Chapter 17: What a Treasure

After receiving help each time, this kind and incredibly grateful woman would do her best to send them food to express her thanks.

Although it was only some pickles and steamed buns, Xiang Huaixin and Bai Changpu knew that it was the best thing Wen Jiuyue could offer.

However, that was all. After all, there’s much gossip surrounding a widow, and it wasn’t appropriate for two grown men to have too much contact with her.

Now the two men had thoroughly understood Wen Jiuyue’s superb cooking skills. Although she had made stewed rabbit meat for two consecutive days, and the methods were similar, the taste was unique each time.

Even the sorghum flour pancakes they usually made, which were as hard as rocks and difficult to swallow, were soft, delicious, and even slightly sweet when made by Wen Jiuyue.

“So fragrant!” Xiang Huaixin exclaimed, enjoying the meal immensely and praising her without reservation.

Leng You and Xiang Wentian sat quietly beside them, watching the two devour the food until the bowls and plates were clean.

“Grandpa Xiang, Grandpa Bai, this is for you,” Leng You pointed to the bag on the kang (heated brick bed).

“Xiao Youyou wants to give us something?” Xiang Huaixin looked at Leng You with a smile full of affection.

Although he couldn’t imagine what this suffering child could possibly give them, he read sincerity and filial piety in her pure and bright eyes.

Therefore, even if she gave him a piece of wood, he would gladly accept it.

“Oh? Xiao Youyou wants to give us a gift?” Bai Changpu also smiled. He shared the same thoughts as Xiang Huaixin and was moved by this child who was so grateful at such a young age.

“Yes!” Leng You nodded heavily. Seeing Xiang Wentian take out the ginseng, still bundled with thatch and tree bark, from the bag, she began to unwrap it.

Xiang Huaixin and Bai Changpu watched Leng You carefully handle the large piece of tree bark, almost as tall as she was, and felt curious.

“What treasure is Xiao Youyou hiding inside? It’s so mysterious… uh… ginseng?”

When the last layer of thatch was removed by Leng You, a large, old, and complete ginseng was fully revealed, and Bai Changpu stared in astonishment.

“It’s really ginseng? Such a large ginseng… did you find it in the valley?” Xiang Huaixin was also shocked, but quickly recovered.

“Youyou found it,” Xiang Wentian emphasized.

“This ginseng is of excellent quality, dug out perfectly intact, nearly a hundred years old, a rare high-grade specimen,” Bai Changpu was immersed in his professional judgment.

“Are these…?” Xiang Huaixin pointed to the other three bundles.

It should be noted that this was the northern winter with temperatures below minus thirty degrees Celsius. To dig up ginseng, and so much of it, in such a season was simply incredible.

“Yes, they’re all for you and Grandpa Bai,” Leng You continued to unwrap another ginseng.

Xiang Wentian helped her.

“Heavens! This is a three-hundred-year-old ginseng!

This child… this child… is truly blessed!”

Bai Changpu’s voice changed slightly.

It wasn’t that he lacked experience, but he found it unbelievable.

Even if he didn’t believe the legends that those who could dig up ginseng were lucky and blessed, this one-in-a-million opportunity alone was enough to drop someone’s jaw.

“Two for each of you, Grandpa Xiang and Grandpa Bai,” Leng You placed the unwrapped ginseng in front of Xiang Huaixin and Bai Changpu.

“No, no, no, I can’t accept it, I absolutely cannot accept it. Keep it for yourself,” Bai Changpu shook his head repeatedly.

“Xiao Youyou, I ask you, do you know the value of this ginseng?” Xiang Huaixin looked at Leng You seriously.

“I know, but I have more. These are gifts for both grandpas. Please accept them. If you need more later, just ask me,” Leng You responded generously.

“Ah?” Bai Changpu was stunned again.

“Child, listen to Grandpa Xiang. Keep this ginseng for yourself, but don’t let your father or your stepmother know, absolutely don’t let anyone in the Leng family know…

Prepare it properly and have Grandma Wen keep it for you.

Use it later to pay for your education, for university, or in case of an emergency.”

Xiang Huaixin thought for a moment and came up with a plan for Leng You.

“Yes, yes, yes, that’s what I mean too.

Grandpa Bai appreciates your kind heart. With your current knowledge, you should be able to prepare them. If you’re unsure, Grandpa Bai can help you, but I absolutely won’t accept them.”

Bai Changpu also stated his position.

“No, I must have both grandpas accept them,” Leng You raised her head, stubbornly looking at the two of them.

She couldn’t express herself any further, only using this silent and stubborn persistence to insist.

“But…” Bai Changpu looked at Xiang Huaixin, looking troubled.

“Xiao Youyou…”

“Accept this, and Xiao Youyou can keep the other two,” Xiang Wentian stepped forward, interrupting Xiang Huaixin.

He placed the two three-hundred-year-old ginsengs in front of Xiang Huaixin and Bai Changpu, then bundled the two younger ones and put them back in the bag.

Finally, the intense tug-of-war ended.

“Brother…” Receiving Xiang Wentian’s unwavering gaze, Leng You quickly shut her mouth, fearing that they wouldn’t accept the two old ginsengs either.

Evening had fallen. Xiang Wentian carried Leng You back to Wen Jiuyue’s place.

“I suddenly feel that heaven is very kind to me! My son is useless, but I’ve taken on a gifted apprentice. It seems I, Bai Changpu, don’t need to worry about the lack of successors! Hahaha…”

Leng You and Xiang Wentian had been gone for a long time when Bai Changpu, preparing the ginseng, finally realized this and laughed three times.

“Sigh… it’s the environment that shapes a person! But I’d rather Xiao Youyou wasn’t so precocious, as long as she doesn’t have to suffer the hardships she shouldn’t have to endure at her age.

But… oh! Right, you haven’t officially accepted Xiao Youyou as your apprentice, have you?”

Xiang Huaixin thought of the key issue.

“I’ve been teaching her for more than three years, and it’s not considered apprenticeship?

Old Xiang, are you jealous?

Hehe… it’s no use being jealous, Xiao Youyou is my Bai Changpu’s only closed-door disciple.”

Bai Changpu proudly raised his chin.

“I’m jealous of you? Don’t forget, I’ve been teaching Xiao Youyou to read and write for all these years, otherwise, do you think she could read those medical books?

If we’re talking about teachers, I’m also a rightful one.

Besides, you’ll eventually return to Pingdu, what about your closed-door disciple then? Have you thought about it?”

Xiang Wentian’s visit also brought some inside information. If nothing unexpected happened, they should be able to return to Pingdu soon.

They didn’t miss this cold-hearted mountain village at all. Their only concern was Leng You.