"American Ginseng should be spindle-shaped, cylindrical, or long and conical. The surface should be a pale yellow or yellowish-white, with deep, transverse rings and vertical wrinkles. A cross-section will show a clear 'chrysanthemum heart' pattern. The smell is unique, and the taste is slightly fragrant and bitter with a sweet aftertaste."
"But this..."
Li Xu pointed to the slice in his hand. "Even though it's been sliced, you can still see that the skin is coarse, with thick, obvious vertical wrinkles. The texture is light and spongy, and the cross-section lacks the dense chrysanthemum pattern, instead having a loose structure. More importantly, it has the distinct smell of beans. This is cheap, sun-dried ginseng—or even 'dreg-ginseng' that's already had its active ingredients extracted—being passed off as the real thing."
The color drained from Liu Kan's face. His calves were cramping, and his heart trembled.
