Illegitimate Daughter
The car slowly drove deeper into the shaded asphalt road, with Chinese locust trees along the roadside casting cool shadows on the ground, and even the wind was filled with the refreshing scent of grass and trees.
After driving about 300 meters, a two-story building with gray bricks and white walls appeared at the end of the road. Two ancient and vigorous Podocarpus macrophyllus trees stood at the entrance of the courtyard. An elderly man with white hair was already standing on the steps, craning his neck to look back at the road he had come from.
As soon as the car came to a stop, the old man quickly came to greet him. He looked to be over seventy, but he was very healthy, with a ruddy complexion and bright eyes.
"Professor Wen, this is my boyfriend, Shen Jingchuan. The ginseng is his."
After getting out of the car, Meng Ke introduced the man, then whispered to Shen Jingchuan, "This is Elder Wen."
Shen Jingchuan nodded slightly. "Elder Wen, Mr. Wen."
Professor Wen didn't exchange many pleasantries, his gaze fixed on the wooden boxes in the two people's hands, and he stepped aside to lead them:
"Okay, okay, come inside and talk, come inside and talk."
As soon as you enter the living room, a faint scent of medicine mixed with sandalwood wafts over.
The room was simply and elegantly furnished, with solid wood bookshelves filled with yellowed medical classics, unfinished prescriptions spread out on the desk, and several old porcelain vases with a warm patina on the antique shelf in the corner, exuding a calm and scholarly atmosphere.
The three sat down on the sofa, Meng Ke placed the wooden box directly in front of the old man:
"Elder Wen, please take a look."
Professor Wen did not refuse. He put on his reading glasses and carefully lifted the lid of the box with his fingertips. On the red silk, the old ginseng root head stood tall, with fine, dark brown veins, and its fibrous roots spread out like a net, dotted with pearls.
He leaned closer, his fingertips gently brushing across the ginseng body, tracing the tip of the rhizome down to the tendrils, his movements as light as if he were handling a rare treasure.
It took him a good ten minutes to straighten up, take off his glasses and gently wipe them, his voice filled with barely suppressed amazement:
"Incredible. This ginseng has nearly 160 layers of reeds, with tight skin, deep wrinkles, and resilient roots with pearl-like texture. It's genuine wild ginseng from the deep mountains, at least 150 or 160 years old, far surpassing the century-old ginseng I'm looking for."
He looked up at Shen Jingchuan, his expression solemn:
"Little Shen, such high-quality wild ginseng is practically extinct in the market now. Thank you so much."
Things are meant to be used; they're just sitting there if I keep them.
Shen Jingchuan:
"Meng Ke said you needed it urgently, so she brought it over to you. You can discuss the details with her; I'll do whatever she says."
Upon hearing this, Professor Wen glanced at Shen Jingchuan, then at Meng Ke beside him who was smiling, and understood. He didn't beat around the bush and said directly:
"To be honest, this ginseng is for an old high-ranking officer. He just had major surgery and is severely depleted of Qi and Blood; ordinary ginseng won't help him at all."
"Regarding the price, I'll give it to you at twice the highest price currently available for century-old wild ginseng on the market."
The old man paused, his voice deepening, each word clear:
"Furthermore, I, Wen, am grateful for your kindness. From now on, whether it's you yourselves or your family and friends, if you ever encounter any difficulties in seeking medical treatment, please come directly to me."
Meng Ke knew in his heart that Professor Wen's promise carried far more weight than the doubled price:
"Just pay the normal price, no need to give extra. Elder Wen, please don't worry about it. I'm just glad I could help you."
Professor Wen was taken aback at first, then burst into loud laughter, his voice clear and resonant:
"Excellent! It's rare to see such a broad-minded young man!"
He stopped being polite and immediately asked Meng Ke to leave his bank card number, and insisted that the two of them stay for lunch.
Meng Ke looked at Shen Jingchuan and, seeing his nonchalant expression, smiled and agreed.
Lunch was a home-style meal, consisting of four dishes and a soup, light and refreshing.
During the meal, Professor Wen didn't mention ginseng again, but casually chatted about interesting anecdotes about antiques and medicinal herbs. Shen Jingchuan didn't talk much (mainly because he didn't know much about them), but he was neither humble nor arrogant, which made the old man appreciate him even more.
After sitting for a while longer after the meal, the two got up to say goodbye. Professor Wen personally saw them to the door and watched the car drive away before turning back.
On the way back, Meng Ke turned her head to look at Shen Jingchuan's profile, her eyes filled with tenderness:
"Thank you so much for today. Professor Wen, this favor might be of great help in the future."
Shen Jingchuan freed one hand and gently ruffled the top of her hair, his tone relaxed:
"As long as you think it's worth it, that's fine."
In the afternoon, the two weren't in a rush, so they strolled leisurely through the shopping district, picked out a few clothes that fit them, and then watched a movie that had just been released.
After leaving the movie theater, when it was time for dinner, Meng Ke turned to look at Shen Jingchuan:
"I'll take you to my favorite private kitchen tonight. It's pretty good."
Shen Jingchuan casually replied:
"Okay, I'll do whatever you say."
The car wound its way through the alleyways and finally stopped in an old alley. Inside, there was a restaurant serving Jiangnan cuisine. The storefront was inconspicuous, but the interior was elegant and quiet.
The waiter led the two into a small private room in the adjacent courtyard. Outside the window, the shadows of bamboo swayed in the courtyard, creating a remarkably quiet atmosphere.
The two sat down and flipped through the menu, ordering a few signature stir-fried and stewed dishes, along with a bowl of slow-cooked soup.
Several dishes were served one after another, the porcelain plates adorned with fresh Spirit Cuisine, elegant as a painting. Each bite was fresh but not greasy, cooked to perfection. Shen Jingchuan took a couple of bites and nodded slightly.
"The food here is indeed excellent; it looks beautiful, smells delicious, and tastes wonderful."
The two chatted as they ate, and the conversation unconsciously drifted back to their university days. Shen Jingchuan put down his chopsticks, looked at her, and asked with a smile:
"Speaking of which, how come I never heard of you dating during those years in school? You're so pretty, did no one pursue you? Or were your standards too high?"
"I don't have high standards."
Meng Ke scooped up a spoonful of soup, then pursed his lips in exasperation.
"I do have a few suitors, but they're all flashy playboys who have countless women behind my back. They drive around school in sports cars all day long, practically flaunting their wealth. They're so annoying, I can't stand looking at them. I'd rather avoid them than not."
Shen Jingchuan seemed to be deep in thought:
"No wonder. It's probably because you're so outstanding that ordinary guys don't have the confidence to approach you, and those who do dare to are the 'that type' type."
He paused, then looked up, half-jokingly:
I heard from my classmates that your family is very well-off. You won't turn around one day and think I'm not good enough for you, will you?
Meng Ke burst out laughing upon hearing this, and lightly tapped the back of his hand with his fingertip:
"You're still poor? Besides, when I agreed to be with you, you didn't have this much wealth. If I was after your money, I wouldn't have even bothered with you in the first place."
Her smile faded, and her hand holding the spoon paused slightly. Her expression became more serious, and she said softly:
"Jingchuan, there's something I want to tell you the truth. My family... is indeed quite well-off, and we have some influence in the industry. It's just..."
She lowered her eyes, her voice softening:
"I am a concubine's daughter in the family."