Thanks to one of the guards she had befriended earlier, she quickly found a reliable seller.
She exchanged a portion of her money for various coupons: grain coupons, food coupons, fabric coupons, even industrial and local-use ones.
By the end, her money had dropped to a little under **3,000 yuan**, but she was satisfied. The thick bundle of tickets felt more valuable than gold.
After a long day of bargaining and trading, exhaustion settled in. Her stomach growled loudly.
Finding a quiet, empty alley, she slipped into her space, changed back to her original appearance, and came out again. She dusted off her clothes and headed toward a government-owned restaurant nearby.
Inside, the air smelled of oil and soy sauce. Workers in faded uniforms sat at wooden tables, eating quickly before rushing off for their next shifts.
She approached the counter and ordered a few dishes—braised pork, dumplings, and noodles.
The server, a middle-aged man with rolled-up sleeves, looked her over with surprise. "Can you eat all that, little girl?" he asked skeptically.
At that time, wasting food was considered a serious offense. Most people barely ate enough to fill half their stomachs.
Su Miao Miao smiled politely. "Yes, I can. If there's any leftover, I'll pack it in my tiffin." She patted her bundle to show she had one.
The man grunted and nodded. After taking her money, he handed her a small wooden token. "Take a seat. I'll call you when it's ready."
She chose a corner table and sat down quietly. The restaurant was nearly empty now that lunch hour had passed. Only three young men remained at a nearby table, talking in low voices.
Their conversation drifted over, catching her attention.
"This five-hundred-year-old ginseng isn't easy to find," said a slightly chubby man. "I've asked every pharmacy and even some prominent families. No one has it. Brother Huang, what did Boss Wen say?"
The tall man beside him, who looked like a bodyguard, sighed. "He doesn't have it either. We can't stay here much longer. Grandpa Wei's condition is getting worse in the capital. We should head back—maybe we'll find it there."
The third person, a young man who looked barely older than sixteen or seventeen, said nothing. His expression was calm but cold, his eyes distant and thoughtful.
Just then, the server called out, "Miss, your order's ready!"
Su Miao Miao went to collect her food and began eating. The portions were large, but after months of martial arts practice, her appetite had grown astonishingly. She finished everything without leaving a drop.
When she looked up again, the three men were leaving.
An idea sparked in her mind. She followed them outside.
As they were about to enter a jeep parked by the roadside, she called out, "Hey! I couldn't help overhearing your conversation earlier. You're looking for a five-hundred-year-old ginseng, right?"
The three turned to look at her. A slender girl, maybe fourteen or fifteen, stood there, her eyes clear but confident.
The tall man, Brother Huang, asked cautiously, "Yes, we are. Do you have it?"
The chubby one scoffed. "Brother, what are you expecting? She's just a little girl! How could she have such a thing? Come on, let's not waste time." He turned to Su Miao Miao. "Young lady, don't cause trouble. Go home before you run into bad people."
Su Miao Miao only smirked faintly. Turning to Brother Huang, she said, "You're Brother Huang, right? I really do have what you're looking for. My grandmother left it to me before she passed away. It's our family treasure."
Brother Huang hesitated. The girl seemed too calm, too sure of herself. Still, a genuine five-hundred-year-old ginseng was priceless. "Are you certain it's that old?" he asked. "Could you show it to me?"
Inside her space, Su Miao Miao had many ginsengs, including a dried one precisely five hundred years old, stored carefully in her cottage house.
They doubted her, of course—they didn't know she had memorized every medicinal text in her collection.
She took out her basket, pretended to rummage through it, and discreetly retrieved the ginseng from her space, keeping it hidden under a cloth. Then, she revealed it just enough for them to see.
The ginseng was thick, gnarled, its texture aged and veins distinct. It carried an earthy, almost spiritual fragrance.
The men's eyes widened instantly.
"Why don't we sit down somewhere and discuss the price?" Brother Huang said carefully.
The chubby man, realizing she truly had it, stayed quiet, mentally kicking himself. *God, I almost ruined our chance!*
The teenage boy in the jeep gestured silently for them to bring her inside. Su Miao Miao hesitated, then climbed in, alert but composed. She kept her hand on the ginseng, ready to bolt out and vanish if they tried anything.
Inside the jeep, she held it out for them to examine—but not touch.
The three leaned forward. Their eyes filled with awe. Even the cold-faced youth softened slightly.
Finally, he spoke, his voice deep and steady. "How much are you planning to sell it for?"
Su Miao Miao looked at him. His voice was clear, a little magnetic. For a moment, she was distracted—but quickly regained focus. "How much are you willing to offer?" she said evenly. "As I said, this is a family treasure. If I didn't urgently need money, I wouldn't part with it."
"Five thousand yuan," the young man said without hesitation. "Is that enough?"
The chubby man twitched. *Five thousand? That's more than market price!* But he stayed silent.
Su Miao Miao knew it was a high offer. Even the best ginseng wouldn't fetch that much at this time. But since he offered it willingly, she didn't refuse.
"Deal," she said simply.
After receiving fifty crisp 100-yuan notes, she handed over the ginseng. Without another word, she turned and walked away, calm and unhurried.
The men watched her go. The chubby one muttered, "She just stuffed all that money into her basket like it was nothing…"