Chapter 677

Entering these mountains, there's no need to bring water, because there are quite a few small rivers and ponds in these mountains.

However, it is worth noting that the water in many places cannot be drunk, such as those marshes and the like.

Finding a small stream, the three of them washed their hands.

After a hurried meal, the three of them got busy again.

Of course, Wang An was busy digging the ginseng in the urine puddle, while Seeing Mu Xueli and Wang Li returned to the ginseng nest to start digging the remaining ginseng.

When Wang An dug out this yellowish ginseng, he felt that although its reed head was broken, its actual value would definitely exceed any one of the three 6-leaf ginseng plants.

Mainly because one could judge from the marks that the age of this ginseng was at least over 200 years.

Therefore, if one could run into someone who knew their stuff, the price of this ginseng would be at least over 10,000.

But no matter how much it was worth, Wang An wouldn't sell it. Not only would this ginseng not be sold, but all the 5-leaf and 6-leaf ones, as well as the 4-leaf ones with good quality, Wang An wouldn't sell either.

The "good quality" mentioned here refers to those with a long enough age.

Because the medicinal properties of a 50-year-old 4-leaf ginseng and a 60- or even 70-year-old 4-leaf ginseng are definitely different.

Even if sold to a supply and marketing cooperative or a pharmacy, the first prerequisite for the price of ginseng is its age, not its size.

That is to say, how much a wild ginseng is worth is determined first by its age, and then the price difference is calculated based on its weight.

For example, for a complete wild ginseng, as long as its age reaches over 100 years, regardless of size, the purchase price of the supply and marketing cooperative is over 5,000.

And normally, a freshly dug wild ginseng over 100 years old, that is, a wet wild ginseng, usually weighs less than half a jin, about 220 grams, which is what the saying "seven liang makes a ginseng" refers to! As long as it exceeds half a jin, that is, exceeds 250 grams, it becomes what the saying "eight liang makes a treasure" refers to! For ginseng that reaches this level, its actual price certainly cannot be calculated based on 5,000; one must know that this is a well-known "treasure"! It is said that for such ginseng, the supply and marketing cooperative would re-evaluate the price before calculating it based on weight.

Of course, that's how it's said, but the supply and marketing cooperatives in this era generally don't weigh ginseng; they directly evaluate the age, write a slip, and then the customer takes the money and leaves, and that's it.

The main thing is "fooling whoever you can"! And as for the specific calculation method, Wang An doesn't know.

Perhaps because of this, the number of 6-leaf ginseng plants purchased by the supply and marketing cooperatives is very few, and those exceeding 250 grams are basically non-existent.

Of course, even if there were, the person selling the ginseng wouldn't dare to spread the word; everyone understands the principle of not showing off one's wealth.

In short, news about the buying and selling of 6-leaf ginseng is really too scarce!

And the reason Wang An determined that the ginseng he peed out was of high value is, on one hand, because its age is long enough, and on the other hand, because its weight has exceeded half a jin, reaching the "treasure" level.

To be honest, including his past and present lives, apart from in a museum, Wang An had never seen such a large ginseng.

Although its reed head was broken, making it a defective product, in Wang An's heart, it was still the best one so far.

After observing this ginseng and waiting for a while—mainly waiting for it to lose some moisture and become a bit wilted—Wang An wrapped it up.

When Wang An was wrapping the ginseng, Seeing Mu Xueli and Wang Li were doing the same thing. Wang An asked the two of them: "Have you counted? How much did we dig in total today?"

Only hearing Seeing Mu Xueli say: "Counted. We didn't dig much today. Not counting those small chicks and these four 6-leaf ones, there is 1 5-leaf, 2 4-leaf, 7 3-leaf, and 12 2-leaf ginseng plants."

Actually, the reason they dug so little today is that when Wang An was digging those 3 6-leaf ones, Seeing Mu Xueli and Wang Li were afraid of disturbing him, so they didn't dig in this very dense ginseng nest, but went elsewhere to dig the scattered ones. Wang An nodded after hearing this, looked at the places nearby that hadn't been searched yet, looked at the ginseng nest that still had less than half left, thought for a moment, and said:

"I think there shouldn't be any big hauls in this old dugout. Let's hurry up tomorrow and try to dig it all up in one day."

Seeing Mu Xueli said with some anger: "Yeah, our village started plowing the day before yesterday. I haven't worked for two days, and that old bastard Su Guangzhi, our village head, even went to my house to find out what was going on. Damn it."

Hearing this, Wang An was also somewhat helpless, because before the land was divided among households, all healthy young laborers over 18 in each village, regardless of gender, were under control.

Except for those studying and those eating government grain!

This control means that during busy farming seasons like spring plowing and autumn harvest, unless there are special circumstances, all young people must work in the fields. Of course, it's not for free, but for work points.

If you don't work in the fields but go to do other things to make money, you have to hand over a portion of the money earned to offset the loss of not working that day.

Of course, you can also not pay, but at the end of the year when distributing grain, the village head has the right not to distribute grain to you.

Most importantly, this situation is basically unsolvable; either pay money or work, unless you are tough enough that the village head and all the villagers are wary of and afraid of you.

But sadly, even in Wang An's past life, Wang An, this big rascal, couldn't do it, and could only obediently pay the money, at most occasionally acting like a rogue when he had no money.

Wang An thought for a moment and said: "Then you just pay the money. Paying 1 yuan a day should be enough, right?"

Only hearing Seeing Mu Xueli say with some anger:

"Why else would I say he's an old bastard? He heard that I made money hunting with you, so he wants me to pay 5 yuan a day!"

Wang An was also a bit angry when he heard 5 yuan, mainly because a formal employee in this era only earns 1.25 yuan a day.

However, before Wang An could speak, Wang Li chimed in:

"Isn't it just 5 yuan? What's the big deal? Just give it to him."

Only hearing Seeing Mu Xueli say:

"It's not that I'm short of 5 yuan, I just think he's bullying us..."

Wang An interrupted impatiently:

"What the hell are you thinking? Just hurry up and give it to him, that's it."

This isn't Wang An being cowardly, it's mainly because there's no other way. People are already jealous that you made money, and you don't work and don't want to pay, is that possible?

After saying this, Wang An said to Seeing Mu Xueli and Wang Li:

Ignoring Wang Dazhu and their discussion, after Wang An fed the golden eagle cubs, he, Seeing Mu Xueli, and Wang Li—the three of them—rode their horses towards that old Anzi.

Two days passed in a flash, and this old dugout was finally dug out by the three of them!

(End of chapter)