Chapter 18: Five Thousand in Hand! A Fateful Gamble, Overnight Riches

"Hey, hey! Wait! Little brother, don't be impulsive!"

The medicine vendor indeed grew anxious, grabbing his wrist with one hand.

He squeezed out a smile even more enthusiastic than before, but the scheming in the depths of his eyes hadn't lessened in the slightest.

Look at you, big brother, why such a temper? In business, it's give and take—you come, I go, there's room to negotiate.

Like this, big brother, I'll show a bit more sincerity—two thousand! Cash! Will that do?

His tone was urgent, leaving no room for refusal.

This price is what I'm offering after gritting my molars; any higher and I'd have to drink northwest wind!

Two thousand!

That number hit his heart like a heavy stone thrown into a lake, shaking his eardrums with a buzz.

In an era where folk in this city earn only thirty-something coins a month, this sum is undoubtedly astronomical!

Enough to completely overturn his family's fate and let them live a life they never dared dream of!

He forcibly suppressed the surging elation in his chest.

He could clearly feel that the old fox before him hadn't yet shown his bottom!

From the force of the other's grip on his wrist and the fleeting urgency in his eyes, he judged that the vendor was determined to obtain this old ginseng at any cost.

Lu Qingshan slowly straightened his body.

His gaze calm, he locked eyes with the medicine vendor.

His voice turned unusually steady, carrying an unquestionable resolve: "Big brother, we're both sensible—let's not beat around the bush."

As the old saying goes, "Seven taels counts as ginseng, eight taels as treasure." This piece is about half a catty; you know its worth in your heart, and I… have a rough estimate as well.

I won't waste time haggling with you either.

He extended a hand weathered by wind and frost, with large knuckles, and gestured an eight.

One price—eight thousand!

If you think it's okay, count the cash now—money and goods cleared.

If you think it's not, I'll leave right away, never delaying your continued prosperity!

Eight thousand?!

The medicine vendor jumped like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, his voice instantly sharpening.

But he instantly realized this was the black market, quickly lowering his voice, his face showing disbelief, even a hint of flustered anger.

Why don't you just go rob someone?!

Little brother, a person shouldn't be too greedy!

This item looks fine, but at most it's worth four or five thousand!

Eight thousand? Do you think I'm running a charity hall?

The moment he said that, Lu Qingshan's mind settled completely.

The vendor's blurted "four or five thousand" in his panic is probably closer to his true bottom line.

It seems my offer of eight thousand hit the edge of what he could accept, even slightly exceeding expectations.

Then five thousand.

Lu Qingshan showed no retreat, his tone crisp and decisive, like a nail driven home, without a hint of hesitation.

Five thousand—not a single coin less, or I won't sell.

Big brother, you're a straightforward sort—give me a clear answer, will it work or not?

If you think it's unsuitable, I'll just take it home now to tonic my wife—better than nothing.

His precise grasp of the price bottom line and his decisive, no-nonsense attitude left the medicine vendor utterly speechless.

Those eyes, flickering uncertainly in the dim light, stared fixedly at Lu Qingshan for a long while.

As if reassessing this seemingly honest but actually terrifyingly shrewd mountain man.

The air seemed to freeze.

Finally, the medicine vendor, like a deflated balloon, let out a heavy sigh.

His face showed a painful expression as he waved his hand: "Fine! Fine! You little brat, you're ruthless!"

Five thousand it is!

Damn, today I've fallen into your hands! I, Old Zhang, have misjudged!

He cursed while pointing at the scattered medicinal herbs left in Lu Qingshan's bundle.

But we agreed—I'll lump these small ones together and give you a package deal!

These aren't ginseng or deer antler, just a minor tonic ingredient, used in small amounts, worth hardly anything!

Lu Qingshan's heart leapt with joy, yet his face remained calm as he gave a slight nod to show agreement.

The medicine vendor swiftly gathered all the herbs, carefully placing them into a nearby half‑old wooden crate.

Then, from deeper inside the crate, he pulled out a bulging, oily‑feeling thick canvas sack.

He glanced warily left and right, then untied the sack's rope and drew out several large bundles of tightly bound ten‑coin notes stamped "Great Unity".

The money carried a peculiar smell of ink, sweat, and some unknown medicinal herbs mixed together.

Most of the bills were old, their edges worn and rough, clearly having circulated for a long time.

The medicine vendor pulled Lu Qingshan around, head down, fingers flying as he spat on the bills while counting.

Just counting out the five thousand took him over ten minutes.

In the dim light, his forehead even beaded with fine sweat.

You kid, you're lucky too—today a southern merchant just settled his account with me, otherwise I wouldn't have this much cash on hand.

The medicine vendor re‑bundled the money while muttering discontentedly.

But deep in his eyes hid a hint of excitement not easily noticed; obviously, he made a killing on this deal.

"Remember, my surname is Zhang; I specialize in trading these mountain goods and medicinal materials. If you ever have such good stuff again, come find me, Old Zhang!"

When the five thick bundles, as solid as bricks, called "Great Unity," were retied and handed to Lu Qingshan, he felt his hands trembling slightly.

Too heavy!

It was not just the weight of five hundred banknotes, but also the weight that crushed all his past hardships and supported infinite hope for the future!

It was the weight that could let Yue E and Xiao Xue stand tall, eat their fill, and stay warm!

It was the weight that could let him completely bid farewell to that past bastard scoundrel and live upright as a proper person!

Five thousand yuan!

In this era, it was enough to build several bright and imposing brick-tile houses in the village!

Enough for an ordinary farming family to live comfortably for ten years!

This was the first fortune Lu Qingshan had earned since his rebirth, relying on his own courage, wisdom, and that mysterious "Mountain Wild Heart," honorably earned and enough to change his fate!

"Payment and goods settled, little brother; may we meet again if fate allows."

The medicine vendor surnamed Zhang regained that old, crafty smile that gave nothing away.

Lu Qingshan had no mind for further pleasantries with him.

He simply tucked those five bundles of "Great Unity" carefully, layer by layer, into his innermost inner pocket close to his body.

Even through several layers of worn cotton coat, he could still feel that scorching heat and heavy weight.

He pressed his hands tightly against his chest, as if what he held there was not money, but his heart pounding wildly.

"Thanks, Brother Zhang; till we meet again!"

He said in a low voice, knowing this black market was a dragon's den mixed with fish, no place to linger, and that he should vanish immediately after the transaction.

But he did not leave right away.

Suppressing the tumultuous excitement in his heart and the urge to rush home immediately, he cautiously turned around again at the edge of the black market.

He dodged the people and pulled out a ten-yuan bill from the thick stack of money.

At the lowest price for non-ration grain, two yuan, he bought six jin of corn flour and sorghum flour at a grain stall.

He also carefully weighed out a small bag of salt.

These were the most urgently needed items at home right now.

With salt, Yue E's dishes would finally have flavor.

With these grains, at least the family could temporarily avoid hunger.

Afterward, in a corner piled with scrap metal parts, he saw someone secretly selling factory leftover scraps.

He recalled his own firewood knife, which was hard to use for clearing brush and had a chipped blade.

And his slingshot, which always lacked power for hunting and had poor aim.

He gritted his teeth, spent a little over two yuan, and bought a dozen or so heavy, smooth scrap steel ball bearings.

He spent a few more jiao and picked out a small bundle of fine steel saw blades.

These inconspicuous items were, to him, treasures.

The steel balls taken from the bearings made ideal "bullets" for the slingshot—far more powerful than stones and with better aim.

The saw blades were even more useful: they could be cut and ground into sharp arrowheads, tied to wooden sticks to hunt small game, or used directly to skin and bone animals.

After doing all that, he wrapped the purchased items in a ragged cloth bundle and held them tightly against his chest.

He lowered his hat brim once more.

Like a drop of water merging into the sea, he briskly and warily left that chaotic place filled with greed, danger, and opportunity.

He vanished into the deepest darkness before dawn.