Chapter 136: 138: Not Letting Hope Wash Away

This was no trivial matter, it was about his brother’s wedding. No matter what, they had begun building a house and spent money. Even if it meant grinding their teeth, they had to ensure the wedding was grand.

His brother might only get married once in his life. She didn’t want to face the snide remarks of others or have people gossip behind her back.

Zhijun wanted to discuss further with Zhinian, “Xiangcao won’t mind…”

“Enough, stop talking,” Zhinian interrupted his brother, “No matter what, I won’t touch that money.”

“But, brother…” Zhijun really felt, if they didn’t take action now, then there would be no time. They could still manage now, and soon after the greenhouse was built, they could start planting. Otherwise, even if they had money, it would be useless if they delayed any longer. They would have to wait until next year, and who knew what would happen then?

Zhinian stood up and walked outside resolutely. He was adamant that he would not use the money set aside for his brother’s wedding. Therefore, you could say that he was honest, as he seemed to be.

However, when it came to being stubborn, there was hardly anyone in the entire village who could compete with him.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have remained single in his previous life, working like a beast of burden for Sang Zhilan and her family all his life.

Zhijun looked at his elder brother’s retreating figure and then turned to meet Tang Yuxin’s sparkling eyes. He reached out and patted Tang Yuxin’s head.

“When your father gets like this, nobody can talk him around.”

Tang Yuxin nodded her head several times. She agreed with this completely, but she wasn’t worried. Soon, they would be able to get the money back.

By evening, Chen Zhong returned, handing Tang Yuxin a small cloth bag. Tang Yuxin hefted it; it was pretty heavy. After all, genuine wild ginseng that had grown for hundreds of years was very valuable in this era.

“I sold it for 6,500. Count it.”

Tang Yuxin’s eyes brightened. She was thrilled as she clutched the bag to her chest. Over six thousand! That was a lot! However, after she finished celebrating, she started contemplating. Over six thousand yuan wasn’t much in the future, it wouldn’t even buy an iPhone. But, this wild ginseng could potentially cost millions in the future.

So, she was actually quite regretful. Alas, she had sold it at a loss.

However, there was no choice. They really needed the money at home.

As she walked through the village holding over six thousand yuan, she was somewhat fearful. After all, this was a significant amount of money. Fortunately, she was still a child and no one had noticed what she was carrying.

Thus, she returned home with as much caution as if she were holding a time bomb.

Then she placed the bag in front of Zhinian.

Zhinian took the bag and weighed it in his hands, unable to figure out what was inside, but it felt quite heavy.

Zhijun, on the other hand, swallowed hard.

The money seemed to emanate a familiar scent. He recognized the smell of banknotes.

Upon opening the bag, Zhinian inadvertently spilled the money out. There were exactly six bundles and a little more.

Each bundle was a thousand yuan. There were six and a half bundles altogether.

“My god!” Zhijun hastily picked up the money and stuffed it back into the cloth bag together with Zhinian.

“Xinxin, where did you get this money from?” Zhinian placed his hand on his daughter’s shoulder. Where could such a little girl get so much money from? The money at home was all in cheques, so it couldn’t possibly be from their house. His daughter had always been a good child, so naturally he didn’t believe she would steal from anyone. Besides, who in the village would keep over six thousand yuan at home? You could build a house with that much money.

Tang Yuxin made a grimace. Father, could you please lighten your grip a little? Was he trying to crush her bones?

Yet, she still had to put on an unwittingly honest expression.

“Dad, I found a ginseng yesterday,” she indicated the size, which was quite large. Actually, it wasn’t possible for it to be this big. She had exaggerated the size. If a ginseng actually grew that big, it wouldn’t be a ginseng anymore, but a monster.

“I asked grandfather to help me sell it, and it made this much money. Dad, use it to grow tomatoes and cucumbers, okay? I want to eat them as well.”

These vegetables were considered precious, even if they were grown at home, the family was reluctant to eat them. Only during celebrations in the village could they afford to eat them.

These ordinary vegetables would be very common in the future, but in this era, they were deemed precious.

Locally grown tomatoes and cucumbers were scarce because they were off-season vegetables. During the New Year, they were often transported from the south. However, southern vegetables would either spoil due to the long transportation time or become expensive when they reached the north.

But, because it was the New Year, people would buy them regardless of the cost.

Zhinian broke out in a cold sweat, but when he looked into his daughter’s innocent eyes, he knew she wasn’t lying. His daughter had always been a good child and had never caused him any worry, and she certainly wouldn’t speak irresponsibly.

And such a large amount of money couldn’t possibly have come from a common family.

Still, he had to confirm it himself. He feared this was Chen Zhong’s money. Over six thousand yuan wasn’t a small sum, they couldn’t afford to borrow or repay such a big amount.

“Oh, the ginseng you mentioned?”

Chen Zhong put away his herbs, turned around and started arranging the herbs in the medicine cabinet. “Your daughter dug it up. She was lucky, it’s over eighty years old. It sold for 6,500. If it had grown for a few more years, it could be even more valuable. But by then it might not belong to your family. It’s all about fate, which no one can change.”

“What is it?” Chen Zhong glanced at Zhinian from under his eyelids.

“You don’t think it’s my money, do you?”

Zhinian’s face turned an awkward shade of black and red, he had indeed thought so.

“Rest assured,” Chen Zhong turned back around and continued to arrange his scarce herbs, “The little girl is sensible and wouldn’t ask me for money. Even if she wanted to, I wouldn’t have any. Ever since that flood, I haven’t fully recovered.”

He was telling the truth. That flood had washed away all his belongings. The only thing that gave him solace was that his little apprentice, Tang Yuxin, was still alive. Otherwise, he didn’t know whether he would have lost his life too in that flood.

He could pick herbs again even if they had been washed away, and he could earn money again even that had been washed away. But hope couldn’t be bought. Therefore, don’t think that he really had a lot of money.