Chapter 19: The Truth Unveiled

After Hua Qinci’s beguiling words, everyone seemed to fall under a spell, starting to imagine the days of living in the city, dreaming of never having to endure this wretched mountain village again. Smiles blossomed across every face.

Only the ever-cunning Madam Wei, after laughing for a while, snapped back to her senses. She noticed her third son beside her, staring foolishly at Hua Qinci ahead, a trail of drool at his lips. Impatiently, she pinched him.

“Ow, Mother! Why did you pinch me?” Wei San rubbed his thigh, looking at Madam Wei with an innocent face.

“Look at you! Once we get to the city, I’ll find you a wife even prettier than that girl from the Qin family.”

“Really? Thank you, Mother!” Wei San grinned, then glanced longingly at Hua Qinci, who was still spinning her tales. “Mother, could you find someone like Hua?”

“Out of the way! Useless thing.” Madam Wei shoved her way to the front. “Madam Qin, you keep talking, but you still haven’t said how the money will be divided!”

“No matter how it’s split, shouldn’t we get Doctor Li to check if this ginseng is real or fake first?” Liu Bingbing interjected. She saw that everyone was utterly bewitched, even her own mother was craning her neck, desperate to hear exactly how the silver would be divided and how much each would get.

Several times, Liu Bingbing tried to pull her aside to speak, but Madam Liu impatiently moved away, continuing to gossip with the others. They were already discussing what clothes to wear in the future, what delicacies to eat, and even whom to marry Liu Bingbing off to.

Liu Bingbing was so furious she could have stomped her feet. She only had eyes for Qin Youtian; she wanted no one else.

At Liu Bingbing’s suggestion, the feverish crowd seemed doused with a bucket of icy water, suddenly left dazed and uncertain.

Yet none of them could bear to let go of the riches and honors that seemed just within reach.

As the crowd buzzed anxiously, Liu Bingbing brought forth Doctor Li, whom she’d already summoned.

“Doctor Li, please help us open our eyes. Examine this ginseng and tell us: is it real or fake? How much silver is it worth?”

Liu Bingbing thought, Now that Hua Qinci has shown herself to be a fraud, if Doctor Li proves the ginseng is fake, her lies will be exposed for good, and no one will dare lend her money again.

“That’s right, Doctor Li—make sure you check it thoroughly!” someone called, and the rest echoed in agreement.

“Very well. I’ll examine it carefully—please be patient,” Doctor Li replied.

He picked up the box, inspecting it closely, sniffing and tasting the root. Off to the side, Liu Bingbing watched Hua Qinci’s pale face, a triumphant smile curling at her lips.

Hua Qinci’s brow furrowed deeply, her heart pounding with anxiety. If Doctor Li told the truth, all her efforts to beguile the crowd would come to nothing.

She hadn’t anticipated that Liu Bingbing, who always seemed so naive, would turn out to be her nemesis.

Though they barely knew each other, every encounter so far had nearly ended in Hua Qinci’s defeat.

“Ha! Brother Qin, your wife is really something—quite a character,” Constable Zhao remarked from not far away, observing the crowd as their excitement gave way to disappointment and then to tense anticipation. He couldn’t help but give a thumbs up in praise.

Qin Youtian’s face flushed. He didn’t know what special skills Hua Qinci possessed, but with just her quick tongue she had managed to sway this sharp and shrewd crowd.

“Thank you for your kind words, Brother Zhao. Please wait a moment; I’ll fetch some spring water,” Qin Youtian replied. With Zhao’s nod of consent, he walked toward the gathering.

He saw the crowd surrounding Hua Qinci, Liu Bingbing, and Doctor Li. Doctor Li was scrutinizing the contents of the box, his expression inscrutable.

“Well? Doctor Li, is the ginseng real or not?” someone in the crowd finally asked, unable to contain themselves any longer.