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nQiao Mei smiled and nodded. She liked the current warm and happy atmosphere very much.

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nShe had already intended to come to the capital to find a way to sell ginseng. This way, she could buy a few houses to keep for their future value or buy some antiques. She could also make some money while she went to school later.

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nIf she went to the medicinal store or found private buyers, she was worried that people would report her to the authorities and she would get interrogated. She might even get cheated out of her money.

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nIt might be better to just give it to the Xia family. People in the family could be trusted.

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n“Then what do you plan to do with your 100-year-old ginseng?” Xia Fang asked.

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nQiao Mei thought for a moment and said, “I haven’t decided yet. My intention is to exchange it for a house.”

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n“In that case, I have an idea,” Xia Fang said with a smile.

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nIt would take too long to sell the 100-year-old ginseng for money first and then buy a house. Even without going into a detailed appraisal of its worth, very few people would be able to afford it.

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nHowever, it would be easier to exchange it for a house by way of a mutual agreement. After all, it was rare to see ginseng which was 100 years old. A house was only as valuable as its price but this ginseng could save lives.

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n“When the time comes, we’ll just ask around with the neighbors and see which family is willing to do an exchange,” Xia Fang said.

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nLiu Yang suddenly waved his hand and said, “It’s such a loss to exchange it for a house. It would be better to sell it for cash. You may still have money left after buying a house. If you exchange for a house, don’t you need to renovate the interior?”

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nWhat Liu Yang said also made sense, but if this 100-year-old ginseng was put up for sale now, it could probably be sold for more than 100,000 dollars. No one would be able to fork out that amount of money. Exchanging it for a house with a courtyard in the capital would not be a loss-making deal.

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n“It’s alright, Uncle. The house is more important. Some people are not interested in money, but they might be willing to exchange it with me for this ginseng!” Qiao Mei said with a smile.

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nXia Fang liked Qiao Mei more and more. This child was a smart girl and could get exactly what she meant.

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n“That’s true. Mei Mei is so smart and thoughtful. Sigh, Uncle didn’t think about that.” After saying that, Liu Yang took another sip of liquor.

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n“You’re definitely not as smart as my Mei Mei,” Xia Fang said.

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n“I’m already old and getting useless. Of course I’m not as smart as Mei Mei,” Liu Yang said.

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nQiao Mei looked at Xia Fang and Liu Yang bickering with each other and it made her recall how she would quarrel with her grandfather over trivial matters at home.

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n“Are we going to look at houses tomorrow?” Qiao Mei asked.

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n“Sure, I have nothing to do anyway. Let’s go and have a look tomorrow,” Xia Fang said gently.

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nLiu Yang gently knocked on the table and said, “Mei Mei, you have to remember that I’m your real uncle! You must remember! If you have any problems in the future, don’t just look for your aunt. Come look for me, I can help you with anything!”

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n“What a brag. What else can you do besides treating illnesses?” Xia Fang said.

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n“I can do a lot of things! Tsk, you just don’t know,” Liu Yang said tipsily.

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n“Sure! I’ll look for my real uncle when the time comes,” Qiao Mei said to Liu Yang with a grin.

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nWhen Liu Yang heard this, he was overjoyed. He clapped his hands and said, “That’s right, that’s right. When your grandfather comes to the capital, I must have a drink with him. I’ll give all the good liquor in my house to your grandfather!”

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n“Uncle, I’m not sure you’ll be willing to part with them.” Qiao Mei looked at Liu Yang in disbelief.

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n“Of course I’m willing! I have to!” Liu Yang said.

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nThey laughed heartily throughout their conversation. After sending Liu Yang off after dinner, Qiao Mei took a good look at the new items she bought today.

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nAfter Qiao Mei hung the landscape painting in Xia Fang’s study, the entire room had a different feel all of a sudden. It had looked cold and empty with the original setup where there were only bookshelves and a desk.

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nWith the calligraphy painting hung up, the room suddenly had a much more scholarly feel.

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nThe other things left were the jade bangle on her wrist and the other bangle in the box. She heard that Xia Zhe had an older sister, so she would wait and see if his sister liked it.

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nThese things only cost a few hundred dollars. She wanted far more than that and these things were not worth mentioning at all in the grander scheme of things. Since Aunt was so good to her, there was nothing that she could not bear to part with. It was fine to even give them all to Aunt.

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