USWHC -Chapter 298 The Counter-Scam (Part 8)

Zhu Jie looked at the old man, her face full of emotion, yet a twinge of suspicion crept into her mind. Lately, plenty of people had been trying to cozy up to them, but almost all of them started by asking if anyone wanted help digging roots. Yes, everyone was here for money. But now, someone came across as sentimental—why did it seem so suspicious?

After Ji Yi finished speaking, Zhu Jie quickly added, “It’s fine if you want your own flesh, but what my father needs is a Shanglu root—a whole root! Where are we supposed to find one of those?”

“It’s not easy to find, that’s true,” the old man chuckled foolishly. “But you came to the right place. Daliang produces plenty of Shanglu roots. Getting a complete one isn’t too difficult!”

Ji Yi was even more suspicious—Daliang produces these things now?—but he forced an excited smile on his face. “Really? My father can be saved!”

“But a Shanglu root costs only one or two silver taels per ounce. You’re offering a thousand taels? You’re not joking, are you?” the old man said honestly.

Ji Yi immediately put on the face of a foolishly devoted son. “A thousand taels? What’s that? If a thousand taels can buy back my father’s life, it’s money well spent!”

“Exactly! We people of Qi keep our word. A thousand taels is small change to us. In Qi, a thousand gold coins? Someone might pay that!” Zhu Jie said earnestly.

The old man was stunned. People from Qi were really this rich? If he had known, he would have sold more Shanglu roots there!

“Good children! All good children!” he said, offering his highest praise to these naive and wealthy visitors from Qi—but he didn’t realize the smile at the corner of his mouth betrayed him. That was a mocking smile.

By now, the day was already late. Everyone had been busy from morning to evening, running from the town all the way up Mount Qi and digging all afternoon. Many were so hungry their stomachs rumbled, and most hadn’t found anything. Many had already given up.

Some were now thinking of going home. “What time is it? Let’s stop. I don’t think we’ll find anything!”

Hearing this, Ji Yi looked anxious and shouted, “Everyone, try a little more! Maybe we’ll find it soon!”

“Boy, I don’t see any roots on this mountain. You’re just wasting your effort!” a villager finally blurted out the truth.

“They’re there! Everyone says they’re there!” Ji Yi insisted earnestly.

Seeing this, the others shook their heads. North or south, this mountain clearly wasn’t the south! These Qi fools were ridiculous.

“Fine, I can’t dig anymore. I’m going home for lunch!” a villager said, slinging his hoe over his shoulder and starting down the mountain.

Immediately, others followed. “Let’s go! Time for lunch!” Soon, the mountaintop emptied. Except for Ji Yi and Zhu Jie, everyone left happily. For the villagers of Xiangshui, one or two silver taels was a fortune—they could go home and improve their meals. Just digging a bit of earth? They worked like this every day but never earned this much.

Even Ji Laoda and Sister-in-law You were unusually happy. “This time, Erhan really went all out. He’s already spent almost a hundred silver taels! If only he had given this money to Mother directly!”

“Yes, these two are really foolish. They gave others a discount. If the scammers hadn’t come, wouldn’t they have lost out?” Sister-in-law You sighed, feeling pity.

At that moment, an old man appeared coming from the opposite direction. Huh? Wasn’t this the elder who had spoken with Ji Yi earlier? He hadn’t left yet?

“Excuse me, may I ask if there’s a woman in your village, around forty, with a thin face, sunken eyes, a sharp chin, rough features, loud and harsh voice?” the old man asked politely.

But his description wasn’t exactly flattering. Who was he looking for? Thin face, sunken eyes, sharp chin, rough features—was this really a woman?