Chapter 40: One Must Never Forget Their Roots!

Chen Jie looked at the wild ginseng before him and said calmly, "To be honest, I really don't know the specific price. Why don't you make an offer? If it's reasonable, I'll sell it."

Chen Jie had a vague idea of the value of a fifty-year-old wild ginseng, having sold one for 500,000 previously. However, he had no benchmark for the eighty-year-old and century-old specimens. Usually, wild ginseng of such age only appeared at auctions, where prices were highly volatile and could reach absurd heights depending on the urgency of the buyer. Under normal circumstances, it was difficult to pin down an accurate range.

Bai Yiheng nodded slightly and turned to Tang Zhengyan. "Director Tang, what do you think they are worth?"

Tang Zhengyan did not answer immediately. He used his magnifying glass to inspect the ginseng once more with meticulous care. Nodding, he looked at Chen Jie and said, "Three years ago, a century-old wild ginseng appeared at an auction in Hong Kong, and I recall it selling for 3.8 million. However, the market for wild ginseng has been red-hot in recent years, and prices have soared. Last year, at an auction in Shenzhen, an eighty-year-old wild ginseng fetched 1.5 million."

"These specimens are of exceptional quality, with potent medicinal properties. They are the finest I have ever inspected. Especially this century-old one—even at Rongji, it would be considered 'King of Ginseng' grade. Such concentrated potency is rare."

Tang Zhengyan continued, "If I were to quote a price: 4.8 million for the century-old ginseng, 3.5 million for the two eighty-year-old ones, and 1 million for the two fifty-year-old ones, based on the previous price. That makes 9.3 million for all five. Mr. Bai, what do you think?"

Bai Yiheng nodded with a smile. "I have no objections. It depends on Mr. Chen's wishes." He turned his gaze toward Chen Jie. It was clear that Tang Zhengyan was not trying to lowball; his offer was even higher than market auction prices.

Chen Jie was stunned for a full half-minute. Were they really that valuable? He had been delighted when six plants sold for one million previously, but this time it was 9.3 million. The older the wild ginseng, the more exponential the price increase. Still, such a massive jump caught him off guard.

In truth, without a client in urgent need, selling directly to a medicinal herb merchant would never yield such a high price. Merchants would typically drive the price down to ensure their own profit margin. Precious medicinal herbs worth millions were not products for the average consumer; without the right connections, they would be impossible to sell.

"How are the taxes handled?" Chen Jie asked.

Bai Yiheng smiled and nodded. "Don't worry about taxes; we will put it through our group's accounts. We have tax exemptions, and we will treat this as an after-tax price. You can rest assured regarding the funds, Mr. Chen. Our group has professional finance and legal departments to handle these matters so there will be no trouble."

"I believe in fate," Bai Yiheng added. "The Bai family is fated to meet you. Being able to find you just when our elder needs this wild ginseng is his good fortune."

Chen Jie nodded. He hadn't expected such a high-profile man as Bai Yiheng to be so easy to talk to. He clearly possessed the demeanor of a true tycoon—only those of real status remained approachable, unlike the small-time bosses who flaunted their limited wealth with arrogance.

"Alright, Mr. Bai. Since you are so courteous, let's call it nine million," Chen Jie said. Since the other party was so accommodating, he saw no reason to be overly stingy.

Within five minutes of their conversation, Chen Jie received a notification that nine million had been deposited into his account. He couldn't help but take a sharp breath. The procurement process was handled through the accounts of "Rongji Medicinal Hall," ensuring everything was legal, compliant, and documented. Chen Jie simply had to sign a few contracts. Being naturally cautious, he reviewed the terms carefully before signing. He noticed that since he began practicing martial arts, his mindset had shifted; he remained prudent, but he no longer feared trouble.

The transaction was a success. As Chen Jie left with his bag, he felt excellent, while Bai Yiheng and Tang Zhengyan were equally thrilled to have secured the ginseng. It was a win-win situation.

As Chen Jie prepared to leave, Bai Yiheng handed him a gold-embossed business card. "Mr. Chen, this is my card. Let's keep in touch. If you come across more high-age wild ginseng in the future, sell it to me."

Chen Jie glanced at the card and replied calmly, "Sure. If you urgently need more, you can have Assistant Yuan call me. I can't guarantee supply, but I will certainly try my best."

One must never forget their roots. Chen Jie preferred to continue working through Rongji. He trusted them, and they had provided a layer of security he valued. Dealing directly with strangers carried risks—if someone were to betray him after a deal, he would have no recourse. With Rongji acting as an intermediary, he felt secure.

After leaving Rongji, Chen Jie took the subway toward Pingzhou in Foshan. He carried several pieces of jade, intending to test the market to see if he could sell them as well. Though he had learned the rough prices from the "Zixuan Appraisal Live Stream," he knew the final value would only be determined through the actual transaction.