Chapter 203: Money is Courage, Musk Sells for Gold

After wrapping up matters with Wang Zhou, Lin Heng visited Old Man Gao. The old man was exercising in the courtyard when he saw Lin Heng approach and greeted him with a smile, “Come join me for a workout.”

“Sure.”

Lin Heng agreed without hesitation, joining Old Man Gao for some exercise while they chatted.

“Have you been up the mountain lately?” Old Man Gao asked with a grin.

Lin Heng shook his head with a smile, “No, I probably won’t have much time to go up the mountain anymore.”

Old Man Gao nodded, “Then you might want to keep an eye on Red Maple Mountain. You never know, a takin might wander down.”

He still had a lingering interest in the takin.

Lin Heng nodded, “I’ll keep an eye out.”

He was indeed eager to hunt a takin, but it really came down to luck. The creature’s tracks were elusive and unpredictable.

For now, he didn’t want to venture into the mountains; it was too cold, and his hands were starting to show signs of frostbite.

After chatting for a while, Lin Heng took his leave and headed to Huangtan Town Middle School.

His visit to the school wasn’t to see Caiyun, but to find his former teacher, Guo Xu.

When Lin Heng arrived, Guo Xu happened to be free, working on lesson plans in his office.

Seeing Lin Heng, Guo Xu was delighted and said with a smile, “I thought you’d forgotten about me. It’s been so long since you last visited.”

Lin Heng grinned, “Sorry, Teacher. I’ve been really busy this year and haven’t had the time.”

Guo Xu patted Lin Heng on the shoulder with a laugh, “No need to explain. I’ve seen the newspapers. You’re doing well, very well indeed.”

Lin Heng had made headlines as the youngest Ten-Thousand-Yuan Household in Huangtan Town. Not only was Guo Xu shocked, but the entire school was too, and they even honored Lin Heng at a school assembly.

As someone who had interacted with Lin Heng just six months ago, Guo Xu was more surprised than most.

He had thought Lin Heng was just a decent student who could make a modest living through hunting. He never expected that in just half a year, Lin Heng would rise to become a Ten-Thousand-Yuan Household.

While Guo Xu had seen ten thousand yuan before, witnessing someone go from an ordinary farmer to a Ten-Thousand-Yuan Household was truly astonishing.

In those days, becoming a Ten-Thousand-Yuan Household was akin to crossing a class boundary.

“Teacher, don’t believe everything in the papers. They’ve exaggerated things,” Lin Heng said modestly.

Guo Xu poured Lin Heng a cup of tea and laughed, “Don’t be modest. It’s an incredible achievement, and it brings great honor to our school.”

Lin Heng looked at the white enamel mug with a worker and peasant hero design, took a sip of tea, and chatted with Guo Xu.

Unlike half a year ago, when Lin Heng was still seen as a student and a farmer in Guo Xu’s eyes, their status was not equal. Guo Xu had a sense of charity towards Lin Heng, and Lin Heng himself had kept a low profile.

Now, however, their conversation clearly reflected a newfound equality, and Guo Xu, feeling gratified, genuinely regarded him as a friend.

After catching up, Lin Heng got straight to the point, “Teacher Guo, there’s actually something I need your help with today.”

Guo Xu glanced at Lin Heng and smiled, “Go ahead. If it’s within my power, I won’t refuse.”

Lin Heng took a sip of tea and said with a smile, “Here’s the thing. I stumbled upon a century-old wild ginseng in the mountains. It’s at least 140 years old. This kind of thing is too valuable for most people to afford. I was hoping you could help me find a buyer.”

Although a century-old ginseng could be worth millions in the future, to him, ten thousand yuan now was more useful.

With ten thousand yuan, one could easily buy a large courtyard in a first-tier city, which would be worth hundreds of thousands or even millions after future urban development.

So, considering everything, there was no need to hold onto the ginseng. The market would soon recover in 1987, and he needed initial capital.

“Whoa… cough, cough…”

Guo Xu nearly spat out his tea, his eyes wide open, “A… Centennial Wild Ginseng?”

After recovering from his shock, he asked, “Is it real?”

“It’s real,” Lin Heng nodded slightly.

Guo Xu looked at Lin Heng incredulously, marveling, “Your luck is unbelievable.”

“It’s all luck, just happened to come across it,” Lin Heng grinned, not mentioning that it was all thanks to Xiong Ba.

Guo Xu studied Lin Heng, accepting the explanation of luck and silently admiring his incredible fortune.

After thinking for a moment, he nodded, “This thing must be worth at least ten thousand yuan, right?”

Lin Heng nodded with a smile, “At least fifteen thousand. This kind of thing is rare, with extraordinary medicinal properties. There are only a few Centennial Wild Ginsengs in the entire country. If I weren’t short on funds for starting a business, I wouldn’t want to sell it. Its value will only increase over time.”

Guo Xu nodded. Lin Heng wasn’t exaggerating; it was indeed the case. He nodded again, “Alright, I’ll help you find out if there’s anyone interested in buying.”

Lin Heng expressed his gratitude, “Thank you so much, Teacher Guo.”

When he arrived, he didn’t bring a gift for Guo Xu. Bringing a gift would change the nature of the visit. He was simply asking for a small favor, and if he brought a gift, it might create a psychological burden, making Guo Xu feel obligated to help.

The main reason Lin Heng didn’t think of Guo Xu initially was that he remembered him during a casual chat with Old Man Gao.

“It’s a small matter,” Guo Xu waved his hand dismissively.

Then he added with a smile, “Lin Heng, just hang out in my office. We’ll have lunch together at noon.”

Lin Heng shook his head, “I’m really sorry, Teacher Guo, but I need to head into town. I’m planning to rent a motorcycle, so I don’t have time today. How about this, I’ll come pick you up personally next Saturday. I’ll host you at my home for a meal, and you can taste some of the game I’ve hunted.”

Inviting someone to a home-cooked meal is the highest form of invitation, so Guo Xu naturally wouldn’t be offended by Lin Heng’s words.

Seeing that Lin Heng genuinely had other matters to attend to, Guo Xu smiled and asked, “Do you know how to ride a motorcycle?”

“Yes, I’ve ridden others’ motorcycles in the city before,” Lin Heng replied with a smile.

Guo Xu turned around, took out his motorcycle keys, and tossed them to Lin Heng, “Since you can ride, take mine. I’m not going out today anyway.”

Just as Lin Heng was about to refuse, Guo Xu pressed the keys into his hand, smiling, “We’re not just teacher and student, we’re friends. You gave me a turtle, and I didn’t refuse. Don’t refuse this small favor; it’s not like you’ll break it.”

“Alright then, thank you, Teacher Guo!”

Lin Heng accepted the keys with a smile, expressing his gratitude several times.

Guo Xu waved his hand, “It’s a small matter. Since you need to go into town, you should leave now. The motorcycle parked outside is mine.”

“Okay,” Lin Heng agreed with a smile. He walked over, inserted the key, started the motorcycle, thanked Guo Xu once more, and left.

In his previous life, Lin Heng had driven motorcycles, tricycles, four-wheelers, and semi-trucks, so riding a motorcycle was no problem. He took off smoothly.

“It’s really fast, but it’s quite cold,” Lin Heng thought as he rode the motorcycle, grinning. In less than a minute, he arrived at his Procurement Station.

Seeing Lin Heng return on a motorcycle, Wang Zhou looked surprised, “Brother Lin, did you buy a motorcycle?”

“No, I borrowed it from Teacher Guo Xu. We have a good relationship,” Lin Heng replied casually as he went inside to find a scarf and hat.

“Oh, I’m envious, Brother Lin.”

Wang Zhou’s eyes showed a mix of envy and surprise. It was impressive that Lin Heng still maintained such a good relationship with their former teacher, to the point of borrowing something as valuable as a motorcycle.

He walked over to touch and examine it, silently lamenting when he might own a motorcycle himself. Then he shook his head, thinking that if even Brother Lin didn’t own one, he probably wouldn’t be able to afford one in this lifetime.

Lin Heng didn’t notice Wang Zhou’s expression. After grabbing a scarf, woolen hat, and gloves from inside, he bundled up and rode off again.

Upon reaching the city, Lin Heng first met with Director Jin Fuqiang and arranged to have lunch at the Taibai Grand Hotel.

The Taibai Grand Hotel is the largest hotel in Taibai City, hosting all major events. Even the cheapest meal there costs an ordinary person’s monthly salary.

After finishing the meal, which cost over fifty yuan, Lin Heng brought up his business. He wanted to sell the Centennial Wild Ginseng.

Upon hearing this, Jin Fuqiang sobered up immediately, eyes wide as he looked at Lin Heng, “Is it really Centennial Wild Ginseng?”

Lin Heng nodded with a smile, “It’s genuine. I can guarantee it’s at least one hundred forty years old.”

Jin Fuqiang nodded, looking at Lin Heng curiously, “Do you have some special talent for finding ginseng? This is the second one this year, and you found it in winter.”

Lin Heng grinned, “It’s precisely because it was winter that it was luck. I stumbled upon it while hunting.”

“Alright, alright, your fortune is really enviable,” Jin Fuqiang laughed, shaking his head. “I’ll ask around and see if there’s a buyer interested.”

Lin Heng immediately stood up to thank him, “Thank you, Director Jin.”

After chatting a bit more, Lin Heng escorted Jin Fuqiang back to his place.

Compared to before, Jin Fuqiang’s attitude towards Lin Heng had softened considerably. Money often symbolizes status.

Even a motorcycle turns heads on the street, regardless of whether it’s men or women.

After handling this, Lin Heng went to sell musk. This time, he sold it with the gland, earning more than last time. He sold forty-eight grams for a total of 1,440 yuan.

He deposited the round figure into his savings account, bringing his cash on hand to 5,500 yuan.

With these tasks completed, Lin Heng went to find Ge Qingshan.

Seeing Lin Heng, Ge Qingshan was thrilled, patting him on the shoulder, “You’re finally here. I’ve been waiting eagerly.”

Lin Heng apologized, “It’s been busy at the end of the year, sorry about that. But I have time today. Let’s find a place in town with wild pheasants and go hunting.”

As soon as Ge Qingshan heard this, he became excited. “Great, let’s head out right away.”

Lin Heng smiled and said, “You carry the bow. I came on a motorcycle.”

Ge Qingshan was surprised. “Wow, impressive! You got a motorcycle so quickly.”

“No, I borrowed it from someone. I’m planning to buy one in a few days,” Lin Heng replied with a slight smile.

“Still impressive. Let’s go.”

With that, Ge Qingshan grabbed his bow case and set off with Lin Heng. As they rode, Lin Heng shared stories of his experiences in the mountains.

They arrived at a desolate mountain north of the city. This area was near the Guanzhong Plain, where the mountains were fewer but the number of wild pheasants was plentiful.

In the dead of winter, as they stopped at the foot of the mountain, they could hear the calls of pheasants from above.

Ge Qingshan looked at Lin Heng with a troubled expression. “I’ve been out hunting by myself once, but most of the time, the pheasants spot me before I even see them, and they fly away.”

The ones that were too far away were out of his reach, which made him lose interest in archery.

But after hearing about Lin Heng’s hunting adventures, Ge Qingshan felt a renewed sense of hope. He wanted to experience the thrill of hunting in the deep mountains for himself.

Lin Heng chuckled. “That’s perfectly normal. It’s always like that at first. Just wait until nighttime; that’s when they roost in the trees without moving.”

“I’ll try that next time,” Ge Qingshan nodded.

He handed his compound bow to Lin Heng, eager to see him in action.

Lin Heng didn’t refuse. He adjusted the bow, setting the draw weight to fifty pounds.

“Cluck, cluck~~”

As soon as they started up the mountain, a pheasant suddenly flew up with a flurry.

Lin Heng glanced at it without much interest. The barren mountain had few trees, mostly shrubs and thickets. The pheasants hid under dry grass or bushes, making them hard to spot.

After a few steps, Lin Heng spotted a large pheasant about fifty meters away under a bush, pecking at food.

Perhaps due to the abundance of food near the city, this pheasant looked particularly plump.

Lin Heng nocked an arrow, while Ge Qingshan watched. He had never hit a target from such a distance before.

Just when Ge Qingshan thought Lin Heng would take a long time to aim, the arrow flew out with a whoosh.

“Thud!!”

With a pitiful cry, the arrow pierced the pheasant’s body, pinning it firmly to the ground. It squawked twice before falling silent.

Ge Qingshan was still processing what had happened. He turned to Lin Heng, his face full of shock. “You didn’t even need to aim? That’s unbelievable!”

Normally, it took Ge Qingshan at least five or six seconds to aim at a pheasant. Lin Heng had released the arrow in less than two seconds. It was too quick.

“Of course I aimed,” Lin Heng said with a slight smile. Hitting a pheasant from fifty meters was a simple task for him.

Ge Qingshan gave a thumbs-up, thoroughly impressed. “Amazing, your archery skills are unbeatable.”

Lin Heng smiled, retrieved the pheasant, and handed it to Ge Qingshan to carry. He quickly found another, this time only thirty meters away, but there were two together.

Unlike before, Lin Heng took his time aiming. With a whoosh, the arrow flew out, striking both pheasants with a single shot.

Ge Qingshan stared at the two pheasants pierced by one arrow, his eyes wide like saucers. If hitting a pheasant from fifty meters was impressive, this was beyond comprehension.

He had always thought such feats only existed in novels, but now someone had accomplished it right before his eyes.

Swallowing hard, Ge Qingshan said slowly, “It seems like hunting is so easy for you.”

Lin Heng laughed heartily. “Once you find your prey, you’re halfway to a successful hunt. With effort, you can do it too.”

Ge Qingshan shook his head. “Don’t comfort me. I doubt I’ll ever manage it in my lifetime.”

“Give it a try. I’ll guide you,” Lin Heng said, handing the bow back to him with a smile.

“Alright, I’ll give it a shot.”

Ge Qingshan grinned, feeling eager after watching Lin Heng take down three pheasants. He wanted to try it himself.

After searching for a bit, Lin Heng spotted a pheasant fifty meters away.

“Let’s go this way and circle around slowly.”

Lin Heng guided Ge Qingshan, leading him along the path.

(End of Chapter)

— Translator’s Notes —

– worker and peasant hero design: This design motif on everyday items like mugs was common in Chinese propaganda art during the Maoist era (1950s-1970s), glorifying workers and peasants as heroic figures in the socialist revolution to promote class ideology.

– musk: In this context, musk refers to the valuable, musky secretion produced by male musk deer (Moschus spp.), used in traditional Chinese medicine for treatments like pain relief and as a fixative in perfumery; it was a key trade item in historical Asian markets.

– takin: A takin is a large, goat-like mammal (Budorcas taxicolor) native to the rugged mountainous regions of Asia, including parts of China, resembling a mix between a goat and an antelope, and known for its elusive nature.

– Ten-Thousand-Yuan Household: In 1980s China, a ‘Ten-Thousand-Yuan Household’ referred to a family achieving an annual income of 10,000 yuan, a prestigious milestone during the early economic reform era that symbolized escaping poverty and entering a new class of wealth.