Chapter 193 – Hundred years old wild ginseng! (2/2)
Dong Xuebing, Yu Meixia, and Yu Qianqian were stunned as they looked at the plant in Dong Xuebing’s hand.
Yu Qianqian gasped. “It’s Ginseng! This is ginseng!”
Dong Xuebing did not realize this was a ginseng plant when he was digging. But now, when he held the plant in his hands, he recognizes it immediately. Dong Xuebing is more knowledgeable than Yu Meixia and Yu Qianqian and knew this is not any ordinary ginseng. This is wild ginseng and it is at least a 100 years old Wild Ginseng!
How can this be possible?
How can Hebei Province have such high-quality wild ginseng?
Dong Xuebing felt this was unbelievable. Most of the wild ginseng comes from Chang Bai Mountains because the temperature and environment there are most suitable for ginseng to thrive. All the wild ginseng found there are top grade and ginseng can be found in places with the same latitude. In the northern area of Hebei’s mountainous region, North Korea, Ukraine, etc. also have wild ginseng, but the quality cannot be compared to Chang Bai Mountains’ Ginseng. But the ginseng Dong Xuebing found was the same grade as the ginseng found in Chang Bai Mountains. The roots were thick and long. This should be at least 100 years old!
Yan Tai County have wild ginseng?
Absolutely impossible! At most, there is some cultivated ginseng, but not for wild ginseng!
Dong Xuebing could not understand why there is wild ginseng here. Maybe the climate and weather at Da Sen back mountain are different. Although the temperature and altitude here are not suitable for wild ginseng, one should not underestimate the power of nature.
Yu Meixia asked with a trembling voice. “This… Is this ginseng valuable?”
Is ginseng valuable? Of course!
There are many categories for ginseng. In the supermarkets, the Sha Ginseng (upright lady bell roots) and American Ginseng were worthless. These were selling for a few RMB for a packet. When Dong Xuebing’s mother was sick, she often bought this and brew water to drink. Anyone can afford these ginsengs. The cultivated ginsengs are not very valuable and cost a few hundred to a few thousand for one. But wild Ginsengs are different and are said to be able to prevent aging and even cure cancer, etc. The length of this wild ginseng should be at least 100 years and weighs about 100 grams. 1 gram of a 100 years old wild ginseng is worth more than 10,000 RMB! It is more valuable than gold!
Dong Xuebing was excited. “Of course, this is valuable!”
Yu Meixia mumbled. “Then… then what should we do now?”
Dong Xuebing replied. “We will bring all of these ginsengs back. Remember, this is only between the three of us. Don’t let anyone else know.”
Yu Meixia and Yu Qianqian nodded.
Dong Xuebing rolled up his sleeves and was about to continue digging the remaining ginseng when he stopped. He washed his hands and used his iPhone 4 to check on the steps on digging and preserving wild ginseng. He does not want to damage the ginseng during the digging process and lower the value of it. He must be careful as he found out on the internet that the value of the wild ginseng will drop if any of the root hair is damage.
After reading up on how to dig wild ginseng, Dong Xuebing said. “Let’s start work. Sister Yu, Qianqian, you two need to help. Watch out, don’t damage the root hair.”
Yu Meixia replied timidly. “I’m afraid… I’m afraid I will damage…”
Dong Xuebing said. “It’s alright. I had checked on the internet, and the lesser leaves the ginseng plant have, the shorter is the age. The value will also be lower. You and Qianqian can pick the ones with lesser leaves. Even if you damage the roots, the value will also not be lowered by much. If you two don’t help me, I can’t finish digging all these ginseng before dark.”
Yu Meixia felt this is an important task. “I…, I will do my best.”
Yu Qianqian is very smart. She stood behind to watch how Dong Xuebing digs the roots before teaching her mother.
Dong Xuebing successfully dug out the second wild ginseng, and this was not as old as the first ginseng. From the leaves, it should be around 25 years, and it was much smaller. Wild ginseng grows about 1 gram per year and a 20 years ginseng weighs about 20 grams. This ginseng is only worth tens of thousands of RMB and cannot be compared to the first one.
Yu Qianqian also dug ginseng and was carrying it in her hands. “Brother, I got one too.”
Dong Xuebing nodded. “Good. Yours should be around 10 years.” A 10 years old wild ginseng is only worth a few thousand RMB.
Yu Meixia also dug ginseng around 15 years old.
Dong Xuebing was not interested in these low-value ginsengs as they cant be sold at high prices. He might as well keep them as gifts for others. He looked around and picked a ginseng plant with lots of leaves. After a while, he dug up this ginseng and it is at least 80 years old. This should be worth a few hundred thousand.
Dong Xuebing turned around and picked a new target to dig.
A few minutes later, Dong Xuebing dug a 50 to 60 years old ginseng.
In another few minutes, Dong Xuebing got another 40 years old ginseng.
Half an hour….
1 hour…
Soon, two hours had passed, and the sun was setting.
“Chief Dong, we finish digging up all the ginseng.” Yu Meixia said.
Dong Xuebing looked at the sky and knew he did not have much time left. “Let’s look around and see if we had missed out any.” Dong Xuebing dug up a 50 years old ginseng and went to look around in the woods. But he could not find any. It seems wild ginseng could only survive in the back mountains. “There are no more around. Let’s go back. Thank you for your hard work today.”
Yu Meixia was so tired until she cannot straighten her back. “It’s my duty.”
Dong Xuebing did not use the two flowerpots as they were not big enough to hold all the ginsengs. But Dong Xuebing had brought a big plastic box with him and filled it with water. He placed all wild ginsengs in it to prevent damaging them on his way back. This was taught on the internet, and drying the ginseng after soaking the, will extend the shelf life. If not, wild ginseng will rot when kept at home.
On the way down.
The wild ginseng was not heavy, but the container of water was. Dong Xuebing had to carry the container and could not hold Yu Meixia and Yu Qianqian’s hands.
Yu Meixia and Yu Qianqian had slower reactions and coupled with their tiredness, they fell several times on their way back.
Dong Xuebing also tripped on some small pebbles and dropped the plastic container down the hill. All the wild ginsengs were scattered on the floor and many of their roots broke. Dong Xuebing immediately shouts BACK 5 seconds!
……
Everything flashed in front of his eyes.
Dong Xuebing was relieved when he did not trip himself. “Come, Sister Yu… both of you hold my arms, and it is safer. The road downhill is too dangerous.”
“No… no need.”
“Haha… then just treat it as holding me to prevent me from falling, ok?”
“Err… err…”
Yu Meixia hesitated and shyly used both hands to hold Dong Xuebing’s right arm. Yu Qianqian also held Dong Xuebing’s left arm to balance herself. At first, they were only holding on to Dong Xuebing’s upper arms, but as the trail got more dangerous, they wrapped their arms around Dong Xuebing. Left and right… One big and one small…
Of course, the big and small is not referring to Yu Meixia and Yu Qianqian’s age. It was referring to their breast. With their arms wrapped around Dong Xuebing’s arms, Dong Xuebing could feel their chests as they walked unsteadily down the mountains. Yu Meixia’s breast felt soft and smooth and Yu Qianqian might be young, but she was very firm.
Because of them, Dong Xuebing lost concentration and almost rolled down the hill a few times. As a result, he used many BACKs!
……
Public Security Family Quarters.
After reaching home, Dong Xuebing removed the cloth covering the plastic container and entered the bathroom. He poured the muddy water away and filled it with clean water. Yu Meixia and Yu Qianqian offered to help, but he rejected and asked them to watch TV in the living room. After that, he took out a small soft brush to clean off the mud on the ginseng carefully. After cleaning them, he hangs them by the window to dry.
Dong Xuebing counted his spoils and was overjoyed.
All the treasures Dong Xuebing picked in the past cannot be compared to these wild ginsengs. In total, he had picked a 100 years old, 90 years old, and more than a dozen wild ginsengs ranging from 10 to 80 years old. Wild ginsengs were rare nowadays and there were restrictions on harvesting them. Many of these wild ginsengs cannot be bought even if you have money. These ginsengs should be worth at least 3 million RMB.
3 million RMB!!!
This was a great find!!