurriedly grabbed the assistant's arm, asking eagerly, "Is this true?"

Xiao Bing's eyes also brightened with joy as she asked, "Does Shen Hao really have it?"

The assistant nodded. "That's what he said."

Seeing their excitement, the assistant was confused. Zhou Peiyuan asked, "Is it of the same quality as the 50-year-old wild ginseng?"

The assistant was completely puzzled. She didn't know anything about ginseng quality.

Xiao Bing said, "Quickly ask Shen Hao."

"Ah, right, right, I'll ask him now!" The assistant quickly messaged Shen Hao.

"Is the medicinal quality of the ginseng the same?"

"Yes, it's 100% the same. You can inspect it," Shen Hao confidently replied.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Peiyuan said, "Then let's go take a look. If it's genuine, tell the other party that the market value of his ginseng is at least 8 million to 10 million yuan."

After reading Shen Hao's message, the assistant was stunned, full of doubt. The price Shen Hao mentioned wasn't what she had found during her research, but who would complain about too much money?

Seeing that Shen Hao hadn't replied, Zhou Peiyuan directly had the assistant open a video call and explained, "In 2012, the auction price for a hundred-year-old wild ginseng root from Changbai Mountain reached 3 million yuan. If your hundred-year-old wild ginseng is of the same quality as the 50-year-old one, I estimate its value to be at least 10 million yuan. But we can't be sure until we see it in person."

"Such a high value?"

Shen Hao was completely unaware of the true worth of this ginseng. Even though he had the spatial ability, hearing that it could be worth 10 million still made him feel a surge of excitement.

A nouveau riche, yet his aura had not quite caught up.

"Alright, I'll bring it over for the trade tomorrow," Shen Hao said.

Zhou Peiyuan replied, "No need. We'll drive straight to your house to pick it up."

Their urgency was clear—they likely needed it right away.

Shen Hao said, "Alright then."

He then sent his location.

Xiao Bing turned to her assistant Zhao Lu and said, "Prepare the car immediately. Remember, keep this matter confidential."

"Understood."

Ten minutes later, Zhou Peiyuan and Xiao Bing arrived at the underground parking lot.

They were about to get into a Rolls-Royce with a license plate reading Qin·Good with a string of sixes.

As they were about to get in the car, Zhou Peiyuan said, "Isn't this a bit too ostentatious? Do you have something more low-key?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Bing thought for a moment and said, "Then bring the Alphard business van."

"Got it."

Half an hour later, the car exited the city and entered the highway.

Sitting in the car, no one spoke. Everyone had their eyes closed, resting, but their minds were preoccupied with thoughts of the ginseng.

They seemed extremely anxious. The car sped along at 140 km/h, and when there were fewer cars, it reached 160 km/h.

After an hour, they exited the highway.

Following the GPS, the three of them arrived at Shen Hao's home.

When the door opened and Shen Hao saw that it was Xiao Bing—the same person he had rear-ended before—he was a bit surprised. What a small world indeed.

"Wait here, I'll go get the ginseng."

Entering his bedroom, Shen Hao took the ginseng out from his spatial storage and casually carried it out in his hand.

Zhou Peiyuan immediately spotted the ginseng, especially noticing its exaggeratedly long, fine root hairs.

His face lit up with joy.

Carefully, Zhou Peiyuan picked up the wild ginseng, inspecting it with great attention.

The more he looked, the more delighted he became. Just like Li Cheng had done before, he snipped off a small piece of the ginseng's root hairs, chewed it for a moment, and said, "Excellent. It's pure wild ginseng, with strong medicinal properties—much more potent than the 50-year-old one."

Xiao Bing asked excitedly, "Uncle Zhou, are you certain?"

"One hundred percent pure wild ginseng. Although the appearance isn't as perfect as the ginseng king from the last ginseng competition, its medicinal properties are even stronger," Zhou Peiyuan replied, his gaze never leaving the ginseng.

Xiao Bing finally felt relieved. She looked at Shen Hao with joy and said, "Mr. Shen, how much do you intend to sell it for?"

Shen Hao replied, "I'm not sure about its value. You can name a price."

Xiao Bing turned to Zhou Peiyuan. "Uncle Zhou, what do you think? Let's go with the highest market price."

Zhou Peiyuan nodded. "In 2012, at the first ginseng auction, a hundred-year-old ginseng was sold for 3 million yuan—that was 11 years ago. At last year's Wild Ginseng Expo, a ginseng king was priced at 10 million yuan, but that one was older—240 years—and had thicker roots.

The appearance and medicinal quality of this ginseng are even better than that of Changbai Mountain wild ginseng.

Twenty years ago in Hong Kong, a true pure hundred-year-old Changbai Mountain wild ginseng sold for $30,000 per ounce. One ounce is 28.35 grams, which is about 8,500 yuan per gram—but that was over twenty years ago.

This wild ginseng not only has an excellent appearance and outstanding medicinal properties but is also fresh. I estimate its age to be around 110 years.

Such potent medicinal quality is incredibly rare.

How about this? Let's round it up—a neat 10 million yuan after tax. Bing Bing, what do you think?"