frightfiction Chapter 295 A Treasure Trove Unearthed: Genuine Wild Ginseng of Excellent Age
Chapter 295 A Treasure Trove Unearthed: Genuine Wild Ginseng of Excellent Age
These so-called "wild ginseng" plants are actually quite different from real ginseng, with hardly any trace of their origin. They are more like misnomers used in rural areas, where ordinary plants are given prestigious names like "wild ginseng" or "human ginseng" by locals.
For example, Zhang, a shady dealer in Xiaoling Village, often collected these counterfeit goods to deceive merchants who came to buy real ginseng.
Da Hu's face was full of confusion, his dog eyes half-closed, revealing a kind of bewildered simplicity. Seeing this, Li Ju'an picked out all kinds of ginseng and what the locals called "human ginseng" from his hands, and held them one by one to the tip of the head dog's nose, and also let Hua Er sniff them all.
Two clever sage bushes blinked their little eyes, as if they had finally understood their owner's intention. Then, they trotted quickly into the misty depths, carefully sniffing every bush they passed, as if embarking on a treasure hunt.
Amidst the lush greenery, a cluster of umbel-shaped inflorescences stands proudly on the branches, like a dazzling pearl on the crown of nature, radiant and eye-catching. Its fruit, shaped like a meticulously carved drupe, bursts forth with a vibrant and striking bright red color when ripe, flat and kidney-shaped, adding a touch of passion and vitality to this tranquil scene.
The small leaves gracefully unfurl their oval shapes, their edges intricately inlaid with serrated patterns, both delicate and full of wild charm. They cluster within the embrace of palmate compound leaves, arranged in whorls at the stem apex, like a dance meticulously choreographed by nature. Each verdant leaf sways gently in the breeze, singing the joyful song of life, radiating vibrant energy and hope.
The most breathtaking sight was undoubtedly the exposed ginseng seeds, like natural treasures, crystal clear and shimmering with an alluring glow in the sunlight. These small and precious specimens silently yet powerfully showcased the extraordinary and unique charm of this ginseng, filling Da Hu with delight as he watched, his eyes gleaming with pride and admiration, as if witnessing nature's proudest creation.
The tiger barked triumphantly, calling for the hunter to come over.
Upon first glance at the leaves, Li Ju'an was overwhelmed with disbelief and astonishment, his hands trembling slightly involuntarily. He carefully navigated the tangled brambles and weeds surrounding the ginseng, each step taken with extreme caution, as if afraid that the slightest careless movement might disturb this precious gift from nature. Crouching down, his eyes gleamed with awe and an irrepressible joy as he began to meticulously count the ginseng's abundant leaves.
The number of leaves far exceeds that of a three- or four-year-old ginseng. Based on the abundance of leaves, it is not difficult to determine that this must be an extremely rare old wild ginseng.
He murmured softly as he counted, his voice deep and filled with excitement. This unexpected miracle, like a warm current, quietly flowed into his heart.
"Lu Zhiqiang! Lu Jinyang! Come and see! See what I've found!" His voice was slightly hoarse with barely concealed excitement, and his words were filled with barely suppressed joy.
Hearing the sound, Lu Zhiqiang and Lu Jinyang quickly arrived, their faces still bearing the faint traces of disappointment from their previous unsuccessful exploration.
However, when their gaze fell upon the strange leaves clutched tightly in Li Ju'an's hand, and the red berries scattered among them, all their unhappiness and gloom seemed to vanish in an instant. In their place were faces filled with astonishment and disbelief, their eyes gleaming with an indescribable light of surprise.
The crowd gathered in a circle, their eyes fixed on the vibrant green, as if afraid that in the blink of an eye, this miracle would vanish without a trace. The ginseng leaves were delicate and full of life, every vein clearly visible; the plump seeds, carrying the essence of the earth, seemed imbued with boundless vitality under their gaze, magnifying in everyone's hearts.
Lu Zhiqiang couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, "This...this is too amazing! It's actually a rare old ginseng!"
"Quickly, quickly and carefully dig it out! My goodness, be careful not to hurt this precious thing!" someone urged, their tone full of awe and urgency.
The marks of time on this ginseng are self-evident. To the layman, it may just be a lively spectacle, but to the expert, every detail holds secrets and mysteries.
As the saying goes, "It takes ten years to grow a tree, but a hundred years to cultivate a person," and for ginseng, this gift of time is even more significant. Generally speaking, ginseng that has undergone ten years of trials can shyly reveal two tender leaves; only after half a century of weathering the elements will it generously grow to four leaves; and the legendary century-old ginseng, with its five leaves, showcases its extraordinary age. However, the scene before them froze everyone's gaze—a ginseng with seven emerald green leaves stood proudly before them, its rarity unbelievable.
For a moment, the air seemed to freeze, and a sense of awe and longing for this divine gift surged in everyone's hearts. They realized that what they were looking at might be the rarest ginseng, a miracle of nature, one in a million. Therefore, their actions became exceptionally cautious and sacred, every movement revealing their deep respect for this treasure.
Li Ju'an and the Lu brothers adopted the most delicate techniques, afraid that the slightest carelessness would disturb the long-dormant tranquility. The hoe and chisel were quietly set aside, replaced by tools gentler and more respectful of nature's power. They proceeded with utmost care, as if performing a sacred ritual, solely to present this ancient gift to the world intact. With the combined efforts of the three, the perfectly preserved wild ginseng, its roots intact, was finally carefully lifted from the earth's embrace! This treasure before them was longer than anyone's forearm, causing their eyes to widen involuntarily, overflowing with unbelievable awe.
Li Ju'an couldn't help but exclaim, "My God, this must be at least half a meter long!" His voice was full of astonishment and awe.
Lu Zhiqiang was also filled with excitement. He pressed one hand to his chest, trying to calm his heart, which was pounding wildly with emotion. His voice trembled slightly as he said, "I think the number is probably more than that..."
He carefully took a delicate little box from his pocket, gently scooped up a handful of damp soil as if performing a sacred ritual, and then slowly placed the precious wild ginseng into the box. However, to his surprise, the ginseng was so long and its roots so abundant and complete, almost exceeding all their preparations. The small box seemed cramped and insufficient to contain this gift from nature.
Upon seeing this, a hint of panic flashed in Lu Zhiqiang's eyes. Without hesitation, he took off his shirt and said urgently, "Quick, use my clothes to wrap it up!"