Solving Middle Age Crisis by Intelligence System

The leader slightly relaxed his vigilance, gestured for everyone to lower their guns, and stared at Old Zhao as he said, "I won't make things difficult for you. This area is ours now. You'd better turn around and go back quickly."

The border here by Changbai Mountain isn't as tense as the one on the other side, coupled with the shared language, so as long as you're not poaching, they mostly turn a blind eye.

After all, conditions over there are not good, and they themselves secretly trade a bit of supplies with folks on this side.

Just as the atmosphere was gradually easing, the dog not far away barked a few times and its eyes fixed tightly on the tree where Qi Yun was hiding.

The group alertly raised their guns again, aiming ahead.

Seeing this, Old Zhao hastily explained, "Don't worry, we're together."

Then he turned his head and shouted at Qi Yun, signaling him to come out.

Qi Yun came out from behind the tree, with a slightly embarrassed look on his face.

The leader furrowed his brow, still wary in his eyes. Although the gun in his hand was no longer aimed at them, he wasn't completely relaxed either.

"Is he also here to gather herbs?"

Old Zhao nodded repeatedly, "Yes, we're all here to gather herbs."

"Come over here!" The leader pointed at Qi Yun and said.

Qi Yun nodded and walked towards the man.

He never glanced at the underbrush where Chen Wei was hiding nearby. Although he didn't know how Chen Wei avoided the dog's sense of smell, the fact that he hadn't come out meant he clearly had his own plan.

As Qi Yun came closer, he forced a smile and said, "We're really just here to gather herbs."

The leader waved his hand, and someone came out to check Qi Yun's backpack.

When seeing those two packs of Chinese cigarettes in the bag, the person's hand paused obviously, a look of surprise appeared on his face, and after a full four or five seconds, he continued checking the other items.

After searching for a while, he nodded to the leader.

The leader's expression finally relaxed a bit and he told Qi Yun and the others, "Hurry up and leave, don't come back next time."

Upon hearing this, Old Zhao smiled and winked at Qi Yun.

Qi Yun understood, knowing that Old Zhao wanted him to take out the cigarettes.

Although he felt it was unreliable, since he had already brought the cigarettes and took three days to get here, he couldn't just leave empty-handed.

So, he took off his backpack, took out the cigarettes, and offered them to the leader, saying the most genuine words, "Haha, sorry for the trouble. Just a small token, hope you don't mind."

However, he still didn't realize what those Chinese cigarettes meant on the other side.

Except for the person who checked Qi Yun's backpack, everyone else showed a look of surprise when they saw Qi Yun handing over those Chinese cigarettes.

One must know that such cigarettes are considered a high-end luxury over there. It's said that aside from Cuban cigars, the person most liked to smoke these Chinese cigarettes, so its prestige is unrivaled.

And the average wage of ordinary people on their side, when converted, is not even three hundred RMB a month. Not to mention these are unavailable in the market; even if they were, they wouldn't be affordable for them.

Qi Yun noticed a hint of realization on the other side's face and did not expect Old Zhao to be right.

This thing showed its greater usefulness outside the worksite.

He chuckled as he pushed the cigarettes forward again, "Go ahead, accept it, no other meaning, just seeing you guys have it hard too. We'll leave soon, won't cause any trouble."

The leader eyed the cigarettes Qi Yun handed over, a fleeting look of delight in his eyes, but quickly regained his serious demeanor.

He nodded slightly, then someone beside him slung his rifle over his shoulder, received the cigarettes with both hands from Qi Yun, and politely said "Thank you!"

The leader cleared his throat, then looked at Qi Yun and said, "Do not go any further, turn back quickly."

Qi Yun could hear the more relaxed tone of the voice and quickly responded with a smile, "Alright, we'll leave right away."

Old Zhao also smiled agreeably and said, "Sorry for the trouble, we know the rules."

The leader nodded and, without further words, turned and left with his men.

It was only after they had gone a distance away that Old Zhao, now somewhat smug, said to Qi Yun, "What did I tell you, kid? You didn't believe it."

He spoke as he took a tobacco pipe from his waist, implying that he deserved some credit.

Qi Yun quickly nodded in agreement, "Yes, you really are knowledgeable, Uncle."

Meanwhile, Chen Wei, who had been hiding all this time, quietly came up from behind, glanced in the direction where the group had disappeared, and his tense muscles relaxed.

Qi Yun fastened his backpack again, looked up at Old Zhao, and asked, "Uncle, can we reach Erlong Ridge before dark?"

Old Zhao took a couple of puffs from his pipe, looked up at the sun overhead, and replied, "The path ahead is a little easier now. Another two hours' walk and we'll be there."

Qi Yun nodded, eager to find those ginseng and return.

Though those people didn't seem malicious before, this was, after all, their territory. He still felt a bit uneasy.

The three of them dared not delay further; they gathered their things and continued on their way.

After walking for another two hours or so, they finally reached their destination before dark.

Old Zhao stood at the foot of a mountain and pointed to a slope ahead, "That's Erlong Ridge ahead."

Following Old Zhao's finger, Qi Yun saw that the trees on the slope were sparse, with a single tall red pine standing out.

As night fell, they definitely wouldn't have time to find the ginseng today, so the three of them settled in a hollow at the mountain's base.