Chapter 18: A Precious Gift?

  Under Zhang Yuxin's gaze, Xiao Ping took out a box from his bag and handed it to Zhang Guoquan: "Uncle Zhang, I came in a hurry today and didn't have time to prepare anything. Just take this little something."

  To be honest, Xiao Ping had really forgotten about the gift. It wasn't until he was about to leave that he remembered. This was his first time visiting Zhang Guoquan's home and he had even eaten a meal there, so not bringing something would have been impolite. In his haste, Xiao Ping thought of the ginseng in his bag. Although it seemed like a small thing to him, at least it showed some courtesy.

  Xiao Xiao took out a gift and Zhang Guoquan frowned, saying: "Little Xiao, what are you doing? I can't accept gifts!"

  "No, Uncle Zhang, this is my first time visiting your home, what would it look like if I came empty-handed?" Xiao Ping hastily said: "This is just a matter of etiquette, if you were to come to my house for the first time, wouldn't you also bring some fruit or something?"

  "Alright, I'll make an exception this time. I'll take it!" Zhang Guoquan was amused by Xiao Ping's last sentence and smiled as he accepted the box.

  Zhang Guoquan also wanted to know what Xiao Ping would give him, and he opened the box in front of him. When he saw the ginseng inside, he was surprised, shook his head and returned the box to Xiao Ping: "This thing is too valuable, I can't accept it."

  Xiao Ping was anxious as soon as he heard it, what kind of reason is there to send something out and then take it back? Moreover, in his opinion, such a small ginseng doesn't count for much, so he insisted on keeping the gift. After both sides had refused for a while, Zhang Guoquan finally gave in, and Xiao Ping was satisfied and bid farewell to the old man.

  "I'll see him off." Seeing Xiao Ping about to leave, Zhang Yu Xin said a word to her father and hastily caught up with him.

  At first, the two of them tacitly didn't speak, but as soon as they walked out of the garden, Zhang Yu Xin anxiously asked: "What do you want after all? Didn't we agree not to disturb my father?"

  "Don't get me wrong, it was your dad and daughter who called to invite me over." Xiao Ping frowned and said: "If not for the sake of this old man and young girl's face, I wouldn't have come!"

  Zhang Yuxin had already found an opportunity to ask her daughter, and knew that Xiao Ping was indeed not deceiving herself, but she still asked with some unease: "Then why did you want to give such an expensive gift to my father?"

  Xiao Ping couldn't help but laugh and say: "Is that ginseng very expensive? I don't think so."

  "Although I don't quite understand this, but a wild ginseng of this size should be worth at least several tens of thousands, right?" Zhang Yuxin said coldly: "Don't say you don't know, my father never accepted anything from others before, I don't know what's wrong with him today, actually making an exception for you..."

  "Wild mountain ginseng? Several tens of thousands?" Xiao Ping didn't even listen to Zhang Yu Xin's words, his mind was only on these six words, and he couldn't help but mutter to himself: "Damn it, I've lost big time! If I had known, I would have been better off buying some fruit. Even if I bought two more bottles of Maotai, it wouldn't have cost this much!"

  "Hmph..." Zhang Yuxin, who was also worried about her own troubles, couldn't help but burst out laughing at Xiao Ping's words, but she quickly suppressed her laughter and asked: "You really don't know who my dad is?"

  "Is he very famous?" Xiao Ping asked in puzzlement: "Could it be some old movie star?"

  Zhang Yuxin stared at Xiao Ping for a long time, feeling that he didn't seem to be pretending, and then said in a relatively calm tone: "I'm just reminding you, it's best not to have any ideas about my dad, otherwise I will never let you go!"

  "Excuse me, why would I want to take advantage of a man in his fifties?" Xiao Ping said while sizing up Zhang Yu Xin, "Among the three of you at home, the only one worth taking advantage of is probably you."

  "Get out!" Zhang Yuxin glared at Xiao Ping with a scowl and turned around to head home.

  Xiao Ping admired Zhang Yu's slender waist and swaying hips from behind, shaking his head slightly: "She does look good, but her temper is also too bad..."

  Neither Xiao Ping nor Zhang Yuxin noticed that Wang Chunlai was in a car across the street, watching their conversation. Wang Chunlai happened to be passing by and saw Xiao Ping coming out of Zhang Guoquan's residence, which shocked him greatly.

  No. 98 Xin Hui Road is Zhang Guoquan's private residence, and he comes to stay for a few days every year around this time to commemorate his deceased wife who passed away here. During this period, Zhang Guoquan rarely receives guests, and even his old subordinate Wang Chun has never entered the house. But Xiao Ping can actually come as a guest, and it's clear that he will be staying for dinner, which shows that his relationship with the Zhang family is not ordinary.

  While Zhang Yuxin was talking to Xiao Ping, her changing expression between joy and anger seemed more like a lover's coquetry in Wang Chunlai's eyes. Zhang Yuxin had been divorced for several years, so even if she found another partner, it would be reasonable. So in Wang Chunlai's view, Xiao Ping had already become the prospective son-in-law of Vice Governor Zhang, and he couldn't help but feel grateful that he had left his phone number with Xiao Ping, and decided to find opportunities to get in touch with this young man more often.

  Xiao Ping had no idea that he had become the object of the Municipal Public Security Bureau's attempts to win him over, and he rushed to the city's largest Chinese medicine store at the fastest speed. What he was most concerned about now was the price of the two ginseng in his bag, whether it was really worth tens of thousands as Zhang Yuxin had said.

  Hanchuntang is the largest Chinese medicine store in Suzhou, known for its high-quality products and fair trade practices. You don't have to worry about buying counterfeit goods here. Similarly, Hanchuntang will also purchase medicinal materials at a very reasonable price, provided that the quality of the medicinal materials must be excellent.

  Xiao Ping arrived at Hanchuntang when there were not a few customers buying medicine in front of the counter. He looked around and found an old man with white hair sitting in the deepest part of the counter, drinking tea, with a sign in front of him written in brush: Purchasing Medicinal Materials.

  Xiao Ping walked over and smiled at the old man: "Master, I have some medicinal materials to sell, would you mind taking a look for me?"

  Wang Xiaomin had to receive many people who came to sell medicinal materials every day, and he nodded to Xiao Ping as a matter of routine: "Okay, bring it out."

  Xiao Ping first took out a box from his bag, opened it in front of Wang Xiaomin, and nervously observed his reaction. Wang Xiaomin only glanced at the box, his expression immediately turned serious, and he leaned in to examine it carefully. After looking for a long time, he finally raised his head, satisfied with Xiao Ping: "This twenty-year-old wild ginseng is of very good quality, one price, 850,000, what do you think?"

  "850,000?! When Wang Xiaomin quoted the price, Xiao Ping's face immediately fell. Xiao Ping really didn't think that such a small ginseng could be so expensive, and thinking of how he had just generously given away one earlier, how could he possibly feel happy about it?"

  How could Wang Xiaomin know what Xiao Ping was thinking? Judging from his expression, he thought he was dissatisfied with the price. Considering that this wild ginseng is already several years old and its quality is indeed very good, there is still a lot of room for appreciation after processing, Wang Xiaomin thought for a moment and stretched out one finger: "So, I'll give you a final price, 1 million! What do you think?"

  What Wang Xiaomin did not expect was that after hearing this price, Xiao Ping's face looked even more unpleasant. This made his heart feel somewhat uncomfortable, and he gently put down the box, saying: "Young man, this price is already very reasonable, if it's any higher, our store will also have difficulty accepting it..."

  "Don't mention it, I've sold it." Xiao Ping reluctantly accepted Wang Xiaomin's offer, feeling even more heartbroken.

  "Alright, do you want cash or a check? I'll have someone prepare it for you right away!"

  "Wait a minute."

  Wang Xiaomin frowned and asked: "What's wrong, have you changed your mind again?"

  "I didn't mean that." Under Wang Xiaomin's dissatisfied gaze, Xiao Ping took out another box from his bag and said weakly, "Would you mind taking a look at this one too?"

  === Split ===

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